bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Laparoscopically assisted ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement: a prospective randomized controlled trial
Authors: Schucht Philippe , Banz Vanessa , Trochsler Markus , Iff Samuel , Krähenbühl Anna Katharina , Reinert Michael , Beck Jürgen , Raabe Andreas , Candinas Daniel , Kuhlen Dominique , Mariani Luigi
Published: December 2014

OBJECT

In ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt surgery, laparoscopic assistance can be used for placement of the peritoneal catheter. Until now, the efficacy of laparoscopic shunt placement has been investigated only in retrospective and nonrandomized prospective studies, which have reported decreased distal shunt dysfunction rates in patients undergoing laparascopic placement compared with mini-laparotomy cohorts. In this randomized controlled trial the authors compared rates of shunt failure in patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery for peritoneal catheter placement with rates in patients who underwent traditional mini-laparotomy.

METHODS

One hundred twenty patients scheduled for VP shunt surgery were randomized to laparoscopic surgery or mini-laparotomy for insertion of the peritoneal catheter. The primary endpoint was the rate of overall shunt complication or failure within the first 12 months after surgery. Secondary endpoints were distal shunt failure, overall complication/ failure, duration of surgery and hospitalization, and morbidity.

RESULTS

The overall shunt complication/failure rate was 15% (9 of 60 cases) in the laparoscopic group and 18.3% (11 of 60 cases) in the mini-laparotomy group (p = 0.404). Patients in the laparoscopic group had no distal shunt failures; in contrast, 5 (8%) of 60 patients in the mini-laparotomy group experienced distal shunt failure (p = 0.029). Intraoperative complications occurred in 2 patients (both in the laparoscopic group), and abdominal pain led to catheter removal in 1 patient per group. Infections occurred in 1 patient in the laparoscopic group and 3 in the mini-laparotomy group. The mean durations of surgery and hospitalization were similar in the 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONS

While overall shunt failure rates were similar in the 2 groups, the use of laparoscopic shunt placement significantly reduced the rate of distal shunt failure compared with mini-laparotomy.
Night Vision Goggle-Induced Neck Pain in Military Helicopter Aircrew: A Literature Review
Authors: Harrison Michael F. , Coffey Brendan , Albert Wayne J. , Fischer Steven L.
Published: December 2014

Neck pain occurs at a significant rate in the military helicopter community. It is often attributed to the use of night vision goggles (NVG) and to a number of additional factors such as anthropometrics, posture, vibration, mission length, physical fitness, and helmet fit or load. A
number of research studies have addressed many aspects of this epidemic, but an up-to-date and comprehensive review of the literature is not currently available. This paper reviews the spinal anatomy in general and then summarizes what is known about the incidence and prevalence of neck injuries,
how the operational environments and equipment may contribute to these injuries, and what can be done to address them from a prevention and/or rehabilitation perspective.Harrison MF, Coffey B, Albert WJ, Fischer SL. Night vision goggle-induced neck pain in military helicopter aircrew:
a literature review. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2015; 86(1):46–55
p53 Acetylation: Regulation and Consequences
Authors: Reed Sara , Quelle Dawn
Published: December 2014

Post-translational modifications of p53 are critical in modulating its tumor suppressive functions. Ubiquitylation, for example, plays a major role in dictating p53 stability, subcellular localization and transcriptional vs. non-transcriptional activities. Less is known about p53 acetylation. It has been shown to govern p53 transcriptional activity, selection of growth inhibitory vs. apoptotic gene targets, and biological outcomes in response to diverse cellular insults. Yet recent in vivo evidence from mouse models questions the importance of p53 acetylation (at least at certain sites) as well as canonical p53 functions (cell cycle arrest, senescence and apoptosis) to tumor suppression. This review discusses the cumulative findings regarding p53 acetylation, with a focus on the acetyltransferases that modify p53 and the mechanisms regulating their activity. We also evaluate what is known regarding the influence of other post-translational modifications of p53 on its acetylation, and conclude with the current outlook on how p53 acetylation affects tumor suppression. Due to redundancies in p53 control and growing understanding that individual modifications largely fine-tune p53 activity rather than switch it on or off, many questions still remain about the physiological importance of p53 acetylation to its role in preventing cancer.
Fluctuation of Groundwater Levels and Recharge Patterns in Northern Ghana
Authors: Lutz Alexandra , Minyila Solomon , Saga Bansaga , Diarra Samuel , Apambire Braimah , Thomas James
Published: December 2014

Evaluating groundwater levels and recharge patterns is part of sustainably managing the water supply and predicting the possibility of water shortages, especially in light of climate change, extreme events (floods/droughts), increasing population and development. In the northern region of Ghana, groundwater is increasingly relied upon as a source of potable water for rural populations, but seasonal and inter-annual fluctuations of groundwater levels and recharge patterns are not always known. The fluctuation of groundwater levels on a seasonal basis shows that groundwater levels at all sites increase in response to seasonal precipitation. On an annual basis, all sites show an overall net decline of groundwater levels over the study period, which may be associated with below-average departures of precipitation during five of the seven study years. The variability of recharge patterns among five sites is attributed to the spatio-temporal variability of precipitation and hydrogeologic site uniqueness. The overarching potential benefit of this study is to facilitate closing knowledge gaps and contribute to a foundation for a more robust evaluation of groundwater resources in the area, especially as more data become available.
Climate Change Impacts on Streamflow Drought: A Case Study in Tseng-Wen Reservoir Catchment in Southern Taiwan
Authors: Yu Pao-Shan , Yang Tao-Chang , Kuo Chen-Min , Tseng Hung-Wei , Chen Shien-Tsung
Published: December 2014

The study aims to assess climate change impacts on streamflow drought in a catchment upstream of Tseng-Wen Reservoir which is the main water supplier in southern Taiwan. A singular-value-decomposition statistical downscaling method and a stochastic weather generator were applied to six different general circulation models for rainfall and temperature downscaling. Two emission climate change scenarios (A1B and B1) were used for rainfall and temperature projections during the two periods, 2010–2045 and 2081–2100. After rainfall and temperature projections, the HBV-based hydrological model was used to simulate future streamflows. By using the threshold level method, the characteristics of streamflow drought during the baseline period (1975–2000) and the future periods were calculated and compared. Important findings include: (1) the start and end times of scenario droughts occur earlier than those of baseline droughts; (2) streamflow under future scenarios during the dry period tends to decrease in January and February, but to increase in March and April; and (3) most of general circulation models’ results support that the drought duration and magnitude tend to decrease for a given return period in the future, and the occurrence probability of severer drought tends to decrease.
Complexity-Regularized Regression for Serially-Correlated Residuals with Applications to Stock Market Data
Authors: Darmon David , Girvan Michelle
Published: December 2014

A popular approach in the investigation of the short-term behavior of a non-stationary time series is to assume that the time series decomposes additively into a long-term trend and short-term fluctuations. A first step towards investigating the short-term behavior requires estimation of the trend, typically via smoothing in the time domain. We propose a method for time-domain smoothing, called complexity-regularized regression (CRR). This method extends recent work, which infers a regression function that makes residuals from a model “look random”. Our approach operationalizes non-randomness in the residuals by applying ideas from computational mechanics, in particular the statistical complexity of the residual process. The method is compared to generalized cross-validation (GCV), a standard approach for inferring regression functions, and shown to outperform GCV when the error terms are serially correlated. Regression under serially-correlated residuals has applications to time series analysis, where the residuals may represent short timescale activity. We apply CRR to a time series drawn from the Dow Jones Industrial Average and examine how both the long-term and short-term behavior of the market have changed over time.
Association between Changing Mortality of Digestive Tract Cancers and Water Pollution: A Case Study in the Huai River Basin, China
Authors: Ren Hongyan , Wan Xia , Yang Fei , Shi Xiaoming , Xu Jianwei , Zhuang Dafang , Yang Gonghuan
Published: December 2014

The relationship between the ever-increasing cancer mortality and water pollution is an important public concern in China. This study aimed to explore the association between serious water pollution and increasing digestive cancer mortality in the Huai River Basin (HRB) in China. A series of frequency of serious pollution (FSP) indices including water quality grade (FSPWQG), biochemical oxygen demand (FSPBOD), chemical oxygen demand (FSPCOD), and ammonia nitrogen (FSPAN) were used to characterize the surface water quality between 1997 and 2006. Data on the county-level changing mortality (CM) due to digestive tract cancers between 1975 and 2006 were collected for 14 counties in the study area. Most of investigated counties (eight) with high FSPWQG (>50%) distributed in the northern region of the HRB and had larger CMs of digestive tract cancers. In addition to their similar spatial distribution, significant correlations between FSP indices and CMs were observed by controlling for drinking water safety (DWS), gross domestic product (GDP), and population (POP). Furthermore, the above-mentioned partial correlations were clearly increased when only controlling for GDP and POP. Our study indicated that county-level variations of digestive cancer mortality are remarkably associated with water pollution, and suggested that continuous measures for improving surface water quality and DWS and hygienic interventions should be effectively implemented by local governments.
The Excess Heat Factor: A Metric for Heatwave Intensity and Its Use in Classifying Heatwave Severity
Authors: Nairn John , Fawcett Robert
Published: December 2014

Heatwaves represent a significant natural hazard in Australia, arguably more hazardous to human life than bushfires, tropical cyclones and floods. In the 2008/2009 summer, for example, many more lives were lost to heatwaves than to that summer’s bushfires which were among the worst in the history of the Australian nation. For many years, these other forms of natural disaster have received much greater public attention than heatwaves, although there are some signs of change. We propose a new index, called the excess heat factor (EHF) for use in Australian heatwave monitoring and forecasting. The index is based on a three-day-averaged daily mean temperature (DMT), and is intended to capture heatwave intensity as it applies to human health outcomes, although its usefulness is likely to be much broader and with potential for international applicability. The index is described and placed in a climatological context in order to derive heatwave severity. Heatwave severity, as characterised by the climatological distribution of heatwave intensity, has been used to normalise the climatological variation in heatwave intensity range across Australia. This methodology was used to introduce a pilot national heatwave forecasting service for Australia during the 2013/2014 summer. Some results on the performance of the service are presented.
Classical Biological Control of Invasive Legacy Crop Pests: New Technologies Offer Opportunities to Revisit Old Pest Problems in Perennial Tree Crops
Authors: Hoddle Mark , Warner Keith , Steggall John , Jetter Karen
Published: December 2014

Advances in scientific disciplines that support classical biological control have provided “new tools” that could have important applications for biocontrol programs for some long-established invasive arthropod pests. We suggest that these previously unavailable tools should be used in biological control programs targeting “legacy pests”, even if they have been targets of previously unsuccessful biocontrol projects. Examples of “new tools” include molecular analyses to verify species identities and likely geographic area of origin, climate matching and ecological niche modeling, preservation of natural enemy genetic diversity in quarantine, the use of theory from invasion biology to maximize establishment likelihoods for natural enemies, and improved understanding of the interactions between natural enemy and target pest microbiomes. This review suggests that opportunities exist for revisiting old pest problems and funding research programs using “new tools” for developing biological control programs for “legacy pests” could provide permanent suppression of some seemingly intractable pest problems. As a case study, we use citricola scale, Coccus pseudomagnoliarum, an invasive legacy pest of California citrus, to demonstrate the potential of new tools to support a new classical biological control program targeting this insect.
Multiplex, Quantitative, Reverse Transcription PCR Detection of Influenza Viruses Using Droplet Microfluidic Technology
Authors: Prakash Ravi , Pabbaraju Kanti , Wong Sallene , Wong Anita , Tellier Raymond , Kaler Karan
Published: December 2014

Quantitative, reverse transcription, polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) is facilitated by leveraging droplet microfluidic (DMF) system, which due to its precision dispensing and sample handling capabilities at microliter and lower volumes has emerged as a popular method for miniaturization of the PCR platform. This work substantially improves and extends the functional capabilities of our previously demonstrated single qRT-PCR micro-chip, which utilized a combination of electrostatic and electrowetting droplet actuation. In the reported work we illustrate a spatially multiplexed micro-device that is capable of conducting up to eight parallel, real-time PCR reactions per usage, with adjustable control on the PCR thermal cycling parameters (both process time and temperature set-points). This micro-device has been utilized to detect and quantify the presence of two clinically relevant respiratory viruses, Influenza A and Influenza B, in human samples (nasopharyngeal swabs, throat swabs). The device performed accurate detection and quantification of the two respiratory viruses, over several orders of RNA copy counts, in unknown (blind) panels of extracted patient samples with acceptably high PCR efficiency (>94%). The multi-stage qRT-PCR assays on eight panel patient samples were accomplished within 35–40 min, with a detection limit for the target Influenza virus RNAs estimated to be less than 10 RNA copies per reaction.
Enzymatic Polymerization of Cyclic Monomers in Ionic Liquids as a Prospective Synthesis Method for Polyesters Used in Drug Delivery Systems
Authors: Piotrowska Urszula , Sobczak Marcin
Published: December 2014

Biodegradable or bioresorbable polymers are commonly used in various pharmaceutical fields (e.g., as drug delivery systems, therapeutic systems or macromolecular drug conjugates). Polyesters are an important class of polymers widely utilized in pharmacy due to their biodegradability and biocompatibility features. In recent years, there has been increased interest in enzyme-catalyzed ring-opening polymerization (e-ROP) of cyclic esters as an alternative method of preparation of biodegradable or bioresorbable polymers. Ionic liquids (ILs) have been presented as green solvents in enzymatic ring-opening polymerization. The activity, stability, selectivity of enzymes in ILs and the ability to catalyze polyester synthesis under these conditions are discussed. Overall, the review demonstrates that e-ROP of lactones or lactides could be an effective method for the synthesis of useful biomedical polymers.
Comparison of the Separation Performances of Cinchona Alkaloid-Based Zwitterionic Stationary Phases in the Enantioseparation of β2- and β3-Amino Acids
Authors: Ilisz István , Grecsó Nóra , Misicka Aleksandra , Tymecka Dagmara , Lázár László , Lindner Wolfgang , Péter Antal
Published: December 2014

The enantiomers of twelve unusual β2- and β3-homoamino acids containing the same side-chains were separated on chiral stationary phases containing a quinine- or quinidine-based zwitterionic ion-exchanger as chiral selector. The effects of the mobile phase composition, the nature and concentration of the acid and base additives and temperature on the separations were investigated. The changes in standard enthalpy, ∆(∆H°), entropy, ∆(∆S°), and free energy, ∆(∆G°), were calculated from the linear van’t Hoff plots derived from the ln α vs. 1/T curves in the studied temperature range (10–50 °C). The values of the thermodynamic parameters depended on the nature of the selectors, the structures of the analytes, and the positions of the substituents on the analytes. A comparison of the zwitterionic stationary phases revealed that the quinidine-based ZWIX(−)™ column exhibited much better selectivity for both β2- and β3-amino acids than the quinine-based ZWIX(+)™ column, and the separation performances of both the ZWIX(+)™ and ZWIX(−)™ columns were better for β2-amino acids. The elution sequence was determined in some cases and was observed to be R < S and S < R on the ZWIX(+)™ and ZWIX(−)™ columns, respectively.
Chromosomal Instability but Lack of Transformation in Human Myoblast Preparations
Authors: Bisson Aurélie , Le Corre Stéphanie , Joly-Helas Géraldine , Chambon Pascal , Demoulins Laetitia , Jean Laetitia , Adriouch Sahil , Drouot Laurent , Giverne Camille , Roussel Francis , Jacquot Serge , Doucet Christelle , Michot Francis , Lamacz Marek , Frébourg Thierry , Flaman Jean-Michel , Boyer Olivier
Published: December 2014

Genetic alterations have recently been described as emerging during the culture of embryonic stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells, raising concerns about their safety in future clinical use. Myoblasts are adult stem cells with important therapeutic potential that have been used in clinical trials for almost 20 years, but their genome integrity has not yet been established. Here we produced 10 human myoblast preparations and investigated their genomic stability. At the third passage, half of the preparations had a normal karyotype and half showed one to four alterations/30 metaphases. Chromosome 2 trisomy was found in 1–2/30 meta-phases and/or 2/100 nuclei by FISH in 3/10 samples, and there was no other recurrent anomaly. When prolonging cultures, these erratic abnormalities were never associated with a growth advantage. Cellular senescence was manifested in all samples by growth arrest before passage 15. Expression of TERT was always negative. Molecular analysis of individual p53 transcripts did not reveal tumorigenic mutations. CGH array (10 samples) and exome sequencing (one sample) failed to detect copy number variations or accumulation of mutations, respectively. Myoblasts did not grow either in soft agar or in vivo after injection in immunodeficient mice. Hence, occasional genomic abnormalities may occur during myoblast culture but are not associated with risk of transformation.
Intake of silica nanoparticles by giant lipid vesicles: influence of particle size and thermodynamic membrane state
Authors: Strobl Florian G , Seitz Florian , Westerhausen Christoph , Reller Armin , Torrano Adriano A , Bräuchle Christoph , Wixforth Achim , Schneider Matthias F
Published: December 2014

The uptake of nanoparticles into cells often involves their engulfment by the plasma membrane and a fission of the latter. Understanding the physical mechanisms underlying these uptake processes may be achieved by the investigation of simple model systems that can be compared to theoretical models. Here, we present experiments on a massive uptake of silica nanoparticles by giant unilamellar lipid vesicles (GUVs). We find that this uptake process depends on the size of the particles as well as on the thermodynamic state of the lipid membrane. Our findings are discussed in the light of several theoretical models and indicate that these models have to be extended in order to capture the interaction between nanomaterials and biological membranes correctly.
ESTIMATING A UNIT PRICE FOR ROADS MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES USING EXPONENTIAL ROBUST REGRESSION
Authors: Moena Cristóbal , Serpell Alfredo
Published: December 2014

Good road maintenance schemes allow reducing costs and extending the service life of roads. There are several methods to plan these project maintenances but all of them require input information about maintenance costs, which can be very different depending on the geographical zone and the contracted volume. Nowadays agencies do not have written documentation on the entire process for preparing project estimates, and experience plays an important role in price estimation. In this paper, a structured methodology for estimating a unit price for road maintenance activi­ties is proposed, modeling the exponential decay nature of economies of scale. Using an exponential robust regression procedure, curves are adjusted and parameters generated. Additionally, a cost contingency analysis is performed in order to provide cost ranges associated to specific contracted volumes. The validation of the methodology was carried out through its use in the estimation of real unit prices of historic road maintenance projects in Chile. The procedure may be used by road planners as well ascontractors looking for a more confident approach before participating in a bid. Furthermore, this methodology is not limited to road maintenance only, but also to any other field where economies of scale and exponential fitting are needed.
MANIFESTATIONS OF SYMBOLISM IN ARCHITECTURE OF POSTMODERNISM
Authors: Mankus Martynas
Published: December 2014

The article analyses expression of symbolism in Lithuanian postmodern architecture. It discusses the concept of symbolism and transformations of its meaning in comparison to the period of modernism as well as examines its most significant aspects in semantic understanding of postmodernist architecture. The article seeks to disclose the forms of symbolism represented in Lithuanian architecture by the end of the 20th – the beginning of the 21st century. It searches for the most expressive examples of Lithuanian architecture of the given period by clarifying the character of postmodernist use of symbols. Attempts have been made to trace the expression trajectories of symbolism in contemporary architecture that have been influenced by postmodernism.
Vigna yadavii (Leguminosae: Papilionoideae), a new species from Western Ghats, India
Authors: Gaikwad Sayajirao , Gore Ramchandra , Randive Sonali , Garad Krushnadeoray
Published: December 2014

A new species of Vigna Savi, subgenus Ceratotropis (Piper) Verdc., Vigna yadavii S.P. Gaikwad, R.D. Gore, S.D. Randive & K.U. Garad, sp. nov. is described and illustrated here. It is morphologically close to Vigna dalzelliana (Kuntze) Verdc. but differs in its underground obligate cleistogamous flowers on positively geotropic branches, hairy calyx, small corolla, linear style beak and dimorphic seeds with shiny seed coat.
John J. Gumperz as a dialectologist
Authors: Auer Peter
Published: December 2014

Cette contribution remonte jusqu’aux racines dialectologistes de John Gumperz dans sa thèse de doctorat et montre comment son travail futur d’anthropologue et de sociolinguiste continue d’être redevable à sa première formation en tant que dialectologue selon la tradition structuraliste européenne et nord-américaine. Ces traditions ont servi aussi bien comme point de départ que comme références à sa critique ultérieure des approches traditionnelles de la variation et ses significations sociales, ce qui l’a amené à formuler sa propre approche de linguistique interactionnelle.
Les enseignements de John J. Gumperz pour la sociolinguistique des langues créoles
Authors: Véronique Georges Daniel
Published: December 2014

Les créolistes s’interrogent depuis longtemps sur les modalités sociales et linguistiques du développement des langues créoles dans les sociétés esclavagistes issues de l’expansion coloniale européenne. De façon contemporaine, ils tentent de décrire les pratiques langagières qui ont cours dans ces sociétés. Sur ces deux thématiques, les travaux de Gumperz apportent des éclairages stimulants. L’étude de l’analyse de la convergence entre langues apparentées que propose Gumperz est éclairante (Gumperz et Wilson 1971). De même la notion de répertoire verbal qu’il formule est utile pour comprendre des sociétés où se jouent des contacts et des conflits entre langues donatrices du lexique et langues créoles. L’étude réalisée sur le procès de minorisation linguistique que propose Gumperz (Gumperz, Jupp et Roberts 1979 ; Gumperz 1989) éclaire les échanges verbaux en pays créole. Cet article s’accompagne de l’étude de quelques exemples de pratiques langagières formelles en pays créolophone qui illustre la pertinence des propositions de Gumperz pour une sociolinguistique des langues créoles.
La complexité de la légitimité
Authors: Bouquet Brigitte
Published: December 2014

La notion de légitimité est aujourd’hui utilisée à profusion, dans des domaines variés et avec des aspects différenciés. La réflexion sur la légitimité, qui s’est modifiée dans le temps, a emprunté des voies multiples, s’est complexifiée ; de plus, aujourd’hui il y a une crise de légitimité. Mais que cela signifie-t-il ? Pour pouvoir le comprendre, l’article rappelle au préalable le sens du concept de légitimité et son évolution, en précise les contours actuels dans la dimension politique et dans la dimension sociale (associations, institutions sociales, professionnels), et considère où en est la légitimité des usagers/citoyens. À travers eux, il s’agit de voir les enjeux de l’évolution complexe et des défis de la reconnaissance de la légitimité.
Reconnaissance et légitimité
Authors: Guéguen Haud
Published: December 2014

En appréhendant la légitimité comme un vécu ou un sentiment moral, cet élargissement permet de prendre en considération des éléments qui, tout en étant centraux dans l’expérience concrète des individus, demeurent totalement occultés et incompréhensibles dans le cadre d’une approche purement formelle. Le sentiment de légitimité se situe dans son rapport avec la reconnaissance mutuelle dont il procède. Inversement, le sentiment d’illégitimité est à lire comme l’effet d’un déni de reconnaissance et ne peut être compris que si l’on fait droit à sa genèse intersubjective. Penser la légitimité comme un sentiment psychosocial suppose ainsi de l’articuler à la problématique de la reconnaissance.
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors for Various Psychiatric Disorders and Conditions
Authors: Atiwannapat Penchaya , Arden Peter C. , Stewart Jonathan W.
Published: December 2014

This article explores literature to determine if there are specific psychiatric disorders in which monoamine oxidase inhibition (MAOI) therapy proved effective. Evidence was considered adequate to deem MAOIs indicated for illnesses in which we found two or more randomized controlled trials (RCTs) demonstrating superiority of MAOI relative to a comparator. The comparator could be placebo or active drug. Equivalency studies in which two drugs are not found to differ were considered supportive of efficacy but not definitive, as were systematic case series. We also examined case studies, but consider these studies prone to chance circumstances and possibly based on rare events—thus not definitive in predicting the likelihood of the next such patient experiencing significant benefit. Four of six positive RCTs of panic disorder, 9 of 12 for social phobia, and 5 of 5 for bulimia demonstrate that MAOIs are indicated for these conditions, although the studies of panic disorder suggest MAOIs may be more helpful in alleviating panic attacks than agoraphobia. Three positive studies of selegiline for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) indicate its efficacy. Despite three positive RCTs reporting efficacy of MAOIs for melancholia and/or endogenous depression, and similarly, three potentially positive RCTs including placebo comparison in borderline personality disorder, each was problematic; thus, no definitive conclusion was possible. Finally, an equivalence study failed to differentiate clomipramine from phenelzine, suggesting possible efficacy of phenelzine for obsessive-compulsive disorder, but the study cannot be considered definitive. MAOIs appear efficacious for a variety of disorders besides depression, including bulimia, ADHD, social phobia, and panic disorder. [Psychiatr Ann. 2014;44(12):567–573.]
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors: A Clinical Colloquy
Authors: Tobe Edward H. , Stewart Jonathan W. , Staab Jeffrey P. , Zajecka John M. , Klein Donald F.
Published: December 2014

A knowledgeable, experienced group of experts, willing to disagree, discuss the rationale and practice of monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) therapy. The goal is to provide a discussion pertinent to clinical practice. The moderator offered participation to researchers and clinicians highly experienced in MAOI therapy. Before the colloquy, all participants received a list of probable questions. Due to a lack of familiarity, physicians resist prescribing MAOI therapy—arguably the most effective treatment for mood and anxiety disorders, especially atypical depression. The dietary restrictions are humble compared to the risk of mood disorder. In any depression treatment algorithm, consider the early implementation of MAOI therapy.

[
Psychiatr Ann
. 2014;44(12):577–586.]
Clinical Judgment in Reflective Journals of Prelicensure Nursing Students
Authors: Bussard Michelle E.
Published: December 2014

Clinical judgment is an essential skill needed by RNs. Employers expect new graduate nurses to enter the work-force with established clinical judgment skills. Therefore, nurse educators must ensure that prelicensure nursing students develop clinical judgment before graduation. This qualitative, interpretive description study reviewed the reflective journals of 30 prelicensure nursing students who participated in four progressive high-fidelity simulation (HFS) scenarios during a medical–surgical nursing course. Eight themes were identified in the reflective journals: (a) expectations about the patient, (b) recognition of a focused assessment, (c) interpretation of medications, laboratory data, and diagnostics, (d) communication with the patient, (e) collaboration and interprofessionalism, (f) prioritizing interventions, (g) skillfulness with interventions, and (h) incorporation of skills and information into real patient situations. This study indicated that reflective journaling following progressive HFS scenarios may be an effective teaching–learning strategy to assist prelicensure nursing students in the development of clinical judgment. [
J Nurs Educ
. 2015;54(1):36–40.]
Assessing Undergraduate Nursing Students’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Cultural Competence in Caring for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Patients
Authors: Strong Kristy L. , Folse Victoria N.
Published: December 2014

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) patients experience barriers to health care that include fear of discrimination, as well as insensitivity and lack of knowledge about LGBT-specific health needs among providers. This study examined the effectiveness of an educational intervention designed to improve knowledge and attitudes of baccalaureate nursing students regarding LGBT patient care. Education focused on key terminology, health disparities, medical needs of transgender patients, and culturally sensitive communication skills for competent LGBT patient care. Knowledge level and attitudes were evaluated before and after the intervention using a survey based on a modified Attitudes Toward Lesbians and Gay Men Scale and two assessment tools developed for this study. A statistically significant increase in positive attitudes and knowledge level was found immediately after the intervention. Findings from this study support the inclusion of education related to LGBT patient health care in undergraduate nursing curricula to promote cultural competence and sensitivity. [
J Nurs Educ.
2015;54(1):45–49.]
Fixed Expression of Single Influenza Virus–Specific TCR Chains Demonstrates the Capacity for TCR α– and β–Chain Diversity in the Face of Peptide–MHC Class I Specificity
Authors: Clemens E. Bridie , Doherty Peter C. , La Gruta Nicole L. , Turner Stephen J.
Published: December 2014

The characteristics of the TCR repertoire expressed by epitope-specific CD8+ T cells can be an important determinant of the quality of immune protection against virus infection. Most studies of epitope-specific TCR repertoires focus solely on an analysis of TCR β-chains, rather than the combined TCRαβ heterodimers that confer specificity. Hence, the importance of complementary α- and β-chain pairing in determining TCR specificity and T cell function is not well understood. Our earlier study of influenza-specific TCR repertoires in a C57BL/6J mouse model described a structural basis for preferred TCRαβ pairing that determined exquisite specificity for the DbPA224 epitope from influenza A virus. We have now extended this analysis using retrogenic mice engineered to express single TCR α- or β-chains specific for the DbNP366 or DbPA224 epitopes derived from influenza A virus. We found that particular TCRαβ combinations were selected for recognition of these epitopes following infection, indicating that pairing of certain α- and β-chain sequences is key for determining TCR specificity. Furthermore, we demonstrated that some TCRαβ heterodimers were preferentially expanded from the naive repertoire in response to virus infection, suggesting that appropriate αβ pairing confers optimal T cell responsiveness to Ag.
Zebrafish IRF1 Regulates IFN Antiviral Response through Binding to IFNϕ1 and IFNϕ3 Promoters Downstream of MyD88 Signaling
Authors: Feng Hui , Zhang Yi-Bing , Zhang Qi-Min , Li Zhi , Zhang Qi-Ya , Gui Jian-Fang
Published: December 2014

In mammals, type I IFNs (mainly IFN-α/β) are primarily regulated by transcription factors of the IFN regulatory factor (IRF) family. Fish IFNs do not show a one-to-one orthologous relationship with mammalian type I IFN homologues. Using a bacterial one-hybrid reporter screening system and an overexpression approach to explore the molecular mechanism underlying fish IFN induction, we identified zebrafish Danio rerio IRF (DrIRF)1 as a positive regulator of the fish IFN antiviral response. Among 12 zebrafish IRF family genes, DrIRF1 is most abundant in zebrafish immune tissues, including head kidney and spleen; upon virus infection, it is one of most significantly induced genes. Overexpression of DrIRF1 induces the expression of IFN and IFN-stimulated genes, hence protecting epithelioma papulosum cyprini cells against spring viremia of carp virus infection. As a transcription factor with constitutively nuclear retention, DrIRF1 directly binds to the IFN-stimulated regulatory element/IRF-binding element sites of zebrafish IFN promoters, which are dependent on four conserved amino acids of the N-terminal DNA-binding domain helix α3 motif. Mutation of either residue reveals a differential requirement for DrIRF1-mediated activation of zebrafish IFNϕ1 and IFNϕ3 promoters. Notably, C-terminal phosphorylation of DrIRF1 is observed and is not required for in vitro binding of DrIRF1 to fish IFN promoters. Unlike DrIRF3 and DrIRF7, which are responsible for differential expression of zebrafish IFNϕ1 and IFNϕ3 through the retinoic acid–inducible gene I–like receptor pathway, DrIRF1 works in concert with MyD88 to activate zebrafish IFNϕ3 but not IFNϕ1. These results provide insights into the evolving function of IRF1 as a positive IFN regulator.
A New and Simple Extraction Technique for Rectal Foreign Bodies: Removing by Cutting into Small Pieces
Authors: Aras Abbas , Karabulut Mehmet , Kones Osman , Temizgonul Kaplan Baha , Alis Halil
Published: December 2014

The purposes of insertion and types of foreign bodies in rectum show great variation. Rectal foreign bodies need to be removed without giving damage to intestinal wall and this should be done in the easiest possible way. We have reported a new and a simple technique. It is easy to apply and safe. A patient was admitted to our clinic with a rectal foreign body (radish) which was successfully removed by cutting it into small pieces. We conclude that different kinds of rectal foreign bodies, especially fruit and vegetables, can be removed by this technique.
Imported Pythium insidiosum Keratitis After a Swim in Thailand by a Contact Lens-Wearing Traveler
Authors: Lelievre Lucie , Borderie Vincent , Garcia-Hermoso Dea , Brignier Anne C. , Sterkers Margaret , Chaumeil Christine , Lortholary Olivier , Lanternier Fanny
Published: December 2014

A 30-year-old woman with a history of contact lens wear and exposure to swimming pool water in Thailand presented with a non-responsive, progressive corneal ulcer of the right eye. Confocal microscopy evidenced septate linear branching structures, raising suspicion of fungal keratitis. She was promptly treated with topical antibiotics and both topical and intravenous caspofungin plus voriconazole. Worsening of the clinical picture after 1 month of intensive medical therapy led to a large therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty being performed. Corneal cultures grew a mold-like organism, which was identified by sequencing as Pythium insidiosum, an aquatic oomycete. After 4 years of follow-up, the graft exhibits no infection relapse, but graft transparency has been lost after two rejection episodes. Keratoplasty combined with antifungal treatment may offer a cure to P. insidiosum keratitis, although long-term preservation of corneal transparency is difficult to obtain.
Esportivo ou Retrô? Análise Comparativa dos Valores de Compradores de Automóveis
Authors: Pimenta Mácio Lopes , Piato Éderson Luiz , Vilas Boas Luiz Henrique de Barros
Published: December 2014

Este artigo apresenta uma análise da estrutura de valores de consumidores de automóveis em São Paulo-SP, estabelecendo uma comparação entre dois modelos: um esportivo e outro compacto. Foram realizadas trinta entrevistas com compradores destes modelos. A técnica qualitativa Laddering orientou a coleta e a análise. Esses consumidores buscam alguns valores em comum: prazer, autorrealização e vida excitante. O consumidor do modelo esportivo exerce uma avaliação utilitária; já a avaliação do compacto é simbólica e utilitária. As cadeias dominantes do modelo esportivo são homogêneas em relação ao tipo de valores; já o modelo compacto, denota heterogeneidade, evidenciando processos decisórios mais complexos.
A Inteligência Competitiva na Perspecitiva de ser uma Fonte de Vantagem Competitiva e suas Contribuições Estratégicas
Authors: Buzzerio Felipe Gama , Marcondes Reynaldo Cavalheiro
Published: December 2014

Este artigo examina a perspectiva de a Inteligência Competitiva (IC) se constituir em uma fonte de vantagem competitiva, à luz da Visão Baseada em Recursos, e sua contribuição para a administração estratégica da empresa. Apoia-se em pesquisa exploratória e descritiva com a utilização do método qualitativo. Foram entrevistados seis gestores responsáveis pelas atividades de IC institucionalizadas em empresas de grande porte de negócios diferentes. Os dados foram tratados e analisados com a aplicação da Análise de Conteúdo. Concluiu-se que a IC  não pode ser considerada como uma fonte de vantagem competitiva, mas sim como um apoio efetivo ao processo decisório nas empresas da pesquisa. Aparentemente, os produtos da IC atendem às necessidades pontuais dos clientes internos, facilitam a integração da IC com marketing e operações, ajudam na identificação de riscos por meio da análise das informações de natureza estratégica, o que constitui um diferenciador da IC em relação às outras inteligências.
Análise Bibliométrica da Contribuição de Marketing para Outras Ciências
Authors: Rossi Carlos Alberto Vargas , Bortoli Luiza Venzke , Castilhos Rodrigo Bisognin
Published: December 2014

O presente estudo busca analisar a contribuição da disciplina de marketing para outras áreas de conhecimento. Para tanto, foi realizado um estudo bibliométrico, verificando a presença, por meio de citações, das revistas de maior relevância da área de marketing nas principais publicações de outras áreas correlatas. Os resultados evidenciam um número apenas limitado de citações aos periódicos de marketing selecionados. Dentre as áreas analisadas, apenas gestão de negócios recebe significativa influência dos estudos de marketing. Entre os temas mais influentes, verificou-se a presença constante daqueles ligados a métodos de pesquisa e à subárea do comportamento do consumidor. Diante desses resultados, busca-se refletir sobre a necessidade de a área buscar maior relevância junto às demais ciências sociais e humanas, uma vez que se ocupa de domínios relevantes das relações sociais e de mercado na sociedade contemporânea
Origin, variability and age of biomass burning plumes intercepted during BORTAS-B
Authors: Finch D. P. , Palmer P. I. , Parrington M.
Published: December 2014

Abstract. We use the GEOS-Chem atmospheric chemistry transport model to interpret aircraft measurements of carbon monoxide (CO) in biomass burning outflow taken during the 2011 BORTAS-B campaign over eastern Canada. The model has some skill reproducing the observed variability, with a Spearman's rank correlation rs = 0.65, but has a positive negative bias for observations <100 ppb and a negative bias for observations > 300 ppb. We find that observed CO variations are largely due to fires over Ontario, as expected, with smaller and less variable contributions from fossil fuel combustion from eastern Asia and NE North America. To help interpret observed variations of CO we develop a Eulerian effective physical age of emissions (A) metric, accounting for mixing and chemical decay, which we apply to pyrogenic emissions of CO. We find that during BORTAS-B the age of emissions intercepted over Halifax, Nova Scotia is typically 4–11 days, and on occasion as young as two days. We show that A is typically 1–5 days older than the associated photochemical ages inferred from co-located measurements of different hydrocarbons. We find that the frequency distribution of differences between the age measures (Δτ) in plumes (defined by CH3CN > 150 ppt) peaks at 3 days. This corresponds to a chemical retardation of 50%. We find a strong relationship in biomass burning plumes between A and Δτ (r2 = 0.80), which is not present outwith these plumes (r2 = 0.28). We argue that these observed relationships, together with a robust observed relationship between CO and black carbon aerosol during BORTAS-B (r2 > 0.7), form the basis of indirect evidence that aerosols co-emitted with gases during pyrolysis markedly slowed down the plume photochemistry during BORTAS-B with respect to photochemistry at the same latitude and altitude in clear skies.
Validation of the k-filtering technique for a signal composed of random-phase plane waves and non-random coherent structures
Authors: Roberts O. W. , Li X. , Jeska L.
Published: December 2014

Abstract. Recent observations of astrophysical magnetic fields have shown the presence of fluctuations being wave-like (propagating in the plasma frame) and those described as being structure-like (advected by the plasma bulk velocity). Typically with single-spacecraft missions it is impossible to differentiate between these two fluctuations, due to the inherent spatio-temporal ambiguity associated with a single point measurement. However missions such as Cluster which contain multiple spacecraft have allowed for temporal and spatial changes to be resolved, using techniques such as k filtering. While this technique does not assume Taylor's hypothesis it requires both weak stationarity of the time series and that the fluctuations can be described by a superposition of plane waves with random phases. In this paper we test whether the method can cope with a synthetic signal which is composed of a combination of non-random-phase coherent structures with a mean radius d and a mean separation λ, as well as plane waves with random phase.
Delineation of sub-pixel level sedimentary litho-contacts by super resolution mapping of Landsat image
Authors: Shanmuga Priyaa S. , Sanjeevi S.
Published: December 2014

Abstract. To delineate the geological formation at the surface, satellite image classification approaches are often preferred. This study aims to produce a super resolved map with better delineation of the litho-contacts from the medium resolution Landsat image. Conventionally used per-pixel classification provides an output map at the same resolution of the satellite image, while the super resolved map provides the high resolution output map using the medium resolution image. In this study, four test sites are considered for delineating different litho-contacts using super resolution mapping approach in Cuddalore district, southern India. The test sites consists of charnockite, fissile hornblende-biotite gneiss, marine sandstone and sandstone with clay, limestone with calcareous shale and clay, clay with limestone bands/lenses, mio-pliocene and quaternary argillaceous and calcareous sandstone, fluvial and fluviomarine formations. This work compares the per-pixel, super resolved output derived from linear spectral unmixing (LSU) based HNN and spectral angle mapper (SAM) based HNN approaches. The super resolution mapping approach was performed on the medium resolution (30 m) Landsat image to obtain the litho-contact maps and the results are compared with the existing maps and observations from field visits. The results showed improved accuracy (90.92%) of the map prepared by the SAM based super resolution approach compared to the LSU based super resolution approach (90.14%) and the maximum likelihood classification approach (83.74%). Such an improved accuracy of the super resolved map (6 m resolution) is due to the fact that the lithological mapping is done not merely at the resolution of the image, but at the sub-pixel level. Hence, it is inferred that super resolution mapping applied to multispectral images may be preferred for mapping lithounits and litho-contacts than the conventional per-pixel and sub-pixel image classification methods.