bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thrombin Promotes Matrix Metalloproteinase-13 Expression through the PKCδ/c-Src/EGFR/PI3K/Akt/AP-1 Signaling Pathway in Human Chondrocytes
Authors: Huang Chun-Yin , Lin Hsiu-Jung , Chen Hsin-Shui , Cheng Shi-Yann , Hsu Horng-Chaung , Tang Chih-Hsin
Published: December 2013

Thrombin is a key mediator of fibrin deposition, angiogenesis, and proinflammatory processes. Abnormalities in these processes are primary features of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) may contribute to the breakdown of articular cartilage during arthritis. However, the role of thrombin in MMP-13 production in chondrocytes is unknown. In this study, we investigated the intracellular signaling pathways involved in thrombin-induced MMP-13 expression in human chondrocytes. We found that stimulation with thrombin led to increased secretion of MMP-13 in cultured human chondrocytes. Further, this thrombin-induced MMP-13 production was reduced after transfection with siRNAs against protease activated receptors 1 and 3 (PAR1 and PAR3), but not with PAR4 siRNA. Treatment with specific inhibitors for PKCδ, c-Src, EGFR, PI3K, Akt, or AP-1 or with the corresponding siRNAs against these signaling proteins also abolished the thrombin-mediated increase in MMP-13 production in chondrocytes. Our results provide evidence that thrombin acts through the PAR1/PAR3 receptors and activates PKCδand c-Src, resulting in EGFR transactivation and activation of PI3K, Akt, and finally AP-1 on the MMP-13 promoter, thereby contributing to cartilage destruction during arthritis.
Asian Option Pricing with Monotonous Transaction Costs under Fractional Brownian Motion
Authors: Pan Di , Zhou Shengwu , Zhang Yan , Han Miao
Published: December 2013

Geometric-average Asian option pricing model with monotonous transaction cost rate under fractional Brownian motion was established. The method of partial differential equations was used to solve this model and the analytical expressions of the Asian option value were obtained. The numerical experiments show that Hurst exponent of the fractional Brownian motion and transaction cost rate have a significant impact on the option value.
A Note on the Fractal Behavior of Hydraulic Conductivity and Effective Porosity for Experimental Values in a Confined Aquifer
Authors: De Bartolo Samuele , Fallico Carmine , Veltri Massimo
Published: December 2013

Hydraulic conductivity and effective porosity values for the confined sandy loam aquifer of the Montalto Uffugo (Italy) test field were obtained by laboratory and field measurements; the first ones were carried out on undisturbed soil samples and the others by slug and aquifer tests. A direct simple‐scaling analysis was performed for the whole range of measurement and a comparison among the different types of fractal models describing the scale behavior was made. Some indications about the largest pore size to utilize in the fractal models were given. The results obtained for a sandy loam soil show that it is possible to obtain global indications on the behavior of the hydraulic conductivity versus the porosity utilizing a simple scaling relation and a fractal model in coupled manner.
POD for Real-Time Simulation of Hyperelastic Soft Biological Tissue Using the Point Collocation Method of Finite Spheres
Authors: Banihani Suleiman , Rabczuk Timon , Almomani Thakir
Published: December 2013

The point collocation method of finite spheres (PCMFS) is used to model the hyperelastic response of soft biological tissue in real time within the framework of virtual surgery simulation. The proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) model order reduction (MOR) technique was used to achieve reduced-order model of the problem, minimizing computational cost. The PCMFS is a physics-based meshfree numerical technique for real-time simulation of surgical procedures where the approximation functions are applied directly on the strong form of the boundary value problem without the need for integration, increasing computational efficiency. Since computational speed has a significant role in simulation of surgical procedures, the proposed technique was able to model realistic nonlinear behavior of organs in real time. Numerical results are shown to demonstrate the effectiveness of the new methodology through a comparison between full and reduced analyses for several nonlinear problems. It is shown that the proposed technique was able to achieve good agreement with the full model; moreover, the computational and data storage costs were significantly reduced.
Hybrid Artificial Neural Networks Modeling for Faults Identification of a Stochastic Multivariate Process
Authors: Shao Yuehjen E. , Hou Chia-Ding
Published: December 2013

Due to the recent rapid growth of advanced sensing and production technologies, the monitoring and diagnosis of multivariate process operating performance have drawn increasing interest in process industries. The multivariate statistical process control (MSPC) chart is one of the most commonly used tools for detecting process faults. However, an out-of-control MSPC signal only indicates that process faults have intruded the underlying process. Identifying which of the monitored quality variables is responsible for the MSPC signal is fairly difficult. Pinpointing the responsible variable is vital for process improvement because it effectively determines the root causes of the process faults. Accordingly, this identification has become an important research issue concerning recent multivariate process applications. In contrast with the traditional single classifier approach, the present study proposes hybrid modeling schemes to address problems that involve a large number of quality variables in a multivariate normal process. The proposed scheme includes multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS), logistic regression (LR), and artificial neural network (ANN). By applying MARS and LR techniques, we may obtain fewer but more significant quality variables, which can serve as inputs to the ANN classifier. The performance of our proposed approaches was evaluated by conducting a series of experiments.
T4‐Locally Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: Prognostic Influence of Cranial Nerve Involvement in Different Radiotherapy Techniques
Authors: Huang Hsin-I , Chan Kee-Tak , Shu Chih-Hung , Ho Ching-Yin
Published: December 2013

Background. Cranial nerve involvement at disease presentation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma was not uncommon. We investigated the prognosis of patients with T4‐locally advanced NPC, with or without cranial nerve involvement, and compared the outcome of patients treated using different radiotherapy techniques. Methods. In this retrospective study, 83 T4‐locally advanced NPC patients were diagnosed according to the seventh edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system. All patients were treated using three‐dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D‐CRT) or intensity‐modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). The survival rate was analyzed using the Kaplan‐Meier method. Results. The 5‐year overall, locoregional‐free, and disease‐free survival rates of patients treated using IMRT were 88.9%, 75.2%, and 69.2%, respectively. The outcome in these patients was significantly better than that in patients treated using 3D‐CRT, with survival rates of 58.2%, 54.4%, and 47.2%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the 5‐year overall, locoregional‐free, and disease‐free survival rates of the patients with (64.2%, 60.5%, and 53.5%, resp.) and without (76.9%, 63.6%, and 57.6%, resp.) cranial nerve involvement. Conclusion. Locally advanced NPC patients treated using IMRT had significantly better outcomes than patients treated using 3D‐CRT. Our results showed that the outcome of T4 NPC patients with or without cranial nerve involvement was not different.
Hyperreflective Intraretinal Spots in Diabetics without and with Nonproliferative Diabetic Retinopathy: AnIn VivoStudy Using Spectral Domain OCT
Authors: Vujosevic Stela , Bini Silvia , Midena Giulia , Berton Marianna , Pilotto Elisabetta , Midena Edoardo
Published: December 2013

Purpose. To evaluate the presence of hyperreflective spots (HRS) in diabetic patients without clinically detectable retinopathy (no DR) or with nonproliferative mild to moderate retinopathy (DR) without macular edema, and compare the results to controls.Methods. 36 subjects were enrolled: 12 with no DR, 12 with DR, and 12 normal subjects who served as controls. All studied subjects underwent full ophthalmologic examination and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). SD-OCT images were analyzed to measure and localize HRS. Each image was analyzed by two independent, masked examiners.Results. The number of HRS was significantly higher in both diabetics without and with retinopathy versus controls (P<0.05) and in diabetics with retinopathy versus diabetics without retinopathy (P<0.05). The HRS were mainly located in the inner retina layers (inner limiting membrane, ganglion cell layer, and inner nuclear layer). The intraobserver and interobserver agreement was almost perfect (κ>0.9).Conclusions. SD-OCT hyperreflective spots are present in diabetic eyes even when clinical retinopathy is undetectable. Their number increases with progressing retinopathy. Initially, HRS are mainly located in the inner retina, where the resident microglia is present. With progressing retinopathy, HRS reach the outer retinal layer. HRS may represent a surrogate of microglial activation in diabetic retina.
Evaluation of Rheological Properties of Gel Abrasive in Magnetic Abrasive Finishing
Authors: Wang A-Cheng , Tsai Lung , Lin Yan-Cherng , Wu Kun-Ling
Published: December 2013

The purpose of this study was aimed at the evaluation of the mechanism of magnetic finishing with gel abrasive (MFGA), during which the performance of MFGA was compared to that of magnetic abrasive finishing (MAF). Of importance is that MFGA performs better than MAF based on the polishing-efficiency criterion. Silicone gels, however, are semisolid polymer gels with deforming properties that are temperature dependent, ultimately influencing significantly the polishing efficiency in MFGA. Therefore, taking as examples cylindrical rods which were polished using silicone gels with different plasticities to determine the corresponding temperatures of abrasive media in the working area, this study evaluated the MFGA mechanism to elucidate the properties of silicone gels and attain both the finished effect and effective gel abrasives in MFGA to produce a highly efficient polished surface. Next, circulating effects of abrasive media were identified to ensure the efficiency in MFGA and establish the relation between the concentrations of abrasive media and circulating effects in the working area. Experimental results show that silicone gels with low plasticity produce high temperature of abrasive media in MFGA; high temperature of abrasive medium makes excellent circulating effects in the working area, inducing high material removal and fine surface roughness.
Abnormalities in Glutamate Metabolism and Excitotoxicity in the Retinal Diseases
Authors: Ishikawa Makoto
Published: December 2013

In the physiological condition, glutamate acts as an excitatory neurotransmitter in the retina. However, excessive glutamate can be toxic to retinal neurons by overstimulation of the glutamate receptors. Glutamate excess is primarily attributed to perturbation in the homeostasis of the glutamate metabolism. Major pathway of glutamate metabolism consists of glutamate uptake by glutamate transporters followed by enzymatic conversion of glutamate to nontoxic glutamine by glutamine synthetase. Glutamate metabolism requires energy supply, and the energy loss inhibits the functions of both glutamate transporters and glutamine synthetase. In this review, we describe the present knowledge concerning the retinal glutamate metabolism under the physiological and pathological conditions.
Diabetes Cognitive Impairments and the Effect of Traditional Chinese Herbs
Authors: Xu Xiaohan , Guo Leilei , Tian Guoqing
Published: December 2013

The problem of cognitive impairment resulting from diabetes is gaining more acceptance and attention. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus have been proved to be associated with reduced performance on numerous domains of cognitive function. Although the exact mechanisms of cognitive impairments in diabetes have not been completely understood, hyperglycemia and insulin resistance seem to play significant roles. And other possible risk factors such as hypoglycemia, insulin deficiency, vascular risk factors, hyperactive HPA axis, depression, and altered neurotransmitters will also be examined. In the meanwhile, this review analyzed the role of the active ingredient of Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of diabetes cognitive impairments.
Transcultural Diabetes Nutrition Algorithm: A Malaysian Application
Authors: Hussein Zanariah , Hamdy Osama , Chin Chia Yook , Lin Lim Shueh , Kumari Natkunam Santha , Hussain Husni , Yeong Tan Ming , Sulaiman Ridzoni , Nisak Barakatun , Chee Winnie Siew Swee , Marchetti Albert , Hegazi Refaat A. , Mechanick Jeffrey I.
Published: December 2013

Glycemic control among patients with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) in Malaysia is suboptimal, especially after the continuous worsening over the past decade. Improved glycemic control may be achieved through a comprehensive management strategy that includes medical nutrition therapy (MNT). Evidence-based recommendations for diabetes-specific therapeutic diets are available internationally. However, Asian patients with T2D, including Malaysians, have unique disease characteristics and risk factors, as well as cultural and lifestyle dissimilarities, which may render international guidelines and recommendations less applicable and/or difficult to implement. With these thoughts in mind, a transcultural Diabetes Nutrition Algorithm (tDNA) was developed by an international task force of diabetes and nutrition experts through the restructuring of international guidelines for the nutritional management of prediabetes and T2D to account for cultural differences in lifestyle, diet, and genetic factors. The initial evidence-based global tDNA template was designed for simplicity, flexibility, and cultural modification. This paper reports the Malaysian adaptation of the tDNA, which takes into account the epidemiologic, physiologic, cultural, and lifestyle factors unique to Malaysia, as well as the local guidelines recommendations.
Pulmonary Embolism with Vertebral Augmentation Procedures
Authors: Bopparaju Swetha , Varon Joseph , Surani Salim
Published: December 2013

With the prevalence of an aging American population on the rise, osteoporotic vertebral fractures are becoming a common occurrence, resulting in an increase in vertebral augmentation procedures and associated complications such as cement leakage, vertebral compressions, and pulmonary embolism. We describe a patient who presented with respiratory distress three years following kyphoplasty of the lumbar vertebra. Computed tomography (CT) angiogram of the chest confirmed the presence of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cement in the lung fields and pulmonary vessels. We conducted a systematic review of the published literature identifying effective management strategies for the treatment of vertebroplasty-associated pulmonary embolism.
The Analysis of Braess’ Paradox and Robustness Based on Dynamic Traffic Assignment Models
Authors: Fu Bai-Bai , Zhao Chun-Xue , Li Shu-bin
Published: December 2013

The investigation of the paradox and robustness about the traffic network is an important branch of the traffic assignment. In this paper, Braess’ paradox and robustness of the dynamic traffic network are analyzed by the dynamic traffic assignment models. In addition, the relationship of total costs with different traffic assignment models is discussed. The results show that the paradox only occurs in certain range; the robustness of the network and the relationship of total traffic costs are changed as the traffic demand changes, which provides theoretical guidance for the urban transportation planning.
A Substrate-and-Gate Triggering NMOS Device for High ESD Reliability in Deep Submicrometer Technology
Authors: Huang Chih-Yao , Chiu Fu-Chien
Published: December 2013

A substrate-and-gate triggering scheme which utilizes dynamic threshold principle is proposed for an ESD NMOS structure. This scheme enhances the device reliability performance in terms of higher second breakdown current and both reduced holding voltage/triggering voltage as well as elimination of gate over driven effect. The simple resistance and RC substrate-and-gate triggering NMOS structure with various resistance/capacitance values totally exhibit superior ESD reliability than the gate-grounded NMOS (GGNMOS) devices by 18~29%. The substrate-and-gate triggering scheme in combination with special substrate pickup styles also shows excellent enhancement when compared with the GGNMOS cases of the same pickup styles. The substrate-and-gate triggering NMOS with butting substrate pickup style is better than the general butting case by 28~30%, whereas the substrate-and-gate triggering NMOS with inserted substrate pickup style is 3.5 times superior to the general inserted case.
Global Behavior ofxn+1=(α+βxn-k)/(γ+xn)
Authors: Gan Chenquan , Yang Xiaofan , Liu Wanping
Published: December 2013

This paper aims to investigate the global stability of negative solutions of the difference equationxn+1=(α+βxn-k)/(γ+xn),n=0,1,2,…, where the initial conditionsx-k,…,x0∈-∞,0,kis a positive integer, and the parametersβ,  γ<0,  α>0. By utilizing the invariant interval and periodic character of solutions, it is found that the unique negative equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable under some parameter conditions. Additionally, two examples are given to illustrate the main results in the end.
The Role of Kuwait in the Development of Early Thrombus Removal in Patients with Acute Iliofemoral Vein Thrombosis: In Memory of Dr. Nael Al-Naqeeb
Authors: Eklöf Bo
Published: December 2013

Many physicians in Kuwait have contributed to the development of the management of acute iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis utilizing open surgical thrombectomy for early thrombus removal. This concept is now accepted around the world, with new endovascular procedures replacing open surgery. Its development is described and the latest guidelines for early thrombus removal are presented.
Atmospheric Moisture Budget and Spatial Resolution Dependence of Precipitation Extremes in Aquaplanet Simulations
Authors: Yang Qing , Leung L. Ruby , Rauscher Sara A. , Ringler Todd D. , Taylor Mark A.
Published: December 2013

This study investigates the moisture budgets and resolution dependency of precipitation extremes in an aquaplanet framework based on the Community Atmosphere Model, version 4 (CAM4). Moisture budgets from simulations using two different dynamical cores, the Model for Prediction Across Scales-Atmosphere (MPAS-A) and High Order Method Modeling Environment (HOMME), but the same physics parameterizations suggest that during precipitation extremes the intensity of precipitation is approximately balanced by the vertical advective moisture transport. The resolution dependency in extremes from simulations at their native grid resolution originates from that of vertical moisture transport, which is mainly explained by changes in dynamics (related to vertical velocity ω) with resolution. When assessed at the same grid scale by area-weighted averaging the fine-resolution simulations to the coarse grids, simulations with either dynamical core still demonstrate resolution dependency in extreme precipitation with no convergence over the tropics, but convergence occurs at a wide range of latitudes over the extratropics. The use of lower temporal frequency data (i.e., daily vs 6 hourly) reduces the resolution dependency. Although thermodynamic (moisture) changes become significant in offsetting the effect of dynamics when assessed at the same grid scale, especially over the extratropics, changes in dynamics with resolution are still large and explain most of the resolution dependency during extremes. This suggests that the effects of subgrid-scale variability of ω and vertical moisture transport during extremes are not adequately parameterized by the model at coarse resolution. The aquaplanet framework and analysis described in this study provide an important metric for assessing sensitivities of cloud parameterizations to spatial resolution and dynamical cores under extreme conditions.
The Sensitivity of WRF Daily Summertime Simulations over West Africa to Alternative Parameterizations. Part I: African Wave Circulation
Authors: Noble Erik , Druyan Leonard M. , Fulakeza Matthew
Published: December 2013

The performance of the NCAR Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF) as a West African regional-atmospheric model is evaluated. The study tests the sensitivity of WRF-simulated vorticity maxima associated with African easterly waves to 64 combinations of alternative parameterizations in a series of simulations in September. In all, 104 simulations of 12-day duration during 11 consecutive years are examined. The 64 combinations combine WRF parameterizations of cumulus convection, radiation transfer, surface hydrology, and PBL physics. Simulated daily and mean circulation results are validated against NASA’s Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA) and NCEP/Department of Energy Global Reanalysis 2. Precipitation is considered in a second part of this two-part paper. A wide range of 700-hPa vorticity validation scores demonstrates the influence of alternative parameterizations. The best WRF performers achieve correlations against reanalysis of 0.40–0.60 and realistic amplitudes of spatiotemporal variability for the 2006 focus year while a parallel-benchmark simulation by the NASA Regional Model-3 (RM3) achieves higher correlations, but less realistic spatiotemporal variability. The largest favorable impact on WRF-vorticity validation is achieved by selecting the Grell–Devenyi cumulus convection scheme, resulting in higher correlations against reanalysis than simulations using the Kain–Fritch convection. Other parameterizations have less-obvious impact, although WRF configurations incorporating one surface model and PBL scheme consistently performed poorly. A comparison of reanalysis circulation against two NASA radiosonde stations confirms that both reanalyses represent observations well enough to validate the WRF results. Validation statistics for optimized WRF configurations simulating the parallel period during 10 additional years are less favorable than for 2006.
Values as the Essence of Culture
Authors: Morris Michael W.
Published: December 2013

Recent findings of low societal consensus in cultural values suggest that our field’s dominant paradigm—culture as shared values—is a fallacy. The perennial persistence of this illusion may come from that it appeals to the human brain’s hardwired capacity for essentialism. Evidence against value consensus, however, does not doom all shared-meaning models of culture (pace Schwartz, 2013). I describe evidence for other kinds of mental representations (i.e., concepts, beliefs, norms) that are shared (in the sense of consensus, contagion, or conjoint control) and underlie culturally patterned behavior. Also I consider and probe Schwartz’s (2013) proposed definition of culture as a society-level value system, raising questions about its ontology, functionalism and explanatory power, particularly with regard to understanding cultural change. While acknowledging the utility of aggregated value scores for many research programs, I conclude that psychology needs to study individual-level cultural representations and within-society variation in order to understand the dynamics of cultural influence and change.
Craftsmen of Legitimation: Creating Sanskrit Genealogies in the Tenth to Fifteenth Centuries
Authors: Teuscher Ulrike
Published: December 2013

Inscriptional Sanskrit genealogies played an important role in the research on power and ideology in recent decades. In this context, they were often seen as just a legitimatory strategy, as if this were a phenomenon which does not require further analysis. I try to show here that their creation was a complex process, that they were products of ongoing debates between producers and patrons, patrons and competitors and as will be shown further on, between the producers and the conventions created by their own predecessors. Moreover, they were strongly influenced by their specific function within donation rituals. Form, content and shifts from text to text once were answers to a variety of very contemporary problems. So they can only be assessed according to a careful investigation into their individual histories. I trace their development in a certain area, Mewar (southern Rajasthan) and time (between the tenth and fifteenth century). This enables us to follow their construction and reconstruction through several political, social and cultural changes and crises. The example of Mewar shows us that the process of legitimization by genealogy was not identical everywhere in South Asia, but depended on the development of clusters of neighbouring political entities that had entered into a competitive situation with one another.
Book Review: Intercultural Discourse—Key and Contested Concepts (Die Interkulturalitäts-debate—Leit-und Streitbegriffe)
Authors: Tiwari Heeraman
Published: December 2013

Monika Kirloskar-Steinbach, Gita Dharampal-Frick and Minou Friele (eds), Intercultural Discourse—Key and Contested Concepts (Die Interkulturalitäts-debate—Leit-und Streitbegriffe), Verlag Karl Alber, Freiburg, 2012, pp. 363.
Book Review: Music and the Spiritual: Composers and Politics in the Twentieth Century
Authors: Subramanian Lakshmi
Published: December 2013

Antony Copley, Music and the Spiritual: Composers and Politics in the Twentieth Century,Ziggurrat Books International, London, 2012, pp. 352, £14.95.
Victim awareness
Authors: Burrows Jacky
Published: December 2013

‘Ensuring offenders' awareness of the effects of crime on the victims of crime and the public’ is one of five stated aims of the National Probation Service of England and Wales and specifically undertaking victim awareness work is an expectation of the service’s work. The nature and putative value of such work appears to be rarely questioned however. It is argued that ‘victim awareness’ is a confused concept in terms of its rationale, definition, and empirical basis as a criminogenic need. These issues are evaluated and the practice implications discussed. A possible model of victim awareness work is described.
The use of financial ratio models to help investors predict and interpret significant corporate events
Authors: Ak B Korcan , Dechow Patricia M , Sun Yuan , Wang Annika Yu
Published: December 2013

A firm in a steady state generates predictable income and investors can generally agree on its valuation. However, when a significant corporate event occurs this creates greater uncertainty and disagreement about firm valuation, and investors could prefer to avoid holding such a stock. We examine research that has developed financial ratio models to: (a) predict significant corporate events; and (b) predict future performance after significant corporate events. The events we analyze include financial distress and bankruptcy, downsizing, raising equity capital, and material earnings misstatements. We find that financial ratio models generally help investors avoid stocks that are likely to have significant corporate events. We also find that, conditional on a significant event occurring, financial ratio models help investors distinguish good firms from bad. However, we find that research design choices often make it difficult to determine model predictive accuracy. We discuss the role of accounting rule changes and their impact over time on the predictive power of models, and provide suggestions for improving models based on our cross-event analysis.
Education, Experience and Enterprise Development
Authors: Arif Babur Wasim
Published: December 2013

The electrical fittings industry cluster in Sargodha is long established but the products produced here are of sub-standard quality and sold solely in the domestic market. Because of increasing imports of electrical fittings from China, however, entrepreneurs in this cluster are attempting to raise product quality and strengthen marketing channels. Such improvements have been introduced by entrepreneurs who are relatively more educated, and have more experience in marketing and with running businesses. Some of these changes have started showing impacts on enterprise performance and provide valuable guidance about the design of effective policies to promote industrial development in low income settings.
Case: Case report (A) (A child by her mother and litigation friend) v Guy's & St Thomas hospital NHS foundation trust
Authors: Jones Antonia
Published: December 2013

Clinical negligence:

Delayed delivery at birth causing chronic partial hypoxia probably due to cord compression during labour and the failure to deliver before the Claimant sustained injury. Settlement for approximately £9.2 m over the Claimant's lifetime.

Liability:

Clinical Negligence: Delayed delivery at birth causing chronic partial hypoxia probably due to cord compression during labour and the failure to deliver before the Claimant sustained injury.

Quantum:

Cerebral palsy.

Settlement:

4 September 2012.
Book Review: Backpacker Tourism and Economic Development: Perspectives from the Less Developed World
Authors: Forsyth Tim
Published: December 2013

Hampton, Mark P. 2013: Backpacker Tourism and Economic Development: Perspectives from the Less Developed World. London and New York: Routledge. ISBN 978 0 415 59418 9 (hardback); 978 0 203 54730 4 (e-book). £72.85 (hardback), £64 (ebook).
Book Review: Alternatives to Privatization: Public Options for Essential Services in the Global South
Authors: Marois Thomas
Published: December 2013

McDonald, D.A. and Ruiters, G., editors, 2012: Alternatives to Privatization: Public Options for Essential Services in the Global South, London: Routledge. xii + 520pp. £85.00 hardback. ISBN 978-0-415-88668-0 hardback, 978-0-203-14706-1 paperback.
Playing Funny Games in The Last House on the Left: The uncanny and the ‘home invasion’ genre
Authors: Fiddler Michael
Published: December 2013

This article dredges the ‘reservoirs of dogma’ and ‘symbolic lagoons of social fears’ to locate the ‘home invasion’ film genre within its diachronic and synchronic contexts. As such, we will first situate these films as part of the historical tradition of Gothic literature. This allows us to unpack the ways in which the depictions of the ‘home’ and ‘homeliness’ in Gothic literature and the ‘home invasion’ genre problematise constructions of identity and category formation. Secondly, exploring the genre in its contemporaneous socio-cultural setting allows us to see how particular social traumas are manifest in popular culture. These dimensions are explored by focusing on three key examples and their subsequent remakes: The Last House on the Left, Straw Dogs and Funny Games.
Epidemiology and awareness of hypertension in a rural Ugandan community: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Kotwani Prashant , Kwarisiima Dalsone , Clark Tamara D , Kabami Jane , Geng Elvin H , Jain Vivek , Chamie Gabriel , Petersen Maya L , Thirumurthy Harsha , Kamya Moses R , Charlebois Edwin D , Havlir Diane V ,   the SEARCH Collaboration
Published: December 2013

Background

Hypertension is one of the largest causes of preventable morbidity and mortality worldwide. There are few population-based studies on hypertension epidemiology to guide public health strategies in sub-Saharan Africa. Using a community-based strategy that integrated screening for HIV and non-communicable diseases, we determined the prevalence, awareness, treatment rates, and sociodemographic factors associated with hypertension in rural Uganda.

Methods

A household census was performed to enumerate the population in Kakyerere parish in Mbarara district, Uganda. A multi-disease community-based screening campaign for hypertension, diabetes, and HIV was then conducted. During the campaign, all adults received a blood pressure (BP) measurement and completed a survey examining sociodemographic factors. Hypertension was defined as elevated BP (≥140/≥90 mmHg) on the lowest of three BP measurements or current use of antihypertensives. Prevalence was calculated and standardized to age distribution. Sociodemographic factors associated with hypertension were evaluated using a log-link Poisson regression model with robust standard errors.

Results

Community participation in the screening campaign was 65%, including 1245 women and 1007 men. The prevalence of hypertension was 14.6%; awareness of diagnosis (38.1%) and current receipt of treatment (20.6%) were both low. Age-standardized to the WHO world standard population, hypertension prevalence was 19.8%, which is comparable to 21.6% in the US and 18.4% in the UK. Sociodemographic factors associated with hypertension included increasing age, male gender, overweight, obesity, diabetes, alcohol consumption, and family history. Prevalence of modifiable factors was high: 28.3% women were overweight/obese and 24.1% men consumed ≥10 alcoholic drinks per month.

Conclusions

We found a substantial burden of hypertension in rural Uganda. Awareness and treatment of hypertension is low in this region. Enhanced community-based education and prevention efforts tailored to addressing modifiable factors are needed.
Clinical Verification of A Clinical Decision Support System for Ventilator Weaning
Authors: Hsu Jiin-Chyr , Chen Yung-Fu , Chung Wei-Sheng , Tan Tan-Hsu , Chen Tainsong , Chiang John Y
Published: December 2013

Background

Weaning is typically regarded as a process of discontinuing mechanical ventilation in the daily practice of an intensive care unit (ICU). Among the ICU patients, 39%-40% need mechanical ventilator for sustaining their lives. The predictive rate of successful weaning achieved only 35-60% for decisions made by physicians. Clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) are promising in enhancing diagnostic performance and improve healthcare quality in clinical setting. To our knowledge, a prospective study has never been conducted to verify the effectiveness of the CDSS in ventilator weaning before. In this study, the CDSS capable of predicting weaning outcome and reducing duration of ventilator support for patients has been verified.

Methods

A total of 380 patients admitted to the respiratory care center of the hospital were randomly assigned to either control or study group. In the control group, patients were weaned with traditional weaning method, while in the study group, patients were weaned with CDSS monitored by physicians. After excluding the patients who transferred to other hospitals, refused further treatments, or expired the admission period, data of 168 and 144 patients in the study and control groups, respectively, were used for analysis.

Results

The results show that a sensitivity of 87.7% has been achieved, which is significantly higher (p<0.01) than the weaning determined by physicians (sensitivity: 61.4%). Furthermore, the days using mechanical ventilator for the study group (38.41 ± 3.35) is significantly (p<0.001) shorter than the control group (43.69 ± 14.89), with a decrease of 5.2 days in average, resulting in a saving of healthcare cost of NT$45,000 (US$1,500) per patient in the current Taiwanese National Health Insurance setting.

Conclusions

The CDSS is demonstrated to be effective in identifying the earliest time of ventilator weaning for patients to resume and sustain spontaneous breathing, thereby avoiding unnecessary prolonged ventilator use and decreasing healthcare cost.
The silent sinus syndrome: protean manifestations of a rare upper respiratory disorder revisited
Authors: Guillen Denisse E , Pinargote Paulette M , Guarderas Juan C
Published: December 2013

Silent Sinus Syndrome (SSS) is known to be a rare clinical condition, characterized by spontaneous and progressive enophthalmos and hypoglobus associated with atelectasis of the maxillary sinus and alteration of the orbital floor. Most of the patients with this syndrome present with ophthalmological complaints without any nasal sinus symptoms, and it typically has a painless course and slow development, ergo the term “silent.” Here we present a case report of a patient with occasional coughing spells as the presenting symptom of Silent Sinus Syndrome, which has not been previously described in the literature. The CT scan findings suggested chronic rhinosinusitis. The radiological findings were suggestive of maxillary sinus hypoplasia, with evidence of maxillary sinus atelectasis. Awareness of this syndrome is important for specialists who work with nasal sinus disease, since its management is different than chronic rhinosinusits.
A comparative study of lung toxicity in rats induced by three types of nanomaterials
Authors: Lin Zhiqing , Ma Li , X Zhu-ge , Zhang Huashan , Lin Bencheng
Published: December 2013

The public is increasingly exposed to various engineered nanomaterials because of their mass production and wide application. Even when the biological effects of nanomaterials have been assessed, the underlying mechanisms of action in vivo are poorly understood. The present study was designed to seek a simple, effective, and oxidative stress-based biomarker system used for screening toxicity of nanomaterials. Nano-ferroso-ferric oxide (nano-Fe3O4), nano-silicon dioxide (nano-SiO2), and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were dispersed in corn oil and characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Rats were exposed to the three nanomaterials by intratracheal instillation once every 2 days for 5 weeks. We investigated their lung oxidative and inflammatory damage by bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) detection and comparative proteomics by lung tissue. Two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) of proteins isolated from the lung tissue, followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, was performed. In the present study, we chose to detect lactate dehydrogenase, total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase, and malondialdehyde as the biomarker system for screening the oxidative stress of nanomaterials and IL-6 as the inflammatory biomarker in BALF. Proteomics analysis revealed 17 differentially expressed proteins compared with the control group: nine were upregulated and eight were downregulated. Our results indicated that exposure by intratracheal instillation to any of the three typical nanomaterials may cause lung damage through oxidative damage and/or an inflammatory reaction.
Alternative ways of representing Zapotec and Cuicatec folk classification of birds: a multidimensional model and its implications for culturally-informed conservation in Oaxaca, México
Authors: Alcántara-Salinas Graciela , Ellen Roy F , Valiñas-Coalla Leopoldo , Caballero Javier , Argueta-Villamar Arturo
Published: December 2013

Background

We report on a comparative ethno-ornithological study of Zapotec and Cuicatec communities in Northern Oaxaca, Mexico that provided a challenge to some existing descriptions of folk classification. Our default model was the taxonomic system of ranks developed by Brent Berlin.

Methods

Fieldwork was conducted in the Zapotec village of San Miguel Tiltepec and in the Cuicatec village of San Juan Teponaxtla, using a combination of ethnographic interviews and pile-sorting tests. Post-fieldwork, Principal Component Analysis using NTSYSpc V. 2.11f was applied to obtain pattern variation for the answers from different participants.

Results and conclusion

Using language and pile-sorting data analysed through Principal Component Analysis, we show how both Zapotec and Cuicatec subjects place a particular emphasis on an intermediate level of classification. These categories group birds with non-birds using ecological and behavioral criteria, and violate a strict distinction between symbolic and mundane (or ‘natural’), and between ‘general-purpose’ and ‘single-purpose’ schemes. We suggest that shared classificatory knowledge embodying everyday schemes for apprehending the world of birds might be better reflected in a multidimensional model that would also provide a more realistic basis for developing culturally-informed conservation strategies.
High glutamate permeability and distal localization of Best1 channel in CA1 hippocampal astrocyte
Authors: Park Hyungju , Han Kyung-Seok , Oh Soo-Jin , Jo Seonmi , Woo Junsung , Yoon Bo-Eun , Lee C Justin
Published: December 2013

Background

Glutamate is the major neurotransmitter that mediates a principal form of excitatory synaptic transmission in the brain. From the presynaptic terminals of neurons, glutamate is released upon exocytosis of the glutamate-packaged vesicles. In recent years, astrocytes are also known to release glutamate via various routes to modulate synaptic transmission. In particular, we have characterized a glutamate-permeable Ca2+-activated anion channel encoded by Bestrophin 1 gene (Best1) that is responsible for Ca2+-dependent, channel-mediated glutamate release in astrocyte. Best1 channel contains a large pore that is readily permeable to large molecules such as glutamate and GABA. In those studies we obtained permeability ratio of glutamate to Cl- in heterologously expressed mouse Best1 in HEK293T cells and in endogenously expressed mouse Best1 in cultured astrocytes. However, up to now, glutamate permeability of the native Best1 channel in vivo has not been reported.

Findings

In whole-cell recordings of CA1 hippocampal astrocytes, we found that opening of Best1 channel upon activation of a Gq-coupled GPCR, protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1) generated the anion current carried by glutamate via Ca2+ increase. This Ca2+-evoked glutamate-mediated anion current was unaffected by pretreatment of the inhibitors for a gap junction hemi-channel or Ca2+-activated K+ conductance. This astrocytic anion conductance carried by glutamate was mediated by Best1 channel expression in CA1 hippocampal astrocytes, because Best1 knock-down by shRNA expression eliminated astrocytic glutamate conductance by PAR-1 activation. However, we found that these astrocytes showed a deviation in reversal potential of Best1-mediated current from the predicted value. By performing dual patch recording, we concluded that the deviation of reversal potential is due to incomplete space clamping arising from extremely leaky membrane (input resistance ranging 1–3 MΩ), very low length constant of astrocytic processes, and the localization of Best1 channel in distal microdomains near synapses. Based on the relative shift of reversal potentials by ion substitutions, we estimated the permeability ratio of glutamate and Cl- (Pglutamate/PCl) as 0.53.

Conclusions

Our study shows that Best1, located at the microdomains near the synaptic junctions, has a significantly high permeability to glutamate in vivo, serving as the prominent glutamate-releasing channel in astrocytes, mediating the release of various gliotransmitters in the brain, and playing an important role in modulating synaptic transmission.
Foraging guild structure and niche characteristics of waterbirds in an epicontinental lake in Mexico
Authors: Pérez-Crespo María José , Fonseca Juanita , Pineda-López Rubén , Palacios Eduardo , Lara Carlos
Published: December 2013

Background

It was suggested that ecological patterns can be used to infer the nature of ecological processes (i.e., competition) that structure communities. Analysis of patterns of resource partitioning under the classical niche paradigm (competitive niche differentiation in exploiting limited resources) has traditionally been used to understand the structure of communities. On the contrary, neutral theory states that patterns result from neutral processes such as stochasticity and dispersal abilities. Thus, if any ecological process gives rise to a characteristic ecological pattern, the comparative study of patterns with appropriate neutral models may reveal the magnitude of that process. In this study, we analyzed patterns of resource utilization of a waterbird community in Lake Acuitlapilco, an epicontinental lake in central Mexico. In February 2011 to January 2012, we recorded foraging behaviors of waterbird species in two niche dimensions or axes: feeding technique and foraging habitat. The pattern of resource utilization was characterized by niche breath and niche overlap.

Results

Results showed that waterbird species in Lake Acuitlapilco were specialists in resource utilization patterns and therefore were vulnerable to fluctuations in resources, particularly feeding habitat. Niche overlaps were generally largest among species belonging to the same guild. To test competition as an ecological process that plays a role in the community structure, observed niche overlaps were compared with niche overlaps generated with null models of communities in the absence of competition using the RA4 randomization algorithm. Habitat and observed bidimensional overlaps were higher than those of randomly generated communities.

Conclusions

Our study suggested that other processes can be used to predict resource utilization patterns instead of competition alone, as suggested by neutral theory. Future studies analyzing the mechanisms that structure waterbird communities should include the use of null models to support their conclusions.
The phylogenetic position of the enigmatic Atlantic forest-endemic spiny mouse Abrawayaomys (Rodentia: Sigmodontinae)
Authors: Ventura Karen , Silva Maria José J , Geise Lena , Leite Yuri LR , Pardiñas Ulyses FJ , Yonenaga-Yassuda Yatiyo , D'Elía Guillermo
Published: December 2013

Background

The phylogenetic position of the sigmodontine genusAbrawayaomys, historically assigned to the tribe Thomasomyini or considered a sigmodontine incertae sedis, was assessed on the basis of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences obtained from four individuals from different localities in the Atlantic forest of Brazil. Sequences ofAbrawayaomyswere analyzed in the context of broad taxonomic matrices by means of maximum-likelihood (ML) and Bayesian analyses (BA).

Results

The phylogenetic position ofAbrawayaomysdiffered depending on the gene analyzed and the analysis performed (interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) ML: sister to Thomasomyini; IRBP BA: sister to Akodontini; cytochrome (Cyt)bML: sister toNeotomys; and CytbBA: sister to Reithrodontini). With the sole exception of the BA based on Cytbsequences, where theAbrawayaomys-Reithrodonclade had strong support, all sister-group relationships involvingAbrawayaomyslacked any significant support.

Conclusions

As such,Abrawayaomysconstitutes the only representative so far known of one of the main lineages of the sigmodontine radiation, differing from all other Atlantic forest sigmodontine rodents by having a unique combination of morphological character states. Therefore, in formal classifications, it should be regarded as a Sigmodontinae incertae sedis.