bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Evaluation of two Years of Clinical Experience with Ketoconazole: Die Auswertung der klinischen Erfahrungen mit Ketoconazol über zwei Jahre
Authors: Török Ibolya , Simon Gy. , Pap Maria
Published: January 2012

Summary: In an open trial, ketoconazole, a new imidazole derivative with broad‐spectrum antifungal activity for oral use, was evaluated in 160 patients with superficial and systemic mycotic infections. The therapeutic efficacy of various daily and total dosages of ketoconazole are discussed. Ketoconazole was well tolerated by the patients. Laboratory values changed rarely and transiently.

The clinical and mycological studies proved that ketoconazole is a highly effective drug for the systemic therapy of mycotic infections.

Zusammenfassung: In einer offenen Studie wurde Ketoconazol, ein neues, oral wirksames Imidazol‐Breitband‐Antimykotikum an 160 Patienten geprüft, die an oberflächlichen oder systemischen Mykosen litten. Die therapeutische Wirksamkeit derverschiedenen täglichen und gesamten Dosen wurde diskutiert. Die Verträglichkeit des Ketoconazol war sehr gut. Die Laborwerte zeigten nur selten und vorübergehend Abweichungen. Klinische und mykologische Untersuchungen haben bewiesen, daß das Ketoconazol ein hochwirksames Mittel in der systemischen Behandlung der mykotischen Infektionen ist.
The Echinulate Conidia of Blastomyces Dermatitidis Gilchrist and Stokes and the Taxonomic Status of this Species: Die stacheligen Konidien von Blastomyces dermatitides Gilchrist und Stokes und der taxonomische Status dieser Art
Authors: Vermeil C. , Bouillard Ch. , Miegeville M. , Morin O. , Marjolet M.
Published: January 2012

Summary: Scanning electron microscopy disclosed echinulate conidia present in all the American and African isolates of B. dermatitidis studied. The echinulate conidia are the basic taxonomic criterion allowing us to put together the genus Histoplasma and the genus Blastomyces.

We think it is possible to integrate the species of these two genera in the sub‐genus Echinulatum. This sub‐genus should be in the genus Chrysosporium according to the idea of Carmichael.

Zusammenfassung: Bei allen untersuchten amerikanischen und afrikanischen Stämmen von Blastomyces dermatitides konnte mit dem Raster‐Elektronenmikroskop die Anwesenheit von stacheligen Konidien festgestellt werden. Die stacheligen Konidien sind das grundlegende taxonomische Kriterium das es erlaubt, die beiden Arten Histoplasma und Blastomyces zusammenzulegen.

Wir halten es für möglich, die Arten dieser beiden Gattungen in der Untergattung Echinulatum zusammenzuführen.

Diese Untergattung sollte der Gattung Chrysosporium entsprechend der Vorstellung von Carmichael.
Intraoperative and postoperative hyponatremia with craniosynostosis surgery
Authors: Hosking Jane , Dowling Kate , Costi David
Published: January 2012

Background:  An alarming incidence of significant intraoperative hyponatremia during major pediatric craniofacial surgery has recently been reported, the mechanism of which is unclear.

Aims:  To establish the incidence and severity of hyponatremia occurring during and after major craniofacial surgery for craniosynostosis in our institution and identify any associated risk factors.

Methods:  Retrospective review of case notes and blood test results for all cases of major craniofacial surgery for craniosynostosis in children under 10 years of age from January 2007 to May 2011. Hyponatremia was classified as: mild 131–134 mmol·l−1; moderate 126–130 mmol·l−1; and, severe ≤125 mmol·l−1. Analyses were performed to look for factors associated with hyponatremia including gender, weight, syndromic or not, duration of procedure, and volumes of crystalloid, colloid and blood administered.

Results:  One hundred and two consecutive cases were identified. Mild intraoperative hyponatremia occurred in five (5%) of children. There were no cases of moderate or severe intraoperative hyponatremia. All five had normal sodium values within two hours of their single low readings of 134 mmol.l−1 and none had any subsequent episodes of hyponatremia in the postoperative period. Intraoperative hyponatremia was associated with lower body weight (P = 0.002). Mild postoperative hyponatremia on the day of surgery (POD0) occurred in three other children (3%) with no identifiable associations. There were no cases of moderate or severe postoperative hyponatremia on POD0. Hyponatremia on the first postoperative day (POD1) was mild in 23 children (24%) and moderate in one child (1%). There were no cases of severe postoperative hyponatremia on POD1. Hyponatraemia on POD1 was associated with male gender (P = 0.042).

Conclusions:  Clinically significant intraoperative hyponatremia was not a feature of major craniofacial surgery in our institution. Mild postoperative hyponatremia was relatively common on POD1.
ALEXIS O‐Ring wound retractor vs conventional wound protection for the prevention of surgical site infections in colorectal resections1
Authors: Cheng K. P. , Roslani A. C. , Sehha N. , Kueh J. H. , Law C. W. , Chong H. Y. , Arumugam K.
Published: January 2012

Aim  Surgical site infection (SSI) remains a common postoperative morbidity, particularly in colorectal resections, and poses a significant financial burden to the healthcare system. The omission of mechanical bowel preparation, as is performed in enhanced recovery after surgery programmes, appears to further increase the incidence. Various wound protection methods have been devised to reduce the incidence of SSIs. However, there are few randomized controlled trials assessing their efficacy. The aim of this study is to investigate whether ALEXIS wound retractors with reinforced O‐rings are superior to conventional wound protection methods in preventing SSIs in colorectal resections.

Methodology  Patients undergoing elective open colorectal resections via a standardized midline laparotomy were prospectively randomized to either ALEXIS or conventional wound protection in a double‐blinded manner. A sample size of 30 in each arm was determined to detect a reduction of SSI from 20% to 1% with a power of 80%. Secondary outcomes included postoperative pain. The operative wound was inspected daily by a specialist wound nurse during admission, and again 30 days postoperatively. Statistical analysis was performed using spss version 13 with P < 0.05 considered significant.

Results  Seventy‐two patients were recruited into the study but eight were excluded. There were no SSIs in the ALEXIS study arm (n = 34) but six superficial incisional SSIs (20%) were diagnosed in the control arm (P = 0.006). Postoperative pain score analysis did not demonstrate any difference between the two groups (P = 0.664).

Conclusion  The ALEXIS wound retractor is more effective in preventing SSI in elective colorectal resections compared with conventional methods.
Ibipinabant attenuates β‐cell loss in male Zucker diabetic fatty rats independently of its effects on body weight
Authors: Rohrbach K. , Thomas M. A. , Glick S. , Fung E. N. , Wang V. , Watson L. , Gregory P. , Antel J. , Pelleymounter M. A.
Published: January 2012

Aim: To test the antidiabetic efficacy of ibipinabant, this new cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) antagonist was compared with food‐restriction‐induced weight loss, rosiglitazone (4 mg/kg) and rimonabant (3 and 10 mg/kg), using parameters of glycaemic control in male Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats.

Methods: Body weight, food and water intake, fasted and non‐fasted glucose and insulin, glucose tolerance and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) were all assessed over the course of the 9‐week study. Pancreatic insulin content and islet area were also evaluated.

Results: At the end of the study, vehicle‐treated ZDF rats were severely hyperglycaemic and showed signs of β‐cell decline, including dramatic reductions in unfasted insulin levels. Ibipinanbant (10 mg/kg) reduced the following relative to vehicle controls: fasting glucose (−61%), glucose excursion area under the curve (AUC) in an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT, −44%) and HbA1c (−50%). Furthermore, non‐fasting insulin, islet area and islet insulin content were all increased (71, 40 and 76%, respectively) relative to vehicle controls by the end of the study. All of these effects were similar to those of rimonabant and rosiglitazone, where ibipinabant was slightly more effective than rimonabant at the lowest dose and somewhat less effective than rosiglitazone at all doses. These antidiabetic effects appear independent of weight loss because none of the parameters above were consistently improved by the comparable weight loss induced by food restriction.

Conclusions: Ibipinabant may have weight loss‐independent antidiabetic effects and may have the potential to attenuate β‐cell loss in a model of progressive β‐cell dysfunction.
Sitagliptin promotes macrophage‐to‐faeces reverse cholesterol transport through reduced intestinal cholesterol absorption in obese insulin resistant CETP‐apoB100 transgenic mice
Authors: Briand F. , Thieblemont Q. , Burcelin R. , Sulpice T.
Published: January 2012

Dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitors (DPP‐4i) improve glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes, but their benefits on reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) remain unknown. We evaluated the effects of DPP‐4i sitagliptin 500 mg/kg/day on RCT in obese insulin‐resistant CETP‐apoB100 transgenic mice. Metformin 300 mg/kg/day orally was used as a reference compound. Both metformin and sitagliptin showed the expected effects on glucose parameters. Although no significant effect was observed on total cholesterol and high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels, sitagliptin, but not metformin, increased faecal cholesterol mass excretion by 132% (p < 0.001 vs. vehicle), suggesting a potent effect on cholesterol metabolism. Mice were then injected i.p. with 3H‐cholesterol labelled macrophages to measure RCT over 48 h. Compared with vehicle, sitagliptin significantly increased macrophage‐derived 3H‐cholesterol faecal excretion by 39%. Administration of 14C‐cholesterol labelled olive oil orally showed a significant reduction of 14C‐tracer plasma appearance over time with sitagliptin, indicating that this drug promotes RCT through reduced intestinal cholesterol absorption.
Broad‐scale ecological implications of ectothermy and endothermy in changing environments
Authors: Buckley Lauren B. , Hurlbert Allen H. , Jetz Walter
Published: January 2012

Aim  Physiology is emerging as a basis for understanding the distribution and diversity of organisms, and ultimately for predicting their responses to climate change. Here we review how the difference in physiology of terrestrial vertebrate ectotherms (amphibians and reptiles) and endotherms (birds and mammals) is expected to influence broad‐scale ecological patterns.

Location  Global terrestrial ecosystems.

Methods  We use data from the literature and modelling to analyse geographic gradients in energy use and thermal limits. We then compare broad‐scale ecological patterns for both groups with expectations stemming from these geographic gradients.

Results  The differences in thermal physiology between ectotherms and endotherms result in geographically disparate macrophysiological constraints. Field metabolic rate (FMR) is stable or decreases slightly with temperature for endotherms, while it generally increases for ectotherms, leading to opposing latitudinal gradients of expected FMR. Potential activity time is a greater constraint on the distributions of ectotherms than endotherms, particularly at high latitudes. Differences in the primary correlates of abundance and species richness for two representative taxonomic groups are consistent with the consequences of these basic physiological differences. Ectotherm richness is better predicted by temperature, whereas endotherm richness is more strongly associated with primary productivity. Finally, in contrast to endotherms, ectotherm richness is not strongly related to abundance.

Main conclusions  Differences in thermal physiology affect how organisms interact with and are constrained by their environment, and may ultimately explain differences in the geographic pattern of biodiversity for endotherms and ectotherms. Linking the fields of physiological and broad‐scale ecology should yield a more mechanistic understanding of how biodiversity will respond to environmental change.
Characterization of yield stress and slip behaviour of skin/hair care gels using steady flow and LAOS measurements and their correlation with sensorial attributes
Authors: Ozkan S. , Gillece T. W. , Senak L. , Moore D. J.
Published: January 2012

Synopsis

Gels made with three different polymers widely used as rheology modifiers in cosmetic formulations (cross‐linked poly(acrylic acid), cross‐linked poly(maleic acid‐alt‐methyl vinyl ether) copolymer and cross‐linked poly(acrylic acid‐co‐vinyl pyrrolidone) copolymer) were characterized by rheological and sensory evaluation methods to determine the relationship between sensorial perception and corresponding rheological parameters. Both conventional rheological characterization methods and a more recent method, Fourier Transform Rheology with Large Amplitude Oscillatory Flow data (LAOS), were utilized to characterize the material with and without wall slip. Sensorial analyses were implemented in vivo to evaluate the perceived ease of initial and rub‐out spreadability, cushion, pick‐up and slipperiness attributes of the gels. Results were statistically analysed by both variance (ANOVA) and principle component analysis (PCA). Sensorial panel testing characteristics discriminated the three materials, and PCA analyses revealed that sensory attributes could be well predicted by rheological methods. Rheological experiments, without wall slip, revealed that gel strength in the linear viscoelastic region (LVR) and yield stress of these materials are similar, but exhibit significantly different wall slip and thixotropy behaviour in the low shear rate region under wall slip conditions. Above the critical shear rate, which corresponds to the yield stress, all tested materials did not slip and behaved as conventional, shear thinning polymeric fluids. In particular, the rheological parameters and sensorial perception of the 1% cross‐linked vinyl pyrrolidone/acrylic acid copolymer were significantly affected by wall slip and/or thixotropy‐related shear banding phenomena.
Using ecological network theory to evaluate the causes and consequences of arbuscular mycorrhizal community structure
Authors: Chagnon Pierre‐Luc , Bradley Robert L. , Klironomos John N.
Published: January 2012

See also the Commentary by Öpik and Moora
The role of magnetic resonance imaging in the follow‐up of children with convulsive status epilepticus
Authors: YOONG MICHAEL , MADARI RODICA , MARTINOS MARINA , CLARK CHRISTOPHER , CHONG KLING , NEVILLE BRIAN , CHIN RICHARD , SCOTT ROD
Published: January 2012

Aim  The aim of this study was to determine the yield of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after an episode of childhood convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) and to identify the clinical predictors of an abnormal brain scan.

Method  Children were recruited following an episode of CSE from an established clinical network in north London. Eighty children (age range 1mo–16y; 39 males; 41 females) were enrolled and seen for clinical assessment and brain MRI within 13 weeks of suffering from an episode of CSE. Scans were reviewed by two neuroradiologists and classified as normal (normal/normal‐variant) or abnormal (minor/major abnormality). Factors predictive of an abnormal scan were investigated using logistic regression.

Results  Eighty children were recruited at a mean of 31.8 days (5–90d) after suffering from CSE. Structural abnormalities were found in 31%. Abnormal neurological examination at assessment (odds ratio [OR] 190.46), CSE that was not a prolonged febrile seizure (OR 77.12), and a continuous rather than an intermittent seizure (OR 29.98) were all predictive of an abnormal scan. No children with previous neuroimaging had new findings that altered their clinical management.

Interpretation  Brain MRI should be considered for all children with a history of CSE who have not previously undergone MRI, especially those with non‐prolonged febrile seizure CSE, those with persisting neurological abnormalities 2 to 13 weeks after CSE, and those with continuous CSE.
Hippocampal expression of myelin‐associated inhibitors is induced with age‐related cognitive decline and correlates with deficits of spatial learning and memory
Authors: VanGuilder Heather D. , Bixler Georgina V. , Sonntag William E. , Freeman Willard M.
Published: January 2012

J. Neurochem. (2012) 121, 77–98.

Impairment of cognitive functions including hippocampus‐dependent spatial learning and memory affects nearly half of the aged population. Age‐related cognitive decline is associated with synaptic dysfunction that occurs in the absence of neuronal cell loss, suggesting that impaired neuronal signaling and plasticity may underlie age‐related deficits of cognitive function. Expression of myelin‐associated inhibitors (MAIs) of synaptic plasticity, including the ligands myelin‐associated glycoprotein, neurite outgrowth inhibitor A, and oligodendrocyte myelin glycoprotein, and their common receptor, Nogo‐66 receptor, was examined in hippocampal synaptosomes and Cornu ammonis area (CA)1, CA3 and dentate gyrus subregions derived from adult (12–13 months) and aged (26–28 months) Fischer 344 × Brown Norway rats. Rats were behaviorally phenotyped by Morris water maze testing and classified as aged cognitively intact (n = 7–8) or aged cognitively impaired (n = 7–10) relative to adults (n = 5–7). MAI protein expression was induced in cognitively impaired, but not cognitively intact, aged rats and correlated with cognitive performance in individual rats. Immunohistochemical experiments demonstrated that up‐regulation of MAIs occurs, in part, in hippocampal neuronal axons and somata. While a number of pathways and processes are altered with brain aging, we report a coordinated induction of myelin‐associated inhibitors of functional and structural plasticity only in cognitively impaired aged rats. Induction of MAIs may decrease stimulus‐induced synaptic strengthening and structural remodeling, ultimately impairing synaptic mechanisms of spatial learning and memory and resulting in cognitive decline.
A comparison of the reliability of dynamic retinoscopy and subjective measurements of amplitude of accommodation
Authors: León Alejandro Álvarez , Medrano Sandra Milena , Rosenfield Mark
Published: January 2012

Citation information: León AÁ, Medrano SM & Rosenfield M. A comparison of the reliability of dynamic retinoscopy and subjective measurements of amplitude of accommodation. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt 2012, 32, 133–141. doi: 10.1111/j.1475‐1313.2012.00891.x

Purpose:  Dynamic retinoscopy (DR) is an objective technique for assessing maximum accommodative responsivity. The present study examined the test‐retest reliability of this procedure when measuring the amplitude of accommodation (AA).

Methods:  In the first trial, the within‐session repeatability of the AA was measured in 79 subjects between 18 and 30 years of age using DR and two subjective procedures, namely the modified push‐down (MPD) and minus lens (ML) techniques. Data were collected by two different examiners. In a second trial, the inter‐session repeatability of the AA was assessed in 76 subjects by a single evaluator with a time interval of 7 days between the first and second sessions. The repeatability, reproducibility and agreement between the methods were determined using the mean difference, 95% limits of agreement, intraclass correlation coefficient and concordance correlation coefficient.

Results:  DR showed the lowest mean value of AA in each trial (average for the two trials = 7.44 D) while the equivalent mean values for the MPD and ML techniques were 9.84 and 9.43 D, respectively. Further, DR showed the best repeatability in both the repeatability trials and poorer inter‐examiner agreement was observed for the MPD and ML procedures. The concordance correlation coefficient for DR−MPD, DR−ML and MPD−ML procedures were 0.32, 0.33 and 0.62, respectively for the within‐session trial and 0.31, 0.36 and 0.76, respectively for the inter‐session trial.

Conclusion:  The DR technique provides a more veridical measurement of the AA because it avoids the overestimation resulting from the depth‐of‐field. Moreover, the DR technique exhibited higher reproducibility, when compared with subjective methods. These differences may be important when evaluating accommodative dysfunctions or monitoring accommodative therapy. The fact that the DR procedure can be performed using standard clinical equipment makes this a valuable technique both for vision screening programs and routine eye care.
Study of the removal of a disperse dye stain from a polyester/elastane blend
Authors: Suwanruji Potjanart , Chuaybamrung Lanlalit , Suesat Jantip , Hannongbua Supa , Taylor John A , Phillips Duncan A S
Published: January 2012

Polyethylene terephthalate and elastane fabrics were treated with azo disperse dyes in the same dyebath at 130 °C for 0, 30 and 60 min and then reduction cleared. The dyes adsorbed on each fabric were extracted using monochlorobenzene, in order to determine the amount of disperse dye in each of the polyethylene terephthalate and elastane fabrics, as the dyeing time was increased. It was observed that the amount of dye on the polyethylene terephthalate increased, while that on the elastane decreased, as the time at 130 °C increased from 0 to 60 min. After reduction clearing, the partition ratio of disperse dyes between the polyethylene terephthalate and the elastane increased. The dyed polyethylene terephthalate/elastane blend indicated that those dyes, which exhibited high partition ratios (polyethylene terephthalate:elastane), exhibited correspondingly higher wet fastness properties.
Novel yellow azo–anthraquinone dyes for polylactide fibres: effects of alkyl chain length
Authors: Lu Lihua , He Liang , Zhang Shufen , Freeman Harold S
Published: January 2012

1‐(4′‐Alkylaminosulphurylphenyl)‐3‐methyl‐5‐pyrazolonyl azo–anthraquinone dyes were prepared in four steps from 1‐aminoanthraquinone, as an approach to enhancing the exhaustion levels of disperse dyes on polylactide fibres. Their structures were confirmed from combustion analysis and mass spectrometry, infrared and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Results from artificial intelligence‐based molecular modelling studies showed that increasing alkyl chain length gave an increase in LogP, molecular volume and aplanar shape. Their application to polylactide fibres led to both good per cent exhaustion values and good light fastness ratings. It was also found that the nature of the alkyl chains attached to the phenyl ring had little influence on dye colour, but clearly influenced per cent exhaustion and wash fastness.
Influence of Habitat Quality, Population Size, Patch Size, and Connectivity on Patch‐Occupancy Dynamics of the Middle Spotted Woodpecker
Authors: ROBLES HUGO , CIUDAD CARLOS
Published: January 2012

Abstract: Despite extensive research on the effects of habitat fragmentation, the ecological mechanisms underlying colonization and extinction processes are poorly known, but knowledge of these mechanisms is essential to understanding the distribution and persistence of populations in fragmented habitats. We examined these mechanisms through multiseason occupancy models that elucidated patch‐occupancy dynamics of Middle Spotted Woodpeckers (Dendrocopos medius) in northwestern Spain. The number of occupied patches was relatively stable from 2000 to 2010 (15–24% of 101 patches occupied every year) because extinction was balanced by recolonization. Larger and higher quality patches (i.e., higher density of oaks >37 cm dbh [diameter at breast height]) were more likely to be occupied. Habitat quality (i.e., density of large oaks) explained more variation in patch colonization and extinction than did patch size and connectivity, which were both weakly associated with probabilities of turnover. Patches of higher quality were more likely to be colonized than patches of lower quality. Populations in high‐quality patches were less likely to become extinct. In addition, extinction in a patch was strongly associated with local population size but not with patch size, which means the latter may not be a good surrogate of population size in assessments of extinction probability. Our results suggest that habitat quality may be a primary driver of patch‐occupancy dynamics and may increase the accuracy of models of population survival. We encourage comparisons of competing models that assess occupancy, colonization, and extinction probabilities in a single analytical framework (e.g., dynamic occupancy models) so as to shed light on the association of habitat quality and patch geometry with colonization and extinction processes in different settings and species.
Carbon Footprint Assessment of a Paperback Book
Authors: Wells Jean‐Robert , Boucher Jean‐François , Laurent Achille‐Benjamin , Villeneuve Claude
Published: January 2012

This study presents the carbon footprint of a paperback book for which the cover and inside papers were produced in the United States and printed in Canada. The choice of paper mills for both cover and page papers was based on criteria such as percentage of recycled content in the pulp mix, transport distances (pulp mill to paper mill, paper mill to print), and technologies. The cradle‐to‐gate assessment of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions follows recognized guidelines for carbon footprint assessment. The results show that the production of 400,000 books, mainly distributed in North America, would generate 1,084 tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2‐eq), or 2.71 kilograms (kg) CO2‐eq per book. The impact of using deinked market pulp (DMP) is shown here to be detrimental, accounting for 54% of total GHG emissions and being 32% higher than reference virgin Kraft pulp. This supports findings that DMP mill GHG emissions strongly correlate with the carbon intensity of the power grid supplying the pulp mill and that virgin Kraft mills that reuse wood residue and black liquor to produce heat and electricity can achieve lower GHG emissions per tonne of pulp produced. Although contrary to common thinking, this is consistent with the Paper Task Force 2002 conclusion for office paper (the closest paper grade to writing paper or fine paper) (EDF 2002a). To get a cradle‐to‐grave perspective, three different end‐of‐life (EOL) scenarios were analyzed, all of which included a harvested wood product (HWP) carbon storage benefit for 25 years. The GHG offset concept within the context of the book editor's “carbon‐neutral” paper claims is also discussed.
Human Health Impact as a Boundary Selection Criterion in the Life Cycle Assessment of Pultruded Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composite Materials
Authors: Basbagill John P. , Lepech Michael D. , Ali Subhan M.
Published: January 2012

The human health impact of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials manufactured by the pultrusion industry is not fully understood. In particular, it is unclear whether the human health impact of toxic chemicals present in low concentrations in fire retardant pultruded FRP materials is disproportionately high. This impact may be an important criterion when making boundary selection decisions in the life cycle assessment (LCA) of these materials. The North American pultrusion industry was surveyed to determine resin mix concentration levels and workplace inhalation toxicity exposure levels. LCAs were then conducted on three building panel resin mixes to determine whether the human health impact of toxic chemicals used in the mixes was low enough to exclude the chemicals from the life cycle inventory (LCI) boundary. The first resin mix represented a typical pultruded product, the second mix removed toxic chemicals present in small concentrations, and the third mix replaced toxic chemicals present in small concentrations with a nontoxic chemical. Results showed that toxicity levels fell below exposure limits and no significant difference in human health impact existed among the LCAs. The research concludes that human health impact is a useful criterion when defining an LCI boundary. Toxic chemicals present in small concentrations in pultruded FRP materials may be excluded from the LCI boundary, as their human health impacts are low. Because these levels are marginal in North American pultrusion factories, no changes in resin mixes are recommended for the pultrusion industry.
Community and Individual Factors Associated With Cigarette Smoking Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men
Authors: Holloway Ian W. , Traube Dorian E. , Rice Eric , Schrager Sheree M. , Palinkas Lawrence A. , Richardson Jean , Kipke Michele D.
Published: January 2012

Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) have higher rates of cigarette smoking than their heterosexual counterparts, yet few studies have examined factors associated with cigarette smoking among YMSM. The present study sought to understand how different types of gay community connection (i.e., gay community identification and involvement, gay bar or club attendance) were associated with smoking among YMSM recruited through venue‐based sampling in Los Angeles, California (N = 526). Structural equation modeling was used to isolate direct and indirect effects of gay community connection on smoking through cognitive and psychological mediators (i.e., psychological distress, health values, internalized homophobia). Findings indicate YMSM cigarette smoking prevention and intervention must be tailored to address the direct and indirect influences of the gay community.
Testing Islam's Political Advantage: Evidence from Indonesia
Authors: Pepinsky Thomas B. , Liddle R. William , Mujani Saiful
Published: January 2012

Across the Muslim world, Islamic political parties and social organizations have capitalized upon economic grievances to win votes and popular support. But existing research has been unable to disentangle the role of Islamic party ideology from programmatic economic appeals and social services in explaining these parties' popular support. We argue that Islamic party platforms function as informational shortcuts to Muslim voters, and only confer a political advantage when voters are uncertain about parties' economic policies. Using a series of experiments embedded in an original nationwide survey in Indonesia, we find that Islamic parties are systematically more popular than otherwise identical non‐Islamic parties only under cases of economic policy uncertainty. When respondents know economic policy platforms, Islamic parties never have an advantage over non‐Islamic parties. Our findings demonstrate that Islam's political advantage is real, but critically circumscribed by parties' economic platforms and voters' knowledge of them.
Blood Pressure Variability as Sign of Autonomic Imbalance in Patients with Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Authors: VOSS ANDREAS , GOERNIG MATTHIAS , SCHROEDER RICO , TRUEBNER SANDRA , SCHIRDEWAN ALEXANDER , FIGULLA HANS R.
Published: January 2012

Background:
 The problem of identifying idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) patients who are at risk of sudden death is still unsolved. The presence of autonomic imbalance in patients with IDC might predict sudden death and tachyarrhythmic events. The aim of this study was to analyze the suitability of blood pressure variability (BPV) compared to heart rate variability (HRV) for noninvasive risk stratification in IDC patients.

Methods:
 Continuous noninvasive blood pressure and high‐resolution electrocardiogram were recorded from 91 IDC patients for 30 minutes. During a median follow‐up period of 28 months (range: [17–38] months), 14 patients died due to sudden death or necessary resuscitation due to a life‐threatening arrhythmia. HRV and BPV analyses were performed in time domain, frequency domain, and nonlinear dynamics. Using the Mann‐Whitney U test and Cox regression, we estimated the accuracy of clinical and nonclinical parameters in discriminating high‐risk from low‐risk patients.

Results:
 Dynamics of blood pressure regulation was significantly changed in high‐risk patients, indicating an increased BPV. BPV indexes from nonlinear symbolic dynamics revealed significant univariate (sensitivity: 85.7%; specificity 77.9%; area under receiver‐operator characteristics [ROC] curve: 87.8%) differences. In an optimum multivariate set consisting of two clinical indexes (left ventricular end‐diastolic diameter, New York Heart Association) and one nonlinear index (symbolic dynamics), highly significant differences between low‐ and high‐risk IDC groups were estimated (sensitivity of 92.9%, specificity of 86.5%, and area under ROC curve of 95.3%).

Conclusion:
 Diastolic BPV indexes, especially those from symbolic dynamics, appear to be useful for risk stratification of sudden death in patients with IDC. PACE 2012; 35:471–479)
Nano‐Bonded Wide Temperature Range Designed Refractory Castables
Authors: Braulio Mariana A. L. , Morbioli Guilherme G. , Medeiros Jorivaldo , Gallo Jorge B. , Pandolfelli Victor C.
Published: January 2012

Designing high‐performance refractory castables for aluminum and petrochemical applications is not a straightforward target as at their operation temperature range (800°C–1250°C) usual refractory binders show low‐bonding effectiveness and also low sinterability. Taking this into account, colloidal binders can anticipate the castable's densification and inhibit the drawbacks regarding the calcium aluminate hydrates’ decomposition, as the former does not present the typical hydraulic setting of traditional binders. To attain even better results, sintering additives can be incorporated to induce lower temperature densification. Nevertheless, the key issue is to select a suitable additive that is able to generate a transient liquid, leading to densification but with no refractoriness drawbacks, such as low‐hot mechanical properties. Considering these aspects, the objective of this work was to design a novel refractory material able to display a high performance within a wide temperature range. High erosion, hot mechanical and thermal shock resistances were attained pointing out an outstanding potential to increase the refractory lining working life of aluminum and petrochemical equipment units.
Individual Differences in (Non‐Visual) Processing Style Predict the Face Inversion Effect
Authors: Wyer Natalie A. , Martin Douglas , Pickup Tracey , Neil Macrae C.
Published: January 2012

Recent research suggests that individuals with relatively weak global precedence (i.e., a smaller propensity to view visual stimuli in a configural manner) show a reduced face inversion effect (FIE). Coupled with such findings, a number of recent studies have demonstrated links between an advantage for feature‐based processing and the presentation of traits associated with autism among the general population. The present study sought to bridge these findings by investigating whether a relationship exists between the possession of autism‐associated traits (i.e., as indicated by individuals’“autism quotient” [(AQ) and the size of the FIE. Participants completed an on‐line study in which the AQ was measured prior to a standard face recognition task where half of the faces were inverted at test. The results confirmed that higher AQ levels were predictive of smaller FIEs. Implications for a common underlying factor relating to processing orientation are discussed.
Exploring the Robustness of Cross‐Situational Learning Under Zipfian Distributions
Authors: Vogt Paul
Published: January 2012

Cross‐situational learning has recently gained attention as a plausible candidate for the mechanism that underlies the learning of word‐meaning mappings. In a recent study, Blythe and colleagues have studied how many trials are theoretically required to learn a human‐sized lexicon using cross‐situational learning. They show that the level of referential uncertainty exposed to learners could be relatively large. However, one of the assumptions they made in designing their mathematical model is questionable. Although they rightfully assumed that words are distributed according to Zipf's law, they applied a uniform distribution of meanings. In this article, Zipf's law is also applied to the distribution of meanings, and it is shown that under this condition, cross‐situational learning can only be plausible when referential uncertainty is sufficiently small. It is concluded that cross‐situational learning is a plausible learning mechanism but needs to be guided by heuristics that aid word learners with reducing referential uncertainty.
Postmortem Detection of Isopropanol in Ketoacidosis
Authors: Petersen Thomas H. , Williams Timothy , Nuwayhid Naziha , Harruff Richard
Published: January 2012

Abstract:  Isopropanol (IPA) detected in deaths because of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) or alcoholic ketoacidosis (AKA) may cause concern for IPA poisoning. This study addressed this concern in a 15‐year retrospective review of 260 deaths in which concentrations of acetone and IPA, as well as their ratios, were compared in DKA (175 cases), AKA (79 cases), and IPA intoxication (six cases). The results demonstrated the frequency of detecting IPA in ketoacidosis when there was no evidence of IPA ingestion. IPA was detectable in 77% of DKA cases with quantifiable concentrations averaging 15.1 ± 13.0 mg/dL; 52% of AKA cases with quantifiable concentrations averaging 18.5 ± 22.1 mg/dL; and in cases of IPA intoxication, averaging 326 ± 260 mg/dL. There was weak correlation of IPA production with postmortem interval in DKA only (r = −0.48). Although IPA concentrations were much higher with ingestion, potentially toxic concentrations were achievable in DKA without known ingestion.
Probing the polygenic basis of cardiomyopathies in Drosophila
Authors: Qian Li , Bodmer Rolf
Published: January 2012

Introduction

Arrhythmia and cardiomyopathy models in Drosophila

Congenital heart disease genes tinman/Nkx2‐5, neuromancer/TBX20 and pannier/GATA4 also function in maintaining adult heart function

A new cardiac pathway from tinman to Cdc42 via miR‐1: the Drosophila heart model as a tool to systematically probe for new heart disease gene candidates

In trying to understand the causes for congenital heart disease and cardiomyopathies, it is difficult to study polygenic interactions that contribute to the severity of the disease, which is in part due to genetic complexity and generation time of higher organisms that hinder efficient screening for modifiers of primary causes of heart disease. The adult Drosophila heart has recently been established as a model to probe genetic interactions that lead to cardiac dysfunction in this genetically simple and short‐lived organism. This has made it possible to systematically and efficiently screen for polygenic modulators of heart dysfunction inflicted by known heart disease genes. As heart development and fundamental aspects of cardiac physiology show remarkable evolutionary conservation, it has become possible to uncover new heart disease candidates by using Drosophila genetic tools in combination with sensitive heart function assays. Here, we review the discovery of several new genes, genetic pathways, and interactions that will help understand human heart disease. For example, interactions between cardiogenic transcription factors, discovered in Drosophila, are also critical for adult heart function in flies and mammals. These include interactions between tinman/Nkx2‐5 and neuromancer/Tbx20, which led to the discovery of possibly disease‐causing familial variants in human TBX20. A new genetic pathway from tinman/Nkx2‐5 to Cdc42, involving the microRNA
miR‐1, was recently discovered in flies and subsequently validated to function similarly in mouse heart. Thus, the fly heart has proven to be a useful discovery tool for screening genetic interactions that are otherwise difficult to conduct.
The antecedents of violence and aggression within psychiatric in‐patient settings
Authors: Papadopoulos C. , Ross J. , Stewart D. , Dack C. , James K. , Bowers L.
Published: January 2012

Papadopoulos C, Ross J, Stewart D, Dack C, James K, Bowers L. The antecedents of violence and aggression within psychiatric in‐patient settings.

Objective:  To systematically review the types and proportions of antecedents of violence and aggression within psychiatric in‐patient settings.

Method:  Empirical articles and reports with primary data pertaining to violence and aggression within adult psychiatric in‐patient settings were retrieved. For each study, prospective antecedent data were extracted. The extracted antecedent data were thematically analysed, and all higher‐level themes were meta‐analysed using rate data.

Results:  Seventy‐one studies met the inclusion criteria, from which 59 distinct antecedent themes were identified and organised into nine higher‐level themes. The higher‐level antecedent theme ‘staff–patient interaction’ was the most frequent type of antecedent overall, precipitating an estimated 39% of all violent/aggressive incidents. An examination of the staff–patient interaction themes revealed that limiting patients freedoms, by either placing some sort of restriction or denying a patient request, was the most frequent precursor of incidents, accounting for an estimated 25% of all antecedents. The higher‐level themes ‘patient behavioural cues’ and ‘no clear cause’ also produced other large estimates and were attributed to 38% and 33% of incidents overall.

Conclusion:  This review underscores the influence that staff have in making in‐patient psychiatric wards safe and efficacious environments.
c‐Src expression is predictive of poor prognosis in breast cancer patients with bone metastasis, but not in patients with visceral metastasis
Authors: ZHANG LINGYUN , TENG YUEE , ZHANG YE , LIU JING , XU LING , QU JINGLEI , HOU KEZUO , YANG XIANGHONG , LIU YUNPENG , QU XIUJUAN
Published: January 2012

Zhang L, Teng Y, Zhang Y, Liu J, Xu L, Qu J, Hou K, Yang X, Liu Y, Qu X. c‐Src expression is predictive of poor prognosis in breast cancer patients with bone metastasis but not in patients with visceral metastasis. APMIS 2012; 120: 549–57.

c‐Src expression is critical for breast cancer progression and it is particularly important for bone metastasis. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of c‐Src on prognosis in metastatic breast cancer patients, and to conduct subgroup analysis to explore the role of c‐Src in bone metastasis and visceral metastasis respectively. We analyzed a total of 102 paraffin‐embedded primary tumor tissue sections from metastatic breast cancer patients using immunohistochemical staining for c‐Src, including 61 patients with bone metastases. Clinical data were collected retrospectively. We utilized survival analysis and the Cox proportional hazards model to explore the prognostic value of c‐Src expression in metastatic breast cancer. The c‐Src expression rate was 54.9% in the 102 metastatic breast cancer patients. Patients who exhibited c‐Src expression demonstrated poor progression‐free survival (PFS) (p = 0.044) and disease‐specific survival (DSS) (p = 0.017). Subgroup analysis demonstrated that c‐Src positive patients exhibited significantly worse bone metastasis‐free survival (p = 0.027) and DSS (p = 0.024), whereas in patients with non‐bone metastasis no significant difference was observed in PFS (p = 0.819) and DSS (p = 0.381). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that c‐Src expression was an independent predictor of DSS for patients with bone metastasis. Our findings demonstrate that c‐Src expression is a potential independent predictor of poor prognosis in breast cancer patients with bone metastasis.
Periostin, a matricellular protein, accelerates cutaneous wound repair by activating dermal fibroblasts
Authors: Ontsuka Kanako , Kotobuki Yorihisa , Shiraishi Hiroshi , Serada Satoshi , Ohta Shoichiro , Tanemura Atsushi , Yang Lingli , Fujimoto Minoru , Arima Kazuhiko , Suzuki Shoichi , Murota Hiroyuki , Toda Shuji , Kudo Akira , Conway Simon J. , Narisawa Yutaka , Katayama Ichiro , Izuhara Kenji , Naka Tetsuji
Published: January 2012

Abstract:  Cutaneous wound repair is a highly ordered and well‐coordinated process involving various cell lineages and many molecular effectors. Cell–matrix interactions through integrin molecules provide key signals important for wound repair. Periostin is a matricellular protein that may provide signals important during tissue development and remodelling by interacting with several integrin molecules, via the phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase/Akt and MAP kinase pathways. In this study, we examined the role of periostin in the process of cutaneous wound repair using periostin‐deficient mice and by analysing the effects of periostin on dermal fibroblasts. We first determined the expression profile and localization of periostin in a well‐characterized wound repair model mice. Periostin was robustly deposited in the granulation tissues beneath the extended epidermal wound edges and at the dermal–epidermal junctions in wounded mice. Moreover, periostin‐deficient mice exhibited delayed in vivo wound repair, which could be improved by direct administration of exogenous periostin. In vitro analyses revealed that loss of periostin impaired proliferation and migration of dermal fibroblasts, but exogenous supplementation or enforced periostin expression enhanced their proliferation. Combined, these results demonstrate that periostin accelerates the process of cutaneous wound repair by activating fibroblasts.
Determinants of species evenness in a neotropical bat ensemble
Authors: Estrada‐Villegas Sergio , McGill Brian J. , Kalko Elisabeth K. V.
Published: January 2012

Evenness is an important property of communities. Species richness alone does not capture the fact that one or a few species may dominate total abundance and biomass of a community. This in turn has important consequences for ecosystem functioning and species interactions. Evenness has been observed to vary systematically along environmental and productivity gradients. However, a truly general theory about which factors control evenness in a community has yet to emerge. Prior research on evenness has suggested that high richness, biomass and abundance should lead to lower community evenness in our study system of bats in Panama. However, only few empirical studies examine the simultaneous effects of species richness, biomass or abundance on evenness. For the first time, we applied path analysis in the study of evenness to tease apart the relative importance and direction (positive or negative) of causality among these three factors. As predicted, we found that evenness decreases with increasing species richness, abundance and biomass. The negative effect of abundance was mediated by the positive joint effect of biomass and richness. The selected models varied in the strength of the correlation between the three variables with evenness but their direction was consistent. Overall, we argue that rarity, high mobility and differences in resource availability at sites with lower environmental stress can explain the negative effects of richness on evenness.