bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prenatal stress alters spine density and dendritic length of nucleus accumbens and hippocampus neurons in rat offspring
Authors: Martínez‐Téllez Rubelia Isaura , Hernández‐Torres Elizabeth , Gamboa Citlalli , Flores Gonzalo 
Published: June 2009

AbstractPrenatal stress alters neuronal morphology of mesocorticolimbic structures such as frontal cortex and hippocampus in the adult offspring. We investigated here the effects of prenatal stress on the spine density and the dendrite morphology of hippocampal pyramidal neurons and medium spiny cells from nucleus accumbens in prepubertal and adult male offsprings. Sprague‐Dawley pregnant dams were stressed by restraining movement daily for 2 hours from gestational day 11 until delivery. Control mothers remained free in their home cage without water and food during the stressful event. Male offsprings from immobilized and control rats were left to grow until postnatal day (PD) 35 for the prepubertal group, and until PD 65 for the adult group. Spontaneous locomotor activity was assessed and then brains were removed to study the dendritic morphology by the Golgi‐Cox stain method followed by Sholl analysis. Prenatally stressed animals demonstrated increased locomotion and alterations in spine density in the hippocampus and nucleus accumbens at both ages. However, prepubertal males showed an increase in spine density in the CA1 hippocampus with a decrease in CA3 hippocampus, whereas the adult group showed a decrease in the spine density in both of the regions studied. These results suggest that prenatal stress carried out during the middle of pregnancy affect the spine density and basal dendrites of pyramidal neurons of hippocampus, as well as the dendritic morphology of nucleus accumbens which may reflect important changes in the mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic transmission and behaviors associated with the development of psychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia. Synapse 63:794–804, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Systems analysis of emerging IPTV entertainment platform: Stakeholders, threats, and opportunities
Authors: Sharma Shantnu 
Published: June 2009

AbstractSeveral academics believe that a dominant factor in the market success of corporations is the ability to create and manage robust, flexible, and effective product platforms. Effective platform leadership and platform architecture play a key role in product success. This paper compares two large platforms. These are the telco (Telephone Company) IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) platform and the cable IPTV platform. Both platforms are competing to provide similar services to the same set of customers. This paper introduces a new term, “Mega Platform,” to describe large platforms like IPTV. This paper develops a set of metrics to compare the two competing mega platforms. The paper concludes by recommending specific strategies for both cable and telco. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng
Attribute substitution in systems engineering
Authors: Smith Eric D. , Terry Bahill A. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractCognitive biases affect decision making in systems engineering (SE). Daniel Kahneman, 2002 Nobel laureate for his pioneering studies of cognitive biases in economic decision making, describes many disparate cognitive biases as abstractly belonging to one higher‐level bias, that of attribute substitution. Attribute substitution occurs when an answer about a target attribute is unconscientiously provided by referring to a sublevel heuristic attribute that is simpler or more easily accessible, while other subattributes are ignored. The essence of this biasing process is generalized with real examples at all phases of the systems engineering process. Willful awareness of attribute substitution, however, can help prevent erroneous reduction in focus, and ensure that valid systems are being built to satisfy customer needs. © 2009 Wiley Periodcals, Inc. Syst Eng
Effects on guppy brain aromatase activity following short‐term steroid and 4‐nonylphenol exposures
Authors: Hallgren Stefan , Olsén K. Håkan 
Published: June 2009

AbstractBrain estrogen production, performed by the enzyme aromatase, can be disrupted/affected in teleost fish exposed to endocrine disruptors found in polluted aquatic environments. The guppy (Poecilia reticulata) was previously studied and confirmed to suffer negative effects on reproductive behaviors following inhibition of the brain aromatase reaction. Here adult guppies (Poecilia reticulata) of both genders were subjected to known endocrine disruptors: the androgen androstenedione (A), the synthetic estrogen 17α‐ethinylestradiol (EE2), and the estrogenic surfactant 4‐nonylphenol (NP), at high (50 μg/L) and at environmentally relevant concentrations (10 ng/L EE2, 5 μg/L NP, and 0.7 μg/L A) for 2 weeks followed by measurements of brain aromatase activity (bAA). In the adult males, bAA was stimulated by A and EE2 at 50 μg/L. Female activity was also stimulated by the higher estrogenic treatment. At environmentally relevant concentrations only the EE2 treatment affected bAA, and only in males. The alkylphenolic substance NP produced no effect in either of the experiments, not on males nor females. The results indicate that short‐term steroid treatments have stimulatory effects on guppy brain aromatase even at concentrations that can be found in the environment. We thus suggest bAA of adult guppies to be a suitable bioindicator of endocrine disruptors. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2010.
Is the non‐respect of ethical principles by health professionals during first‐trimester sonographic Down syndrome screening damaging to patient autonomy?
Authors: Favre R. , Guige V. , Weingertner A.‐S. , Vayssière C. , Kohler M. , Nisand I. , Hervé C. , Moutel G. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractObjectivesTo evaluate the understanding of health professionals involved in first‐trimester ultrasound screening of the ethical stakes involved by addressing three questions regarding: how much these professionals know about Down syndrome screening by nuchal translucency thickness measurement; their personal opinion with respect to this screening test; and their attitude with respect to their patients, in order to answer the question: ‘Are ethical principles respected when women are proposed ultrasound screening during the first trimester of pregnancy?’.MethodsWe studied the medical population in the east part of France by sending a questionnaire to each of 460 medical correspondents. This questionnaire attempted to evaluate the respondent's level of medical knowledge, their personal opinion with respect to first‐trimester screening and their attitude towards their patients. We adapted the three‐dimensional diagram designed by Marteau et al. to develop a measure of informed choice regarding screening. Only health professionals who were relatively well informed and adopted an autonomy‐oriented approach were considered to be in a position to obtain true consent from their patients, respecting ethical principles in terms of competence and the autonomy of patients.ResultsWe received 276 (60%) responses to the questionnaire. Only 31.9% of health professionals had an approach that facilitated obtaining true consent from their patients and respected the ethical principles of competence and patient autonomy; 46% were in favor of the screening test and adopted an autonomy‐oriented approach but were poorly informed; and 15.4% had a directive–authoritarian approach combined with poor knowledge. Regression analysis showed that two independent factors (speciality (P = 0.031) and location of practice (P = 0.034)) affected the level of medical knowledge, and two independent factors (location of practice (P = 0.034) and the type of medical practice i.e. public or private (P < 0.05)) affected the opinion of health professionals about the screening test. Two independent factors (speciality (P < 0.001) and the age of the health professional (P = 0.02)) affected the attitudes of health professionals towards their patients.ConclusionThe answer to the question ‘Are ethical principles respected when women are proposed ultrasound screening during the first trimester of pregnancy?’ is clearly ‘No’. Major effort is required to ensure that the decisions made by patients are based on a possibility of true choice. Copyright © 2009 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Computerized analysis of normal fetal heart rate pattern throughout gestation
Authors: Serra V. , Bellver J. , Moulden M. , Redman C. W. G. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractObjectiveTo analyze the evolution of computerized cardiotocography (cCTG) parameters throughout gestation in a large archive of traces from healthy fetuses.MethodsThis was a cross‐sectional study of the first cCTG record from 4412 singleton fetuses with good pregnancy outcome. Normal ranges of cCTG parameters for 25 to 42 weeks were derived from analysis of only one cCTG record per fetus, and the relationship between the parameters and gestational age was investigated.ResultsFetal heart rate (FHR) accelerations, short‐ and long‐term variation overall, duration of episodes of high and low variation and variation in high episodes increased with advancing gestation. In contrast, maternal perception of fetal movements, basal FHR, variation in low episodes and the time until criteria for normality were met decreased with advancing gestation. Gestational age‐related changes in FHR variation were less evident at the lowest percentiles. Episodes of high FHR variation were detected in most fetuses, even at 25 weeks. Opposite trends of basal FHR and variation were observed at 42 weeks. Large decelerations and the frequency and duration of low episodes were also higher at 42 weeks.ConclusionsThe characteristics of the normal FHR pattern are quite defined from early on in gestation, follow a continuous trend with advancing gestation and change abruptly at 42 weeks. Gestational age‐related changes are less obvious at the lowest percentiles. Copyright © 2009 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Facile Synthesis of Novel Nanostructured MnO2Thin Films and Their Application in Supercapacitors
Authors: Xia H , Xiao W , Lai MO , Lu L 
Published: June 2009

Abstract
Nanostructured α-MnO2thin films with different morphologies are grown on the platinum substrates by a facile solution method without any assistance of template or surfactant. Microstructural characterization reveals that morphology evolution from dandelion-like spheres to nanoflakes of the as-grown MnO2is controlled by synthesis temperature. The capacitive behavior of the MnO2thin films with different morphologies are studied by cyclic voltammetry. The α-MnO2thin films composed of dandelion-like spheres exhibit high specific capacitance, good rate capability, and excellent long-term cycling stability.
Incidence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Chinese immigrants, compared with Chinese in China and South East Asia: review
Authors: Yu W M , Hussain S S M 
Published: June 2009

AbstractObjectives:To evaluate the literature and to compare published data on age-standardised incidence rates of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Chinese people living in and outside China.Design:Systematic review of incidence rate studies and statistical incidence data concerning nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Chinese populations from 1960 to 2008.Data sources:Sixteen papers were identified from the PubMed, Embase and Scopus electronic databases and from a hand search of the reference lists of the retrieved papers. Further searches for raw data on age-specific and age-standardised incidence rates of nasopharyngeal carcinoma were conducted. Textbooks on relevant subjects were referred to for background information. A total of 19 papers met the inclusion criteria.Results:Seven studies included raw data on age-specific and age-standardised incidence rates of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Chinese people. Twelve other studies reported on changes in the incidence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Chinese populations in selected countries or regions. Studies on age-specific and age-standardised rates obtained data from individual registries. Studies on incidence rates obtained data from hospital records, cancer notifications (from all sections of the medical profession), pathology records and death certificates. The results showed a decline in age-standardised incidence rates of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Chinese immigrant populations, compared with Chinese people in China. There was also a trend towards decreasing incidence the further the population had immigrated. Thus, the incidence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Singaporean Chinese was higher than that in Hawaiian Chinese, and that in Hawaiian Chinese was higher than that in Californian Chinese.Conclusion:This review found a decreasing trend in the incidence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Chinese migrants living in countries with a low risk of the disease.
A new genus and two new species of Simrothiellidae (Solenogastres: Cavibelonia) from the Abyssal Angola Basin
Authors: Gil-Mansilla E. , García-Álvarez O. , Urgorri V. 
Published: June 2009

A new genus and two new species of Mollusca Solenogastres belonging to the family Simrothiellidae are described here: Spiomenia pusilla sp. nov. and Adoryherpia serrata gen. et sp. nov., collected from muddy sediment during the expedition DIVA 1 Me48/1 carried out in the Abyssal Angola Basin, at depths from 5100 to 5500 m.
Bayesian geostatistical modelling for mapping schistosomiasis transmission
Authors: VOUNATSOU P. , RASO G. , TANNER M. , N'GORAN E. K. , UTZINGER J. 
Published: June 2009

SUMMARYProgress has been made in mapping and predicting the risk of schistosomiasis using Bayesian geostatistical inference. Applications primarily focused on risk profiling of prevalence rather than infection intensity, although the latter is particularly important for morbidity control. In this review, the underlying assumptions used in a study mapping Schistosoma mansoni infection intensity in East Africa are examined. We argue that the assumption of stationarity needs to be relaxed, and that the negative binomial assumption might result in misleading inference because of a high number of excess zeros (individuals without an infection). We developed a Bayesian geostatistical zero-inflated (ZI) regression model that assumes a non-stationary spatial process. Our model is validated with a high-quality georeferenced database from western Côte d'Ivoire, consisting of demographic, environmental, parasitological and socio-economic data. Nearly 40% of the 3818 participating schoolchildren were infected with S. mansoni, and the mean egg count among infected children was 162 eggs per gram of stool (EPG), ranging between 24 and 6768 EPG. Compared to a negative binomial and ZI Poisson and negative binomial models, the Bayesian non-stationary ZI negative binomial model showed a better fit to the data. We conclude that geostatistical ZI models produce more accurate maps of helminth infection intensity than the spatial negative binomial ones.
An alternative method for DNA extraction and PCR identification ofEntamoeba histolyticaandE. disparin fecal samples
Authors: VIANNA E. N. , COSTA J. O. , SANTOS C. K. S. , CURY M. C. , SILVA E. F. , COSTA A. O. , GOMES M. A. 
Published: June 2009

SUMMARYSince it is known thatEntamoeba disparis non-pathogenic and morphologically similar toE. histolytica, there are many targets used in PCR for differentiating these species. However, obtaining high quality DNA from fecal samples is fundamental for PCR. Most methods are laborious or use kits that make diagnosis expensive. In the present work, a new simple, fast and cheap technique of DNA extraction from fecal samples was combined with a PCR for an episomal target in order to identifyE. histolyticaandE. disparin feces.
Intestinal inflammatory response of powan Coregonus lavaretus (Pisces) to the presence of acanthocephalan infections
Authors: DEZFULI B. S. , LUI A. , GIOVINAZZO G. , BOLDRINI P. , GIARI L. 
Published: June 2009

SUMMARYImmunopathological and ultrastructural studies were carried out on the gut of 30 specimens of powan Coregonus lavaretus (L.) from Lake Piediluco, Italy. The digestive tracts of 10 (33·3%) of the powan were found to harbour an acanthocephalan Dentitruncus truttae (Sinzar 1955). The numerous trunk spines of D. truttae reduced the number of mucosal folds near the parasite site of infection. The acanthocephalan induced hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the intestinal mucous cells and many worms were surrounded with an adherent mucous gel. Near the site of acanthocephalan attachment, the number of mucous cells was significantly higher (P<0·01) in comparison to those found in uninfected intestines. Rodlet cells (RCs) were present in the epithelial layer in both infected and uninfected fish, with no significant difference in the numbers observed (P>0·05). In infected intestine, mast cells were more abundant than in uninfected gut (P<0·01). Migration of the mast cells and their intense degranulation at the site of infection were suggested. Immunohistochemical tests applied to sections of intestinal tissue of both infected and uninfected powan revealed that the parasitized C. lavaretus had a larger number of mast cells positive for met-enkephalin and serotonin antisera.
The retinae of Prototherian mammals possess neuronal types that are characteristic of non-mammalian retinae
Authors: Young Heather M. , Vaney David I. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractThis study has shown that the retinae of Prototherian (egg-laying) mammals possess two neuronal types that are present in non-mammalian retinae, but absent or morphologically different in the retinae of Eutherian (placental) mammals. First, endogenous serotonin-like immunoreactivity has been localized in a population of presumptive amacrine cells in the platypus retina, the first such report in a mammalian retina. Second, the protein kinase C-immunoreactive (PKC-IR) bipolar cells in the echidna retina appear similar to the PKC-IR bipolars in the chicken retina, in that their dendrites give rise to a Landolt's club and their axons are multistratified. By contrast, the PKC-IR rod bipolar cells in the rabbit and in the brushtail possum, a Metatherian (marsupial) mammal, have no Landolt's clubs and their axons form terminal lobes in the innermost stratum of the inner plexiform layer.
Properties of area 17/18 border neurons contributing to the visual transcallosal pathway in the cat
Authors: McCourt M.E. , Thalluri J. , Henry G.H. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractIn a series of physiological experiments, a total of 203 neurons at the Area 17/18 border were recorded with a callosal link either demonstrated by antidromic or transsynaptic activation from stimulating electrodes located in the homotopic contralateral hemisphere (CH), or in the splenial segment of the corpus callosum (CC). Forty-four percent of the transcallosal cells could also be driven from stimulating electrodes in or just above the lateral geniculate nucleus (OR1). The majority (69%) of transcallosal neurons were classifiable as belonging to the complex family (B and C cells) and most of these were found in the supragranular laminae and in lamina 4A. The ocular dominance distribution of transcallosal cells was trimodal, consisting of roughly equal numbers of monocularly dominated and binocularly balanced neurons. Estimates of conduction time and synaptic delay were obtained for neurons driven from CH, CC, and from OR1, and in most instances the response latency was short enough to suggest a monosynaptic input from either the ipsi- or contra-lateral hemisphere. The distribution of transcallosal conduction times showed that S cells, as a class, had significantly faster conduction than cells of the complex family but otherwise there was no obvious signs of multimodality in the distribution curve. An analysis of the synaptic delays in transcallosal activation produced a mean of 0.6 to 0.7 ms but some were too short to be consistent with a transsynaptic drive, suggesting that some cells with an antidromic drive may have been included in the transsynaptic category. Results are interpreted in terms of the contribution made by the corpus callosum to stereoscopic vision.
Termination of thalamic intralaminar nuclei afferents in visual cortex of squirrel monkey
Authors: Towns Lex C. , Tigges Johannes , Tigges Margarete 
Published: June 2009

AbstractThe projection of the thalamic intralaminar nuclei (ILN) upon the visual cortex in the squirrel monkey was studied using anterograde, autoradiographic techniques. In area 17, the ILN afferents terminate in the inner and outer portions of lamina V, whereas in areas 18 and 19 the fibers terminate more diffusely along the laminae V–VI boundary. Widespread labeling of layer I is seen throughout the occipital cortex.
Identification of bipolar cell subtypes by protein kinase C-like immunoreactivity in the goldfish retina
Authors: Suzuki Saburosuke , Kaneko Akimichi 
Published: June 2009

AbstractSubtypes of bipolar cells were identified by protein kinase C (PKC)-like immunoreactivity in the goldfish retina. The PKC-like immunoreactivity was visualized by either the avidin/biotin peroxidase method or immunofluorescence method. In frozen cross sections and in wholemounts, the monoclonal antibody against α species of PKC reacted with ON-type bipolar cells, identified by the location of axon terminals in sublaminabof the inner plexiform layer. OFF-type bipolar cells (identified by the location of the axon terminal in sublaminaaof the inner plexiform layer) were not immunoreactive. The immunoreactive cells consisted of two subtypes; the rod-dominant ON-type with a large soma and a large bulbous axon terminal, and the cone-dominant ON-type with a small soma and small axon terminal. Antibodies against β and γ species of PKC did not react with any bipolar cells. Of the isolated bipolar cells, enzymatically dissociated from the goldfish retina, 59% were immunoreactive to the monoclonal antibody against α species of PKC. The immunoreactive isolated cells also consisted of two morphological types. Each of them had a morphology typical either to rod-dominant ON-type or to cone-dominant ON-type.