bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lateralisation of Cerebral Response to Active Acupuncture in Patients with Unilateral Ischaemic Stroke: An Fmri Study
Authors: Huang Yong , Chen Jun-Qi , Lai Xin-Sheng , Tang Chun-Zhi , Yang Jun-Jun , Chen Hua , Wu Jun-Xian , Xiao Hui-Ling , Qu Shan-Shan , Zhang Yi-Dan , Zhang Zhang-Jin
Published: July 2013

Objective

Acupuncture is beneficial in treating stroke neuropsychiatric symptoms. The present study aimed to identify functional brain response to active acupuncture in patients with unilateral ischaemic stroke using functional MRI (fMRI).

Methods

A total of 10 patients aged 47–65 years with left hemispheric ischaemic stroke received single-session manual acupuncture at the TE5 point of the affected (right) forearm. A 6-min tactile control procedure in which an acupuncture needle tip was alternately touched and removed from the skin at the acupuncture point for 30 s each was performed first, followed by active acupuncture in a blocking paradigm consisting of six 30-s twist blocks of rotation interspersed between six 30-s blocks of rest. A whole brain scan was simultaneously conducted on a 3.0-T imager. Activated and deactivated brain regions during tactile stimulation and active acupuncture relative to rest were obtained via group analysis.

Results

Compared to tactile stimulation, needling with twist manipulation modulated many more widespread brain areas. All the brain areas activated and deactivated by active acupuncture relative to tactile stimulation were distributed in the primary sensorimotor and medial frontal cortex of the unaffected, but not the affected hemisphere.

Conclusions

Active acupuncture results in lateralisation of functional cerebral response to the contralateral unaffected hemisphere in patients with unilateral stroke. This lateralisation may represent an effect of acupuncture in enhancing a compensatory process by redistributing functions into the intact cortex, particularly in the unaffected hemisphere.
A randomised controlled trial to improve the role of the general practitioner in cancer rehabilitation: effect on patients’ satisfaction with their general practitioners
Authors: Bergholdt Stinne Holm , Hansen Dorte Gilså , Larsen Pia Veldt , Kragstrup Jakob , Søndergaard Jens
Published: July 2013

Objective

To test whether a complex intervention facilitating early cancer rehabilitation by involvement of the general practitioner (GP) soon after diagnosis improves patients’ satisfaction with their GPs.

Design

A cluster randomised controlled trial. All general practices in Denmark were randomised to an intervention or a control group before the start of the study. Patients included those with cancer who were subsequently allocated to either group based on the randomisation status of their GP.

Participants

Adult patients with cancer treated for incident cancer at the public regional hospital (Vejle Hospital, Denmark) were included between May 2008 and February 2009. A total of 955 patients registered with 323 practices were included, of which 486 patients were allocated to the intervention group and 469 to the control group.

Intervention

The intervention included a patient interview assessing the need for rehabilitation, improved information from the hospital to GPs including information on the patients’ current needs along with information about needs of patients with cancer in general. Further, GPs were encouraged to proactively contact the patients and facilitate the patients’ rehabilitation course.

Outcome measures

6 months after inclusion of the patient, patient satisfaction with their GP during the last 12 months in five different dimensions of GP care was assessed using the Danish version of the EuroPEP (European Patients Evaluate General Practice Care) questionnaire (DanPEP). 14 months after inclusion, patient satisfaction with the GP regarding the cancer course and GP's satisfaction with own contribution to the patients’ rehabilitation course were assessed using ad hoc questions specifically designed for this study.

Results

No overall effect of the intervention was observed. Subgroup analysis of the patients with breast cancer showed statistically significant improvement of satisfaction with the GP in two of the five DanPEP dimensions.

Conclusions

This complex intervention aiming at improving GPs’ services in cancer rehabilitation had no impact on patient satisfaction.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, registration ID numberNCT01021371
The Late Cambrian (Furongian) trilobiteTangshanaspisZhou and Zhang, 1978, in North America
Authors: Westrop Stephen R.
Published: July 2013

Tangshanaspis Zhou and Zhang, 1978 (Family Missisquoiidae), has been reported widely from western North America and has been assigned invariably to a single species, T. depressa (Stitt, 1971b). The base of the T. depressa Subzone as defined in Oklahoma is an important biostratigraphic datum for inter-regional correlation of uppermost Cambrian strata. Study of previously undescribed material in collections from Oklahoma shows that T. depressa is, in fact, a composite of cranidia and pygidia that belong to two stratigraphically segregated species in the Signal Mountain Formation. Tangshanaspis silveri n. sp. includes the pygidial morph originally attributed to T. depressa. Revision of the species from Oklahoma allows definition of a new biostratigraphic unit, the Tangshanaspis Zone, which is divided into a lower T. silveri Fauna and an overlying T. depressa Fauna; in addition to the eponymous species, the T. depressa Fauna includes pygidia that represent two additional species of Tangshanaspis that are placed in open nomenclature. Correlation with other areas suggests that the “Missisquoia” mackenziensis Fauna of northern Canada may be equivalent to the T. silveri Fauna of Oklahoma, rather than a pre-Tangshanaspis interval that is unrepresented elsewhere in Laurentian North America.
ON COVERINGS OF PRODUCTS OF ROUGH TRANSFORMATION SEMIGROUPS
Authors: TIWARI S. P. , SHARAN SHAMBHU , SINGH ANUPAM K.
Published: July 2013

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the notion of several kinds of products of rough transformation semigroups. We establish relationship through coverings and investigate some algebraic properties with regard to these products.
HIGH PRECISION FAST PROJECTIVE SYNCHRONIZATION FOR CHAOTIC SYSTEMS WITH UNKNOWN PARAMETERS
Authors: NIAN FUZHONG , WANG XINGYUAN , LIN DA , NIU YUJUN
Published: July 2013

A high precision fast projective synchronization method for chaotic systems with unknown parameters was proposed by introducing optimal matrix. Numerical simulations indicate that the precision be improved about three orders compared with other common methods under the same condition of software and hardware. Moreover, when average error is less than 10-3, the synchronization speed is 6500 times than common methods, the iteration needs only 4 times. The unknown parameters also were identified rapidly. The theoretical analysis and proof also were given.
ENTREPRENEURIAL MOTIVATION IN A LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRY: PUSH FACTORS AND PULL FACTORS AMONG MSEs IN UGANDA
Authors: EIJDENBERG EMIEL L. , MASUREL ENNO
Published: July 2013

The objective of this study is to explore entrepreneurial motivation in a least developed country (LDC), which can be divided into push factors and pull factors, without a priori separation between those which are necessity-driven and those which are opportunity-driven. This study shows that the premise "For people who start their own business in an LDC, push factors are more important than pull factors" can be rejected. In contrast to the findings from prior studies on entrepreneurship in LDCs, this study shows that push factors and pull factors are not mutually exclusive. In addition, this study shows that pull factors are even more important than push factors, and that therefore push factors only play a minor role for entrepreneurs. The overall implications are that motivation is a more combined, and nuanced construct, and that the Western concept of entrepreneurial motivation and method of measuring entrepreneurial motivation, are globally applicable.
A QUILLEN MODEL STRUCTURE APPROACH TO HOMOLOGICAL DIMENSIONS OF COMPLEXES
Authors: WEI REN , LIU ZHONGKUI
Published: July 2013

In this paper, we first give an alternative characterization of the derived functor Ext via the Quillen model structure on the category of complexes induced by a given cotorsion pair [Formula: see text] in the category of modules, then based on this, we consider homological dimensions of complexes related to [Formula: see text]. As applications, we extend Gorenstein projective dimension of homologically bounded below complexes (in the sense of Christensen and coauthors) to unbounded complexes whenever R is Gorenstein. Moreover, we extend Stenström's FP-injective dimension from modules to complexes, define FP-projective dimension for complexes, and characterize Noetherian and von Neumann regular rings by these dimensions.
THE EXIT PROBABILITIES OF BROWNIAN MOTION WITH VARIABLE DIMENSION APPLYING TO THE CONTROL OF POPULATION GROWTH
Authors: SONG LIXIN , CHE WENBIN , LU DAWEI
Published: July 2013

Using the theory of small ball estimate to study the biological population for keeping ecological balance in an ecosystem, we consider a Brownian motion with variable dimension starting at an interior point of a general parabolic domain Dt in Rd(t)+1 where d(t) ≥ 1 is an increasing integral function as t → ∞, d(t) → ∞. Let τDt denote the first time the Brownian motion exits from Dt. Upper and lower bounds with exact constants of log P(τDt > t) are given as t → ∞, depending on the shape of the domain Dt. The problem is motivated by the early results of Lifshits and Shi, Li, Lu in the exit probabilities. The methods of proof are based on the calculus of variations and early works of Lifshits and Shi, Li, Shao in the exit probabilities of Brownian motion.
Exercising in a hot environment with muscle damage: effects on acute kidney injury biomarkers and kidney function
Authors: Junglee Naushad A. , Di Felice Umberto , Dolci Alberto , Fortes Matthew B. , Jibani Mahdi M. , Lemmey Andrew B. , Walsh Neil P. , Macdonald Jamie H.
Published: July 2013

Unaccustomed strenuous physical exertion in hot environments can result in heat stroke and acute kidney injury (AKI). Both exercise-induced muscle damage and AKI are associated with the release of interleukin-6, but whether muscle damage causes AKI in the heat is unknown. We hypothesized that muscle-damaging exercise, before exercise in the heat, would increase kidney stress. Ten healthy euhydrated men underwent a randomized, crossover trial involving both a 60-min downhill muscle-damaging run (exercise-induced muscle damage; EIMD), and an exercise intensity-matched non-muscle-damaging flat run (CON), in random order separated by 2 wk. Both treatments were followed by heat stress elicited by a 40-min run at 33°C. Urine and blood were sampled at baseline, after treatment, and after subjects ran in the heat. By design, EIMD induced higher plasma creatine kinase and interleukin-6 than CON. EIMD elevated kidney injury biomarkers (e.g., urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) after a run in the heat: EIMD-CON, mean difference [95% CI]: 12 [5, 19] ng/ml) and reduced kidney function (e.g., plasma creatinine after a run in the heat: EIMD-CON, mean difference [95% CI]: 0.2 [0.1, 0.3] mg/dl), where CI is the confidence interval. Plasma interleukin-6 was positively correlated with plasma NGAL ( r = 0.9, P = 0.001). Moreover, following EIMD, 5 of 10 participants met AKIN criteria for AKI. Thus for the first time we demonstrate that muscle-damaging exercise before running in the heat results in a greater inflammatory state and kidney stress compared with non-muscle-damaging exercise. Muscle damage should therefore be considered a risk factor for AKI when performing exercise in hot environments.
Blood pressure-renal blood flow relationships in conscious angiotensin II- and phenylephrine-infused rats
Authors: Polichnowski Aaron J. , Griffin Karen A. , Long Jianrui , Williamson Geoffrey A. , Bidani Anil K.
Published: July 2013

Chronic ANG II infusion in rodents is widely used as an experimental model of hypertension, yet very limited data are available describing the resulting blood pressure-renal blood flow (BP-RBF) relationships in conscious rats. Accordingly, male Sprague-Dawley rats ( n = 19) were instrumented for chronic measurements of BP (radiotelemetry) and RBF (Transonic Systems, Ithaca, NY). One week later, two or three separate 2-h recordings of BP and RBF were obtained in conscious rats at 24-h intervals, in addition to separate 24-h BP recordings. Rats were then administered either ANG II ( n = 11, 125 ng·kg−1·min−1) or phenylephrine (PE; n = 8, 50 mg·kg−1·day−1) as a control, ANG II-independent, pressor agent. Three days later the BP-RBF and 24-h BP recordings were repeated over several days. Despite similar increases in BP, PE led to significantly greater BP lability at the heart beat and very low frequency bandwidths. Conversely, ANG II, but not PE, caused significant renal vasoconstriction (a 62% increase in renal vascular resistance and a 21% decrease in RBF) and increased variability in BP-RBF relationships. Transfer function analysis of BP (input) and RBF (output) were consistent with a significant potentiation of the renal myogenic mechanism during ANG II administration, likely contributing, in part, to the exaggerated reductions in RBF during periods of BP elevations. We conclude that relatively equipressor doses of ANG II and PE lead to greatly different ambient BP profiles and effects on the renal vasculature when assessed in conscious rats. These data may have important implications regarding the pathogenesis of hypertension-induced injury in these models of hypertension.
Architecture of interstitial nodal spaces in the rodent renal inner medulla
Authors: Gilbert Rebecca L. , Pannabecker Thomas L.
Published: July 2013

Every collecting duct (CD) of the rat inner medulla is uniformly surrounded by about four abutting ascending vasa recta (AVR) running parallel to it. One or two ascending thin limbs (ATLs) lie between and parallel to each abutting AVR pair, opposite the CD. These structures form boundaries of axially running interstitial compartments. Viewed in transverse sections, these compartments appear as four interstitial nodal spaces (INSs) positioned symmetrically around each CD. The axially running compartments are segmented by interstitial cells spaced at regular intervals. The pairing of ATLs and CDs bounded by an abundant supply of AVR carrying reabsorbed water, NaCl, and urea make a strong argument that the mixing of NaCl and urea within the INSs and countercurrent flows play a critical role in generating the inner medullary osmotic gradient. The results of this study fully support that hypothesis. We quantified interactions of all structures comprising INSs along the corticopapillary axis for two rodent species, the Munich-Wistar rat and the kangaroo rat. The results showed remarkable similarities in the configurations of INSs, suggesting that the structural arrangement of INSs is a highly conserved architecture that plays a fundamental role in renal function. The number density of INSs along the corticopapillary axis directly correlated with a loop population that declines exponentially with distance below the outer medullary-inner medullary boundary. The axial configurations were consistent with discrete association between near-bend loop segments and INSs and with upper loop segments lying distant from INSs.
Protective effect of zinc-N-acetylcysteine on the rat kidney during cold storage
Authors: Singh Mandeep , Odeniyi Dolapo T. , Apostolov Eugene O. , Savenka Alena , Fite Todd , Wangila Grant W. , Walker Richard B. , Basnakian Alexei G.
Published: July 2013

Cold storage of kidneys before transplantation is problematic because of the limited survival time of the allografts. In this study, zinc- N-acetylcysteine (ZnNAC) was shown to be a potent endonuclease inhibitor and antioxidant, and it was tested as a potential additive to a cold storage solution for kidney preservation. Exposure of normal rat kidney NRK-52E cells to ZnNAC resulted in zinc delivery to the cells as determined by TFL-Zn fluorophore and partial protection of the cells against injury by cold storage in University of Wisconsin solution (UWS) as measured by propidium iodide assay. Ex vivo, rat kidneys demonstrated time- and temperature-dependent DNA fragmentation as assessed by TUNEL assay, indicating irreversible cell death. DNA fragmentation was faster in the medulla than in the cortex, and tubules were affected more than glomeruli. Perfusion of rat kidneys with cold ZnNAC solution in UWS significantly inhibited cell death both in the cortex and medulla at concentrations of 0.3–30 mM compared with UWS alone, with a maximum effect at 1–10 mM ZnNAC. Cold storage of the kidney significantly increased quantities of cleaved caspase-3 and endonuclease G (EndoG) in the tissue, which were abolished by 10 mM ZnNAC, indicating its ability to suppress both caspase-dependent and -independent cell death. Therefore, supplementation of UWS with ZnNAC can decrease DNA fragmentation and protect kidney allografts from cell death due to cold storage.
Eccentric exercise in rehabilitation: safety, feasibility, and application
Authors: LaStayo Paul , Marcus Robin , Dibble Lee , Frajacomo Fernando , Lindstedt Stan
Published: July 2013

This nonexhaustive mini-review reports on the application of eccentric exercise in various rehabilitation populations. The two defining properties of eccentric muscle contractions—a potential for high muscle-force production at an energy cost that is uniquely low—are revisited and formatted as exercise countermeasures to muscle atrophy, weakness, and deficits in physical function. Following a dual-phase implementation, eccentric exercise that induces rehabilitation benefits without muscle damage, thereby making it both safe and feasible in rehabilitation, is described. Clinical considerations, algorithms of exercise progression, and suggested modes of eccentric exercise are presented.
Feedback responses rapidly scale with the urgency to correct for external perturbations
Authors: Crevecoeur F. , Kurtzer I. , Bourke T. , Scott S. H.
Published: July 2013

Healthy subjects can easily produce voluntary actions at different speeds and with varying accuracy requirements. It remains unknown whether rapid corrective responses to mechanical perturbations also possess this flexibility and, thereby, contribute to the capability expressed in voluntary control. Paralleling previous studies on self-initiated movements, we examined how muscle activity was impacted by either implicit or explicit criteria affecting the urgency to respond to the perturbation. Participants maintained their arm position against torque perturbations with unpredictable timing and direction. In the first experiment, the urgency to respond was explicitly altered by varying the time limit (300 ms vs. 700 ms) to return to a small target. A second experiment addresses implicit urgency criteria by varying the radius of the goal target, such that task accuracy could be achieved with less vigorous corrections for large targets than small target. We show that muscle responses at ∼60 ms scaled with the task demand. Moreover, in both experiments, we found a strong intertrial correlation between long-latency responses (∼50–100 ms) and the movement reversal times, which emphasizes that these rapid motor responses are directly linked to behavioral performance. The slopes of these linear regressions were sensitive to the experimental condition during the long-latency and early voluntary epochs. These findings suggest that feedback gains for very rapid responses are flexibly scaled according to task-related urgency.
Novel Small-Molecule Inhibitors of Bcl-XL to Treat Lung Cancer
Authors: Park Dongkyoo , Magis Andrew T. , Li Rui , Owonikoko Taofeek K. , Sica Gabriel L. , Sun Shi-Yong , Ramalingam Suresh S. , Khuri Fadlo R. , Curran Walter J. , Deng Xingming
Published: July 2013

Bcl-XL is a major antiapoptotic protein in the Bcl-2 family whose overexpression is more widely observed in human lung cancer cells than that of Bcl-2, suggesting that Bcl-XL is more biologically relevant and therefore a better therapeutic target for lung cancer. Here, we screened small molecules that selectively target the BH3 domain (aa 90–98) binding pocket of Bcl-XL using the UCSF DOCK 6.1 program suite and the NCI chemical library database. We identified two new Bcl-XL inhibitors (BXI-61 and BXI-72) that exhibit selective toxicity against lung cancer cells compared with normal human bronchial epithelial cells. Fluorescence polarization assay reveals that BXI-61 and BXI-72 preferentially bind to Bcl-XL protein but not Bcl2, Bcl-w, Bfl-1/A1, or Mcl-1 in vitro with high binding affinities. Treatment of cells with BXI-72 results in disruption of Bcl-XL/Bak or Bcl-XL/Bax interaction, oligomerization of Bak, and cytochrome c release from mitochondria. Importantly, BXI-61 and BXI-72 exhibit more potent efficacy against human lung cancer than ABT-737 but less degree in platelet reduction in vivo. BXI-72 overcomes acquired radioresistance of lung cancer. On the basis of our findings, the development of BXI(s) as a new class of anticancer agents is warranted and represents a novel strategy for improving lung cancer outcome. Cancer Res; 73(17); 5485–96. ©2013 AACR.
Progression of Carotid Intima-Media Thickness as Predictor of Vascular Events
Authors: Baldassarre Damiano , Veglia Fabrizio , Hamsten Anders , Humphries Steve E. , Rauramaa Rainer , de Faire Ulf , Smit Andries J. , Giral Philippe , Kurl Sudhir , Mannarino Elmo , Grossi Enzo , Paoletti Rodolfo , Tremoli Elena
Published: July 2013

Objective—

To investigate whether several different measures of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) progression are associated with subsequent vascular events and whether such associations are independent of baseline carotid atherosclerotic profile and Framingham risk factors.

Approach and Results—

A longitudinal cohort study (the Carotid Intima Media Thickness [IMT] and IMT-Progression as Predictors of Vascular Events in a High Risk European Population study) was performed in 7 centers in 5 European countries (Finland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Sweden). Three thousand four hundred eighty-two subjects (median age 64.1 years; 47.8% men) with ≥3 vascular risk factors were recruited and monitored for a postprogression median follow-up of 21.5 months, during which time 129 subjects experienced a first vascular event (incidence of 20.4 per 1000 person-years). The 15th month progression of mean and maximum carotid IMT of the left and right common carotids, bifurcations, internal carotid arteries, and their composite measures, as well as the fastest IMT
max
progression (Fastest-IMT
max-progr
) detected in the whole carotid tree regardless of location, were used in statistical analyses. All carotid IMT measures showed significant progression during the first 15 months (
P
<0.001), but only the Fastest-IMT
max-progr
was significantly associated with the risk of subsequent vascular events. The Fastest-IMT
max-progr
association persisted after Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons and after adjustments for Framingham risk factors and pharmacological treatments (all
P
<0.005). The use of Framingham Risk Score in place of Framingham risk factors provided almost identical results (
P
=0.003).

Conclusions—

The Fastest-IMT
max-progr
, a novel approach to assess carotid IMT progression, identifies focal increases of carotid IMT and, in contrast to other progression variables, is associated with cardiovascular risk.
Effects of the antibiotic tetracycline on the reproduction, growth and population growth rate of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Vangheel Matthew , Traunspurger Walter , Spann Nicole
Published: July 2013

The antibiotic tetracycline (TC) has been reported in natural systems, a consequence of its abundant usage in farming. TCs are protein synthesis inhibitors that are effective against bacteria but adverse effects on non-target organisms, whilst less well understood, have also been demonstrated. This study is the first investigation into the effects of this common antibiotic on the growth, reproduction and population growth rate (PGR) of the nematodeCaenorhabditis elegans. All toxicological endpoints were shown to be affected negatively. TC concentrations as low as 5 mg l−1(5 ppm) significantly reduced growth and reproduction, and even lower concentrations (3 mg l−1or 3 ppm) significantly decreased the PGR. These levels are much higher than the TC concentrations detected in surface waters, sediments and soils (0.005-300 ppb). However, although the antibiotic might not pose a direct significant risk to nematodes in the natural environment, its use in RNAi experiments involvingC. elegansmay cause unwanted effects that influence interpretations of the results.
Political Life: Giorgio Agamben and the Idea of Authority
Authors: DeCaroli Steven
Published: July 2013

Abstract

This article explores the relation between biological life and political life, placing it in the context of the ancient Greek distinction between the life of the home (the oikos) and the realm of politics (the polis). In contrast with the oikos, the life of the polis was characterized by attempts to exclude from its sphere both the constraints of necessity that oblige human action to conform to the exigencies of survival as well as the violence that accompanies this pursuit. Although this exclusion has never been successful, the question of how to achieve it lies at the heart of the oldest philosophical reflections on politics and, in a more concealed fashion, remains central to our political concerns today. Invoking the work of Giorgio Agamben, this article explores the earliest discussions concerning the question “what is political life?” to show why so much depends upon how we answer this question.
Aeolothrips eremicola (Thysanoptera, Aeolothripidae): first record of the male from Iran
Authors: ALAVI JALIL , FEKRAT LIDA , AWAL MEHDI MODARRES , ZOLFAGHARI MARYAM , MINAEI KAMBIZ
Published: July 2013

The genus Aeolothrips, with 17 recorded species, is the third most species-rich genus in Iran (Minaei 2013). In contrast, the genus Thrips includes 28 species in this country (Minaei 2012; Mirab-balou et al. 2012), and Haplothrips 24 species (Minaei & Aleosfoor 2013), Moreover, it seems likely that more species of Aeolothrips will be discovered in Iran, considering the number recorded from neighboring countries.
Identification of Cancer lactatus Linnaeus, 1758 with Lophozozymus pictor (Fabricius, 1798) and reversal of precedence (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Xanthidae)
Authors: LOW MARTYN E. Y. , MENDOZA JOSE CHRISTOPHER E.
Published: July 2013

The name Cancer lactatus Linnaeus, 1758, has not been treated taxonomically since it was described, with a diagnosis provided by Linnaeus (1758: 627): “C[ancer] brachyurus, thorace laevi utrinque serrato-quadrilobo, manibus ovatis laevibus. M.L.U. Habitat in Indiis.”. The abbreviation, “M.L.U.”, in Linnaeus (1758: 627) refers to the Museum Ludovicae Ulricae (Linnaeus 1764), a study of the collection of Queen Louisa Ulrica which was not published until 1764, but the manuscript of which was ready four years before the publication of the tenth edition of the Systema Naturae (Linnaeus 1758) (see Dance 1967: 13–15). The collection of Queen Ulrica was later presented to the University of Uppsala by King Gustav IV Adolf, where it is now deposited (Dance 1967: 15). This depository is now the Zoology Section, Museum of Evolution, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (UUZM) (Wallin 2001).
Automating the "Material examined" section of taxonomic papers to speed up species descriptions
Authors: BROWN BRIAN V.
Published: July 2013

There has been much discussion of the “taxonomic impediment” and of speeding up descriptive taxonomy (e.g., Hoagland 1996; Wheeler et al. 2004; Godfray 2007; Ebach et al. 2011). It is claimed that the rate of species description is being impeded by the lack of cyber infrastructure resources (Wheeler 2008, for example). Other factors, such as lack of funding, lack of recognition for taxonomic work, the small number of researchers, and distractions from research (committee work, teaching, administration) are also likely sources of slow rates of species description, but some aspects of traditional species description could be improved upon.
Larval chondrocranium morphology of five species of Proceratophrys Miranda-Ribeiro (Amphibia; Anura; Odontophrynidae)
Authors: DIAS PEDRO HENRIQUE DOS SANTOS , DE CARVALHO-E-SILVA ANA MARIA PAULINO TELLES , DE CARVALHO-E-SILVA SERGIO POTSCH
Published: July 2013

The chondrocranium and hyobranchial morphology are described for the tadpoles of five species of Proceratophrys Miranda-Ribeiro. The chondrocranium of P. appendiculata, P. boiei, P. laticeps and P. tupinamba are very similar and can be distinguished from that of P. cristiceps by: 1) less developed processus muscularis; 2) thinner palatoquadrate; 3) broad-est ethmoidal region; 4) longer cornua trabeculae; and 5) morphology f the suprarostral cartilages. A morphological vari-ation among Proceratophrys boiei is described. It reveals the existence of at least three distinct evolutionary lineages under this name. A brief comparison with other cycloramphid species is also provided.
Citizenship in Practice: Poverty Reduction and Self-Help Groups
Authors: Ghosh Sujay
Published: July 2013

Citizenship is essentially about membership in society which enables citizens to participate in the affairs of their community on roughly equal terms and culturally enjoins upon them to collectively surmount their commonly felt problems, such as poverty. The role of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) should be understood in this context. Through observation and conversation-analysis methods, this paper studies two SHGs in India: the successful one practiced citizenship, envisaged a sense of community and made progress towards capacity building and empowerment, especially pertaining to education, health and sanitation. It concludes that in developing countries, citizens acquire the appropriate virtues through participation in the programmes linked with their vision of well-being and thus strengthen the cause of citizenship.
A systematic approach to occupancy modeling in ambient sensor-rich buildings
Authors: Yang Zheng , Li Nan , Becerik-Gerber Burcin , Orosz Michael
Published: July 2013

With ever-rising energy demand and diminishing sources of inexpensive energy resources, energy conservation has become an increasingly important topic. Building heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are considered to be a prime target for energy conservation due to their significant contribution to commercial buildings’ energy consumption in the US. Knowing a building’s occupancy plays a crucial role in implementing demand-response HVAC controls, with a corresponding potential for reduction of HVAC energy consumption, especially in office buildings. This paper evaluates occupancy modeling (both binary detection and multi-class estimation) using twelve ambient sensor variables. Performance of six machine-learning techniques is evaluated in both single-occupancy and multi-occupancy offices. Of the six, the decision-tree technique yielded the best overall accuracy (i.e. 96.0% to 98.2%) and root mean square error (RMSE) (i.e. 0.109 to 0.156). The contribution of each individual ambient sensor variable is evaluated via information gain. It is found that CO2, door status, and light variables have important contributions to the final modeling results. It is observed that the overall accuracy generally increases as the number of sensors increases. This paper also examines the possibility of building a global occupancy model, and explores the reasons for low performance of global occupancy estimation. Lastly, the occupancy model is used to estimate and visualize the accumulative room and thermal zone usage in an office test-bed building for three months. The results reveal that the effective vacancy accounts for a substantial portion of the operational hours, varying from 19.8% to 29.8% with an average of 23.3%, which bears significant potential for energy savings. Furthermore, the authors simulated HVAC energy consumption of the test-bed building for three months in DesignBuilder and EnergyPlus, and compared energy consumption of occupancy-based demand-response HVAC controls using the authors’ occupancy-modeling results to the conventional HVAC controls currently implemented in the test-bed building. The results demonstrate that 20% of gas and 18% of electricity could be effectively saved if occupancy-based demand-response HVAC control is implemented.
How moderates and extremists find happiness: Ideological orientation, citizen–government proximity, and life satisfaction
Authors: Curini Luigi , Jou Willy , Memoli Vincenzo
Published: July 2013

While the topic of life satisfaction and its determinants has drawn increasing attention among political scientists, most studies have focused mainly on macro-level variables, and often overlooked the role of individuals’ attitudes vis-à-vis their governments. The present article attempts to fill this gap by examining whether citizens’ left–right self-placement and ideological distance from their governments exert an independent effect on life satisfaction. Utilizing a dataset spanning a quarter century and containing nearly 70,000 respondents, we demonstrate a curvilinear relationship between ideological orientations and happiness, with self-identified radicals on both ends of the spectrum happier than moderate citizens. Moreover, we show that while propinquity between self-position and government position contributes to happiness, this effect is highly mediated by individual locations along the left–right spectrum: centrists report higher levels of happiness the closer they are to their government, while the opposite is true for radicals. The normative implication of our findings is that moderate governments may present a comparative advantage in enhancing the overall level of happiness of their citizens.
Effects of high-velocity resistance training on muscle function, muscle properties, and physical performance in individuals with hip osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Fukumoto Yoshihiro , Tateuchi Hiroshige , Ikezoe Tome , Tsukagoshi Rui , Akiyama Haruhiko , So Kazutaka , Kuroda Yutaka , Ichihashi Noriaki
Published: July 2013

Objective:

To investigate the effects of high-velocity resistance training on muscle function, muscle properties, and physical performance in patients with hip osteoarthritis by comparison with those of low-velocity resistance training.

Design:

Single-blind randomized controlled trial.

Setting:

Home-based exercise programmes.

Subjects:

A total of 46 women with hip osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to the high-velocity ( n = 23) or low-velocity ( n = 23) training group.

Interventions:

Both groups underwent an eight-week daily home-based resistance training programme using an elastic band. Exercises involved hip abduction, extension, and flexion and knee extension. Participants in the high-velocity group performed the concentric phase of each repetition as rapidly as possible and returned to the initial position eccentrically in 3 s. Participants in the low-velocity group performed both the concentric and eccentric phases in 3 s.

Main measures:

The following outcome measures were evaluated: isometric muscle strength, muscle power, muscle thickness, muscle echo intensity, maximum walking speed, Timed Up and Go test, 3-minute walking test, Harris Hip Score, and hip pain.

Results:

Decreases in the time for performing the Timed Up and Go test (mean changes: high-velocity group −0.46 s, low-velocity group −0.23 s) and echo intensity of the gluteus maximus (mean changes: high-velocity group −6.8, low-velocity group −1.0) were significantly greater in the high-velocity group than in the low-velocity group. No significant difference was observed in changes of other outcome measures between the groups.

Conclusion:

This study revealed that high-velocity training for patients with hip osteoarthritis has partially a greater effect on muscle properties and physical performance than low-velocity training.
Acute serotonin 2A receptor blocking alters the processing of fearful faces in the orbitofrontal cortex and amygdala
Authors: Hornboll Bettina , Macoveanu Julian , Rowe James , Elliott Rebecca , Paulson Olaf B , Siebner Hartwig R , Knudsen Gitte M
Published: July 2013

Background:

The serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptor has been implicated in neural-processing of emotionally salient information. To elucidate its role in processing of fear and anger, healthy individuals were studied with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) after 5-HT2A receptor blockade, while judging the gender of neutral, fearful and angry faces.

Methods:

5-HT2A receptors were blocked with ketanserin to a variable degree across subjects by adjusting the time between ketanserin-infusion and onset of the fMRI protocol. Neocortical 5-HT2A receptor binding in terms of the binding potential ( BPp) was assessed prior to fMRI with 18F-altanserin positron emission tomography (PET) and subsequently integrated in the fMRI data analysis. Also functional connectivity analysis was employed to evaluate the effect of ketanserin blocking on connectivity.

Results:

Compared to a control session, 5-HT2A receptor blockade reduced the neural response to fearful faces in the medial orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), independently of 5-HT2A receptor occupancy or neocortical 5-HT2A receptor BPp. The medial OFC also showed increased functional coupling with the left amygdala during processing of fearful faces depending on the amount of blocked 5-HT2A receptors.

Conclusions:

5-HT2A receptor mediated signaling increases the sensitivity of the OFC to fearful facial expressions and regulates the strength of a negative feedback signal from the OFC to amygdala during processing of fearful faces.
The Narrative of Men Who Murder Their Partners
Authors: Dilmon Rakefet , Timor Uri
Published: July 2013

This article deals with the strategies the storyteller uses to influence the listener’s perception and thinking. It is based on qualitative research, which examined the narratives of 12 men who killed their female partners. After entering prison, the murderer attempts to salvage some part of his social image. He does this using an assortment of means in two areas: the content of the narrative and its linguistic style. In terms of content, all the storytellers present themselves as extremely positive and their wives as very negative. With respect to language, the killers use verbs that distance them from responsibility, they hedge, repeat words and phrases to persuade, and use figures of speech they expect will impress their listeners. This artificial discourse is cunningly interwoven in terms of content and story art to recreate an alternative reality of a man who is normative and whom society can accept.
Teenagers’ High Arrest Rates
Authors: Males Mike A. , Brown Elizabeth A.
Published: July 2013

The association of more crime with youthful age is widely accepted in social science. However, a literature search revealed no studies of the age-crime relationship that controlled for young ages’ economic disadvantage. This research gap is addressed using the California Criminal Justice Statistics Center’s arrest detail and Census poverty statistics for 2010. When poverty rates were controlled, younger and older ages’ violence disparities largely disappeared. Where teenagers and emerging adults display typical middle-aged demographics (two thirds non-Latino, White, or Asian, poverty levels under 10%), they display “middle-aged” violent crime rates; where ages 40 to 69 have typical teenage demographics (54% Black or Latino, 17% in poverty), they display “teenaged” violent crime levels. These findings challenge conventional theories associating violence with young age.
Anti-inflammatory activity of Heliotropiumstrigosum in animal models
Authors: Khan Haroon , Khan Murad Ali , Gul Farah , Hussain Sajjid , Ashraf Nadeem
Published: July 2013

The current project was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of crude extract of Heliotropium strigosum and its subsequent solvent fractions in post carrageenan-induced edema and post xylene-induced ear edema at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg intraperitoneally. The results revealed marked attenuation of edema induced by carrageenan injection in a dose-dependent manner. The ethyl acetate fraction was most dominant with 73.33% inhibition followed by hexane fraction (70.66%). When the extracts were challenged against xylene-induced ear edema, again ethyl acetate and hexane fractions were most impressive with 38.21 and 35.77% inhibition, respectively. It is concluded that various extracts of H. strigosum possessed strong anti-inflammatory activity in animal models.
Influences of mechanical contact on damage evaluation with electromechanical impedance technique
Authors: Luo Zhongbing , Cao Huanqing , Meng Lijuan , Lin Li
Published: July 2013

The mechanical contact during material mechanical damage evaluation with electromechanical impedance technique was investigated, and the influencing factors, such as the times of in situ contact, contact stress, and area, were studied. The resonance frequency shift Δf of electrical impedance signature was regarded as the damage identification index. Results show that the influence of mechanical contact on damage evaluation could not be neglected. With increasing times of in situ contact, the characteristic resonant peak shifted leftward gradually due to the resulted superficial indentations, and the Δf value was in the order of 10−2–10−1 kHz for each mechanical clamping. The evolution direction of the resonance peak with contact stress was reversed, and the Δf value was about 10−1–100 kHz. The order was equal or even more serious against that of the early-stage mechanical damage. The relationship between the Δf value and the contact area, however, was elusive because of the combined effects of indentation damage and the compressive stress. Simulation experiments were conducted accordingly, and the abnormality was discussed. The quantitative results were compared between the steel and the Al alloy, and the variation with material property was demonstrated. Effective precautions to avoid the influence of mechanical contact were proposed.
Incidence, treatment, and consequences of chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia in the inpatient and outpatient settings
Authors: Weycker Derek , Barron Richard , Kartashov Alex , Legg Jason , Lyman Gary H
Published: July 2013

Objective

To examine the incidence, treatment, and consequences of febrile neutropenia across inpatient and outpatient care settings.

Methods

Data were obtained from Humedica's National Electronic Health Record-Derived Longitudinal Patient-Level Database (2007–2010). The study population included adult patients who received myelosuppressive chemotherapy for a solid tumor or non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. For each patient, each chemotherapy regimen course and each cycle within each regimen course was characterized. Febrile neutropenia episodes were identified on a cycle-specific basis based on any of the following: (1) absolute neutrophil count <1.0 × 109/L and evidence of infection or fever; (2) inpatient diagnosis of neutropenia, fever, or infection; (3) outpatient diagnosis of neutropenia and non-prophylactic antimicrobial use; or (4) mention of febrile neutropenia in physician notes. Febrile neutropenia episodes were categorized as inpatient or outpatient based on the initial setting of care (i.e. acute-care inpatient facility vs. ambulatory care facility). Febrile neutropenia consequences included hospital length of stay and mortality (inpatient cases only), as well as number of febrile neutropenia-related outpatient encounters.

Results

Among the 2131 patients in this study, 401 experienced a total of 458 febrile neutropenia episodes. Risk of febrile neutropenia during the chemotherapy regimen course was 16.8% (95% CI: 15.3, 18.4). In cycle 1 alone, risk of febrile neutropenia was 8.1% (7.1, 9.3). Most febrile neutropenia episodes (83.2%) were initially treated in the inpatient setting; the hospital mortality rate was 8.1% (5.8, 11.1), and mean hospital length of stay was 8.4 days (7.7, 9.1). Among febrile neutropenia episodes initially treated in the outpatient setting (16.8%), the mean number of outpatient management encounters was 2.6 (2.1, 3.1), most of which were in the physician’s office (69.2%) or emergency department (26.9%).

Conclusions

Febrile neutropenia remains a common occurrence among patients receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy and typically results in extended hospitalization and, for many patients, death. A minority of patients are, however, treated exclusively on an outpatient basis.
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study of Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment and Vascular Cognitive Impairment With No Dementia
Authors: Liu Yan-Yan , Yang Zhong-Xian , Shen Zhi-Wei , Xiao Ye-Yu , Cheng Xiao-Fang , Chen Wei , Chen Yao-Wen , Wu Ren-Hua
Published: July 2013

Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and vascular cognitive impairment with no dementia (VCIND) are highly predictive of Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. In this study, a 2-dimensional magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed in 25 patients with aMCI, 28 patients with VCIND, and 32 normal controls (NCs). The concentrations of N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), choline (Cho), myoinositol (MI), and creatine (Cr) were measured, and their ratios were calculated. The patients with aMCI displayed significantly lower NAA/MI bilaterally in the posterior cingulate gyrus (PCG) and white matter of occipital lobe (OLWM) than NC participants or patients with VCIND , whereas patients with VCIND displayed markedly lower NAA/Cho bilaterally in the white matter of frontal lobe (FLWM) and left OLWM, and right dorsal thalamus (DT) than patients with NC or aMCI. Compared with the controls, patients with aMCI displayed lower NAA and NAA/Cr in bilateral PCG, left precuneus, and DT, whereas patients with VCIND displayed lower NAA/Cr in bilateral DT and FLWM. In addition, increased MI in right PCG of patients with aMCI and increased Cho in left FLWM of patients with VCIND were also observed. The results might help guide a clinical differentiation between the 2 disorders.
Scaphocapitate arthrodesis for treatment of late stage Kienböck disease
Authors: Luegmair M. , Saffar P.
Published: July 2013

Symptomatic lunate collapse owing to Kienböck disease is difficult to treat. To define the potential role of scaphocapitate arthrodesis, we reviewed ten patients who underwent scaphocapitate arthrodesis for stage IIIB–IV Kienböck disease at a mean follow-up of 8.75 years (range 1.3–18.6). Clinical variables included ranges of motion, grip strength, pain, return to work, and QuickDASH (disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand) scores. Radiographs were evaluated for union, carpal height, alignment, ulnar translation, and radiocarpal arthritis. The procedure resulted in functional ranges of motion and good grip strengths. Pain was substantially reduced. The mean QuickDASH score was 27 (range 9.1–56.3). Radiographic analysis showed union in nine patients, maintenance of carpal height with a corrected radioscaphoid angle, and no evidence of ulnar translation. The long-term clinical benefits of scaphocapitate arthrodesis for treatment of collapsed Kienböck disease are demonstrated. However, radiographic signs of radioscaphoid arthritis were often observed in patients with follow-up greater than 10 years.
Topsy-Turvy Heart
Authors: Erek Ersin , Guzeltas Alper , Ozturk Nilufer Yalindag , Kiyan Gursu , Karakoc Fazilet , Akalin Figen , Odemis Ender , Arsan Sinan
Published: July 2013

The topsy-turvy heart is characterized by a global 90°clockwise rotation around the heart’s long axis. This rotation displaces all basal great arteries inferiorly and posteriorly, resulting in elongation and stretching of the brachiocephalic arteries and the bronchi. To date, reports of only four living cases have been published in the literature. We report here three new cases, with additional aortopulmonary window defects, and present their morphological details, clinical presentations, and our management.