bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Incidence of Second ACL Injuries 2 Years After Primary ACL Reconstruction and Return to Sport
Authors: Paterno Mark V. , Rauh Mitchell J. , Schmitt Laura C. , Ford Kevin R. , Hewett Timothy E.
Published: April 2014

Background:

The incidence of second anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in the first 12 months after ACL reconstruction (ACLR) and return to sport (RTS) in a young, active population has been reported to be 15 times greater than that in a previously uninjured cohort. There are no reported estimates of whether this high relative rate of injury continues beyond the first year after RTS and ACLR.

Hypothesis:

The incidence rate of a subsequent ACL injury in the 2 years after ACLR and RTS would be less than the incidence rate reported within the first 12 months after RTS but greater than the ACL injury incidence rate in an uninjured cohort of young athletes.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

Methods:

Seventy-eight patients (mean age, 17.1 ± 3.1 years) who underwent ACLR and were ready to return to a pivoting/cutting sport and 47 controls (mean age, 17.2 ± 2.6 years) who also participated in pivoting/cutting sports were prospectively enrolled. Each participant was followed for injury and athlete exposure (AE) data for a 24-month period after RTS. Twenty-three ACLR and 4 control participants suffered an ACL injury during this time. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were calculated to compare the rates (per 1000 AEs) of ACL injury in athletes in the ACLR and control groups. For the ACLR group, similar comparisons were conducted for side of injury by sex.

Results:

The overall incidence rate of a second ACL injury within 24 months after ACLR and RTS (1.39/1000 AEs) was nearly 6 times greater (IRR, 5.71; 95% CI, 2.0-22.7; P = .0003) than that in healthy control participants (0.24/1000 AEs). The rate of injury within 24 months of RTS for female athletes in the ACLR group was almost 5 times greater (IRR, 4.51; 95% CI, 1.5-18.2; P = .0004) than that for female controls. Although only a trend was observed, female patients within the ACLR group were twice as likely (IRR, 2.43; 95% CI, 0.8-8.6) to suffer a contralateral injury (1.13/1000 AEs) than an ipsilateral injury (0.47/1000 AEs). Overall, 29.5% of athletes suffered a second ACL injury within 24 months of RTS, with 20.5% sustaining a contralateral injury and 9.0% incurring a retear injury of the ipsilateral graft. There was a trend toward a higher proportion of female participants (23.7%) who suffered a contralateral injury compared with male participants (10.5%) ( P = .18). Conversely, for ipsilateral injuries, the incidence proportion between female (8.5%) and male (10.5%) participants was similar.

Conclusion:

These data support the hypothesis that in the 24 months after ACLR and RTS, patients are at a greater risk to suffer a subsequent ACL injury compared with young athletes without a history of ACL injuries. In addition, the contralateral limb of female patients appears at greatest risk.
Financialization and the multinational corporation
Authors: Morgan Glenn
Published: April 2014

The terrain on which states, trade unions and social movements confront multinational corporations has changed dramatically over the last two decades as a result of two phenomena – the disaggregation of the supply chain and the financialization of corporations. Trade unions and social movements have increasingly challenged the inequalities and unfairnesses which have emerged from the globalization of supply chains. However, issues of financialization, although increasingly high profile since 2008, have generally been treated separately. This article argues that the two phenomena are integrally related within the same process of neoliberal globalization. It argues that trade unions and social movements need to connect together issues to do with the relocation and restructuring of employment with issues of financialization and the need for financial reform. Change will only be effective if it occurs across both these types of processes.
Implications of Public School Choice for Residential Location Decisions
Authors: Ely Todd L. , Teske Paul
Published: April 2014

A growing empirical literature demonstrates the effects of introducing public school choice on housing values. The weakening of the connection between home location and school location has implications for urban and suburban communities. In this article, we contribute to the understanding of how public school choice is related to the residential location decisions of parents. Using a nationally-representative sample, we demonstrate that where public school choice is reported to be available, the probability that parents choose a residence based on the assigned schools is 6.5 percentage points lower. Parents are actively incorporating the option to choose schools into the decision of where to live and report relatively high levels of parental satisfaction with those schools. At the same time, roughly, one out of every eight children engaged in school choice attends a school that was not their family’s first choice and report substantially lower levels of school satisfaction. This mismatch between schools and students may limit the likelihood that more families will eschew traditional residential school choice.
Comparison of the indoor air quality in an office operating with natural or mechanical ventilation using short-term intensive pollutant monitoring
Authors: Montgomery James F. , Storey Stefan , Bartlett Karen
Published: April 2014

Building ventilation systems are used to mitigate occupant exposure to airborne pollutants such as particulate matter (PM), carbon dioxide and total volatile organic compounds. Building rating systems such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design promote the use of natural ventilation to reduce building energy consumption while improving occupant satisfaction. A number of investigations have attempted to compare indoor air quality (IAQ) between spaces with natural or mechanical ventilation without reaching a consensus regarding quantitative impacts. This work provides direct quantitative comparison of the IAQ of a single office space designed for operation with either mechanical or natural ventilation. Natural ventilation has been shown to maintain pollutant accumulation below current standards governing IAQ but is subject to significant airflow variability. In contrast, the mechanical ventilation was shown to result in lower levels of indoor pollution and provide tight control of pollutant levels. The correlation between natural ventilation air exchange rate and concentration of total volatile organic compounds was −0.66 compared to no significant correlation for mechanical ventilation. Average indoor to outdoor PM2.5 ratios were found to be 0.87 and 0.5 for natural and mechanical ventilation, respectively. These results show difficulty in controlling indoor pollutants using prescriptive standard ventilation strategies and that performance-based hybrid ventilation systems provide the most flexibility in meeting IAQ needs.
The moral muteness of managers
Authors: Molthan-Hill Petra
Published: April 2014

Several studies in the Anglo-American context have indicated that managers present themselves as morally neutral employees who act only in the best interest of the company by employing objective skills. The reluctance of managers to use moral arguments in business is further accentuated in the now common argument presented as a neutral fact that the company must always prioritise shareholder value. These and other commercial aims are seen as an objective reality in business, whilst questions about sustainability, environmental problems or fair trade are seen as emotional or moral ones; a phenomenon described as ‘moral muteness’. This research explores whether this moral muteness is an Anglo-American phenomenon and/or whether managers in other countries – in this case Germany – might express themselves in a different way. The focus is on moral arguments around environmental sustainability and the implications of this study for cross-cultural management. This article is based on a qualitative, comparative cross-cultural study of British and German managers in the food retail and energy sectors. In line with the studies mentioned above, British managers placed a strong emphasis on their moral neutrality. In contrast, German managers tended to use moral arguments when discussing corporate greening, often giving such arguments more weight than financial arguments. Overall, the study suggests that the moral muteness of managers is a British phenomenon and quite distinct from the German approach. The article ends in a short exploration of how this understanding can help managers better manage people, organisations and change across cultures.
Cultural capital or habitus? Bourdieu and beyond in the explanation of enduring educational inequality
Authors: Edgerton Jason D. , Roberts Lance W.
Published: April 2014

Evidence for Bourdieu’s social reproduction theory and its contributions to understanding educational inequality has been relatively mixed. Critics discount the usefulness of core concepts such as cultural capital and habitus and most studies invoking these concepts have focused only on one or the other, often conflating the two, to the detriment of both. We disentangle cultural capital and habitus, and argue that taken together – in conjunction with practice and field – they hold significant explanatory potential. Moreover, we argue that these concepts can be incorporated into a scientific realist ‘structure–disposition–practice’ explanatory framework that seeks to address the misalignment between Bourdieuian relational constructs and standard positivist quantitative research methods. This reframing can help generate practical, actionable knowledge of the mechanisms underlying persistent socioeconomic disparities in educational attainment.
Household Interview Duration Analysis in CAPI Survey Management
Authors: Böhme Marcus , Stöhr Tobias
Published: April 2014

This article provides evidence-based guidance for practical survey work, namely choosing interviewers and their workload. Analyzing a survey of 3,568 households obtained through computer assisted personal interviews (CAPI), we find that interviewers learn considerably while the survey progresses. Time requirements for fieldwork increase concavely with sample size. This allows using larger samples with a given budget than would be expected in planning such projects with simplistic cost estimates. We find a decrease of interview duration of almost 50%, which translates into a significant increase of the average hourly wage the interviewers receive. These learning effects cease after around 20 interviews. Based on our results, we recommend targeting interviewer training by age and technology-affinity of interviewers for CAPI surveys.
Exploring Interleague Parity in North America
Authors: Rockerbie Duane W.
Published: April 2014

The relative standard deviation measure of league parity is persistently higher for the National Basketball Association (NBA) than for the other three major sports leagues in North America. This anomaly spans the last three decades and is not explained by differences in demographic and market characteristics. With a much greater number of scoring attempts in each game, basketball reduces the influence of random outcomes in the number of points scored per game and also season winning percentage. Our simulations demonstrate that lesser parity in the NBA is inherent in the rules of the game so that interleague comparisons must be interpreted carefully.
Cardiovascular toxicity associated with adjuvant trastuzumab therapy: prevalence, patient characteristics, and risk factors
Authors: Onitilo Adedayo A. , Engel Jessica M. , Stankowski Rachel V.
Published: April 2014

Before the advent of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-targeted monoclonal antibody trastuzumab, HER2-positive breast cancers were difficult to treat and had a poor prognosis. Adjuvant trastuzumab is now an important part of the treatment regimen for many women with HER2-positive breast cancer and has undoubtedly resulted in a significant improvement in prognosis, but it is associated with a risk for cardiotoxicity. In this review, we describe the prevalence, patient characteristics, and risk factors for cardiotoxicity associated with use of adjuvant trastuzumab. Understanding risk factors for trastuzumab-induced cardiotoxicity and appropriate patient monitoring during trastuzumab treatment allows for safe and effective use of this important adjuvant therapy.
Skin Perfusion Pressure
Authors: Pitts Jasmine
Published: April 2014

Skin perfusion pressure (SPP) is a noninvasive diagnostic test that quantitatively analyzes the local blood flow in an area of interest. SPP is measured using a laser Doppler sensor that is placed under an inflated/deflated blood pressure cuff and is able to detect red blood cell motion in the microcirculation as the cuff pressure passes through systole. The SPP results can be used in conjunction with physiological arterial testing to aid in the diagnosis of critical limb ischemia. The examination also can be a guide in determining the most advantageous level for amputation in patients with critical limb ischemia. SPP provides a measure of the potential for healing or progression of a wound without revascularization.
A portrait of single and multiple HPV type infections in Brazilian women of different age strata with squamous or glandular cervical lesions
Authors: Resende Leandro Santos de Araújo , Rabelo-Santos Sílvia Helena , Sarian Luís Otávio , Alves Rosane Ribeiro Figueiredo , Ribeiro Andréa Alves , Zeferino Luiz Carlos , Derchain Sophie
Published: April 2014

Background

Cervical cancer ranks third in prevalence and fourth as cause of death in women worldwide. In Brazil, 17,540 women were diagnosed in 2012 with the disease. Persistent infection with high-risk HPV types is a necessary condition for the development of pre-invasive and invasive cervical neoplasia. Currently, over 100 HPV types have been identified, but HPV16 and 18 are recognized as the mayor culprits in cervical carcinogenesis. Our objective was to assess the relationships between single- (ST) and multiple-type (MT) HPV infections with patients’ age and lesion pathological status.

Methods

328 patients with either squamous or glandular intraepithelial or invasive cervical lesion were selected. All subjects were tested for HPV genotypes with reverse hybridization for 21 high- (hr-HPV) and 16 low-risk (lr-HPV) probes. Prevalence of ST and MT HPV infections was compared across histological types and age strata.

Results

287 (87%) women had at least one HPV type detected and 149 (52%) had MT infections. The most prevalent HPV type was HPV16, present in 142 cases (49% of all HPV-positive cases), followed by HPV58, 52, 31, 35 and 33. HPV18, in single or multiple infections, occurred in 23 cases (8% of hr-HPV cases). Almost all glandular lesions were associated with HPV16 and 18 alone. Multiple infections were significantly more prevalent in squamous than in glandular lesion for HPV16 and 18 (P = 0.04 and 0.03 respectively). The prevalence of MT infections followed a bimodal distribution; peaking in women younger 29 years and in those aged 50 to 59.

Conclusions

Our data indicate that prevention strategies for pre-invasive and invasive squamous lesions should be focused on HPV16 and a few alpha-9 HPV types. It is clear to us that in young women, prophylaxis must cover a large amalgam of HPV types beyond classic HPV16 and 18.
Primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the chest wall: a case report
Authors: Qiu Xiaoming , Liu Yi , Qiao Yanjie , Chen Gang , Shi Tao , Chen Jun , Zhou Qinghua
Published: April 2014

Reports of primary diffuse large B-cell lymphomas of the chest wall are extremely rare in the literature. We report the case of a 62-year-old Chinese woman presenting with left-sided chest pain. A computed tomography scan showed a solid, round mass in the left anterior chest wall, involving the second and third costal cartilages. Complete resection and reconstruction of the chest wall was performed. The histological and immunohistochemical features of the mass were used to diagnose a primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
Practical design of delta-sigma multiple description audio coding
Authors: Leegaard Jack , Østergaard Jan , Jensen Søren Holdt , Zamir Ram
Published: April 2014

It was recently shown that delta-sigma quantization (DSQ) can be used for optimal multiple description (MD) coding of Gaussian sources. The DSQ scheme combined oversampling, prediction, and noise-shaping in order to trade off side distortion for central distortion in MD coding. It was shown that asymptotically in the dimensions of the resampling, prediction, and noise-shaping filters as well as asymptotically in the quantizer dimensions, all rate-distortion points on the symmetric quadratic Gaussian MD rate-distortion function could be achieved. In this work, we show that this somewhat theoretical framework is suitable for practical low-delay MD audio coding. In particular, we design a practical MD audio coder with two descriptions and provide simulations on real audio data. The simulations demonstrate that even when using low-dimensional noise-shaping, prediction, and resampling filters, it is possible to obtain good quality audio in the presence of packet losses. Simulations on real audio reveal that, contrary to existing designs, it is straightforward to obtain a large number of trade-off points between side distortion and central distortion, which makes the proposed coder suitable for a wide range of applications.
Testicular sex cord-stromal tumor in a boy with 2q37 deletion syndrome
Authors: Sakai Yasunari , Souzaki Ryota , Yamamoto Hidetaka , Matsushita Yuki , Nagata Hazumu , Ishizaki Yoshito , Torisu Hiroyuki , Oda Yoshinao , Taguchi Tomoaki , Shaw Chad A , Hara Toshiro
Published: April 2014

Background

2q37 deletion syndrome is a rare congenital disorder that is characterized by facial dysmorphism, obesity, vascular and skeletal malformations, and a variable degree of intellectual disability. To date, common but variable phenotypes, such as skeletal or digit malformations and obesity, have been associated with the deleted size or affected genes at chromosome 2q37. However, it remains elusive whether 2q37 deletion per se or other genetic factors, such as copy number variations (CNVs), may confer the risk for the tumorigenic condition.

Case presentation

We report a two-year-old Japanese boy with 2q37 deletion syndrome who exhibited the typical facial appearance, coarctation of the aorta, and a global developmental delay, while lacking the symptoms of brachydactyly and obesity. He developed a sex cord-stromal tumor of the right testis at three months of age. The array comparative genome hybridization analysis identified an 8.2-Mb deletion at 2q37.1 (chr2:234,275,216-242,674,807) and it further revealed two additional CNVs: duplications at 1p36.33–p36.32 (chr1:834,101–2,567,832) and 20p12.3 (chr20:5,425,762–5,593,096). The quantitative PCRs confirmed the heterozygous deletion of HDAC4 at 2q37.3 and duplications of DVL1 at 1q36 and GPCPD1 at 20p12.3.

Conclusion

This study describes the unique phenotypes in a boy with 2q37 deletion and additional CNVs at 1p36.33–p36.32 and 20p12.3. The data provide evidence that the phenotypic variations and unusual complications of 2q37 deletion syndrome are not simply explained by the deleted size or genes located at 2q37, but that external CNVs may account at least in part for their variant phenotypes. Accumulating the CNV data for chromosomal disorders will be beneficial for understanding the genetic effects of concurrent CNVs on the syndromic phenotypes and rare complications.
Fiber-optic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing to assess swallowing outcomes as a function of head position in a normal population
Authors: Badenduck Lucas A , Matthews T Wayne , McDonough Alanna , Dort Joseph C , Wiens Kristin , Kettner Rachelle , Crawford Susan , Kaplan Bonnie J
Published: April 2014

Background

Head position practice has been shown to influence pill-swallowing ability, but the impact of head position on measures of swallowing outcomes has not yet been studied with fiber-optic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES). The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether head position impacts penetration-aspiration scale scores and/or post-swallow pharyngeal residue as assessed by FEES. Documenting the incidence of pharyngeal residue and laryngeal penetration and aspiration in a normal population was a secondary goal.

Methods

Adults without swallowing difficulties (N = 84) were taught a pill swallowing technique based on learning five head positions and were asked to practice with small, hard candies (e.g., TicTacs) for two weeks. Then they demonstrated swallowing in each of the head positions for two conditions, liquid and purée, while undergoing FEES.

Results

Out of 840 examined swallows, one event of aspiration and 5 events of penetration occurred. During practice >50% participants found positions they preferred over the center position for swallowing but head position was not associated with penetration-aspiration scores assessed by FEES. Significant associations and non-significant trends were found between pharyngeal residue and three variables: age, most preferred head position, and least preferred head position.

Conclusion

Head position during swallowing (head up) and age greater than 40 years may result in increased pharyngeal residue but not laryngeal penetration or aspiration.
The plasma level and biomarker value of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury are not affected by continuous venovenous hemofiltration and anticoagulation applied
Authors: Schilder Louise , Nurmohamed S Azam , ter Wee Pieter M , Paauw Nanne J , Girbes Armand RJ , Beishuizen Albertus , Beelen Robert HJ , Groeneveld AB Johan
Published: April 2014

Introduction

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a biomarker of acute kidney injury (AKI), and levels reflect severity of disease in critically ill patients. However, continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) may affect plasma levels by clearance or release of NGAL by activated neutrophils in the filter, dependent on the anticoagulation regimen applied. We therefore studied handling of NGAL by CVVH in patients with AKI.

Methods

Immediately before initiation of CVVH, prefilter blood was drawn. After 10, 60, 180, and 720 minutes of CVVH, samples were collected from pre- and postfilter (in- and outlet) blood and ultrafiltrate. CVVH with the following anticoagulation regimens was studied: no anticoagulation in case of a high bleeding tendency (n = 13), unfractionated heparin (n = 8), or trisodium citrate (n = 21). NGAL levels were determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results

Concentrations of NGAL at inlet and outlet were similar, and concentrations did not change over time in any of the anticoagulation groups; thus no net removal or production of NGAL occurred. Concentrations of NGAL at inlet correlated with disease severity at initiation of CVVH and at the end of a CVVH run. Concentrations of NGAL in the ultrafiltrate were lower with citrate-based CVVH (P = 0.03) and decreased over time, irrespective of anticoagulation administered (P < 0.001). The sieving coefficient and clearance of NGAL were low and decreased over time (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

The plasma level and biomarker value of NGAL in critically ill patients with AKI are not affected by CVVH, because clearance by the filter was low. Furthermore, no evidence exists for intrafilter release of NGAL by neutrophils, irrespective of the anticoagulation method applied.
The dysfunctional host response to influenza A H7N9: a potential treatment option?
Authors: Opal Steven M , Fedson David S
Published: April 2014

The newly emerging human pathogen influenza A H7N9 represents a potentially major threat to human health. The virus was first shown to be pathogenic in humans in 2013, and outbreaks continue to occur in China to the present time. The current incident mortality rate is disturbingly high despite the frequent use of antiviral therapy and intensive care management. If the virus gains the capacity for efficient person-to-person transmission, a global influenza pandemic could ensue with devastating consequences. In the absence of an effective vaccine, targeted regulation of the host immune response by immune modulators might be considered. Readily available, approved drugs with immune-modulating activities might prove to be a treatment option in combination with existing antiviral agents and supportive care.
Generating direct-S modes with simple, low-cost, widely available seismic sources
Authors: Hardage Bob A. , Wagner Donald
Published: April 2014

More robust seismic interpretation can be done when an interpretation project uses both compressional (P) and shear (S) data rather than using only one seismic mode, whether that mode be a P mode or an S mode. Unfortunately, this fundamental interpretation principle is frustrated by the cost and difficulty of deploying S-wave sources and by the limited availability of direct-S sources. We introduce a new seismic interpretation option based on direct-P and direct-S modes generated by vertical-force sources. To explain the potential of this new method for acquiring direct-S data, we evaluate real-data examples that illustrate the physics of P and S body-wave radiations generated at vertical-force-source stations. First, a 3D model of direct-S radiation by a vertical-force source is tested. Next, we discuss a field experiment in which a horizontal vibrator create a series of radially oriented SV displacements at small azimuth increments to simulate the full-azimuth distribution of SV displacements created by a vertical vibrator. The resulting data are recorded by a VSP seismic array and show that for a far-field sensor, some source-generated SV displacements are received as a radial-S wavefield and other SV displacements are received as a transverse-S wavefield. We use data from a walkaround VSP to create map views of direct-P and direct-S radiations from a vertical vibrator. We then use data from a walkaway VSP to illustrate cross-section views of the illumination lobes of direct-P and direct-S propagating into the subsurface from a vertical-vibrator source station.
S-S imaging with vertical-force sources
Authors: Hardage Bob A. , Wagner Donald
Published: April 2014

We show examples of S-S images created from multicomponent seismic data generated by vertical-force sources that can be quite useful to seismic interpreters. Two source types are used: vertical vibrators and shot-hole explosives. We first discuss S-S images made from data generated by a vertical vibrator and recorded with vertical receiver arrays of 3C geophones. We next show images extracted from surface-based 3C geophones deployed around this VSP well as a 3D seismic grid. The energy sources used to generate these surface 3D seismic data were shot-hole explosives. In all data examples, we observe that each type of vertical-force source (vertical vibrator and shot-hole explosive) produces abundant direct-S energy on radial and transverse geophones. We find only minimal amounts of P-wave energy on transverse-receiver data. In contrast, radial-receiver data have significant P-wave events intermingled with radial-S events. The minimal amount of P-wave noise on transverse-receiver data makes it easier to study S-S wave physics and to create S-S images with transverse-S data. The data examples focus on transverse-S data created by vertical-force sources because interpreters will find it more convenient to process and use this S-mode. Subsequent publications will assign equal weight to radial-S and transverse-S data.
Application of 3C/3D converted mode reflections, King County, Texas
Authors: DeAngelo Michael V. , Hardage Bob A.
Published: April 2014

We used a 3C/3D seismic reflection data set from King County, Texas, to investigate the utility of multicomponent seismic data for improving reservoir characterization. We evaluated a new seismic processing/interpretation option, based on direct-S modes generated by a vertical-force source. This new seismic mode, SV-P, may allow legacy 3D P-wave data to be reprocessed to create converted-wave data without the need for additional data acquisition costs associated with multicomponent surveys. Using traveltime and amplitude analysis, P-P, P-SV, and SV-P reflectivity was compared to determine which seismic mode might give a clearer picture of the subsurface and subsequently reduce exploration risk.
Tumor Regression Grading After Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy for Locally Advanced Rectal Carcinoma Revisited: Updated Results of the CAO/ARO/AIO-94 Trial
Authors: Fokas Emmanouil , Liersch Torsten , Fietkau Rainer , Hohenberger Werner , Beissbarth Tim , Hess Clemens , Becker Heinz , Ghadimi Michael , Mrak Karl , Merkel Susanne , Raab Hans-Rudolf , Sauer Rolf , Wittekind Christian , Rödel Claus
Published: April 2014

Purpose

We previously described the prognostic impact of tumor regression grading (TRG) on the outcome of patients with rectal carcinoma treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in the CAO/ARO/AIO-94 trial. Here we report long-term results after a median follow-up of 132 months.

Patients and Methods

TRG after preoperative CRT was determined in 386 surgical specimens by the amount of viable tumor cells versus fibrosis, ranging from TRG 4 (no viable tumor cells) to TRG 0 (no signs of regression). Clinicopathologic parameters and TRG were correlated to the cumulative incidence of local recurrence, distant metastasis, and disease-free survival (DFS).

Results

Ten-year cumulative incidence of distant metastasis and DFS were 10.5% and 89.5% for patients with TRG 4 (complete regression), 29.3% and 73.6% for TRG 2 and 3 (intermediate regression), and 39.6% and 63% for TRG 0 and 1 (poor regression), respectively (P = .005 and P = .008, respectively). On multivariable analysis, residual lymph node metastasis (ypN+) and TRG were the only independent prognostic factors for cumulative incidence of distant metastasis (P < .001 and P = .035, respectively) and DFS (P < .001 and P = .039, respectively), whereas local recurrence was significantly affected by ypN status (P < .001) and lymphatic invasion (P = .026).

Conclusion

Complete and intermediate tumor regressions were associated with improved long-term outcome in patients with rectal carcinoma after preoperative CRT independent of clinicopathologic parameters. This classification system needs to be prospectively tested in multiple data sets to validate its reproducibility in a wider setting.
Arabidopsis UNHINGED encodes a VPS51 homolog and reveals a role for the GARP complex in leaf shape and vein patterning
Authors: Pahari Shankar , Cormark Ryan D. , Blackshaw Michael T. , Liu Chen , Erickson Jessica L. , Schultz Elizabeth A.
Published: April 2014

Asymmetric localization of PIN proteins controls directionality of auxin transport and many aspects of plant development. Directionality of PIN1 within the marginal epidermis and the presumptive veins of developing leaf primordia is crucial for establishing leaf vein pattern. One mechanism that controls PIN protein distribution within the cell membranes is endocytosis and subsequent transport to the vacuole for degradation. The Arabidopsis mutant unhinged-1 (unh-1) has simpler leaf venation with distal non-meeting of the secondary veins and fewer higher order veins, a narrower leaf with prominent serrations, and reduced root and shoot growth. We identify UNH as the Arabidopsis vacuolar protein sorting 51 (VPS51) homolog, a member of the Arabidopsis Golgi-associated retrograde protein (GARP) complex, and show that UNH interacts with VPS52, another member of the complex and colocalizes with trans Golgi network and pre-vacuolar complex markers. The GARP complex in yeast and metazoans retrieves vacuolar sorting receptors to the trans-Golgi network and is important in sorting proteins for lysosomal degradation. We show that vacuolar targeting is reduced in unh-1. In the epidermal cells of unh-1 leaf margins, PIN1 expression is expanded. The unh-1 leaf phenotype is partially suppressed by pin1 and cuc2-3 mutations, supporting the idea that the phenotype results from expanded PIN1 expression in the marginal epidermis. Our results suggest that UNH is important for reducing expression of PIN1 within margin cells, possibly by targeting PIN1 to the lytic vacuole.
Synthesis and Self-assembling Properties of Pt-Complex-bound Oligo(glutamic acid)s
Authors: Takaya Hikaru , Isozaki Katsuhiro , Haga Yusuke , Ogata Kazuki , Naota Takeshi
Published: April 2014

Novel Pt-complex-bound oligo(glutamic acid)s were synthesized by two different routes: postmetalation of peptides and stepwise conjugation of metalated amino acids. Sonication-induced supramolecular gel formation of a N- and C-dual-alkylated Pt-bound tripeptide was observed in EtOAc and toluene.
Novel RNA structural features of an alternatively splicing group II intron from Clostridium tetani
Authors: McNeil Bonnie A. , Zimmerly Steven
Published: April 2014

Group II introns are ribozymes in bacterial and organellar genomes that function as self-splicing introns and as retroelements. Previously, we reported that the group II intron C.te.I1 of Clostridium tetani alternatively splices in vivo to produce five distinct coding mRNAs. Accurate fusion of upstream and downstream reading frames requires a shifted 5′ splice site located 8 nt upstream of the usual 5′ GUGYG motif. This site is specified by the ribozyme through an altered intron/exon-binding site 1 (IBS1–EBS1) pairing. Here we use mutagenesis and self-splicing assays to investigate in more detail the significance of the structural features of the C.te.I1 ribozyme. The shifted 5′ splice site is shown to be affected by structures in addition to IBS1–EBS1, and unlike other group II introns, C.te.I1 appears to require a spacer between IBS1 and the GUGYG motif. In addition, the mechanism of 3′ exon recognition is modified from the ancestral IIB mechanism to a IIA-like mechanism that appears to be longer than the typical single base-pair interaction and may extend up to 4 bp. The novel ribozyme properties that have evolved for C.te.I1 illustrate the plasticity of group II introns in adapting new structural and catalytic properties that can be utilized to affect gene expression.
Predicting structure and stability for RNA complexes with intermolecular loop–loop base-pairing
Authors: Cao Song , Xu Xiaojun , Chen Shi-Jie
Published: April 2014

RNA loop–loop interactions are essential for genomic RNA dimerization and regulation of gene expression. In this article, a statistical mechanics-based computational method that predicts the structures and thermodynamic stabilities of RNA complexes with loop–loop kissing interactions is described. The method accounts for the entropy changes for the formation of loop–loop interactions, which is a notable advancement that other computational models have neglected. Benchmark tests with several experimentally validated systems show that the inclusion of the entropy parameters can indeed improve predictions for RNA complexes. Furthermore, the method can predict not only the native structures of RNA/RNA complexes but also alternative metastable structures. For instance, the model predicts that the SL1 domain of HIV-1 RNA can form two different dimer structures with similar stabilities. The prediction is consistent with experimental observation. In addition, the model predicts two different binding sites for hTR dimerization: One binding site has been experimentally proposed, and the other structure, which has a higher stability, is structurally feasible and needs further experimental validation.
The Reaction of Stock Returns to News About Fundamentals
Authors: Cenesizoglu Tolga
Published: April 2014

In good times, stock prices react negatively to good news and positively to bad news, whereas in bad times, they react positively to good news and negatively to bad news. To account for this stylized fact, we consider an asset pricing model where the dividend growth rate switches between different values depending on the underlying state of the economy. Investors never observe the true dividend growth rate, but learn about it through not only its realizations but also external signals such as macroeconomic indicators. Under plausible assumptions, the differing precision of external signals across different states of the economy can change the sign of the market reaction to news from external signals in good and bad times.

This paper was accepted by Brad Barber, finance.
Dental Services: A Nationwide Study of Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver Service Allocation
Authors: Friedman Carli , Rizzolo Mary C. , Schindler Abigail
Published: April 2014

Despite literature that highlights the dental needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), very few of these people receive adequate dental care. To determine whether Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) waivers address the dental-services gaps left by Medicaid state plans, this study examined the dental services proposed for fiscal year (FY) 2011 in 95 Medicaid HCBS waiver applications relating to individuals with IDD. Less than 20% of the waivers examined offered any type of dental service. This study also examined 88 FY 2010 HBCS waiver applications to determine changes from 2010 to 2011. Although increases were found from FY 2010 to FY 2011 in both spending for dental services and number of proposed participants, our results indicate that only a fraction of states are using HCBS waivers to address gaps in dental coverage for adults with IDD.
From Research to Practice: Knowledge Translation in Job Development
Authors: Hall Allison Cohen , Bose Jennifer , Winsor Jean E. , Migliore Alberto
Published: April 2014

Researchers consider job developers key to the successful negotiation of the complex factors that people with intellectual disability face when pursuing employment. Unfortunately, knowledge about the characteristics and their use of research tested strategies in job development is limited. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the practices and attitudes of job developers and the implementation of best practices as described in the literature. The current study is an outgrowth of a large online survey of job development practices (Migliore, Hall, Butterworth, & Winsor, 2010). Researchers reached out to a subset of survey participants via telephone and conducted qualitative interviews with eight job developers. Findings from this study further explain the conclusions of Migliore et al. (2010) regarding the gap between the literature and field. Findings from the study also indicate that the issues, challenges, and strategies that job developers use with each customer group (families, individuals, and employers) are not necessarily seen as transferrable among the different groups. Implications and recommendations are based on research that supports a combination of formal training on best practices in job development and opportunities for job developers to learn informally from one another.
Practical Immunoaffinity-Enrichment LC-MS for Measuring Protein Kinetics of Low-Abundance Proteins
Authors: Lassman Michael E , McAvoy Thomas , Lee Anita Y H , Chappell Derek , Wong Oitak , Zhou Haihong , Reyes-Soffer Gissette , Ginsberg Henry N , Millar John S , Rader Daniel J , Gutstein David E , Laterza Omar
Published: April 2014

BACKGROUND

For a more complete understanding of pharmacodynamic, metabolic, and pathophysiologic effects, protein kinetics, such as production rate and fractional catabolic rate, can offer substantially more information than protein concentration alone. Kinetic experiments with stable isotope tracers typically require laborious sample preparation and are most often used for studying abundant proteins. Here we describe a practical methodology for measuring isotope enrichment into low-abundance proteins that uses an automated procedure and immunoaffinity enrichment (IA) with LC-MS. Low-abundance plasma proteins cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) were studied as examples.

METHODS

Human participants (n = 39) were infused with [2H3]leucine, and blood samples were collected at multiple time points. Sample preparation and analysis were automated and multiplexed to increase throughput. Proteins were concentrated from plasma by use of IA and digested with trypsin to yield proteotypic peptides that were analyzed by microflow chromatography-mass spectrometry to measure isotope enrichment.

RESULTS

The IA procedure was optimized to provide the greatest signal intensity. Use of a gel-free method increased throughput while increasing the signal. The intra- and interassay CVs were <15% at all isotope enrichment levels studied. More than 1400 samples were analyzed in <3 weeks without the need for instrument stoppages or user interventions.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of automated gel-free methods to multiplex the measurement of isotope enrichment was applied to the low-abundance proteins CETP and PCSK9.
Relaying the message of climate change: The IPCC experts comment on media coverage of scientific consensus
Authors: González Cortés María Eugenia
Published: April 2014

In the last few years, the issue of climate change has become a universal topic and its presence in political, institutional, social and media agendas continues to increase, due to its future repercussions and its current consequences, which are already evident in many points of the globe. This article expounds on the prevailing current of thought amongst the members of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), in particular amongst those coming from the Mediterranean-Latin American region. In line with what Vidal Beneyto (2008) asserts, it is assumed that the countries in this region share sufficient elements (history, languages, politics, etc.) to be part of the same study area. In total, 157 environmental scientists were invited to take part in a survey which examines the following issues amongst others: 1) the existing scientific consensus about global warming and climate change; 2) the degree of agreement between the scientific and media discourses; 3) the main errors transmitted by the media to public opinion; and 4) possible strategies to transmit truthful information about climate change that will bring about the adoption of measures to mitigate its effects. Twenty-seven experts collaborated in the study. Their responses have been translated directly into English and treated anonymously.
Genome-Wide Linkage Analysis and Association Study Identifies Loci for Polydactyly in Chickens
Authors: Sun Yanfa , Liu Ranran , Zhao Guiping , Zheng Maiqing , Sun Yan , Yu Xiaoqiong , Li Peng , Wen Jie
Published: April 2014

Polydactyly occurs in some chicken breeds, but the molecular mechanism remains incompletely understood. Combined genome-wide linkage analysis and association study (GWAS) for chicken polydactyly helps identify loci or candidate genes for the trait and potentially provides further mechanistic understanding of this phenotype in chickens and perhaps other species. The linkage analysis and GWAS for polydactyly was conducted using an F2 population derived from Beijing-You chickens and commercial broilers. The results identified two QTLs through linkage analysis and seven single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) through GWAS, associated with the polydactyly trait. One QTL located at 35 cM on the GGA2 was significant at the 1% genome-wise level and another QTL at the 1% chromosome-wide significance level was detected at 39 cM on GGA19. A total of seven SNPs, four of 5% genome-wide significance (P < 2.98 × 10−6) and three of suggestive significance (5.96 × 10−5) were identified, including two SNPs (GGaluGA132178 and Gga_rs14135036) in the QTL on GGA2. Of the identified SNPs, the eight nearest genes were sonic hedgehog (SHH), limb region 1 homolog (mouse) (LMBR1), dipeptidyl-peptidase 6, transcript variant 3 (DPP6), thyroid-stimulating hormone, beta (TSHB), sal-like 4 (Drosophila) (SALL4), par-6 partitioning defective 6 homolog beta (Caenorhabditis elegans) (PARD6B), coenzyme Q5 (COQ5), and tyrosine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation protein, etapolypeptide (YWHAH). The GWAS supports earlier reports of the importance of SHH and LMBR1 as regulating genes for polydactyly in chickens and other species, and identified others, most of which have not previously been associated with limb development. The genes and associated SNPs revealed here provide detailed information for further exploring the molecular and developmental mechanisms underlying polydactyly.
A 14-Year-Old Boy With Sore Throat and Tea-Colored Urine
Authors: Cooper Ashley , Rakheja Dinesh , Punaro Marilynn
Published: April 2014

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA; previously Wegener granulomatosis) is a rare, multisystem, necrotizing granulomatous vasculitis that classically affects the upper and lower respiratory tracts and kidneys but can have diverse clinical features. The clinical course is often rapidly progressive, and without appropriate treatment is almost universally fatal. Early symptoms are often nonspecific and a high index of suspicion is needed to recognize this serious disease, particularly in the absence of overt pulmonary or renal manifestations. Because initial symptoms can mimic those of infection, patients often present first to the general pediatrician. We present a case of pediatric GPA in a 14-year-old boy who initially presented with constitutional symptoms, sore throat, and hematuria, and then developed grossly necrotic-appearing tonsils before rapid deterioration requiring intensive life-saving measures. We review the common manifestations of GPA, including those that may be unique to the pediatric population, and emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and intervention in preventing devastating outcomes from this disease.
Outpatient Course and Complications Associated With Home Oxygen Therapy for Mild Bronchiolitis
Authors: Flett Kelly B. , Breslin Kristin , Braun Patricia A. , Hambidge Simon J.
Published: April 2014

BACKGROUND:

Home oxygen has been incorporated into the emergency department management of bronchiolitis in high-altitude settings. However, the outpatient course on oxygen therapy and factors associated with subsequent admission have not been fully defined.

METHODS:

We conducted a retrospective cohort study in consecutive patients discharged on home oxygen from the pediatric emergency department at Denver Health Medical Center from 2003 to 2009. The integration of inpatient and outpatient care at our study institution allowed comprehensive assessment of follow-up rates, outpatient visits, time on oxygen, and subsequent admission. Admitted and nonadmitted patients were compared by using a χ2 test and multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS:

We identified 234 unique visits with adequate follow-up for inclusion. The median age was 10 months (interquartile range [IQR]: 7–14 months). Eighty-three percent of patients were followed up within 24 hours and 94% within 48 hours. The median length of oxygen use was 6 days (IQR: 4–9 days), and the median number of associated encounters was 3 (range: 0–9; IQR: 2–3). Ninety-three percent of patients were on room air at 14 days. Twenty-two patients (9.4%) required subsequent admission. Fever at the initial visit (>38.0°C) was associated with admission (P < .02) but had a positive predictive value of 15.4%. Age, prematurity, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and history of previous bronchiolitis or wheeze were not associated with admission.

CONCLUSIONS:

There is a significant outpatient burden associated with home oxygen use. Although fever was associated with admission, we were unable to identify predictors that could modify current protocols.