bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Review: Microglia of the aged brain: primed to be activated and resistant to regulation
Authors: Norden D. M. , Godbout J. P.
Published: October 2012

Innate immunity within the central nervous system (CNS) is primarily provided by resident microglia. Microglia are pivotal in immune surveillance and also facilitate the co‐ordinated responses between the immune system and the brain. For example, microglia interpret and propagate inflammatory signals that are initiated in the periphery. This transient microglial activation helps mount the appropriate physiological and behavioural response following peripheral infection. With normal ageing, however, microglia develop a more inflammatory phenotype. For instance, in several models of ageing there are increased pro‐inflammatory cytokines in the brain and increased expression of inflammatory receptors on microglia. This increased inflammatory status of microglia with ageing is referred to as primed, reactive or sensitized. A modest increase in the inflammatory profile of the CNS and altered microglial function in ageing has behavioural and cognitive consequences. Nonetheless, there are major differences in microglial biology between young and old age when the immune system is challenged and microglia are activated. In this context, microglial activation is amplified and prolonged in the aged brain compared with adults. The cause of this amplified microglial activation may be related to impairments in several key regulatory systems with age that make it more difficult to resolve microglial activation. The consequences of impaired regulation and microglial hyper‐activation following immune challenge are exaggerated neuroinflammation, sickness behaviour, depressive‐like behaviour and cognitive deficits. Therefore the purpose of this review is to discuss the current understanding of age‐associated microglial priming, consequences of priming and reactivity, and the impairments in regulatory systems that may underlie these age‐related deficits.
Pleural effusions on the intensive care unit; Hidden morbidity with therapeutic potential
Authors: WALDEN ANDREW P. , JONES QUENTIN C. , MATSA RAMPRASAD , WISE MATTHEW P.
Published: October 2012

Despite 50–60% of intensive care patients demonstrating evidence of pleural effusions, there has been little emphasis placed on the role of effusions in the aetiology of weaning failure. Critical illness and mechanical ventilation lead to multiple perturbations of the normal physiological processes regulating pleural fluid homeostasis, and consequently, failure of normal pleural function occurs. Effusions can lead to deleterious effects on respiratory mechanics and gas exchange, and when extensive, may lead to haemodynamic compromise. The widespread availability of bedside ultrasound has not only facilitated earlier detection of pleural effusions but also safer fluid sampling and drainage. In the majority of patients, pleural drainage leads to improvements in lung function, with data from spontaneously breathing individuals demonstrating a consistent symptomatic improvement, while a meta‐analysis in critically ill patients shows an improvement in oxygenation. The effects on respiratory mechanics are less clear, possibly reflecting heterogeneity of underlying pathology. Limited data on clinical outcome from pleural fluid drainage exist; however, it appears to be a safe procedure with a low risk of major complications. The current level of evidence would support a clinical trial to determine whether the systematic detection and drainage of pleural effusions improve clinical outcomes.
Cost‐effective framework for basic surgical skills training
Authors: Jiang Deng‐Jin , Wen Chan , Yang Ai‐Jun , Zhu Zhi‐Li , Lei Yan , Lan Yang‐Jun , Huang Qing‐Yuan , Hou Xiao‐Yu
Published: October 2012

Background

The importance of basic surgical skills is entirely agreed among surgical educators. However, restricted by ethical issues, finance etc, the basic surgical skills training is increasingly challenged. Increasing cost gives an impetus to the development of cost‐effective training models to meet the trainees' acquisition of basic surgical skills. In this situation, a cost‐effective training framework was formed in our department and introduced here.

Methods

Each five students were assigned to a ‘training unit’. The training was implemented weekly for 18 weeks. The framework consisted of an early, a transitional, an integrative stage and a surgical skills competition. Corresponding training modules were selected and assembled scientifically at each stage. The modules comprised campus intranet databases, sponge benchtop, nonliving animal tissue, local dissection specimens and simulating reality operations. The training outcomes used direct observation of procedural skills as an assessment tool. The training data of 50 trainees who were randomly selected in each year from 2006 to 2011 year, were retrospectively analysed.

Results

An excellent and good rate of the surgical skills is from 82 to 88%, but there is no significant difference among 6 years (P > 0.05). The skills scores of the contestants are markedly higher than those of non‐contestants (P < 0.05). The average training cost per trainee is about $21.85–34.08.

Conclusion

The present training framework is reliable, feasible, repeatable and cost‐effective. The skills competition can promote to improve the surgical skills level of trainees.
Screening for Delirium Using Family Caregivers: Convergent Validity of the Family Confusion Assessment Method and Interviewer‐Rated Confusion Assessment Method
Authors: Steis Melinda R. , Evans Lois , Hirschman Karen B. , Hanlon Alexandra , Fick Donna M. , Flanagan Nina , Inouye Sharon K.
Published: October 2012

Objectives

To explore agreement between the Family Confusion Assessment Method (FAM‐CAM) for delirium identification and interviewer‐rated CAM delirium ratings.

Design

Exploratory analysis of agreement.

Setting

Community.

Participants

Fifty‐two family caregivers and 52 elderly adults with preexisting impairment according to standardized cognitive testing.

Measurements

The interviewer‐rating for delirium was determined by fulfillment of the CAM algorithm

Results

The total sample included 52 paired CAM:FAM‐CAM assessments completed across 52 dyads of elderly adults with preexisting cognitive impairment and family caregivers. The point prevalence of delirium was 13% (7/52). Characteristics did not differ significantly between the groups with and without delirium. The FAM‐CAM questions that mapped directly to the original four‐item CAM algorithm had the best overall agreement with the interviewer‐rated CAM (kappa = 0.85, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.65–1.0), sensitivity of 88% (95% CI = 47–99%), and specificity of 98% (95% CI = 86–100%).

Conclusion

The FAM‐CAM is a sensitive screening tool for detection of delirium in elderly adults with cognitive impairment using family caregivers, with relevance for research and clinical practice.
Multiple Well Systems with Non‐Darcy Flow
Authors: Mijic Ana , Mathias Simon A. , LaForce Tara C.
Published: October 2012

Optimization of groundwater and other subsurface resources requires analysis of multiple‐well systems. The usual modeling approach is to apply a linear flow equation (e.g., Darcy's law in confined aquifers). In such conditions, the composite response of a system of wells can be determined by summating responses of the individual wells (the principle of superposition). However, if the flow velocity increases, the nonlinear losses become important in the near‐well region and the principle of superposition is no longer valid. This article presents an alternative method for applying analytical solutions of non‐Darcy flow for a single‐ to multiple‐well systems. The method focuses on the response of the central injection well located in an array of equally spaced wells, as it is the well that exhibits the highest pressure change within the system. This critical well can be represented as a single well situated in the center of a closed square domain, the width of which is equal to the well spacing. It is hypothesized that a single well situated in a circular region of the equivalent plan area adequately represents such a system. A test case is presented and compared with a finite‐difference solution for the original problem, assuming that the flow is governed by the nonlinear Forchheimer equation.
Herniation of the small intestine through the femoral canal after castration in a 3‐year‐oldThoroughbred
Authors: Torre F. , Gasparin J. , Bassi Andreasi M.
Published: October 2012

Complications following castration are a potential problem in equine practice. Intestinal evisceration is a life‐threatening condition requiring immediate correction. The following case report describes a rare condition associated with post castration evisceration in a 3‐year‐oldThoroughbred. Shortly after the eviscerated small intestine was repositioned in the abdomen, the horse showed signs of colic and at the second surgery a 4.5 m jejunal loop was found incarcerated in the femoral canal. After resection and anastomosis, the femoral canal was obliterated using large moistened gauze sponges. The horse made a complete recovery and returned to race training. The occurrence of femoral hernia, a condition fairly common in man, has been described but no clinical cases have been reported in horses. This is a severe, although rare, complication after castration.
Treatment of porcine donor cells and reconstructed embryos with the antioxidant melatonin enhances cloning efficiency
Authors: Pang Yun‐Wei , An Lei , Wang Peng , Yu Yong , Yin Qiu‐Dan , Wang Xiao‐Hong , Xin‐Zhang   , Qian‐Zhang   , Yang Mei‐Ling , Min‐Guo   , Wu Zhong‐Hong , Tian Jian‐Hui
Published: October 2012

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of melatonin during the culture of donor cells and cloned embryos on the in vitro developmental competence and quality of cloned porcine embryos. At concentrations of 10−6 m or 10−8 m, melatonin significantly enhanced the proliferation of porcine fetal fibroblasts (PFFs), and the blastocyst rate was significantly increased in the 10−10 m melatonin‐treated donor cell group. Cloned embryo development was also improved in embryo culture medium that was supplemented with 10−9 m or 10−12 m melatonin. When both donor cells and cloned embryos were treated with melatonin, the cleavage rate and total cell number of blastocysts were not significantly affected; however, the blastocyst rate was increased significantly (20.0% versus 11.7%). TUNEL assays showed that combined melatonin treatment reduced the rate of apoptotic nuclei (3.6% versus 6.1%). Gene expression analysis of the apoptosis‐related genes BAX, BCL2L1, and p53 showed that the expression of BCL2L1 was significantly elevated 2.7‐fold relative to the control group, while the expression of BAX and p53 was significantly decreased by 3.7‐fold and 23.2‐fold, respectively. In addition, we detected the expression of two melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) in PFFs but not in porcine cloned embryos. We conclude that exogenous melatonin enhances the development of porcine cloned embryos and improves embryo quality by inhibiting p53‐mediated apoptotic pathway. The proliferation of PFFs may be mediated by receptor binding, but the beneficial effects of melatonin on embryonic development may be receptor‐independent, possibly through melatonin's ability to directly scavenge free radicals.
Serum melatonin levels and antioxidant capacities after consumption of pineapple, orange, or banana by healthy male volunteers
Authors: Sae‐Teaw Manit , Johns Jeffrey , Johns Nutjaree Pratheepawanit , Subongkot Suphat
Published: October 2012

Melatonin is a naturally occurring molecule biosynthesized by the pineal gland of vertebrates; it also has been identified in many plants. It is considered an important antioxidant and may retard the development of some neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Previous studies in humans have measured melatonin metabolites in urine and have indicated that melatonin‐containing foods may provide dietary melatonin. This study tested whether the consumption of fruits or fruit juice containing melatonin would influence the serum melatonin concentration and antioxidant status. In this crossover study, 12 healthy male volunteers took either juice extracted from one kilogram of orange or pineapple or two whole bananas, with a 1‐wk washout period between the fruit or fruit juices. An enzyme‐linked immunosorbent (ELISA) assay was used to determine the serum melatonin concentration. Serum antioxidant capacity was determined by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay and oxygen radical antioxidant capacity (ORAC) assay. The highest serum melatonin concentration was observed at 120 min after fruit consumption, and compared with before consumption levels, their values were significantly increased for pineapple (146 versus 48 pg/mL P = 0.002), orange (151 versus 40 pg/mL, P = 0.005), and banana (140 versus 32 pg/mL, P = 0.008), respectively. Serum antioxidant capacity following fruit consumption also significantly increased in both the FRAP (7–14% increase, P ≤ 0.004) and ORAC (6–9% increase, P = 0.002) assays. Both the serum FRAP and ORAC values strongly correlated with serum melatonin concentration for all three fruits. These findings suggest that tropical fruit consumption increases the serum melatonin concentrations and also raises the antioxidant capacity in the serum of healthy volunteers in proportion to serum melatonin levels.
Increased inflammatory biomarkers in early pregnancy is associated with the development of pre‐eclampsia in patients with periodontitis: a case control study
Authors: Chaparro A. , Sanz A. , Quintero A. , Inostroza C. , Ramirez V. , Carrion F. , Figueroa F. , Serra R. , Illanes S. E.
Published: October 2012

Aim(s)

To explore the relationship between biomarkers of systemic inflammation in plasma and gingival crevicular fluid in early pregnancy and the subsequent development of pre‐eclampsia in patients with periodontitis.

Materials and Methods

A case‐control study was performed. From a cohort composed of 126 pregnant women, 43 normotensive healthy pregnant women were randomly selected, and 11 cases of preeclampsia were identified. Plasmatic and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples were collected in early pregnancy (11–14 wk gestation). The levels of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) were measured in the plasma and GCF samples, whereas the level of C‐reactive protein (CRP) was measured in plasma samples. Biomarkers were determined by ELISA assays. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, and the association between variables was estimated through logistic regression models.

Results

There was observed an association between pre‐eclampsia and plasmatic levels of CRP (OR: 1.07; p = 0.003). Additionally, pre‐eclampsia also was associated with IL‐6 levels in GCF samples in early pregnancy (OR: 1.05; p = 0.039). A multiple logistic regression model suggests that increased levels of IL‐6 in GCF (OR = 1.06; p = 0.02; CI 95% 1.007–1.117) in early pregnancy increase the risk of developing pre‐eclampsia.

Conclusion(s)

Pregnant women with periodontitis who later development pre‐eclampsia, shows increased levels of IL‐6 in GCF and CRP in plasma during early pregnancy. Periodontal disease could contribute to systemic inflammation in early pregnancy via a local increase of IL‐6 and the systemic elevation of CRP. Therefore, both inflammatory markers could be involved in the relationship between periodontal disease and pre‐eclampsia.
PilT2 enhances the speed of gonococcal type IV pilus retraction and of twitching motility
Authors: Kurre Rainer , Höne Andrea , Clausen Martin , Meel Claudia , Maier Berenike
Published: October 2012

Type IV pilus (T4P) dynamics is important for various bacterial functions including host cell interaction, surface motility, and horizontal gene transfer. T4P retract rapidly by depolymerization, generating large mechanical force. The gene that encodes the pilus retraction ATPase PilT has multiple paralogues, whose number varies between different bacterial species, but their role in regulating physical parameters of T4P dynamics remains unclear. Here, we address this question in the human pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which possesses two pilT paralogues, namely pilT2 and pilU. We show that the speed of twitching motility is strongly reduced in a pilT2 deletion mutant, while directional persistence time and sensitivity of speed to oxygen are unaffected. Using laser tweezers, we found that the speed of single T4P retraction was reduced by a factor of ≈ 2 in a pilT2 deletion strain, whereas pilU deletion showed a minor effect. The maximum force and the probability for switching from retraction to elongation under application of high force were not significantly affected. We conclude that the physical parameters of T4P are fine‐tuned through PilT2.
Investigating the Cause of Computational Fluid Dynamics Deficiencies in Accurately Predicting the Efficiency and Performance of High Pressure Turbines: A Combined Experimental and Numerical Study
Authors: Schobeiri Meinhard T. , Abdelfattah S. , Chibli H.
Published: October 2012

Despite the tremendous progress over the past three decades in the area of turbomachinery computational fluid dynamics, there are still substantial differences between the experimental and the numerical results pertaining to the individual flow quantities. These differences are integrally noticeable in terms of major discrepancies in aerodynamic losses, efficiency, and performance of the turbomachines. As a consequence, engine manufacturers are compelled to frequently calibrate their simulation package by performing a series of experiments before issuing efficiency and performance guaranty. This paper aims at identifying the quantities, whose simulation inaccuracies are preeminently responsible for the aforementioned differences. This task requires (a) a meticulous experimental investigation of all individual thermofluid quantities and their interactions, resulting in an integral behavior of the turbomachine in terms of efficiency and performance; (b) a detailed numerical investigation using appropriate grid densities based on simulation sensitivity; and (c) steady and transient simulations to ensure their impact on the final numerical results. To perform the above experimental and numerical tasks, a two-stage, high-pressure axial turbine rotor has been designed and inserted into the TPFL turbine research facility for generating benchmark data to compare with the numerical results. Detailed interstage radial and circumferential traversing presents a complete flow picture of the second stage. Performance measurements were carried out for design and off-design rotational speed. For comparison with numerical simulations, the turbine was numerically modeled using a commercial code. An extensive mesh sensitivity study was performed to achieve a grid-independent accuracy for both steady and transient analysis.
Fabrication of nanoscale, high throughput, high aspect ratio freestanding gratings
Authors: Bruccoleri Alexander , Mukherjee Pran , Heilmann Ralf K. , Yam Jonathan , Schattenburg Mark L. , DiPiazza Frank
Published: October 2012

A nanofabrication process has been developed for a novel critical-angle transmission grating for astronomical x-ray spectroscopy. The pitch of the gratings is 200 nm and the depth is 4 μm, which exceeds the state-of-the-art in aspect ratio by over a factor of 2 for ultrahigh aspect ratio freestanding nanoscale gratings with open areas on the order of 50% and spanning several square centimeters. They have a broad array of other applications, including neutral mass spectroscopy, ultraviolet filtration, and phase contrast imaging x-ray spectroscopy. The gratings are fabricated as a monolithic structure in silicon via two lithographic and pattern transfer processes, integrated together on a silicon-on-insulator wafer. The grating is patterned via interference lithography and transferred into the 4 μm device layer via a Bosch deep reactive-ion etch (DRIE). The grating channels are then filled without voids by spinning photoresist on them, which wicks into the channels. The sample is then bonded under vacuum via Crystal Bond™ to a carrier wafer, and a honeycomb pattern is etched via DRIE through the handle layer until it stops cleanly on the buried SiO2. The buried SiO2 is etched away, and the sample is separated from the carrier. The resist filling is cleaned from the channels and the grating is critical-point dried to create a freestanding structure. The freestanding gratings can now be mounted to external frames and structurally analyzed and tested for launch and deployment in space.
Inhibition of Marburg Virus Budding by Nonneutralizing Antibodies to the Envelope Glycoprotein
Authors: Kajihara Masahiro , Marzi Andrea , Nakayama Eri , Noda Takeshi , Kuroda Makoto , Manzoor Rashid , Matsuno Keita , Feldmann Heinz , Yoshida Reiko , Kawaoka Yoshihiro , Takada Ayato
Published: October 2012

The envelope glycoprotein (GP) of Marburg virus (MARV) and Ebola virus (EBOV) is responsible for virus entry into host cells and is known as the only target of neutralizing antibodies. While knowledge about EBOV-neutralizing antibodies and the mechanism for the neutralization of infectivity is being accumulated gradually, little is known about antibodies that can efficiently regulate MARV infectivity. Here we show that MARV GP-specific monoclonal antibodies AGP127-8 (IgG1) and MGP72-17 (IgM), which do not inhibit the GP-mediated entry of MARV into host cells, drastically reduced the budding and release of progeny viruses from infected cells. These antibodies similarly inhibited the formation of virus-like particles (VLPs) consisting of GP, the viral matrix protein, and nucleoprotein, whereas the Fab fragment of AGP127-8 showed no inhibitory effect. Morphological analyses revealed that filamentous VLPs were bunched on the surface of VLP-producing cells cultured in the presence of the antibodies. These results demonstrate a novel mechanism of the antibody-mediated inhibition of MARV budding, in which antibodies arrest unformed virus particles on the cell surface. Our data lead to the idea that such antibodies, like classical neutralizing antibodies, contribute to protective immunity against MARV and that the “classical” neutralizing activity is not the only indicator of a protective antibody that may be available for prophylactic and therapeutic use.
Infection and Propagation of Human Rhinovirus C in Human Airway Epithelial Cells
Authors: Hao Weidong , Bernard Katie , Patel Nita , Ulbrandt Nancy , Feng Hui , Svabek Catherine , Wilson Susan , Stracener Christina , Wang Kathy , Suzich JoAnn , Blair Wade , Zhu Qing
Published: October 2012

Human rhinovirus species C (HRV-C) was recently discovered using molecular diagnostic techniques and is associated with lower respiratory tract disease, particularly in children. HRV-C cannot be propagated in immortalized cell lines, and currently sinus organ culture is the only system described that is permissive to HRV-C infection
ex vivo
. However, the utility of organ culture for studying HRV-C biology is limited. Here, we report that a previously described HRV-C derived from an infectious cDNA, HRV-C15, infects and propagates in fully differentiated human airway epithelial cells but not in undifferentiated cells. We demonstrate that this differentiated epithelial cell culture system supports infection and replication of a second virus generated from a cDNA clone, HRV-C11. We show that HRV-C15 virions preferentially bind fully differentiated airway epithelial cells, suggesting that the block to replication in undifferentiated cells is at the step of viral entry. Consistent with previous reports, HRV-C15 utilizes a cellular receptor other than ICAM-1 or LDLR for infection of differentiated epithelial cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate that HRV-C15 replication can be inhibited by an HRV 3C protease inhibitor (rupintrivir) but not an HRV capsid inhibitor previously under clinical development (pleconaril). The HRV-C cell culture system described here provides a powerful tool for studying the biology of HRV-C and the discovery and development of HRV-C inhibitors.
Is patellofemoral joint osteoarthritis an under-recognised outcome of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction? A narrative literature review
Authors: Culvenor Adam G , Cook Jill L , Collins Natalie J , Crossley Kay M
Published: October 2012

Patellofemoral joint (PFJ) osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent disease capable of being a potent source of knee symptoms. Although anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and reconstruction (ACLR) are well-established risk factors for the development of tibiofemoral joint OA, PFJ OA after ACL reconstruction has gone largely unrecognised. This is despite the high prevalence of anterior knee pain after ACLR, which can reduce the capacity for physical activity and quality of life. The susceptibility of the PFJ to degenerative change after ACLR may have implications for current rehabilitation strategies. This review summarises the evidence describing the prevalence of PFJ OA after ACLR and examines why this compartment may be at increased risk of early onset OA after ACLR. Strategies that address the modifiable factors for risk of PFJ OA may aid in alleviating joint loads and symptoms for people after ACLR.
Development and validation of a new method for the registration of overuse injuries in sports injury epidemiology: the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre (OSTRC) Overuse Injury Questionnaire
Authors: Clarsen Benjamin , Myklebust Grethe , Bahr Roald
Published: October 2012

Background

Current methods for injury registration in sports injury epidemiology studies may substantially underestimate the true burden of overuse injuries due to a reliance on time-loss injury definitions.

Objective

To develop and validate a new method for the registration of overuse injuries in sports.

Methods

A new method, including a new overuse injury questionnaire, was developed and validated in a 13-week prospective study of injuries among 313 athletes from five different sports, cross-country skiing, floorball, handball, road cycling and volleyball. All athletes completed a questionnaire by email each week to register problems in the knee, lower back and shoulder. Standard injury registration methods were also used to record all time-loss injuries that occurred during the study period.

Results

The new method recorded 419 overuse problems in the knee, lower back and shoulder during the 3-month-study period. Of these, 142 were classified as substantial overuse problems, defined as those leading to moderate or severe reductions in sports performance or participation, or time loss. Each week, an average of 39% of athletes reported having overuse problems and 13% reported having substantial problems. In contrast, standard methods of injury registration registered only 40 overuse injuries located in the same anatomical areas, the majority of which were of minimal or mild severity.

Conclusion

Standard injury surveillance methods only capture a small percentage of the overuse problems affecting the athletes, largely because few problems led to time loss from training or competition. The new method captured a more complete and nuanced picture of the burden of overuse injuries in this cohort.
Use of cardiocerebral resuscitation or AHA/ERC 2005 Guidelines is associated with improved survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Salmen Marcus , Ewy Gordon A , Sasson Comilla
Published: October 2012

Objective

To determine whether the use of cardiocerebral resuscitation (CCR) or AHA/ERC 2005 Resuscitation Guidelines improved patient outcomes from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) compared to older guidelines.

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data sources

MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library databases. We also hand-searched study references and consulted experts.

Study selection

Design: randomised controlled trials and observational studies.

Population

OHCA patients, age >17 years.

Comparators

‘Control’ protocol versus ‘Study’ protocol. ‘Control’ protocol defined as AHA/ERC 2000 Guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). ‘Study’ protocol defined as AHA/ERC 2005 Guidelines for CPR, or a CCR protocol.

Outcome

Survival to hospital discharge.

Quality

High-quality or medium-quality studies, as measured by the Newcastle Ottawa Scale using predefined categories.

Results

Twelve observational studies met inclusion criteria. All the three studies using CCR demonstrated significantly improved survival compared to use of AHA 2000 Guidelines, as did five of the nine studies using AHA/ERC 2005 Guidelines. Pooled data demonstrate that use of a CCR protocol has an unadjusted OR of 2.26 (95% CI 1.64 to 3.12) for survival to hospital discharge among all cardiac arrest patients. Among witnessed ventricular fibrillation/ventricular tachycardia (VF/VT) patients, CCR increased survival by an OR of 2.98 (95% CI 1.92 to 4.62). Studies using AHA/ERC 2005 Guidelines showed an overall trend towards increased survival, but significant heterogeneity existed among these studies.

Conclusions

We demonstrate an association with improved survival from OHCA when CCR protocols or AHA/ERC 2005 Guidelines are compared to use of older guidelines. In the subgroup of patients with witnessed VF/VT, there was a threefold increase in OHCA survival when CCR was used. CCR appears to be a promising resuscitation protocol for Emergency Medical Services providers in increasing survival from OHCA. Future research will need to be conducted to directly compare AHA/ERC 2010 Guidelines with the CCR approach.
Mechanical verification of a data transport protocol
Authors: Di Vito Benedetto L.
Published: October 2012

A protocol that models the data transfer functions of TCP has been formally specified and mechanically verified. This work represents a significant application of deductive verification techniques to protocol analysis. The formal methods are based on a concurrent process model and its associated proof techniques. Mechanical theorem proving is used as an integral part of the methodology. Both formal and informal specifications of the protocol are presented as well as a high level overview of the proof.
Specification and verification of an HDLC protocol with arm connection management and full-duplex data transfer
Authors: Shankar A. Udaya , Lam Simon S.
Published: October 2012

We use an event-driven process model to specify a version of the High-level Data Link Control (HDLC) protocol between two communicating protocol entities. The HDLC protocol is based upon the Asynchronous Response Mode (ARM) of operation, and uses the basic repertoire of HDLC commands and responses (with the exception of the CMDR response). It includes the features of poll/final cycles for connection management and checkpointing, sliding windows for data transfer, and ready/not ready messages for flow control. HDLC has three distinguishable functions: connection management, and one-way data transfers in opposite directions between the protocol entities. Various logical safety properties of the HDLC protocol concerning these functions have been verified using the method of projections.
X.25 implementation the untold story
Authors: Cohen K. L. , Levy R. P.
Published: October 2012

CCITT Recommendation X.25 specifies an access protocol for the interface between Data Terminal Equipment and Data Circuit-Terminating Equipment for terminals operating in the packet mode on public data networks. The recommendation is written from the Data Circuit-Terminating Equipment's point of view. All of the internal implementation is left up to the designer.

This paper describes some of the packet level issues that were encountered during the design and implementation of a packet switch; some solutions are given. Although some of these issues are general and pertain to other protocols, some are specific to Recommendation X.25. Issues covered are: what are the network actions when buffers are depleted; how is a permanent virtual circuit set up; what is done when the remote side of a permanent virtual circuit goes out of order; and what strategy should be taken for internal coupling of the network endpoints.
A layered architecture for a programmable data network
Authors: Liu H. Richard
Published: October 2012

The Advanced Communication Systems AIS Net 1000 service offered by American Bell Inc. provides a service that combines Data Communications with Data Processing capabilities. The Net 1000 network offers customers a nation-wide service that can be shared among multiple customers. It interfaces with a wide variety of terminals and hosts, and allows incompatible devices to communicate with each other. It provides call, store and forward, and storage services. It also provides customer-programmable capabilities in a distributed processing environment. With the terminal and host computer compatibility, customer programmability, and shared public networking capability, this data network offers the service for the 80's. The presentation will describe the objectives, approach, and capabilities of the AIS Net 1000 service architecture. It will also address the operating environment and the resulting architecture of the call, store and forward, and storage services.
Maximal progress state exploration
Authors: Gouda M. G. , Yu Y. T.
Published: October 2012

Given two machines which communicate by exchanging messages over two finite-capacity channels, it is possible to generate all reachable states of the system and check whether any of them is a nonprogress state. This technique is called state exploration; and it usually requires large execution time and storage. In this paper, we discuss a more efficient variation of this technique. In particular, we show that the task of generating all reachable states can be divided into two independent subtasks. In each subtask, only the states reachable by allowing maximal progress for one machine are generated. We prove that a given system cannot reach a nonprogress state iff none of the states generated in each subtask is a nonprogress state. Since the two subtasks are completely independent, and since in most cases the time and storage requirements for each subtask are less than those for the origianal task, maximal progress state exploration can save time or storage over conventional state exploration.
Description, simulation and implementation of communication protocols using PDIL
Authors: Ansart J. P. , Chari V. , Neyer M. , Rafiq O. , Simon D.
Published: October 2012

This paper presents the basis of PDIL, a language designed for specifying protocols and services and allowing automatic implementation. The main objectives of the language are unambiguous description, simulation and automatic implementation. The first part presents the objects that PDIL allows to manipulate : machines, channels, contexts, automata, interactions. The second part gives an overview of a PDIL description unit in its language aspect. This paper also introduces general ideas about the description of simulation and automatic implementation of protocols or services.

This work is largely based on the present result of subgroups A and B of ISO/SC16/WG1/FDT with significant extensions.
X.25 interface to MARKLINK® terminal
Authors: Rao K. V. S.
Published: October 2012

MARKLINK Terminal (MLT) is a Distributed Data Processing system on the General Electric Information Services Company (GEISCO) network. The GEISCO network is a hierarchical network with the file systems at one end and the terminals at the other. The terminals are connected to the network via remote devices.

The MLT X.25 interface connects the MLT to the remote device, Network Gateway, via the Public Data Network. To be cost effective, all the users of an MLT are multiplexed over a single virtual circuit. The interrupt and the clear processes are flow controlled using Network Control Data Packets. MLT initiates, communicates and terminates the communication sessions with the GEISCO network by exchanging the Network Control Data Packets and the User Data Packets. The Network Control Data Packets extend some of the network control functions to the MLT.
Character delays in simple X.3 PAD devices
Authors: Molloy Michael K.
Published: October 2012

Several options are specified in the X.3 standard for the selection of packet construction time. Some simple queueing theoretic models are constructed to study two of the three alternative criterion, fixed packet size and end of packet character.
Temporal features in SQL:2011
Authors: Kulkarni Krishna , Michels Jan-Eike
Published: October 2012

SQL:2011 was published in December of 2011, replacing SQL:2008 as the most recent revision of the SQL standard. This paper covers the most important new functionality that is part of SQL:2011: the ability to create and manipulate temporal tables.
Targeting Tumor Cell Invasion and Dissemination In Vivo by an Aptamer That Inhibits Urokinase-type Plasminogen Activator through a Novel Multifunctional Mechanism
Authors: Botkjaer Kenneth A. , Deryugina Elena I. , Dupont Daniel M. , Gårdsvoll Henrik , Bekes Erin M. , Thuesen Cathrine K. , Chen Zhou , Ploug Michael , Quigley James P. , Andreasen Peter A.
Published: October 2012

Data accumulated over the latest two decades have established that the serine protease urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) is a potential therapeutic target in cancer. When designing inhibitors of the proteolytic activity of serine proteases, obtaining sufficient specificity is problematic, because the topology of the proteases' active sites are highly similar. In an effort to generate highly specific uPA inhibitors with new inhibitory modalities, we isolated uPA-binding RNA aptamers by screening a library of 35 nucleotides long 2′-fluoro-pyrimidine RNA molecules using a version of human pro-uPA lacking the epidermal growth factor-like and kringle domains as bait. One pro-uPA–binding aptamer sequence, referred to as upanap-126, proved to be highly specific for human uPA. Upanap-126 delayed the proteolytic conversion of human pro-uPA to active uPA, but did not inhibit plasminogen activation catalyzed by two-chain uPA. The aptamer also inhibited the binding of pro-uPA to uPAR and the binding of vitronectin to the preformed pro-uPA/uPAR complex, both in cell-free systems and on cell surfaces. Furthermore, upanap-126 inhibited human tumor cell invasion in vitro in the Matrigel assay and in vivo in the chick embryo assay of cell escape from microtumors. Finally, upanap-126 significantly reduced the levels of tumor cell intravasation and dissemination in the chick embryo model of spontaneous metastasis. Together, our findings show that usage of upanap-126 represents a novel multifunctional mechanistic modality for inhibition of uPA-dependent processes involved in tumor cell spread. Mol Cancer Res; 10(12); 1532–43. ©2012 AACR.
PPARγ Agonists Target Aromatase Via Both PGE2 and BRCA1
Authors: Margalit Ofer , Wang Dingzhi , DuBois Raymond N.
Published: October 2012

Obesity is a well-recognized risk factor for postmenopausal breast cancer. Although the underlying mechanisms are not clearly defined, aromatase is thought to play a pivotal role in connecting obesity-associated inflammation with postmenopausal breast cancer. It has been well established that both the proinflammatory prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and the BRCA1 tumor-suppressor gene regulate aromatase expression. In this issue of the journal (beginning on p. 1183), Subbaramaiah and colleagues improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which PPARγ inhibits aromatase expression. They found that pioglitazone, a PPARγ agonist, inhibited aromatase expression by inhibition of PGE2 signaling and upregulation of BRCA1. Their findings provide potential targets for preventing or treating obesity-related breast cancer. Cancer Prev Res; 5(10); 1169–72. ©2012 AACR.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Biedermann Luc , Rogler Gerhard , Vavricka Stephan R. , Seibold Frank , Seirafi Mariam
Published: October 2012

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is frequent in women during their peak reproductive years. Accordingly, a significant number of questions and uncertainties arise from this population regarding the risk of transmission of IBD to the offspring, the impact of the disease and therapies on the fertility, the role of the disease on the course of the pregnancy and the mode of delivery, the impact of the therapy on the pregnancy and fetal development as well as breastfeeding. The safety of medical therapy during pregnancy and lactation is a major concern for both pregnant women and their partners as well as for physicians. As a general rule, it can be stated that the benefit of continuing medical therapy in IBD during pregnancy outweighs the potential risks in the vast majority of instances. This article will review recent developments on this topic consistent with the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organization guidelines.
Treatment of Extraintestinal Manifestations in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Lakatos Peter L. , Lakatos Laszlo , Kiss Lajos S. , Peyrin-Biroulet Laurent , Schoepfer Alain , Vavricka Stephan
Published: October 2012

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a systemic disease associated with a large number of extraintestinal manifestations (EIM). EIM are present in 15–20% of patients with ulcerative colitis and in 20–40% of patients with Crohn’s disease. The management of EIM is best provided by a multidisciplinary team, which includes specialists in the affected organ systems with training in the treatment of IBD. Therapeutic strategy is often empirical. This is explained by the paucity of randomized-controlled studies for the specific treatment of EIM in IBD and by the fact that treatment models are based on extrapolation from patients with similar conditions but without IBD. For most EIM, the mainstay of therapy is the treatment of the underlying active IBD. However, some EIM such as axial arthritis, pyoderma gangrenosum, uveitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis run a clinical course independent of IBD activity and need specific therapy (e.g. TNF antagonists in ankylosing spondylitis and skin manifestations). This review summarizes the conventional and novel (e.g. anti-TNF) treatment modalities, and the therapeutic implications for the management of extraintestinal symptoms in IBD, in order to assist clinicians in optimizing treatment strategies for IBD patients with EIM.
First-Line Therapies in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Girardin Marc , Manz Michael , Manser Christine , Biedermann Luc , Wanner Roger , Frei Pascal , Safroneeva Ekaterina , Mottet Christian , Rogler Gerhard , Schoepfer Alain M.
Published: October 2012

Background and Aims: Medical therapy of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is becoming more complex, given the increasing choice of drugs to treat Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). We aimed to summarize the current guidelines for first-line treatments in IBD. Methods: An extensive literature search with focus on the guidelines of the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation for the diagnosis and treatment of CD and UC was performed. First-line treatments were defined as the following drug categories: 5-aminosalicylates, budesonide, systemic steroids, azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, methotrexate, infliximab, adalimumab and certolizumab pegol. The following drug categories were not included: cyclosporine and tacrolimus (not yet approved by Swissmedic for IBD treatment). Results: Treatment recommendations for the following clinically frequent situations are presented according to disease severity: ileocecal CD, colonic CD, proximal small bowel CD and perianal CD. For UC the following situations are presented: ulcerative proctitis, left-sided colitis and pancolitis. Conclusions: We provide a summary on the use of first-line therapies for clinically frequent situations in patients with CD and UC.
Position Sense of the Hemiparetic and Non-Hemiparetic Ankle after Stroke: Is the Non-Hemiparetic Ankle also Affected?
Authors: Yalcin Elif , Akyuz Mufit , Onder Burcu , Kurtaran Aydan , Buyukvural Sıdıka , Ozbudak Demir Sibel
Published: October 2012

Background and Purpose: Researchers have shown an increased interest in proprioception deficits of the paretic side in hemiplegic patients. However, far too little attention has been paid to the proprioception sense of the non-hemiparetic side. The objective of this research was to determine whether the position sense of the ankles, especially of the non-paretic side, is affected in stroke patients. Methods: 20 inpatients with stroke and 10 healthy control subjects were evaluated using an isokinetic dynamometer. Proprioceptive error scores (in degrees) for passive reproduction of joint position tests (PRJPTs) were measured. Results: Error values of PRJPT for 5° plantarflexion, 10° plantarflexion, and 15° dorsiflexion were significantly higher in patients on both the paretic and non-paretic side compared with the control group dominant side. Conclusion: The impaired results of PRJPT in both the paretic and non-paretic ankles of stroke patients are surprising when one expects that the non-paretic side would be preserved under the control of the healthy hemisphere.
Serial Procalcitonin Levels to Detect Bacteremia in Febrile Neutropenia
Authors: Reitman Aaron J. , Pisk Rhonda M. , Gates John V. , Ozeran J. Daniel
Published: October 2012

Background. Our objective was to evaluate serial procalcitonin (PCT) levels compared with an initial PCT level at admission in predicting bacteremia in pediatric febrile neutropenic oncology patients. Procedure. Serum PCT levels were measured at admission (t0) and within 24 hours of admission (t1) in pediatric oncology patients presenting with fever and neutropenia. A blood culture was collected at t0 and monitored for 5 days for bacterial growth. PCT value of 0.5 ng/mL at either t0 or t1 was considered predictive for bacteremia. Results. PCT levels were significantly higher in children with positive blood cultures than with negative blood cultures. Serial PCT values mirrored t1 values. Serial PCT showed 76% specificity and negative predictive value of 93% in ruling out bacteremia. Conclusion. Elevated PCT levels are predictive of bacteremia. Using serial PCT levels within 24 hours allowed a better prediction of bacteremia than the PCT level at t0.
Generating ideas in jazz improvisation: Where theory meets practice
Authors: Hargreaves Wendy
Published: October 2012

Idea generation is an integral component of jazz improvising. This article merges theoretical origins and practical experiences through the examination of two seminal works from Pressing and Sudnow. A comparative analysis yields three common sources with distinct characteristics. The greater body of jazz literature supports this potential link between “knowing” and “doing” viewed through the new filter of sources. The discussion concludes with a projection of how the properties of the sources may directly affect contemporary educational practice in jazz improvisation.
The privatization of council housing: Stock transfer and the struggle for accountable housing
Authors: Smyth Stewart
Published: October 2012

A central element in the privatization of council housing has been the development of stock transfer policy. A variety of perspectives on this process have been explored including the impact on accountability relations; however, the tenants’ experience is almost completely absent from this literature. The paper develops a case study that draws on the experience of the tenants involved in a stock transfer. In the process stock transfers, and related accountability relations, are shown to be contested with tenant-led campaigns challenging this neoliberal inspired policy. The case study illustrates the power and financial resource asymmetries in transfer campaigns with a range of anti-democratic tactics employed by those pursuing the transfer. On the basis of a critique of neoliberalism, the stock transfer process is seen as an attack on the previous democratic control of council housing, which is replaced with ‘governance by experts and elites’ and private sector inspired corporate governance forms of accountability. Thus the paper seeks to answer two questions; how democratic is the transfer process and what are the long-term implications for democratic accountability in the social housing sector.