bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Variation in Brain Organization of Coral Reef Fish Larvae according to Life History Traits
Authors: Lecchini David , Lecellier Gael , Lanyon Rynae Greta , Holles Sophie , Poucet Bruno , Duran Emilio
Published: January 2014

In coral reefs, one of the great mysteries of teleost fish ecology is how larvae locate the relatively rare patches of habitat to which they recruit. The recruitment of fish larvae to a reef, after a pelagic phase lasting between 10 and 120 days, depends strongly on larval ability to swim and detect predators, prey and suitable habitat via sensory cues. However, no information is available about the relationship between brain organization in fish larvae and their sensory and swimming abilities at recruitment. For the first time, we explore the structural diversity of brain organization (comparative sizes of brain subdivisions: telencephalon, mesencephalon, cerebellum, vagal lobe and inferior lobe) among larvae of 25 coral reef fish species. We then investigate links between variation in brain organization and life history traits (swimming ability, pelagic larval duration, social behavior, diel activity and cue use relying on sensory perception). After accounting for phylogeny with independent contrasts, we found that brain organization covaried with some life history traits: (1) fish larvae with good swimming ability (>20 cm/s), a long pelagic duration (>30 days), diurnal activity and strong use of cues relying on sensory perception for detection of recruitment habitat had a larger cerebellum than other species. (2) Fish larvae with a short pelagic duration (<30 days) and nocturnal activity had a larger mesencephalon and telencephalon. Lastly, (3) fish larvae exhibiting solitary behavior during their oceanic phase had larger inferior and vagal lobes. Overall, we hypothesize that a well-developed cerebellum may allow fish larvae to improve their chances of successful recruitment after a long pelagic phase in the ocean. Our study is the first one to bring together quantitative information on brain organization and the relative development of major brain subdivisions across coral reef fish larvae, and more specifically to address the way in which this variation correlates with the recruitment process.
Clinical and Genetic Evaluation of Patients with KATP Channel Mutations from the German Registry for Congenital Hyperinsulinism
Authors: Mohnike Klaus , Wieland Ilse , Barthlen Winfried , Vogelgesang Silke , Empting Susann , Mohnike Wolfgang , Meissner Thomas , Zenker Martin
Published: January 2014

Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) causes hypoglycemia due to irregular insulin secretion. In infants, a rapid diagnosis and appropriate management to avoid severe hypoglycemia is mandatory. CHI is a heterogeneous condition at the clinical and genetic level, and disease-causing genes have been identified in about half of the patients. The majority of mutations have been identified in the ABCC8 and KCNJ11 genes encoding subunits of the KATP channel responsible for two distinct histological forms. The diffuse form is caused by autosomal recessive or dominant inherited mutations, whereas the focal form is caused by a paternally transmitted recessive mutation and a second somatic event. We report on an unselected cohort of 136 unrelated patients from the German CHI registry. Mutations in either the ABCC8 or KCNJ11 gene were identified in 61 of these patients (45%). In total, 64 different mutations including 38 novel ones were detected in this cohort. We observed biparental (recessive) inheritance in 34% of mutation-positive patients, dominant inheritance in 11% and paternal transmission of a mutation associated with a focal CHI type in 38%. In addition, we observed inheritance patterns that do not exactly follow the classical recessive or dominant mode, further adding to the genetic complexity of this disease.
Embryonic Cerebrospinal Fluid Activates Neurogenesis of Neural Precursors within the Subventricular Zone of the Adult Mouse Brain
Authors: Carnicero E. , Alonso M.I. , Carretero R. , Lamus F. , Moro J.A. , de la Mano A. , Fernández J.M.F. , Gato A.
Published: January 2014

Introduction: There is a nondeveloped neurogenic potential in the adult mammalian brain, which could be the basis for neuroregenerative strategies. Many research efforts have been made to understand the control mechanisms which regulate the transition from a neural precursor to a neuron in the adult brain. Embryonic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a complex fluid which has been shown to play a key role in neural precursor behavior during development, working as a powerful neurogenic inductor. We tested if the neurogenic properties of embryonic CSF are able to increase the neurogenic activity of neuronal precursors from the subventricular zone (SVZ) in the brains of adult mice. Results: Our results show that mouse embryonic CSF significantly increases the neurogenic activity in precursor cells from adult brain SVZ. This intense neurogenic effect was specific for embryonic CSF and was not induced by adult CSF. Conclusions: Embryonic CSF is a powerful neurogenesis inductor in homologous neuronal precursors in the adult brain. This property of embryonic CSF could be a useful tool in neuroregeneration strategies.
High Lactate Dehydrogenase 5 Expression Correlates with High Tumoral and Stromal Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expression in Gastric Cancer
Authors: Kim Hee Sung , Lee Hee Eun , Yang Han-Kwang , Kim Woo Ho
Published: January 2014

Background: Lactate dehydrogenase 5 (LDH5) is a major lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme catalyzing the transformation of pyruvate to lactate to provide anaerobic energy. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is expressed in both tumor and stromal cells in gastric cancer. Our aim was to study the prognostic effect of LDH5, and tumoral and stromal expression of the angiogenic factor VEGF in gastric cancer, and the intercorrelation of tissue expression of both factors. Methods: Tissue microarray analysis of 382 consecutive gastric cancer resection specimens was used for immunohistochemistry of LDH5 and VEGF, and expression of LDH5, tumoral VEGF, and stromal VEGF was categorized into low and high groups. Results: High expression was observed for LDH5 in 57.9% (219/378), tumoral VEGF in 35.7% (136/381), and stromal VEGF in 58.5% (223/381) of the specimens. Regarding high expression of LDH5 and VEGF, significant associations with intestinal type, advanced gastric cancer, lymph node metastasis, higher TNM stage, and upper-third location were noted. Positive intercorrelations occurred among the expression of LDH5 and VEGF. Results of survival analyses revealed a significant association of high expression of LDH5 and VEGF with lower survival (overall and disease-free survival). Five-year survival rates were significantly lower in tumors with high LDH5 and tumoral VEGF expression in diffuse- or mixed-type cancers and high expression of stromal VEGF in intestinal-type cancer. Conclusion: The results of our study showed that high LDH5 and VEGF expression in both tumor and stroma was a prognostic factor for patients with gastric cancers, especially diffuse- or mixed-type cancers. Therefore, LDH5 expression may play a role in the regulation of tumoral and stromal VEGF expression in gastric cancer. Our results suggest the potential use of LDH5 expression as a biomarker for response to VEGF-targeted therapy.
Does Online Haemodiafiltration Reduce Intra-Dialytic Patient Symptoms?
Authors: Caplin Ben , Alston Helen , Davenport Andrew
Published: January 2014

Introduction: Patients often suffer from symptoms during dialysis. Haemodiafiltration (HDF) therapy has been suggested to be superior to standard haemodialysis (HD). To understand patients' experiences, we quantified the burden and duration of dialysis-associated symptoms to determine whether there was any difference between the modalities. Methods: Symptom questionnaires (83.3%) were returned by 623 dialysis outpatients. Symptom scores were analysed using a visual analogue score. We compared symptom burdens during HD and HDF treatments and also whether the scores changed following a modality change to HDF. Results: Among the patients, 55.7% were men, the median age was 65 years, 39.7% were diabetic, 26.4% were treated by HDF and the median unadjusted Charlson co-morbidity score was 6 (IQR 4-8). Fatigue (77.3%), intra-dialytic hypotension (76.4%), cramps (74.3%) and dizziness (63%) were the commonest symptoms reported, followed by headache (53.6%) and pruritus (52.2%). Although most symptoms were reported less frequently with HDF [median headache frequency score: HD: 1 (IQR 1-4) vs. HDF: 0 (IQR 0-2), p < 0.005]. There was no evidence of a reduction in symptom scores in patients switching from HD to HDF compared to those remaining on HD. Conclusion: Patient self-reporting shows that most patients frequently suffer symptoms. There was no evidence that switching to HDF improved symptoms in patients established on HD.
A Single-Tube Real-Time PCR Assay for Mycoplasma Detection as a Routine Quality Control of Cell Therapeutics
Authors: Janetzko Karin , Rink Gabi , Hecker Andrea , Bieback Karen , Klüter Harald , Bugert Peter
Published: January 2014

Background: Contamination of cell culture and biological material by mollicute species is an important safety issue and requires testing. We have developed a singletube real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for rapid detection of Mollicutes species stipulated by the European Pharmacopeia. Methods: Primers and TaqMan probes (FAM-labeled) were deduced from 16S rDNA sequence alignment of 18 mollicutes species. A synthetic internal control (IC) DNA and an IC-specific TaqMan probe (VIC-labeled) were included. The analytical sensitivity of the assay was determined on DNA dilutions from 12 mollicute strains. Specificity was proven by the use of DNA from other bacteria. Results: Analytical sensitivities of the PCR assay were in the range of 405-2,431 genomes/ml for 11 of the 12 tested mollicute DNA samples. The lowest sensitivity was found for Ureaplasma urealyticum (19,239 genomes/ml). Negative results for DNA samples from 3 different ubiquitous bacteria demonstrated the specificity of the PCR assay for Mollicutes. Direct testing of cell culture supernatants spiked with Mycoplasma orale revealed similar sensitivity compared to isolated DNA. Conclusions: Our single-tube real-time PCR assay with internal reaction control enables rapid and specific detection of mollicute contaminants. The test protocol is suitable for routine quality control of cell therapeutics.
Too Much Salt and How We Can Get Rid of It
Authors: Ekmekcioglu Cem , Blasche Gerhard , Dorner Thomas E.
Published: January 2014

Humans evolved on potassium-rich diets containing only small amounts of sodium. Nowadays, sodium intake considerably exceeds potassium intake. However, from the evolutionary point of view we are not accustomed to such high salt (sodium chloride) ingestion. The consequences of a high dietary salt intake are primarily elevated blood pressure with a higher risk for cardiovascular diseases, but also a higher probability of developing kidney diseases and stomach cancer. High sodium consumption is favored by an extremely ‘salty' environment, where palatable salty food is frequently available promoting a dietary salt overload of the human body. To efficiently achieve a consistent reduction in dietary salt intake, sodium content of food should be reduced and eating behavior modified. This review covers both of these aspects, including the reasons why we are not ‘programmed' to cope with high salt loads, the clinical consequences of a high salt consumption and the possibilities of reducing dietary salt intake and getting rid of the ‘salty' environment.
Statins in Low Doses Reduce VEGF and bFGF Serum Levels in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Dworacka Marzena , Krzyżagórska Ewa , Wesołowska Anna , Borowska Magdalena , Iskakova Saule , Dworacki Grzegorz
Published: January 2014

Background/Aims: Recent experimental research revealed that statins at low doses induce angiogenesis, which in turn may be related to the course of atherosclerosis. There are no clinical studies evaluating the effect of ‘low-dose' statins on serum levels of angiogenesis regulators in diabetic subjects. We aimed to explain how low doses of statins modify the serum concentrations of two potent proangiogenic factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: Measurements of fasting glucose level, HbA1c, 1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol and lipid profile were taken from 47 patients with type 2 diabetes treated with low doses of atorvastatin (10 mg daily) or simvastatin (10-20 mg daily), from 45 statin-free patients with type 2 diabetes and from 23 nondiabetic subjects. Measurements of VEGF and bFGF in serum were taken using the BD™ Cytometric Bead Array. Results and Conclusion: Statins used in low doses in patients with type 2 diabetes reduce the serum concentration of VEGF and bFGF which suggests antiangiogenic potential of these doses. Nevertheless, this effect could be neutralized by postprandial hyperglycemia.
Genetic Variants in
CCNB1
Associated With Differential Gene Transcription and Risk of Coronary In-Stent Restenosis
Authors: Silvestre-Roig Carlos , Fernández Patricia , Mansego María L. , van Tiel Claudia M. , Viana Rosa , Anselmi Chiara Viviani , Condorelli Gianluigi , de Winter Robbert J. , Martín-Fuentes Paula , Solanas-Barca María , Civeira Fernando , Focaccio Amelia , de Vries Carlie J.M. , Chaves Felipe Javier , Andrés Vicente
Published: January 2014

Background—

The development of diagnostic tools to assess restenosis risk after stent deployment may enable the intervention to be tailored to the individual patient, for example, by targeting the use of drug-eluting stent to high-risk patients, with the goal of improving safety and reducing costs. The
CCNB1
gene (encoding cyclin B1) positively regulates cell proliferation, a key component of in-stent restenosis. Therefore, we hypothesized that single-nucleotide polymorphisms in
CCNB1
may serve as useful tools in risk stratification for in-stent restenosis.

Methods and Results—

We identified 3 single-nucleotide polymorphisms in
CCNB1
associated with increased restenosis risk in a cohort of 284 patients undergoing coronary angioplasty and stent placement (rs350099: TT versus CC+TC; odds ratio [OR], 1.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09–3.03;
P
=0.023; rs350104: CC versus CT+TT; OR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.02–3.26;
P
=0.040; and rs164390: GG versus GT+TT; OR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.33–3.85;
P
=0.002). These findings were replicated in another cohort study of 715 patients (rs350099: TT versus CC+TC; OR, 1.88; 95% CI, 0.92–3.81;
P
=0.080; rs350104: CC versus CT+TT; OR, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.18–4.25;
P
=0.016; and rs164390: GG versus GT+TT; OR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.03–3.47;
P
=0.040). Moreover, the haplotype containing all 3 risk alleles is associated with higher
CCNB1
mRNA expression in circulating lymphocytes and increased in-stent restenosis risk (OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.00–1.823;
P
=0.039). The risk variants of rs350099, rs350104, and rs164390 are associated with increased reporter gene expression through binding of transcription factors nuclear factor-Y, activator protein 1, and specificity protein 1, respectively.

Conclusions—

Allele-dependent transcriptional regulation of
CCNB1
associated with rs350099, rs350104, and rs164390 affects the risk of in-stent restenosis. These findings reveal these common genetic variations as attractive diagnostic tools in risk stratification for restenosis.
Contained? The Religious Life of George F. Kennan and Its Influence
Authors: Wallace James C.
Published: January 2014

Nine experts on Cold War history offer commentaries about John Lewis Gaddis's Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of George F. Kennan, the first head of the U.S. State Department's Policy Planning Staff. The commentators come from several countries and offer a wide range of perspectives about Gaddis's George F. Kennan: An American Life, published by Penguin Books in 2011. Although most of the commentators express highly favorable assessments of the book, they also raise numerous points of criticism. Two of the commentators, Barton J. Bernstein and Anders Stephanson, present extended critiques of Gaddis's biography. The forum concludes with a reply by Gaddis to all the commentaries, especially those by Bernstein and Stephanson.
The Effect of the Internet on Performance and Quality: Evidence from the Airline Industry
Authors: Ater Itai , Orlov Eugene
Published: January 2014

We argue that the rise of online travel agencies changed the nature of competition in the airline industry—from competition on elapsed scheduled flight times to price competition. Using flight-level data between 1997 and 2007 and geographical Internet growth patterns, we find a positive relationship between Internet access and flight times. The magnitude of this relationship is larger in competitive markets without low-cost carriers and for flights with shortest scheduled times. We also find that flight delays increased as more passengers gained Internet access. These findings suggest that the Internet may adversely affect firms’ performance and incentives to provide high-quality products.
Two new species of cheilostome bryozoans from the South Atlantic Ocean
Authors: ALMEIDA ANA CAROLINA S. , SOUZA FACELUCIA B. C.
Published: January 2014

Two new species of cheilostome bryozoans are described from Bahia and Espírito Santo States, Brazil—Calyptooecia conuma n. sp. and Hippotrema fissurata n. sp. Both genera are registered for the first time in the South Atlantic Ocean. Inter alia, Calyptooecia conuma n. sp. is characterized by the presence of dimorphic brooding zooids with relatively small orifices and no perioral tubercles, contrasting with bigger non-brooding zooids having larger orifices surrounded by perioral tubercles. Hippotrema fissurata n. sp. differs from congeners in colony morphology and colour, in details of the ooecium and in zooidal metrics. Specimens were collected on varied substrata, commonly calcareous nodules and shells as well as other bryozoans and sponges.
Denopelopia moema, a new Tanypodinae (Diptera: Chironomidae) from the Neotropical Region
Authors: DA SILVA FABIO LAURINDO , WIEDENBRUG SOFIA , DE OLIVEIRA CAROLINE SILVA NEUBERN
Published: January 2014

Whilst sorting Malaise trap material from Pantanal, in western central Brazil, a not readily identifiable species of Denopelopia Roback et Rutter, were found. This genus has no formal species described or recorded in Brazil, except for a larval morphotype recorded by Trivinho-Strixino & Strixino (1995).  According to Ashe & O´Connor (2009), Denopelopia comprises 4 species known from the Nearctic, Neotropical, eastern Palearctic and Oriental regions (viz. D. atria Roback & Rutter, 1988; D. diaoluonica Cheng & Wang, 2005; D. irioquerea Sasa et Suzuki, 2000 and D. viridula Cheng & Wang, 2005). A key of adult males was given by Cheng and Wang (2005). The found species is regarded as new and described here.
Demographic Patterns of Cumulative Arrest Prevalence by Ages 18 and 23
Authors: Brame Robert , Bushway Shawn D. , Paternoster Ray , Turner Michael G.
Published: January 2014

In this study, we examine race, sex, and self-reported arrest histories (excluding arrests for minor traffic violations) from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97; N = 7,335) for the period 1997 through 2008 covering cumulative arrest histories through ages 18 and 23. The analysis produces three key findings: (a) males have higher cumulative prevalence of arrest than females and (b) there are important race differences in the probability of arrest for males but not for females. Assuming that the missing cases are missing at random (MAR), about 30% of Black males have experienced at least one arrest by age 18 (vs. about 22% for White males); by age 23 about 49% of Black males have been arrested (vs. about 38% for White males). Earlier research using the NLSY97 showed that the risk of arrest by age 23 was 30%, with nonresponse bounds [25.3%, 41.4%]. This study indicates that the risk of arrest is not evenly distributed across the population. Future research should focus on the identification and management of collateral risks that often accompany arrest experiences.
Sociology’s interventions: Engaging the media and politics while remaining a social scientist
Authors: Wieviorka Michel
Published: January 2014

Public sociology implies not simply a general orientation to social research but also a methodology that connects the sociologist to a ‘public.’ This is the case, with some provisos, for the method of sociological intervention, invented by Alain Touraine, that I have pursued in studies of racism, anti-Semitism and terrorism, as well as of anti-nuclear and labor movements. The approach has led to complicated relations with the media and with politics. In this article I give a series of examples of such engagement and the dilemmas it creates for the sociologist who wants to maintain a critical distance. Ultimately, the question and the challenge of public sociology boil down to how one can intervene in social life and, at the same time, remain a social scientist.
How Induction Programs Affect the Decision of Alternate Route Urban Teachers to Remain Teaching
Authors: LoCascio Steven J. , Smeaton Patricia S. , Waters Faith H.
Published: January 2014

This mixed-methods study analyzes the induction programs for alternate route beginning teachers in low socioeconomic, urban schools. The researcher surveyed 53 teachers at the end of their first year and conducted six in-depth follow-up interviews. The study found that half the teachers did not receive an induction program congruent with state guidelines. Further analysis showed that having an inconsistently implemented program had more negative effects than having no program at all for survey respondents and had no effect for those interviewed. The study found that teachers want mentors who respond quickly, care about their success, are flexible, and engender trust. Almost half of survey respondents and all of the interviewed teachers reported that their induction program had no effect on their decision to continue teaching. Finally, the data suggest that teachers may be staying in teaching even if they are unhappy with their jobs and the profession.
Creating a Teacher Collaborative Practice in a South African Primary School: The Role of the Principal
Authors: Steyn Gertruida Maria
Published: January 2014

This study focused on the experiences of a principal in developing a collaborative practice for teachers in his school. A qualitative research design was employed to determine the views of the principal in initiating and maintaining a collaborative culture in the primary school. A narrative analysis was used to analyse the data. The findings show the necessity of supportive leadership, how important it is for teachers to share their intellectual property and the benefit of creating supportive conditions for teacher collaboration. The study provides a tentative theoretical framework for a better understanding of the role of leadership in teacher collaboration and suggestions for teachers who would like to develop practical learning communities in their schools.
Anti-colonialism in a Post-Imperial Environment – The Case of Berlin, 1914–33
Authors: Kuck Nathanael
Published: January 2014

The period between the two world wars was formative for the emergence of anti-colonialism on a conceptual and organizational level. This article takes a closer look at the role Berlin played in that process during the First World War and the Weimar era. During that time emigres from different parts of Africa and Asia found a temporary home and political space in the German capital to promote their demands for national self-determination. Contrary to most studies on metropolitan anti-colonialism focusing on a particular national group this article uses the presence of a multitude of migrants from different imperial contexts to emphasize the coherence of anti-colonialism as a political field shaped by transnational and transimperial links. By asking what kind of interactions Berlin made possible or required of these migrant activists the article aims to contribute to the history of early anti-colonialism and, at the same time, add a transnational perspective to the established assessments of German society and politics between 1914 and 1933.
The Multinational Working Class? Political Activism and Labour Migration in West Germany During the 1960s and 1970s
Authors: Goeke Simon
Published: January 2014

This article looks at the migration policy of the trade unions as well as the political activism of migrants in West Germany during the 1960s and 1970s. It argues that migrants’ political activities have been rather neglected in historiography, because the research has followed the governmental view on migration which has led to an unnecessarily rigid analysis of migrants’ individual motivations to emigrate and ignored their demands. Through several instances of migrant protest and self-organization, the article emphasizes the importance of migrants’ political activism for the social history of the Federal Republic. Ultimately the idea of integration in historiography is discarded as a discourse that covers the migrants’ precise demands for equal rights.
Food for Thought: Rethinking the History of Migration to West Germany Through the Migrant Restaurant Business
Authors: Möhring Maren
Published: January 2014

Research on migration to Germany tends to concentrate on the so-called ‘guest worker’ system and neglects migrants who opened up businesses of their own, above all in food retail and the restaurant sector. After a brief sketch of the history and structure of the migrant restaurant trade in West Germany, this article focuses on those ‘guest workers’ who were specifically recruited for employment in the West German hotel and restaurant business, but who later established ethnic restaurants and thus contributed crucially to the internationalization of food consumption in postwar Germany. In contrast to the US or UK, where the starting conditions for foreign and native entrepreneurs do not differ in legal respects, the state Aliens Department in (West) Germany exerted – and still exerts – an enormous influence on the self-employment of foreigners. Migrant restaurateurs in the FRG could not expect equal treatment. Their applications were subjected to an ‘examination of need’ (Bedürfnisprüfung), that is the authorities had to acknowledge a particular local need or a significant economic interest for a foreigner’s restaurant or snack bar before permission to open a business was granted.
University Students With Poor Reading Comprehension
Authors: Georgiou George K. , Das J. P.
Published: January 2014

The present study aimed to examine the nature of the working memory and general cognitive ability deficits experienced by university students with a specific reading comprehension deficit. A total of 32 university students with poor reading comprehension but average word-reading skills and 60 age-matched controls with no comprehension difficulties participated in the study. The participants were assessed on three verbal working memory tasks that varied in terms of their processing demands and on the Das–Naglieri Cognitive Assessment System, which was used to operationalize intelligence. The results indicated first that the differences between poor and skilled comprehenders on working memory were amplified as the processing demands of the tasks increased. In addition, although poor comprehenders as a group had average intelligence, they experienced significant difficulties in simultaneous and successive processing. Considering that working memory and general cognitive ability are highly correlated processes, these findings suggest that the observed differences between poor and skilled comprehenders are likely a result of a deficient information processing system.
High School Students With Reading Comprehension Difficulties
Authors: Vaughn Sharon , Roberts Greg , Wexler Jade , Vaughn Michael G. , Fall Anna-Mária , Schnakenberg Jennifer B.
Published: January 2014

A 2-year, randomized control trial with 9th to 10th grade students with significant reading problems was provided for 50 minutes a day in small groups. Comparison students were provided an elective class and treatment students the reading intervention. Students were identified as demonstrating reading difficulties through failure on their state accountability test and were randomly assigned to one of three treatment conditions and a business as usual (BAU) condition: reading without dropout prevention, reading with dropout prevention, dropout prevention without reading, or a BAU condition. Findings from the 2-year reading intervention (reading with and without dropout prevention combined and BAU) are reported in this article. Students in reading treatment compared to students in BAU demonstrated significant gains on reading comprehension (effect size = .43), and improved reading was associated with better grades in social studies. Findings from this study provide a rationale for further implementation and investigation of intensive intervention for high school students with reading difficulties.
Difficult Texts: Matthew 23.16–26 – blindness as a term of abuse
Authors: Hull John M.
Published: January 2014

Although these verses from Matthew 23 are usually regarded as being difficult because of their negative attitude towards Jewish leaders, there is another difficulty which is hardly ever noticed: they reinforce an ancient prejudice against blind people.
Gynaecological laparoscopic surgery: eight years experience in the Yaoundé Gynaeco-Obstetric and Paediatric Hospital, Cameroon
Authors: Mboudou Emile , Morfaw Frederick LI , Foumane Pascal , Sama Julius Dohbit , Mbatsogo Bernard Armand Enama , Minkande Jacqueline Ze
Published: January 2014

This is a retrospective analysis of eight years of gynaecological laparoscopic surgery in a resource-limited setting. All gynaecological patients managed by laparoscopy at the Yaoundé Gynaeco-Obstetric and Paediatric Hospital from 1 January 2004 to 30 November 2011 were included. Amongst the 9194 gynaecological surgeries performed during the study period, 6.9% (633) were done by laparoscopy. Most of the women underwent an operative laparoscopy (568/592; 95.9%). The most common indication was infertility (415/592; 70.1%). Diagnostic laparoscopies were mostly indicated for chronic pelvic pain (18/24; 75%). The most common surgical finding was tubo-peritoneal adhesions (412/592; 69.6%). A total of 35 patients (35/592; 5.9%) had at least one complication. The mean duration of hospitalization was 3.4 ±1.8 days. The general uptake of gynaecological laparoscopic surgery is low in our setting. The laparoscopic complication rate of 5.9% is encouraging.
Pregnancy with bilateral tubercular pleural effusion: challenges
Authors: Ahuja Vanita , Gombar Satinder , Kumar Navneet , Goyal Nitika , Gupta Kanika
Published: January 2014

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) during pregnancy mimics some of the physiological changes that occur during pregnancy. Diagnosis is challenging, especially when the patient presents with acute respiratory distress. The incidence of pleural effusion in TB is 3–25% and in the majority of patients, is unilateral. We describe the intensive care management of a 27-year-old pregnant woman admitted to our hospital with life threatening respiratory distress and circulatory shock. She continued to have severe metabolic and respiratory acidosis with shock in spite of the resuscitative measures undertaken. At that point, a bedside lung ultrasonography showed bilateral pleural effusion which was followed with therapeutic thoracocentesis of the right side. This resulted in the stabilization of the respiratory mechanics and haemodynamics of the patient. The pleural fluid culture tested positive for acid fast bacilli after 4 weeks in the intensive care unit. Anti-TB therapy was started and she made a rapid recovery with liberation from mechanical ventilation. The early use of bedside lung ultrasonography was instrumental in the successful management of this patient.
General Test Overlap Control
Authors: Chen Shu-Ying , Lei Pui-Wa , Chen Jyun-Hong , Liu Tzu-Chen
Published: January 2014

This article proposed a new online test overlap control algorithm that is an improvement of Chen’s algorithm in controlling general test overlap rate for item pooling among a group of examinees. Chen’s algorithm is not very efficient in that not only item pooling between current examinee and prior examinees is controlled for but also item pooling between previous examinees, which would have been controlled for when they were current examinees. The proposed improvement increases efficiency by only considering item pooling between current and previous examinees, and its improved performance over Chen is demonstrated in a simulated computerized adaptive testing (CAT) environment. Moreover, the proposed algorithm is adapted for computerized classification testing (CCT) using the sequential probability ratio test procedure and is evaluated against some existing exposure control procedures. The proposed algorithm appears to work best in controlling general test overlap rate among the exposure control procedures examined without sacrificing much classification precision, though longer tests might be required for more stringent control of item pooling among larger groups. Given the capability of the proposed algorithm in controlling item pooling among a group of examinees of any size and its ease of implementation, it appears to be a good test overlap control method.
A Numerical Investigation of the Recovery of Point Patterns With Minimal Information
Authors: Cox M. A. A.
Published: January 2014

A method has been proposed (Tsogo et al. 2001) in order to reconstruct the geometrical configuration of a large point set using minimal information. This paper employs numerical examples to investigate the proposed procedure. The suggested method has two great advantages. It reduces the volume of the data collection exercise and eases the computational effort involved in analyzing the data. It is suggested, however, that the method while possibly providing a useful starting point for a solution, does not provide a universal panacea.
Installing Telecare, Installing Users
Authors: Sánchez-Criado Tomás , López Daniel , Roberts Celia , Domènech Miquel
Published: January 2014

This article reports on ethnographic research into the practical and ethical consequences of the implementation and use of telecare devices for older people living at home in Spain and the United Kingdom. Telecare services are said to allow the maintenance of their users’ autonomy through connectedness, relieving the isolation from which many older people suffer amid rising demands for care. However, engaging with Science and Technology Studies (STS) literature on “user configuration” and implementation processes, we argue here that neither services nor users preexist the installation of the service: they are better described as produced along with it. Moving beyond design and appropriation practices, our contribution stresses the importance of installations as specific moments where such emplacements take place. Using Etienne Souriau’s concept of instauration, we describe the ways in which, through installation work, telecare services “bring into existence” their very infrastructure of usership. Hence, both services and telecare users are effects of fulfilling the “felicity conditions” ( technical, relational, and contractual) of an achieved installation.
Detachment and compensation
Authors: Moss Lenny
Published: January 2014

There are many in the social sciences and social philosophy who would aspire to overcome the ‘nature/culture binary’, including some who, with at least an implicit nod toward a putatively ‘anti-essentialist’ process ontology, have set out with an orientation toward a paradigm of ‘biosocial becoming’ (Ingold and Palsson, 2013). Such contemporary work, however, in areas such as social and cultural anthropology and sciences studies has often failed to clarify, let alone justify, the warrants of their most basic assumptions and assertions. In what follows, adumbrations will be offered for a comprehensive metaphysics of ‘biosocial becoming’ that can stand accountable both to empirical/descriptive and to normative claims.
Functional Comorbidity Index in Sleep Apnea
Authors: Levine Corinna G. , Weaver Edward M.
Published: January 2014

Objectives

(1) Measure the association between the Functional Comorbidity Index (range, 0‐18) and physical function health status (SF‐36 Physical Function domain), general physical health status (SF‐36 Physical Component Score), and general mental health status (SF‐36 Mental Component Score) outcome measures in a cohort of sleep apnea patients. (2) Test if the Functional Comorbidity Index is more strongly associated (a better predictor) than the well‐known Charlson Comorbidity Index (range, 0‐37) with these SF‐36 outcome measures.

Study Design

Cross‐sectional study.

Setting

University of Washington Sleep Center.

Subjects and Methods

In a cohort of newly diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea patients (N = 233), we obtained scores for the Functional Comorbidity Index, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and SF‐36. We calculated Spearman correlations and adjusted coefficients of determination (R2) with multiple linear regression, adjusted for demographic and health covariates. Bootstrapping generated R2 distributions for statistical comparison.

Results

Functional Comorbidity Index scores (mean ± standard deviation 2.4 ± 1.7) were more widely distributed than Charlson Comorbidity Index scores (0.7 ± 1.4). The Functional Comorbidity Index was significantly correlated with SF‐36 Physical Function (–0.53, P <. 001), Physical Component Score (–0.44, P <. 001), and Mental Component Score (–0.38, P <. 001). The Functional Comorbidity Index was a better predictor than the Charlson Comorbidity Index of SF‐36 Physical Function (R2 mean ± standard error 0.27 ± 0.05 vs 0.17 ± 0.05, P <. 001), Physical Component Score (0.23 ± 0.05 vs 0.17 ± 0.05, P <. 001), and Mental Component Score (0.23 ± 0.05 vs 0.13 ± 0.05, P <. 001).

Conclusion

The Functional Comorbidity Index is a more robust predictor of general health status than the Charlson Comorbidity Index in obstructive sleep apnea patients.
Brother or Other? East European Students in Soviet Higher Education Establishments, 1948–1956
Authors: Tromly Benjamin
Published: January 2014

After World War II, bilateral agreements within the Eastern bloc brought youth from the newly established satellite states of Eastern Europe to study in higher education establishments in the USSR. Designed to impart Soviet knowledge and practices in the countries of people’s democracy as well as to create a sense of solidarity within the bloc, the training of East Europeans in the center of world communism proved a tension-filled affair. Spurred by the xenophobia and chauvinism of the Soviet home front during the early Cold War, Soviet administrators, faculty members and students related to the foreign students, despite their socialist credentials, as outsiders and sometimes as carriers of unwanted influences. For this reason, the educational agreements deepened the sense that fundamental differences existed between the Soviet Union and its client states in Europe.
Hallucinogen use predicts reduced recidivism among substance-involved offenders under community corrections supervision
Authors: Hendricks Peter S , Clark C Brendan , Johnson Matthew W , Fontaine Kevin R , Cropsey Karen L
Published: January 2014

Hallucinogen-based interventions may benefit substance use populations, but contemporary data informing the impact of hallucinogens on addictive behavior are scarce. Given that many individuals in the criminal justice system engage in problematic patterns of substance use, hallucinogen treatments also may benefit criminal justice populations. However, the relationship between hallucinogen use and criminal recidivism is unknown. In this longitudinal study, we examined the relationship between naturalistic hallucinogen use and recidivism among individuals under community corrections supervision with a history of substance involvement ( n=25,622). We found that hallucinogen use predicted a reduced likelihood of supervision failure (e.g. noncompliance with legal requirements including alcohol and other drug use) while controlling for an array of potential confounding factors (odds ratio (OR)=0.60 (0.46, 0.79)). Our results suggest that hallucinogens may promote alcohol and other drug abstinence and prosocial behavior in a population with high rates of recidivism.
Unsupervised online learning for long-term autonomy
Authors: Ott Lionel , Ramos Fabio
Published: January 2014

A reliable representation of the environment a robot operates in is vital for solving complex tasks. Models that represent information about objects and their properties are typically trained beforehand using supervised methods. This requires intensive human labeling which makes it time-consuming and results in models that are generally inflexible to changes. We would prefer a robot that can build a model of the environment autonomously by learning the different objects and their corresponding properties without human supervision. This would enable the robot to adapt to changes in the environment as well as reduce the effort of deploying a robot to a new environment. In this paper we present solutions to these problems based on novel extensions of affinity propagation; a clustering method that can be executed in real time to produce meaningful models from observations gathered by a robot. Our method is applied to two different tasks. We demonstrate how to automatically learn models for predicting collisions from raw laser data. Then, the method is used to learn visual appearance models of the environment to recognize and avoid obstacles. In both cases, there is no human supervision; the methodology is entirely based on sensory information gathered by the robot and its interaction with the environment. In experiments we show how meta-point affinity propagation performs similarly to standard affinity propagation, while being faster and capable of handling much larger data-sets. Furthermore, we show how different features influence the prediction quality of the model for collision prediction from laser scans. Finally, we show how we successfully build and maintain an appearance model for obstacle detection which can be used to detect obstacles well before a collision could occur.
The MIT Stata Center dataset
Authors: Fallon Maurice , Johannsson Hordur , Kaess Michael , Leonard John J
Published: January 2014

This paper presents a large scale dataset of vision (stereo and RGB-D), laser and proprioceptive data collected over an extended duration by a Willow Garage PR2 robot in the 10 story MIT Stata Center. As of September 2012 the dataset comprises over 2.3 TB, 38 h and 42 km (the length of a marathon). The dataset is of particular interest to robotics and computer vision researchers interested in long-term autonomy. It is expected to be useful in a variety of research areas—robotic mapping (long-term, visual, RGB-D or laser), change detection in indoor environments, human pattern analysis, long-term path planning. For ease of use the original ROS ‘bag’ log files are provided and also a derivative version combining human readable data and imagery in standard formats. Of particular importance, this dataset also includes ground-truth position estimates of the robot at every instance (to typical accuracy of 2 cm) using as-built floor-plans—which were carefully extracted using our software tools. The provision of ground-truth for such a large dataset enables more meaningful comparison between algorithms than has previously been possible.
Oculopathologic Findings in Flavivirus-Infected Gallinaceous Birds
Authors: Gamino V. , Escribano-Romero E. , Gutiérrez-Guzmán A. V. , Blázquez A. B. , Saiz J. C. , Höfle U.
Published: January 2014

Using eye samples of nine 9-week-old experimentally West Nile virus (WNV)–infected red-legged partridges ( Alectoris rufa), time course of lesions and WNV antigen appearance in ocular structures were examined. In addition, eye samples of 6 red-legged partridges and 3 common pheasants ( Phasianus colchicus) naturally infected with Bagaza virus (BAGV) were used to study lesions and flavivirus antigen distribution in relation to apparent blindness in the former. The rapid onset of microscopic lesions and early presence of viral antigen in the eye of experimentally WNV-infected partridges, prior to the central nervous system involvement, suggested hematogenous spread of the virus into the eye. BAGV-infected partridges had a more pronunced inflammatory reaction and more widespread flavivirus antigen distribution in the retina compared with pheasants and experimentally fatally WNV-infected partridges. Our results suggest that flavivirus replication and development of lesions in ocular structures of gallinaceous game birds vary with the specific virus and host species involved.
Pathology of Experimental Infection by Pasteurella multocida Serotype A
Authors: Praveena P. E. , Periasamy S. , Kumar A. A. , Singh N.
Published: January 2014

Pasteurella multocida serotype A:3 has been mostly implicated in pneumonic pasteurellosis in ruminants. In contrast, our previous studies have reported that both serotypes A:1 and A:3 were responsible for respiratory diseases in cattle and buffaloes. However, the pathology and pathogenesis of P. multocida serotype A:1 ( Pm A:1) infection have not been studied in ruminants. In the present study, 12- to 15-week-old buffalo calves ( Bubalus bubalis) infected by Pm A:1 had fibrinous and suppurative bronchopneumonia with focal areas of coagulation necrosis typical of pneumonic pasteurellosis. For the first time, this study reports the lung pathology and pathogenecity of Pm A:1 infection in calves.
Association Between Hypocapnia and Febrile Seizures
Authors: Kilicaslan Buket , Erol Ilknur , Ozkale Yasemin , Saygi Semra , Sariturk Cagla
Published: January 2014

The purpose of this study is to determine whether hyperthermia-induced hyperventilation with subsequent hypocapnia is relevant to febrile seizures in children. This is only the second study to measure pCO2 and pH values in children with febrile seizures. This prospective case-control study enrolled 18 children who presented with febrile seizures and 18 children who presented with a febrile illness without seizures. Venous blood gas analyses were measured both from the febrile seizure and control group. There was no significant difference in mean blood pH between the febrile seizure and control groups but blood pCO2 was significantly lower in the febrile seizure group. Patients with complex febrile seizures exhibited significantly lower pCO2 levels within 1 hour of seizure onset than patients with simplex febrile seizures. These data indicate that febrile seizures may be associated with hyperventilation and that the ensuing hypocapnia may contribute to the development of febrile seizures.