On the loss of regularity for a class of weakly hyperbolic operators

In this paper we determine bounds for the optimal loss of regularity in the Sobolev scale for a class of weakly hyperbolic operators. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

De novo loss- or gain-of-function mutations in KCNA2 cause epileptic encephalopathy.

Epileptic encephalopathies are a phenotypically and genetically heterogeneous group of severe epilepsies accompanied by intellectual disability and other neurodevelopmental features. Using next-generation sequencing, we identified four different de novo mutations in KCNA2, encoding the potassium channel KV1.2, in six isolated patients with epileptic encephalopathy (one mutation recurred three times independently). Four individuals presented with febrile and multiple afebrile, often focal seizure types, multifocal epileptiform discharges strongly activated by sleep, mild to moderate intellectual disability, delayed speech development and sometimes ataxia. Functional studies of the two mutations associated with this phenotype showed almost complete loss of function with a dominant-negative effect. Two further individuals presented with a different and more severe epileptic encephalopathy phenotype. They carried mutations inducing a drastic gain-of-function effect leading to permanently open channels. These results establish KCNA2 as a new gene involved in human neurodevelopmental disorders through two different mechanisms, predicting either hyperexcitability or electrical silencing of KV1.2-expressing neurons.

Idiopathic multifocal choroiditis/punctate inner choroidopathy with acute photoreceptor loss or dysfunction out of proportion to clinically visible lesions.

PURPOSE To report acute/subacute vision loss and paracentral scotomata in patients with idiopathic multifocal choroiditis/punctate inner choroidopathy due to large zones of acute photoreceptor attenuation surrounding the chorioretinal lesions. METHODS Multimodal imaging case series. RESULTS Six women and 2 men were included (mean age, 31.5 ± 5.8 years). Vision ranged from 20/20-1 to hand motion (mean, 20/364). Spectral domain optical coherence tomography demonstrated extensive attenuation of the external limiting membrane, ellipsoid and interdigitation zones, adjacent to the visible multifocal choroiditis/punctate inner choroidopathy lesions. The corresponding areas were hyperautofluorescent on fundus autofluorescence and were associated with corresponding visual field defects. Full-field electroretinogram (available in three cases) showed markedly decreased cone/rod response, and multifocal electroretinogram revealed reduced amplitudes and increased implicit times in two cases. Three patients received no treatment, the remaining were treated with oral corticosteroids (n = 4), oral acyclovir/valacyclovir (n = 2), intravitreal/posterior subtenon triamcinolone acetate (n = 3), and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (n = 2). Visual recovery occurred in only three cases of whom two were treated. Varying morphological recovery was found in six cases, associated with decrease in hyperautofluorescence on fundus autofluorescence. CONCLUSION Multifocal choroiditis/punctate inner choroidopathy can present with transient or permanent central photoreceptor attenuation/loss. This presentation is likely a variant of multifocal choroiditis/punctate inner choroidopathy with chorioretinal atrophy. Associated changes are best evaluated using multimodal imaging.

Anomalous Singularities for Hyperbolic Equations with Degeneracy of Infinite Order

2002 Mathematics Subject Classification: 35L80

Wanting to Get More or Protecting One's Assets: Age-Differential Effects of Gain Versus Loss Perceptions on the Willingness to Engage in Collective Action

OBJECTIVES: The present research examined motivational differences across adulthood that might contribute to age-related differences in the willingness to engage in collective action. Two experiments addressed the role of gain and loss orientation for age-related differences in the willingness to engage in collective action across adulthood. METHOD: In Experiment 1, N = 169 adults (20-85 years) were confronted with a hypothetical scenario that involved either an impending increase or decrease of health insurance costs for their respective age group. In Experiment 2, N = 231 adults (18-83 years) were asked to list an advantage or disadvantage they perceived in being a member of their age group. Subsequently, participants indicated their willingness to engage in collective action on behalf of their age group. RESULTS: Both experiments suggest that, with increasing age, people are more willing to engage in collective action when they are confronted with the prospect of loss or a disadvantage. DISCUSSION: The findings highlight the role of motivational processes for involvement in collective action across adulthood. With increasing age, (anticipated) loss or perceived disadvantages become more important for the willingness to participate in collective action.

Loss-of-function mutations of an inhibitory upstream ORF in the human hairless transcript cause Marie Unna hereditary hypotrichosis.

Marie Unna hereditary hypotrichosis (MUHH) is an autosomal dominant form of genetic hair loss. In a large Chinese family carrying MUHH, we identified a pathogenic initiation codon mutation in U2HR, an inhibitory upstream ORF in the 5' UTR of the gene encoding the human hairless homolog (HR). U2HR is predicted to encode a 34-amino acid peptide that is highly conserved among mammals. In 18 more families from different ancestral groups, we identified a range of defects in U2HR, including loss of initiation, delayed termination codon and nonsense and missense mutations. Functional analysis showed that these classes of mutations all resulted in increased translation of the main HR physiological ORF. Our results establish the link between MUHH and U2HR, show that fine-tuning of HR protein levels is important in control of hair growth, and identify a potential mechanism for preventing hair loss or promoting hair removal.

Risk factors for excess weight loss and hypernatremia in exclusively breast-fed infants

Data were prospectively obtained from exclusively breast-fed healthy term neonates at birth and from healthy mothers with no obstetric complication to determine risk factors for excess weight loss and hypernatremia in exclusively breast-fed infants. Thirty-four neonates with a weight loss > or = 10% were diagnosed between April 2001 and January 2005. Six of 18 infants who were eligible for the study had hypernatremia. Breast conditions associated with breast-feeding difficulties (P < 0.05), primiparity (P < 0.005), less than four stools (P < 0.001), pink diaper (P < 0.001), delay at initiation of first breast giving (P < 0.01), birth by cesarean section (P < 0.05), extra heater usage (P < 0.005), extra heater usage among mothers who had appropriate conditions associated with breast-feeding (P < 0.001), mean weight loss in neonates with pink diaper (P < 0.05), mean uric acid concentration in neonates with pink diaper (P < 0.0001), fever in hypernatremic neonates (P < 0.02), and the correlation of weight loss with both serum sodium and uric acid concentrations (P < 0.02) were determined. Excessive weight loss occurs in exclusively breast-fed infants and can be complicated by hypernatremia and other morbidities. Prompt initiation of breast-feeding after delivery and prompt intervention if problems occur with breast-feeding, in particular poor breast attachment, breast engorgement, delayed breast milk "coming in", and nipple problems will help promote successful breast-feeding. Careful follow-up of breast-feeding dyads after discharge from hospital, especially regarding infant weight, is important to help detect inadequate breast-feeding. Environmental factors such as heaters may exacerbate infant dehydration.

Challenging Weight Loss: The Effectiveness of a 12 Week Weight Loss Challenge on Weight Loss, Physical Activity and Motivation

The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a 12 week weight loss intervention in a commercial fitness centre on body mass index (BMI), moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and behavioural regulations consistent with Organismic Integration Theory (OIT, Deci & Ryan, 2002). The intervention group received weekly coaching sessions and bi-weekly seminars designed to increase MVPA and improve dietary intake. The results of the mixed model analyses of variance showed a significant within-subjects main effect for BMI (F = 3.57, p = .04). Changes in MVPA were not observed over time or between conditions. Changes in behavioural regulations congruent with OIT (Deci & Ryan, 2002) favoured the intervention condition. Study results indicate that 12 week weight loss challenges in commercial fitness centres may be effective to support the internalization process of exercise behavioural regulations but ineffective at producing sustainable weight loss or behavioural changes.

Ten-year results of a three-arm prospective cohort study on implants in periodontally compromised patients. Part 1: implant loss and radiographic bone loss

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the long-term outcomes of implants placed in patients treated for periodontitis periodontally compromised patients (PCP) and in periodontally healthy patients (PHP) in relation to adhesion to supportive periodontal therapy (SPT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and twelve partially edentulous patients were consecutively enrolled in private specialist practice and divided into three groups according to their initial periodontal condition: PHP, moderate PCP and severe PCP. Perio and implant treatment was carried out as needed. Solid screws (S), hollow screws (HS) and hollow cylinders (HC) were installed to support fixed prostheses, after successful completion of initial periodontal therapy (full-mouth plaque score <25% and full-mouth bleeding score <25%). At the end of treatment, patients were asked to follow an individualized SPT program. At 10 years, clinical measures and radiographic bone changes were recorded by two calibrated operators, blinded to the initial patient classification. RESULTS: Eleven patients were lost to follow-up. During the period of observation, 18 implants were removed because of biological complications. The implant survival rate was 96.6%, 92.8% and 90% for all implants and 98%, 94.2% and 90% for S-implants only, respectively, for PHP, moderate PCP and severe PCP. The mean bone loss was 0.75 (+/- 0.88) mm in PHP, 1.14 (+/- 1.11) mm in moderate PCP and 0.98 (+/- 1.22) mm in severe PCP, without any statistically significant difference. The percentage of sites, with bone loss > or =3 mm, was, respectively, 4.7% for PHP, 11.2% for moderate PCP and 15.1% for severe PCP, with a statistically significant difference between PHP and severe PCP (P<0.05). Lack of adhesion to SPT was correlated with a higher incidence of bone loss and implant loss. CONCLUSION: Patients with a history of periodontitis presented a lower survival rate and a statistically significantly higher number of sites with peri-implant bone loss. Furthermore, PCP, who did not completely adhere to the SPT, were found to present a higher implant failure rate. This underlines the value of the SPT in enhancing the long-term outcomes of implant therapy, particularly in subjects affected by periodontitis, in order to control reinfection and limit biological complications.

Exposure to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and weight loss and hospitalization in non-small cell lung cancer patients

Background. Cancer cachexia is a common syndrome complex in cancer, occurring in nearly 80% of patients with advanced cancer and responsible for at least 20% of all cancer deaths. Cachexia is due to increased resting energy expenditure, increased production of inflammatory mediators, and changes in lipid and protein metabolism. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), by virtue of their anti-inflammatory properties, are possibly protective against cancer-related cachexia. Since cachexia is also associated with increased hospitalizations, this outcome may also show improvement with NSAID exposure. ^ Design. In this retrospective study, computerized records from 700 non-small cell lung cancer patients (NSCLC) were reviewed, and 487 (69.57%) were included in the final analyses. Exclusion criteria were severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, significant peripheral edema, class III or IV congestive heart failure, liver failure, other reasons for weight loss, or use of research or anabolic medications. Information on medication history, body weight and hospitalizations was collected from one year pre-diagnosis until three years post-diagnosis. Exposure to NSAIDs was defined if a patient had a history of being treated with NSAIDs for at least 50% of any given year in the observation period. We used t-test and chi-square tests for statistical analyses. ^ Results. Neither the proportion of patients with cachexia (p=0.27) nor the number of hospitalizations (p=0.74) differed among those with a history of NSAID use (n=92) and those without (n=395). ^ Conclusions. In this study, NSAID exposure was not significantly associated with weight loss or hospital admissions in patients with NSCLC. Further studies may be needed to confirm these observations.^

Medidas de audição de pais de indivíduos com deficiência auditiva de herança autossômica recessiva

TEMA: avaliação audiológica de pais de indivíduos com perda auditiva de herança autossômica recessiva. OBJETIVO: estudar o perfil audiológico de pais de indivíduos com perda auditiva, de herança autossômica recessiva, inferida pela história familial ou por testes moleculares que detectaram mutação no gene GJB2, responsável por codificar a Conexina 26. MÉTODO: 36 indivíduos entre 30 e 60 anos foram avaliados e divididos em dois grupos: grupo controle, sem queixas auditivas e sem história familiar de deficiência auditiva, e grupo de estudos composto por pais heterozigotos em relação a genes de surdez de herança autossômica recessiva inespecífica ou portadores heterozigotos de mutação no gene da Conexina 26. Todos foram submetidos à audiometria tonal liminar (0,25kHz a 8), audiometria de altas freqüências (9kHz a 20) e emissões otoacústicas produtos de distorção (EOAPD). RESULTADOS: houve diferenças significativas na amplitude das EOAPD nas freqüências 1001 e 1501Hz entre os grupos, sendo maior a amplitude no grupo controle. Não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos para os limiares tonais de 0,25 a 20KHz. CONCLUSÃO: as EOAPD foram mais eficazes, em comparação com a audiometria tonal liminar, para detectar diferenças auditivas entre os grupos. Mais pesquisas são necessárias para verificar a confiabilidade destes dados.

Efeitos da exposição a estímulos aversivos e apetitivos incontroláveis sobre o comportamento verbal em contingências de reforço positivo

Foram analisados efeitos de diferentes histórias de incontrolabilidade por perda ou ganho de pontos sobre o desempenho posterior de participantes humanos na construção de frases. Inicialmente, os participantes podiam ganhar ou perder pontos independentemente de qualquer característica da frase construída. Posteriormente, recebiam pontos por construir frases iniciadas apenas pelo pronome "ele". Os resultados mostram que a exposição à incontrolabilidade pode dificultar condições posteriores de novas aprendizagens sob reforçamento positivo. Interessantemente, essas dificuldades foram menos acentuadas e, em certos casos, até mesmo superadas, no caso de uma história de exposição a ganhos incontroláveis de pontos. Em contrapartida, no caso de uma história de perdas incontroláveis de pontos, aprendizagens subsequentes sob reforço positivo tenderam a ser prejudicadas. Esses resultados contribuem para os estudos de incontrolabilidade e desamparo aprendido, em particular por apresentar alternativas metodológicas passíveis de aplicação a respostas verbais em humanos.

Perfil nutricional de participante da campanha nacional de vacinação do idoso em um centro de saúde escola do município de Sâo Paulo

Objetivo: Caracterizar os idosos participantes da Campanha Nacional de Vacinação quanto aos aspectos relacionados à nutrição. Método: Estudo transversal realizado com 367 indivíduos durante a 10ª Campanha Nacional de Vacinação do Idoso na Centro de Saúde Escola Geraldo de Paula Souza, no Município de São Paulo. O estudo conteve variáveis sociodemográficas relativas a percepção do estado nutricional, consumo de grupos de alimentos, número de refeições, consumo de bebidas alcoólicas e prática de atividade física. Realizou-se o teste qui-quadrado, com nível de significância indicado por p<0,05. Resultados: O consumo dos grupos de alimentos analisados foi considerado adequado para pelo menos 85 por cento dos idosos. Com relação aos líquidos, 34,8 por cento consomem mais do que 1000ml. Com relação ao consumo de bebidas alcoolicas, observa-se que 38,2 por cento dos entrevistados consumiram-na nos últimos três meses, sendo que destes 7,1 por cento consumiram mais de 3 vezes por semana. Houve associação positiva entre consumo de bebidas alc´´olicas e o sexo masculino (p<0,01). Conclusões: Esta população apresentou, em sua maioria, consumo alimentar adequado ao mínimo que foi proposto neste estudo e ausência de problemas de perda de peso ou diminuição da alimentação. Pode-se observar que, em relação ao consumo de álcool e de líquidos, os resultados estão aquém aos recomendados, sendo que estes temas podem ser abordados em atividades educativas na atenção básica

PLANKTON-CAUGHT ZOEAL STAGES AND MEGALOPA OF THE LOBSTER SHRIMP AXIUS SERRATUS (DECAPODA: AXIIDAE) FROM THE BAY OF FUNDY, CANADA, WITH A SUMMARY OF AXIIDEAN AND GEBIIDEAN LITERATURE ON LARVAL DESCRIPTIONS

Wild-caught larvae, attributed to the lobster shrimp Arius serratus, consisting of two zoeal stages and a decapodid (megalopa), are described in detail. Parentage of larvae was ascertained based on geographic distribution of axiideans and gebiideans (= former thalassinideans) within the study area and close morphological resemblance to other congeneric larval stages. Larvae of A. serratus represent the first described 'thalassinidean' larvae from Canadian Atlantic waters and the first for Axiidae within the northwest Atlantic. Among axiidean larvae, those of A. serratus most closely resemble larvae of A. stirhynchus from the eastern Atlantic. Distinct features include the spination of the pleon that set A. serratus zoeae apart from those of most other 'thalassinideans' but that, in combination with a telson very similar to Homarus americanus, contributes to the general resemblance of A. serratus larvae to those of the American lobster. The primary distinction between these taxa is the presence of a chela on the third pereiopod in the latter that is not present in the former. In view of these appendages being prone to loss or damage, other characters that separate these taxa are listed and discussed. Given the uncertain status of some taxa within Axiidae and limited detailed information of larvae with certain parentage, difficulties in delineating the family based on larvae persist, as they do for cladistic analyses using adult morphology and molecular approaches.

Advantages of graded-channel SOI nMOSFETs for application as source-follower analog buffer

In this work the performance of graded-channel (CC) SOI MOSFETs operating as source-follower buffers is presented. The experimental analysis is performed by comparing the gain and linearity of buffers implemented with CC and standard SOI MOS devices considering the same mask dimensions. It is shown that by using CC devices, buffer gain very close to the theoretical limit can be achieved, with improved linearity, while for standard devices the gain departs from the theoretical value depending on the inversion level imposed by the bias current and input voltage. Two-dimensional numerical simulations were performed in order to confirm some hypotheses proposed to explain the gain behavior observed in the experimental data. By using numerical simulations the channel length has been varied, showing that the gain of buffers implemented with CC devices remains close to the theoretical limit even when short-channel devices are adopted. It has also been shown that the length of a source-follower buffer using CC devices can be reduced by a factor of 5, in comparison with a standard Sol MOSFET, without gain loss or linearity degradation. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.