bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pattern of antimalaria treatment and risk factors for torsades de pointes in admitted heart failure patients in Lagos-Nigeria
Authors: N. Ajuluchukwu Janet , N. Anyika Emmanuel , A. Boyle Christiana
Published: July 2014

Background: In a malaria-holoendemic region, concurrent malaria complicating heart failure (HF) occurs; with higher morbidity and increased adverse drug-drug interactions. Aim: To characterise malaria treatment and risk factors of cardio-toxicity among HF patients. Objectives: To characterise the use of anti-malaria agents (AMA), compare risk factors of torsades de pointes (TdP) amongst AMA-users and non-users, and to assess length of hospital stay. Methods: Admitted HF patients were retrospectively studied, and grouped on the basis of malaria treatment. TdP risk factors- advanced age, bradycardia, hypokalemia, and QTc prolongation were compared in the two groups. Results: The 160 HF patients (mean ejection fraction 39.6% ± 12.6%, mean age 54.9 ± 14.6 years) included 82 males (51.3%), with predominant non-ischemic HF. Malaria treatment occurred in 32.5% (52), though diagnosis was presumptive in 48 (92.3%). All (100%) malaria prescriptions were artemisinin-based, but monotherapeutic in 6 (11.4%). Partner-drugs included sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) 26 (50%), and lumefantrine 7 (13.5%). TdP risk-factors of age 65 years, prolonged QTc, hypokalemia, and bradycardia occurred in 43 (26.9%), 63 (39.4%), 48 (30%), and 8 (5.0%) respectively. Group 1 (AMA treated) and group 2 patients were comparable on all mean values of risk factors. Nevertheless, affected proportions were significantly different for hypokalemia (X2 = 6.1), QTc prolongation (48.1% versus 35.2%, p < .05), and older age (38.5% versus, 21.3%, p < .05%). Conclusion: Though all HF patients similarly demonstrated risks of TdP, univariate analysis indicates a significantly higher proportion in malaria-treated patients; supporting further therapeutic caution in this patient subset.
Late onset and pregnancy-induced congenital thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
Authors: Hovinga J. A. , Lackner K. , Füllemann H.-G. , Lämmle B. , Scharrer I. , Falter T.
Published: July 2014

We report on our patient (case 2) who experienced a first acute episode of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) at the age of 19 years during her first pregnancy in 1976 which ended in a spontaneous abortion in the 30th gestational week. Treatment with red blood cell concentrates was implemented and splenectomy was performed. After having suffered from several TTP episodes in 1977, possibly mitigated by acetylsalicylic acid therapy, an interruption and sterilization were performed in 1980 in her second pregnancy thereby avoiding another disease flare-up. Her elder sister (case 1) had been diagnosed with TTP in 1974, also during her first pregnancy. She died in 1977 during her second pregnancy from a second acute TTP episode. Diagnosis: In 2013 a severe ADAMTS13 deficiency of <10% without detectable ADAMTS13 inhibitor was repeatedly found. Investigation of the ADAMTS13 gene showed that the severe ADAMTS13 deficiency was caused by compound heterozygous ADAMTS13 mutations: a premature stop codon in exon 2 (p.Q44X), and a missense mutation in exon 24 (p.R1060W) associated with low but measurable ADAMTS13 activity. Conclusion: Genetic analysis of the ADAMTS13 gene is important in TTP patients of all ages if an ADAMTS13 inhibitor has been excluded.
Standard Dose Development for Medications Commonly Used in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Robinson Christine A , Siu Anita , Meyers Rachel , Lee Ben H , Cash Jared
Published: July 2014

OBJECTIVES: To establish standardized, rounded doses of medications for neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) through a multi-institutional peer-reviewed process.

METHODS: Pediatric faculty and pediatric pharmacy residents from the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy (Piscataway, NJ) conducted a systematic review of rounded, weight-based medication information for neonatal patients from September 2010 to April 2011. After initial review, an expanded workgroup of expert neonatal pharmacy clinicians from academic institutions throughout the United States were invited to conduct a final review. The workgroup identified 74 medications or indications in the NICU. Recommended standardized doses were established for discrete weight categories at workgroup consensus web meetings conducted from June to December 2011. Workgroup recommendations were cross-referenced with published neonatal pharmacology resources. Consensus was obtained when references provided insufficient information on medication information.

RESULTS: Seventeen weight categories of increasing ranges were used, from 40 g for the lowest weights (e.g., 410–450 g) to 840 g for the highest weights (e.g., 3660–4500 g). Medications were divided into 3 categories of administration routes: oral (n = 4), intermittent intravenous (n = 64), and other (e.g., intramuscular; n=6). A significant majority of standardized doses (84%) were within 15% of their corresponding weight-calculated dose.

CONCLUSIONS: Establishment of a portfolio of standardized, rounded doses of medications commonly used in the NICU was feasibly established by a multi-institutional peer review process, with the great majority of standardized doses being within clinically acceptable ranges of administration. Use of standardized, rounded doses for reduction in dosing errors may be feasible on a systematic level.
Champ-contrechamp
Authors: Fainzang Sylvie
Published: July 2014

Sous l’impulsion des valeurs d’autonomie, d’empowerment ou de consentement éclairé créditant le patient d’un nouveau statut, la relation qui s’instaure entre médecins et malades se présente aujourd’hui comme résolument transformée, dans la logique nouvelle de la « démocratie sanitaire ». D’autres logiques sociales et culturelles continuent cependant de sous-tendre les pratiques des médecins et des malades. Leurs traces ne sauraient être analysées seulement comme des survivances du passé, car de nouvelles normes bousculent, sans les supplanter, les normes anciennes. On montrera ici, à partir d’une étude menée dans des hôpitaux français sur l’information entre soignants et soignés dans le contexte de maladies graves, que la rencontre de ces normes produit un nouveau type de relation médecin-malade, dans laquelle chacun tente de définir sa place à l’intersection de logiques hétérogènes, tout en se référant à des principes contradictoires.
L’hôpital comme espace de circulation d’une norme globalisée
Authors: Bureau Ève
Published: July 2014

Cet article décrit comment une norme, la participation des personnes séropositives dans le système de santé, pensée et promue à l’échelle internationale par les organismes de lutte contre le sida, est interprétée dans le contexte hospitalier du Cambodge. Issue d’une étude ethnographique réalisée dans quatre hôpitaux cambodgiens (à Phnom Penh, Battambang, Siem Reap et Kandal) entre 2006 et 2008, cette analyse met en évidence la pluralité des sens que peut revêtir une même norme, la marge de manoeuvre des acteurs locaux par rapport à celle-ci et l’influence du contexte social sur les mécanismes d’interprétation.
Les parturientes « africaines » en France et la césarienne
Authors: Sauvegrain Priscille
Published: July 2014

Dans cet article sont documentés les taux de césarienne constamment élevés, sauf dans les années 1980, des femmes nées en Afrique subsaharienne accouchant en France. Bien que leurs causes de migrations, conditions de vie en France et états de santé ne soient pas stables, elles représentent un groupe « homogène », réifié, dans les discours des soignants qui les catégorisent comme « Africaines ». Le choix d’étudier la césarienne est dû au fait que ce type de soins est une source de conflits entre les équipes hospitalières et les parturientes qui est révélatrice de phénomènes sociaux, et du fait qu’il a fait l’objet d’une littérature tant médicale qu’anthropologique et ethnopsychiatrique. Surtout, son étude sociologique dans le cadre d’une thèse m’a permis d’illustrer, en croisant méthodologies quantitative et qualitative, les processus d’ethnicisation et de racisation des patientes par les soignants de périnatalité. Est donc ici documenté en quoi l’usage de ces concepts permet une déconstruction du « bon sens » médical dont j’étais moi-même imprégnée dans ma pratique de sage-femme clinicienne. Grâce à cette approche, étayée d’une critique réflexive et enrichie des opinions de femmes interrogées, semblent se dessiner des possibilités d’amélioration de la qualité des soins à dispenser à ces femmes dans un contexte national où l’accouchement « normal » reste l’accouchement par les voies naturelles.
Logiques divergentes et confrontations des savoirs
Authors: Carle Marie-Ève
Published: July 2014

La prise irrégulière ou le refus d’un traitement peuvent parfois être perçus comme une déviance ou une conduite anormale et modifier la relation entre le soignant et son patient. Le rôle des soignants consiste alors à ramener vers la norme les individus ne s’y conformant pas. La non-observance thérapeutique (la conduite) est un phénomène multidimensionnel. Néanmoins, la non-observance nécessite également d’interroger le point de vue des patients, c’est-à-dire l’adhésion thérapeutique (l’attitude). L’exploration des différentes rationalités qui modulent les trajectoires thérapeutiques des patients permet de saisir la complexité du lien entre les conduites et les attitudes. En nous appuyant sur une ethnographie réalisée à la Clinique de tuberculose d’un hôpital pédiatrique à Montréal (Québec, Canada), nous présentons une étude de cas qui permet d’approfondir la compréhension de l’observance (ou non) et de l’adhésion (ou non) thérapeutique. Des familles de l’Europe de l’Est sont au coeur de la réflexion. Certaines caractéristiques de ces familles mettent en avant des profils sociodémographiques qui modifient la rencontre clinique. Plus spécifiquement, l’accent est placé sur la pluralité des rationalités et des divergences au sein de la biomédecine, qui vient teinter les dynamiques relationnelles entre les familles et l’équipe soignante tout en exposant le déplacement des frontières entre les savoirs profanes et experts.
Conflits et reconnaissance dans l’espace social de la clinique
Authors: Fortin Sylvie
Published: July 2014

L’espace clinique hospitalier est un lieu de rencontre pluriel entre soignants et soignés, entre bien-portants et souffrants, entre migrants et non-migrants, entre minoritaires et majoritaires d’appartenances diverses (origines, statut, confession). Cette rencontre peut être imaginée comme un moment de négociation et parfois de heurts par lequel se dessine notre société en évolution. À partir d’une étude ethnographique menée au cours des dernières années dans trois métropoles cosmopolites canadiennes, il sera question de l’hôpital comme acteur dans la ville et de la relation soignant/soigné (famille) en contexte pluriel. Les pratiques quotidiennes et plus largement l’espace social de la clinique deviendront autant de matériaux pour discuter la reconnaissance (ou non) de l’Autre – en l’occurrence le soigné (et sa famille) – comme acteur à part entière dans l’espace clinique et le conflit comme témoin de la négociation dans cet espace. L’examen des conditions (structurelles et situationnelles) qui favorisent l’émergence de conflits permettra à son tour de mieux cerner les rapports qu’entretiennent les cliniciens avec l’environnement pluriel de la clinique et la diversité des normes et des valeurs (clinicien/usager) qu’on peut y retrouver. Une réflexion sur les conditions d’émergence d’une normativité plurielle sera proposée en conclusion. Nous réitèrerons l’intérêt de l’hôpital au quotidien, comme lieu anthropologique percutant, pour saisir un social toujours en devenir.
Nécessité et imputation chez Hobbes
Authors: Milanese Arnaud
Published: July 2014

La philosophie pratique de Hobbes est problématique parce que son déterminisme ne semble pas permettre une théorie de l’action : comment penser l’imputation des actes, si l’on soutient que le libre-arbitre n’existe pas ? 1) Son analyse se construit à travers la critique de la théorie scolastique du libre arbitre (dans la controverse avec Bramhall), et, à cette fin, Hobbes semble puiser dans l’analyse d’Aristote pour y reprendre sa distinction entre actions volontaires et involontaires. 2) Mais il ne peut penser cependant la spécificité des actions humaines, comme d’Aristote, par la contingence. 3) Il ne lui reste alors, pour penser l’imputation dans une ontologie déterministe, qu’à constituer une conception de l’individualité de l’agent qui repense le motif aristotélicien de la détermination intérieure à agir, mais sans libre-arbitre ni contingence. 4) Si les difficultés théologiques subsistent, c’est parce que, pour Hobbes, aucune philosophie ne peut résoudre les mystères de la foi.
La propriété, un objet politique ?
Authors: Guibet Lafaye Caroline
Published: July 2014

Notre rapport à la propriété et à la propriété privée repose aujourd’hui encore sur une interprétation de celle-ci qui a émergé au XVIIe, par référence à un contexte qui était celui de l’état de nature. Bien que ce contexte interprétatif ait évolué persiste la prévalence d’une interprétation individualiste et substantialiste du rapport à ce qui est possédé. Notre ambition sera de mettre au jour d’autres modèles interprétatifs de la propriété qui ne soient pas avant tout attachés à l’individu en tant que tel, dans sa singularité, mais qui se construisent par exemple à partir de l’attribution à l’individu de droits sur les qualités des choses. Dans un premier temps, nous identifierons les éléments (tels le Code civil) et les mécanismes qui ont conduit à construire la sphère familiale comme l’espace légitime au sein duquel se réalisent la négociation des biens et la transmission du patrimoine. Il s’agira, dans un deuxième temps, de concevoir la propriété par référence à une convention plutôt qu’à un état de nature, fût-il familial, et par référence à une finalité sociale plutôt qu’à des finalités individualistes. Enfin, nous envisagerons les reformulations possibles du concept de propriété privée et de propriété sociale à partir d’un contrat social plus juste pour l’ensemble des contractants.
Epidemiology of urban water distribution systems
Authors: Bardet Jean‐Pierre , Little Richard
Published: July 2014

Urban water distribution systems worldwide contain numerous old and fragile pipes that inevitably break, flood streets and damage property, and disrupt economic and social activities. Such breaks often present dramatically in temporal clusters as occurred in Los Angeles during 2009. These clustered pipe breaks share many characteristics with human mortality observed during extreme climatological events such as heat waves or air pollution. Drawing from research and empirical studies in human epidemiology, a framework is introduced to analyze the time variations of disruptive pipe breaks that can help water agencies better understand clustered pipe failures and institute measures to minimize the disruptions caused by them. It is posited that at any time, a cohort of the pipes comprising the water distribution system will be in a weakened state due to fatigue and corrosion. This frail cohort becomes vulnerable during normal operations and ultimately breaks due to rapid increase in crack lengths induced by abnormal stressors. The epidemiological harvesting model developed in this paper simulates an observed time series of monthly pipe breaks and has both explanatory and predictive power. It also demonstrates that models from nonengineering disciplines such as medicine can provide improved insights into the performance of infrastructure systems.
Interactions between magnetosonic waves and radiation belt electrons: Comparisons of quasi‐linear calculations with test particle simulations
Authors: Li Jinxing , Ni Binbin , Xie Lun , Pu Zuyin , Bortnik Jacob , Thorne Richard M. , Chen Lunjin , Ma Qianli , Fu Suiyan , Zong Qiugang , Wang Xiaogang , Xiao Chijie , Yao Zhonghua , Guo Ruilong
Published: July 2014

Quasi‐linear theory (QLT) has been commonly used to study the Landau resonant interaction between radiation belt electrons and magnetosonic (MS) waves. However, the long‐parallel wavelengths of MS waves can exceed their narrow spatial confinement and cause a transit‐time effect during interactions with electrons. We perform a careful investigation to validate the applicability of QLT to interactions between MS waves, which have a distribution in frequency and wave normal angle, and radiation belt electrons using test particle simulations. We show agreement between these two methods for scattering rate of intense MS waves at L = 4.5 inside the plasmapause, but find a significant inconsistency for MS waves outside the plasmapause, due to the broad transit‐time region in (Ek,α) space. Consequently, we introduce a particle‐independent criterion to justify the validity of QLT for MS waves: the wave spatial confinement should be longer than two parallel wavelengths.
Modeling initial breakdown pulses of CG lightning flashes
Authors: Karunarathne Sumedhe , Marshall Thomas C. , Stolzenburg Maribeth , Karunarathna Nadeeka
Published: July 2014

Electric field change waveforms of initial breakdown pulses (IBPs) in cloud‐to‐ground (CG) lightning flashes were recorded at ten sites at Kennedy Space center, Florida, in 2011. Six “classic” IBPs were modeled using three modified transmission line (MTL) models called MTLL, MTLE, and MTLK. The locations of the six IBPs were obtained using a time‐of‐arrival method and used as inputs for the models; the recorded IBP waveforms from six to eight sites were used as model constraints. All three models were able to reasonably fit the measured IBP waveforms; the best fit was most often given by the MTLE model. For each individual IBP, there was good agreement between the three models on several physical parameters of the IBPs: current risetime, current falltime, current shape factor, current propagation speed, and the total charge moment change. For the six IBPs modeled, the ranges, mean values, and standard deviations of these quantities are as follows: current risetime [4.8–25, (12 ±6)] μs, current falltime [15–37, (25 ±6)] μs, current speed [0.78–1.8, (1.3 ±0.3)]×108 m/s, and charge moment change [0.015–0.30, (0.12 ±0.10)] C km. Currents in the MTLL and MTLE models moved a negative charge −Q downward and deposited an equivalent positive charge +Q along their paths; the mean Q values were 0.35 C for MTLL and 0.71 C for MTLE. MTLK model deposited negative charge along its lower path and positive charge along its upper path with mean values of 0.27 C.
Effect of sildenafil on skeletal and cardiac muscle in Becker muscular dystrophy
Authors: Witting Nanna , Kruuse Christina , Nyhuus Bo , Prahm Kira P. , Citirak Gulsenay , Lundgaard Stine J. , von Huth Sebastian , Vejlstrup Niels , Lindberg Ulrich , Krag Thomas O. , Vissing John
Published: July 2014

Objective

Patients with Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) and Duchenne muscular dystrophy lack neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). nNOS mediates physiological sympatholysis, thus ensuring adequate blood supply to working muscle. In mice lacking dystrophin, restoration of nNOS effects by a phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitor (sildenafil) improves skeletal and cardiac muscle performance. Sildenafil also improves blood flow in patients with BMD. We therefore hypothesized that sildenafil would improve blood flow, maximal work capacity, and heart function in patients with BMD.

Methods

A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled crossover design with two 4‐week periods of treatment, separated by 2‐week washout was used. We assessed brachial artery blood flow during maximal handgrip exercise, 6‐minute walk test, maximal oxidative capacity, and life quality; cardiac function was evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at rest and during maximal handgrip exercise. Muscle nNOS and PDE5 were tested with Western blotting in 5 patients.

Results

Sixteen patients completed all skeletal muscle evaluations, and 13 completed the cardiac MRI investigations. Sildenafil had no effect on any of the outcome parameters. No serious adverse effects were recorded. PDE5 and nNOS were deficient in 5 of 5 biopsies.

Interpretation

Despite positive evidence from animal models of dystrophinopathy and physiological findings in patients with BMD, this double‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical study showed no effect of sildenafil on blood flow, maximal work capacity, and heart function in adults with BMD. This discrepancy may be explained by a significant downregulation of PDE5 in muscle. Ann Neurol 2014;76:550–557
Fingolimod may support neuroprotection via blockade of astrocyte nitric oxide
Authors: Colombo Emanuela , Di Dario Marco , Capitolo Eleonora , Chaabane Linda , Newcombe Jia , Martino Gianvito , Farina Cinthia
Published: July 2014

Objective

Although astrocytes participate in glial scar formation and tissue repair, dysregulation of the NFκB pathway and of nitric oxide (NO) production in these glia cells contributes to neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. Here we investigated the role of the crosstalk between sphingosine‐1‐phosphate (S1P) and cytokine signaling cascades in astrocyte activation and inflammation‐mediated neurodegeneration, and addressed the effects of fingolimod on astrocyte–neuron interaction and NO synthesis in vivo.

Methods

Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and confocal microscopy were used to detect S1P receptors, interleukin (IL) 1R, IL17RA, and nitrosative stress in multiple sclerosis (MS) plaques, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) spinal cord, and the spinal cord of fingolimod‐treated EAE mice. An in vitro model was established to study the effects of S1P, IL1, and IL17 stimulation on NFkB translocation and NO production in astrocytes, on spinal neuron survival, and on astrocyte–neuron interaction. Furthermore, fingolimod efficacy in blocking astrocyte‐mediated neurodegeneration was evaluated.

Results

We found coordinated upregulation of IL1R, IL17RA, S1P1, and S1P3 together with nitrosative markers in astrocytes within MS and EAE lesions. In vitro studies revealed that S1P, IL17, and IL1 induced NFκB translocation and NO production in astrocytes, and astrocyte conditioned media triggered neuronal death. Importantly, fingolimod blocked the 2 activation events evoked in astrocytes by either S1P or inflammatory cytokines, resulting in inhibition of astrocyte‐mediated neurodegeneration. Finally, therapeutic administration of fingolimod to EAE mice hampered astrocyte activation and NO production.

Interpretation

A neuroprotective effect of fingolimod in vivo may result from its inhibitory action on key astrocyte activation steps. Ann Neurol 2014;76:325–337
A peek behind the curtain: Peer review and editorial decision making at Stroke
Authors: Sposato Luciano A. , Ovbiagele Bruce , Johnston S. Claiborne , Fisher Marc , Saposnik Gustavo ,   for the Stroke Outcome Research Working Group (www.sorcan.ca)
Published: July 2014

Editor's Note

The mechanisms of peer review and editorial decision making often appear opaque to junior academic neurologists, especially those who have not yet published many papers or served as journal referees themselves. Previous entries in the NeuroGenesis career development series from the Editor‐in‐Chief have reviewed some of the reasons why faculty should participate as peer reviewers when given the opportunity and the factors that authors should consider in choosing appropriate journals for their own manuscripts. In this article, Sposato et al present the results of a systematic analysis of the editorial process at a leading neurology subspecialty journal; their findings will be of interest to readers at all stages of their careers who seek a better understanding of what goes on “behind the scenes” in journal decisions. — Bernard Chang, MD, NeuroGenesis Editor

Objective

A better understanding of the manuscript peer‐review process could improve the likelihood that research of the highest quality is funded and published. To this end, we aimed to assess consistency across reviewers' recommendations, agreement between reviewers' recommendations and editors' final decisions, and reviewer‐ and editor‐level factors influencing editorial decisions at the journal Stroke.

Methods

We analyzed all initial original contributions submitted to Stroke from January 2004 through December 2011. All submissions were linked to the final editorial decision (accept vs reject). We assessed the level of agreement between reviewers (intraclass correlation coefficient). We compared the initial editorial decision (accept, minor revision, major revision, and reject) across reviewers' recommendations. We performed a logistic regression analysis to identify reviewer‐ and editor‐related factors associated with acceptance as the final decision.

Results

Of 12,902 original submissions to Stroke during the 8‐year study period, the level of agreement between reviewers was between fair and moderate (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.09–0.75). Likelihood of acceptance was <5% if at least 1 reviewer recommended a rejection. In the multivariate analysis, higher reviewer‐assigned priority scores were related to greater odds of acceptance (odds ratio [OR] = 26.3, 95% CI = 23.2–29.8), whereas higher number of reviewers (OR = 0.54 per additional reviewer, 95% CI = 0.50–0.59) and suggestions for reviewers by authors versus no suggestions (OR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.73–0.94) had lesser odds of acceptance.

Interpretation

This analysis of the peer‐review process at Stroke identified several factors that might be targeted to improve the consistency and fairness of the overall process. Ann Neurol 2014;76:151–158
Temperature/pH dual responsive microgels of crosslinked poly(N‐vinylcaprolactam‐co‐undecenoic acid) as biocompatible materials for controlled release of doxorubicin
Authors: Lou Shaofeng , Gao Shan , Wang Weiwei , Zhang Mingming , Zhang Qiqing , Wang Chun , Li Chen , Kong Deling
Published: July 2014

Undecenoic acid functionalized thermo/pH responsive microgels, poly(N‐vinylcaprolactam‐co‐undecenoic acid) [poly(VCL‐co‐UA)], were synthesized by precipitation emulsion copolymerization. The microgels exhibit reversible thermo/pH responsive phase transition behavior, which can be tuned by varying the monomer feed ratio. The lower critical solution temperatures (LCSTs) of the materials are close to body temperature. As a result, when temperatures rise above ca. 37°C, a rapid thermal gelation process occurs, accompanied by a phase transition, resulting in expulsion of encapsulated compound. In vitro experiment evaluated its applicability as a drug carrier for controlled release of an anticancer agent (doxorubicin) and showed that the drug encapsulation efficiency (EE), releasing rate, and kinetics are dependent on the temperature and pH value as expected. Minimal cytotoxicity of the microgels was observed by a cytotoxicity assay using 3T3 fibroblast cells. Our finding suggests that the poly(VCL‐co‐UA) based microgels may be considered a promising candidate for temperature or pH‐controlled delivery of anticancer drugs. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 41146.
Influence of biodegradable materials in the recycled polystyrene
Authors: Dolores Samper M. , Marina Patricia Arrieta , Santiago Ferrándiz , Juan López
Published: July 2014

Polystyrene (PS) is one of the commonly used polymer in food packaging, that is why it generates a large amount of residual PS: because of the need of reduce environmental damage that occurs, it is common to recycle this polymer. Recycling of PS may be affected by the introduction of biodegradable polymer in industrial food. For this reason we have studied the influence that generates small amounts of biodegradable polymer (PLA, PHB, and TPS) in the recycled PS properties. The recycled PS and biodegradable polymers blends were evaluated by measuring the Vicat softening temperature, melt flow index, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, and mechanical properties. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 41161.
Technical Review: Types of Imaging—Direct STORM
Authors: Jensen Ellen , Crossman David J.
Published: July 2014

In the 1990s, new concepts of microscopy revolutionized the imaging field by breaking the lateral resolution diffraction limit for the first time, even with propagating light and regular lenses (i.e., far‐field). In 2006, several research groups independently showed super‐resolution microscopy using high‐precision localization of single fluorophores. These new developments in single‐molecule spectroscopy enabled a different approach to achieving nanometer‐scale optical microscopy. Direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (dSTORM) is a technique of single‐molecule super‐resolution imaging that does not require an activator fluorophore. This technique is used to visualize cellular structures with a resolution of approximately 20 nm. dSTORM is compatible with many conventionally used fluorophores. This article provides an overview of the principles and uses of dSTORM. Advantages and disadvantages of dSTORM are also discussed. Anat Rec, 297:2227–2231, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Microphysical differences with rainfall intensity in severe tropical storm Bilis
Authors: Cui Xiaopeng , Wang Yaping , Yu Hui
Published: July 2014

Simulated rainfall of severe tropical storm Bilis (2006) is classified into eight types based on precipitation intensity. Cloud microphysical budget analysis shows that Pracw (accretion of cloud water by rain) and Pgmlt (melting of graupel) are the two main sources of raindrops. Unlike Pracw, whose magnitude monotonously increases with increasing precipitation intensity, Pgmlt increases at first and then decreases. This indicates that Pgmlt plays a more important role in weaker precipitation than in stronger precipitation, although Pracw and Pgmlt are always the main sources of raindrops.
Stakeholder dynamics in the EU forest energy sector: key issues to manage and ways forward
Authors: Sluka Charlotte , Peck Philip C.
Published: July 2014

EU forest biomass demand is increasing rapidly under policy stimuli, as biofuels are important for EU utilities to reach EU 2020 renewables goal. The import of large amounts will be required, but stakeholders have sustainability concerns. Utilities are adopting self‐regulatory certification schemes to reduce stakeholder pressures but the interplay between these efforts, stakeholder and policy dynamics, and business risks is not well understood. This study uses literature, interviews, and a survey of 120 stakeholders to delineate influential actors in the discourse, principal concerns, and ways to ameliorate opposition and risk.

The work finds many actors opposed to forest energy systems, and shows how critique is directed toward a nexus of industry and policymakers. It also indicates that critics have an ascendant status and can catalyze changes in policy and business practice in response to their concerns. Key concerns involve carbon, biodiversity, and deforestation; however, it is found that self‐governance systems do not yet incorporate metrics to meet emerging expectations. The study concludes that efforts must deliver robust track records of strong ecological, climate, and social performance for forest energy supply chains to allay concerns – as distinct from just ‘sustainability certification’. Work must include increased efforts to source woody biomass from the EU‐27+ to engender trust in forest energy actors, and scientific studies to delineate ‘strong’ versus ‘weak’ ‘carbon and temporal carbon’ performance for forest energy systems. This also suggests a need to delineate silvicultural regimes that facilitate the management of forest energy supply chains for improved carbon performance. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Preserving human cells for regenerative, reproductive, and transfusion medicine
Authors: Asghar Waseem , El Assal Rami , Shafiee Hadi , Anchan Raymond M. , Demirci Utkan
Published: July 2014

Cell cryopreservation maintains cellular life at sub‐zero temperatures by slowing down biochemical processes. Various cell types are routinely cryopreserved in modern reproductive, regenerative, and transfusion medicine. Current cell cryopreservation methods involve freezing (slow/rapid) or vitrifying cells in the presence of a cryoprotective agent (CPA). Although these methods are clinically utilized, cryo‐injury due to ice crystals, osmotic shock, and CPA toxicity cause loss of cell viability and function. Recent approaches using minimum volume vitrification provide alternatives to the conventional cryopreservation methods. Minimum volume vitrification provides ultra‐high cooling and rewarming rates that enable preserving cells without ice crystal formation. Herein, we review recent advances in cell cryopreservation technology and provide examples of techniques that are utilized in oocyte, stem cell, and red blood cell cryopreservation.
Biosilica‐loaded poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) nanofibers mats provide a morphogenetically active surface scaffold for the growth and mineralization of the osteoclast‐related SaOS‐2 cells
Authors: Müller Werner E.G. , Tolba Emad , Schröder Heinz C. , Diehl‐Seifert Bärbel , Link Thorben , Wang Xiaohong
Published: July 2014

Bioprinting/3D cell printing procedures for the preparation of scaffolds/implants have the potential to revolutionize regenerative medicine. Besides biocompatibility and biodegradability, the hardness of the scaffold material is of critical importance to allow sufficient mechanical protection and, to the same extent, allow migration, cell–cell, and cell–substrate contact formation of the matrix‐embedded cells. In the present study, we present a strategy to encase a bioprinted, cell‐containing, and soft scaffold with an electrospun mat. The electrospun poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) (PCL) nanofibers mats, containing tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), were subsequently incubated with silicatein. Silicatein synthesizes polymeric biosilica by polycondensation of ortho‐silicate that is formed from prehydrolyzed TEOS. Biosilica provides a morphogenetically active matrix for the growth and mineralization of osteoblast‐related SaOS‐2 cells in vitro. Analysis of the microstructure of the 300–700 nm thick PCL/TEOS nanofibers, incubated with silicatein and prehydrolyzed TEOS, displayed biosilica deposits on the mats formed by the nanofibers. We conclude and propose that electrospun PCL nanofibers mats, coated with biosilica, may represent a morphogenetically active and protective cover for bioprinted cell/tissue‐like units with a suitable mechanical stability, even if the cells are embedded in a softer matrix.
Modeling decoupled mobile cloud computing using Mobile UNITY
Authors: De Suddhasil , De Sohini
Published: July 2014

A mobile cloud computing paradigm supports different resource‐intensive mobile applications by leasing various mobile cloud services, thus helping these applications to overcome the inherent shortcomings of mobile ∕ portable devices of end users. However, mobile cloud services in existing architectures become tightly coupled with mobile applications during servicing, which is highly undesirable because of the dynamic nature of the mobile cloud computing paradigm. A new mobile cloud architecture, where the interactions between mobile applications and mobile cloud services are decoupled during service invocation and delivery phases, is proposed in this paper. The tuple space model is used in this architecture to decouple such interactions, thereby improving adaptability and robustness of mobile cloud computing. This paper also suggests an approach of modeling and formally verifying the correctness of the proposed architecture, which also validates its adaptability and robustness during interactions between mobile applications and mobile cloud services. The modeling and verification are carried out using the Mobile UNITY model. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fast parallel solver for the levelset equations on unstructured meshes
Authors: Fu Zhisong , Yakovlev Sergey , Kirby Robert M. , Whitaker Ross T.
Published: July 2014

The levelset method is a numerical technique that tracks the evolution of curves and surfaces governed by a nonlinear partial differential equation (levelset equation). It has applications within various research areas such as physics, chemistry, fluid mechanics, computer vision, and microchip fabrication. Applying the levelset method entails solving a set of nonlinear partial differential equations. This paper presents a parallel algorithm for solving the levelset equations on unstructured 2D and 3D meshes. By taking into account constraints and capabilities of different computing architectures, the method is suitable for both the coarse‐grained parallelism found on CPU‐based systems and the fine‐grained parallelism of modern massively single instruction, multiple data architectures such as graphics processors. In order to solve the levelset equations efficiently, we combine the narrowband scheme with a domain decomposition that is adapted for several different architectures. We also introduce a novel parallelism strategy, which we call hybrid gathering, which allows regular and lock‐free computations of local differential operators. Finally, we provide the detailed description of the implementation and data structures for the proposed strategies, as well as performance data for both CPU and graphics processing unit implementations. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Silicone lymphadenopathy: Presentation of a further case containing asteroid bodies on fine‐needle cytology sample
Authors: Malzone Maria Gabriella , Campanile Anna Cipolletta , Gioioso Antonella , Fucito Alfredo , D'Aiuto Giuseppe , Botti Gerardo , Fulciniti Franco
Published: July 2014

Silicone lymphadenopathy is a recognized complication of breast augmentation. It is thought to occur when silicone droplets migrate from breast implants to lymph nodes. We report the cytologic findings in axillary and inguinal lymph node aspirate smears from a 35‐year‐old Italian woman, who came to our observation 10 years after bilateral cosmetic breast augmentation. A fine‐needle cytology of the axillary lymph node showed extensive granulomatous inflammation, numerous histiocytes, and multinucleated giant cells containing star‐shaped structures known as “asteroid bodies.” The inguinal lymph node aspirate simply showed an aspecific reactive hyperplasia. No evidence of malignancy was present in any of the smears as well as in the excised axillary lymph node. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2015;43:57–59. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Patterns in root traits of woody species hosting arbuscular and ectomycorrhizas: implications for the evolution of belowground strategies
Authors: Comas Louise H. , Callahan Hilary S. , Midford Peter E.
Published: July 2014

Root traits vary enormously among plant species but we have little understanding of how this variation affects their functioning. Of central interest is how root traits are related to plant resource acquisition strategies from soil. We examined root traits of 33 woody species from northeastern US forests that form two of the most common types of mutualisms with fungi, arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) and ectomycorrhizas (EM). We examined root trait distribution with respect to plant phylogeny, quantifying the phylogenetic signal (K statistic) in fine root morphology and architecture, and used phylogenetically independent contrasts (PICs) to test whether taxa forming different mycorrhizal associations had different root traits. We found a pattern of species forming roots with thinner diameters as species diversified across time. Given moderate phylogenetic signals (K = 0.44–0.68), we used PICs to examine traits variation among taxa forming AM or EM, revealing that hosts of AM were associated with lower branching intensity (rPIC = −0.77) and thicker root diameter (rPIC = −0.41). Because EM evolved relatively more recently and intermittently across plant phylogenies, significant differences in root traits and colonization between plants forming AM and EM imply linkages between the evolution of these biotic interactions and root traits and suggest a history of selection pressures, with trade‐offs for supporting different types of associations. Finally, across plant hosts of both EM and AM, species with thinner root diameters and longer specific root length (SRL) had less colonization (rPIC = 0.85, −0.87), suggesting constraints on colonization linked to the evolution of root morphology.
Protected areas alleviate climate change effects on northern bird species of conservation concern
Authors: Virkkala Raimo , Pöyry Juha , Heikkinen Risto K. , Lehikoinen Aleksi , Valkama Jari
Published: July 2014

Global climate change is a major threat to biodiversity, posing increasing pressures on species to adapt in situ or shift their ranges. A protected area network is one of the main instruments to alleviate the negative impacts of climate change. Importantly, protected area networks might be expected to enhance the resilience of regional populations of species of conservation concern, resulting in slower species loss in landscapes with a significant amount of protected habitat compared to unprotected landscapes. Based on national bird atlases compiled in 1974–1989 and 2006–2010, this study examines the recent range shifts in 90 forest, mire, marshland, and Arctic mountain heath bird species of conservation concern in Finland, as well as the changes in their species richness in protected versus unprotected areas. The trends emerging from the atlas data comparisons were also related to the earlier study dealing with predictions of distributional changes for these species for the time slice of 2051–2080, developed using bioclimatic envelope models (BEMs). Our results suggest that the observed changes in bird distributions are in the same direction as theBEM‐based predictions, resulting in a decrease in species richness of mire and Arctic mountain heath species and an increase in marshland species. The patterns of changes in species richness between the two time slices are in general parallel in protected and unprotected areas. However, importantly, protected areas maintained a higher level of species richness than unprotected areas. This finding provides support for the significance and resilience provision of protected area networks in preserving species of conservation concern under climate change.
Assessing the impact of large‐scale water table modifications on riparian trees: a case study from Australia
Authors: Pfautsch Sebastian , Dodson Wade , Madden Sally , Adams Mark A.
Published: July 2014

Mining below groundwater tables is increasing globally, yet little is known of how associated large‐scale modification of water tables impact functioning of surrounding ecosystems. We used measurements of foliage density (ρF) and sapwood‐related sap flow (QS) to assess effects of depth to groundwater on Eucalyptus victrix, a tree species that is common in riparian zones in central and northern parts of Australia.

Foliage density (ρF) varied with season and among sites. Of itself, ρF provided a partial indicator of how trees responded to falling (more than 10 m) and rising (more than 9 m) water tables. Assessment of QS was highly informative. Across all sites, QS was least (90–130 l m−2 sapwood h−1) where groundwater was naturally deep (30 m) or had fallen substantially over the past 4 years (from 8 to 19 m). Fastest rates of QS (>245 l m−2 sapwood h−1) were recorded where groundwater had risen to a depth similar to a site where depth to groundwater remained stable at 6–7 m. Our analyses of daytime and night‐time QS emphasize that water use by E. victrix is highly plastic and opportunistic. We discuss how empirical analysis of QS, coupled with a sound understanding of local hydrogeology, can help assess responses in ecosystem function to large‐scale modification of groundwater levels – an important issue globally, as well as in Australia. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An A‐CAES pilot installation in the distribution system: A technical study for RES integration
Authors: Lombardi Pio , Röhrig Christian , Rudion Krzysztof , Marquardt Roland , Müller‐Mienack Matthias , Estermann André S. , Styczynski Zbigniew A. , Voropai Nikolai I.
Published: July 2014

In the last decade in Europe, the power generated by Renewable Energy Sources (RES) has significantly increased. For the electric power system, the integration of a high amount of power generated by RES represents a big challenge. Energy Storage Systems (ESS) may help to solve problems related to the grid integration of RES. In this study, an analysis of the benefits that a planned and dedicated Adiabatic Compressed Air Energy Storage (A‐CAES) system may provide to a distribution network with a high penetration of RES will be carried out. The A‐CAES system, taken into account in this investigation, is based on the proposed German study so‐called “ADELE project”. The technical benefits as well as the corresponding costs that A‐CAES brings to the system which were analyzed using the load and RES generation time series for 2010 and 2020, and were based on technical data from a selected part of a German distribution power network, were evaluated and results of those broad investigations are presented in this study. The result of the investigations shows that the direct technical benefits are quite limited for the A‐CAES technology as it exists today.
Encoding of nested levels of acoustic regularity in hierarchically organized areas of the human auditory cortex
Authors: Recasens Marc , Grimm Sabine , Wollbrink Andreas , Pantev Christo , Escera Carles
Published: July 2014

Our auditory system is able to encode acoustic regularity of growing levels of complexity to model and predict incoming events. Recent evidence suggests that early indices of deviance detection in the time range of the middle‐latency responses (MLR) precede the mismatch negativity (MMN), a well‐established error response associated with deviance detection. While studies suggest that only the MMN, but not early deviance‐related MLR, underlie complex regularity levels, it is not clear whether these two mechanisms interplay during scene analysis by encoding nested levels of acoustic regularity, and whether neuronal sources underlying local and global deviations are hierarchically organized. We registered magnetoencephalographic evoked fields to rapidly presented four‐tone local sequences containing a frequency change. Temporally integrated local events, in turn, defined global regularities, which were infrequently violated by a tone repetition. A global magnetic mismatch negativity (MMNm) was obtained at 140–220 ms when breaking the global regularity, but no deviance‐related effects were shown in early latencies. Conversely, Nbm (45–55 ms) and Pbm (60–75 ms) deflections of the MLR, and an earlier MMNm response at 120–160 ms, responded to local violations. Distinct neuronal generators in the auditory cortex underlay the processing of local and global regularity violations, suggesting that nested levels of complexity of auditory object representations are represented in separated cortical areas. Our results suggest that the different processing stages and anatomical areas involved in the encoding of auditory representations, and the subsequent detection of its violations, are hierarchically organized in the human auditory cortex. Hum Brain Mapp 35:5701–5716, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.