bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Immune Alteration Associated with Exposure to Toxic Chemicals
Authors: Vojdani Aristo , Ghoneum Mamdooh , Brautbar Nachman
Published: April 2018

Immunological abnormalities including lymphocyte subset, lymphocyte immune functional assays, chemical antibodies, and different markers for autoimmune response were examined in individuals exposed to a variety of chemicals in computer manufacturing plants. A comparison of 289 individuals exposed to chemicals to 120 controls revealed that exposed individuals had a significantly higher percentage with either increased or decreased T helper/T suppressor ratios. In addition, the individuals with abnormal T4/T8 ratios demonstrated significant elevation in chemical-hapten antibodies. Therefore, 87 exposed subjects with abnormal T4/T8 ratios were selected for further evaluation by lymphocyte phenotypic expression and T cell, B cell, NK activity, and autoimmune markers, and were compared to 60 controls.

The comparison of exposed individuals with controls indicated elevation of T cell (CD3), B cell (CD19), and activated T cell (CDJO, CDJS, CD26, CD38), suppressed T cell and B cell function decreased or increased NK cell cytotoxic activity. Autoimmunity due to chemical exposure was evidenced by elevation of TAJ phenotype frequencies and presence of rheumatoid factor, immune complexes, ANA, and anti mye/in basic protein antibodies. We conclude that chemical exposure may induce immune abnormalities including immune suppression and autoimmunity.
Toxicological Investigations in the Semiconductor Industry: II. Studies on the Subacute Inhalation Toxicity and Genotoxicity of Gaseous Waste Products from the Aluminium Plasma Etching Process
Authors: Bauer Siegfried , Werner Nadeshda , Wolff Ilona , Damme Britt , Oemus Kerstin , Hoffmann Peter
Published: April 2018

Male and female Wistar rats were exposed to waste gas arising from a plasma etching process in the semiconductor industries for six hr per day, five days per week, for four weeks in order to characterize subacute organ toxicity and genotoxicity. The waste gas was a complex mixture of different chlorinated hydrocarbons, inorganic by-products, and unused process gases, diluted by room air. Neither death nor behavioral changes occurred after subacute exposure. No significant exposure-related effects on body weight gain, hematology, or cardiovascular parameters were observed. Only slight effects on organ weights and clinical chemistry were seen in the exposed animals. The exposed rats of both sexes showed statistically significant increases in chromosomal aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges in bone marrow cells.
La transcription outillée en SHS. Un panorama des logiciels de transcription audio/vidéo
Authors: Rioufreyt Thibaut
Published: April 2018

Cet article propose d’esquisser un panorama des principaux logiciels à la disposition du transcripteur permettant de lui faciliter le travail et de garantir la qualité des transcriptions. L’objectif visé est double. Il s’agit d’une part de mettre à disposition une synthèse des outils existants (24 logiciels sont traités) et des caractéristiques techniques principales de chacun d’entre eux. Il existe en effet une offre pléthorique en la matière, au point qu’il est difficile de s’y retrouver pour l’utilisateur lambda. D’autre part, cet article ne propose pas simplement une liste d’outils mais neuf critères simples permettant de choisir le logiciel le plus adapté aux besoins de sa recherche, à son corpus et à ses compétences : rôle de la problématique et de l’objet de recherche, spécificité du terrain, plate-forme sur laquelle fonctionne l’outil, disponibilité du logiciel, mode de représentation des données, articulation des supports, format des données, outils de lecture et de traitement du son, fonctions d’analyse proposées par ces logiciels.
Ganglioglioma, Epilepsy, and Intellectual Impairment due to Familial TSC1 Deletion
Authors: Gilboa Tal , Segel Reeval , Zeligson Sharon , Alterescu Gheona , Ben-Pazi Hilla
Published: April 2018

Background:

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a multisystem disorder diagnosed by clinical criteria and/or genetic testing. Genetic testing reveals atypical phenotypes that have not met clinical criteria, with practical implications.

Methods:

We describe 4 family members with pathogenic partial deletion in TSC1 who individually did not meet tuberous sclerosis complex clinical criteria.

Results:

Family members had different and atypical findings of tuberous sclerosis complex. Although none of the family members fulfilled the clinical criteria for tuberous sclerosis complex, they all carried the same genomic deletion (9q34.13q34.2) that included part of the TSC1 gene. One member had ganglioglioma and intractable seizures, one sibling presented with seizures, developmental delay, and displayed white matter abnormalities; another sibling had no clinical manifestations but has cortical tuber. Their mother has facial angiofibroma, cortical tuber, and seizures during infancy.

Conclusions:

Ganglioglioma may be a phenotypic expression of TSC1. Genetic testing is recommended for infants with brain tumors, especially those with an abnormal familial history.
Individual and Parental Risk Factors for Sexual Exploitation Among High-Risk Youth in Uganda
Authors: Self-Brown Shannon , Culbreth Rachel , Wilson Rebecca , Armistead Lisa , Kasirye Rogers , Swahn Monica H.
Published: April 2018

This study examined risk factors to determine associations with commercial sexual exploitation of children and youth (CSEC) in a convenience sample of adolescents living in the slums in Kampala, Uganda. Individual-level factors included demographic, adverse experiences (ever living on the streets; victim of dating violence, parental abuse, or rape), and behavioral risk (social media, alcohol use, age at first intercourse). Parental-risk factors included parent alcohol use and approval attitudes toward youth sex. Analyses included those who self-reported sexually active adolescents ( n = 593) of whom 39% reported CSEC history. CSEC was significantly associated with being female (odds ratio [ OR] = 6.85, 95% confidence interval (CI) = [4.22, 11.12]), living on the streets ( OR = 2.68; 95% CI = [1.65, 4.36]), using social media ( OR = 1.48; 95% CI = [0.94, 2.35]), being a victim of physical dating violence ( OR = 1.74; 95% CI = [1.08, 2.80]), and ever being raped ( OR = 4.03; 95% CI = [2.51, 6.47]). Further analyses suggested differential risk associates among females and males. This study contributes to our knowledge of risk factors for CSEC among adolescents living in high-risk circumstances in low-resource countries and suggests that preventive efforts should prioritize adolescents with a history of living on the streets who engage in social media, use alcohol, and have a history of trauma.
The Greengrocer’s Kin
Authors: Williams Kieran
Published: April 2018

The writings of Václav Havel are haunted by the character of the seemingly powerless man who nevertheless shares responsibility for the perpetuation of an unjust system. He is the incarnation of what Havel in The Power of the Powerless called the “instrument of a mutual totality, the auto-totality of society” that does much of the policing work of the post-totalitarian state. The greengrocer of that essay’s third section was not the only such embodiment; he had contemporaries in the characters of the famous Vaněk plays. But the cast is not limited to them either; we can find examples of this phenomenon in some of Havel’s earliest essays, and in some of his less known later plays that explore the social dynamics that underpin and undermine political systems.
In Search of the Greengrocer (Jak vykládat zelináře)
Authors: Day Barbara
Published: April 2018

The author reflects on her experience teaching present-day students about life under totalitarianism. Forty years of Communism is a long time; attitudes and opinions matured and shifted—even (if we examine Havel’s essay) those of his greengrocer. And what should be the focus of the teaching: the terror, the heroism, or the everyday business of living? How can one convey the different levels and subtleties of a world that history presents in black and white? The past could disappear in a hazy memory, but young people, once provoked, ask direct and practical questions that do connect the past to the present.
The Importance of Bearing Witness
Authors: Popescu Delia
Published: April 2018

This essay considers the notion of bearing witness as an analytical path for assessing and applying the legacy of Havel’s essay The Power of the Powerless. Havel’s account of disempowerment is connected to the role of ideology in creating the “environment of power” as a tool that enables participation in one’s own disempowerment. Havel dissects the process of becoming powerless and then reconstructs empowerment by reflecting on the journey of the archetypal post-totalitarian subject, the greengrocer. In Popescu’s view, reconstruction is based on the mechanism of bearing witness to one’s own presence in the world and its constitutive effects on the lives of others. To bear witness requires a search for evidence of the ontological match between world, self, and human meaning. In this context, acts of dissenters are the exemplary manifestation of a potentiality that seems to reside in us all. Dissenters bear witness to alternatives—reflecting what Havel considers a baseline of humanity: the natural multiplicity of human experience.
Václav Havel: A Heart in the Right Place
Authors: Pynsent Robert B.
Published: April 2018

The author looks at Havel’s The Power of the Powerless in the context of Czech twentieth-century political fiction and the criticism that his writing and political activity has received. He also introduces other works, essays and plays, by the author that aid the assessment of statements made in The Power of the Powerless. The last quarter of the article discusses Havel and New Age ideas and endeavors to look at The Power of the Powerless in that light, but also to understand how a person who argued most of his life against the elements of ochlocracy in his own country could in spiritual matters become something of an ochlocrat himself.
Moc bezmocných: Some Thoughts from Afar
Authors: Scruton Roger
Published: April 2018

Havel’s essay The Power of the Powerless described a unique situation in post-war Europe, when the Communist system of power was exhausted and those deprived of power under it were beginning to know each other and cooperate with each other in a new kind of underground. I describe the spiritual condition of a certain kind of young person in this underground, eager to find another cultural identity than the one offered by the official ideology and anxious to “live in truth.” I suggest that the sudden collapse of Communism and the advent of a new consumer society left those young people in a certain measure bereft.
Introduction: The Power of the Powerless at Forty
Authors: Krapfl James , Falk Barbara J.
Published: April 2018

The guest editors of this special issue on The Power of the Powerless, forty years after its composition, here introduce the collection. They present the rationale for revisiting Václav Havel’s classic essay and explain how this collection was inspired by an “international symposium by correspondence” that Jiří Suk of the Institute for Contemporary History and Kristina Andělová of Charles University, both in Prague, initiated in 2015, resulting in a collective volume entitled Jednoho dne se v našem zelináři cosi vzbouří: Eseje o Moci bezmocných. The guest editors briefly summarize each of the seventeen essays featured in the present collection and contextualize the newly annotated English translation of The Power of the Powerless that concludes it.
Developing Special Educator Cultural Awareness Through Critically Reflective Professional Learning Community Collaboration
Authors: Moore Brooke A.
Published: April 2018

The development of cultural awareness in educators ensures that culturally and linguistically diverse students receive culturally responsive practices. Because special educators already advocate for their exceptional students, they are well suited to advocate for cultural responsiveness in their schools as well. The purpose of this article is to outline a framework, and case study utilizing this framework, for helping special educators push forward their own cultural awareness and actively develop tools they can use for fostering cultural awareness in colleagues. The framework uses critically reflective, collaborative professional learning communities (PLCs). Drawing from the research on teacher critical reflection, collaborative PLCs, and Engeström’s theory of expansive learning, a case study using the framework was conducted with 10 practicing teachers. Participants read and reflected on critical literature to make visible unexamined beliefs, engaged in conversations that pushed them to reflect more deeply and project forward new ideas, and set goals for acting as agents of change in schools.
Magnetic resonance conditional paramagnetic choke for suppression of imaging artifacts during magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Wu Kevin J , Gregory T Stan , Boland Brian L , Zhao Wujun , Cheng Rui , Mao Leidong , Tse Zion Tsz Ho
Published: April 2018

Higher risk patient populations require continuous physiological monitoring and, in some cases, connected life-support systems, during magnetic resonance imaging examinations. While recently there has been a shift toward wireless technology, some of the magnetic resonance imaging devices are still connected to the outside using cabling that could interfere with the magnetic resonance imaging’s radio frequency during scanning, resulting in excessive heating. We developed a passive method for radio frequency suppression on cabling that may assist in making some of these devices magnetic resonance imaging compatible. A barrel-shaped strongly paramagnetic choke was developed to suppress induced radio frequency signals which are overlaid onto physiological monitoring leads during magnetic resonance imaging. It utilized a choke placed along the signal lines, with a gadolinium solution core. The choke’s magnetic susceptibility was modeled, for a given geometric design, at increasing chelate concentration levels, and measured using a vibrating sample magnetometer. Radio frequency noise suppression versus frequency was quantified with network-analyzer measurements and tested using cabling placed in the magnetic resonance imaging scanner. Temperature-elevation and image-quality reduction due to the device were measured using American Society for Testing and Materials phantoms. Prototype chokes with gadolinium solution cores exhibited increasing magnetic susceptibility, and insertion loss (S21) also showed higher attenuation as gadolinium concentration increased. Image artifacts extending <4 mm from the choke were observed during magnetic resonance imaging, which agreed well with the predicted ∼3 mm artifact from the electrochemical machining simulation. An accompanying temperature increase of <1 °C was observed in the magnetic resonance imaging phantom trial. An effective paramagnetic choke for radio frequency suppression during magnetic resonance imaging was developed and its performance demonstrated.
Prevalence, risk factors, and impact on mortality of neuropsychiatric lupus: a prospective, single-center study
Authors: Ahn G Y , Kim D , Won S , Song S T , Jeong H-J , Sohn I-W , Lee S , Joo Y B , Bae S-C
Published: April 2018

Objective

The objective of this paper is to identify the prevalence, risk factors, and impact on mortality of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE).

Methods

Patients from the Hanyang BAE lupus cohort were registered and followed from 1998 to 2015. NPSLE was defined using American College of Rheumatology (ACR) case definitions and Ainiala criteria. Demographics, autoantibodies, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI), and Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinic (SLICC)/ACR Damage Index were collected at baseline and then annually. Mortality data were derived by linking data from the Korean National Statistics Office. Multivariable logistic regression and Cox regression analysis were conducted in the inception cohort to assess the risk factors and mortality impact of NPSLE.

Results

Of 1121 registered patients, 429 (38.3%) had NPSLE manifestations according to ACR criteria and 216 (19.3%) by Ainiala criteria. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, higher SLEDAI (OR 1.08, CI 1.01–1.16, p = 0.02) and antiphospholipid antibody positivity (OR 1.72, CI 1.03–2.87, p = 0.04) at SLE diagnosis increased NPSLE risk, while elevated anti-dsDNA antibodies (OR 0.43, CI 0.24–0.78, p < 0.01) and greater education duration (OR 0.92, CI 0.85–1.00, p = 0.04) showed reduced risk of NPSLE. Cox proportional hazard models demonstrated that presence of NPSLE had a three-fold increased risk of mortality (HR 3.09, CI 1.03–9.21, p = 0.04), especially in patients with focal CNS NPSLE (HR = 7.83, CI 2.12–28.96, p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Higher SLEDAI, antiphospholipid antibody positivity, absence of anti-dsDNA antibody at SLE diagnosis, and fewer years of education are risk factors for development of NPSLE. Presence of NPSLE, especially focal CNS NPSLE, increased the risk of mortality in SLE patients.
Scaffolding the Dalcroze Approach
Authors: Jones Jason D.
Published: April 2018

Individualized instruction and differentiation are fundamental concepts of the Dalcroze approach to music education. Émile Jaques-Dalcroze believed that students learn to be musical by different modalities. His three core branches, eurhythmics, rhythmic solfège, and improvisation, are intertwined with active listening, positive self-expression, and joy to create a learning environment that fuels music creativity. His followers continued his work by developing lessons, clarifying concepts, and sharing knowledge. This article offers insight to Jaques-Dalcroze’s background, a description of the three core branches, and a scaffolded lesson based on Dalcroze’s approach to student-centered music education.
Facilitation of a Person-Centered Approach in Health Assessment of patients with chronic pain: An Ethnographic Study
Authors: Thórarinsdóttir Kristín , Kristjánsson Kristján , Gunnarsdóttir Thóra Jenný , Björnsdóttir Kristín
Published: April 2018

A phenomenologically derived assessment tool, Hermes, was developed in a rehabilitation setting for adopting the central ideals of person-centered care and patient participation into health-assessment practices in nursing. This focused ethnographic study aimed at exploring the feasibility of using Hermes for enabling the application of these ideals into assessment of patients with chronic pain upon admission to a rehabilitation center. Participants were patients with chronic pain, enrolled in rehabilitation, and their nurses. Data were collected by participant observation and interviews, and analyzed by thematic analysis. By the use of Hermes, the impact of illness was explored through supportive connection and dialogue with open, reflective, and interpretative features; understanding of the illness situation was enhanced; and possibilities provided in adjusting to health issues of concern. In sum, Hermes facilitated person-centered participation of patients with chronic pain in their health assessment and made a phenomenological philosophy usable in nursing-assessment practices.
Nonlinear dynamics and robust control of sloshing in a tank
Authors: Zhang Tingting , Yang Jianying
Published: April 2018

Sloshing is a complex nonlinear dynamic phenomenon which has a significant influence on the stability of structure–fluid systems. In this study, the dynamic equation of sloshing based on Hamilton principle is established and linearized into a state space equation. Considering the uncertainty of the system, a robust H infinite guaranteed cost control method is proposed to mitigate the response of fluid wave height to horizontal acceleration of the tank body. Simulation results are given to demonstrate the closed-loop performance of the nonlinear dynamic modeling and linear optimal control method.
Disentangling the Cycle: Potential Mediators and Moderators in the Intergenerational Transmission of Parent–Child Aggression
Authors: Rodriguez Christina M. , Silvia Paul J. , Gonzalez Samantha , Christl Maria-Ernestina
Published: April 2018

Although a cycle of harsh and abusive parenting has been recognized for decades, this cycle is not inevitable. Indeed, the mechanisms underlying such patterns, and the resources parents may access to disrupt this cycle, require further study. Research investigating those processes has either relied on cross-sectional designs or largely assessed mediators or moderators at one time point. The current investigation of parent–child aggression (PCA) risk utilized a longitudinal design to consider possible mediators and moderators across three time points. Mothers and fathers reported on their personal history of physical and psychological abuse during the last trimester of the mother’s pregnancy; their PCA risk was assessed concurrently when their child was 6 months and when their child was 18 months. Current findings support several mediators for mothers, although fewer for fathers, prenatally, but mediation was not observed across time. Similarly, several moderators of the effect of personal history of physical and psychological aggression on PCA risk were identified prenatally but not across time. Thus, several qualities believed to account for, or mitigate, the intergenerational transmission of PCA may not be consistent—underscoring the continued need to identify factors that account for the cyclical process versus what may interrupt intergenerational transmission.
Citrulline Improves Early Post-Ischemic Recovery or Rat Hearts In Vitro by Shifting Arginine Metabolism From Polyamine to Nitric Oxide Formation
Authors: Heidorn Marc , Frodermann Tim , Böning Andreas , Schreckenberg Rolf , Schlüter Klaus-Dieter
Published: April 2018

Background:

Reperfusion or reopening of occluded vessels is the gold standard to terminate ischemia. However, early functional recovery after reperfusion is often low requiring inotropic intervention. Although catecholamines increase inotropy and chronotropy, they are not the best choice because they increase myocardial oxygen and substrate demand. As nitric oxide (NO) contributes to cardiac function, we tested the hypothesis that addition of citrulline during the onset of reperfusion improves post-ischemic recovery because citrulline can reenter arginine consumption of NO synthases (NOS) but not of arginases.

Methods:

Hearts from adult rats were used in this study, exposed to 45-minute global ischemia and subsequently reperfused for 180 minutes. Citrulline (100 µM) or arginine (100 µM) was added with reperfusion and remained in the perfusion buffer for 180 minutes. Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) was used to antagonize NOS activity.

Results:

Citrulline increased load-free cell shortening of isolated adult rat cardiomyocytes and improved left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) under normoxic conditions, indicating that citrulline can affect heart function. Ischemia/reperfusion caused a constitutive loss of function during 3 hours of reperfusion, whereas citrulline, but not arginine, improved the functional recovery during reperfusion. This effect was attenuated by co-administration of l-NAME. Although citrulline increased the formation of nitrite, l-NAME attenuated this effect indicating again a positive effect of citrulline on NO formation. Citrulline, but not arginine, increased the expression of arginase-1 (protein and mRNA) but l-NAME attenuated this effect again. Collectively, citrulline improved the post-ischemic recovery in an NO-dependent way.

Conclusions:

Citrulline, known to block arginase and to support NO formation, improves the early functional recovery of post-ischemic hearts and may be an alternative to catecholamines to improve early post-ischemic recovery.
The elite delusion: reflexivity, identity and positionality in qualitative research
Authors: Mason-Bish Hannah
Published: April 2018

This article examines how perceptions of interviewing elites influence the decisions made at every stage of the qualitative research process. It also reflects on issues of positionality and power which relate not only to the relationship between researcher and respondent but also to the subject matter of the research itself. As such I suggest that it is important to critically assess assumptions made about elites and to reflect on how the position of the researcher might impact upon the exchange and resultant findings. In essence what is found is that in discussing the construction of policy, a delicate balance is struck between positionality and research topic and that the policy narrative is a joint construction which is very much shaped by the identity and positionality of everyone involved.
Displaying Red and Black on a First Date: A Field Study Using the “First Dates” Television Series
Authors: Kramer Robin S. S. , Mulgrew Jerrica
Published: April 2018

Previous research has shown that displaying the color red can increase attractiveness. As a result, women display red more often when expecting to meet more attractive men in a laboratory context. Here, we carried out a field study by analyzing 546 daters from the “First Dates” television series. Each participant was filmed in a pre-date interview and during a real first date, allowing direct comparison of the clothing worn by each person in these two contexts. Analysis of ratings of the amount of red displayed showed that both men and women wore more red clothing during their dates. This pattern was even stronger for black clothing, while the amount of blue clothing did not differ across the two contexts. Our results provide the first real-world demonstration that people display more red and black clothing when meeting a possible mate for the first time, perhaps seeking to increase their attractiveness and/or reveal their intentions to potential partners.
Reflector-aided direct locations of multiple signals in the presence of small reflector position biases
Authors: Yin Jiexin , Wang Ding , Wu Ying , Wu Zhidong
Published: April 2018

Direct position determination (DPD) is a single-step method that localizes transmitters from sensor outputs without computing intermediate parameters. It outperforms conventional two-step localization methods, especially under low signal-to-noise ratio conditions. This article proposes a reflector-aided DPD algorithm for multiple signals of known waveforms received by an array observer. In previous studies, reflector-aided localization has always required very precise locations of reflectors. Therefore, the localization performance depends sensitively on accurately knowing each reflector position. This study considers the presence of small biases in reflector locations. To make the problem tractable, we simplify the signal model through an approximation using the first-order Taylor expansion and then directly localize multiple sources in a decoupled manner. Unlike most DPDs that presume noise is spatially uncorrelated, our study imposes no restriction on the correlation structure of noise, allowing this algorithm to be used in more general scenarios. In addition, we derive the Cramér–Rao bound expression and perform an analysis of the direct locations of multiple signals when the reflector positions are assumed accurate but in fact have small biases. Simulation results corroborate the theoretical results and a good localization performance of the proposed algorithm in the presence of small reflector position biases.
Ambient vibration testing of existing buildings: Experimental, numerical and code provisions
Authors: Mirtaheri Masoud , Salehi Fatemeh
Published: April 2018

This article aims to identify the dynamic characteristics (natural frequency in particular) of existing buildings by experimental methods, and then, to compare the results with those reflected by several code provisions and numerical analyses. To this end, ambient vibration tests were carried out on 40 existing concrete and steel buildings in order to obtain the natural frequency of such buildings. The results were then investigated as compared with those arising from several codes and standards, and also with those obtained from numerical analyses. It can be shown in this study that the test results are significantly different from those calculated based on the codes and standards. Moreover, the effect of in-fill walls on the fundamental natural frequency of such buildings is shown. The findings of this research can be used for model calibration and revision of the existing legislations.
Inclusive university experience in Australia: Perspectives of students with intellectual disability and their mentors
Authors: Rillotta Fiona , Arthur Jillian , Hutchinson Claire , Raghavendra Parimala
Published: April 2018

Inclusive post-secondary education (PSE) delivers positive personal, social and academic outcomes. However, there is limited support for students with intellectual disability (ID) to participate in higher education, particularly in Australia. This study investigated the expectations and experiences of students with ID in an inclusive individual support PSE programme. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with students ( n = 4) and peer mentors ( n = 6) at the beginning and end of one academic semester. Participants were asked about inclusive practices, goal attainment, mentoring experiences and skill development. Thematic analysis was used to analyse data. Four major themes and several subthemes were identified: self-determination (e.g. self-confidence), social development (e.g. social networks), intellectual development (e.g. subject knowledge) and inclusive practices. The results emphasized the value of inclusive PSE for students with ID. Recommendations regarding future practices of inclusive PSE for people with ID are provided.
Shear Stress Modulates the Expression of Thrombospondin-1 and CD36 in Endothelial Cells in vitro and during Shear Stress-Induced Angiogenesis in vivo
Authors: Bongrazio M. , Silva-Azevedo L. DA , Bergmann E.C. , Baum O. , Hinz B. , Pries A.R. , Zakrzewicz A.
Published: April 2018

Binding of thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) to the CD36 receptor inhibits angiogenesis and induces apoptosis in endothelial cells (EC). Conversely, matrix-bound TSP-1 supports vessel formation. In this study we analyzed the shear stress-dependent expression of TSP-1 and CD36 in endothelial cells in vitro and in vivo to reveal its putative role in the blood flow-induced remodelling of vascular networks. Shear stress was applied to EC using a cone-and-plate apparatus and gene expression was analyzed by RT-PCR, Northern and Western blot. Angiogenesis in skeletal muscles of prazosin-fed (50 mg/1 drinking water; 4 d) mice was assessed by measuring capillary-to-fiber (C/F) ratios. Protein expression in whole muscle homogenates (WMH) or BS-1 lectin-enriched EC fractions (ECF) was analyzed by Western blot. Shear stress down-regulated TSP-1 and CD36 expression in vitro in a force- and time-dependent manner sustained for at least 72 h and reversible by restoration of no-flow conditions. In vivo, shear stress-driven increase of C/F in prazosin-fed mice was associated with reduced expression of TSP-1 and CD36 in ECF, while TSP-1 expression in WMH was increased. Down-regulation of endothelial TSP-1/CD36 by shear stress suggests a mechanism for inhibition of apoptosis in perfused vessels and pruning in the absence of flow. The increase of extra-endothelial (e.g. matrix-bound) TSP-1 could support a splitting type of vessel growth.
Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Uveal Melanoma: A Link with Clinical Behavior?
Authors: Staibano S. , Mascolo M. , Tranfa F. , Salvatore G. , Mignogna C. , Bufo P. , Nugnes L. , Bonavolontà G. , De Rosa G.
Published: April 2018

Experimental and clinical evidence indicate that immunological mechanisms might be important in the clinical course of uveal malignant melanoma (UMM). We analyzed the amount and phenotype of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) and the expression of the apoptosis-inducing molecule Fas and its ligand, FasL, on tumor cells and TIL in a selected series of UMM with the aim to establish if a correlation between their expression and the clinical behavior of UMM exists. TIL phenotype and Fas/FasL expression were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 61 cases of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded UMM. Results were compared with the follow-up data of patients. Most of the UMM showed a prevalence of CD8+ CD3+ T lymphocytes, or CD4+ and CD8+ cells in equal amounts. UMM showed a variable expression of FasL, ranging from 0 to > 40% of neoplastic cells. Fas was always expressed in TIL, although with a variable extent. A subgroup of UMM showed in TIL a strongly reduced or even absent expression of TCR ζ-chain, involved in activation of T-lymphocytes. This subgroup was characterized by a worse outcome. We hypothesized that an impaired cytotoxic immune response due to the loss of the ζ-chain expression plays a primary role in the biological course of UMM. Our results indicate that the overcoming of the impairment of TCR function may represent a prerequisite for the development of new therapeutic strategies for managing UMM, suggesting that elimination of tumor cells may be possible by activation of cytotoxic cells present within ocular melanomas.
Association of Compartmental Bone Bruise Distribution With Concomitant Intra-articular and Extra-articular Injuries in Acute Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears After Noncontact Sports Trauma
Authors: Aravindh Palaniswamy , Wu Tianyi , Chan Chloe Xiaoyun , Wong Keng Lin , Krishna Lingaraj
Published: April 2018

Background:

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are frequently associated with bone bruises, and their presence may be associated with concomitant intra- and extra-articular injuries.

Purpose:

To investigate the prevalence and pattern of distribution of bone bruises in patients with acute ACL tears from noncontact sports trauma and their association with specific intra- and extra-articular injuries.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

A total of 168 patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) within 6 weeks of sustaining an ACL tear. Information regarding their demographics as well as MRI evidence of bone bruise patterns and associated injuries was carefully documented. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the association between bone bruises and concomitant intra- and extra-articular injuries seen on MRI.

Results:

Bone bruises were observed in 155 (92.3%) of 168 patients. The prevalence of bone bruises was 83.9%, 78.6%, 56.5%, and 29.8% on the lateral tibial plateau, lateral femoral condyle, medial tibial plateau, and medial femoral condyle, respectively. A total of 110 (65.5%) patients had bone bruises in both the medial and lateral compartments of the knee, 41 (24.4%) had isolated lateral compartment bone bruises, 4 (2.4%) had isolated medial compartment bone bruises, and 13 (7.7%) did not have any bone bruises. None of the demographic factors were significantly associated with the presence or absence of bone bruises. The presence of bone bruises was significantly associated with lateral meniscal injuries ( P = .05). Lateral compartment bone bruises were significantly associated with lateral meniscal injuries ( P = .034), while bone bruises affecting both the lateral and medial compartments were significantly associated with medial collateral ligament (MCL) injuries ( P = .044) and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) injuries ( P = .038) in addition to lateral meniscal injuries ( P = .022).

Conclusion:

Bone bruises are common in patients with acute ACL tears after noncontact sports injuries. The compartmental distribution of bone bruises is associated with concomitant intra- and extra-articular injuries. Bone bruises involving the lateral compartment of the knee are associated with lateral meniscal injuries, while bone bruises involving both the lateral and medial compartments of the knee are associated with MCL and LCL injuries in addition to lateral meniscal injuries.
Understanding Parents’ Experiences and Information Needs on Pediatric Acute Otitis Media: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Meherali Salima , Campbell Alyson , Hartling Lisa , Scott Shannon
Published: April 2018

Background:

Acute otitis media (AOM) is the most common pediatric bacterial ear infection, affecting up to 75% of children younger than 5 years. Despite the high incidence of AOM in children, the condition presents a number of challenges to parents. The objectives of this study were to describe parents’ experiences of taking care of a child with AOM and to identify their information needs to manage their child with AOM.

Methods:

A qualitative, descriptive design was used to gain insight into information needs of parents’ of children with AOM. Participants were recruited from a specialized pediatric emergency department in a major Canadian urban center (Edmonton, Alberta). Individual semi structured interviews were conducted with 16 parents.

Results:

Seven major themes were identified and described: (1) frequency of AOM, (2) symptoms of AOM experienced by children and parents, (3) AOM symptom management strategies used by parents, (4) parent’s beliefs about AOM, (5) parent’s satisfaction with treatment prescribed by physicians, (6) the effect of AOM on family’s quality of life, and (7) parent’s information needs about AOM. Findings indicate that AOM has considerable negative outcomes for both children and families and that parents would benefit from having more evidence-based resources.

Conclusions:

This study provides important information around parents’ experiences and information needs for pediatric AOM. Identifying parents’ information needs and developing innovative and communicatively responsive educational approaches for parents are warranted that reflect patient-centered nursing care.
Injury to the Distal Motor Branch of the Ulnar Nerve From Thumb K-Wire Fixation
Authors: Heyns Mieke , Steve Anna , Hurdle Valerie , Yeung Justin K.
Published: April 2018

We present a complication of trapeziectomy with hematoma distraction arthroplasty for thumb carpometacarpal joint arthritis in a 61-year-old female. Shortly after Kirschner (K)-wire removal at 5.5 weeks post-operatively, the patient noted weakness with thumb adduction. Electromyography and nerve conduction studies done at 3, 5, and 14 months post-operatively showed acute axonal ulnar neuropathy affecting the deep, distal motor branch of the left hand with subsequent partial recovery of function. We postulate that insertion of 1 of the 2 K-wires resulted in a third-degree transection injury to the deep motor branch of the ulnar nerve. To our knowledge, this complication has not been previously reported. We believe it is important for surgeons performing this procedure to be aware of this potential complication as it results in a significant functional disability for the patient.
A discussion on “zhenren” in Chu bamboo and silk manuscripts
Authors: Zhao Ping’an
Published: April 2018

Di Qi is called Di Zhen in “ Tang zai Chimen” from the fifth volume of Tsinghua bamboo slip manuscripts. Di Zhen reminds us of Nü Tian in Chu silk manuscripts, which can be read as Nü Zhen, another name of Nü Wa. The world-creating god Nü Wa is called Nü Zhen because zhen ren seems to have enlarged its scope, from those who preserve their essence, or those who hold the Dao, to the Sage, the Perfect Man, and emperors. Di qi are also referred to as di zhen because they are the gods of earth. Moreover, Nü Zhen in the Chu Silk Manuscript also suggests its tendency to Daoism.
A comparative study of visual fixation of Uygur and Han 5- to 6-year-olds in reading picture books within a Chinese reading context: Evidence from eye movement
Authors: Min Lanbin , Zhou Jing
Published: April 2018

In this study, 80 Uygur children and Han children aged 5 to 6 years within a Chinese reading context were tested by using an SMI portable eye tracker to record their eye movements in picture and text fixation during picture book reading. The findings are as follows. First, Uygur children aged 5 to 6 years primarily focus on pictures in the process of reading picture books. Their level of fixation of key picture information (main characters) is constantly increasing. An important reading characteristic for Uygur children at this age is to understand picture books through capturing key picture information, whereas Han children at this age show signs of shifting from reading the key picture information to overall information processing, such as obtaining information from the picture details, background information, and text information about their relationship with the key pictures. Second, 5- to 6-year-old Uygur children’s fixation on text begins to have elementary development with age, but their text fixation level significantly lags behind Han children, and their fixation of Chinese characters is still in the elementary stage. Third, 5- to 6-year-old Uygur children’s reading direction is potentially affected by their habit of reading their native language, but this age period is also an important stage for the early development of Uygur children’s second language (Chinese).
Finding the Trans Voice: A Review of the Literature on Accommodating Transgender Singers
Authors: Aguirre Ryan
Published: April 2018

Conversations surrounding transgender students are beginning to appear in the nation’s schools. In recent years, experts in the fields of music education and vocal pedagogy have shared their experiences and research on transgender issues in the choral classroom and private lessons. Studies focused on transgender issues in choral music education have yielded inconsistent results. While some have shown music educators to be supportive and accommodating, others have shown a gap in educator knowledge of transgender issues. Vocal pedagogues have had the unique opportunity to work closely with transgender singers one-on-one. Their work is highly transferable to a choral classroom setting. This review of literature synthesizes the work of choral conductors and private voice instructors with the narratives of transgender singers to provide implications for educators and a direction for future research.
Comparison of Printed Concert Programs at ACDA, ASTA, and Midwest Clinic National Conferences
Authors: Freer Patrick K.
Published: April 2018

This short-form article reports a content analysis of all school-based ensemble concert programs distributed at the 2015 national conferences of the American Choral Directors Association, the American String Teachers Association, and the Midwest Clinic. The purpose was to address perceptions that print and design expectations for the concert programs were elaborate and, therefore, beyond the means of schools and organizations with limited financial resources. Programs were analyzed for characteristics such as overall dimensions, number of pages, use of color and photography, letters of administrative or political support, and design intensity. Analysis revealed substantial differences between the aggregate concert programs by conference, as well as between the individually distributed programs. These differences indicate that norms for the three professional conferences afford conductors and sponsoring organizations varying flexibility to design and distribute conference concert programs. Data are examined to suggest opportunities for further flexibility.
Red pulp macrophages in the human spleen are a distinct cell population with a unique expression of Fc-γ receptors
Authors: Nagelkerke Sietse Q. , Bruggeman Christine W. , den Haan Joke M. M. , Mul Erik P. J. , van den Berg Timo K. , van Bruggen Robin , Kuijpers Taco W.
Published: April 2018

Key Points

Human red pulp macrophages are distinct from monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages in the expression of FcγRs and other surface markers. Red pulp macrophages phagocytose IgG-opsonized blood cells by activating FcγRs and are sensitive to IV immunoglobulin blocking
A systematic review of the epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in the United States
Authors: Livorsi Daniel J. , Chorazy Margaret L. , Schweizer Marin L. , Balkenende Erin C. , Blevins Amy E. , Nair Rajeshwari , Samore Matthew H. , Nelson Richard E. , Khader Karim , Perencevich Eli N.
Published: April 2018

Background

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) pose an urgent public health threat in the United States. An important step in planning and monitoring a national response to CRE is understanding its epidemiology and associated outcomes. We conducted a systematic literature review of studies that investigated incidence and outcomes of CRE infection in the US.

Methods

We performed searches in MEDLINE via Ovid, CDSR, DARE, CENTRAL, NHS EED, Scopus, and Web of Science for articles published from 1/1/2000 to 2/1/2016 about the incidence and outcomes of CRE at US sites.

Results

Five studies evaluated incidence, but many used differing definitions for cases. Across the entire US population, the reported incidence of CRE was 0.3–2.93 infections per 100,000 person-years. Infection rates were highest in long-term acute-care (LTAC) hospitals. There was insufficient data to assess trends in infection rates over time. Four studies evaluated outcomes. Mortality was higher in CRE patients in some but not all studies.

Conclusion

While the incidence of CRE infections in the United States remains low on a national level, the incidence is highest in LTACs. Studies assessing outcomes in CRE-infected patients are limited in number, small in size, and have reached conflicting results. Future research should measure a variety of clinical outcomes and adequately adjust for confounders to better assess the full burden of CRE.
Continuous increase of vancomycin resistance in enterococci causing nosocomial infections in Germany − 10 years of surveillance
Authors: Remschmidt Cornelius , Schröder Christin , Behnke Michael , Gastmeier Petra , Geffers Christine , Kramer Tobias Siegfried
Published: April 2018

Background

Enterococci are frequent pathogens causing nosocomial infections in Germany. Infections due to strains with vancomycin resistance are high when compared with other European states. Therefore, the study aimed to describe the recent progression of nosocomial infections due to vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in Germany.

Methods

We analyzed data from two components of the German national nosocomial infection surveillance system for the period 2007–2016. For primary bloodstream infections (BSIs) and urinary tract infections (UTIs) we used data from intensive care units and for surgical site infections (SSIs) data from surgical departments. In a sensitivity analysis, we considered only data from participants that participated continuously from 2007 to 2016 (“core group”). We calculated proportions of VRE among all nosocomial enterococcal infections with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) and trends over time. A multivariable logistic regression was used to compare occurrence of VRE proportions among German federal states.

Results

Enterococcal infections from 857 ICUs and 1119 surgical departments were analyzed. On ICUs, the proportion of vancomycin resistance in enterococci causing nosocomial infections significantly increased for BSIs from 5.9 to 16.7% and for UTIs from 2.9 to 9.9%; for surgical site infections, the proportion of VRE increased from 0.9 to 5.2% (P < 0.001 for all). In the core group, the increase of VRE was more pronounced in ICUs (BSIs: 5.5 to 21.6%; UTIs: 2 to 11.2%) but was not seen in surgical departments (SSIs: 1.5 to 2.8%). Compared with the most populous German federal state North Rhine Westphalia, enterococcal infections in Hesse (Odds Ratio (OR) 2.3, 95% CI 1.7–3.1), Saxony (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.8–3.5) and Thuringia (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.4–2.6) were more likely to be caused by vancomycin-resistant strains.

Conclusion

In Germany, the proportion of VRE in nosocomial infection due to enterococci is still increasing. It remains unclear, why a large variation in the proportion of VRE exists between German federal states.