bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Raltegravir‐emtricitabine‐tenofovir as HIV nonoccupational post‐exposure prophylaxis in men who have sex with men: safety, tolerability and adherence
Authors: McAllister J , Read P , McNulty A , Tong WWY , Ingersoll A , Carr A
Published: September 2013

Objectives

Three‐drug nonoccupational post‐exposure prophylaxis (NPEP) typically includes co‐formulated emtricitabine‐tenofovir (FTC‐TDF) and a protease inhibitor. However, protease inhibitors can cause significant toxicities, can interact with prescribed and illicit drugs, and work late in the viral cycle. Agents that act before viral integration into host DNA may have efficacy advantages. Raltegravir (RAL) is a good candidate for NPEP as it has few side effects or drug interactions and acts prior to HIV integration. The objective of this study was to investigate the use of RAL in 3‐drug NPEP in terms of safety, adherence and tolerability.

Methods

We evaluated 28 days of RAL‐FTC‐TDF treatment in 86 men and FTC‐TDF treatment in 34 men eligible for three‐ and two‐drug NPEP, respectively. We assessed adherence (compared between groups and with nonstudy controls) and clinical and adverse events at weeks 1, 2 and 4, and efficacy at week 12. Analyses were by intention to treat, excluding from the adherence analysis subjects who ceased NPEP because their source was HIV‐uninfected.

Results

No participant became infected with HIV. For RAL‐FTC‐TDF and FTC‐TDF, regimen completion rates were 92% and 91% and medication adherence rates were 89% and 90%, respectively. Eight (9%) RAL recipients developed mild myalgias, with four developing transient grade 4 elevations in creatine kinase (two developed both), all of which improved to grade 2 or less by week 4 without RAL discontinuation. Eight prescribed and 37 potential illicit drug interactions with a protease inhibitor were avoided by use of RAL.

Conclusions

RAL‐FTC‐TDF is well tolerated as NPEP, results in high levels of adherence and avoids potential drug−drug interactions. Patients and clinicians should be aware of the potential for acute muscle toxicity when RAL is used as NPEP.
Anal intraepithelial neoplasia and squamous cell carcinoma in HIV‐infected adults
Authors: Tong WWY , Hillman RJ , Kelleher AD , Grulich AE , Carr A
Published: September 2013

Anal cancer is one of the most common non‐AIDS‐defining malignancies in the era of combination antiretroviral therapy. Its precursor lesion, anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN), is highly prevalent in HIV‐infected populations. More than 90% of anal squamous cell cancers are attributable to human papillomavirus (HPV). While the biology of HPV‐related intraepithelial neoplasia is consistent across lower anogenital sites, the natural history of AIN is not well established and cannot be assumed to be identical to that of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Screening strategies to prevent anal cancer should be developed based on robust natural history data in HIV‐infected and uninfected populations. Likewise, treatments need to be tested in randomized clinical trials, and reserved for those at significant risk of progression to cancer. This review covers the epidemiology, pathogenesis and immunology of HPV infection, AIN and anal cancer, and summarizes the current diagnosis, screening and treatment strategies in HIV‐infected adults.
Field margins: a comparison of establishment methods and effects on hymenopteran parasitoid communities
Authors: Ó hUallacháin Daire , Anderson Annette , Fritch Rochelle , McCormack Stephen , Sheridan Helen , Finn John A.
Published: September 2013

Field margins within intensively managed ecosystems are often seen as a last refuge for biodiversity, and are typically targeted with measures within many agri‐environment schemes. Grassland accounts for 81 million ha of land within the EU; however, the ecology of field margins associated with permanent grassland has not been well studied.

This study investigated the effects of experimental field margin measures on hymenopteran parasitoid communities over a 5‐year period. Hymenopteran parasitoids were chosen because they occupy high trophic levels, feed on a diverse range of plant and invertebrate hosts, and are considered good indicators of arthropod diversity. Establishment methods included: fencing, natural regeneration, and reseeding with a wildflower mixture, at three margin widths.

Field margin establishment method had a significant effect on abundance of parasitoids. Establishment method did not have a significant effect on parasitoid genera diversity, but did affect parasitoid community composition. Margin width had no significant impact on parasitoid communities.

Grazing had a significant negative effect on parasitoid genus richness and community structure. This suggests that structural diversity of vegetation plays an important role in parasitoid community structure.

Plant species richness did not significantly affect parasitoid abundance or genera richness. Noxious species within plots resulted in a significantly greater abundance and diversity of parasitoids and of idiobionts in particular.

Where plant species richness is limited, simple measures such as fencing of narrow field margins may be as effective at increasing parasitoid taxon richness and abundance (indicators of arthropod richness and abundance) as expensive measures such as reseeding and wider margin widths.
Effects of tomato pulp addition on the extrudate quality parameters and effects of extrusion on the functional parameters of the extrudates
Authors: Caltinoglu Cagla , Tonyalı Bade , Sensoy Ilkay
Published: September 2013

Effects of addition of tomato pulp on the quality parameters of the extrudates, and effects of extrusion on the functional properties of the extrudates were investigated. Bulk density, volume expansion index, longitudinal expansion index and porosity did not indicate a significant difference between the extrudates with or without tomato pulp. Sectional expansion index showed a slight increase with pulp addition. Textural analysis indicated that hardness and fracturability of the extrudates with or without pulp did not show a significant difference. DPPH (2, 2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity test indicated that antioxidant activity of tomato pulp added extrudates decreased from 16.71 ± 0.42 to 12.84 ± 0.36 μmol Trolox equivalent/g dry weight after extrusion. Total phenol content decreased from 15.37 ± 0.09 to 7.49 ± 0.11 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry weight after extrusion process. The results suggest that tomato pulp can successfully be added as a functional ingredient to develop new functional extruded food products.
Properties of an Infrared‐Transparent MgO:Y2O3 Nanocomposite
Authors: Harris Daniel C. , Cambrea Lee R. , Johnson Linda F. , Seaver Robert T. , Baronowski Meghan , Gentilman Richard , Scott Nordahl C. , Gattuso Todd , Silberstein Stephanie , Rogan Patrick , Hartnett Thomas , Zelinski Brian , Sunne Wayne , Fest Eric , Howard Poisl W. , Willingham Charles B. , Turri Giorgio , Warren Cori , Bass Michael , Zelmon David E. , Goodrich Steven M.
Published: September 2013

A 50:50 vol% MgO–Y2O3 nanocomposite with ~150 nm grain size was prepared in an attempt to make 3–5 μm infrared‐transmitting windows with increased durability and thermal shock resistance. Flexure strength of the composite at 21°C is 679 MPa for 0.88 cm2 under load. Hardness is consistent with that of the constituents with similar grain size. For 3‐mm‐thick material at 4.85 μm, the total scatter loss is 1.5%, forward scatter is 0.2%, and absorptance is 1.8%. Optical scatter below 2 μm is 100%. Variable intensity OH absorption (~6% absorptance) is observed near 3 μm. The refractive index is ~0.4% below the volume‐fraction‐weighted average of those of the constituents. Thermal expansion is equal to the volume‐fraction‐weighted average of expansion of the constituents. Specific heat capacity is equal to the mass‐fraction‐weighted average of heat capacities of the constituents. Thermal conductivity lies between those of the constituents up to 1200 K. Elastic constants lie between those of the constituents. The Hasselman mild thermal shock resistance parameter for the composite is twice as great as that of common 3–5 μm window materials, but half as great as that of c‐plane sapphire.
Defining Borders and People in the Borderlands: EU Policies, Israeli Prerogatives and the Palestinians
Authors: Del Sarto Raffaella A.
Published: September 2013

This article investigates the rules and practices pertaining to visa regimes and the crossing of borders across the European Union, Israel and the Palestinian territories. Their consideration as three interlinked entities rests on the high degree of EU–Israeli interdependence, the EU's deep involvement in the Palestinian territories and Israel's control over the latter. The article evidences the existence of variegated borders regimes applying to different categories of Israelis, Palestinians and EU citizens, together with Israel's outstanding prerogatives in defining these practices. The analysis suggests conceptualizing the space comprising the EU and Israel/Palestine as overlapping borderlands, with Israel and the territories emerging as a single, yet highly fragmented, space in which borders are alternative expressions of power relations in protracted conflicts. With the EU being drawn into prevailing conflict dynamics, the type and extent of EU–Israeli–Palestinian interconnectedness thus undermine the coherent implementation of Brussels’ mainly bilateral policies towards Israel and the territories.
Failure to engage the public in issues related to inland fishes and fisheries: strategies for building public and political will to promote meaningful conservationa
Authors: Cooke S. J. , Lapointe N. W. R. , Martins E. G. , Thiem J. D. , Raby G. D. , Taylor M. K. , Beard T. D. , Cowx I. G.
Published: September 2013

Generating awareness of environmental conservation issues among the public is essential if there is an expectation of them to alter their behaviour, facilitate informed decisions and engage governments or regulatory authorities to take action. There are, however, exceedingly few public engagement success stories related to inland fishes and fisheries policy and resource allocation decisions. Inland aquatic resources and their associated fisheries provide employment, recreation, culture and, in developing regions, a considerable proportion of human nutrition and food security. Freshwater fishes are incredibly diverse but are among the most endangered organisms globally. Many threats to inland fisheries are driven largely by externalities to inland fisheries. The purpose of this paper is to draw attention to the role and plight of inland fishes and fisheries, and the need to generate the public and political will necessary to promote meaningful conservation. With this paper, the extent to which the scientific and environmental management communities have failed to engage the public in issues related to inland fishes and fisheries is characterized. Next, the barriers or factors that serve as the basis for the problem with public engagement are identified. The paper concludes by identifying strategies, including those focused on environmental education initiatives, for building the public and political will necessary to promote meaningful conservation of inland fishes and fisheries in developed and developing countries. Scientists, environmental managers, non‐governmental organizations, politicians, regulatory authorities and the media all have important roles to play in overcoming challenges to inland fisheries. Failure to engage the public in freshwater conservation and management issues will impede efforts to stem the loss of freshwater habitats, fisheries and aquatic biodiversity. Thankfully, there are opportunities to learn from success stories related to other environmental issues and initiatives that have been successful in marine fish conservation.
Mechanisms for axon maintenance and plasticity in motoneurons: alterations in motoneuron disease
Authors: Jablonka Sibylle , Dombert Benjamin , Asan Esther , Sendtner Michael
Published: September 2013

In motoneuron disease and other neurodegenerative disorders, the loss of synapses and axon branches occurs early but is compensated by sprouting of neighboring axon terminals. Defective local axonal signaling for maintenance and dynamics of the axonal microtubule and actin cytoskeleton plays a central role in this context. The molecular mechanisms that lead to defective cytoskeleton architecture in two mouse models of motoneuron disease are summarized and discussed in this manuscript. In the progressive motor neuropathy (pmn) mouse model of motoneuron disease that is caused by a mutation in the tubulin‐specific chaperone E gene, death of motoneuron cell bodies appears as a consequence of axonal degeneration. Treatment with bcl‐2 overexpression or with glial‐derived neurotrophic factor prevents loss of motoneuron cell bodies but does not influence the course of disease. In contrast, treatment with ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) significantly delays disease onset and prolongs survival of pmn mice. This difference is due to the activation of Stat‐3 via the CNTF receptor complex in axons of pmn mutant motoneurons. Most of the activated Stat‐3 protein is not transported to the nucleus to activate transcription, but interacts locally in axons with stathmin, a protein that destabilizes microtubules. This interaction plays a major role in CNTF signaling for microtubule dynamics in axons. In Smn‐deficient mice, a model of spinal muscular atrophy, defects in axonal translocation of β‐actin mRNA and possibly other mRNA species have been observed. Moreover, the regulation of local protein synthesis in response to signals from neurotrophic factors and extracellular matrix proteins is altered in motoneurons from this model of motoneuron disease. These findings indicate that local signals are important for maintenance and plasticity of axonal branches and neuromuscular endplates, and that disturbances in these signaling mechanisms could contribute to the pathophysiology of motoneuron diseases.
Male and female involvement in the birth and child‐rearing process
Authors: Maroto‐Navarro Gracia , Pastor‐Moreno Guadalupe , Ocaña‐Riola Ricardo , Benítez‐Hidalgo Vivian , García‐Calvente María del Mar , Gutiérrez‐Cuadra María del Pilar , Gijón‐Sánchez María T , Río‐Lozano María del , Marcos‐Marcos Jorge
Published: September 2013

Aims and objectives

To know the male involvement during pregnancy and childbirth, with special attention to their participation in public services of perinatal health and the impact that this participation has on their subsequent involvement in child‐rearing, to compare the male and female involvement in child‐rearing and to identify the factors associated with a greater male involvement.

Background

Most of the research on male involvement in birth and child‐rearing comes from Anglo‐Saxon and Scandinavian countries. These studies show a lower involvement of men in relation to women, even in countries with instruments to promote gender shared responsibility. The Spanish Ministry of Health has developed strategies to improve the male involvement in the public services of perinatal health to advance in gender equality. This is a suitable context to contribute to the lack of information about fatherhood and the gender inequalities in the Spanish context.

Design

Transversal design.

Methods

A questionnaire was administered to 150 fathers and 157 mothers residing in Granada, with at least one biological child aged 2 months to 3 years.

Results

A minority of the men attended the childbirth education whereas most of them attended pregnancy check‐ups and were present at birth. Women spent more time with their children and took charge of tasks of child‐rearing to a larger extent. The profile of an involved father is a man with a higher level of education, not married, his partner has a full‐time employment, born in Spain and attended to the childbirth education classes.

Conclusion

This study shows gender inequalities in the reproductive field beyond the biological conditions.

Relevance to clinical practice

The challenge of the health services is to promote social change and identify areas for improvement to include the father figure in public services of perinatal health.
Can racial/ethnic subgroup criterion‐to‐test standard deviation ratios account for conflicting differential validity and differential prediction evidence for cognitive ability tests?
Authors: Berry Christopher M. , Barratt Clare L. , Dovalina Christen L. , Zhao Peng
Published: September 2013

Differential validity and differential prediction analyses have come to conflicting conclusions regarding whether the relationship between cognitive ability tests and performance is the same across racial/ethnic subgroups. A prominent criticism of differential validity analyses is that they are confounded by subgroup differences in the ratio of criterion‐to‐test standard deviations (SDs). We investigated whether subgroup differences in these ratios can account for this conflicting evidence. Drawing on data from over 1 million participants, we find that subgroup differences in criterion‐to‐test SD ratios in general only account for a relatively small portion of subgroup differences in test‐criterion correlations.

Practitioner points

Cognitive ability tests exhibit differential validity for Asian, Black, Hispanic, and White subgroups.

In most domains, subgroup differences in criterion‐to‐test SD ratios only account for a relatively small portion of these validity differences and thus do not explain why validities differ across subgroups.

Still, because a portion of the already‐small validity differences are accounted for by SD ratios, the magnitude of any subgroup regression slope differences is small and is unlikely to result in underprediction of criterion performance for Asian, Black, and Hispanic subgroups.
Less acting, more doing: How surface acting relates to perceived meeting effectiveness and other employee outcomes
Authors: Shanock Linda R. , Allen Joseph A. , Dunn Alexandra M. , Baran Benjamin E. , Scott Cliff W. , Rogelberg Steven G.
Published: September 2013

This study adds to the growing body of research on work meetings and extends the emotional labour literature beyond a service context by examining the relationship between surface acting during meetings and perceived meeting effectiveness. Additionally, the relationships of surface acting during meetings and perceived meeting effectiveness with time‐lagged reports of intention to quit and emotional exhaustion 3 months later were investigated. Structural equation modelling of data from 178 working adults revealed negative relationships between surface acting and perceptions of meeting effectiveness. Perceived meeting effectiveness partially mediated the relationship between surface acting and both intention to quit and emotional exhaustion 3 months later. These findings expand both the limited research on perceived meeting effectiveness and the surface acting nomological network to include a consideration that expressing inauthentic emotions in meetings (surface acting) may relate to the perceived effectiveness of the meeting. As well, both surface acting during meetings and perceived meeting effectiveness may relate to how emotionally exhausted employees feel and their intentions to seek other employment. Given the cost and pervasiveness of meetings in daily organizational life and their potential effects on the well‐being of employees, understanding how to make meetings effective is paramount – particularly if researchers and practitioners want to better understand how perceived meeting effectiveness may be related to various employee outcomes.

Practitioner points

Organizations use up to 15% of their personnel budget on meetings, yet meetings are often considered ineffective by employees.

Organizations wishing to increase the perceived effectiveness of their meetings can work to reduce the degree to which employees feel they have to express inauthentic emotion in meetings.

In turn, expressing inauthentic emotion in meetings related to employees' future emotional exhaustion and intent to leave the organization.
Writing Edwardian postcards
Authors: Gillen Julia
Published: September 2013

The Picture Postcard was an extraordinarily popular innovation at the beginning of the twentieth century in Europe, enabling writers to send brief, multimodal messages through a cheap communications channel, in a ‘culture of speed’. With several deliveries a day, this could be experienced as closer to the synchronicity of the digital communications than vernacular written communications in the intervening period. I examine the writing of ten British Edwardian picture postcards from a collection of three thousand. Analysis of the writing, writtenness and multimodality of the postcards is combined with historical investigations of public records. Through this innovative approach to the construction of text histories, I demonstrate the value of applying the ethnographic sensibility of Literacy Studies to these communications that accomplished diverse and rich purposes and explore connections with claims made about contemporary digital practices.
The sociolinguistics of writing in a global context: Objects, lenses, consequences
Authors: Lillis Theresa , McKinney Carolyn
Published: September 2013

In this paper, we argue that writing has largely been ignored as a significant empirical object of study in sociolinguistics. Pointing to the consequences of the specific ways in which writing has been positioned historically within sociolinguistics, we discuss the need to re‐imagine writing as an object of study and problematize the dominant lenses through which writing is understood and analyzed. We draw on recent work to illustrate three key challenges that need to be addressed: firstly, to move beyond a default position on writing in terms of ‘standard’ and ‘error’; secondly, to extend the analytic gaze beyond a monomodal orientation towards writing; and thirdly to avoid the privileging of single moments and sites of production. We conclude by giving an overview of the papers in the special issue and the ways in which they seek to reorient sociolinguistics towards the study of writing.
Homeownership, Mobility, And Local Income Redistribution
Authors: RÖHRS SIGRID , STADELMANN DAVID
Published: September 2013

Regions are characterized by different homeownership rates. Homeowners and renters differ in their mobility costs, renters having lower mobility costs. This paper analyses how the presence of those different types of households affects income sorting and tax differences between local jurisdictions. To this aim, we analyze a model of local income redistribution with mobile (renter) and immobile (homeowner) households. Linear income taxes finance a lump sum transfer. Policies are determined endogenously through voting. In such a framework, if there are no or only few homeowners, no income‐sorting equilibrium exists. Above a certain threshold for the homeownership rate we find an inverted U‐shaped relationship between tax differences and homeownership rates, such that tax differences between jurisdictions are highest for intermediate homeownership rates.
Trilostane Therapy for Treatment of Spontaneous Hyperadrenocorticism in Cats: 15 Cases (2004–2012)
Authors: Mellett Keith A.M. , Bruyette D. , Stanley S.
Published: September 2013

Background

Medical treatment with trilostane improves clinical signs, causes unclear insulin requirement changes, and variable survival times in cats.

Objectives/Hypothesis

To characterize the long‐term efficacy of trilostane in treating cats with hyperadrenocorticism (HAC).

Animals

Fifteen client‐owned cats with spontaneous HAC.

Methods

Multicenter descriptive retrospective study with a search performed on all medical records for cats diagnosed with spontaneous HAC.

Results

Clinical signs (13 of 15 cats) and ACTH stimulation testing results (13 of 15) improved with trilostane therapy. Diabetes mellitus was reported in 9/15 cases. Insulin requirements decreased by 36% within 2 months in 6/9 diabetic cats. Median survival time was 617 days for all cats (range 80–1,278 days). Complications included weight loss, urinary tract infections, chronic kidney disease, seizures, and recurrent pancreatitis. Hypocortisolemia was documented in 1 case. Cause of death occurred as a result of nonadrenal or nondiabetic illnesses (renal failure, seizures [caused by hypoglycemia or unknown]), or lymphoma.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Trilostane ameliorates clinical signs of HAC in cats, is tolerated well in the long term, and can lead to improved regulation of diabetes.
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Concentrations in Dogs with Spirocercosis
Authors: Mukorera V. , Kirberger R.M. , Mabeta P. , Dvir E.
Published: September 2013

Background

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent proangiogenic factor associated with tumor development. Spirocerca lupi is a nematode of canids that induces an esophageal nodule that progresses to a sarcoma in 25% of cases. Determination of neoplastic transformation is challenging and usually based on endoscopy‐guided biopsies under general anesthesia, an expensive procedure that often yields nondiagnostic, necrotic samples.

Hypothesis

Circulatory VEGF concentrations are increased in dogs with neoplastic spirocercosis and can distinguish between dogs with neoplastic and nonneoplastic disease.

Animals

A total of 24 client‐owned dogs, 9 nonneoplastic, 9 neoplastic, and 6 controls.

Methods

Case‐control study. Plasma and serum VEGF concentrations at the time of diagnosis were compared with those of healthy controls. Measurement of VEGF was performed using a canine‐specific ELISA. Kruskal‐Wallis and Dunn's tests were used for statistical analysis with significance set at P < .05.

Results

The median plasma VEGF concentrations of dogs with neoplastic spirocercosis were 629 pg/mL (range, 282–2,366) higher than both the nonneoplastic (<39.5 pg/mL; range, <39.5–716) and control dogs (<39.5 pg/mL; all values, <39.5; P = .0003). The median serum VEGF concentration of the neoplastic dogs was 69 pg/mL (range, <39.5–212) higher than the nonneoplastic (<39.5 pg/mL; range, <39.5–44.13) and control dogs (<39.5 pg/mL; all values, <39.5; P = .001).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Both plasma and serum VEGF concentrations can be used to differentiate nonneoplastic and neoplastic spirocercosis. The role of VEGF in neoplastic transformation of S. lupi‐induced nodules and the potential utility of anti‐VEGF drugs in spirocercosis‐induced sarcoma warrant further investigation.
Longitudinal Analysis of Quality of Life, Clinical, Radiographic, Echocardiographic, and Laboratory Variables in Dogs with Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease Receiving Pimobendan or Benazepril: The QUEST Study
Authors: Häggström J. , Boswood A. , O'Grady M. , Jöns O. , Smith S. , Swift S. , Borgarelli M. , Gavaghan B. , Kresken J.‐G. , Patteson M. , Åblad B. , Bussadori C.M. , Glaus T. , Kovačević A. , Rapp M. , Santilli R.A. , Tidholm A. , Eriksson A. , Belanger M.C. , Deinert M. , Little C.J.L. , Kvart C. , French A. , Rønn‐Landbo M. , Wess G. , Eggertsdottir A. , Lynne O'Sullivan M. , Schneider M. , Lombard C.W. , Dukes‐McEwan J. , Willis R. , Louvet A. , DiFruscia R.
Published: September 2013

Background

Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in dogs.

Objectives

To compare, throughout the period of follow‐up of dogs that had not yet reached the primary endpoint, the longitudinal effects of pimobendan versus benazepril hydrochloride treatment on quality‐of‐life (QoL) variables, concomitant congestive heart failure (CHF) treatment, and other outcome variables in dogs suffering from CHF secondary to MMVD.

Animals

A total of 260 dogs in CHF because of MMVD.

Methods

A prospective single‐blinded study with dogs randomized to receive pimobendan (0.4–0.6 mg/kg/day) or benazepril hydrochloride (0.25–1.0 mg/kg/day). Differences in outcome variables and time to intensification of CHF treatment were compared.

Results

A total of 124 dogs were randomized to pimobendan and 128 to benazepril. No difference was found between groups in QoL variables during the trial. Time from inclusion to 1st intensification of CHF treatment was longer in the pimobendan group (pimobendan 98 days, IQR 30–276 days versus benazepril 59 days, IQR 11–121 days; P = .0005). Postinclusion, dogs in the pimobendan group had smaller heart size based on VHS score (P = .013) and left ventricular diastolic (P = .035) and systolic (P = .0044) dimensions, higher body temperature (P = .030), serum sodium (P = .0027), and total protein (P = .0003) concentrations, and packed cell volume (P = .030). Incidence of arrhythmias was similar in treatment groups.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Pimobendan versus benazepril resulted in similar QoL during the study, but conferred increased time before intensification of CHF treatment. Pimobendan treatment resulted in smaller heart size, higher body temperature, and less retention of free water.
Re‐evaluating transarterial chemoembolization for the treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Consensus recommendations and review by an International Expert Panel
Authors: Cheng Ann Lii , Amarapurkar Deepak , Chao Yee , Chen Pei‐Jer , Geschwind Jean‐François , Goh Khean L. , Han Kwang‐Hyub , Kudo Masatoshi , Lee Han Chu , Lee Rheun‐Chuan , Lesmana Laurentius A. , Lim Ho Yeong , Paik Seung Woon , Poon Ronnie T. , Tan Chee‐Kiat , Tanwandee Tawesak , Teng Gaojun , Park Joong‐Won
Published: September 2013

Patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) usually receive transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) or systemic therapies with intermediate and advanced‐stage disease. However, intermediate‐stage HCC patients often have unsatisfactory clinical outcomes with repeated TACE and there is considerable uncertainty surrounding the criteria for repeating or stopping TACE treatment. In July 2012, an Expert Panel Opinion on Interventions in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (EPOIHCC) was re‐convened in Shanghai in an attempt to provide a consensus on the practice of TACE, particularly in regard to evaluating TACE ‘failure’. To that end, current clinical practice throughout Asia was reviewed in detail including safety and efficacy data on TACE alone as well as in combination with targeted systemic therapies for intermediate HCC. This review summarizes the evidence discussed at the meeting and provides expert recommendations regarding the use of TACE for unresectable intermediate‐stage HCC. A key consensus of the Expert Panel was that the current definitions of TACE failure are not useful in differentiating between situations where TACE is no longer effective in controlling disease locally vs. systemically. By redefining these concepts, it may be possible to provide a clearer indication of when TACE should be repeated and more importantly, when TACE should be discontinued.
Seasonal dynamics of fungal communities in a temperate oak forest soil
Authors: Voříšková Jana , Brabcová Vendula , Cajthaml Tomáš , Baldrian Petr
Published: September 2013

Fungi are the agents primarily responsible for the transformation of plant‐derived carbon in terrestrial ecosystems. However, little is known of their responses to the seasonal changes in resource availability in deciduous forests, including photosynthate allocation below ground and seasonal inputs of fresh litter.

Vertical stratification of and seasonal changes in fungal abundance, activity and community composition were investigated in the litter, organic and upper mineral soils of a temperate Quercus petraea forest using ergosterol and extracellular enzyme assays and amplicon 454‐pyrosequencing of the rDNA‐ITS region.

Fungal activity, biomass and diversity decreased substantially with soil depth. The highest enzyme activities were detected in winter, especially in litter, where these activities were followed by a peak in fungal biomass during spring. The litter community exhibited more profound seasonal changes than did the community in the deeper horizons. In the litter, saprotrophic genera reached their seasonal maxima in autumn, but summer typically saw the highest abundance of ectomycorrhizal taxa. Although the composition of the litter community changes over the course of the year, the mineral soil shows changes in biomass.

The fungal community is affected by season. Litter decomposition and phytosynthate allocation represent important factors contributing to the observed variations.
The Political Economy of Policy Gridlock inSouthKorea: The Case of theLeeMyung‐bak Government's Green Growth Policy
Authors: Heo Inhye
Published: September 2013

This article analyzes the occurrence, development, results, and special features of policy gridlock inSouthKorea's green growth (GG) policy from a political–economic perspective. Analysis is based on the claim that the relationships that the government has formed with other relevant policy actors—including the National Assembly, market players, and civil society—underpin the critical political–economic causes of the gridlock. Research results show that the characteristics of the relationships that the government has formed with those actors, as well as the complex interactions among them (such as intervening in other actor–government relationships and pursuing either conflict or cooperation with one another), have functioned as direct causes of policy gridlock. Based on these findings, the article explores the theoretical implications of the study of policy gridlock and the comparative international implications for global efforts towardGG, while consideringSouthKorea's intermediate position in the globalGGcommunity.

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Partisan Bias and Information Discounting in Economic Judgments
Authors: Ramirez Mark D. , Erickson Nathan
Published: September 2013

Research shows that partisanship biases people's views about the economy. Yet, there is little understanding of the factors, if any, that might mitigate the influence of partisanship on these judgments or the effect of partisanship on metacognitive judgments. This study uses an experimental design to show that partisanship continues to bias economic judgments even when subjects receive direct and neutral information about specific aspects of the economy. Moreover, it extends our understanding of partisan bias by showing it has a direct effect on people's metacognitive assessments of their own attitudes—particularly the degree of uncertainty people have in their own economic judgments. However, it appears that people are aware of the conflict between their partisan‐based judgment and economic information since we observe increases in economic uncertainty when information is counter to a subject's partisan predisposition. The results provide new insight into the extent of partisan bias and the difficulty of countering partisan‐based judgments.
Auxin‐mediated plant architectural changes in response to shade and high temperature
Authors: de Wit Mieke , Lorrain Séverine , Fankhauser Christian
Published: September 2013

The remarkable plasticity of their architecture allows plants to adjust growth to the environment and to overcome adverse conditions. Two examples of environmental stresses that drastically affect shoot development are imminent shade and high temperature. Plants in crowded environments and plants in elevated ambient temperature display very similar phenotypic adaptations of elongated hypocotyls in seedlings and elevated and elongated leaves at later developmental stages. The comparable growth responses to shade and high temperature are partly regulated through shared signaling pathways, of which the phytohormone auxin and the phytochrome interacting factors (PIFs) are important components. During both shade‐ and temperature‐induced elongation growth auxin biosynthesis and signaling are upregulated in a PIF‐dependent manner. In this review we will discuss recent progress in our understanding of how auxin mediates architectural adaptations to shade and high temperature.
Managing Design Excellence Tools During the Development of New Orthopaedic Implants
Authors: Défossez Henri J. P. , Serhan Hassan
Published: September 2013

Design excellence (DEX) tools have been widely used for years in some industries for their potential to facilitate new product development. The medical sector, targeted by cost pressures, has therefore started adopting them. Numerous tools are available; however only appropriate deployment during the new product development stages can optimize the overall process. The primary study objectives were to describe generic tools and illustrate their implementation and management during the development of new orthopaedic implants, and compile a reference package. Secondary objectives were to present the DEX tool investment costs and savings, since the method can require significant resources for which companies must carefully plan. The publicly available DEX method “Define Measure Analyze Design Verify Validate” was adopted and implemented during the development of a new spinal implant. Several tools proved most successful at developing the correct product, addressing clinical needs, and increasing market penetration potential, while reducing design iterations and manufacturing validations. Cost analysis and Pugh Matrix coupled with multi generation planning enabled developing a strong rationale to activate the project, set the vision and goals. improved risk management and product map established a robust technical verification-validation program. Design of experiments and process quantification facilitated design for manufacturing of critical features, as early as the concept phase. Biomechanical testing with analysis of variance provided a validation model with a recognized statistical performance baseline. Within those tools, only certain ones required minimum resources (i.e., business case, multi generational plan, project value proposition, Pugh Matrix, critical To quality process validation techniques), while others required significant investments (i.e., voice of customer, product usage map, improved risk management, design of experiments, biomechanical testing techniques). All used techniques provided savings exceeding investment costs. Some other tools were considered and found less relevant. A matrix summarized the investment costs and generated estimated savings. Globally, all companies can benefit from using DEX by smartly selecting and estimating those tools with best return on investment at the start of the project. For this, a good understanding of the available company resources, background and development strategy are needed. In conclusion, it was possible to illustrate that appropriate management of design excellence tools can greatly facilitate the development of new orthopaedic implant systems.
A Numerical and Experimental Investigation of the Effect of False Vocal Fold Geometry on Glottal Flow
Authors: Farahani Mehrdad H. , Mousel John , Alipour Fariborz , Vigmostad Sarah
Published: September 2013

The false vocal folds are hypothesized to affect the laryngeal flow during phonation. This hypothesis is tested both computationally and experimentally using rigid models of the human larynges. The computations are performed using an incompressible Navier–Stokes solver with a second order, sharp, immersed-boundary formulation, while the experiments are carried out in a wind tunnel with physiologic speeds and dimensions. The computational flow structures are compared with available glottal flow visualizations and are employed to study the vortex dynamics of the glottal flow. Furthermore, pressure data are collected on the surface of the laryngeal models experimentally and computationally. The investigation focuses on three geometric features: the size of the false vocal fold gap; the height between the true and false vocal folds; and the width of the laryngeal ventricle. It is shown that the false vocal fold gap has a significant effect on glottal flow aerodynamics, whereas the second and the third geometric parameters are of lesser importance. The link between pressure distribution on the surface of the larynx and false vocal fold geometry is discussed in the context of vortex evolution in the supraglottal region. It was found that the formation of the starting vortex considerably affects the pressure distribution on the surface of the larynx. The interaction of this vortex structure with false vocal folds creates rebound vortices in the laryngeal ventricle. In the cases of small false vocal fold gap, these rebound vortices are able to reach the true vocal folds during a time period comparable with one cycle of the phonation. Moreover, they can create complex vorticity patterns, which result in significant pressure fluctuations on the surface of the larynx.
Characterization of the Centroidal Geometry of Human Ribs
Authors: Kindig Matthew W. , Kent Richard W.
Published: September 2013

While a number of studies have quantified overall ribcage morphology (breadth, depth, kyphosis/lordosis) and rib cross-sectional geometry in humans, few studies have characterized the centroidal geometry of individual ribs. In this study, a novel model is introduced to describe the centroidal path of a rib (i.e., the sequence of centroids connecting adjacent cross-sections) in terms of several physically-meaningful and intuitive geometric parameters. Surface reconstructions of rib levels 2–10 from 16 adult male cadavers (aged 31–75 years) were first extracted from CT scans, and the centroidal path was calculated in 3D for each rib using a custom numerical method. The projection of the centroidal path onto the plane of best fit (i.e., the “in-plane” centroidal path) was then modeled using two geometric primitives (a circle and a semiellipse) connected to give C1 continuity. Two additional parameters were used to describe the deviation of the centroidal path from this plane; further, the radius of curvature was calculated at various points along the rib length. This model was fit to each of the 144 extracted ribs, and average trends in rib size and shape with rib level were reported. In general, upper ribs (levels 2–5) had centroidal paths which were closer to circular, while lower ribs (levels 6–10) tended to be more elliptical; further the centroidal curvature at the posterior extremity was less pronounced for lower ribs. Lower ribs also tended to exhibit larger deviations from the best-fit plane. The rib dimensions and trends with subject stature were found to be consistent with findings previously reported in the literature. This model addresses a critical need in the biomechanics literature for the accurate characterization of rib geometry, and can be extended to a larger population as a simple and accurate way to represent the centroidal shape of human ribs.
Dependence of the Head Injury Criterion and Maximum Acceleration on Headform Mass and Initial Velocity in Tests Simulating Pedestrian Impacts With Vehicles
Authors: Hutchinson T. P.
Published: September 2013

Impact testing of pedestrian headforms is usually conducted at one velocity and with one mass of headform, but real impacts occur at a range of velocities and masses. A method is proposed to predict the Head Injury Criterion (HIC) and similar quantities at other velocities from their values observed under test conditions. A specific assumption is made about acceleration during the impact as related to displacement, its differential (instantaneous velocity), mass of headform, and initial velocity: namely, that it is the product of a power function of displacement (representing a possibly nonlinear spring) and a term that includes a type of damping. This equation is not solved, but some properties of the solution are obtained: HIC, maximum acceleration, and maximum displacement are found to be power functions of mass of headform and initial velocity. Expressions for the exponents are obtained in terms of the nonlinearity parameter of the spring. Simple formulae are obtained for the dependence of HIC, maximum acceleration, and maximum displacement on velocity and mass. These are relevant to many types of impact.
Elastic Impact of Abrasives for Controlled Erosion in Fine Finishing of Surfaces
Authors: Sooraj V. S. , Radhakrishnan V.
Published: September 2013

Finishing of surfaces using free abrasive impingement is one of the constructive applications of erosive wear, well suited for complex shaped engineering components with difficult-to-access surfaces. Low velocity impact of abrasives in a fluidized bed is reported as a promising choice to impart fine finish on the target surface. An improved methodology to control the erosion and to achieve ultra fine finish through elastic impact of abrasives, using a carrier type-fluidized abrasive finishing, is discussed in this paper. Using the basic concepts of impact theory and contact mechanics, a revised mathematical model to express the depth of erosion as a function of material properties of target and erodent is proposed. Modification in erodent abrasive to introduce an elastic nature to the impact is described in detail using the theoretical model. This is substantiated through a particle-dropping experimental study. The effect of multiple impacts in a practical situation is also discussed through a detailed experimental study, clearly demonstrating the concepts of elastic impact erosion for surface finishing.
Adjustable Slot Cutting Guide for Improved Accuracy During Bone Resection in Total Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: James Thomas P. , McGonigle Owen P. , Hasan Imran S. , Smith Eric L.
Published: September 2013

Slotted cutting guides are used by orthopaedic surgeons to improve the accuracy of bone resection during total knee replacement. Accuracy of the saw cuts has an effect on patient mobility and on implant survival time. While computer navigation systems have improved the accuracy of cutting guide placement, the contribution to cutting error from blade toggle within the slots of the cutting guide persists. In this research, equations were derived to quantify angular cutting error based on the parameters affecting blade and cutting guide geometry. Analytically, the relationship between cutting plane error and blade thickness was determined to be linear. A smaller gap, due to thicker blades with minimal tooth offset, results in less cutting error. From an experimental standpoint, six commercially available cutting guides were tested for femoral plane cutting accuracy by resection of synthetic bone under the guidance of computer navigation. The results indicate an average flexion/extension error of 3.8 deg for a 0.89 mm thick blade and 2.0 deg for a 1.27 mm blade. Varus/valgus error due to twisting of the blade within the slot was less than 1.0 deg, regardless of blade thickness. To improve upon cutting accuracy, an adjustable slot cutting guide was designed and tested. From more closely matching slot width to blade thickness, the results indicate that cutting plane error can be reduced to less than 1.0 deg in both the flexion/extension and varus/valgus planes.