bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Digital Media, Race, Gender, Affect, and Labor
Authors: Gajjala Radhika
Published: November 2013

This essay provides a brief introduction to how the special section of Television & New Media came about and discusses the concepts of race, gender, affect, and labor in relation to digital media as it is manifested in the present decade of public availability of the Internets.
Practices Used in Israel by Nurses Who Care During Hospitalization for Older Patients With Dementia or Who are Bedridden
Authors: Iecovich Esther , Rabin Barbara
Published: November 2013

The study’s purpose was to examine (a) bedside nurses’ care practices when providing care to patients with dementia or those who are physically disabled and (b) the extent to which these actions vary by type of hospital, type of ward, and nurse’s characteristics. The sample included 265 nurses in internal medicine and geriatric wards in 2 general hospitals in Israel. The results showed that the most prevalent practices were giving greater attention to these patients, locating them in a room near the nurses’ station and asking family members to stay with the patient or to hire paid carers. Use of restraints was more prevalent in patients with dementia than those who were physically disabled. Use of specific practices significantly varied by type of ward and hospital, suggesting that nurses’ care practices are more connected with organizational characteristics than other factors.
Treating Comorbid Social Anxiety and Major Depression
Authors: Kaufman Erin A. , Baucom Katherine J. W.
Published: November 2013

Depression and social anxiety disorder (SAD) are two of the most common mental health conditions, and often occur together. Depression is usually identified as the presenting problem, which may result in SAD being overshadowed and undertreated among those with this particular comorbidity. In this case study, diagnostic overshadowing results in successful treatment of depression but delayed identification of SAD, causing an attenuated anxiety treatment response. We present recommendations on how clinicians may more thoroughly assess for comorbid Axis I diagnoses, avoid diagnostic overshadowing, and better integrate treatment approaches for SAD–major depressive disorder (MDD) comorbidity. Mechanisms underlying cognitive-behavioral treatments such as behavioral activation and exposure hold particular promise for promoting improvement in SAD and major depression simultaneously.
Extracranial Internal Carotid Artery Pseudoaneurysm Associated With Neurofibromatosis Type 1 Treated With Endovascular Stenting and Coil Embolization
Authors: Hamasaki Osamu , Ikawa Fusao , Hidaka Toshikazu , Kurokawa Yasuharu , Yonezawa Ushio
Published: November 2013

An internal carotid artery (ICA) pseudoaneurysm associated with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) is rare. We report the first case of unruptured extracranial pseudoaneurysm of the ICA in a patient with NF-1 successfully treated with endovascular stenting and coil embolization.A 66-year-old woman diagnosed with NF-1 had sudden left neck pain and massive swelling 3 years earlier. Radiological examination showed a ruptured pseudoaneurysm of the left internal thoracic artery (ITA). The posttreatment computed tomography (CT) scan revealed complete obliteration of the aneurysm of the left ITA and an unruptured pseudoaneurysm of the right ICA. After 3 years of follow-up, a CT scan revealed the enlargement of the pseudoaneurysm of the right extracranial ICA. Endovascular stenting and coil embolization were performed to prevent rupture, and the lesion was completely obliterated. Follow-up angiography at 6 months revealed good flow of the ICA through the stent without any filling of the aneurysm.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Balloon Angioplasty Versus Primary Stenting in the Infrapopliteal Disease
Authors: Yang Xinrui , Lu Xinwu , Ye Kaichuang , Li Xiangxiang , Qin Jinbao , Jiang Mier
Published: November 2013

Objectives:

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of comparing balloon angioplasty and primary stenting for symptomatic infrapopliteal disease to evaluate the clinical value of primary stenting in treating infrapopliteal diseases.

Methods:

Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. PubMed (1984-present), ScienceDirect (1980-present), Embase (1990-present), and CBM (1988-present) databases were searched for relevant articles. Finally, 16 studies (published between 2001 and 2013) satisfying the inclusion criteria were identified. The outcome parameters were immediate technical success, 1-year primary patency rate, 1-year limb salvage rate, and 1-year target vessel revascularization (TVR)-free rate. Comparisons were made with balloon angioplasty and primary stenting, and based on the different types of stents, we divided the primary stent group into the bare metal stent (BMS) group and drug-eluting stent (DES) group.

Results:

A total of 3789 patients and 4339 limbs constituted our final study population. The technical success rate of balloon angioplasty was 92.29% (95% confidence interval [CI] 88.75%-94.78%). Only 2 study reported the technical failure rates as 4% and 5.2% in the primary stent group. The pooled estimates of 1-year primary patency and TVR-free rate were similarly low in the balloon angioplasty group and BMS group (primary patency: 57.65%, 95% CI 53.54%-61.67% vs 60.95%, 95% CI 48.31%-72.28%, P = .38; TVR-free rate: 73.41%, 95% CI 66.51%-80.08% vs 73.66%, 95% CI 63.58%-81.75%, P = .91). The pooled estimates of 1-year primary patency and TVR-free rate in DES group were 81.10% (95% CI 75.48%-85.67%) and 90.30% (95% CI 85.30%-93.73%), respectively, which were better than those of the BMS and balloon angioplasty groups ( P < .001 for both). The pooled estimate of 1-year limb salvage in the balloon angioplasty, BMS, and DES groups was 88.61% (95% CI 85.01%-91.43%), 94.41% (95% CI 89.52%-97.1%), and 95.20% (95% CI 86.97%-98.33%), respectively ( P < .001). The BMS and DES groups had higher limb salvage rates than the balloon angioplasty group ( P < .001 for both comparisons). The rates of severe complications were low both in the balloon angioplasty and in the primary stent groups.

Conclusion:

Primary BMS implantation had no advantage over balloon angioplasty in reducing restenosis or revascularization for infrapopliteal disease. Primary DES implantation seems to be a promising treatment for focal infrapopliteal lesions. Publication bias could not be ruled out, and the results should be treated with caution.
Systems Biology of Human Atherosclerosis
Authors: Shalhoub Joseph , Sikkel Markus B. , Davies Kerry J. , Vorkas Panagiotis A. , Want Elizabeth J. , Davies Alun H.
Published: November 2013

Systems biology describes a holistic and integrative approach to understand physiology and pathology. The “omic” disciplines include genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolic profiling (metabonomics and metabolomics). By adopting a stance, which is opposing (yet complimentary) to conventional research techniques, systems biology offers an overview by assessing the “net” biological effect imposed by a disease or nondisease state. There are a number of different organizational levels to be understood, from DNA to protein, metabolites, cells, organs and organisms, even beyond this to an organism’s context. Systems biology relies on the existence of “nodes” and “edges.” Nodes are the constituent part of the system being studied (eg, proteins in the proteome), while the edges are the way these constituents interact. In future, it will be increasingly important to collaborate, collating data from multiple studies to improve data sets, making them freely available and undertaking integrative analyses.
Spectral Analyses of Wrist Motion in Individuals Poststroke
Authors: Wade Eric , Chen Christina , Winstein Carolee J.
Published: November 2013

Background. Upper extremity use in daily life is a critical ingredient of continued functional recovery after cerebral stroke. However, time-evolutions of use-dependent motion quality are poorly understood due to limitations of existing measurement tools. Objective. Proof-of-concept study to determine if spectral analyses explain the variability of known temporal kinematic movement quality (ie, movement duration, number of peaks, jerk) for uncontrolled reach-to-grasp tasks. Methods. Ten individuals with chronic stroke performed unimanual goal-directed movements using both hands, with and without task object present, wearing accelerometers on each wrist. Temporal and spectral measures were extracted for each gesture. The effects of performance condition on outcome measures were determined using 2-way, within subject, hand (nonparetic vs paretic) × object (present vs absent) analysis of variance. Regression analyses determined if spectral measures explained the variability of the temporal measures. Results. There were main effects of hand on all 3 temporal measures and main effects of object on movement duration and peaks. For the paretic limb, spectral measures explain 41.2% and 51.1% of the variability in movement duration and peaks, respectively. For the nonparetic limb, spectral measures explain 40.1%, 42.5%, and 27.8% of the variability of movement duration, peaks, and jerk, respectively. Conclusions. Spectral measures explain the variability of motion efficiency and control in individuals with stroke. Signal power from 1.0 to 2.0 Hz is sensitive to changes in hand and object. Analyzing the evolution of this measure in ambient environments may provide as yet uncharted information useful for evaluating long-term recovery.
A Robotic System for Quantitative Assessment and Poststroke Training of Forelimb Retraction in Mice
Authors: Spalletti Cristina , Lai Stefano , Mainardi Marco , Panarese Alessandro , Ghionzoli Alessio , Alia Claudia , Gianfranceschi Laura , Chisari Carmelo , Micera Silvestro , Caleo Matteo
Published: November 2013

Background. Neurorehabilitation protocols based on the use of robotic devices have recently shown to provide promising clinical results. However, their efficacy is still limited because of the poor comprehension of the mechanisms at the basis of functional enhancements. Objective. To increase basic understanding of robot-mediated neurorehabilitation by performing experiments on a rodent model of stroke. Methods. Mice were trained to pull back a handle on a robotic platform and their performances in the task were evaluated before and after a focal cortical ischemic stroke. The platform was designed for the quantitative assessment of forelimb function via a series of parameters (time needed to complete the task, t-target; average force; number of sub-movements). Results. The animals rapidly learned the retraction task and reached asymptotic performance by the fifth session of training. Within 2 to 6 days after a small, endothelin-1-induced lesion in the caudal forelimb area, mice showed an increase in t-target and number of sub-movements and a corresponding decrease in the average force exerted. These parameters returned to baseline, pre-lesion values with continued platform training (10-14 days after stroke). Conclusions. These results highlight the utility of the devised platform for characterizing post-infarct deficits and improvements of forelimb performance. Further research is warranted to widen the understanding of device-dependent rehabilitation effects.
Nonlinguistic Cognitive Impairment in Poststroke Aphasia
Authors: El Hachioui Hanane , Visch-Brink Evy G. , Lingsma Hester F. , van de Sandt-Koenderman Mieke W. M. E. , Dippel Diederik W. J. , Koudstaal Peter J. , Middelkoop Huub A. M.
Published: November 2013

Background and objectives. Information on cognitive impairment in aphasic patients is limited. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence and course of nonlinguistic cognitive impairments in the first year after stroke and their association with aphasia and functional outcome. Methods. We included 147 patients with acute aphasia. At 3 months and 1 year, we assessed cognition with a nonlinguistic cognitive examination including abstract reasoning, visual memory, visual perception and construction, and executive functioning. We assessed language with a verbal communication rating (Aphasia Severity Rating Scale), the ScreeLing (a linguistic-level screening test), and the Token Test. We evaluated functional outcome with the modified Rankin scale and registered the use of antidepressants. Results. In total, 107 (88%) patients had impairments in at least one nonlinguistic cognitive domain at 3 months and 91 (80%) at 1 year. The most frequently observed impairment concerned visual memory (83% at 3 months; 78% at 1 year) and the least frequent visual perception and construction (19% at 3 months; 14% at 1 year). There was improvement on all cognitive domains including language, except for abstract reasoning. Patients with persisting aphasia had lower cognitive domain scores, worse functional outcome, and were more often depressed than patients who had recovered from aphasia. Conclusions. Standard nonlinguistic cognitive examination is recommended in aphasic stroke patients. Nonlinguistic cognitive impairments are common and associated with poor functional outcome and depression, especially in patients with persisting aphasia.
Combining Afferent Stimulation and Mirror Therapy for Rehabilitating Motor Function, Motor Control, Ambulation, and Daily Functions After Stroke
Authors: Lin Keh-chung , Huang Pai-chuan , Chen Yu-ting , Wu Ching-yi , Huang Wen-ling
Published: November 2013

Background. Mirror therapy (MT) and mesh glove (MG) afferent stimulation may be effective in reducing motor impairment after stroke. A hybrid intervention of MT combined with MG (MT + MG) may broaden aspects of treatment benefits. Objective. To demonstrate the comparative effects of MG + MT, MT, and a control treatment (CT) on the outcomes of motor impairments, manual dexterity, ambulation function, motor control, and daily function. Methods. Forty-three chronic stroke patients with mild to moderate upper extremity impairment were randomly assigned to receive MT + MG, MT, or CT for 1.5 hours/day, 5 days/week for 4 weeks. Outcome measures were the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) and muscle tone measured by Myoton-3 for motor impairment and the Box and Block Test (BBT) and 10-Meter Walk Test (10 MWT) for motor function. Secondary outcomes included kinematic parameters for motor control and the Motor Activity Log and ABILHAND Questionnaire for daily function. Results. FMA total scores were significantly higher and synergistic shoulder abduction during reach was less in the MT + MG and MT groups compared with the CT group. Performance on the BBT and the 10 MWT (velocity and stride length in self-paced task and velocity in as-quickly-as-possible task) were improved after MT + MG compared with MT. Conclusions. MT + MG improved manual dexterity and ambulation. MT + MG and MT reduced motor impairment and synergistic shoulder abduction more than CT. Future studies may integrate functional task practice into treatments to enhance functional outcomes in patients with various levels of motor severity. The long-term effects of MG + MT remain to be evaluated.
Preserved Foot Motor Cortex in Patients With Complete Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Koenraadt Koen L. M. , Duysens Jacques , Rijken Hennie , van Nes Ilse J. W. , Keijsers Noël L. W.
Published: November 2013

Background. Since the brain is intact, persons with a spinal cord injury (SCI) might benefit from a brain–computer interface (BCI) to improve mobility by making use of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Objective. We aimed to use fNIRS to detect contralateral primary motor cortex activity during attempted foot movements in participants with complete SCI. Methods. A 6-channel fNIRS, including 2 reference channels, measured relative concentration changes of oxy- (HbO) and deoxy-hemoglobin (HbR) in the contralateral motor cortex for the right foot. Seven subjects, studied within 18 months after injury, performed 12 trials of attempted right foot and real hand movements. Results. T tests revealed significant HbO and HbR responses of the left motor cortex for attempted foot movements, but not for right hand movements. A 2-way repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed a larger decrease in HbR for attempted foot movements compared to hand movements. Individual results show major interindividual differences in (number of) channels activated and the sensitive chromophore (HbR or HbO). Conclusions. On group level, activity in the motor cortex of the foot can be measured with fNIRS in patients with complete SCI during attempted foot movements and might in principle be used in future BCI studies and applications.
Repetitive Mass Practice or Focused Precise Practice for Retraining Walking After Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury? A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Yang Jaynie F. , Musselman Kristin E. , Livingstone Donna , Brunton Kelly , Hendricks Gregory , Hill Denise , Gorassini Monica
Published: November 2013

Background. Retraining walking following spinal cord injury using visually guided tasks may be especially efficacious because it engages the motor cortex, whose input may facilitate improvements in functional walking. Objectives. To contrast 2 methods of retraining, one emphasizing precise, visually guided walking over obstacles and on targets (Precision Training), the other emphasizing mass practice of walking on a treadmill (Endurance Training). Methods. A randomized, single-blind, crossover design was used. Twenty-two participants, ≥7 months postinjury, were randomly allocated to start with Precision or Endurance Training. Each phase of training was 5 times per week for 2 months, followed by a 2-month rest. Measures of walking speed, distance, skill, confidence, and depression were obtained before training, then monthly thereafter. Results. Both forms of training led to significant improvements in walking, with Endurance Training inducing bigger improvements in walking distance than Precision Training, especially for high-functioning walkers who had initial walking speeds >0.5 m/s. The largest improvements in walking speed and distance occurred in the first month of Endurance Training, with minimal changes in the second month of training. In contrast, improvements in walking skill occurred over both months during both types of training. Retention of over ground walking speed, distance, and skill was excellent for both types of training. Conclusions. Intensive walking training in the chronic phase after spinal cord injury is effective in improving over ground walking. Visually guided tasks for training individuals with chronic spinal cord injury were not superior to mass practice on a treadmill.
An Approximate Dynamic Programming heuristic to support non-strategic project selection for the Royal Canadian Navy
Authors: Fisher Brent , Brimberg Jack , Hurley WJ
Published: November 2013

We consider an Approximate Dynamic Programming heuristic to support the selection of defense projects when projects have different values and are originated intermittently but fairly frequently. We show that a simple policy reserving a positive fraction of the available budget for high-value projects not yet originated is superior to a greedy knapsack approach.
A Promising Method to Distinguish Vascular Dementia From Alzheimer’s Disease With Standardized Low-Resolution Brain Electromagnetic Tomography and Quantitative EEG
Authors: Wu Lei , Wu Lei , Chen Ying , Zhou Jiong
Published: November 2013

In clinical settings, it is difficult to distinguish Alzheimer’s disease (AD) from vascular dementia (VD). The present study summarizes a clinical method to distinguish VD and AD at the early stage of the diseases. This study evaluated the possibility of differentiating 25 VD, 25 AD, and 25 healthy individuals (control, CN) by means of power spectral analysis and standardized low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA) within alpha 1, alpha 2, beta 1, beta 2, delta, and theta frequency bands. Electroencephalogram (EEG) spectral analysis and sLORETA indicated that higher diffuse delta/theta and lower central/posterior fast frequency bands were present in AD compared with CN. VD showed diffuse increased theta power compared with CN and lower delta than AD. AD also presented diffuse higher theta on spectral analysis and decreased alpha 2 and beta 1 values in central/temporal regions by sLORETA. Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores were significantly associated with frontal alpha 1 sLORETA solutions ( r = 0.91616, P < .001) and relative power ( r = 0.87322, P < .01) in AD, but no correlations were found in VD. In conclusion, EEG spectral and sLORETA together could be a tool to distinguish the different EEG rhythmic activities in AD and VD.
Structural manipulation of the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 nanotube arrays
Authors: Lin Chan , Cao Lixin , Chen Shaowei
Published: November 2013

Highly ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays on Ti substrates were prepared by an electrochemical anodization process in a mixture of glycerol and water containing 0.5 wt% NH4F and then thermally annealed from 400°C to 600°C. The sample structures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction measurements, where the nanotube pore diameter and length were found to increase with increasing anodization voltage and reaction time. Thermal annealing at 450°C was found to lead to the generation of the largest anatase crystalline domains, and at higher annealing temperature, the anatase components started to convert into the rutile ones. The corresponding photocatalytic activity was then evaluated by the photodegradation of Alizarin Red S under ultraviolet light irradiation. The results showed that the nanotubes prepared by anodization at 25V for 10 h and subsequently annealed at 450°C exhibited the optimal photocatalytic activity with a rate constant of 2.70 × 10−3min−1 and 39.2% of Alizarin Red S degraded after 180 min of photoirradiation. These results indicated that the photocatalytic activity was primarily determined by the crystalline properties of the TiO2 nanotubes, and additional improvement might be achieved by a deliberate manipulation of the nanotube dimensions as a combined contribution of light penetration and mass transport within the nanotube arrays.
Neonatal blood spot testing for genetic conditions
Authors: Thoroughgood Vasandhara
Published: November 2013

Neonatal blood spot testing is offered to all babies in the first week of life as part of the UK Newborn Screening Programme. A blood sample is taken from the heel and used to screen for phenylketonuria, congenital hypothyroidism, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell diseases and medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency. This article aims to discuss the principles of screening as applied to neonatal blood spot testing, the blood spot test and the conditions which screening aims to detect.
Rectal bleeding
Authors: Abdel-Salam Hannan , El-Sharkawy Ahmed M
Published: November 2013

Haematochezia, also known as bleeding per rectum (PR) is defined as the passage of bright blood from the rectum. PR bleeding is a common symptom experienced by many individuals and can be alarming. Despite this many people may be reluctant to see their GP. Most patients who present with rectal bleeding can be managed within primary care and will not require admission to hospital or invasive investigations. This article will focus on the common causes of PR bleeding, how to investigate and manage this symptom and provide guidance for when to refer to secondary care.
A Cruise Line Dynamic Overbooking Model with Multiple Cabin Types from the View of Real Options
Authors: Li Bingzhou
Published: November 2013

The fundamental booking decision for a cruise line involves how many reservations to accept to avoid two outcomes—either sailing with empty cabins or denying some customers’ bookings. Cruise lines accept reservations that overbook a cruise because they anticipate a number of cancellations and no-shows. The question is how many overbooked reservations to accept such that no one is denied boarding. This article applies a real options approach to formulate a risk decision model for cruise line dynamic overbooking. The analysis includes multiple cabin types and allows upgrading to reduce and avoid the two reservation risks. This article illustrates the way to find the best overbooking level vector. The analysis models a series of real options contained in the joint overbooking decision. Furthermore, the dynamic joint overbooking decision is analyzed and discussed from the view of various types of real options. Finally, numerical examples are used to demonstrate how to solve the joint overbooking problem with two given decision schemes using the real options analysis (ROA) in real-time.
Silencing Mexico
Authors: Relly Jeannine E. , González de Bustamante Celeste
Published: November 2013

During President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa’s administration, the military was called on to confront organized crime, and dozens of journalists were killed in Mexico. Attacks on journalists have continued under the new administration. This study focuses on the erosion of the democratic institution of the press in Mexico’s northern states, for the majority of journalists murdered in the last decade worked in that region. Utilizing Shoemaker and Reese’s hierarchy of influences model, this study examines pressures constraining the press working in a tide of violence. The thirty-nine semistructured, in-depth interviews with Mexican journalists, who report in five of the northern states, indicate the strongest influences came from outside newsrooms, where intimidation and unthinkable crimes were committed against the press along the entire border. Individual-level influences, such as lack of conflict-reporting training, safety concerns, and handling the trauma of covering violence, were among the strongest pressures often leading to self-censorship. Organizational-level influences, including newsroom policies and financial arrangements with government and business, also influenced journalistic practice. The study added an inter-media level for analyses of news organizations and individual journalists working together to increase safety. Additional findings show major disruptions in border reporting where news “blackouts” exist amid pockets of lawlessness.
Interactive Effect of Moral Disengagement and Violent Video Games on Self-Control, Cheating, and Aggression
Authors: Gabbiadini Alessandro , Riva Paolo , Andrighetto Luca , Volpato Chiara , Bushman Brad J.
Published: November 2013

Violent video games glorify and reward immoral behaviors (e.g., murder, assault, rape, robbery, arson, motor vehicle theft). Based on the moral disengagement theory, we predicted that violent games would increase multiple immoral behaviors (i.e., lack of self-control, cheating, aggression), especially for people high in moral disengagement. High school students ( N = 172) who had completed a measure of moral disengagement were randomly assigned to play one of the Grand Theft Auto (GTA) violent video games, or a nonviolent game. Self-control was measured using the weight of uneaten chocolates (i.e., M&M’s) in a bowl by the computer. After gameplay, participants could cheat on a test to win raffle tickets for attractive prizes (e.g., iPad). Aggression was measured using a competitive task in which participants could give an ostensible partner unpleasant noise blasts through headphones. Results showed that violent video games decreased self-control and increased cheating and aggression, especially for people high in moral disengagement.
Not So Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Authors: Miles Lynden K. , Christian Brittany M. , Masilamani Nomita , Volpi Luiza , Macrae C. Neil
Published: November 2013

Via mental simulation, future previews have been shown to optimize behavioral selection and enhance task performance. Yet little is known about the critical factors that determine exactly how and when imagination impacts behavior. Noting the theoretical importance of vantage point (i.e., field vs. observer perspective) during mental imagery, here we explored the possibility that spatial visual perspective influences the real-time behavioral correlates of simulated (i.e., imagined) events. Participants were instructed to imagine positive and negative social encounters from either a field or an observer vantage point. Throughout each imagined interaction, postural movement in the anterioposterior (i.e., front–back) plane served as a real-time index of approach–withdrawal behavior. The results revealed that mental simulations were accompanied by functionally adaptive behavior (i.e., approach or withdrawal) but only when events were imagined from a field perspective. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are considered.
Altitude Modulates Concussion Incidence
Authors: Smith David W. , Myer Gregory D. , Currie Dustin W. , Comstock R. Dawn , Clark Joseph F. , Bailes Julian E.
Published: November 2013

Background:

Recent research indicates that the volume and/or pressure of intracranial fluid, a physiology affected by one’s altitude (ie, elevation above sea level), may be associated with the likelihood and/or severity of a concussion. The objective was to employ an epidemiological field investigation to evaluate the relationship between altitude and concussion rate in high school sports.

Hypothesis:

Because of the physiologies that occur during acclimatization, including a decline in intracranial compliance (a “tighter fit”), increased altitude may be related to a reduction in concussion rates in high school athletes.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Data on concussions and athlete exposures (AEs) between 2005-2006 and 2011-2012 were obtained from a large national sample of high schools (National High School Sports-Related Injury Surveillance System [High School RIO]) and were used to calculate total, competition, and practice concussion rates for aggregated sports and for football only.

Results:

Altitude of participating schools ranged from 7 to 6903 ft (median, 600 ft), and a total of 5936 concussions occurred in 20,618,915 exposures (2.88 per 10,000 AEs). When concussion rates were dichotomized by altitude using the median, elevated altitude was associated with a reduction in concussion rates overall (rate ratio [RR], 1.31; P < .001), in competition (RR, 1.31; P < .001), and in practice (RR, 1.29; P < .001). Specifically, high school sports played at higher altitude demonstrated a 31% reduction (95% confidence interval [CI], 25%-38%) in the incidence of total reported concussions. Likewise, concussion rates at increased altitude were reduced 30% for overall exposures, 27% for competition exposures, and 28% for practice exposures in football players ( P < .001).

Conclusion:

The results of this epidemiological investigation indicate increased physiological responses to altitude may be associated with a reduction in sports-related concussion rates, especially in collision sports. Future research that focuses on the potential prophylactic effect of optimizing outflow impedance and thus reduction of intracranial compliance (a “tighter fit”) in humans is warranted to determine the most effective approaches to mitigate sport-related concussion, especially in football players.
Role of filler alloy composition on laser arc hybrid weldability of nickel-base IN738 superalloy
Authors: Ola O. T. , Ojo O. A. , Chaturvedi M. C.
Published: November 2013

Laser arc hybrid weldability study was performed on nickel-base IN738 superalloy using nickel-base filler alloys of various compositions. Propensity for heat affected zone (HAZ) intergranular liquation cracking in the weldments was observed to vary depending on the Al+Ti+Nb+Ta concentration of the weld metals produced by the different filler alloys. Detailed study, including SEM and TEM analyses, thermodynamic calculations and microhardness evaluation revealed that variation in HAZ cracking susceptibility of IN738 superalloy when different filler alloys are used during laser arc hybrid welding can be attributed to variation in the extent of precipitation hardening produced in the weld metals. Additionally, shrinkage, and the consequent volumetric changes, due to γ′ precipitation in the weld metals could have contributed to excessive tensile loading of the crack susceptible HAZ and aided intergranular liquation cracking.
Human proT-cells generated in vitro facilitate hematopoietic stem cell-derived T-lymphopoiesis in vivo and restore thymic architecture
Authors: Awong Génève , Singh Jastaranpreet , Mohtashami Mahmood , Malm Maria , La Motte-Mohs Ross N. , Benveniste Patricia M. , Serra Pablo , Herer Elaine , van den Brink Marcel R. , Zúñiga-Pflücker Juan Carlos
Published: November 2013

Key Points

Intrathymic T-cell regeneration is facilitated by human proT-cells generated in vitro. In vitro–generated human proT-cells home to the thymus, wherein they restore thymic structure.
Chromatin looping defines expression of TAL1, its flanking genes, and regulation in T-ALL
Authors: Zhou Yan , Kurukuti Sreenivasulu , Saffrey Peter , Vukovic Milica , Michie Alison M. , Strogantsev Ruslan , West Adam G. , Vetrie David
Published: November 2013

Key Points

GATA1-dependent chromatin looping at the TAL1 locus accounts for many biological and evolutionary features of TAL1 expression. Chromatin looping also regulates expression of TAL1 flanking genes and brings TAL1 and STIL into close proximity at T-ALL breakpoints.
How I treat nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Advani Ranjana H. , Hoppe Richard T.
Published: November 2013

Nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) is an uncommon entity that, in contrast to classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL), universally expresses CD20, a hallmark of the disease. The majority of the patients present with early-stage disease, and treatment with local radiation provides excellent disease control and overall survival (OS). For locally extensive or advanced stages, paradigms used for cHL have been employed, with similar outcomes. Unlike cHL, late relapses may occur, as well as a propensity to transform to an aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma that underscores the importance of long-term follow-up and rebiopsy at the time of relapse. Deaths caused by NLPHL are uncommon, and in older series, secondary malignancies and other treatment-related toxicities contributed appreciably to overall mortality. Expression of CD20 in NLPHL has led to the evaluation of rituximab as a therapeutic option. Although results with single-agent rituximab in the front-line setting are inferior to conventional therapy, rituximab is a reasonable choice for relapsed disease because of the high overall response rate and excellent tolerability. Most patients have a long OS; therefore, overall goals of therapy should be to minimize the risk for relapse and long-term toxicity.
Comparative incidence of pregnancy outcomes in treated obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome: the NOH-APS observational study
Authors: Bouvier Sylvie , Cochery-Nouvellon Éva , Lavigne-Lissalde Géraldine , Mercier Érick , Marchetti Tess , Balducchi Jean-Pierre , Marès Pierre , Gris Jean-Christophe
Published: November 2013

Key Points

Among women with pure obstetric APS, late pregnancy complications are more frequent in cases of prior fetal loss. Late pregnancy complications are more frequent among women treated for pure obstetric APS than among nontreated controls.
Existence and uniqueness of a common fixed point under a limit contractive condition
Authors: Imdad Mohammad , Chauhan Sunny , Khan Muhammad Alamgir
Published: November 2013

In this paper, utilizing the notion of common limit range property for two pairs of self mappings, we prove common fixed point theorems in fuzzy metric spaces under a limit contractive condition, which improve and extend the results of Zhu et al. [Common fixed point theorems of new contractive conditions in fuzzy metric spaces, J. Appl. Math. 2013:145190, 2013]. We also give some examples to demonstrate the validity of the hypotheses of our results. As an application to our main result, we obtain a fixed point theorem for four finite families of self mappings in fuzzy metric space.

MSC: 47H10, 54H25.
Estimating the polygamma functions for negative integers
Authors: Salem Ahmed , Kılıçman Adem
Published: November 2013

The polygamma functions

ψ

(
r
)

(
x
)

are defined for all

x
>
0

and

r
∈
N

. In this paper, the concepts of neutrix and neutrix limit are applied to generalize and redefine the polygamma functions

ψ

(
r
)

(
x
)

for all

x
∈
R

and

r
∈
N

. Also, further results are given.

MSC:33B15, 46F10.
α1-antitrypsin promotes SPLUNC1-mediated lung defense against Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in mice
Authors: Jiang Di , Persinger Rebecca , Wu Qun , Gross Ashley , Chu Hong Wei
Published: November 2013

Background

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) infection is involved in various lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, treatment of PA infection is not very effective in part due to antibiotic resistance. α1-antitrypsin (A1AT) has been shown to reduce PA infection in humans and animals, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The goal of our study is to test whether a novel endogenous host defense protein, short palate, lung, and nasal epithelium clone 1 (SPLUNC1), is involved in the therapeutic effect of A1AT during lung PA infection.

Method

SPLUNC1 knockout (KO) and littermate wild-type (WT) mice on the C57BL/6 background were intranasally infected with PA to determine the therapeutic effects of A1AT. A1AT was aerosolized to mice 2 hrs after the PA infection, and mice were sacrificed 24 hrs later. PA load and inflammation were quantified in the lung, and SPLUNC1 protein in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was examined by Western blot.

Results

In WT mice, PA infection significantly increased neutrophil elastase (NE) activity, but reduced SPLUNC1 protein in BAL fluid. Notably, PA-infected mice treated with A1AT versus bovine serum albumin (BSA) demonstrated higher levels of SPLUNC1 protein expression, which are accompanied by lower levels of NE activity, lung bacterial load, and pro-inflammatory cytokine production. To determine whether A1AT therapeutic effects are dependent on SPLUNC1, lung PA load in A1AT- or BSA-treated SPLUNC1 KO mice was examined. Unlike the WT mice, A1AT treatment in SPLUNC1 KO mice had no significant impact on lung PA load and pro-inflammatory cytokine production.

Conclusion

A1AT reduces lung bacterial infection in mice in part by preventing NE-mediated SPLUNC1 degradation.
Evolutionary rate patterns of genes involved in the Drosophila Toll and Imd signaling pathway
Authors: Han Ming , Qin Sheng , Song Xiaojun , Li Yafang , Jin Ping , Chen Liming , Ma Fei
Published: November 2013

Background

To survive in a hostile environment, insects have evolved an innate immune system to defend against infection. Studies have shown that natural selection may drive the evolution of immune system-related proteins. Yet, how network architecture influences protein sequence evolution remains unclear. Here, we analyzed the molecular evolutionary patterns of genes in the Toll and Imd innate immune signaling pathways across sixDrosophilagenomes within the context of a functional network.

Results

Based on published literature, we identified 50 genes that are directly involved in theDrosophilaToll and Imd signaling pathways. Of those genes, only two (Sphinx1andDnr1) exhibited signals of positive selection. There existed a negative correlation between the strength of purifying selection and gene position within the pathway; the downstream genes were more conserved, indicating that they were subjected to stronger evolutionary constraints. Interestingly, there was also a significantly negative correlation between the rate of protein evolution and the number of regulatory microRNAs, implying that genes regulated by more miRNAs experience stronger functional constraints and therefore evolve more slowly.

Conclusion

Taken together, our results suggested that both network architecture and miRNA regulation affect protein sequence evolution. These findings improve our understanding of the evolutionary patterns of genes involved inDrosophilainnate immune pathways.
Medium-sized tandem repeats represent an abundant component of the Drosophila virilis genome
Authors: Abdurashitov Murat A , Gonchar Danila A , Chernukhin Valery A , Tomilov Victor N , Tomilova Julia E , Schostak Natalia G , Zatsepina Olga G , Zelentsova Elena S , Evgen’ev Michael B , Degtyarev Sergey Kh
Published: November 2013

Background

Previously, we developed a simple method for carrying out a restriction enzyme analysis of eukaryotic DNA in silico, based on the known DNA sequences of the genomes. This method allows the user to calculate lengths of all DNA fragments that are formed after a whole genome is digested at the theoretical recognition sites of a given restriction enzyme. A comparison of the observed peaks in distribution diagrams with the results from DNA cleavage using several restriction enzymes performed in vitro have shown good correspondence between the theoretical and experimental data in several cases. Here, we applied this approach to the annotated genome of Drosophila virilis which is extremely rich in various repeats.

Results

Here we explored the combined approach to perform the restriction analysis of D. virilis DNA. This approach enabled to reveal three abundant medium-sized tandem repeats within the D. virilis genome. While the 225 bp repeats were revealed previously in intergenic non-transcribed spacers between ribosomal genes of D. virilis, two other families comprised of 154 bp and 172 bp repeats were not described. Tandem Repeats Finder search demonstrated that 154 bp and 172 bp units are organized in multiple clusters in the genome of D. virilis. Characteristically, only 154 bp repeats derived from Helitron transposon are transcribed.

Conclusion

Using in silico digestion in combination with conventional restriction analysis and sequencing of repeated DNA fragments enabled us to isolate and characterize three highly abundant families of medium-sized repeats present in the D. virilis genome. These repeats comprise a significant portion of the genome and may have important roles in genome function and structural integrity. Therefore, we demonstrated an approach which makes possible to investigate in detail the gross arrangement and expression of medium-sized repeats basing on sequencing data even in the case of incompletely assembled and/or annotated genomes.
Neisseria gonorrhoeae PIII has a role on NG1873 outer membrane localization and is involved in bacterial adhesion to human cervical and urethral epithelial cells
Authors: Leuzzi Rosanna , Nesta Barbara , Monaci Elisabetta , Cartocci Elena , Serino Laura , Soriani Marco , Rappuoli Rino , Pizza Mariagrazia
Published: November 2013

Background

Protein PIII is one of the major outer membrane proteins of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, 95% identical to RmpM (reduction modifiable protein M) or class 4 protein of Neisseria meningitidis. RmpM is known to be a membrane protein associated by non-covalent bonds to the peptidoglycan layer and interacting with PorA/PorB porin complexes resulting in the stabilization of the bacterial membrane. The C-terminal domain of PIII (and RmpM) is highly homologous to members of the OmpA family, known to have a role in adhesion/invasion in many bacterial species. The contribution of PIII in the membrane architecture and its role in the interaction with epithelial cells has never been investigated.

Results

We generated a ΔpIII knock-out mutant strain and evaluated the effects of the loss of PIII expression on bacterial morphology and on outer membrane composition. Deletion of the pIII gene does not cause any alteration in bacterial morphology or sensitivity to detergents. Moreover, the expression profile of the main membrane proteins remains the same for the wild-type and knock-out strains, with the exception of the NG1873 which is not exported to the outer membrane and accumulates in the inner membrane in the ΔpIII knock-out mutant strain.

We also show that purified PIII protein is able to bind human cervical and urethral cells and that the ΔpIII knock-out mutant strain has a lower ability to adhere to human cervical and urethral cells.

Conclusion

Here we demonstrated that the PIII protein does not play a key structural role in the membrane organization of gonococcus and does not induce major effects on the expression of the main outer membrane proteins. However, in the PIII knock-out strain, the NG1873 protein is not localized in the outer membrane as it is in the wild-type strain suggesting a possible interaction of PIII with NG1873. The evidence that PIII binds to human epithelial cells derived from the female and male genital tract highlights a possible role of PIII in the virulence of gonococcus and suggests that the structural homology to OmpA is conserved also at functional level.
FACET – a “Flexible Artifact Correction and Evaluation Toolbox” for concurrently recorded EEG/fMRI data
Authors: Glaser Johann , Beisteiner Roland , Bauer Herbert , Fischmeister Florian Ph S
Published: November 2013

Background

In concurrent EEG/fMRI recordings, EEG data are impaired by the fMRI gradient artifacts which exceed the EEG signal by several orders of magnitude. While several algorithms exist to correct the EEG data, these algorithms lack the flexibility to either leave out or add new steps. The here presented open-source MATLAB toolbox FACET is a modular toolbox for the fast and flexible correction and evaluation of imaging artifacts from concurrently recorded EEG datasets. It consists of anAnalysis, aCorrectionand anEvaluationframework allowing the user to choose from different artifact correction methods with various pre- and post-processing steps to form flexible combinations. The quality of the chosen correction approach can then be evaluated and compared to different settings.

Results

FACET was evaluated on a dataset provided with the FMRIB plugin for using two different correction approaches: Averaged Artifact Subtraction (AAS, Allen et al., NeuroImage 12(2):230–239, 2000) and the FMRI Artifact Slice Template Removal (FASTR, Niazy et al., NeuroImage 28(3):720–737, 2005). Evaluation of the obtained results were compared to the FASTR algorithm implemented in the plugin FMRIB. No differences were found between the FACET implementation of FASTR and the original algorithm across all gradient artifact relevant performance indices.

Conclusion

The FACET toolbox not only provides facilities for all three modalities: data analysis, artifact correction as well as evaluation and documentation of the results but it also offers an easily extendable framework for development and evaluation of new approaches.