bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
NegP and negated constituent movement in the history of English1
Authors: Ingham Richard 
Published: October 2007

AbstractThree types of negated constituent movement during the history of English – NegV1, Negative Inversion and Negative Movement – are linked to the role of NegP in the syntax of English up to the early Modern period, building on proposals made byHaegeman (1995),van Kemenade (2000)andZeijlstra (2004). NegP is analysed as involving the presence of a Neg Operator, null in languages with a head negator. A high NegP licensed NegV1 in Old and early Middle English, the optionality of a Neg Operator in NegP triggered Negative Movement in Late Middle English until NegP was lost, and the loss of NegP in Early Modern English permitted Negative Inversion. The absence of NegP is proposed for the earliest attested stages of English as well as of other Indo‐European languages, as a way of accounting for a stage where NegV1 and Negative Concord were absent.
The structural design of the bat wing web and its possible role in gas exchange
Authors: Makanya Andrew N. , Mortola Jacopo P. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractThe structure of the skin in the epauletted fruit bat (Epomophorus wahlbergi) wing and body trunk was studied with a view to understanding possible adaptations for gas metabolism and thermoregulation. In addition, gas exchange measurements were performed using a respirometer designed for the purpose. The body skin had an epidermis, a dermis with hair follicles and sweat glands and a fat‐laden hypodermis. In contrast, the wing web skin was made up of a thin bilayered epidermis separated by a connective tissue core with collagen and elastic fibres and was devoid of hair follicles and sweat glands. The wings spanned 18–24 cm each, with about 753 cm2 of surface exposed to air. The body skin epidermis was thick (61 ± 3 µm, SEM), the stratum corneum alone taking a third of it (21 ± 3 µm). In contrast, the wing web skin epidermis was thinner at 9.8 ± 0.7 µm, with a stratum corneum measuring 4.1 ± 0.3 µm (41%). The wing capillaries in the wing web skin ran in the middle of the connective tissue core, with a resultant surface‐capillary diffusion distance of 26.8 ± 3.2 µm. The rate of oxygen consumption (V̇O2) of the wings alone and of the whole animal measured under light anaesthesia at ambient temperatures of 24 ºC and 33 ºC, averaged 6% and 10% of the total, respectively. Rate of carbon dioxide production had similar values. The membrane diffusing capacity for the wing web was estimated to be 0.019 ml O2 min−1 mmHg−1. We conclude that in Epomophorus wahlbergi, the wing web has structural modifications that permit a substantial contribution to the total gas exchange.
Auto‐adaptive averaging: Detecting artifacts in event‐related potential data using a fully automated procedure
Authors: Talsma Durk 
Published: October 2007

AbstractThe auto‐adaptive averaging procedure proposed here classifies artifacts in event‐related potential data by optimizing the signal‐to‐noise ratio. This method rank orders single trials according to the impact of each trial on the ERP average. Then, the minimum residual background noise level in the ERP data is determined at each step in the averaging process. Trials having a negative impact on the residual background noise are discarded from the averaging procedure. Simulations showed that ERP estimates obtained by the auto‐adaptive averaging procedure were either better or comparable to those obtained by single trial artifact detection methods at their most optimum configuration, in particular during long duration artifacts. Experimental data from a working memory task further illustrate the effectiveness of the method.
Target probability affects the likelihood that a P300 will be generated in response to a target stimulus, but not its amplitude
Authors: Bonala Bharat , Boutros Nashaat N. , Jansen Ben H. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractThe ensemble‐averaged P300 amplitude is affected by global and local target probability and interstimulus interval. We hypothesize that the local target probability‐induced amplitude changes arise from a failure to consistently produce a P300 rather than producing lower amplitude responses. Single‐trial analysis was conducted on auditory P300 data from 13 healthy subjects to determine the absence or presence of a P300 component for each target response separately. Selective, normalized averages were computed for each local target probability. Target stimuli preceded by one or two nontargets led to significantly more trials lacking a P300 than the other local target probability categories. The amplitudes of the responsive trials did not differ between the local target probability categories. This suggests that local target probability affects the consistency with which a subject responds to target stimuli, but not the P300 amplitude.
An artificial neural network model of orienting attention toward threatening somatosensory stimuli
Authors: Dowman Robert , Ben‐Avraham Daniel 
Published: October 2007

AbstractAn artificial neural network model was designed to test the threat detection hypothesis developed in our experimental studies, where threat detector activity in the somatosensory association areas is monitored by the medial prefrontal cortex, which signals the lateral prefrontal cortex to redirect attention to the threat. As in our experimental studies, simulated threat‐evoked activations of all three brain areas were larger when the somatosensory target stimulus was unattended than attended, and the increase in behavioral reaction times when the target stimulus was unattended was smaller for threatening than nonthreatening stimuli. The model also generated a number of novel predictions, for example, the effect of threat on reaction time only occurs when the target stimulus is unattended, and the P3a indexes prefrontal cortex activity involved in redirecting attention toward response processes on that trial and sensory processes on subsequent trials.
Spatial compatibility between stimulated eye and response location
Authors: Valle‐Inclán Fernando , Sohn Felix , Redondo Milagros 
Published: October 2007

AbstractIt is assumed that the eye‐of‐origin information is restricted to the visual cortex. However, reactions to monocular stimuli are faster when the response location and the stimulated eye are ipsilateral (compatible trials) than when they are contralateral (incompatible trials). We investigated whether this spatial compatibility effect had the characteristics of the conventional visual Simon effect. We found that the size of the compatibility effect was constant throughout the reaction time distribution, and there were no electrophysiological signs of incorrect response activation. These results indicate that the spatial code derived from eye‐of‐origin information does not produce a transient activation of the spatially compatible response, but a more tonic influence on response selection. The results also show that monocular information can exert influence outside the visual cortex and that spatial codes can be produced in the absence of attention movements.
Toll‐like receptors 2 and 4 mediate Aβ(1–42) activation of the innate immune response in a human monocytic cell line
Authors: Udan Maria L. D. , Ajit Deepa , Crouse Nikkilina R. , Nichols Michael R. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe primary molecules for mediating the innate immune response are the Toll‐like family of receptors (TLRs). Recent work has established that amyloid‐beta (Aβ) fibrils, the primary components of senile plaques in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), can interact with the TLR2/4 accessory protein CD14. Using antibody neutralization assays and tumor necrosis factor alpha release in the human monocytic THP‐1 cell line, we determined that both TLR2 and TLR4 mediated an inflammatory response to aggregated Aβ(1–42). This was in contrast to exclusive TLR ligands lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (TLR4) and tripalmitoyl cysteinyl seryl tetralysine (Pam3CSK4) (TLR2). Atomic force microscopy imaging showed a fibrillar morphology for the proinflammatory Aβ(1–42) species. Pre‐treatment of the cells with 10 μg/mL of a TLR2‐specific antibody blocked ∼50% of the cell response to fibrillar Aβ(1–42), completely blocked the Pam3CSK4 response, and had no effect on the LPS‐induced response. A TLR4‐specific antibody (10 μg/mL) blocked ∼35% of the cell response to fibrillar Aβ(1–42), completely blocked the LPS response, and had no effect on the Pam3CSK4 response. Polymyxin B abolished the LPS response with no effect on Aβ(1–42) ruling out bacterial contamination of the Aβ samples. Combination antibody pre‐treatments indicated that neutralization of TLR2, TLR4, and CD14 together was much more effective at blocking the Aβ(1–42) response than the antibodies used alone. These data demonstrate that fibrillar Aβ(1–42) can trigger the innate immune response and that both TLR2 and TLR4 mediate Aβ‐induced tumor necrosis factor alpha production in a human monocytic cell line.
Measuring Price Risk on UK Arable Farms
Authors: White Ben , Dawson P. J. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractPrice risk is estimated for a representative UK arable farm using value‐at‐risk (VaR). To determine the distribution of commodity returns, two multivariate generalised autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (GARCH) models, witht‐distributed and normally distributed errors, and a RiskMetricsTMmodel are estimated. Returns show excess kurtosis and that the GARCH model witht‐distributed errors fits best. Estimates of VaR differ between models: both GARCH models perform well but the RiskMetricsTMmodel underestimates expected losses. UK arable farms face substantial price risk.
Testing for the Presence of Financial Constraints in US Agricultural Cooperatives: An Investment Behaviour Approach
Authors: Chaddad Fabio R. , Cook Michael L. , Heckelei Thomas 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThis study examines the presence of financial constraints in US agricultural cooperatives. We test the cooperative capital constraint hypothesis with a panel data econometric analysis of agricultural cooperatives’ investment behaviour. Regression results suggest that agricultural cooperatives’ capital expenditures are significantly affected by the availability of internal funds. Results also indicate that the sensitivity of investment to cash flow is correlated with cooperative structural characteristics.
Pathological interactions with the timing of birth and uterine activation
Authors: SMITH Roger , VAN HELDEN Dirk , HIRST Jon , ZAKAR Tamas , READ Mark , CHAN Eng‐Cheng , PALLISER Hannah , GRAMMATOPOULOS Dimitris , NICHOLSON Richard , PARKINGTON Helena C. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe physiological processes that regulate the onset of parturition and birth are slowly being elucidated, and the points at which pathology can intervene are becoming more apparent. The data support the view that multiple pathways lead to myometrial activation. The clinical corollary is that combinations of tocolytics that operate via different mechanisms may be more effective than single agents. It may also be necessary to divide preterm labour into groups based on underlying mechanisms and to tailor therapy accordingly.
The role of autopsy following pregnancy termination for fetal abnormality
Authors: DICKINSON Jan E. , PRIME Danielle K. , CHARLES Adrian K. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractObjective:  To review the frequency of autopsy following pregnancy termination for fetal anomaly and its contribution to subsequent counselling.Methods:  All medical pregnancy terminations for fetal anomaly performed after 14 weeks gestation from January 1997 to December 2006 were identified and the frequency of autopsy ascertained. The prenatal diagnosis prompting the termination was then compared with the autopsy data, and a diagnostic valuation was determined. The potential autopsy value ranged from no additional information provided, minor added value, significant added value, major added value to non‐confirmation of the prenatal findings.Results:  During the ten‐year study period, there were 1012 consecutive terminations for fetal abnormality. The principal indications for termination were: karyotypic (38.4%); neural tube defects (16.1%); cardiac (10.3%) and cerebral anomalies (7.5%). Autopsy was performed in 809 cases (79.9%). The autopsy rate progressively declined from 95.1% in 1997 to 67.5% in 2006 (P < 0.001). Women declining autopsy were older (31 years (26,35) vs 32 years (27,37), P = 0.005) and more likely to have a fetal chromosomal abnormality (30.6% vs 69.9%, P < 0.001) (autopsy vs no‐autopsy). In euploid cases, autopsy confirmed the prenatal diagnosis with no additional information in 63.5% (357 of 562). In 1.1% (six cases), autopsy added major diagnostic information, and in 15.1% (85 cases), significant information was provided.Conclusions:  Although contemporary prenatal testing has improved the recognition of fetal abnormalities, autopsy remains a valued tool by providing diagnosis or clarification of some prenatal findings in 16% of cases. Fetal autopsy rates are declining and this trend may lead to a loss of diagnostic and recurrence risk‐counselling information.
A new formula for summarising the pregnancy history
Authors: WATSON Lyndsey F. , KING James F. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractPregnancy history formulae usually provide only summaries of numbers of pregnancies and births. Different pregnancy outcomes and their sequence are not captured. A new pregnancy history formula is proposed where one number provides information on parity, gravidity, sequence, gestation and outcome of pregnancies. For instance, 914 represents the history of a woman having had three pregnancies, where ‘9’ represents a term first birth, ‘1’, a miscarriage and ‘4’, a preterm perinatal death in the third pregnancy. This formula could be used in medical records or perinatal databases.
Early Influences and Childhood Development. Does Helicobacter Play a Role?
Authors: Lee Adrian 
Published: November 2007

AbstractIn the late 1960s, Rene Dubos showed that a variety of nutritional stress in utero or in early infancy could have dramatic impact on childhood development that was irreversible. This included detectable changes in the brain. Since that time, iron deficiency anemia (IDA) has been identified as one of the major nutritional stresses that leads to permanent behavioral changes in both experimental animals and humans resulting in poorer cognitive, motor, and social‐emotional function. It has been proposed that these changes play an important part in the inter‐generational transmission of poverty. More recently, it is becoming clear that Helicobacter pylori causes IDA in populations on an iron‐limiting diet. The main thesis of this article is that H. pylori infection may indeed have an impact on childhood development and that much more research is needed in this area as intervention via immunization or antimicrobial therapy in populations in the developing world may have major positive benefits via cure of IDA and prevention of brain damage in the young.
Regulation of fibroblast functions by lysophospholipid mediators: Potential roles in wound healing
Authors: Watterson Kenneth R. , Lanning David A. , Diegelmann Robert F. , Spiegel Sarah 
Published: October 2007

ABSTRACTThe bioactive lysophospholipids, primarily lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and sphingosine‐1‐phosphate (S1P), are recent additions to the list of potent mediators of tissue repair and wound healing. In this review, we highlight the diverse actions of LPA and S1P on many types of cells involved in the wound healing process, with special emphasis on their regulation of fibroblasts. The effects of LPA and S1P are principally mediated via specific cell surface receptors. Important signaling pathways downstream of these receptors and the importance of TGFβ and S1P cross‐talk for wound healing are also discussed. Moreover, specific agonists and antagonists of the lysophospholipid receptors may be useful for the treatment of wounds and abnormal wound healing.
Basic fibroblast growth factor reduces scar formation in acute incisional wounds
Authors: Ono Ichiro , Akasaka Yoshikiyo , Kikuchi Risa , Sakemoto Akiko , Kamiya Takafumi , Yamashita Toshiharu , Jimbow Kowichi 
Published: October 2007

ABSTRACTIn order to identify a means to reduce scar formation of the skin after incision, this study examined the effect of local administration of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in humans. bFGF was administered to a sutured wound immediately after an operation. The drug was injected once into the dermis of the margins of wounds using a 27G needle or rinsing after performing dermostitches. The lengths of the treated wounds varied from 1 to 32 cm, and the subjects were 2–86 years old. Sutured wounds after excision of skin tumors from the face, trunk, and limbs and sutured wounds such as those at the donor sites of full‐thickness skin grafts were treated with low‐dose bFGF injections (0.1 μg/cm wound; Group 2), high‐dose bFGF injections (1 μg/cm wound; Group 3), and rinsed with high‐dose bFGF (1 μg/cm wound; Group 4). No patient treated with bFGF had hypertrophic scars, while some patients had hypertrophic or very wide scars in the control group (Group 1), and the ratios of minimum scarring of Group 2 ( p<0.001), Group 3 ( p<0.0001), and Group 4 ( p<0.0001) were statistically significantly higher than those of Group 1. Postoperative administration of bFGF inhibited hypertrophic scarring and widening of remaining scars without any serious side effects.
Moist wound healing compared with standard care of treatment of primary closed vascular surgical wounds: A prospective randomized controlled study
Authors: Vogt Katja C. , Uhlyarik M. , Schroeder Torben V. 
Published: October 2007

ABSTRACTThis study was a randomized‐controlled trial comparing the standard type of dry dressing, Mepore®, with moist wound healing, using a hydrofiber dressing, Aquacel™, in primary closed wounds after vascular surgery. The endpoints were patient comfort, cost‐effectiveness, infections, wound complications, and length of hospital stay. One hundred and sixty patients were randomized to receive either Mepore® or Aquacel™ dressing. There was no significant difference in patient comfort between the two groups, but a higher cost in the Aquacel™ group despite significantly fewer changes of dressings in these patients. No difference in the infection rate (13% vs. 11%, p=0.73), length of hospital stay, or wound complications was noted between the two groups. We conclude that although the Aquacel™ dressing needed significantly fewer changes than the conventional dressing, this did not influence the patient comfort. Moreover, the traditional dressing scheme was significantly less expensive.
Effect of different frequencies of tensile strain on human dermal fibroblast proliferation and survival
Authors: Nishimura Kengo , Blume Peter , Ohgi Shigetsugu , Sumpio Bauer E. 
Published: October 2007

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study is to compare the effect of a high‐frequency repetitive (HF) stretch or an intermittent (I) stretch on the cell proliferation and survival of human dermal fibroblasts and to determine the activation of any relevant signal pathways. Cultured human dermal fibroblasts were exposed to either HF or I stretch. Cell number was measured by counting, while DNA synthesis was assessed by 5‐bromo‐2′‐deoxyuridine (BrdU) staining and apoptosis by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated dUTP nick‐end labeling staining. To investigate the potential mechanisms of repetitive strain on the proliferation and survival of fibroblasts, the activation of relevant transduction pathways, such as p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK), extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK)1/2, AKT, and BAD, was assessed by Western blot. In addition, the effect of inhibition of these pathways on the fibroblast response was also studied. After either HF or I stretch for 7 days, fibroblast number was significantly decreased and there were less BrdU‐positive cells. The numbers of apoptotic and/or necrotic fibroblasts were not affected. p38 MAPK and ERK1/2 were significantly activated after HF stretch, but AKT and BAD were significantly activated after I stretch. The inhibitors of p38 MAPK and MAPK/ERK kinase as well as dominant‐negative AKT reduced cell number after both HF and I stretch but these pathways were not critical for the stretch‐induced decrease in cell number.
Hepatocyte growth factor regulation: An integral part of why wounds become chronic
Authors: Conway Kevin , Ruge Fiona , Price Patricia , Harding Keith G. , Jiang Wen G. 
Published: October 2007

ABSTRACTHepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a cytokine known to play multiple roles during the various stages of wound healing. This study addresses the ongoing key questions regarding the role of HGF in wound healing, namely: are HGF and its regulators expressed differently in chronic and acute wounds? Biopsies from normal skin (n=10), acute (n=10), and chronic wounds (n=17) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), and quantitative real‐time RT‐PCR for the presence of HGF, its receptor cMet, its activators and its inhibitors. Immunohistochemical staining for HGF, HGF activators, and HGF inhibitors was similar, with expression being greater in chronic wound dermis compared with acute wound dermis. While expression of cMet in chronic wound dermis was less than in the acute wound dermis. PCR quantification of these proteins showed similar trends although the differences did not reach statistical significance. The results of this study provide important data confirming the role of HGF in wound healing. In addition, we have demonstrated the aberrant expression of the HGF receptor cMet and activation inhibitors (HAI‐1 and HAI‐2) in chronic wounds. This aberrant expression may have a value in predicting the process of healing and nonhealing wounds and constitute important targets of future therapies.
Epidermal repair results from activation of follicular and epidermal progenitor keratinocytes mediated by a growth factor cascade
Authors: Myers Simon R. , Leigh Irene M. , Navsaria Harshad 
Published: October 2007

ABSTRACTReepithelialization of human suction blister wounds was examined in five normal human volunteers over a period of 14 days postwounding to understand the control of keratinocyte migration, proliferation, and differentiation in acute wound healing in a controlled model. The hypothesis that morphological changes and progenitor activation result from altered cytokines and growth factor expression [in particular interleukin‐1 β (IL‐1β), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), transforming growth factor α (TGF‐α), TGF‐β 1, and keratinocyte growth factor] was tested using semiquantitative immunohistochemistry combined with reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction of samples from the blister roof, edge, and base. Parallel changes in keratin expression were examined using a wide range of well‐established antibodies to multiple keratins and in situ hybridization for keratin 16 (K16), a marker of the hyperproliferative (mucoregenerative) phenotype. Longitudinal morphological, semiquantitative cytokine and growth factor expression, and histometric histone and cytokeratin profiles suggest three phases to reepithelialization: phase 1, or the acute activation phase, early in the first 24 hours postwounding is characterized by epidermal expression of IL‐1β and IL‐6, and dermal expression of TGF‐β1, as basal, upper outer root sheath, and putative interfollicular transit amplifying keratinocytes become committed to mitosis; phase 2, or the early activation phase, late in the second 24 hours postwounding, characterized by epidermal expression of TGF‐α and IL‐6 with concurrent suprabasal K16 expression and migration with continued proliferation, and dermal expression of keratinocyte growth factor and IL‐6; and phase 3 or restitution over the following 2 weeks, characterized by the return of normal homeostasis, including bulge activation as evidenced by K19 expression.