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Particular Relevance (particular + relevance)
Selected AbstractsInhibitory functioning across ADHD subtypes: Recent findings, clinical implications, and future directionsDEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES RESEARCH REVIEW, Issue 4 2008Zachary W. Adams Abstract Although growing consensus supports the role of deficient behavioral inhibition as a central feature of the combined subtype of ADHD (ADHD/C; Barkley 1997 Psychol Bull 121:65,94; Nigg 2001 Psychol Bull 127:571,598), little research has focused on how this finding generalizes to the primarily inattentive subtype (ADHD/I). This question holds particular relevance in light of recent work suggesting that ADHD/I might be better characterized as a disorder separate from ADHD/C (Diamond 2005 Dev Psychopathol 17:807,825; Milich et al. 2001 Clin Psychol Sci Pract 8:463,488). This article describes major findings in the area of inhibitory performance in ADHD and highlights recent research suggesting important areas of divergence between the subtypes. In particular, preliminary findings point to potential differences between the subtypes with respect to how children process important contextual information from the environment, such as preparatory cues that precede responses and rewarding or punishing feedback following behavior. These suggestive findings are discussed in the context of treatment implications, which could involve differential intervention approaches for each subtype targeted to the specific deficit profiles that characterize each group of children. Future research avenues aimed toward building a sound theoretical model of ADHD/I and a better understanding of its relation to ADHD/C are also presented. Specifically, investigators are encouraged to continue studying the complex interplay between inhibitory and attentional processes, as this area seems particularly promising in its ability to improve our understanding of the potentially distinct pathologies underlying the ADHD subtypes. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Dev Disabil Res Rev 2008;14:268,275. [source] Research into the glomerular podocyte,is it relevant to diabetic nephropathy?DIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 7 2006K. E. White Abstract The cause of proteinuria in renal disease is the subject of intensive research and, latterly, the podocyte, a specialized epithelial cell of the kidney glomerulus, has been the focus of much of this endeavour. It is a complex cell with functions and structural features that have an important role in the development of proteinuria. This review explores some of the characteristics of the podocyte and how abnormalities of its structure and function may have particular relevance to the development and progression of clinical diabetic nephropathy. [source] Response simulation and seismic assessment of highway overcrossingsEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 9 2010Anastasios Kotsoglou Abstract Interaction of bridge structures with the adjacent embankment fills and pile foundations is generally responsible for response modification of the system to strong ground excitations, to a degree that depends on soil compliance, support conditions, and soil mass mobilized in dynamic response. This paper presents a general modeling and assessment procedure specifically targeted for simulation of the dynamic response of short bridges such as highway overcrossings, where the embankment soil,structure interaction is the most prevalent. From previous studies it has been shown that in this type of interaction, seismic displacement demands are magnified in the critical bridge components such as the central piers. This issue is of particular relevance not only in new design but also in the assessment of the existing infrastructure. Among a wide range of issues relevant to soil,structure interaction, typical highway overcrossings that have flexible abutments supported on earth embankments were investigated extensively in the paper. Simulation procedures are proposed for consideration of bridge-embankment interaction effects in practical analysis of these structures for estimation of their seismic performance. Results are extrapolated after extensive parametric studies and are used to extract ready-to-use, general, and parameterized capacity curves for a wide range of possible material properties and geometric characteristics of the bridge-embankment assembly. Using two instrumented highway overpasses as benchmark examples, the capacity curves estimated using the proposed practical procedures are correlated successfully with the results of explicit incremental dynamic analysis, verifying the applicability of the simple tools developed herein, in seismic assessment of existing short bridges. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Spectro-temporal sound density-dependent long-term adaptation in cat primary auditory cortexEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 12 2008Boris Gourévitch Abstract Sensory systems use adaptive strategies to code for the changing environment on different time scales. Short-term adaptation (up to 100 ms) reflects mostly synaptic suppression mechanisms after response to a stimulus. Long-term adaptation (up to a few seconds) is reflected in the habituation of neuronal responses to constant stimuli. Very long-term adaptation (several weeks) can lead to plastic changes in the cortex, most often facilitated during early development, by stimulus relevance or by behavioral states such as attention. In this study, we show that long-term adaptation with a time course of tens of minutes is detectable in anesthetized adult cat auditory cortex after a few minutes of listening to random-frequency tone pips. After the initial post-onset suppression, a slow recovery of the neuronal response strength to tones at or near their best frequency was observed for low-rate random sounds (four pips per octave per second) during stimulation. The firing rate at the end of stimulation (15 min) reached levels close to that observed during the initial onset response. The effect, visible for both spikes and, to a smaller extent, local field potentials, decreased with increasing spectro-temporal density of the sound. The spectro-temporal density of sound may therefore be of particular relevance in cortical processing. Our findings suggest that low stimulus rates may produce a specific acoustic environment that shapes the primary auditory cortex through very different processing than for spectro-temporally more dense and complex sounds. [source] Expression and localization of P2 nucleotide receptor subtypes during development of the lateral ventricular choroid plexus of the ratEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 11 2007P. A. Johansson Abstract The choroid plexuses secrete cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and regulate the brain's internal environment via the blood,CSF barrier. The permeability properties of the blood,CSF interface have been studied previously in adult and immature brains, however, little is known about the development of CSF secretion and its modulation. ATP influences secretion in other epithelia via ionotropic P2X or metabotropic P2Y receptors. P2 receptors have frequently been found to be down-regulated in the postnatal period, suggesting a developmental role for purinergic and pyrimidine signalling. The present study investigated the expression of P2 receptors in lateral ventricular choroid plexus in relation to recent studies of aquaporin-1 expression and rapid expansion of the lateral ventricles in rat embryos. In the present study mRNAs for all known mammalian nucleotide receptor subtypes, except P2X7, were identified from as early as E15. P2X7 mRNA was detected from E18. Indications of differential expression patterns were observed for the different subtypes during development: an apparent increase in expression for P2Y2 and P2X7, a decline in P2X1-2,4, no detectable difference in expression levels for P2X6 and P2Y12-13 and transient expression peaks for P2X3,5 and P2Y1,4,6,14. P2X4,5,7 and P2Y1,4 receptor proteins were detected immunohistochemically in the choroidal epithelium from early in development (E15 or E18). Their differing developmental profiles suggest specific roles in the development of CSF secretion that may have particular relevance for the rapid expansion of the ventricles that occurs in the embryo. P2X5 and P2Y6 were also detected in the developing neuropendyma from P0 and P9, respectively. [source] Neoproterozoic ,snowball Earth' glaciations and the evolution of altruismGEOBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2007R. A. BOYLE ABSTRACT We hypothesize that a demographic and ecological effect of Neoproterozoic ,snowball Earth' glaciations was to increase the fitness of group-level traits and consequently the likelihood of the evolution of macroscopic form. Extreme and repeated founder effects raised genetic relatedness , and therefore the influence of kin selection on the individuals within a group. This was permissive for the evolution of some highly costly altruistic traits, including those for macroscopic differentiation. In some eukaryotic species, the harsh and fluctuating abiotic conditions made a macroscopic physiology advantageous, perhaps necessary, for collective survival. This caused population-wide group viability selection, whereby non-altruist ,cheat' genotypes killed the groups they were in, and therefore themselves, by reaching fixation. Furthermore, dispersal between refugia would reach zero under anything near a ,hard snowball', which would protect altruists at high local frequency from the influx of cheats from neighbouring groups. We illustrate our hypothesis analytically and with a simple spatial model. We show how removal of between-group dispersal, in a population with initial between-group variation in cheat frequency, causes the relative frequency of altruists to increase while the population as a whole decreases in size, as a result of group death caused by cheat invasion. This may be of particular relevance to animal multicellularity because irreversible differentiation (highly altruistic in that it imposes a high fitness cost on the individual cell) is more prevalent than in other multicellular eukaryotes. The relevance of our hypothesis should be scaled by any future consensus on the severity of snowball Earth, but it is theoretically plausible that global-scale glaciations had a systematic influence on the level of selection during Earth history. [source] Historical writing in twelfth- and thirteenth-century Scotland: the Dunfermline compilationHISTORICAL RESEARCH, Issue 220 2010Alice Taylor This article examines the first three items in a manuscript housed in the Royal Library in Madrid but written at the Benedictine abbey of Dunfermline in Fife, Scotland during the reign of James III (1460,88). It argues that the three items were originally put together during the reign of Alexander III (1249,86) and together formed a compilation which should be viewed as the earliest extant history of the twelfth- and thirteenth-century kings of Scots. Interestingly, the Dunfermline compilation did not stress the Irish ancestry of the kings of Scots, as might be assumed, but instead set its subjects against the backdrop of their Anglo-Saxon descent from the house of Cerdic. The article then considers the relationship of the Dunfermline compilation to Turgot's Vita Sancte Margarete and Aelred of Rievaulx's Genealogia Regum Anglorum and argues that the use of these sources in the compilation suggest that it was put together for a particular political purpose, a purpose for which the Anglo-Saxon ancestry of the kings of Scots had particular relevance. [source] Assessing the results of scenarios of climate and land use changes on the hydrology of an Italian catchment: modelling studyHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 19 2010Daniela R. D'Agostino Abstract Hydrological models are recognized as valid scientific tools to study water quantity and quality and provide support for the integrated management and planning of water resources at different scales. In common with many catchments in the Mediterranean, the study catchment has many problems such as the increasing gap between water demand and supply, water quality deterioration, scarcity of available data, lack of measurements and specific information. The application of hydrological models to investigate hydrological processes in this type of catchments is of particular relevance for water planning strategies to address the possible impact of climate and land use changes on water resources. The distributed catchment scale model (DiCaSM) was selected to study the impact of climate and land use changes on the hydrological cycle and the water balance components in the Apulia region, southern Italy, specifically in the Candelaro catchment (1780 km2). The results obtained from this investigation proved the ability of DiCaSM to quantify the different components of the catchment water balance and to successfully simulate the stream flows. In addition, the model was run with the climate change scenarios for southern Italy, i.e. reduced winter rainfall by 5,10%, reduced summer rainfall by 15,20%, winter temperature rise by 1·25,1·5 °C and summer temperature rise by 1·5,1·75 °C. The results indicated that by 2050, groundwater recharge in the Candelaro catchment would decrease by 21,31% and stream flows by 16,23%. The model results also showed that the projected durum wheat yield up to 2050 is likely to decrease between 2·2% and 10·4% due to the future reduction in rainfall and increase in temperature. In the current study, the reliability of the DiCaSM was assessed when applied to the Candelaro catchment; those parameters that may cause uncertainty in model output were investigated using a generalized likelihood uncertainty estimation (GLUE) methodology. The results showed that DiCaSM provided a small level of uncertainty and subsequently, a higher confidence level. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Clinical use of the adult attachment interview in parent,infant psychotherapyINFANT MENTAL HEALTH JOURNAL, Issue 4 2004Miriam Steele This article provides an illustration of how the use of the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI; George, Kaplan, & Main, 1985) can be extended beyond the research arena to its use as a clinical instrument in parent,infant psychotherapy. The article is based on the ongoing work of the Parent,Infant Project team at the Anna Freud Centre, London, where psychoanalytically trained therapists routinely administer the AAI early in the therapeutic process. In the first part of the article, we introduce the thinking behind the use of the AAI as a clinical tool and its particular relevance to the field of parent,infant psychotherapy. In the second part, we track the accruing clinical picture built up from a case example of the initial clinical sessions with a father who attended the Parent,Infant Project with his partner and two young children, and from the father's AAI. The discussion of the AAI material illustrates the distinct, yet related, interpretations of the parent,infant psychotherapist and the independent AAI coder as each made sense of the father's interview transcript. The resulting dialogue, between the psychodynamic-clinical and the attachment-research based approaches to the AAI, aims to highlight the added value the interview provides to the clinical understanding and process in parent,infant psychotherapy, which may ultimately help bridge the gap between the research and clinical domains. [source] Recent Changes in the Regulation of Financial Markets and Reporting in Canada,ACCOUNTING PERSPECTIVES, Issue 1 2007Carla Carnaghan ABSTRACT The regulation of financial reporting and financial markets has undergone significant change in both the United States and Canada since 2000. In Canada, the regulatory regime is particularly complex and politically controversial, with much speculation about possible future directions. This paper's purpose is to explain the current regulatory environment as it stands in mid-2006 to assist those who teach or conduct research in this domain. On the basis of a review of existing regulations and related studies, this paper first provides an explanation of the major jurisdictional issues that affect financial reporting and regulation in Canada, including identifying the roles of the key players. Second, it identifies specific reporting changes that might be of particular relevance to prospective capital market researchers. Where relevant, comparisons are made with regulatory provisions in the United States, because the majority of capital markets research concerns U.S. securities exchanges regulation, and the Canadian regulations themselves often refer to U.S. regulations as a point of comparison. We find that the lack of a single national securities regulator in Canada and overlaps in federal and provincial jurisdiction and among regulatory bodies mean there is a large range of players involved in financial markets regulation. Ongoing efforts to improve integration include the new passport system, improved harmonization of securities regulation, and consideration of mergers between some of the involved organizations. Other changes have led to a greater emphasis in Canada on the regulation of continuous disclosure and corporate governance than was previously the case. Changes in specific reporting regulations and guidelines since 2002 have generally increased the amount of disclosure. [source] Toll-Like Receptors in Older AdultsJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 9 2007David Van Duin MD Toll-like receptors (TLRs) recognize a limited number of conserved elements in pathogens and, by activating antigen-presenting cells such as dendritic cells and monocytes and macrophages, play a crucial role in the immune response to infection and vaccination. Most data on TLR function in the context of human aging focus on responses to lipopolysaccharide, an integral component of gram-negative bacteria, which signals through TLR4. However, such studies have not led to a consensus conclusion and are limited by differences in epidemiological and laboratory methods. A recent comprehensive evaluation of TLR function in monocytes from older adults was conducted using a multivariable mixed statistical model to account for covariates. It was found that cytokine production after TLR1/2 engagement, which is essential for the recognition of triacylated lipopeptides found in a variety of bacteria, is substantially lower in monocytes from older adults. The upregulation of costimulatory proteins such as CD80, essential for optimal activation of T cells, on monocytes from older adults was less for all TLR ligands tested than for cells from young individuals, and the extent of CD80 upregulation predicted subsequent antibody response to influenza immunization. These and other consequences of aging on human TLR function may impair activation of the immune response and contribute to poorer vaccine responses and greater morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases in older adults. Such age-associated alterations have particular relevance in view of the interest in TLR agonists as therapeutic agents not only for infections, but also for allergic, autoimmune, and malignant disease. [source] Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes for Hypertension and Cardiovascular Risk ReductionJOURNAL OF CLINICAL HYPERTENSION, Issue 1 2003Karol Watson MD Elevated blood pressure is the most common chronic illness in the United States, affecting more than 50 million people. Hypertension is an even greater problem in the African American community. Traditionally, management of hypertension and cardiovascular risk reduction has focused on drug therapy; however, several studies have shown the benefits of therapeutic lifestyle changes for blood pressure lowering and cardiovascular risk reduction. Therapeutic lifestyle changes to reduce blood pressure have enormous potential as a means for preventing and controlling hypertension and thereby reducing the risk of coronary heart disease. Although the reductions in blood pressure are relatively modest with these approaches, they could potentially have a beneficial impact on overall cardiovascular morbidity and mortality when applied to the whole population. Because of their high prevalence of certain cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., obesity, diabetes mellitus) and greater salt sensitivity, therapeutic lifestyle changes have particular relevance for African Americans. [source] Obesity , is it a genetic disorder?JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, Issue 5 2003R. J. F. Loos Abstract., Loos RJF, Bouchard C (Human Genomics Laboratory, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA). Obesity , is it a genetic disorder? (Review). J Intern Med 2003; 254: 401,425. Obesity is one of the most pressing problems in the industrialized world. Twin, adoption and family studies have shown that genetic factors play a significant role in the pathogenesis of obesity. Rare mutations in humans and model organisms have provided insights into the pathways involved in body weight regulation. Studies of candidate genes indicate that some of the genes involved in pathways regulating energy expenditure and food intake may play a role in the predisposition to obesity. Amongst these genes, sequence variations in the adrenergic receptors, uncoupling proteins, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, and the leptin receptor genes are of particular relevance. Results that have been replicated in at least three genome-wide scans suggest that key genes are located on chromosomes 2p, 3q, 5p, 6p, 7q, 10p, 11q, 17p and 20q. We conclude that the currently available evidence suggests four levels of genetic determination of obesity: genetic obesity, strong genetic predisposition, slight genetic predisposition, and genetically resistant. This growing body of research may help in the development of anti-obesity agents and perhaps genetic tests to predict the risk for obesity. [source] Correlation of the apparent diffusion coefficient and the creatine level in early ischemic stroke: A comparison of different patterns by magnetic resonanceJOURNAL OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING, Issue 3 2001Helmut Rumpel PhD Abstract It has been reported that reduction of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) after stroke can persist for several days, after which the ADC increases gradually to an abnormally high level. We evaluated ADC values of stroke lesions and compared the results to the cellular density of the lesion by means of the creatine (Cre) level. This two-parameter estimation is of particular relevance in ascertaining the underlying cellular status. Lesion-to-contralateral ADC ratios (ADCn) were obtained based on diffusion-weighted echo-planar and fast spin-echo imaging. Single-voxel localized spectroscopy was used for quantification of cerebral metabolites in infarcted regions. Their levels were also compared to that in homotopic contralateral regions. Fifteen patients with ischemic stroke were examined at times ranging from 18,88 hours following the onset of symptoms. In the stroke lesion, there was a significant correlation between the ADC and the Cre level showing that the higher the cell density the lower the ADC value. For ADCn vs. the lesion Cre concentration and the lesion-to-contralateral Cre ratio (Cren), the strengths of relationship were R2 = 0.70 and 0.58, respectively. It is concluded that ADC is a good reflection of cell density. Greatly lowered ADC values occur within the context of a stable cellularity. ADC and the Cre level have complementary roles in the characterization of stroke lesion with regard to the sequential stage. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2001;13:335,343. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Debt Stabilizing Fiscal RulesJOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMIC THEORY, Issue 5 2010PHILIPPE MICHEL Unstable government debt dynamics can typically be stabilized around a certain target level of debt by adjustments in various fiscal instruments, like government spending, transfers, or taxes. This paper investigates properties of debt stabilizing rules which link the needed budgetary adjustments to the state of the economy. The paper establishes that the magnitude of the target level of long-run debt is a key determinant of whether it is possible to find a rule of this type that can be implemented under all available fiscal instruments. Specifically, considering linear feedback rules, the paper demonstrates that there may well exist a critical target level of debt beyond which this is no longer possible. From an applied perspective, this finding is of particular relevance in the context of a monetary union with decentralized fiscal policies. Depending on the target level of debt, there might be a conflict between a common fiscal framework that tracks deficit developments as a function of the state of the economy and the unrestricted choice of fiscal policy instruments at the national level. [source] Liquid flow in capillary (electro)chromatography: Generation and control of micro- and nanoliter volumesJOURNAL OF SEPARATION SCIENCE, JSS, Issue 6-7 2003Erdmann Rapp Abstract We describe and discuss instrumental developments in capillary (electro)chromatography which are of particular relevance for generating (and controlling) required volumetric flow rates in the micro- and nanoliter range through packed capillaries. Both isocratic and gradient elution are considered. For capillary HPLC this practically involves only commercial instrumentation, with systems based on syringe or piston pumps, but it also realizes the innovative concept of a high-pressure electrokinetic pump. The numerous systems that have been used to generate electroosmotic flow through chromatographic beds are classified under the following headings: i) basically commercial capillary electrophoresis instruments (adapted for electrochromatography); ii) home-built configurations; and iii) commercial capillary electrochromatography systems. Concerning the reviewed instrumentation, emphasis is placed on feasibility, automation, as well as system-inherent delay times and dead volumes. [source] Role of Internal Friction in Indentation Damage in a Mica-Containing Glass-CeramicJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY, Issue 11 2001Anthony C. Fischer-Cripps The indentation response of a mica-containing glass-ceramic that exhibits shear-driven yield in an indentation test is interpreted in terms of events occurring on the microstructural scale. It is proposed that shear-driven damage within the specimen occurs via internal sliding along cleavage planes within the mica platelets. The sliding surfaces in this case are considered to be atomically smooth so the real and apparent areas of contact coincide. The frictional shear stress is thus independent of the normal forces arising from thermal mismatch stresses and only depends on the work of adhesion of the interface and the scale of the contacts. The scale of contacts for these materials lies within an intermediate zone in which the frictional shear stress arises from the stress required to nucleate dislocation-like discontinuities within the material. This leads to a size effect similar to that experienced by a crack in Mode II loading and is in accordance with previous work in which a connection between such a size effect and the macroscopic response of the material was identified. This work has particular relevance to the design and manufacturing of ceramics in machining, wear, bearings, and coatings applications. [source] Evidence-Based Strategies for Reading Instruction of Older Students with Learning DisabilitiesLEARNING DISABILITIES RESEARCH & PRACTICE, Issue 2 2008Greg Roberts Over a quarter of 8th-grade students and more than one-third of 4th graders do not read well enough to understand important concepts and acquire new knowledge from grade-level text. For students with learning disabilities, the numbers are more troubling. This article describes features of evidence-based instruction for students who continue to struggle with reading in late elementary, middle, and high school. Recommendations are organized into 5 areas that are critical to the reading improvement of older struggling readers: (1) word study, (2) fluency, (3) vocabulary, (4) comprehension, and (5) motivation. Much of the content in this article reflects our efforts with the Special Education and Reading Strands at the National Center on Instruction, funded by the Office of Special Education Programs and the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. Two reports, both available at http://www.centeroninstruction.org/, have particular relevance,Interventions for Adolescent Struggling Readers: A Meta-Analysis with Implications for Practice and Academic Literacy Instruction for Adolescents: A Guidance Document from the Center on Instruction. [source] ,An important obligation of citizenship': language, citizenship and jury serviceLEGAL STUDIES, Issue 2 2007R Gwynedd Parry This paper considers whether there should be the power to summon bilingual juries in criminal trials in Ireland and Wales. It will examine the relationship between jury service as an obligation and privilege of citizenship, and the eligibility for jury service of Irish and Welsh speakers as a linguistic group. It will also demonstrate the relationship between the citizenship argument in its collective context and the rights and interests of individual speakers of these languages within the criminal jury trial process. In doing so, it seeks to emphasise that this is a multidimensional issue which requires an evaluation from a combination of perspectives, both collective and individual. It is this combination of perspectives, taken conjunctively, that supports the case for bilingual juries. Moreover, this particular debate has a particular relevance to the wider debate on European citizenship and how Europe views the concept of multilingual citizenship within its constitutional framework. Indeed, it raises fundamental questions about how Europe manages its diverse cultural and linguistic heritage and how speakers of minority languages are integrated on a basis of equality and respect towards their cultural and linguistic autonomy. The paper also addresses the objections to bilingual juries and will explore how the advent of bilingual juries could continue to preserve the random selection principle (the primary objection to bilingual juries) sufficiently to bring about fair, impartial and competent tribunals. [source] Brahms and the Principle of Destabilised BeginningsMUSIC ANALYSIS, Issue 1 2009Ryan Mcclelland ABSTRACT Despite the considerable research on moment-to-moment motivic development in Brahms's instrumental music, surprisingly few studies emphasise global thematic processes which involve transformations of initially destabilised thematic material. After placing Brahms's destabilised beginnings in the context of earlier nineteenth-century works, the article explores several pieces with destabilised beginnings in order to demonstrate Brahms's range of techniques for tonal and rhythmic-metric destabilisation, strategies used to maintain destabilisation at preliminary thematic returns and the relationships between destabilised beginnings and their eventual stabilised form. Tonal destabilisation subsumes several related and somewhat overlapping techniques, and the article pursues six which have particular relevance in Brahms's music: (1) stylistically marked chromaticism, (2) unusual dissonance treatment, (3) denial of harmonic or melodic cadence, (4) minimally stable diatonic harmonisation, (5) disjuncture between harmonic function and sonority type and (6) ambiguous establishment of key. The briefer consideration of rhythmic-metric destabilisation studies dissonance (1) at the level of metre and (2) at some level of hypermetre. The concluding section addresses stylistic and genre-specific constraints on destabilised beginnings as well as the implications of destabilised beginnings for the analysis of musical form, especially the distinction between rondo and modified sonata designs. [source] Immunohistological intensity measurements as a tool to assess sarcolemma-associated protein expressionNEUROPATHOLOGY & APPLIED NEUROBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2010V. Arechavala-Gomeza V. Arechavala-Gomeza, M. Kinali, L. Feng, S. C. Brown, C. Sewry, J. E. Morgan and F. Muntoni (2010) Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology36, 265,274 Immunohistological intensity measurements as a tool to assess sarcolemma-associated protein expression Aims: The quantification of protein levels in muscle biopsies is of particular relevance in the diagnostic process of neuromuscular diseases, but is difficult to assess in cases of partial protein deficiency, particularly when information on protein localization is required. The combination of immunohistochemistry and Western blotting is often used in these cases, but is not always possible if the sample is scarce. We therefore sought to develop a method to quantify relative levels of sarcolemma-associated proteins using digitally captured images of immunolabelled sections of skeletal muscle. Methods: To validate our relative quantification method, we labelled dystrophin and other sarcolemmal proteins in transverse sections of muscle biopsies taken from Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Becker muscular dystrophy patients, a manifesting carrier of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and normal controls. Results: Using this method to quantify relative sarcolemmal protein abundance, we were able to accurately distinguish between the different patients on the basis of the relative amount of dystrophin present. Conclusions: This comparative method adds value to techniques that are already part of the diagnostic process and can be used with minimal variation of the standardized protocols, without using extra amounts of valuable biopsy samples. Comparative quantification of sarcolemmal proteins on immunostained muscle sections will be of use to establish both the abundance and localization of the protein. Moreover, it can be applied to assess the efficacy of experimental therapies where only partial restoration or upregulation of the protein may occur. [source] Monounsaturated Fat and Cardiovascular RiskNUTRITION REVIEWS, Issue 2006Jose López-Miranda MD On the basis of the information discussed in this review, we can conclude that the effects of a high intake of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) from olive oil include a wide range of healthy benefits beyond improvement in cholesterol levels, suggesting that this type of diet has great potential in preventing cardiovascular disease. MUFA-enriched diets reduce insulin requirements and decrease plasma concentrations of glucose and insulin in type 2 diabetic patients, unlike high-saturated fatty acid and low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets. Moreover, some data show that this dietary model could have a hypotensive effect. There is also substantial evidence that oleic-enriched low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is more resistant to oxidative modifications and that dietary MUFA may influence various components and functions related to the endothelium. These include endothelium-dependent vasodilatation and a reduced capacity of oleicenriched LDL to promote the adhesion and chemotaxis of monocytes. On the other hand, a MUFA diet decreases the prothrombotic environment, modifying platelet adhesion, coagulation, and fibrinolysis. Its reducing effect on PAI-1 plasma levels is of particular relevance. This wide range of anti-atherogenic effects could explain the low rate of cardiovascular mortality found in Mediterranean countries, where there is a moderate to high supply of dietary MUFA. Future studies need to focus on uncovering the mechanisms by which the Mediterranean diet exerts its beneficial effects [source] Successfully overcoming the inhibitory impact of the "forget" instruction: A voxel-based morphometric study of directed forgettingPSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 5 2009Anna Nowicka Abstract In directed-forgetting studies, test items are followed by an instruction either to "remember" or to "forget" (F). Many to-be-forgotten (TBF) stimuli are not retrieved at the recognition phase. However, some subjects are able to correctly recollect a high number of TBF stimuli. We examined whether this ability is reflected in the structure of brain regions involved in memory and the control of retrieval processes. In subjects with high recognition rates for TBF stimuli, voxel-based morphometry revealed increased gray matter (GM) volume in the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) and the right hippocampus (H). GM volume in these regions correlated positively with the TBF recognition rate. No significant differences were detected in subjects who forgot many TBF stimuli. Our findings indicate that the right H and left VLPFC are of particular relevance in releasing TBF items from inhibition caused by the F instruction. [source] The effect of laser profile, fluence, and spot size on sensitivity in orthogonal-injection matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometryRAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY, Issue 18 2008Hui Qiao The influence of incident laser parameters on sensitivity in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) has been investigated using orthogonal-injection time-of-flight (TOF) instruments. A qualitative comparison was first made between the beam profiles obtained with a N2 laser and a Nd:YAG laser using 2-m long optical fibers. The N2 laser gives better sensitivity, consistent with a more uniform fluence distribution and therefore better coverage of the N2 laser profile. Most of the difference disappears when a 30-m long fiber is used or when the fibers are twisted during irradiation to smooth out the fluence distribution. In more systematic measurements, the total integrated ion yield from a single spot (a measure of sensitivity) was found to increase rapidly with fluence to a maximum, and then saturate or decrease slightly. Thus, the optimum sensitivity is achieved at high fluence. For a fluence near threshold, the integrated yield has a steep (cubic) dependence on the spot size, but the yield saturates at higher fluence for smaller spots. The area dependence is much weaker (close to linear) for fluence values above saturation, with the result that the highest integrated yields per unit area are obtained with the smallest spot sizes. The results have particular relevance for imaging MALDI, where sensitivity and spatial resolution are important figures of merit. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Oncological and Aesthetic Considerations of Conservational Surgery for Multifocal/Multicentric Breast CancerTHE BREAST JOURNAL, Issue 3 2010Neill Patani BSc Abstract:, Conventional indications for mastectomy (MX) reflect circumstances where breast conserving therapy (BCT) could compromise oncological or cosmetic outcome. MX continues to be recommended for the majority of women with multiple lesions within the same breast. In this article, we review the oncological safety and aesthetic considerations of BCT in the context of multifocal (MF) or multicentric (MC) breast cancer. Literature review facilitated by Medline and PubMed databases. Published studies have reported divergent results regarding the oncological adequacy of BCT in the management of MF or MC disease. Earlier studies demonstrated high rates of local recurrence (LR) for BCT. More recent series have found BCT to be comparable to MX in terms of LR, distant failure, disease free and overall survival. Few studies have adequately evaluated cosmetic outcomes following BCT for MF or MC breast cancer. Contemporary oncoplastic techniques have extended the clinical utility of BCT and are of particular relevance to breast conservation in the context of MF or MC lesions. Appropriate case selection, preoperative oncological and aesthetic planning, satisfactory clearance of the surgical margins and adjuvant radiotherapy are of paramount importance. In the absence of level-1 guidance concerning the management of women with MF or MC disease, each case requires discussion with regard to tumor and patient related factors in the context of the multidisciplinary team. In selected patients with MF or MC disease, BCT is oncologically safe and cosmetically acceptable. Uniformity of practice and the establishment of a standard of care will require an evidence-base from prospective studies. [source] REVIEW ARTICLE: Immunological Paradigms and the Pathogenesis of Ovine Chlamydial AbortionAMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 4 2010Gary Entrican Citation Entrican G, Wattegedera S, Wheelhouse N, Allan A, Rocchi M. Immunological paradigms and the pathogenesis of ovine chlamydial abortion. Am J Reprod Immunol 2010 Successful mammalian pregnancy involves complex immunological interactions between the mother and foetus that are not yet fully understood. A number of immunological paradigms have been established to explain the failure of the maternal immune system to reject the semi-allogeneic foetus, mainly based on studies in mice and humans. However, as placental structure, gestation periods and number of concepti per pregnancy can vary greatly between mammals, it is not always clear how applicable these immunological paradigms are to reproduction in other species. Here, we discuss the predictions of three important immunological paradigms in relation to the pathogenesis of ovine enzootic abortion (OEA), a common cause of infectious abortion in sheep and other ruminants. OEA is caused by the intracellular Gram-negative bacterium Chlamydophila abortus that exhibits a tropism for placental trophoblast. The paradigms of particular relevance to the pathogenesis of OEA are as follows: (i) intracellular bacterial infections are controlled by TH1-type CD4+ve T cells; (ii) indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase is expressed in the placenta to prevent immunological rejection of the semi-allogeneic foetus; and (iii) pregnancy is a maternal TH2-type phenomenon. We discuss the relevance and validity of these paradigms for chlamydial abortion and reproductive immunology in sheep. [source] Telepsychiatry with rural American Indians: issues in civil commitmentsBEHAVIORAL SCIENCES & THE LAW, Issue 3 2008Jay H. Shore M.D., M.P.H. The use of live interactive videoconferencing to provide psychiatric care, telepsychiatry, has particular relevance for improving mental health treatment to rural American Indian reservations. There is little literature on civil commitments in telepsychiatry and none specifically addressing this topic among American Indians. This article reviews telepsychiatry in the mental health care of American Indians, civil commitments and telepsychiatry in general, and the current state of civil commitments in American Indian communities. We conclude by considering commitment through telepsychiatry in rural reservations and offering guidelines to assist practitioners in navigating this challenging landscape. Civil commitments of American Indian patients residing in rural reservations can be successfully accomplished through videoconferencing by thoughtful and informed clinicians. However, much more work is needed in this area, including research into the cultural attitudes and perspectives towards commitments and further inquiry regarding potential legal precedents, as well as case reports and examples of this work. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A phytase enzyme-based biochemistry practical particularly suited to students undertaking courses in biotechnology and environmental scienceBIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY EDUCATION, Issue 5 2004Angela Boyce Abstract Courses in introductory biochemistry invariably encompass basic principles of enzymology, with reinforcement of lecture-based material in appropriate laboratory practicals. Students undertaking practical classes are more enthusiastic, and generally display improved performance, when the specific experiments undertaken show direct relevance to their core degree area. Herein is described an enzyme-based practical of particular relevance to students undertaking primary degrees in biotechnology, environmental science, nutrition, as well as animal and veterinary science. The practical entails assay of phytase, an enzyme that is now routinely included in monogastric animal feed in order to ameliorate the negative nutritional and environmental consequences of its substrate, dietary phytic acid. The practical is technically straightforward, requiring relatively basic laboratory equipment and reagents that are both easily obtained and relatively inexpensive. To be an effective digestive supplement, the enzyme must display a combination of physicochemical properties, which provide sufficient scope for an interesting and multifaceted post-laboratory discussion. [source] Immunohistochemical appearance of HNE-protein conjugates in human astrocytomasBIOFACTORS, Issue 1-4 2005Kamelija Zarkovic Abstract Gliomas are tumors originating from astrocytes, oligodendrocytes or ependimal cells. Those of astrocytic origin are the most widespread of primary brain tumors and account for more then 60% of all CNS neoplasms. The current state of knowledge on the associations between tumor etiology and oxidative stress suggests that environmental factors that cause oxidative stress could also induce and promote cancer, especially in case of hereditary predisposition. Among mediators of oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation product 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) is of particular relevance in oncology, as it is known to act as a growth-regulating factor and a signaling molecule. The aim of present study was to investigate by immunohistochemistry the presence of HNE-modified proteins in different types of astrocytoma. Our study comprised 45 astrocytic tumors. These tumors were graded in accordance with the WHO classification as diffuse astrocytomas (DA), anaplastic astrocytomas (AA) and glioblastomas (GB), while each group comprised 15 tumors. Slides of paraffin-embedded tumor tissue were stained with hematoxylin-eosin or were prepared for immunohistochemistry with monoclonal antibodies to HNE-histidine conjugate. Positive immunohistochemical reaction to HNE was analyzed semi-quantitatively. HNE positivity was proportional with malignancy of astrocytomas. The weakest presence of HNE-histidine adducts was found in DA, followed by AA and GB. Lowest intensity of HNE immunopositivity was present in tumor cells of almost all DA, predominantly around blood vessels. In malignant variants of astrocytoma, AA and GB, HNE positivity was moderate to strong, and diffusely distributed in all tumors. [source] The impact of an assisted conception unit on the workload of a general gynaecology unitBJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 2 2002Joanne McManus The burden placed on a hospital by the presence of an assisted conception unit has been emphasised only in terms of its impact on neonatal services. This paper examines the previously neglected subject of the gynaecological workload generated by a tertiary fertility centre that provides treatments by assisted conception. As many IVF units operate independently this additional workload may not be appreciated. It has, however, significant practical and financial implications for neighbouring hospitals and trusts. This is of particular relevance in view of the move towards more uniform health service funding of assisted conception throughout the United Kingdom. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||