bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cardiac surgery versus stenting: what is better for the patient?
Authors: Edelman J. James B. , Wilson Michael K. , Bannon Paul G. , Vallely Michael P.
Published: September 2012

Patterns of myocardial revascularization have changed significantly over the past decade. There has been a relative decrease of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) compared with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and some patients are undergoing PCI for coronary lesions traditionally reserved for CABG. The mid‐ to long‐term results of several trials comparing PCI with CABG have recently been published. For three‐vessel disease, CABG is superior to PCI, with lower rates of major adverse cardiac events. PCI may be equivalent to CABG for three‐vessel disease in the lowest disease complexity tercile (SYNTAX score <22; ∼20% of patients). This review focuses on the most recent evidence for myocardial revascularization in patients with multi‐vessel and left main coronary artery disease.
Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair and the Eurosceptic Tradition in Britain
Authors: Daddow Oliver
Published: September 2012

This article advances the interpretivist perspective on British foreign policy by studying Tony Blair's difficult encounter with the Eurosceptic tradition in Britain, popularized by Margaret Thatcher from the late 1980s. Using discourse data taken from key foreign policy speeches by the two leaders across their periods in office, the article investigates the problems Blair and his New Labour team faced when trying to justify and legitimize Britain's more constructive approach to the European Union from 1997. The article argues that Blair failed to modernize public attitudes and build support behind a Europeanist consensus in Britain because, contrary to the reputations they have built up over the years, the two leaders’ webs of belief about the British in Europe were remarkably similar. Blair reworked rather than undermined core themes within the British Eurosceptic tradition.
Interpreting Ethical Foreign Policy: Traditions and Dilemmas for Policymakers
Authors: Gaskarth Jamie
Published: September 2012

What are the ethics of foreign policy? How do foreign policymakers decide between competing ethics? Could policymakers make more ethical decisions? These questions achieved prominence in the UK context when Robin Cook—then Foreign Secretary—announced in 1997 that British foreign policy should have an ‘ethical dimension’. Subsequent commentary on New Labour's foreign policy would often use the phrase ‘ethical foreign policy’ to disparage the moralistic rhetoric of Tony Blair and Robin Cook. This article utilises interviews with former Foreign Secretaries and Ministers of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to explore why ethics should be so controversial in British foreign policy discourse. Using Mark Bevir's concepts of the ‘traditions’ and ‘dilemmas’ of governance, it conducts an interpretivist analysis of this data; aiming to understand how policymakers posit themselves as ethical agents, define what it means to be ethical, and rationalise their own ethical judgments in policymaking.
The effectiveness of probiotics for managing diarrhoea in people with HIV infection: a critically appraised topic
Authors: Guinane S
Published: September 2012

Objectives

The implications of HIV infection are vast. Management of clinical symptomatology, though, cannot be overshadowed by focus on disease management. These must be managed in concert. Diarrhoea, a common complaint of HIV‐infected people, can be difficult to manage, and complicated further by polypharmacy. This review will critically appraise literature related to the management of diarrhoea with probiotics in HIV‐infected people.

Methods

PubMed, CINAHL, and The Cochrane Library were searched for randomized controlled trials investigating the use of probiotics in HIV‐infected people, which included diarrhoeal symptoms as a primary or secondary endpoint.

Results

Three randomized controlled trials and one randomized control cross‐over study were identified as best evidence. One study identified a statistically significant improvement in diarrhoea for those treated with probiotics. An additional study identified improvement in diarrhoea; however, a similar improvement was seen in those treated with placebo. Two studies did not identify a statistical difference for those treated with probiotics.

Conclusions

There is insufficient evidence to allow a strong recommendation to be made for or against the use of probiotics for diarrhoea, but safety and lack of drug−drug interactions make it a reasonable option for some patients.
POST‐TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AND NEUROANTHROPOLOGY: STOPPING PTSD BEFORE IT BEGINS
Authors: Collura Gino L. , Lende Daniel H.
Published: September 2012

Post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a problem that affects many combatants in war, including a high percentage of military personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. The high rates of PTSD among veterans has pushed research and intervention to address the serious mental and behavioral health problems associated with wartime trauma. However, these efforts have largely proceeded using biomedical and psychological approaches, without recognizing the institutional and social contexts of trauma, adaptation, and recovery. Moreover, biomedical and psychological approaches have serious shortcomings in recognizing how individual–environment interactions, meaningful interpretations, and sense of identity play a key role in the impact of trauma and development (or not) of PTSD. A neuroanthropological approach can use ideas of neural plasticity and the encultured brain to link culture, interpretation and identity, and the impact of trauma. This synthetic approach then permits a critique of present efforts in the U.S. military to increase resilience and prevent PTSD, and propose alternative strategies and research approaches to more effectively understand and address PTSD.
POVERTY POISONS THE BRAIN
Authors: Lende Daniel H.
Published: September 2012

The concept of “poverty poisons the brain” has become a major area of research in neuroscience and the health sciences, and an increasingly utilized metaphor to argue for the importance of addressing inequality and poverty in the United States. This article systematically presents the research behind poverty poisons the brain, which includes the impact of socioeconomic status on human development, the developmental models used to understand how poverty impacts children, and the proximate social factors and brain mechanisms that represent the core causal model behind this research. This overview examines the uses of this research for neuroanthropology, highlighting the impact of inequality and how experience becomes embodied. Nevertheless, a simplistic cause–effect approach and the reduction of the social to the biological often hamper this type of research. A critical approach to how poverty poisons the brain provides the basis for making the shift to a more robust neuroanthropological approach to poverty. Neuroanthropology can utilize social embodiment, the dynamics of stress, and the production of inequality to transform research on poverty and children, and to make policy recommendations, do applied research, and craft and test interventions to deal with the pernicious impact of poverty.
Patient-Empowerment Interactive Technologies
Authors: Bruggers Carol S. , Altizer Roger A. , Kessler Robert R. , Caldwell Craig B. , Coppersmith Kurt , Warner Laura , Davies Brandon , Paterson Wade , Wilcken Jordan , D’Ambrosio Troy A. , German Massiell L. , Hanson Glen R. , Gershan Lynn A. , Korenberg Julie R. , Bulaj Grzegorz
Published: September 2012

Health-promoting videogames are emerging as nonpharmacological tools to help patients manage their diseases.
A Conversation with Arnold Harberger
Authors: Harberger Arnold C. , Just Richard
Published: September 2012

The Annual Review of Resource Economics presents Dr. Richard E. Just in conversation with economist Dr. Arnold Harberger. Dr. Harberger is Professor Emeritus at the University of Chicago and is currently a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Harberger has had an incredible impact on the field of public finance, especially in taxation and exchange policy, in both academic and policy circles. What sets his work apart is an emphasis on elucidating major issues of practical importance with understandable simplicity and transparency while at the same time tackling the general equilibrium dimensions of policy issues of importance at the national level. In this interview, Dr. Harberger talks about his career as well as about his views on theories in economics.
Upper threshold of extracellular neural stimulation
Authors: Boinagrov David , Pangratz-Fuehrer Susanne , Suh Bongsoo , Mathieson Keith , Naik Natasha , Palanker Daniel
Published: September 2012

It is well known that spiking neurons can produce action potentials in response to extracellular stimulation above certain threshold. It is widely assumed that there is no upper limit to somatic stimulation, except for cellular or electrode damage. Here we demonstrate that there is an upper stimulation threshold, above which no action potential can be elicited, and it is below the threshold of cellular damage. Existence of this upper stimulation threshold was confirmed in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) at pulse durations ranging from 5 to 500 μs. The ratio of the upper to lower stimulation thresholds varied typically from 1.7 to 7.6, depending on pulse duration. Computational modeling of extracellular RGC stimulation explained the upper limit by sodium current reversal on the depolarized side of the cell membrane. This was further confirmed by experiments in the medium with a low concentration of sodium. The limited width of the stimulation window may have important implications in design of the electro-neural interfaces, including neural prosthetics.
Transcriptional responses to hypoxia are enhanced by recurrent hypoxia (hypoxic preconditioning) in the epaulette shark
Authors: Rytkönen Kalle T. , Renshaw Gillian M. C. , Vainio Petra P. , Ashton Kevin J. , Williams-Pritchard Grant , Leder Erica H. , Nikinmaa Mikko
Published: September 2012

All animals require molecular oxygen for aerobic energy production, and oxygen availability has played a particularly important role in the evolution of aquatic animals. This study investigates how previous exposure to hypoxia (preconditioning) primes protective transcriptional responses in a hypoxia-tolerant vertebrate species, the epaulette shark ( Hemiscyllium ocellatum). The epaulette shark is a basal cartilaginous fish that in its natural environment experiences cyclic hypoxic periods. We evaluated whether the transcription of a set of crucial prosurvival genes is affected differently by a single short-term (2 h) exposure to sublethal hypoxia compared with eight such successive hypoxia exposures (hypoxia preconditioning). We discovered that hypoxia preconditioning amplifies transcriptional responses compared with animals that experienced a single hypoxic bout. In the heart we observed that hypoxic preconditioning, but not a single hypoxic exposure, resulted in higher transcript levels of genes that regulate oxygen and energy homeostasis, including those of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha, adenosine signaling pathway components, and genes affecting circulation [prostaglandin synthetase 2 ( cox-2) and natriuretic peptide C]. This suggests that in a single short-term hypoxic bout, the responses to low oxygen are regulated at the level of pre-existing proteins or translational and posttranslational machinery, whereas transcriptional responses are induced in experiments that parallel the natural environmental cycles of oxygen availability. These findings have general implications for understanding how vertebrates regulate protective gene expression upon physiological stress.
Asymptotic Analysis for the Variance-Based Global Sensitivity Indices
Authors: Bokov Pavel M.
Published: September 2012

We discuss the estimation of the uncertainty and sensitivity parameters for a model response under the assumption that the input variables are normally distributed and block-wise correlated with the covariance matrix, which is small in some norm. These conditions may arise when considering the impact of the group-wise neutron cross-sections' uncertainties on the uncertainty of some reactor parameters such as the neutron multiplication factor. The variance-based global sensitivity analysis, considered in our work, involves the calculation of multidimensional integrals. When the input uncertainties are small, the values of these integrals can be estimated using an asymptotic analysis method called the Laplace approximation. The asymptotic formulas for the output variance and for the global sensitivity indices have been obtained using the Laplace approximation method. It is demonstrated that the asymptotic formula for uncertainty propagation matches the uncertainty propagation formula being used in the local sensitivity analysis. The applicability of the obtained asymptotic approximations was successfully demonstrated on a test problem with realistic cross-section and covariance matrix values.
Energy Effectiveness of Direct UV and UV/H2O2Treatment of Estrogenic Chemicals in Biologically Treated Sewage
Authors: Hansen Kamilla M. S. , Andersen Henrik R.
Published: September 2012

Continuous exposure of aquatic life to estrogenic chemicals via wastewater treatment plant effluents has in recent years received considerable attention due to the high sensitivity of oviparous animals to disturbances of estrogen-controlled physiology. The removal efficiency by direct UV and the UV/H2O2treatment was investigated in biologically treated sewage for most of the estrogenic compounds reported in wastewater. The investigated compounds included parabens, industrial phenols, sunscreen chemicals, and steroid estrogens. Treatment experiments were performed in a flow through setup. The effect of different concentrations of H2O2and different UV doses was investigated for all compounds in an effluent from a biological wastewater treatment plant. Removal effectiveness increased with H2O2concentration until 60 mg/L. The treatment effectiveness was reported as the electrical energy consumed per unit volume of water treated required for 90% removal of the investigated compound. It was found that the removal of all the compounds was dependent on the UV dose for both treatment methods. The required energy for 90% removal of the compounds was between 28 kWh/m3(butylparaben) and 1.2 kWh/m3(estrone) for the UV treatment. In comparison, the UV/H2O2treatment required between 8.7 kWh/m3for bisphenol A and benzophenone-7 and 1.8 kWh/m3for ethinylestradiol.
The Symptoms Get Worse after Pregnancy in Sheehan's Syndrome: A Case Report
Authors: Hao Jingwen , Liu Min , Mo Zhaohui
Published: September 2012

Sheehan’s syndrome, which is pituitary necrosis after severe postpartum hemorrhage and hypovolemia, may cause hypopituitarism immediately or several years later, depending on the degree of tissue destruction. We report an unusual case, in which a 55-year-old woman with Sheehan's syndrome got worse symptoms after spontaneous labor. In 1998, she had severe postpartum hemorrhage and pituitary necrosis during the third delivery, thus it was diagnosed as Sheehan’s syndrome by clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, and magnetic resonance imaging. She was treated by replacement therapy including hydrocortisone and levothyroxine sodium. However, she had the fourth spontaneous pregnancy in 2000 and got worse symptoms after delivery. We carefully concluded that pregnancy provided no evidence against the diagnosis of Sheehan’s syndrome because pregnancy might improve hypopituitarism by stimulating the pituitary remnant to undergo hyperplasia and irritating the placenta to secrete hormone. However, pregnancy might aggravate the symptoms by inducing autoimmunity as well. All in all, early diagnosis and adequate medical treatment are important to provide a good prognosis of Sheehan’s syndrome.
The Citizen Science Landscape: From Volunteers to Citizen Sensors and Beyond
Authors: Catlin-Groves Christina L.
Published: September 2012

Within conservation and ecology, volunteer participation has always been an important component of research. Within the past two decades, this use of volunteers in research has proliferated and evolved into “citizen science.” Technologies are evolving rapidly. Mobile phone technologies and the emergence and uptake of high-speed Web-capable smart phones with GPS and data upload capabilities can allow instant collection and transmission of data. This is frequently used within everyday life particularly on social networking sites. Embedded sensors allow researchers to validate GPS and image data and are now affordable and regularly used by citizens. With the “perfect storm” of technology, data upload, and social networks, citizen science represents a powerful tool. This paper establishes the current state of citizen science within scientific literature, examines underlying themes, explores further possibilities for utilising citizen science within ecology, biodiversity, and biology, and identifies possible directions for further research. The paper highlights (1) lack of trust in the scientific community about the reliability of citizen science data, (2) the move from standardised data collection methods to data mining available datasets, and (3) the blurring of the line between citizen science and citizen sensors and the need to further explore online social networks for data collection.
DNA Methyltransferase 3B Gene Promoter and Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Polymorphisms in Childhood Immune Thrombocytopenia
Authors: Pesmatzoglou Margarita , Lourou Marilena , Goulielmos George N. , Stiakaki Eftichia
Published: September 2012

Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is one of the most common blood diseases as well as the commonest acquired bleeding disorder in childhood. Although the etiology of ITP is unclear, in the pathogenesis of the disease, both environmental and genetic factors including polymorphisms of TNF-a, IL-10, and IL-4 genes have been suggested to be involved. In this study, we investigated the rs2424913 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (C46359T) in DNA methyltransferase 3B (DNMT3B) gene promoter and the VNTR polymorphism of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1 Ra) intron-2 in 32 children (17 boys) with the diagnosis of ITP and 64 healthy individuals. No significant differences were found in the genotype distribution ofDNMT3Bpolymorphism between the children with ITP and the control group, whereas the frequency of allele T appeared significantly increased in children with ITP (P = 0.03, OR = 2, 95% CI: 1.06–3.94). In case ofIL-1 Rapolymorphism, children with ITP had a significantly higher frequency of genotype I/II, compared to control group (P = 0.043, OR = 2.60, 95% CI: 1.02–6.50). Moreover, genotype I/I as well as allele I was overrepresented in the control group, suggesting that allele I may have a decreased risk for development of ITP. Our findings suggest that rs2424913DNMT3BSNP as well asIL-1 RaVNTR polymorphism may contribute to the susceptibility to ITP.
Multi‐State Dependent Impulsive Control for Pest Management
Authors: Cheng Huidong , Wang Fang , Zhang Tongqian
Published: September 2012

According to the integrated pest management strategies, we propose a model for pest control which adopts different control methods at different thresholds. By using differential equation geometry theory and the method of successor functions, we prove the existence of order one periodic solution of such system, and further, the attractiveness of the order one periodic solution by sequence convergence rules and qualitative analysis. Numerical simulations are carried out to illustrate the feasibility of our main results. Our results show that our method used in this paper is more efficient and easier than the existing ones for proving the existence of order one periodic solution.
The Role of Complement System in Septic Shock
Authors: Charchaflieh Jean , Wei Jiandong , Labaze Georges , Hou Yunfang Joan , Babarsh Benjamin , Stutz Helen , Lee Haekyung , Worah Samrat , Zhang Ming
Published: September 2012

Septic shock is a critical clinical condition with a high mortality rate. A better understanding of the underlying mechanisms is important to develop effective therapies. Basic and clinical studies suggest that activation of complements in the common cascade, for example, complement component 3 (C3) and C5, is involved in the development of septic shock. The involvement of three upstream complement pathways in septic shock is more complicated. Both the classical and alternative pathways appear to be activated in septic shock, but the alternative pathway may be activated earlier than the classical pathway. Activation of these two pathways is essential to clear endotoxin. Recent investigations have shed light on the role of lectin complement pathway in septic shock. Published reports suggest a protective role of mannose-binding lectin (MBL) against sepsis. Our preliminary study of MBL-associated serine protease-2 (MASP-2) in septic shock patients indicated that acute decrease of MASP-2 in the early phase of septic shock might correlate with in-hospital mortality. It is unknown whether excessive activation of these three upstream complement pathways may contribute to the detrimental effects in septic shock. This paper also discusses additional complement-related pathogenic mechanisms and intervention strategies for septic shock.
On Complete Moment Convergence of Weighted Sums for Arrays of Rowwise Negatively Associated Random Variables
Authors: Guo Mingle , Zhu Dongjin
Published: September 2012

The complete moment convergence of weighted sums for arrays of rowwise negatively associated random variables is investigated. Some sufficient conditions for complete moment convergence of weighted sums for arrays of rowwise negatively associated random variables are established. Moreover, the results of Baek et al. (2008), are complemented. As an application, the complete moment convergence of moving average processes based on a negatively associated random sequences is obtained, which improves the result of Li et al. (2004).
Repeated Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant (Ozurdex®) for Retinal Vein Occlusion
Authors: Querques Lea , Querques Giuseppe , Lattanzio Rosangela , Gigante Silvia Rita , Del Turco Claudia , Corradetti Giulia , Cascavilla Maria Lucia , Bandello Francesco
Published: September 2012

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of repeated intravitreal dexamethasone implant (IDI) (Ozurdex®) in eyes with macular edema (ME) due to retinal vein occlusion (RVO). Methods: We reviewed the charts of patients with RVO-related ME, who received repeated Ozurdex IDI (0.7 mg) on an ‘as-needed’ basis. Main outcome measures included changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), retreatment interval, and incidence of side effects. Results: A total of 33 eyes were included for analysis. Retreatment with Ozurdex was judged necessary after 4.7 ± 1.1 months from the first IDI (1st IDI) and 5.1 ± 1.5 months from the second IDI (2nd IDI). Baseline BCVA was 0.65 ± 0.43 logMAR; it significantly improved to 0.50 ± 0.42 logMAR after 1.4 ± 0.7 months from the 1st IDI (peaking efficacy) (p < 0.001) and to 0.48 ± 0.44 logMAR after 1.8 ± 0.8 months from the 2nd IDI (peaking efficacy) (p < 0.001). CMT decreased from 636 ± 217 µm (baseline) to 300 ± 114 µm, 1.4 ± 0.7 months after the 1st IDI (p < 0.001), and to 298 ± 91 µm, 1.8 ± 0.8 months after the 2nd IDI (p < 0.001). A rebound effect was recorded in 7 eyes after the 1st IDI (mean 168 ± 158 µm) and in 4 eyes after the 2nd IDI (mean 215 ± 199 µm). All eyes with a rebound effect improved again after a 2nd intravitreal Ozurdex injection. No serious adverse events were observed; 12 eyes developed a transient IOP increase, and cataracts were extracted in 2 eyes. Conclusion: Repeated intravitreal Ozurdex on an ‘as-needed’ basis, with a retreatment interval <6 months, may produce long-term clinically meaningful benefits in the treatment of ME due to RVO, without other significant side effects than expected after intraocular corticosteroid treatment.
Last Millennium Climate and Its Variability in CCSM4
Authors: Landrum Laura , Otto-Bliesner Bette L. , Wahl Eugene R. , Conley Andrew , Lawrence Peter J. , Rosenbloom Nan , Teng Haiyan
Published: September 2012

An overview of a simulation referred to as the “Last Millennium” (LM) simulation of the Community Climate System Model, version 4 (CCSM4), is presented. The CCSM4 LM simulation reproduces many large-scale climate patterns suggested by historical and proxy-data records, with Northern Hemisphere (NH) and Southern Hemisphere (SH) surface temperatures cooling to the early 1800s Common Era by ~0.5°C (NH) and ~0.3°C (SH), followed by warming to the present. High latitudes of both hemispheres show polar amplification of the cooling from the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA) to the Little Ice Age (LIA) associated with sea ice increases. The LM simulation does not reproduce La Niña–like cooling in the eastern Pacific Ocean during the MCA relative to the LIA, as has been suggested by proxy reconstructions. Still, dry medieval conditions over the southwestern and central United States are simulated in agreement with proxy indicators for these regions. Strong global cooling is associated with large volcanic eruptions, with indications of multidecadal colder climate in response to larger eruptions. The CCSM4’s response to large volcanic eruptions captures some reconstructed patterns of temperature changes over Europe and North America, but not those of precipitation in the Asian monsoon region. The Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (AMO) has higher variance at centennial periods in the LM simulation compared to the 1850 nontransient run, suggesting a long-term Atlantic Ocean response to natural forcings. The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO), and El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) variability modes show little or no change. CCSM4 does not simulate a persistent positive NAO or a prolonged period of negative PDO during the MCA, as suggested by some proxy reconstructions.
Adaptation of alcohol and drug screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT) to a department of intercollegiate athletics: The COMPASS project
Authors: Agley Jon , Walker Barbara B , Gassman Ruth A
Published: September 2012

Objective:

To develop and implement an intervention for problem alcohol and substance use among student athletes at a large Midwestern department of intercollegiate athletics in the USA, by use of screening, a brief intervention, referral to treatment (SBIRT) and motivational interviewing (MI). This paper outlines the development of the protocol, the way in which athletic staff members were trained to conduct SBIRT/MI interventions with student athletes who screened positive on the ASSIST screening tool, and the initial fidelity assessment used to demonstrate levels of athletic-staff learning and retention of the process.

Design:

The developmental phase of the project used focus groups. Athletic staff members were trained by a clinical psychologist, during two face-to-face sessions. The recorded practice sessions with student actors were assessed for adherence to project protocols and MI principles.

Setting:

This study was conducted at a large Midwestern university in the USA.

Method:

Four focus groups were held with a total of 29 individuals from distinct segments of the athletics department. Five athletic staff members were trained in SBIRT/MI. Each staff member completed between 4–8 practice sessions with student actors, which were later assessed for implementation fidelity.

Results:

In pilot testing with student actors, staff achieved “good” (µ ≥ 1.5 on a scale of 0–2) performance ratings on the majority of protocols and displayed mixed, but generally positive abilities to utilize MI techniques while avoiding MI-inconsistent behaviors.

Conclusion:

A relatively short training sequence can adequately prepare non-clinical staff members in an athletics department to be ready to deliver a SBIRT/MI-driven protocol to any future at-risk student-athletes identified by drug and alcohol screening.
Nonmedical Prescription Drug Use Among Injection Drug Users
Authors: Martinez Alexis N. , D’Amico Elizabeth J. , Kral Alex H. , Bluthenthal Ricky N.
Published: September 2012

This study described the prevalence and risk factors for nonmedical prescription drug use (NMPD) among injection drug users (IDUs) recruited at syringe exchange programs (SEPs) in California. Interviews were conducted with 1,586 IDUs recruited from 24 SEPs across three annual cross-sections between 2001 and 2003. Any NMPD use in the past 6 months was reported by 17% of the sample. Factors independently associated with depressant use include recent participation in a drug treatment program, recent injection of heroin, and frequency of injection. Factors independently associated with opioid use include frequency of injection and history of incarceration. NMPD depressant use increased the odds of a nonfatal overdose in the past year. The authors’ findings represent a first step toward creating an epidemiologic profile of NMPD use that may be useful for targeting the implementation of interventions that are effective in reducing overdoses, a significant cause of mortality among IDUs worldwide.
Obliged by Grace: Edward Jurji’s Legacy in the History of Religions at Princeton Theological Seminary, 1939–77
Authors: Young Richard Fox
Published: September 2012

A study in the history of the history of religions at Princeton Theological Seminary, the article reflects on the contribution of an under-appreciated figure on the faculty, Edward Jurji, a Syrian Christian acclaimed as a scholar of Islam and as a phenomenologist. Jurji’s intellectual odyssey is traced as he emerged from the shadow of his predecessor Samuel Zwemer, famed (and reviled) as a missionary polemicist in the Middle East, to become an avid proponent of a dialogical approach to the history of religions. Much is owed to Jurji for pioneering the seminary’s first large-scale interfaith colloquies.
Making Sense of the Chinese “Socialist Market Economy”
Authors: Cui Zhiyuan
Published: September 2012

This short essay explores the theoretical meaning of the Chinese notion of “socialist market economy” in light of the recent financial crisis in the West. It argues that James Meade’s theory of “liberal socialism” can help us to understand both “temporary nationalization” as a response to the financial crisis in the West and the Chinese experiment with “socialist market economy.”
Infrahyoid Myocutaneous Flap for Medium‐Sized Head and Neck Defects
Authors: Peng Hanwei , Wang Steven J. , Yang Xihong , Guo Haipeng , Liu Muyuan
Published: September 2012

Objectives

To evaluate the surgical outcomes associated with infrahyoid myocutaneous flaps used in the reconstruction of medium‐sized defects following head and neck cancer resection, as well as to discuss a novel technique modification.

Study Design

Case series with chart review.

Setting

University cancer hospital.

Subjects and Methods

A total of 20 patients with oral or hypopharyngeal carcinoma who underwent infrahyoid myocutaneous flap reconstruction between June 2005 and December 2011 were retrospectively studied. A novel technical modification of flap harvest, preservation of the cranial portion of the anterior jugular vein, was attempted in 15 flaps and was successful in 13 flaps. Functional evaluation was performed in all patients 3 to 6 months after the operation or postoperative radiation.

Results

Total flap necrosis, marginal skin paddle necrosis, and total skin paddle loss were observed in 1, 2, and 1 patient(s), respectively. Pharyngocutaneous fistula without flap problem occurred in 1 patient. No flap complications occurred in 13 cases where the cranial portion of the anterior jugular vein was successfully preserved. Functional results were excellent in 16 patients, good in 3 patients, and fair in 1 patient.

Conclusion

The infrahyoid myocutaneous flap is a reliable and convenient technique that can serve as an alternative to free flaps in the reconstruction of medium‐sized defects of the oral cavity or hypopharynx. Preservation of the cranial portion of the anterior jugular vein is a novel technical modification of harvesting this flap, which may result in better venous return of the skin paddle and reduce skin paddle necrosis.
All-aromatic polyetherimide and polyamide-imide thin films deposited by the infrared laser ablation
Authors: Dygert Nicole L. , Pickel Joseph M. , Dingemans Theo J. , Haglund Richard F.
Published: September 2012

The thermo-oxidative stability and molecular weight were determined for polyimide and polyamide-imide thin films, deposited by resonant infrared laser ablation (RIR-LA). RIR-LA films were deposited at various wavelengths and compared with the traditional solution-cast films using thermogravimetric analysis. The RIR-LA films showed slightly lower oxidation temperatures, but the initial weight loss temperatures were greater. Since molecular weight is directly correlated with the physical and mechanical properties of the polymer, multiangle laser light scattering was employed to ascertain the weight-average molecular weight of the polymers before and after LA. The RIR-LA films exhibited slightly reduced weight-average molecular weight. This degradation has three possible sources: bond scission during LA, reduced solvent transfer leading to lower chain extension and hydrolysis caused by the presence of atmospheric water.
The Herding Hormone
Authors: Stallen Mirre , De Dreu Carsten K. W. , Shalvi Shaul , Smidts Ale , Sanfey Alan G.
Published: September 2012

People often conform to others with whom they associate. Surprisingly, however, little is known about the possible hormonal mechanisms that may underlie in-group conformity. Here, we examined whether conformity toward one’s in-group is altered by oxytocin, a neuropeptide often implicated in social behavior. After administration of either oxytocin or a placebo, participants were asked to provide attractiveness ratings of unfamiliar visual stimuli. While viewing each stimulus, participants were shown ratings of that stimulus provided by both in-group and out-group members. Results demonstrated that on trials in which the ratings of the in-group and out-group were incongruent, the ratings of participants given oxytocin conformed to the ratings of their in-group but not of their out-group. Participants given a placebo did not show this in-group bias. These findings indicate that administration of oxytocin can influence subjective preferences, and they support the view that oxytocin’s effects on social behavior are context dependent.
Genocide and the dynamics of victimization: Some observations on Armenia
Authors: Rafter Nicole , Walklate Sandra
Published: September 2012

Victimology, following in the train of criminology, is starting to incorporate genocide into its research and theory. How will this new direction affect understandings of genocide, and how might it reshape victimology itself? We begin by proposing a new term, victimality, to indicate a group’s potential for victimization by genocide and other atrocity crimes. Then we rework two of victimology’s traditional concepts – victim precipitation and victim proneness – to show how they might be used to analyse the dynamics of genocidal processes. We apply the three concepts to the Armenian genocide of 1915 and suggest ways in which victimologists might engage further with the crime of all crimes.
Intervention dose estimation in health promotion programmes: a framework and a tool. Application to the diet and physical activity promotion PRALIMAP trial
Authors: Legrand Karine , Bonsergent Emilie , Latarche Clotilde , Empereur Fabienne , Collin Jean François , Lecomte Edith , Aptel Evelyne , Thilly Nathalie , Briançon Serge
Published: September 2012

Background

Although the outcomes of health promotion and prevention programmes may depend on the level of intervention, studies and trials often fail to take it into account. The objective of this work was to develop a framework within which to consider the implementation of interventions, and to propose a tool with which to measure the quantity and the quality of activities, whether planned or not, relevant to the intervention under investigation. The framework and the tool were applied to data from the diet and physical activity promotion PRALIMAP trial.

Methods

A framework allowing for calculation of an intervention dose in any health promotion programme was developed. A literature reviews revealed several relevant concepts that were considered in greater detail by a multidisciplinary working group. A method was devised with which to calculate the dose of intervention planned and that is actually received (programme-driven activities dose), as well as the amount of non-planned intervention (non-programme-driven activities dose).

Results

Indicators cover the roles of all those involved (supervisors, anchor personnel as receivers and providers, targets), in each intervention-related groups (IRG: basic setting in which a given intervention is planned by the programme and may differ in implementation level) and for every intervention period. All indicators are described according to two domains (delivery, participation) in two declensions (quantity and quality). Application to PRALIMAP data revealed important inter- and intra-IRG variability in intervention dose.

Conclusions

A literature analysis shows that the terminology in this area is not yet consolidated and that research is ongoing. The present work provides a methodological framework by specifying concepts, by defining new constructs and by developing multiple information synthesis methods which must be introduced from the programme's conception. Application to PRALIMAP underlined the feasibility of measuring the implementation level. The framework and the tool can be used in any complex programme evaluation. The intervention doses obtained could be particularly useful in comparative trials.

Trial registration

PRALIMAP is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under NCT00814554
Peritoneal adhesion: it can be life-threatening, and life-saving
Authors: Huang Jiun-Chi , Chen Szu-Chia , Yang Tsung-Kun , Yu Fang-Jung , Ou-Yang Fu , Chang Jer-Ming
Published: September 2012

Background

The inevitable post-inflammatory fibrosis and adhesion often compromises future treatment in peritoneal dialysis patients. Here, we describe a patient who experienced an unusual form of peritoneal adhesion that made her give up peritoneal dialysis. However, its unique pattern also saved her from infection caused by bowel perforation.

Case presentation

The female patient discontinued peritoneal dialysis due to gradual dialysis inadequacy. Two months after shifting to hemodialysis with generally improved sense of well-being and no sign of abdominal illness, she was admitted to remove the Tenckhoff catheter. The procedure was smooth, but fever and abdominal pain not at the site of operation developed the next day. Abdominal ultrasound showed the presence of ascites and aspiration revealed slimy, green-yellowish pus that gave a negative result on bacterial culture. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) with oral contrast medium was performed, but failed to demonstrate the suspected bowel perforation. The examination, however, did show accumulation of pus inside the abdomen but outside the peritoneal cavity. We drained the pus with two 14-F Pig-tail catheters and the total amount of drainage approached 4000 ml. The second CT was performed with double dose of the contrast medium and found a leak of the contrast from the jejunum. She then received laparotomy and had the perforation site closed.

Conclusions

In summary, this uremic patient suffered from pus accumulation inside her abdomen without obvious systemic toxic effect. The bowel perforation and pus formation might be caused by repeated peritonitis, but the peritoneal adhesion itself might also isolate her peritoneal cavity from the anticipated toxic injuries of bowel perforation.
Molecular surveillance for drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum in clinical and subclinical populations from three border regions of Burma/Myanmar: cross-sectional data and a systematic review of resistance studies
Authors: Brown Tyler , Smith Linda S , Oo Eh Kalu Shwe , Shawng Kum , Lee Thomas J , Sullivan David , Beyrer Chris , Richards Adam K
Published: September 2012

Background

Confirmation of artemisinin-delayed parasite clearance inPlasmodium falciparumalong the Thai-Myanmar border has inspired a global response to contain and monitor drug resistance to avert the disastrous consequences of a potential spread to Africa. However, resistance data from Myanmar are sparse, particularly from high-risk areas where limited health services and decades of displacement create conditions for resistance to spread. Subclinical infections may represent an important reservoir for resistance genes that confer a fitness disadvantage relative to wild-type alleles. This study estimates the prevalence of resistance genotypes in three previously unstudied remote populations in Myanmar and tests thea priorihypothesis that resistance gene prevalence would be higher among isolates collected from subclinical infections than isolates collected from febrile clinical patients. A systematic review of resistance studies is provided for context.

Methods

Community health workers in Karen and Kachin States and an area spanning the Indo-Myanmar border collected dried blood spots from 988 febrile clinical patients and 4,591 villagers with subclinical infection participating in routine prevalence surveys. Samples positive forP. falciparum18 s ribosomal RNA by real-time PCR were genotyped forP. falciparummultidrug resistance protein (pfmdr1)copy number and thepfcrtK76T polymorphism using multiplex real-time PCR.

Results

Pfmdr1copy number increase and thepfcrtK76 polymorphism were determined for 173 and 269 isolates, respectively. Meanpfmdr1copy number was 1.2 (range: 0.7 to 3.7).Pfmdr1copy number increase was present in 17.5%, 9.6% and 11.1% of isolates from Karen and Kachin States and the Indo-Myanmar border, respectively.Pfmdr1amplification was more prevalent in subclinical isolates (20.3%) than clinical isolates (6.4%, odds ratio 3.7, 95% confidence interval 1.1 - 12.5). PfcrtK76T prevalence ranged from 90-100%.

Conclusions

Community health workers can contribute to molecular surveillance of drug resistance in remote areas of Myanmar. Marginal and displaced populations under-represented among previous resistance investigations can and should be included in resistance surveillance efforts, particularly once genetic markers of artemisinin-delayed parasite clearance are identified. Subclinical infections may contribute to the epidemiology of drug resistance, but determination of gene amplification from desiccated filter samples requires further validation when DNA concentration is low.
A new feasible technique of mesh-reinforced pancreatojejunostomy and pancreatogastrostomy: retrospective analysis of 61 cases
Authors: Xianfa Wang , Ying Xin , Junhai Pan , Nengyun Zhang , Wei Zhou
Published: September 2012

Background

Pancreatic leak was the major concern after pancreatoduodenectomy.

Methods

A total of 61 patients who underwent mesh-reinforced pancreatojejunostomy or pancreatogastrostomy from August 2005 to November 2011 were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

The mean anastomosis time of mesh-reinforced pancreatojejunostomy was 25 minutes ranging from 22 to 35 minutes. In mesh-reinforced pancreatogastrostomy, the mean anastomosis time ranged from 20 to38 minutes with an average of 30 minutes. Blood loss was 200 to 4,000 ml with an average of 710 ml in all patients. There was one case of pancreatic leak of Class A, three cases of pancreatic leak of Class B, one case of pancreatic leak of Class C, one case of choledochojejunostomy leakage, one case of gastrojejunostomy leakage, and three cases of abdominal bleeding.

Conclusion

As a new technique, mesh-reinforced pancreatojejunostomy and pancreatogastrostomy might be a safe and feasible procedure to prevent postoperative pancreatic leak.

Trial registration

This research is waivered from trial registration because it was a retrospective analysis of medical records.
Evaluation of different conductive nanostructured particles as filler in smart piezoresistive composites
Authors: Stassi Stefano , Canavese Giancarlo , Cauda Valentina , Marasso Simone L , Pirri Candido Fabrizio
Published: September 2012

This work presents a comparison between three piezoresistive composite materials based on nanostructured conductive fillers in a polydimethylsiloxane insulating elastomeric matrix for sensing applications. Without any mechanical deformation upon an applied bias, the prepared composites present an insulating electric behavior, while, when subjected to mechanical load, the electric resistance is reduced exponentially. Three different metal fillers were tested: commercial nickel and copper spiky-particles and synthesized highly-pointed gold nanostars. These particles were chosen because of their high electrical conductivity and especially for the presence of nanosized sharp tips on their surface. These features generate an enhancement of the local electric field increasing the tunneling probability between the particles. Different figures of merit concerning the morphology of the fillers were evaluated and correlated with the corresponding functional response of the composite.
Therapeutic efficacy of CXCR3 blockade in an experimental model of severe sepsis
Authors: Herzig Daniela S , Guo Yin , Fang Geping , Toliver-Kinsky Tracy E , Sherwood Edward R
Published: September 2012

Introduction

In our previous studies we demonstrated that CXC chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3) participates in the regulation of lymphocyte trafficking during cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis. In this study, we evaluated the effects of treatment with anti-CXCR3 immunoglobulin (IgG) and antibiotics on outcome during septic shock caused by CLP.

Methods

C57BL/6J mice were treated with neutralizing IgG against CXCR3 plus Primaxin either 24 hours prior to, 2 hours after or 6 hours after CLP. Control mice received nonspecific IgG plus Primaxin in the same regimen. Survival, core body temperature, bacterial clearance and systemic cytokine production were evaluated.

Results

Our results show that treatment with anti-CXCR3 IgG plus Primaxin significantly improved survival when administered 24 hours prior to CLP (50% vs. 10%), 2 hours after CLP (55% vs. 10%) or 6 hours after CLP (55% vs. 25%) compared with mice receiving nonspecific IgG plus Primaxin. Treatment with anti-CXCR3 plus Primaxin 24 hours prior to CLP attenuated hypothermia and IL-6 and macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2) production but did not alter bacterial clearance. Treatment with anti-CXCR3 IgG and Primaxin 2 hours after CLP did not improve bacterial clearance and systemic cytokine production compared with mice treated with IgG and Primaxin, whereas 6 hours after CLP the bacterial clearance and IL-6 and MIP-2 concentrations, both in plasma and peritoneal lavage fluid, were significantly improved in mice receiving anti-CXCR3 IgG and Primaxin compared with mice that only received nonspecific IgG and Primaxin.

Conclusion

The results from this study indicate that neutralization of CXCR3 prior to, 2 hours after or 6 hours after the initiation of CLP-induced septic shock improves survival and attenuates CLP-induced inflammation and physiologic dysfunction.