bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neonatal hyperoxia: effects on nephrogenesis and long-term glomerular structure
Authors: Sutherland Megan R. , O'Reilly Megan , Kenna Kelly , Ong Kimberley , Harding Richard , Sozo Foula , Black M. Jane
Published: February 2013

Preterm neonates are born while nephrogenesis is ongoing and are commonly exposed to factors in the extrauterine environment that may impair renal development. Supplemental oxygen therapy exposes the preterm infant to a hyperoxic environment that may induce oxidative stress. Our aim was to determine the immediate and long-term effects of exposure to hyperoxia, during the period of postnatal nephrogenesis, on renal development. Newborn mice (C57BL/6J) were kept in a normoxic (room air, 21% oxygen) or a controlled hyperoxic (65% oxygen) environment from birth to postnatal day 7 ( P7d). From P7d, animals were maintained in room air until early adulthood at postnatal day 56 ( P56d) or middle age (10 mo; P10mo). Pups were assessed for glomerular maturity and renal corpuscle cross-sectional area at P7d (control n = 14; hyperoxic n = 14). Nephron number and renal corpuscle size were determined stereologically at P56d (control n = 14; hyperoxic n = 14) and P10mo (control n = 10; hyperoxic n = 10). At P7d, there was no effect of hyperoxia on glomerular size or maturity. In early adulthood ( P56d), body weights, relative kidney weights and volumes, and nephron number were not different between groups, but the renal corpuscles were significantly enlarged. This was no longer evident at P10mo, with relative kidney weights and volumes, nephron number, and renal corpuscle size not different between groups. Furthermore, hyperoxia exposure did not significantly accelerate glomerulosclerosis in middle age. Hence, our findings show no overt long-term deleterious effects of early life hyperoxia on glomerular structure.
Effects of task and attentional selection on responses in human visual cortex
Authors: Runeson Erik , Boynton Geoffrey M. , Murray Scott O.
Published: February 2013

Multiple visual tasks can be performed on the same visual input, with different tasks presumably engaging different neuronal populations. The modular layout of the visual system implies that specific cortical regions carry more information about certain stimulus attributes than others. Thus it is reasonable to assume that decisions during a task will be optimal if they are based on the responses of the most informative neuronal signals, which presumably originate in regions with the sharpest tuning for the relevant stimulus feature. Previous studies have supported this position. Here we present the results of two fMRI experiments that confirm these findings and expand on earlier investigations by addressing the effects of the physical properties of an attended stimulus on task-related modulations in human visual cortex. Specifically, we ask whether performing two-alternative forced choice speed- and color-discrimination tasks (and other attentional processes) can modulate neural activity independent of visual stimulation and whether the effect of spatial attention depends on which task is being performed. The results indicate that 1) when stimulation and spatial attention are constant, responses in V4 and MT+ depend on the task being performed and are independent of the tested physical properties of the selected stimulus, 2) this task-dependent modulation might require a stimulus—task-specific preparatory mechanisms alone are not sufficient to drive responses, and 3) independent of which task is being performed, spatial attention adds a baseline shift to responses in MT+ and V4 when a stimulus is present.
Prevention and Treatment of Venous Thromboembolism with New Oral Anticoagulants: A Practical Update for Clinicians
Authors: Tun Nay Min , Oo Thein Hlaing
Published: February 2013

Traditional anticoagulants, such as warfarin and enoxaparin, have several limitations, including parenteral administration, need for laboratory monitoring, and ongoing dose adjustment, which may limit optimal patient care. Newer oral anticoagulants, such as direct thrombin inhibitors (e.g., dabigatran etexilate) and direct factor Xa inhibitors (e.g., rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban), have been developed to overcome these drawbacks, and thereby improve patient care. Several of these agents have been approved for use in the prevention and treatment of venous and/or systemic thromboembolism. The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of the available clinical trial data for these new oral anticoagulants in the prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism and a practical update for clinicians.
Remote Cerebellar Hemorrhage after Removal of a Supratentorial Glioma without Perioperative CSF Loss: A Case Report
Authors: Hara Takuma , Matsuda Masahide , Watanabe Shinya , Nakai Kei , Yamamoto Tetsuya , Matsumura Akira
Published: February 2013

A 44-year-old man presented with the rare complication of remote cerebellar hemorrhage (RCH) after removal of a supratentorial glioma without the loss of a large volume of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). He presented with severe headache, nausea, and vomiting for a few days, then he developed neurological deterioration including progressive disturbance of consciousness and left hemiparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large tumor with intratumoral hemorrhage in the right frontal lobe that led to subfalcial and transtentorial herniation. The tumor was removed en bloc without excessive loss of CSF throughout the perioperative period. Although the level of consciousness remained unchanged from the preoperative level and no new neurological deficit was detected, routine postoperative computed tomography showed a bilateral RCH. Careful conservative therapy was provided and follow-up computed tomography demonstrated no further progression of hemorrhage. Compensatory acute engorgement of venous sinuses derived from the rapid decrease in intracranial pressure that occurred due to removal of the huge tumor might have caused cerebellar hemorrhagic venous infarction.
Misdiagnosis and Mistreatment of Post-Kala-Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis
Authors: El Hassan Ahmed Mohamed , Khalil Eltahir Awad Gasim , Elamin Waleed Mohamed , El Hassan Lamyaa Ahmed Mohamed , Ahmed Mogtaba Elsaman , Musa Ahmed Mudawi
Published: February 2013

Post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is a known complication of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) caused byL. donovani. It is rare in VL caused byL. infantumandL. chagasi. In Sudan, it occurs with a frequency of 58% among successfully treated VL patients. In the majority of cases, PKDL can be diagnosed on the basis of clinical appearance, distribution of the lesions, and past history of treated VL. The ideal diagnostic method is to demonstrate the parasite in smears, by culture or PCR. Diagnosis is particularly difficult in patients who develop PKDL in the absence of previous history of visceral leishmaniasis. We describe a case of cutaneous leishmaniasis misdiagnosed as PKDL and 3 cases of PKDL who were either misdiagnosed or mistreated as other dermatoses. This caused exacerbation of their disease leading to high parasite loads in the lesions and dissemination to internal organs in one of the patients, who was also diabetic. The latter patient hadL. majorinfection. A fourth patient with papulonodular lesions on the face and arms of 17-year duration and who was misdiagnosed as having PKDL is also described. He turned out to have cutaneous leishmaniasis due toL. major. Fortunately, he was not treated with steroids. He was cured with intravenous sodium stibogluconate.
Falls Risk and Simulated Driving Performance in Older Adults
Authors: Gaspar John G. , Neider Mark B. , Kramer Arthur F.
Published: February 2013

Declines in executive function and dual-task performance have been related to falls in older adults, and recent research suggests that older adults at risk for falls also show impairments on real-world tasks, such as crossing a street. The present study examined whether falls risk was associated with driving performance in a high-fidelity simulator. Participants were classified as high or low falls risk using the Physiological Profile Assessment and completed a number of challenging simulated driving assessments in which they responded quickly to unexpected events. High falls risk drivers had slower response times (~2.1 seconds) to unexpected events compared to low falls risk drivers (~1.7 seconds). Furthermore, when asked to perform a concurrent cognitive task while driving, high falls risk drivers showed greater costs to secondary task performance than did low falls risk drivers, and low falls risk older adults also outperformed high falls risk older adults on a computer-based measure of dual-task performance. Our results suggest that attentional differences between high and low falls risk older adults extend to simulated driving performance.
Interest of Monitoring Diaphragmatic Electrical Activity in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Ducharme-Crevier Laurence , Du Pont-Thibodeau Geneviève , Emeriaud Guillaume
Published: February 2013

The monitoring of electrical activity of the diaphragm (EAdi) is a new minimally invasive bedside technology that was developed for the neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA) mode of ventilation. In addition to its role in NAVA ventilation, this technology provides the clinician with previously unavailable and essential information on diaphragm activity. In this paper, we review the clinical interests of EAdi in the pediatric intensive care setting. Firstly, the monitoring of EAdi allows the clinician to tailor the ventilatory settings on an individual basis, avoiding frequent overassistance leading potentially to diaphragmatic atrophy. Increased inspiratory EAdi levels can also suggest insufficient support, while a strong tonic activity may reflect the patient efforts to increase its lung volume. EAdi monitoring also allows detection of patient-ventilator asynchrony. It can play a role in evaluation of extubation readiness. Finally, EAdi monitoring provides the clinician with better understanding of the ventilatory capacity of patients with acute neuromuscular disease. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the clinical impact of these potential benefits.
A Review of Structural Performance of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Fiber in Polymer Composites
Authors: Mahjoub Reza , Bin Mohamad Yatim Jamaludin , Mohd Sam Abdul Rahman
Published: February 2013

According to environmental concerns and financial problems, natural fibers have become interesting and fascinating nowadays to be used as an industrial material and structural material for rehabilitating of structures. Oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber (OPF) is a natural fiber which is found a lot in tropical areas. Scientists have used OPF fiber with many types of resins such as epoxy, polypropylene, polyester, and phenol formaldehyde. Therefore, this paper focused on the properties of OPF fiber and gathered mechanical properties of OPF composites (OPF as reinforcement of polymer) reported by other researchers in terms of tensile and flexural properties. Furthermore, the chemical surface modification methods to solve the interfacial bonding of fiber and polymer were mentioned. In addition, the results of hybrid composites of OPF were also discussed in this paper. Meanwhile, the results of composites were compared to pure resin properties and also the stress-strain diagram and internal strain energy of composites were considered. Besides, the effects of adding OPF to other composites to make a new hybrid composite were indicated. Finally, it is clear that the use of oil palm fiber composites for structural elements for bearing loads is not recommended but the usage of OPF composites for secondary structural elements may be recommended due to future researches.
Effectiveness of a Formal Mentorship Program in Family Medicine Residency: The Residents’ Perspective
Authors: Andrades Marie , Bhanji Seema , Valliani Mariam , Majeed Foaud , Kumari Pinjani Sheilla
Published: February 2013

Introduction. Mentoring is a recognized form of teaching learning strategy in postgraduate medical education. This paper describes the effectiveness of a formal mentorship program from the residents’ perspective after a year of implementation. Methods. The Aga Khan University Family Medicine Residency Program is the first program in Pakistan to our knowledge to implement formal mentorship for all four years of residency. A mentorship program was developed, implemented, and evaluated a year later using a rating scale. The 10-point Likert scale consisted of questions on academics, clinical work, research, administrative issues, and personal/social issues. Results. The response rate was 95% (). Eighty percent () were women. Satisfaction level in seeking help was the highest for academics (75%). Residents scored mentorship as low in helping to tackle their personal problems (20%). Barriers reported in rapport building with mentor were time constraints and gender difference. The most useful attributes of the mentor which helped rapport building were accessibility, active listening, support for emotional needs, and trustworthiness. Conclusion. Mentoring has a role in trainees’ personal and professional growth especially when their needs are addressed. The effectiveness of the mentorship program in residency can improve if the residents are allowed to choose their own mentors.
Radiation and Mass Transfer Effects on MHD Free Convection Flow of a Micropolar Fluid past a Stretching Surface Embedded in a Non-Darcian Porous Medium with Heat Generation
Authors: Ibrahim S. Mohammed , Reddy T. Sankar , Reddy N. Bhaskar
Published: February 2013

A comprehensive study of mass transfer and thermal radiation on a steady two-dimensional laminar flow of a viscous incompressible electrically conducting micropolar fluid past a stretching surface embedded in a non-Darcian porous medium in the presence of heat generation is analyzed numerically. The governing equations of momentum, angular momentum, energy, and species equations are solved numerically using Runge-Kutta fourth order method with the shooting technique. The effects of various parameters on the velocity, microrotation, temperature and concentration field as well as skin friction coefficient, Nusselt number and Sherwood number are shown graphically and tabulated. It is observed that the micropolar fluid helps in the reduction of drag forces and also acts as a cooling agent.
First Trimester Diagnosis of Holoprosencephaly Secondary to a Ring Chromosome 7
Authors: Henderson Lindsay B. , Corson Virginia L. , Saul Daniel O. , Anderson Cynthia , Millard Sarah , Batista Denise A. S. , Blakemore Karin J. , DeScipio Cheryl
Published: February 2013

Holoprosencephaly (HPE) is a developmental defect in humans in which the forebrain fails to completely separate into two hemispheres. We describe a 12 3/7-week-old fetus found on ultrasound evaluation to have features consistent with HPE, including a single anterior ventricle, fused thalami, and a flattened profile. Cytogenetic analysis of chorionic villi revealed a ring chromosome 7 [r(7)]. This uncommon finding has been associated with growth delay, microcephaly, and dermatologic abnormalities. However, both the clinical features and the extent of cytogenetic imbalance of chromosome 7 are variable, and few reported cases of r(7) have been molecularly studied. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a prenatally identified r(7), molecularly characterized using array comparative genomic hybridization.
Maternal Body Mass Index Does Not Affect Neonatal Umbilical Artery Blood Gas Parameters
Authors: Chalouhi Salam E. , Salafia Caroline , Mikhail Magdy , Hecht Robert
Published: February 2013

This study was undertaken to assess the impact of obesity on fetal well-being in glucose-tolerant and nonhypertensive women. Medical charts of all patients admitted to the labor and delivery department at our institution between January, 2011 and July, 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with diabetes/impaired glucose tolerance or hypertension were excluded. A total of 100 women, 50 lean and 50 obese, were included. Umbilical artery blood gas parameters (BGPs) were compared in lean (<25 kg/m2) and obese (≥30 kg/m2) women. Obese and lean women were comparable with respect to all baseline characteristics. There was no difference in any of the BGP or Apgar scores between obese and lean patients. Pearson’s correlation coefficient found no significant correlation between BMI and BGP/Apgar scores. Maternal obesity does not seem to affect BGP and fetal well-being in glucose-tolerant and nonhypertensive women.
Polo-Like Kinase 1: A Novel Target for the Treatment of Therapy-Resistant Mantle Cell Lymphoma
Authors: Ahrens Adam K. , Chaturvedi Nagendra K. , Shukla Ashima , Nordgren Tara M. , Hegde Ganapati V. , Vose Julie M. , Joshi Shantaram S.
Published: February 2013

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) which is one of the most aggressive lymphomas. Despite recent improvements in therapies, the development of therapy-resistance is still a major problem; therefore, in order to understand the molecular basis of therapy-resistance, stable therapy-resistant MCL cell lines have been established by us. Based on the gene expression profiles of these cell lines, Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) was chosen as a therapeutic target. In this paper, we demonstrate a significant antilymphoma effect of targeting PLK1 in therapy-resistant MCL cells and primary MCL cells from refractory patients. PLK1 knockdown with the antisense oligonucleotide (ASO)/or small molecule inhibitor BI2536 showed significantly decreased proliferation and increased apoptosis in therapy-resistant MCL cell lines and MCL primary cells. Additionally, the direct protein-protein interaction partners of PLK1 were mapped using ingenuity pathway and confirmed the level of association of these partners with PLK1 based on their expression changes following PLK1 knockdown using real-time PCR. Results suggest that PLK1 is a viable target for the treatment of therapy-resistant MCL.
Aneurysmectomy with Partial Nephrectomy on a Living Donor Renal Allograft: A Case Report
Authors: Paloyo Siegfredo , Sageshima Junichiro , Chen Linda , Burke George W. , Ciancio Gaetano
Published: February 2013

Vascular anomalies among living kidney donors are seldom encountered and their presence offers a complex opportunity for every transplant surgeon. Furthermore, there has been an increasing trend with the use of marginal or kidneys with pathology to address the shortage of organs. We report a rare case of a kidney allograft with a saccular aneurysm and renal cortical cysts for which an excision with primary repair and partial nephrectomy were done, respectively. The recipient was a 45-year-old female with lupus nephritis and significant comorbidities who had excellent recovery and outcome. With good surgical techniques, these types of grafts continue to provide acceptable outcome but safety of the donor should be of utmost importance.
Biological Atomic Force Microscopy for Imaging Gold-Labeled Liposomes on Human Coronary Artery Endothelial Cells
Authors: Zaske Ana-María , Danila Delia , Queen Michael C. , Golunski Eva , Conyers Jodie L.
Published: February 2013

Although atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been used extensively to characterize cell membrane structure and cellular processes such as endocytosis and exocytosis, the corrugated surface of the cell membrane hinders the visualization of extracellular entities, such as liposomes, that may interact with the cell. To overcome this barrier, we used 90 nm nanogold particles to label FITC liposomes and monitor their endocytosis on human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs) in vitro. We were able to study the internalization process of gold-coupled liposomes on endothelial cells, by using AFM. We found that the gold-liposomes attached to the HCAEC cell membrane during the first 15–30 min of incubation, liposome cell internalization occurred from 30 to 60 min, and most of the gold-labeled liposomes had invaginated after 2 hr of incubation. Liposomal uptake took place most commonly at the periphery of the nuclear zone. Dynasore monohydrate, an inhibitor of endocytosis, obstructed the internalization of the gold-liposomes. This study showed the versatility of the AFM technique, combined with fluorescent microscopy, for investigating liposome uptake by endothelial cells. The 90 nm colloidal gold nanoparticles proved to be a noninvasive contrast agent that efficiently improves AFM imaging during the investigation of biological nanoprocesses.
An Overview of the Statistical Methods Used for Inferring Gene Regulatory Networks and Protein-Protein Interaction Networks
Authors: Noor Amina , Serpedin Erchin , Nounou Mohamed , Nounou Hazem , Mohamed Nady , Chouchane Lotfi
Published: February 2013

The large influx of data from high-throughput genomic and proteomic technologies has encouraged the researchers to seek approaches for understanding the structure of gene regulatory networks and proteomic networks. This work reviews some of the most important statistical methods used for modeling of gene regulatory networks (GRNs) and protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks. The paper focuses on the recent advances in the statistical graphical modeling techniques, state-space representation models, and information theoretic methods that were proposed for inferring the topology of GRNs. It appears that the problem of inferring the structure of PPI networks is quite different from that of GRNs. Clustering and probabilistic graphical modeling techniques are of prime importance in the statistical inference of PPI networks, and some of the recent approaches using these techniques are also reviewed in this paper. Performance evaluation criteria for the approaches used for modeling GRNs and PPI networks are also discussed.
Targeting FoxM1 Effectively Retards p53-Null Lymphoma and Sarcoma
Authors: Wang Zebin , Zheng Yu , Park Hyun Jung , Li Jing , Carr Janai R. , Chen Yi-ju , Kiefer Megan M. , Kopanja Dragana , Bagchi Srilata , Tyner Angela L. , Raychaudhuri Pradip
Published: February 2013

The forkhead box transcription factor FOXM1 is considered to be a promising target for cancer therapy. However, the significance of FOXM1 in tumors harboring mutation in p53, which is very common, is unclear. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of FoxM1 targeting in spontaneous p53-null tumors using genetic ablation as well as using a peptide inhibitor of FOXM1. We show that conditional deletion of FoxM1 inhibits growth of the p53-null thymic lymphoma and sarcoma cells. In addition, deletion of FoxM1 induces apoptotic cell death of the p53-null tumors, accompanied by reduced expression of the FOXM1 target genes survivin and Bmi1. An ARF-derived peptide that inhibits the activity of FOXM1, by targeting it to the nucleolus, also induces apoptosis in the p53-null sarcoma and lymphoma, leading to a strong inhibition of their metastatic colonization. Together, our observations suggest that FOXM1 is critical for survival and growth of the p53-null lymphoma and sarcoma and provide proof-of-principle that FOXM1 is an effective therapeutic target for sarcoma and lymphoma carrying loss of function mutation in p53. Mol Cancer Ther; 12(5); 759–67. ©2013 AACR.
Modification of a Purification and Expansion Method for Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes
Authors: Park Soon-Jung , Bae Daekyeong , Moon Sung-Hwan , Chung Hyung-Min
Published: February 2013

Objective: This study aimed to develop a simple and efficient purification method for human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived cardiomyocytes (CMs) using a low-glucose culture system. In addition, we investigated whether intercellular adhesion between single hESC-CMs plays a critical role in enhancing proliferation of purified hESC-CMs. Method: hESCs were cultured in suspension to form human embryoid bodies (hEBs) from which ∼15% contracting clusters were derived after 15-20 days in culture. To purify CMs from contracting hEBs, we first manually isolated contracting clumps that were re-cultured on gelatin-coated plates with media containing a low concentration of glucose. The purified hESC-CMs were cultured at different densities to examine whether cell-cell contact enhances proliferation of hESC-CMs. Results: Purified CMs demonstrated spontaneous contraction and strongly expressed the CM-specific markers cardiac troponin T and slow myosin heavy chain. We investigated the purification efficiency by examining the expression levels of cardiac-related genes and the expression of MitoTracker Red dye. In addition, purified hESC-CMs in low-glucose culture demonstrated a 1.5-fold increase in their proliferative capacity compared to those cultured as single hESC-CMs. Conclusion: A low level of glucose is efficient in purifying hESC-CMs and intercellular adhesion between individual hESC-CMs plays a critical role in enhancing hESC-CM proliferation.
Admission Hyperglycaemia and Cerebral Perfusion Deficits in Acute Ischaemic Stroke
Authors: Luitse Merel J.A. , van Seeters Tom , Horsch Alexander D. , Kool Hieke A. , Velthuis Birgitta K. , Kappelle L. Jaap , Biessels Geert Jan
Published: February 2013

Introduction: Hyperglycaemia (HG) occurs in 30-40% of the patients with acute ischaemic stroke and is associated with larger infarct size and poor functional outcome. It is unknown whether HG is also associated with larger perfusion deficits in the acute stage of ischaemic stroke. As perfusion computed tomography (CT) is a reliable technique to determine the infarct core and ischaemic penumbra, we aimed to determine if patients with acute ischaemic stroke and HG have larger perfusion deficits or infarct cores on admission perfusion CT than patients with normoglycaemia (NG). Methods: We identified 80 consecutive patients (mean age 69 ± 11 years, 58% men) with acute supratentorial non-lacunar ischaemic stroke in whom CT showed a perfusion deficit within 24 h after stroke onset. The size of the total perfusion deficit area (mean transit time of >145% compared to the contralateral hemisphere) and the infarct core area (cerebral blood volume of <2.0 ml/100 g) at the level of the basal ganglia (level 1) and at the level of the corona radiata (level 2) were compared between patients with HG (admission glucose ≥7.0 mM) and patients with NG with a MANOVA. Clinical outcome [modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score] after 6 months was correlated to glucose levels at admission. Results: Admission HG was present in 33 of the 80 patients (41%). A perfusion deficit was present in 79 (40% HG) patients at level 1 and 75 (43% HG) at level 2. The total area with a perfusion deficit (level 1 HG 22.1 ± 11.3 and NG 23.3 ± 12.3 cm2; level 2 HG 27.1 ± 12.3 and NG 25.4 ± 12.0 cm2) and the proportion of the infarct core (level 1 HG 31 ± 30% and NG 25 ± 22%; level 2 HG 33 ± 27% and NG 26 ± 23%) did not differ significantly between the groups. HG was associated with worse outcome (mRS ≥3) at 6 months (OR 2.6, 95% CI 0.72-9.1). Conclusions: As compared to patients with NG, patients with HG did not have larger perfusion deficits in the acute stage of ischaemic stroke. Nevertheless, functional outcome was worse in patients with HG, which means that poor clinical outcome in stroke patients with HG could not be explained by a larger perfusion deficit in the acute stage. Therefore, our study suggests that there might be a window of opportunity for glucose-lowering therapy in the future.
High on-treatment platelet reactivity – definition and measurement
Authors: Cattaneo Marco
Published: February 2013

In the last decade, several studies revealed inter-patient response variability to antiplatelet agents: patients who display negligible or no responses to these drugs are considered poor responders, or “resistant” to treatment. In order to identify poor responders to an antiplatelet drug, laboratory tests of platelet function that specifically explore the platelet activation pathway that is targeted by the drug should be utilised. In addition, they should be performed both at baseline and during treatment: however, most studies explored platelet function during antiplatelet treatment, in order to identify those patients with “high on-treatment platelet reactivity” (HPR), which exposes them to increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Many tests of platelet function have been used, most of which are able to identify patients at risk of MACE. Unfortunately, universal cut-off values for HPR have not been clearly established yet. In addition, the concordance among different tests in the identification of patients at risk is very poor and the most effective and safe treatment for patients at risk is still unknown.
History and Tradition
Authors: Crowell William Gordon
Published: February 2013

The origins of the strategically and economically important Quebei reservoir have
long been attributed to the sixth-century B.C. Chu statesman Sunshu Ao, making
it China’s earliest major irrigation complex. Despite sparse evidence,
this tradition became widely accepted, especially in the Huainan region.
Challenges to the attribution did not rest on stronger bases and likewise
assumed the reservoir to be of pre-Han origin. In reality, careful examination
of the sources, of the development of hydraulic technology, and of the political
context points to a Western Han origin for the Quebei irrigation complex. The
result is a better appreciation of the transitional nature of the Western Han
for Chinese agriculture and a cautionary example of the pitfalls of studying
local history.  L’origine du réservoir Quebei, dont
l’importance économique et stratégique était grande,
a longtemps été attribuée à Sunshu Ao, un homme
d’État du Chu au vie siècle avant notre ère, ce qui
en aurait fait le plus ancien système d’irrigation à grande
échelle en Chine. Malgré la pauvreté des données
venant l’appuyer, cette tradition a été largement
acceptée, notamment dans la région du Huainan. Lorsqu’elle
était contestée, c’était sur des bases tout aussi
faibles, et en tout état de cause nul ne mettait en doute que le
réservoir datait d’avant les Han. L’examen attentif des
sources et la prise en compte de l’histoire des techniques hydrauliques
et du contexte politique suggèrent qu’en réalité le
système d’irrigation du Quebei a été
créé sous les Han Occidentaux. Il en ressort une meilleure
appréciation du caractère transitionnel des Han Occidentaux dans
l’histoire de l’agriculture chinoise et une conscience accrue des
pièges de l’histoire locale.
Introduction
Authors: Skalli Loubna H.
Published: February 2013

Knowledge about the generation of Middle East and North African youth has been constrained by the twin processes of intense visibilization and securitization since 9/11. The introduction to this special issue pushes research on youth beyond these processes to reveal the complex and creative ways in which young men and women have been negotiating gendered identities, spaces and power. What emerges from is a refocused appreciation of youth politics and participation, altered forms of resistances and redefined spaces and forms of protest.
Can Honorific Awards Give Us Clues about the Connection between Socioeconomic Status and Mortality?
Authors: Link Bruce G. , Carpiano Richard M. , Weden Margaret M.
Published: February 2013

Social epidemiologists Marmot and Wilkinson argue that relative deprivation is the dominant mechanism through which socioeconomic status (SES) affects mortality. If such an argument is valid, we would expect to consistently see the influence of relative deprivation in situations where two or more highly qualified and very similar individuals are nominated in a status competition, but only one receives the status boost conferred by winning. We studied mortality experiences of Emmy Award winners, Baseball Hall of Fame inductees, and presidents and vice presidents—comparing each to nominated losers in the same competition. Our findings and results of similar studies fail to show consistent advantages for winners. The association between winning and longevity is sometimes positive, sometimes negative, and sometimes nonexistent. We conclude that the critical processes determining the strength and direction of any status effect on longevity are changes in life circumstances that result from winning or losing, rather than the processes that inexorably flow from one’s relative position in a status hierarchy.
Estrogen Receptor Activation Protects Against TNF-α-Induced Endothelial Dysfunction
Authors: Palmieri Daniela , Perego Patrizia , Palombo Domenico
Published: February 2013

Lack of estrogen is a cause of cardiovascular disease in men and postmenopausal women. We examined the effects of estrogen receptor (ERs) activation/inactivation on endothelial cells subjected to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α, which is involved in vascular disease pathogenesis. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 9 expression, as well as protein kinase B (PKB) activation were evaluated as markers of endothelial dysfunction. The TNF-α induces eNOS and MMP-9 expression and PKB activation. The ER activation by apigenin, a nonsteroidal compound with estrogen-like activity mediated through ER binding-dependent pathways, counteracts these effects. These effects are reversed by classic (ER-α and ER-β) and nonclassic (G-protein-coupled receptor) ER inhibitors (ICI182 780 and pertussis toxin, respectively). Our data suggest that ER activation counteracts endothelial dysfunction induced by TNF-α. The use of ER activators, such as apigenin, may represent a strategy to prevent vascular disease associated with endothelial dysfunction, while avoiding the feminizing effects of estrogens.
Sleep Problems in Urban, Minority, Early-School-Aged Children More Prevalent Than Previously Recognized
Authors: Sheares Beverley J. , Kattan Meyer , Leu Cheng-Shiun , Lamm Carin I. , Dorsey Karen B. , Evans David
Published: February 2013

Objectives. To use the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) to characterize sleep problems in a group of 5- to 6-year-old minority children living in urban communities and to compare our findings with data from 5- to 6-year-old children in the original CSHQ validation study. Methods. A cross-sectional study design was used to collect sleep data from parents using the CSHQ. Results. The CSHQ was completed by 160 parents; 150 (94%) scored ≥41, indicating a sleep problem. The prevalence of having sleep problems for our minority community sample was significantly higher than the original community sample (94% vs 23%, P < .001). The minority sample also had significantly higher mean total CSHQ scores (51.5 vs 37.9, P < .001) and higher scores across all 8 subscales of the CSHQ ( P < .001 for all comparisons). Conclusions. The results suggest that sleep problems may be more prevalent in urban, early-school-aged minority children than previously reported.
A failure-mode based anisomorphic constant life diagram for a unidirectional carbon/epoxy laminate under off-axis fatigue loading at room temperature
Authors: Kawai M , Itoh N
Published: February 2013

The off-axis constant fatigue life diagrams for a unidirectional carbon/epoxy laminate in different fiber orientations are identified over the whole range of stress ratio. The experimental results show that the off-axis constant fatigue life diagram plotted in the plane of alternating and mean stresses tends to shrink and incline to the left of the alternating stress axis more significantly as the off-axis angle of a specimen increases. The overall shapes of the off-axis constant fatigue life envelopes for different constant values of life are highly non-linear and asymmetric about the alternating stress axis, regardless of fiber orientation. These observations suggest that the sensitivity to mean stress in off-axis fatigue differs depending on the mode of fatigue loading, i.e. tension–tension, tension–compression, and compression–compression loading, and the difference is associated with the different modes of failure under different modes of fatigue loading. To deal with the off-axis fatigue strength of a unidirectional composite for any fiber orientation over the whole range of stress ratio, a most general form of the anisomorphic constant fatigue life diagram is developed that can take into account different sensitivities to mean stress in fatigue and distinguish between the tensile- and compressive-dominated failure modes. It is demonstrated that the generalized anisomorphic constant fatigue life diagram allows accommodating itself to a significant change in shape of a constant fatigue life envelope that depends on the range of stress ratio, and thus it can successfully be applied to accurate description of the off-axis constant fatigue life diagram for the unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced plastic laminate, regardless of fiber orientation.
Effects of reduced graphene on crystallization behavior, thermal conductivity and tribological properties of poly(vinylidene fluoride)
Authors: Han Peng , Fan Jingbo , Jing Maoxiang , Zhu Lin , Shen Xiangqian , Pan Tiezheng
Published: February 2013

The reduced graphene/poly(vinylidene fluoride) nanocomposite films were prepared by the solution casting-thermal reduction process using graphene oxide and poly(vinylidene fluoride) resin. The results show that with the presence of reduced graphene nano sheets in the nanocomposite, the structure of poly(vinylidene fluoride) tends to transform from α- to β-phase and the β-phase fraction and its crystallinity are largely affected by the reduced graphene content. The thermal conductivity of poly(vinylidene fluoride) can be effectively improved by the reduced graphene nano sheets introduction and when the reduced graphene content increased to about 10.0 wt%, it is about two times higher than the pure poly(vinylidene fluoride), due to the excellent thermal conductivity of reduced graphene and formation of thermal conductive networks. With comparison of the pure poly(vinylidene fluoride), the reduced graphene/poly(vinylidene fluoride) nanocomposite films show a better tribological property at a low reduced graphene content (below 4.0 wt%), mainly owing to the lubricant and heat spreading effects of reduced graphene nano sheets. The friction coefficient and wear rate for 0.75 wt% reduced graphene/poly(vinylidene fluoride) nanocomposite film compared to the pure poly(vinylidene fluoride) are improved by 41.2% and 49.4%, respectively.
Three-dimensional progressive damage models for cohesively bonded composite π joint
Authors: Zhao Libin , Qin Tianliang , Chen Yuli , Zhang Jianyu
Published: February 2013

Integrated composite structures can significantly reduce the assembling cost and improve the performance of the aircraft. All-composite π joint, which is a connector of integrated composite structures, has good ability to reduce the weight and assembly cost while retaining good load-carrying capability. To disclose the mechanics behavior of the out-of-plane, complex all-composite joint, the progressive damage methods are investigated for its good ability to trace the damage onset, damage propagation, up to collapse of composite structures. A progressive damage model is established using a new modified maximum stress failure criterion and a material degradation model developed from Chang’s model. The material degradation model takes account of the matrix crack direction, which is predicted by the modified maximum stress-failure criterion. Meanwhile, five other progressive damage models are established and applied to static tensile analysis to study the mechanics behavior of the joint. To evaluate the prediction of the six progressive damage models in joint initial failure, damage propagation, joint strength and stiffness, the numerical results of the six progressive damage models are compared with the experiment results. The effects of failure criteria and material degradation model on the prediction results are discussed in detail. By the comparison, it can be concluded that the progressive damage model consisting of the modified maximum failure criteria and its corresponding material degradation model is considered as the best one for the analysis of the all-composite π joints, because its initial failure prediction, failure process and ultimate failure prediction agree well with the experiment result.
Translation frustration: The delicate art of Christian speech
Authors: Hovey Craig
Published: February 2013

The article compares and reviews two recent books exploring the art of Christian speaking: Stanley Hauerwas’s Learning to Speak Christian (2011) and Marcus J. Borg’s Speaking Christian (2011). I argue that both Borg and Hauerwas seek actively to recover Christian language from idolatry, abuse and misunderstanding. Their books steer a course between a Christian use of words that makes too many concessions to ‘worldly’ usage, on the one hand, and, on the other, a temptation to retreat from the world. I conclude that if a Christian refusal simply to adopt different, untainted vocabulary reflects confidence in what has been received then a willingness to play with new words reflects hope in what is yet to be given and known.
Grey’s Anatomy Viewing and Organ Donation Attitude Formation
Authors: Quick Brian L. , Morgan Susan E. , LaVoie Nicole R. , Bosch Dave
Published: February 2013

This study tests a comprehensive model linking Grey’s Anatomy viewing and perceived realism of this program with organ donation knowledge, barriers—including medical mistrust, disgust, bodily integrity, and superstition—and subsequent organ donation attitudes. In addition to testing the hypothesized structural model, ethnic differences were examined by way of (a) the multigroup method to test for differences in path coefficients, (b) multivariate analysis of variance to examine differences among the study variables, and (c) χ2 tests to assess differences in organ donation registrations among African Americans ( n = 200), Caucasians ( n = 200), and Latinos ( n = 200). Support for the overall structural model was found and various differences emerged among the African American, Caucasian, and Latino sample across study variables. The results from this research are discussed with an emphasis on the theoretical and practical implications.
Long-Term Glycemic Control as a Result of Initial Education for Children With New Onset Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Cabrera Susanne M. , Srivastava Nayan T. , Behzadi Jennifer M. , Pottorff Tina M. , DiMeglio Linda A. , Walvoord Emily C.
Published: February 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of initial diabetes education delivery at an academic medical center (AMC) versus non-AMCs on long-term glycemic control.

Methods

We performed a retrospective study of children with type 1 diabetes referred to an AMC after being educated at non-AMCs. These children were matched to a group of children diagnosed and educated as inpatients at an AMC. The A1C levels at 2, 3, and 5 years from diagnosis were compared between the 2 groups of children.

Results

Records were identified from 138 children. Glycemic control was comparable in the non-AMC-educated versus AMC-educated patients at 2, 3, and 5 years from diagnosis. The A1C was also highly consistent in each patient over time.

Conclusions

Long-term glycemic control was independent of whether initial education was delivered at an AMC or non-AMC. Formal education and location at time of diagnosis do not appear to play a significant role in long-term glycemic control. Novel educational constructs, focusing on developmental stages of childhood and reeducation over time, are likely more important than education at time of diagnosis.
Incidence of Spontaneous Non-Neoplastic Lesions in Transgenic CBYB6F1-Tg(HRAS)2Jic Mice
Authors: Paranjpe Madhav G. , Shah Sudhir A. , Denton Melissa D. , Elbekai Reem H.
Published: February 2013

Since 2003, the Tg.rasH2 model has been accepted by regulatory agencies worldwide for 26-week short-term carcinogenicity assays as an alternative to the standard 2-year assays in conventional mice. However, over the decade, the number of actual studies conducted with alternative mouse models has remained low. The primary cause for low acceptance of this model has been lack of a historical database for the incidence of spontaneous lesions. Recently, we published the historical control database on spontaneous tumors in the Tg.rasH2 mice. The purpose of this publication is to present a large database pertaining to the non-neoplastic spontaneous lesions noted in Tg.rasH2 mice from studies conducted at our facility. Lesions that are considered unique in Tg.rasH2 mice are skeletal muscle myopathy, vascular anomalies involving various organs, and mesenteric arterial thrombosis. Other notable lesions are extramedullary hematopoiesis of spleen, subacute inflammatory foci in the liver, and infiltration of histiocytes in the lungs.
Test of Wheeled Mobility (TOWM) and a short wheelie test: a feasibility and validity study
Authors: Fliess-Douer Osnat , Van Der Woude Lucas Hv , Vanlandewijck Yves C
Published: February 2013

Objective:

To assess the feasibility and validity of both the Test of Wheeled Mobility (TOWM) and a wheelie test.

Design:

Cross-sectional study.

Setting:

KU Leuven gymnasium.

Subjects:

Thirty male manual wheelchair users (age range 23–53 years) with spinal cord injury.

Interventions:

Participants preformed both tests after completing a personal information form and a ‘Perceived self-efficacy in WM’ scale. The TOWM consists of 30 tasks reflecting functional wheeled mobility. The wheelie test consists of eight tasks measuring the ability to perform a ‘wheelie’ in challenging situations.

Main measure:

Ability, performance time, qualitative and anxiety scores were assessed. Convergent validity was tested by correlating the TOWM and the wheelie test scores. Construct validity was assessed by testing whether the four scores of both tests are significantly related to perceived self-efficacy in wheeled mobility, time since injury and sport participation.

Results:

TOWM average total testing time was 24.7 minutes (±5.93) and the wheelie test was 12.62 minutes (±5.08). Convergent validity was confirmed by the positive correlation between the TOWM and wheelie test total ability scores ( r = 0.84; P < 0.001), quality scores ( r = 0.88) and anxiety scores ( r = 0.66). Moderate correlations were found between the total time scores of the TOWM and wheelie test ( r = 0.47). Construct validity was confirmed by fair to moderate correlations between both test’s scores with time since injury, self-efficacy and sport participation after injury.

Conclusion:

The TOWM and the wheelie tests are feasible and valid instruments for assessing manual wheelchair mobility in persons with spinal cord injury.