bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Immune Response in Severe Infection: Could Life‐Saving Drugs Be Potentially Harmful?
Authors: Surbatovic Maja , Jevdjic Jasna , Veljovic Milic , Popovic Nada , Djordjevic Dragan , Radakovic Sonja
Published: October 2013

Critically ill patients suffer a high rate of nosocomial infection with secondary sepsis being a common cause of death. Usage of antibiotics and catecholamines is often necessary, but it can compromise complex immune response to infection. This review explores influence of these life‐saving drugs on host immune response to severe infection.
Stabilization of Inverted Cart-Pendulum System Using Controller: A Frequency-Domain Approach
Authors: Mishra Sunil Kumar , Chandra Dinesh
Published: October 2013

This paper focuses on the angular stabilization of inverted cart-pendulum system using controller. The tuning of controller is formulated as a nonlinear optimization problem, in which the objective function is composed of five design conditions in frequency domain. Particle swarm optimization technique has been used for optimizing parameters. Also a PID controller has been designed based on same specifications, and a comparative study has been carried out. All the responses have been calculated using FOMCON toolbox of Matlab/Simulink.
Cytologic Findings in Experimental in vivo Fallopian Tube Brush Specimens
Authors: Rodriguez Erika F. , Lum Deirdre , Guido Richard , Austin R. Marshall
Published: October 2013

Objective: The fallopian tube is now recognized as a primary source of precursor neoplastic lesions for pelvic serous adenocarcinomas. Cytologic features of fallopian tube brushings from low-risk patients have not been well described. Study Design: We describe the cytomorphology of tubal epithelium from prospectively collected experimental in vivo brushings from normal fallopian tubes of 7 low-risk patients. Liquid-based cytology slides and cell blocks were prepared and reviewed on all specimens. Results: Fifteen brush cytology specimens were obtained, ten by laparoscopy, four by hysteroscopy and one following hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy on an ex vivo specimen. Variable cytologic features were documented for background, cellularity, cellular architecture, cilia, nuclear overlap, mitoses, nuclear pleomorphism, nuclear membrane changes and nucleoli. Negative P53 and Ki-67 stain results were documented in available cell blocks. Histopathologic salpingectomy findings and clinical follow-up were benign. Conclusion: Moderate nuclear pleomorphism and nuclear overlap, prominent single and multiple nucleoli and background granular debris were common challenging cytologic findings in fallopian tube brushings from low-risk patients. With experience, cellular changes can be recognized as benign. Recognition of the range of normal fallopian tube cytology should help to minimize false-positive interpretations of cytology specimens obtained in association with risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomies.
Comparison of the Perinatal Outcomes after Laparoscopic Myomectomy versus Abdominal Myomectomy
Authors: Fukuda Mamiko , Tanaka Tomohito , Kamada Mika , Hayashi Atsushi , Yamashita Yoshiki , Terai Yoshito , Ohmichi Masahide
Published: October 2013

Background/Aims: To compare the perinatal outcomes after laparoscopic myomectomy (LM) versus abdominal myomectomy (AM). Methods: The medical records of 105 Japanese females who delivered after myomectomy from 2004 to 2012 at Osaka Medical College were reviewed retrospectively. Results: Of the 105 females who delivered after myomectomy, 48 had undergone LM and 57 had undergone AM. There were no significant differences in the perinatal outcomes including the rates of emergency cesarean sections, preterm deliveries, placental abnormalities, pregnancy-induced hypertension, low Apgar score, non-reassuring fetal heart rate patterns, and intrauterine fetal death. No significant difference was observed in the incidence of post-partum hemorrhage. There was no uterine rupture in either group. 15 (31%) of the females who had LM were candidates for transvaginal delivery, and 14 delivered vaginally (93% success rate). In contrast, 20 (35%) of the females who had AM were candidates for transvaginal delivery, and 19 delivered vaginally (95% success rate). Conclusion: There were no significant differences in the perinatal outcomes between the females who had LM and AM. Moreover, both groups had a high rate of successful transvaginal delivery after selecting the appropriate candidates.
Hostility, Health Behaviors, and Risk of Recurrent Events in Patients With Stable Coronary Heart Disease: Findings From the Heart and Soul Study
Authors: Wong Jonathan M. , Na Beeya , Regan Mathilda C. , Whooley Mary A.
Published: October 2013

Background

Hostility is a significant predictor of mortality and cardiovascular events in patients with coronary heart disease (
CHD
), but the mechanisms that explain this association are not well understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate potential mechanisms of association between hostility and adverse cardiovascular outcomes.

Methods and Results

We prospectively examined the association between self‐reported hostility and secondary events (myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, transient ischemic attack, and death) in 1022 outpatients with stable
CHD
from the Heart and Soul Study. Baseline hostility was assessed using the 8‐item Cynical Distrust scale. Cox proportional hazard models were used to determine the extent to which candidate biological and behavioral mediators changed the strength of association between hostility and secondary events. During an average follow‐up time of 7.4±2.7 years, the age‐adjusted annual rate of secondary events was 9.5% among subjects in the highest quartile of hostility and 5.7% among subjects in the lowest quartile (age‐adjusted hazard ratio [
HR
]: 1.68, 95% confidence interval [
CI
]: 1.30 to 2.17;
P
<0.0001). After adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors, participants with hostility scores in the highest quartile had a 58% greater risk of secondary events than those in the lowest quartile (
HR
: 1.58, 95%
CI
: 1.19 to 2.09;
P
=0.001). This association was mildly attenuated after adjustment for C‐reactive protein (
HR
: 1.41, 95%
CI
, 1.06 to 1.87;
P
=0.02) and no longer significant after further adjustment for smoking and physical inactivity (
HR
: 1.25, 95%
CI
: 0.94 to 1.67;
P
=0.13).

Conclusions

Hostility was a significant predictor of secondary events in this sample of outpatients with baseline stable
CHD
. Much of this association was moderated by poor health behaviors, specifically physical inactivity and smoking.
Conditional Knockout of Myocyte Focal Adhesion Kinase Abrogates Ischemic Preconditioning in Adult Murine Hearts
Authors: Perricone Adam J. , Bivona Benjamin J. , Jackson Fannie R. , Vander Heide Richard S.
Published: October 2013

Background

Our laboratory has previously demonstrated the importance of a cytoskeletal‐based survival signaling pathway using in vitro models of ischemia/reperfusion (
IR
). However, the importance of this pathway in mediating stress‐elicited survival signaling in vivo is unknown.

Methods and Results

The essential cytoskeletal signaling pathway member focal adhesion kinase (
FAK
) was selectively deleted in adult cardiac myocytes using a tamoxifen‐inducible Cre‐Lox system (α‐
MHC
‐MerCreMer). Polymerase chain reaction (
PCR
) and
W
estern blot were performed to confirm
FAK
knockout (
KO
). All mice were subjected to a 40‐minute coronary occlusion followed by 24 hours of reperfusion. Ischemic preconditioning (
IP
) was performed using a standard protocol. Control groups included wild‐type (
WT
) and tamoxifen‐treated α‐
MHC
‐MerCreMer
+/−
/FAK
WT/WT
(experimental control) mice. Infarct size was expressed as a percentage of the risk region. In
WT
mice
IP
significantly enhanced the expression of activated/phosphorylated
FAK
by 36.3% compared to
WT
mice subjected to a sham experimental protocol (
P
≤0.05; n=6 hearts [sham], n=4 hearts [
IP
]).
IP
significantly reduced infarct size in both
WT
and experimental control mice (43.7% versus 19.8%;
P
≤0.001; 44.7% versus 17.5%;
P
≤0.001, respectively). No difference in infarct size was observed between preconditioned
FAK KO
and nonpreconditioned controls (37.1% versus 43.7% versus 44.7%;
FAK KO
versus
WT
versus experimental control;
P
=
NS
).
IP
elicited a 67.2%/88.8% increase in activated phosphatidylinositol‐3‐kinase (
PI
3K) p85/activated Akt expression in
WT
mice, but failed to enhance the expression of either in preconditioned
FAK KO
mice.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that
FAK
is an essential mediator of
IP
‐elicited cardioprotection and provide further support for the hypothesis that cytoskeletal‐based signaling is an important component of stress‐elicited survival signaling.
Four new species of Calamus (Arecaceae) from Vietnam
Authors: Henderson Andrew , DUNG NGUYEN QUOC
Published: October 2013

Four new species of Calamus (Arecaceae) from Vietnam
Taxonomic position and identity of Stemodia scoparioides (Gratiolae, Plantaginaceae)
Authors: SOSA MARIA DE LAS MERCEDES , DEMATTEIS MASSIMILIANO
Published: October 2013

In recent floristic and taxonomic studies, Stemodia scoparioides (Gratiolae, Plantaginaceae) has been considered a synonym of S. lanceolata or a synonym of S. stricta. However, a detailed analysis of the type material and additional specimens clearly indicates that this is a different species, which can be distinguished by the aspect of the plants, the size of the leaves, the shape of the blades, and the length of the corollas. Consequently, in this contribution Stemodia scoparioides is resurrected from the synonymy as an independent species based on the analysis of morphological features. Additionally, complete description (including the pollen grains), geographic distribution, ecological observations, and a key to distinguish the related species are also reported, together with an illustration of S. scoparioides.
Ampelocalamus stoloniformis, a new combination for Chinese Bambusoideae (Poaceae)
Authors: ZHENG CHAOHAN , XIA NIANHE , DENG YUNFEI
Published: October 2013

Ampelocalamus Chen et al. (1981: 332) and Drepanostachyum Keng (1983: 15) are two subtropical clumping genera in the tribe Arundinarieae Ascherson & Graebner (1902: 770) of the subfamily Bambusoideae Luerssen (1893: 451) in the Poaceae (Barnhart 1895: 7) (Bamboo Phylogeny Group 2012). These two genera were confused by the transfer of most species from Ampelocalamus to Drepanostachyum (Keng 1986, Yi 1993, Yi et al. 2008). Ampelocalamus differs from Drepanostachyum in several characters: Ampelocalamus has subscandent culms, a corky collar frequently present on the nodal sheath scars, pendulous spikelets, and adaxially distally glabrous culm sheaths, while Drepanostachyum has self-supporting culms, nodal sheath scars without a corky collar, erect or spreading spikelets, and adaxially distally scabrid culm sheaths (Chen et al. 1981, Keng 1983, Li 1997, Stapleton et al. 2005, Li & Stapleton 2006). Ampelocalamus comprises ca. 14 species distributed from the central Himalayan region to southern China with 13 species endemic to China (Li & Stapleton 2006).
A Broken Public? Americans’ Responses to the Great Recession
Authors: Brooks Clem , Manza Jeff
Published: October 2013

Did Americans respond to the recent Great Recession by demanding that government provide policy solutions to rising income insecurity, an expectation of state-of-the-art theorizing on the dynamics of mass opinion? Or did the recession erode support for government activism, in line with alternative scholarship pointing to economic factors having the reverse effect? We find that public support for government social programs declined sharply between 2008 and 2010, yet both fixed-effects and repeated survey analyses suggest economic change had little impact on policy-attitude formation. What accounts for these surprising developments? We consider alternative microfoundations emphasizing the importance of prior beliefs and biases to the formation of policy attitudes. Analyzing the General Social Surveys panel, our results suggest political partisanship has been central. Gallup and Evaluations of Government and Society surveys provide further evidence against the potentially confounding scenario of government overreach, in which federal programs adopted during the recession and the Obama presidency propelled voters away from government. We note implications for theoretical models of opinion formation, as well as directions for partisanship scholarship and interdisciplinary research on the Great Recession.
Pulpit and Press
Authors: Goldstein Adam , Haveman Heather A.
Published: October 2013

Religious economies theory, which views religious organizations as akin to single-unit firms competing for adherents in local markets, has three shortcomings that we solve by reconceptualizing religious organizations and developing a new theory of religious mobilization. First, we treat religious organizations as multi-unit entities operating in interdependent markets in a national field. Second, we incorporate insights from social movement theory to challenge the exclusive focus on the impetus to mobilize (competition) by also considering the capacity to do so (resources). Third, we consider competition within organizations as well as between them. To analyze mobilization directly, we study a key religious resource, magazines. We analyze original data covering virtually all faiths and affiliated magazines in antebellum America, a time of great religious ferment. Consistent with our conception of religious organizations, we find that competition played out mostly within a national field. Consistent with resource mobilization theory, we find that the geography of religious mobilization reflected variations in the availability of resources more than variations in the intensity of competitive pressures. Conceiving of religious organizations as translocal movement organizations rather than local firms better accounts for their behavior. Our analysis sheds light on group dynamics in general by revealing how translocal groups in modern societies mobilize and build identity through group media.
Antioxidative system in the erythrocytes of preterm neonates with sepsis: the effects of vitamin E supplementation
Authors: Bajčetić Milica , Otašević Biljana , Prekajski Niveska Božinović , Spasić Snežana , Spasojević Ivan
Published: October 2013

Background

Vitamin E is routinely supplemented to preterm babies, including those with neonatal sepsis. Our aim was to examine the effects of neonatal sepsis and vitamin E on antioxidative system (AOS) in the blood.

Methods

A prospective, randomized, open label study involved 65 preterm neonates (control/sepsis – 34/31), which were divided into two subgroups – non-supplemented and supplemented with vitamin E (25 IU/day for 60 days). The activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione reductase (GR) were determined in erythrocytes at days 0, 30, and 60, following sepsis diagnosis.

Results

There was no difference in the activity of AOS between controls and neonates with ongoing sepsis. At 60 days, septic neonates showed higher CAT activity compared to controls ( P = 0.027), and lower GPx activity compared to 0 days ( P = 0.022). The later was mitigated by vitamin E, which on the other hand provoked lower GPx activity at 30 days, compared to untreated septic neonates ( P = 0.014). In addition, vitamin E suppressed GR activity in septic neonates ( P = 0.025 and P = 0.017 at 30 and 60 days). Finally, vitamin E supplementation in control neonates provoked a significant increase of GPx activity ( P = 0.015 at 60 days).

Conclusions

The absence of altered redox settings in the blood of neonates during sepsis episode, and vitamin E-provoked decrease in the activity of some components of AOS, suggest that the supplementation of vitamin E in these patients might not be rational.
Removal of the gadolinium interference from the measurement of selenium in human serum by use of collision cell quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (Q-ICP-MS)
Authors: Harrington Chris F , Walter Alan , Nelms Simon , Taylor Andrew
Published: October 2013

Background

Measurement of selenium in serum is an important clinical biomarker of nutritional status. The presence of gadolinium (Gd) in samples following administration of the contrast agents used for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results in a significant positive bias when using quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (Q-ICP-MS).

Methods

Three instrumental set-ups were assessed: standard mode with no collision gas and collision cell mode with either a hydrogen:helium mixture or hydrogen. The effect of Gd on the selenium (Se) signal was assessed using external quality assurance (EQA) specimens and internal quality control (IQC) materials, both unspiked and spiked with Gd. Serum previously shown to contain high concentrations of Gd-containing contrast agents were also analysed.

Results

Recoveries of Se in the spiked compared to the unspiked samples were: between 500% and 1300% using standard mode; 100% and 29,000% using collision cell mode with hydrogen:helium mixture; and between 99% and 103% using hydrogen. The use of H2 in the collision cell provided accurate results, indicating that the charge exchange reaction (CER) of Gd2+ with H2 removes this interference. Analysis of patient serum known to contain the Gd contrast agent using the method gave results within the selenium reference range (adults 0.89–1.65  µmol/L). The presence of Gd, as low as 0.2 mg/L, in serum samples causes a positive interference on the measurement of Se by ICP-MS.

Conclusions

Using a CER mode with pure H2 in the collision cell it was possible to fully remove the interference due to Gd2+ from the signal for Se.
Cascade testing of primary care blood samples with hyperferritinaemia identifies subjects with iron overload and porphyria cutanea tarda
Authors: Baddams Emma L , Degg Tim , Barth Julian H
Published: October 2013

Introduction

Serum ferritin is routinely used as a first line test for iron status. Testing subjects with low pre-test probability often results in unexpected abnormal results. Raised ferritin is typically found in subjects with iron overload, liver disease, malignancy or inflammation. We sought to determine whether primary care patients with high ferritin had either porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) or hereditary haemochromatosis (HH).

Methods

Redundant serum samples were collected from consecutive specimens with high ferritin (>500 µg/L) which had been received from primary care sources. Samples were analysed for serum iron and iron-binding capacity and for porphyrins by fluorescence scanning and HPLC.

Results

There were 240 samples (91 females, 149 males) which represented 2.7% of total over the collection period. Serum iron was 17.3 (18.9) µmol/L (median (IQR)), TIBC 47.3 (14.2) µmol/L and transferrin saturation 35.7 (41.1) %. There were 87/240 (36%) with transferrin saturation >45% (57 males, 30 females). Of the samples 19/236 (8%) were positive for porphyrins by spectrofluorimetry and 14/15 (4 insufficient sample) had total porphyrins >11.2 nmol/L (40(63) median (IQR)) with 3/15 (1.25%) having a typical pattern for PCT.

Discussion

This study demonstrates the feasibility of cascading tests using laboratory protocols and confirms the ability to identify potential cases. However, further studies for HH genotype and urine and stool porphyrin analysis will be necessary to confirm the diagnoses.
Recovering from livelihood insecurity and political instability in northern Mali: Bouncing back
Authors: Moseley William G
Published: October 2013

Northern Mali has experienced political instability and a humanitarian crisis since a March 2012 coup d’état, subsequent rebellion and French military intervention. Rebuilding livelihood security in this region will be a key policy objective after a new government has been elected and donor assistance has returned. This policy brief reviews key background on rural livelihoods in northern Mali before exploring current food insecurity in the region as affected by internally displaced people, limited mobility, climate variability, and Tuareg separatism. The article also examines strategies for rebuilding rural livelihoods in the region, from broader security and political initiatives to grassroots interventions.
Enriched cages for groups of laboratory male rats and their effects on behaviour, weight gain and adrenal glands
Authors: Lidfors L , Wichman A , Ewaldsson B , Lindh A-S
Published: October 2013

We investigated if there were any negative effects on the behaviour and physiology of rats housed in groups of five in two types of enriched cages and compared them with paired-housed rats housed in traditional cages. Eighty-four male Wistar and Sprague-Dawley rats were housed in an enriched rat cage (ERC), a rebuilt rabbit cage (RRC) or a Makrolon III cage (MC) system from 5–16 weeks of age with access to different enrichments. Recordings of behaviour and cage use (3 × 24 h video recording), weekly weighing, measuring food consumption four days/week and water consumption two days/week, were carried out. The rats’ muscle strength was assessed using the ‘inclined plane’ at the end of the study, and after euthanasia the adrenal glands were removed and weighed. Being in the shelter was the most common behaviour in the ERC and RRC groups. In the MC group, which lacked a shelter, rats performed the highest percentage of lying, grooming, rearing, play fighting and manipulating paper shreds. Rats in the RRC had the highest percentage of standing and manipulating gnawing sticks. Water consumption was higher in MC than in ERC and RRC rats. Rats from the RRC managed to remain at a steeper angle on the ‘inclined plane’ than rats from the MC. There were no significant effects of cage type on weight gain, food consumption or relative weights of adrenal glands. In conclusion, male rats kept in groups of five in larger enriched cages benefited from the enrichments, and no negative effects were found in the larger groups.
Micro–Macro Multilevel Analysis for Discrete Data
Authors: Bennink Margot , Croon Marcel A. , Vermunt Jeroen K.
Published: October 2013

A multilevel regression model is proposed in which discrete individual-level variables are used as predictors of discrete group-level outcomes. It generalizes the model proposed by Croon and van Veldhoven for analyzing micro–macro relations with continuous variables by making use of a specific type of latent class model. A first simulation study shows that this approach performs better than more traditional aggregation and disaggreagtion procedures. A second simulation study shows that the proposed latent variable approach still works well in a more complex model, but that a larger number of level-2 units is needed to retain sufficient power. The more complex model is illustrated with an empirical example in which data from a personal network are used to analyze the interaction effect of being religious and surrounding yourself with married people on the probability of being married.
When the Motorman Mayor Met the Cable Car Ladies
Authors: Scott Damon
Published: October 2013

Gender played an important role in framing arguments for and against modernizing San Francisco’s transit system by replacing cable cars with motor coaches. During the late 1940s and early 1950s, appeals for public support from cable car preservationists and advocates of buses were saturated with gendered representations of the vehicles themselves, their intended ridership, and the areas of the city that they served. To counteract male-dominated discourses about transit progress, which stressed the benefits of greater efficiency and cost savings, a coalition of women’s civic organizations emphasized a romantic attachment to the city’s past and promoted the cable cars as a centerpiece of the city’s tourism economy. The “cable car war” demonstrates how the cultural politics of transit modernization in postwar San Francisco was refracted through competing visions of the gender of modernity.
Design of unknown input observers for linear systems with unmatched unknown inputs
Authors: Park Tae-Geon , Kim Dongwon
Published: October 2013

We discuss an algebraic design of unknown input observers (UIOs) for linear systems with unknown inputs that do not satisfy the observer matching condition. Such a condition is often required for the existence of a UIO. To circumvent the restriction imposed by the observer matching condition, auxiliary outputs defined as the higher-order derivatives of the output measurements are introduced so that the observer matching condition is satisfied with respect to unknown inputs. The augmented outputs consisting of both the output measurements and the auxiliary outputs are defined, where the auxiliary outputs are estimated using higher-order sliding-mode exact differentiators based on the output measurements. Through suitable coordinate transformations, a system with the augmented outputs can be partitioned into two interconnected subsystems: an unknown input-free subsystem and an unknown input-dependent subsystem. The state vectors of the second subsystem are described in terms of augmented outputs. The unknown input-free subsystem is then used to design a UIO for estimation of the state vector. The performance of the UIO is verified through simulated numerical examples.
Musical and social communication in expert orchestral performance
Authors: Dobson Melissa C. , Gaunt Helena F.
Published: October 2013

Research on orchestral musicians has predominantly used survey methods to measure stress and/or work satisfaction; studies have seldom used in-depth interviews to ask orchestral musicians to reflect on their own practice and have neglected to elicit musicians’ perceptions of the processes involved in expert orchestral performance. Using semi-structured interviews, this research aimed to investigate 20 musicians’ experiences of working in a major London orchestra, focusing in particular on the skills and qualities they feel are required, and on how they negotiate challenges and sustain their careers. The interviews were analysed thematically using a grounded theory approach. The sample emphasized a set of skills which they considered vital for achieving excellence in the orchestral context, encompassing listening to, communicating with, and adapting to those around them at all times during rehearsal and performance. Strong social and interpersonal skills were also cited as important for orchestral work, with participants stressing the significance of maintaining good social relationships with colleagues in order to foster a conducive environment to achieving excellence on stage. These findings are considered in light of their potential implications for conservatoire training and their contribution to research on co-performer communication and collaboration.
Are music performance anxiety and performance boost perceived as extremes of the same continuum?
Authors: Simoens Veerle L. , Puttonen Sampsa , Tervaniemi Mari
Published: October 2013

Music performance anxiety (MPA) is considered non-beneficial but its debilitating aspects are not directly addressed in current questionnaires (“general MPA”). Together with general MPA, we assessed “debilitating MPA” with questions about aspects that debilitate musical performance. In addition, since musicians often experience a beneficial aspect of MPA in the form of a performance boost, we assessed this boost with additional questionnaire items. The first goal of our questionnaire survey was to investigate whether general MPA is perceived as part of the same continuum as performance boost. Our second goal was to determine which aspects of MPA may lead to a downward spiral of a musical career. The results of our questionnaire survey of 320 professional and student musicians show that general MPA does not lie at the other end of the spectrum of boost. Instead, debilitating MPA with a weak career impact was influenced by boost and performance confidence. Debilitating MPA with a strong career impact was influenced by health and mental distress. Debilitating and general MPA were related to perceived pressure, whereas boost was related to perceived support. Perceived pressure and support might be more accessible anchor points in the treatment of MPA, and in the maintenance of a stimulating level of boost.
Extramusical information contributes to emotions induced by music
Authors: Vuoskoski Jonna K. , Eerola Tuomas
Published: October 2013

Little is known about how extramusical, contextual information about a piece of music influences the emotions induced by that piece. The present study aimed to investigate this question by providing two groups of participants (both n = 30) with two different descriptions regarding the original context of a sad-sounding piece of film music; a description of a concentration camp scene or a description of a nature documentary. The results of these two groups were compared to previously collected data ( N = 60), where participants listened to either the same, sad-sounding piece of music without a description, or to neutral-sounding music. The induced emotions were measured as objectively as possible using indirect memory and judgment tasks. The results suggest that contextual information about a musical piece may indeed influence the emotional effects of that piece, as the sad narrative description appeared to intensify the sadness induced by the sad-sounding piece. The narrative descriptions may have enhanced emotion induction via the visual imagery mechanism (suggested by Juslin & Västfjäll, 2008), as 80% of participants in both groups reported thinking about imagery related to the narrative descriptions provided.
The role of the press in the war on asylum
Authors: Philo Greg , Briant Emma , Donald Pauline
Published: October 2013

An article based on excerpts from a chapter in the book, Bad News for Refugees by the Glasgow Media Group. It examines, in a detailed content analysis of sixty-nine articles in UK national papers in June 2011, how the rightwing press helped set the political agenda on immigration through a consistent conflation of issues of economic and forced migration, an emphasis on numbers as a threat, the pointing to migrants as an economic burden and potential criminals and a stress on the need for immigration controls.
Comparative toxicity of Paraquat herbicide and some plant extracts in Lymnaea natalensis snails
Authors: Bakry Fayez A , Eleiwa Mona E , Taha Samir A , Ismil Somya M
Published: October 2013

Paraquat has been shown to be a highly toxic compound for humans and animals, and many cases of acute poisoning and death have been reported over the past few decades. The present study was undertaken to evaluate comprehensively herbicides (Paraquat) and some plant extracts to biochemical aspects of Lymnaea natalensis snails. It was found that the exposure of L. natalensis to Paraquat and plant extracts led to a significant reduction in the infectivity of Fasciola gigantica miracidia to the snail. The glucose level in hemolymph of exposed snails was elevated, while the glycogen showed a decrease in soft tissues when compared with the control group. In addition, the activity level of some enzymes representing glycolytic enzymes as hexokinase (HK), pyruvate kinase (PK), phosphofructokinase (PFK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and glucose phosphate isomerase (GPI) in snail’s tissues were reduced in response to the treatment. It was concluded that the pollution of the aquatic environment by herbicide would adversely affect the metabolism of the L. natalensis snails. Snails treated with Agave attenuate, Ammi visnaga, and Canna iridiflora plant had less toxic effect compared to snails treated with Paraquat.
Heavy metals content, phytochemical composition, antimicrobial and insecticidal evaluation of Elaeagnus angustifolia
Authors: Khan Shahid Ullah , Khan Arif-ullah , Shah Azhar-ul-Haq Ali , Shah Syed Majid , Hussain Sajid , Ayaz Mohammad , Ayaz Sultan
Published: October 2013

Elaeagnus angustifolia was analyzed for determination of metals, phytoconstituents, bactericidal, fungicidal and insecticidal effects and to explore its chemical and biological potential. The root, branches, leaves, stem bark and root bark parts of E. angustifolia were found to contain iron, lead, copper, cadmium, zinc, chromium, nickel and cobalt in different concentrations. Crude extract of Elaeagnus angustifolia (Ea.Cr) was tested positive for the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins and tannins. Ea.Cr and its fractions, n-hexane (Ea.Hex), ethyl acetate (Ea.EtAc) and aqueous (Ea.Aq) showed bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, while against Pseudomonas aeruginosa only Ea.Hex and Ea.EtAc were effective. When tested for antifungal effect, Ea.Cr exhibited fungicidal action against Aspergillus fumagatus, Ea.EtAc and Ea.Aq against Aspergillus flavis and Ea.EtAc against Aspergillus niger. Ea.Hex was active against all three fungal strains. The chloroform fraction (Ea.CHCl3) was found inactive against the used microbes. Ea.Cr, Ea.Hex, Ea.CHCl3, Ea.EtAc and Ea.Aq caused mortality of Tribolium castaneum and Ephestia cautella insects observed after 24 and 48 h of treatment. These data indicate that E. angustifolia exhibits different heavy metals and compound groups. Methanolic extract of E. angustifolia and its various fractions possess antibacterial, antifungal and insecticidal activities, which elucidate medicinal application of the plant.
Protective effect of ascorbic acid and Ginkgo biloba against learning and memory deficits caused by fluoride
Authors: Jetti Raghu , Raghuveer CV , Mallikarjuna Rao C
Published: October 2013

Fluoride is present in the ground water, World Health Organization permitted level of fluoride in the ground water is 0.5 ppm. Tooth pastes, mouth washes, tea and sea fish are the sources of fluoride. Exposure to these multiple sources results in several adverse effects in addition to the fluorosis. The present study aimed to test the effect of vitamin C and Ginkgo biloba against the behavioural deficits caused by fluoride. Rats were divided into five groups with six animals in each group ( n = 6). Control group received ordinary tap water with 0.5 ppm of fluoride, the remaining groups received 100 ppm of fluoride for 30 days prior to fluoride exposure. Two groups of animals received 100 mg/kg body weight of vitamin C and G. biloba for 15 days prior to fluoride exposure. After 45 days, behavioural studies (T-Maze, passive avoidance) were conducted on the experimental animals. The results of the present study showed no behavioural deficits in the control group of animals however, the rats that received fluoride water exhibited impairment in their spatial learning and memory deficits. The deficits are not marked in the vitamin C and G. biloba groups. To conclude chronic exposure to high levels of fluoride causes severe impairment in the spatial learning and memory, these deficits can be ameliorated with the vitamin C and G. biloba.
The effects of intravenous immunoglobulin on cerebral ischemia in rats
Authors: Tunik Selcuk , Aluclu Mehmet Ufuk , Acar Abdullah , Akkoc Hasan , Guzel Aslan , Alabalik Ulas , Akkus Murat
Published: October 2013

Stroke is one of the major reasons of death in the United States and related to adult disability. Despite aggressive research, the treatment approaches of stroke still remains a major clinical problem. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) is a polyspecific Ig G preparation obtained from plasma of several thousand healthy people (donors). IVIg is an important treatment approach and used for several disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the potentially beneficial effects of IVIg therapy in experimentally induced ischemia in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) models of rats. A total of 30 adult male Sprague Dawley rats were used. The rats were divided into two equal groups, each consisting of 15 randomly selected rats: control group ( n = 15) and IVIg group ( n = 15). Intraluminal filament method was used for establishment of cerebral ischemia. Intraluminal filament was withdrawn after 2 h of MCAo and reperfusion started again and passed to therapeutic stages for all the groups. Physiologic saline solution of 0.5 ml/kg was administered to the control group and 400 mg/kg IVIg was given to the IVIg group rats intravenously. In neurological evaluation, the worst score was determined as 3 and the best score as 0. After routine process, the brain tissue was prepared histopathological investigation. The IVIg group showed significantly better recovery with respect to the control group by neurological examination. The observation of specimens obtained from IVIg groups showed that findings correlate with grade 1 and -2 histopathologically. Nevertheless, ischemic amendments were observed to comply with grade 3 in ischemic areas in control group. IVIg therapy can be used in the treatment of ischemic stroke patients.
Ameliorating effect of pomegranate juice consumption on carbon tetrachloride-induced sperm damages, lipid peroxidation, and testicular apoptosis
Authors: Türk Gaffari , Çeribaşı Songül , Sönmez Mustafa , Çiftçi Mehmet , Yüce Abdurrauf , Güvenç Mehmet , Kaya Şeyma Özer , Çay Mehmet , Aksakal Mesut
Published: October 2013

The aim of this study was to investigate whether pomegranate juice (PJ) consumption has an ameliorating effect on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced sperm damages and testicular apoptosis associated with the oxidative stress in male rats. The study comprised of four groups (groups 1–4). Group 1 received olive oil + distilled water daily; group 2 was treated with 5 ml/kg PJ + olive oil daily; group 3 was treated with 0.25 ml/kg CCl4 dissolved in olive oil, weekly + distilled water daily; and group 4 received weekly CCl4 + daily PJ. All administrations were performed by gavage and maintained for 10 weeks. CCl4 administration caused significant decreases in body and reproductive organ weights, sperm motility, concentration and testicular catalase activity, significant increases in malondialdehyde (MDA) level, and abnormal sperm rate and apoptotic index along with some histopathological damages when compared with the control group. However, significant ameliorations were observed in absolute weights of testis and epididymis, all sperm quality parameters, MDA level, apoptotic index, and testicular histopathological structure following the administration of CCl4 together with PJ when compared with group given CCl4 only. In conclusion, PJ consumption ameliorates the CCl4-induced damages in male reproductive organs and cells by decreasing the lipid peroxidation.
Analyzing Three Decades of BMS
Authors: van Meter Karl M. , de Saint Léger Mathilde
Published: October 2013

The authors review the development of the BMS over the past 30 years divided into three decades. The previous analyses of the first and second decades are presented and commented, and then the recent full co-word analysis to all BMS research articles and ongoing research notes is presented and interpreted to provide an overall but detailed portrait of the BMS, its evolution and possible future development.
Novel resorbable glass-ceramic scaffolds for hard tissue engineering: From the parent phosphate glass to its bone-like macroporous derivatives
Authors: Bretcanu Oana , Baino Francesco , Verné Enrica , Vitale-Brovarone Chiara
Published: October 2013

One of the major challenges of hard tissue engineering research focuses on the development of scaffolds that can match the mechanical properties of the host bone and resorb at the same rate as the bone is repaired. The aim of this work was the synthesis and characterization of a resorbable phosphate glass, as well as its application for the fabrication of three dimensional (3-D) scaffolds for bone regeneration. The glass microstructure and behaviour upon heating were analysed by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and hot stage microscopy. The glass solubility was investigated according to relevant ISO standards using distilled water, simulated body fluid (SBF) and Tris-HCl as testing media. The glass underwent progressive dissolution over time in all three media but the formation of a hydroxyapatite-like layer was also observed on the samples soaked in SBF and Tris-HCl, which demonstrated the bioactivity of the material. The glass powder was used to fabricate 3-D macroporous bone-like glass-ceramic scaffolds by adopting polyethylene particles as pore formers: during thermal treatment, the polymer additive was removed and the sintering of glass particles was allowed. The obtained scaffolds exhibited high porosity (87 vol.%) and compressive strength around 1.5 MPa. After soaking for 4 months in SBF, the scaffolds mass loss was 76 wt.% and the pH of the solution did not exceed the 7.55 value, thereby remaining in a physiological range. The produced scaffolds, being resorbable, bioactive, architecturally similar to trabecular bone and exhibiting interesting mechanical properties, can be proposed as promising candidates for bone repair applications.
“De-Risking” Private Sector Defined Benefit Pension Plans
Authors: Kilgour John G.
Published: October 2013

Recent recessions have caused a great deal of instability in defined benefit pension funding requirements. That has been exacerbated by the provisions of the Pension Reform Act of 2006, accounting and reporting changes and revised policies of credit rating bureaus. The result has been the shifting of large amounts of pension debt to corporate balance sheets. This has moved pension policy from the employment side of the house to the CFO. The response has been dubbed “de-risking.” It involves transferring longevity, investment and interest-rate risk from the sponsor to the participants through lump sum distributions and to an insurance company through the purchase of a group annuity contract. A related approach is to “immunize” the plan assets from instability by moving out of equities and into fixed-income bonds that duration match the plan’s liabilities. 2012 was a banner year for de-risking. It will continue in 2013. This article examines what may prove to be the death knell of traditional defined benefit pension plans in the private sector.
The Prevention And Reduction Of Postpartum Complications
Authors: Nazik Evşen , Eryilmaz Gülşen
Published: October 2013

This study was conducted using Orem’s self-care model to investigate its impact on the reduction and prevention of women’s postpartum complications. One group of 63 women was included in the study in which a pretest and posttest quasi-experimental method was used. For analysis of the data, descriptive statistics, dependent groups t test, and McNemar test were applied, 24 different nursing diagnoses were made. Self-care agency pretest mean score was 97.13 ± 17.20, posttest mean score was 114.44 ± 13.72, and the difference was statistically significant ( p < .001). The study found that the care given to women in the postpartum period using Orem’s self-care model prevented postpartum complications and increased the self-care agency of postpartum women.
Safety of Varenicline in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Haber Stacy L. , Boomershine Virginia , Raney Erin
Published: October 2013

Smoking cessation lowers the risk of death substantially in patients with cardiovascular disease. Although varenicline is an effective medication for smoking cessation, its safety in this population has been questioned and evaluated in several studies. In 2 randomized controlled trials of patients with cardiovascular disease, the rates of serious cardiovascular events were up to 2% higher in patients receiving varenicline than placebo, though the differences were not statistically significant. In the first meta-analysis of mostly trials involving patients with a history of cardiovascular disease, varenicline was found to significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular events by 72%; however, a second meta-analysis did not find a significant increased risk. In an observational study, varenicline was not associated with an increased risk of events when compared to bupropion in a subgroup analysis of patients with a history of cardiovascular disease. Because the evidence on the safety of varenicline in this population is limited and conflicting, additional data are needed to formulate stronger conclusions. In the meantime, health care professionals should consider individual smoking patterns, concomitant medical conditions, and cost when recommending smoking cessation pharmacotherapy for patients with cardiovascular disease.
Associated factors and psychotherapy on sleep disturbances in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Kasitanon N , Achsavalertsak U , Maneeton B , Wangkaew S , Puntana S , Sukitawut W , Louthrenoo W
Published: October 2013

Sleep disturbance is a common problem in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. This study was performed to determine the prevalence of sleep disturbance in SLE, the factors that might be associated with sleep disturbance, and the correlation between changes in clinical parameters and sleep quality over time. Fifty-six female SLE patients from a total of 497 SLE patients (11.3%) agreed to join the study. The demographic data were recorded at baseline and the clinical data, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and other standardized assessment tools, disease activity index, quality of life (QoL), damage index, depression, anxiety and fatigue score, were assessed three times: the first visit was at baseline, the second time was one month later, and the third time was three months after the baseline. Thirty-one of these 56 patients (55.36%) were found to have sleep disturbances. All were females with their mean ± SD age of 37.5 ± 12.3 years, and disease duration at study entry of 8.6 ± 7.3 years. There was no association between sleep disturbances and demographic data, disease activity, clinical symptoms, the presence of autoantibodies and current steroid use. In multiple logistic regression analyses, only moderate to severe depression was the independent determinant of sleep disturbances, p = 0.036. During the three-month observation, with the treatment, the changing of total PSQI score showed a significantly positive correlation with depression, anxiety, pain and QoL. Sleep disturbances in Thai SLE patients were not uncommon but a correctable condition. Depression was strongly associated with sleep disturbances. Awareness of underlying depression as well as sleep disturbances in SLE patients and treating them properly improve QoL in SLE.
Detection and isolation of Influenza A virus subtype H1N1 from a small backyard swine herd in Colorado
Authors: Weller Christina B. , Cadmus Kyran J. , Ehrhart E. J. , Powers Barbara E. , Pabilonia Kristy L.
Published: October 2013

Influenza A virus subtype H1N1 A(H1N1)pdm09 was first confirmed in pigs in the United States in October 2009. In November 2010, lungs and intestines from 2 York piglets from a small, privately owned herd were submitted to the Colorado State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. The submitting veterinarian reported rapid weight loss and signs of pneumonia in the piglets. Gross lesions included caudoventral pneumonia in both piglets, and histologic lesions in the lungs showed characteristics consistent with influenza virus and bacterial infection. Ribonucleic acid extracted from fresh lung homogenates from both piglets was positive for influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 by a real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Virus was isolated from lung homogenates from both piglets in Madin–Darby canine kidney cells, as well as in 10-day-old specific pathogen–free embryonated chicken eggs. Sequence analysis showed 98% homology with 2009 H1N1 human isolates from across the United States and 98% homology against two 2009 and 2010 swine isolates from Nebraska and Minnesota. The current report documents the possible transmission of pandemic influenza A(H1N1)2009 virus [A(H1N1)pdm09] from a human being to a small, privately owned backyard swine herd. The owner was employed as a pharmacist, making occupational exposure to the pandemic influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 a possibility.