bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Compressive Stockings After Hindfoot and Ankle Surgery
Authors: Grubhofer Florian , Catanzaro Sabrina , Schüpbach Regula , Imam Mohamed A. , Wirth Stephan
Published: December 2017

Background:

Swelling and pain are common after foot and ankle procedures. We hypothesized that compressive stockings (CS) treatment after hindfoot surgery would positively influence patient outcomes.

Methods:

We undertook this randomized controlled trial in 87 consecutive patients to analyze the clinical effect of CS after hindfoot and ankle surgery and evaluate CS-wearing compliance using sensors that were implanted into CS. Ankle swelling, pain status, quality of life (SF-36 score), and the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Score (AOFAS) were set as the primary end points. The CS wearing time in hours and percentage were investigated as the secondary end points. All participants with CS (group I) were informed about the implanted sensor after the CS were taken off. A subgroup analysis of group I was performed to detect differences between patients with high vs low compliance.

Results:

At 12 weeks, the results of ankle swelling (mean 234 mm in group I and 232 mm in group II), pain in the visual analog scale (1.7 group I vs 1.9 in group II), the SF-36 score (38 points in group I vs 30 points in group II), and the AOFAS score (a mean of 76 points in both groups) showed no statistical differences between the 2 groups. The mean wearing time was 136 (range, 0-470) hours, which corresponds to a compliance rate of 65%. Sixteen participants had high compliance (>80%, >170 hours), and 21 patients had low or noncompliance. The clinical results of patients with high wearing compliance were not significantly better compared to the results of patients with low compliance.

Conclusion:

CS therapy after ankle and hindfoot surgery was associated with a low wearing compliance and did not influence ankle swelling, function, pain, and the quality of life compared to the control group. Furthermore, the clinical results of patients with high compliance were not better compared to the results of patients with low or noncompliance wearing behavior.

Level of Evidence:

Level II, prospective randomized study of lower quality.
Low fetal hemoglobin percentage is associated with silent brain lesions in adults with homozygous sickle cell disease
Authors: Calvet David , Tuilier Titien , Mélé Nicolas , Turc Guillaume , Habibi Anoosha , Abdallah Nassim Ait , Majhadi Loubna , Hemery François , Edjlali Myriam , Galacteros Frédéric , Bartolucci Pablo
Published: December 2017

Key Points

Low %HbF is independently associated with silent WMCs on brain imaging in adults with SCD. Our results highlight the potential use of therapeutic strategies inducing HbF expression in SCD patients with silent white matter changes.
Pharmacologic activation of cholinergic alpha7 nicotinic receptors mitigates depressive-like behavior in a mouse model of chronic stress
Authors: Zhao Dan , Xu Xulin , Pan Linna , Zhu Wei , Fu Xiaopei , Guo Lianjun , Lu Qing , Wang Jian
Published: December 2017

Background

It has been shown that chronic stress-induced depression is associated with exaggerated inflammatory response in the brain. Alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7nAChRs) regulate the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, but the role of cholinergic signaling and α7nAChR in chronic stress has not yet been examined.

Methods

In this study, we used a well-documented model of depression in which mice were exposed to 6 h of restraint stress for 21 consecutive days. Components of cholinergic signaling and TLR4 signaling were analyzed in the hippocampus. The main targets of neuroinflammation and neuronal damage were also evaluated after a series of tests for depression-like behavior.

Results

Chronic restraint stress (CRS) induced alterations in components of central cholinergic signaling in hippocampus, including increases in choline acetyltransferase protein expression and decreases in nuclear STAT3 signaling. CRS also increased TLR4 signaling activity, interleukin-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α expression, microglial activation, and neuronal morphologic changes. Cholinergic stimulation with the α7nAChR agonist DMXBA significantly alleviated CRS-induced depressive-like behavior, neuroinflammation, and neuronal damage, but these effects were abolished by the selective α7nAChR antagonist α-bungarotoxin. Furthermore, activation of α7nAChRs restored the central cholinergic signaling function, inhibited TLR4-mediated inflammatory signaling and microglial activity, and increased the number of regulatory T cells in the hippocampus.

Conclusions

These findings provide evidence that α7nAChR activation mitigates CRS-induced neuroinflammation and cell death, suggesting that α7nAChRs could be a new therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of depression.
Development of a Biological Science Quantitative Reasoning Exam (BioSQuaRE)
Authors: Stanhope Liz , Ziegler Laura , Haque Tabassum , Le Laura , Vinces Marcelo , Davis Gregory K. , Zieffler Andrew , Brodfuehrer Peter , Preest Marion , M. Belitsky Jason , Umbanhowar Charles , Overvoorde Paul J.
Published: December 2017

Multiple reports highlight the increasingly quantitative nature of biological research and the need to innovate means to ensure that students acquire quantitative skills. We present a tool to support such innovation. The Biological Science Quantitative Reasoning Exam (BioSQuaRE) is an assessment instrument designed to measure the quantitative skills of undergraduate students within a biological context. The instrument was developed by an interdisciplinary team of educators and aligns with skills included in national reports such as BIO2010, Scientific Foundations for Future Physicians, and Vision and Change. Undergraduate biology educators also confirmed the importance of items included in the instrument. The current version of the BioSQuaRE was developed through an iterative process using data from students at 12 postsecondary institutions. A psychometric analysis of these data provides multiple lines of evidence for the validity of inferences made using the instrument. Our results suggest that the BioSQuaRE will prove useful to faculty and departments interested in helping students acquire the quantitative competencies they need to successfully pursue biology, and useful to biology students by communicating the importance of quantitative skills. We invite educators to use the BioSQuaRE at their own institutions.
Multiscale phase inversion of seismic data
Authors: Fu Lei , Guo Bowen , Schuster Gerard T.
Published: December 2017

We present a scheme for multiscale phase inversion (MPI) of seismic data that is less sensitive than full-waveform inversion (FWI) to the unmodeled physics of wave propagation and to a poor starting model. To avoid cycle skipping, the multiscale strategy temporally integrates the traces several times, i.e., high-order integration, to produce low-boost seismograms that are used as input data for the initial iterations of MPI. As the iterations proceed, lower frequencies in the data are boosted by using integrated traces of lower order as the input data. The input data are also filtered into different narrow frequency bands for the MPI implementation. Numerical results with synthetic acoustic data indicate that, for the Marmousi model, MPI is more robust than conventional multiscale FWI when the initial model is moderately far from the true model. Results from synthetic viscoacoustic and elastic data indicate that MPI is less sensitive than FWI to some of the unmodeled physics. Inversion of marine data indicates that MPI is more robust and produces modestly more accurate results than FWI for this data set.
Overview of geologic evolution and hydrocarbon generation of the Pannonian Basin
Authors: Horváth Ferenc , Dulić Ivan , Vranković Alan , Koroknai Balázs , Tóth Tamás , Wórum Géza , Kovács Gábor
Published: December 2017

The Pannonian Basin is an intraorogenic extensional region floored by a complex system of Alpine orogenic terranes and oceanic suture zones. Its formation dates back to the beginning of the Miocene, and initial fluvial-lacustrine deposits pass into shallow to open marine strata, including a large amount of calc-alkaline volcanic materials erupted during the culmination of the synrift phase. The onset of the postrift phase occurred during the Late Miocene, when the basin became isolated and a large Pannonian lake developed. Early lacustrine marls are overlain by turbiditic sandstones and silts related to a progradational shelf slope and a delta plain sequence passing upward into alluvial plain deposits and eolian sands. A remarkable nonconformity at the top of lacustrine strata associated with a significant (4–7 my) time gap at large parts of the basin documents a neotectonic phase of activity, manifested by regional strike-slip faulting and kilometer-scale differential vertical movements, with erosion and redeposition. Subsidence and burial history modeling indicate that Middle and Late Miocene, fairly organic-rich marine and lacustrine (respectively) shales entered into the oil-generation window at about the beginning of the Pliocene in depocenters deeper than 2.5–3 km, and even reached the wet to dry gas-generation zone at depths exceeding 4–4.5 km. Migration out of these kitchens has been going on since the latest Miocene toward basement highs, where anticlines and flower structures offered adequate trapping conditions for hydrocarbons. We argue that compaction of thick sedimentary piles, in addition to neotectonic structures, has also been important in trap formation within the Pannonian Basin.
EL PAPEL DEL CONTEXTO Y LA FAMILIARIDAD EN EL CONTEXTO SOBRE PROBLEMAS DE MATEMÁTICAS
Authors: Almuna Salgado Felipe J.
Published: December 2017

La literatura en educación matemática promueve el uso de problemas matemáticos en diferentes contextos, y de ahí que en diferentes programas internacionales de estudios escolares de la asignatura de matemática han incorporado dicha recomendación.Un número de argumentos teóricos avalan el uso de contexto en problemas de matemáticos, sin embargo, la influencia del contexto y en especial el rol de la familiaridad del contexto en el rendimiento estudiantil es una problemática aún no entendida completamente. Después de una revisión de literatura se argumenta, en este artículo, que alrededor de noventa años de investigación del impacto del contexto de un problema matemático en el rendimiento estudiantil, nada concreto puede aún ser afirmado sobre esta relación; lo anterior, se debe a escasa evidencia en esta relación. Dado que el término contexto posee múltiples significados asociados, el artículo clarifica primeramente este término y lo diferencia de otros. Luego, argumentos teóricos y de investigación empírica son revisados en relación al rol del contexto y la familiaridad del contexto de un problema matemático en el rendimiento estudiantil.
Accuracy of C-arm measurements in assessment of paediatric femoral fracture shortening
Authors: Boduch A. , Hennrikus M. , Adebayo T. , Brian J. , Hennrikus W.
Published: December 2017

Purpose

Spica casting of femoral shaft fractures is standard practice for young children. In 1983, Dr. Rang published an illustration demonstrating that radiographs can be misleading when measuring femoral fracture shortening. Today, fluoroscopy is used to determine shortening after closed reduction and spica casting. This paper aims to determine the accuracy of fluoroscopy when measuring 25 mm of shortening in a femur fracture sawbone model.

Methods

Magnification, elevation and angulation were evaluated using a femur fracture sawbone model with a fixed overlap of 25 mm. Two C-arm machines used in clinical practice were studied: the OEC 9900 Elite GE C-arm and the Fluoroscan InSight mini C-arm.

Results

The OEC 9900 Elite GE C-arm demonstrated a 1.75 × magnification. The Fluoroscan InSight mini C-arm demonstrated a 2.5 × magnification. An 11% and a 17% magnification with elevation of the femur to 8 cm occurred using the OEC 9900 Elite GE and the Fluoroscan InSight mini C-arm respectively. Changing the tube angulation from 0° to 60° resulted in a 36% and 16% change in measured femur fracture shortening on the OEC C-arm and Fluoroscan mini C-arm respectively.

Conclusion

C-arm images are inaccurate. When measuring 25 mm of shortening of a paediatric femur fracture, each machine has a unique amount of magnification that should be determined and accounted for in clinical practice. Elevation of the femur above the C-arm receiver and angulation of the femur further increase the inaccuracies when measuring 25 mm of fracture shortening. Images perpendicular to the fracture are most accurate.
Editor Reputation and Journal Quality: The Case of Regional Economic Association Journals
Authors: Faria João R , Mixon Franklin G , Upadhyaya Kamal P
Published: December 2017

This study provides a formal game that explores how editor reputation and rent seeking play a part in scholarly research that involves regional economic association journals. The game asserts that a regional economic association journal’s reputation is determined by the academic reputation of its editor, the academic reputation of the department wherein the journal is housed, and, among other things, rent seeking by scholars. Evidence from the two most prominent regional economic association journals in the United States, namelyEconomic Inquiryand theSouthern Economic Journal, generally support these aspects of the formal game.
Temperature effect on the physicochemical properties of χ-alumina interaction with CCl4
Authors: Yashnik S.A. , Salnikov A.V. , Shikina N.V. , Ischenko A.V. , Prosvirin I.P. , Litvak G.S.
Published: December 2017

The main characteristics in the formation of morphological, textural and acidic properties of the catalysts obtained by thermal treatment of χ-Al
Talking about Birth Control in 1877: Gender, Class, and Ideology in the Knowlton Trial
Authors: Janssen Flore
Published: December 2017

This article explores the debate around widening access to birth control information in the late nineteenth century through a case study of Annie Besant’s participation in the 1877 Knowlton Trial. Examining Besant’s rhetoric at the trial and in related publications, it highlights the public and performative nature of her campaign to facilitate access to birth control information for working-class married couples. With reference to the representation of issues of gender and social class and the shifting focus from the private to the public in Besant’s rhetoric, the article argues that the late nineteenth-century debate around birth control access was a middle-class debate about working-class life and experience.
“See My Heart”: Art and Alchemical Reasoning, or Character Transformation in Bryan Fuller’s Hannibal
Authors: Krawczyk-Łaskarzewska Anna
Published: December 2017

Works of art seem to be used more and more frequently in scripted TV shows nowadays. Most often, they constitute a symbolic point of reference, an intertextual “interlude,” or merely a convenient plot device. However, Bryan Fuller’s 2013 TV series Hannibal goes beyond the stereotypical functions of art, using it as a sort of intermediary between literary and televisual fantasies and elevating its narrative status. It can even be argued that works of art in Hannibal constitute the key element to understanding character development and transmutation in the three seasons of the show. This article focuses on the ramifications of making Sandro Botticelli’s ever-elusive Primavera a striking aspect of Hannibal’s third season. Fuller foregrounds the painting’s motif of becoming in order to repurpose the literary franchise and its cinematic offshoots. As a result, a more in-depth portrayal of its principal characters is offered, together with their unending, but ultimately incomplete alchemical cycle of purification, “fiery love,” rebirth and death: stages representing the “enlightenment and perfection” (Gillies, Botticelli’s Primavera 133) of human souls. Alongside other masterpieces displayed in the series, Primavera helps destabilise the confines of the televisual medium and of the horror genre, while at the same time demonstrating the complexity of transmedial connections and influences.
An almost pluriclosed flow
Authors: Kawamura Masaya
Published: December 2017

We define two parabolic flows on almost complex manifolds, which coincide with the pluriclosed flow and the Hermitian curvature flow respectively on complex manifolds.We study the relationship between these parabolic evolution equations on compact almost Hermitian manifolds.
Isoperimetric problems for a nonlocal perimeter of Minkowski type
Authors: Cesaroni Annalisa , Novaga Matteo
Published: December 2017

We show a quantitative version of the isoperimetric inequality for a non local perimeter of Minkowski type. We also apply this result to study isoperimetric problems with repulsive interaction terms, under volume and convexity constraints.We prove existence of minimizers, and we describe their shape as the volume tends to zero or to infinity.
Genealogy of the Sunflower Lines Created on the Basis of Russian Varieties
Authors: Gavrilova V. A. , Anisimova I. N.
Published: December 2017

America is the center of origin of the annual sunflower
Characteristics of wood-silica composites influenced by the pH value of silica sols
Authors: Jiang Jun , Cao Jinzhen , Wang Wang
Published: December 2017

Southern pine (Pinus spp.) sapwood samples were impregnated with silica sols with known zeta potential and particle size distribution at various pH values (3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13) to produce wood-silica composites (WSiCs). The morphological and chemical properties of the composites were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDXA) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The overall performance of the composites was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, and dynamic wettability tests, and their dimensional stability and surface hardness were also investigated as well. The pH value of the sols had a remarkable effect on the distribution of zeta potential and colloidal particle size, and on their penetration and distribution in the wood. The composites produced at pH 5 and pH 11 show relatively better impregnability and overall properties. In the first case the compatibility with the wood pH (ca. 5) is relevant, and at these pH values are the sol’s particle sizes low. Sols with pH around 13 resulted in inferior properties, such as increased water absorption, high thermal degradation and poor dimensional stability. This could be ascribed to wood degradation under high alkaline conditions. The results were discussed in view of the colloidal particle redistribution and the interaction between silica sol and wood.
Vom Sichern der Zeit und Zeigen der Geschichte. Zum Archiv als Zeitgeber des Fin de Siècle
Authors: Steglich Sina
Published: December 2017

Das zentrale Argument des Beitrages zielt auf eine Zeiten-Geschichte des Fin de Siècle aus der Perspektive des Archivs. Ausgehend vom Beispiel der seit dem letzten Drittel des 19. Jahrhunderts verbreiteten Archivalienausstellungen wird danach gefragt, inwiefern diese sich als Reaktion auf eine krisenhafte Zeitwahrnehmung verstehen ließen. Das Empfinden von Zeit als beschleunigter, verflüssigter oder aufgespaltener Zeit wurde um 1900 zunehmend als Problem und damit auch als zu behebende Herausforderung aufgefasst. Entsprechend galt es, die Zeit wieder zu sichern. Unter Rückgriff auf wichtige archivinterne Entwicklungen, wie die Einführung des Provenienzprinzips, die Etablierung der Archivistik als eigener Disziplin und die sich wandelnde Vorstellung von Aufgabe und Ziel nationaler Archive in Deutschland, Frankreich und Großbritannien wird herausgearbeitet, dass diese zunehmend als Voraussetzung für nationale Geschichte begriffen und konzipiert wurden. Eingebunden in einen „organologischen“ Denkmodus konnten gerade Nationalarchive dazu beitragen, die Zeitdimensionen von Vergangenheit, Gegenwart und Zukunft sinnhaft zu überbrücken und dadurch eine autorisierte Geschichte als Fundament der Gegenwart bereitzustellen. Zeit konnte dergestalt in Form von Geschichte homogenisiert gedacht und in vielfältiger Weise auch veranschaulicht werden, wofür das Beispiel der Archivmuseen symptomatisch stehen kann. Das Verständnis des Archivs als eines zentralen Zeitgebers eröffnet daher die Möglichkeit, ergänzend zum Narrativ der Standardisierung von Zeit während des Fin de Siècle auch deren Pluralisierung zu betonen.
Recovery of Phenolic Compounds and Carbohydrates from Hydro-ethanolic Extract of Zizyphus lotus Fruit using Ultrafiltration Process
Authors: Mkadmini Hammi Khaoula , Jellouli Ennigrou Dorra , Majdoub Hatem , Ksouri Riadh
Published: December 2017

Cross flow ultrafiltration (UF) using a cellulose membrane (cut off of 5 kDa) was employed to separate phenolic compounds from carbohydrates of hydro-ethanolic extract obtained from Zizyphus lotus fruit. The performance of the UF membrane was evaluated in terms of permeate flux, fouling index and retention values of total phenolic compounds, carbohydrates and uronic acid contents. The results showed that at VRF of 4.5, the membrane gave the highest rejections towards carbohydrates (99.89 %) and uronic acids (82.8 %) and the lowest average rejection of total phenolic compounds (3.12 %). Moreover, the permeate fraction exhibited the highest 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging ability and total antioxidant capacity with 0.036 mg.mL−1 and 102.145(mgGAE.g−1DM), respectively. This result is due to the presence of phenolic compounds (gallic acid, syringic acid, catechin, quercetin and kaempferol) as identified by HPLC system. Besides, a low rejection values of the UF membrane concerning these compounds were confirmed by liquid chromatography analyses.
The effect of electro-acupuncture on pro-oxidant antioxidant balance values in overweight and obese subjects: a randomized controlled trial study
Authors: Mazidi M. , Abbasi-Parizad P. , Abdi H. , Zhao B. , Rahsepar A. A. , Tavallaie S. , Parizadeh S. M. , Rezaie P. , Safariyan M. , Nematy M. , Mohammadi M. , Darbandi M. , Darbandi S. , Ghayour-Mobarhan M. , Ferns G. A.
Published: December 2017

Objective

To undertake a randomized controlled trial in 196 obese subjects to examine the effect of electro-acupuncture on serum pro-oxidant antioxidant balance (PAB) values.

Methods

Subjects received authentic acupuncture (cases) or sham acupuncture (controls) for 6 weeks in combination with a low-calorie diet. In the following 6 weeks, they received the low-calorie diet alone. Serum PAB was measured at baseline, and 6 and 12 weeks later.

Results

We found that serum PAB values decreased significantly in the group receiving the authentic acupuncture compared to the sham treatment (p<0.001) at week 6, and whilst serum PAB increased significantly (p<0.05) in the second phase of the study, a significant difference between two groups remained at 12 weeks (p<0.05).

Conclusions

Electro-acupuncture in combination with a low-calorie diet was more effective at reducing serum PAB values in obese subjects compared to diet alone. Further work is required to determine the mechanism by which electro-acupuncture has this effect.
The dico form: An autonymous marker
Authors: Taous Tatiana
Published: December 2017

In this paper we review a specific use of the
Genitivus of denomination with nomen, cognomen and praenomen
Authors: Logozzo Felicia
Published: December 2017

The aim of this paper is to collect and classify the occurrences of
Septimus casus: the history of a misunderstanding from Varro to the late Latin grammarians
Authors: Uría Javier
Published: December 2017

This paper reviews approaches to what is known as the
Growth response to growth hormone treatment in patients with SHOX deficiency can be predicted by the Cologne prediction model
Authors: Hoyer-Kuhn Heike , Franklin Jeremy , Jones Christine , Blum Werner F. , Schoenau Eckhard
Published: December 2017

Background

Growth hormone (GH) treatment in children with short stature homeobox-containing gene (SHOX) deficiency is recognized to increase height velocity (HV) and adult height. Prediction of growth response continues to be a challenge. A comparatively accurate method is the Cologne prediction model developed in children with GH deficiency. The aim was to investigate whether this model also applies to patients with SHOX deficiency.

Methods

Included were 48 patients with SHOX deficiency confirmed by DNA analysis and treated with 0.05 mg/kg/day of somatropin. Prediction by the Cologne model uses the following variables: relative bone age (BA) retardation, baseline insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD) cross-links at 4 weeks and HV at 3 months.

Results

HV and height standard deviation scores (SDS) increased significantly during the first year of treatment. Predicted and observed HV (cm/year) showed a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.50 (p<0.001; root-mean-square error=1.63) and for first-year change in height SDS a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.751 (p<0.001; root-mean-square error=0.32). Poor response could be adequately predicted using SDS change, with sensitivity and specificity both above 70% for certain thresholds.

Conclusions:

The results demonstrate that the Cologne model can be used to predict growth response in patients with SHOX deficiency with reasonable precision in the first treatment year, comparable to prediction in patients with GH deficiency.
Allergic and non-allergic skin reactions associated with growth hormone therapy: elucidation of causative agents
Authors: Mehta Shilpa , Oza Vikash , Potashner Renee , Zamora Patricia , Raisingani Manish , Shah Bina
Published: December 2017

Background:

Allergic and non-allergic skin reactions to recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) are uncommon and infrequently reported. However, physicians should be aware of these potential side effects to determine whether the reactions constitute true allergies and how to proceed with growth hormone therapy. To review allergic and non-allergic skin reactions caused by rhGH and subsequent diagnostic workup and management options.

Case presentation:

We report the case of a 12-year-old healthy male presenting with idiopathic short stature. He developed an itchy skin rash over the chest and abdomen, 15 min after administration of the first dose of rhGH, leading us to review allergic and non-allergic skin reactions to rhGH. In our patient, an immediate skin reaction after administration of rhGH prompted a concern about a type I hypersensitivity reaction (HS) and the discontinuation of rhGH. However, after a dermatologic evaluation and observed administration of rhGH without subsequent rash, the initial eruption was likely an exacerbation of his underlying atopic dermatitis and a type I HS was felt to be unlikely. The rhGH was resumed and he has been on rhGH for the past 1 year with no recurrence of rash and with improvement in growth velocity.

Conclusions:

Though rare, allergic and non-allergic skin reactions are known to occur with rhGH. It is important to know if the allergic reaction was due to the growth hormone molecule or one of the preservatives. It is also important to consider a non-allergic reaction due to flare up of underlying skin disorders as in our patient.
Seasonality of blood neopterin levels in the Old Order Amish
Authors: Mohyuddin Hira , Georgiou Polymnia , Wadhawan Abhishek , Daue Melanie L. , Brenner Lisa A. , Gragnoli Claudia , Saunders Erika F.H. , Fuchs Dietmar , Lowry Christopher A. , Postolache Teodor T.
Published: December 2017

Seasonal changes in non-human animals and seasonal affective disorder (SAD) in humans are associated with immune activation in winter relative to summer. We intended to measure seasonal variation in neopterin, a marker of cellular immunity, and its interactions with gender and seasonality of mood. We studied 320 Amish from Lancaster, PA, USA (men=128; 40%) with an average age [Standard deviation (SD)] of 56.7 (13.9) years. Blood neopterin level was measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Seasonality was measured with Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ). Statistical analysis included analysis of covariance (ANCOVAs) and multivariate linear regression. We also investigated interactions of seasonal differences in neopterin with gender, seasonality scores and estimation of SAD diagnosis. We found a significantly higher neopterin level in winter than in summer (p=0.006). There were no significant gender or seasonality interactions. Our study confirmed the hypothesized higher neopterin level in winter. A cross sectional design was our major limitation. If this finding will be replicated by longitudinal studies in multiple groups, neopterin could be used to monitor immune status across seasons in demographically diverse samples, even if heterogeneous in gender distribution, and degree of seasonality of mood.
Is face the best metaphor? / ¿Es imagen social la mejor metáfora?
Authors: Arundale Robert B.
Published: December 2017

Because the term “face” is used so frequently in research in language pragmatics, one overlooks the fact that it is a metaphor. This article questions whether face is the best metaphor to use in representing either the phenomena that Goffman (1955) examined, or the broad range of social practices for relating to others in using language that are evident across cultural groups. As background for questioning the viability of the metaphor of face, this article argues that the individual and social aspects of human existence form a Yin and Yang dialectic, employs this dialectic to identify three modes of explaining pragmatic phenomena, and considers both the nature of metaphors and how they afford and constrain understandings of these phenomena and conducting research on them. Using this background, the article argues that the metaphor of face has focused theory and research on the individual aspects of human existence, so that its fundamental social aspects have been overlooked and/or inadequately addressed. Exploring and employing alternatives to the metaphor of face has important benefits for theory and for research, especially if those alternative metaphors are fitted to the particular communities of practice that one is studying.
Schätzwerte in der Geschwindigkeitsüberwachung: Der Qualitätsunterschied zwischen einer Ausgleichsgeraden und der Geraden durch deren Endpunkte
Authors: Wynands Robert
Published: December 2017

Manche Arten von Geschwindigkeitsmessgeräten, die für die
Verkehrsüberwachung eingesetzt werden, bestimmen die Geschwindigkeit
vorbeifahrender Fahrzeuge im Wesentlichen aus der Steigung einer
Ausgleichsgeraden. Vor Gericht wird diesem Messwert gelegentlich ein
nachträglicher Schätzwert gegenübergestellt, der durch die Steigung
der Verbindungslinie zwischen erstem und letztem Messpunkt gegeben
ist. Hier wird analytisch gezeigt, um wie viel größer die
Standardabweichung des Schätzwertes im Vergleich zu der des Messwertes
ist, also um wie viel weniger verlässlich er ist. Dies gilt auch bei
Lücken in der Abfolge von Messpunkten. Der Schätzwert ist daher nicht
geeignet, einen amtlichen Messwert in Zweifel zu ziehen. An einem
Beispiel aus der Praxis wird dies illustriert.
Tourismus und Klimawandel – Eine nachfrageseitige Analyse zu Wahrnehmung und Reaktion am Beispiel der Alpen
Authors: Bischof Michael , Schmude Jürgen , Bauer Manuela
Published: December 2017

Wetter und Klima sind wichtige Einflussgrößen für den Tourismus und folglich spielt auch der Klimawandel eine wichtige Rolle für den Tourismus (Dwyer et al. 2009; Lohmann & Aderhold 2009; Eisenstein 2016). Dies gilt sowohl für die Anbieter- als auch für die Nachfrageseite (Scott et al. 2012; Lohmann& Hübner 2013). Die Tourismuswissenschaft verzeichnet hierzu eine zunehmende Zahl an Studien in den vergangenen Jahren (BMWFW 2012; Becken 2013). Häufig werden die Auswirkungen des Klimawandels auf den Tourismus computergestützt in unterschiedlichem Detaillierungsgrad modelliert (Sax et al. 2016). Auffällig ist dabei, dass bisher vor allem die Anbieterseite im Fokus der Untersuchungen steht. Es gibt nur wenige Analysen zur Nachfrageseite, die beispielsweise die Wahrnehmung und Reaktion der Touristen bezüglich der Folgen des Klimawandels untersuchen. Ausnahmen bilden einige Arbeiten im Bereich des Wintersporttourismus (z. B. Dawson et al. 2013) sowie einige wenige explorative marktsegmentübergreifende Studien (z. B. Reintinger et al. 2016). Diese Forschungslücke ist Ausgangspunkt für die vorliegende Analyse der Diskrepanz zwischen Wahrnehmung und (potentieller) Reaktion von Touristen auf die die Folgen des Klimawandels auf Basis eigener empirischer Erhebungen (standardisierte Face-to-Face Befragung) in zwei ausgewählten alpinen Destinationen (Garmisch-Partenkirchen und Meran).
Mapping the Demotic Epistolary Framework through Network Visualisation
Authors: Dogaer Nico , Depauw Mark
Published: December 2017

In this article, network visualisation is presented as a new way to explore the formulaic framework of the Demotic papyrus letters. It also serves as an introduction of formal network analysis to the field of Demotic studies. This approach presents the evidence in a new light, focussing on the combination of formulae rather than on the phrases themselves, resulting in fresh observations on epistolary practices.
The Function of Final
w
in Nouns and Adjectives in the Autography of Selected Late Egyptian Texts
Authors: Kilani Marwan
Published: December 2017

Late Egyptian texts are often characterized by the presence of a w at the end of words that does not seem to have any etymological justification. This w has often been interpreted as a “space filler”, i.e. a sign without any real function used by the scribe to fill spaces in the text. In the present article I question this hypothesis, and I suggest instead that these w were used to supply some information about the vocalization of the word, as sort of very primitive matres lectionis. Starting from the analysis of nouns and adjectives from a corpus of selected Late Egyptian texts, my study shows that there is a correlation between the presence or absence of the w in late Egyptian words and the vocalization in the corresponding Coptic reflexes. Possible further research and some considerations about the larger implications of this system are presented in the conclusions.
Seth on Mount Sinai
Authors: Zellmann-Rohrer Michael
Published: December 2017

Edition of an unpublished Coptic magical papyrus with formulae for prayers and an amulet for divine protection and assistance. The first of the prayers bears witness to the adaptation of Jewish post-biblical lore for Coptic magic, via the intermediary of Greek translation. The papyrus, probably to be dated to the fifth or sixth century CE, was found in excavations at Lisht.
Notwendige Horizonterweiterungen für die Kirchenmitgliedschaftsuntersuchungen
Authors: Ilg Wolfgang
Published: December 2017

Die Kirchenmitgliedschaftsuntersuchungen der EKD gehören zu den am meisten beachteten empirischen Studien im kirchlichen Bereich. Der vorliegende Beitrag untersucht die aktuelle fünfte Untersuchung dieser Art (V. KMU) auf ihre Aussagekraft hinsichtlich religionspädagogischer Arbeitsfelder. Dabei wird deutlich, dass die Fragestellungen und Auswertungen der V. KMU kaum Aspekte aus den Handlungsfeldern der kirchlichen Arbeit mit Kindern und Jugendlichen aufnehmen. Ein Vergleich zwischen der V. KMU und den Tübinger Konfi-Studien zeigt die spezifischen Stärken der jeweiligen empirischen Untersuchungen auf. Für zukünftige Kirchenmitgliedschaftsuntersuchungen ergibt sich daraus der Vorschlag, verstärkt externe Daten zu berücksichtigen.
Befunde zur Konfirmandenarbeit und der Religionsunterricht: Perspektiven für Religionsdidaktik und Religionspädagogik
Authors: Schweitzer Friedrich
Published: December 2017

Dieser Beitrag fragt ausgehend von den in den letzten 10 Jahren in Deutschland sowie in acht weiteren Ländern bzw. Kirchen durchgeführten empirischen Untersuchungen zur Konfirmandenarbeit nach der Bedeutung der dabei gewonnen Befunde für Religionsunterricht, Religionsdidaktik und Religionspädagogik. Betrachtet werden die Konfirmandenarbeit als Sozialisationskontext, religiöse Einstellungen der Jugendlichen sowie ihr Interesse an verschiedenen Themen, woraus sich jeweils auch Impulse und Konsequenzen für die Religionsdidaktik ergeben. Darüber hinaus wird die Bildungsqualität non-formaler Angebote wie der Konfirmandenarbeit diskutiert. Am Ende stehen methodologische Überlegungen zur religionspädagogischen Forschung, die sich aus den Konfirmandenstudien ergeben.
Gait Speed Characteristics and Their Spatiotemporal Determinants in Nursing Home Residents: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Fien Samantha , Henwood Timothy , Climstein Mike , Rathbone Evelyne , Keogh Justin William Leslie
Published: December 2017

Background and Purpose:

Low and slowing gait speeds among nursing home residents are linked to a higher risk of disability, cognitive impairment, falls, and mortality. A better understanding of the spatiotemporal parameters of gait that influence declining mobility could lead to effective rehabilitation and preventative intervention. The aims of this study were to objectively quantify the spatiotemporal characteristics of gait in the nursing home setting and define the relationship between these parameters and gait speed.

Methods:

One hundred nursing home residents were enrolled into the study and completed 3 habitual gait speed trials over a distance of 3.66 m. Trials were performed using an instrumented gait analysis. The manner in which the spatiotemporal parameters predicted gait speed was examined by univariate and multivariable regression modeling.

Results:

The nursing home residents had a habitual mean (SD) gait speed of 0.63 (0.19) m/s, a stride length of 0.83 (0.15) m, a support base of 0.15 (0.06) m, and step time of 0.66 (0.12) seconds. Multivariable linear regression revealed stride length, support base, and step time predicted gait speed (R
2 = 0.89, P < .05). Step time had the greatest influence on gait speed, with each 0.1-second decrease in step time resulting in a 0.09 m/s (95% confidence interval, 0.08-0.10) increase in habitual gait speed.

Conclusions:

This study revealed step time, stride length, and support base are the strongest predictors of gait speed among nursing home residents. Future research should concentrate on developing and evaluating intervention programs that were specifically designed to focus on the strong predictors of gait speed in nursing home residents. We would also suggest that routine assessments of gait speed, and if possible their spatiotemporal characteristics, be done on all nursing home residents in an attempt to identify residents with low or slowing gait speed.
The RNA-Binding Protein hnRNP K Mediates the Effect of BDNF on Dendritic mRNA Metabolism and Regulates Synaptic NMDA Receptors in Hippocampal Neurons
Authors: Leal Graciano , Comprido Diogo , de Luca Pasqualino , Morais Eduardo , Rodrigues Luís , Mele Miranda , Santos Ana R. , Costa Rui O. , Pinto Maria Joana , Patil Sudarshan , Berentsen Birgitte , Afonso Pedro , Carreto Laura , Li Ka Wan , Pinheiro Paulo , Almeida Ramiro D. , Santos Manuel A. S. , Bramham Clive R. , Duarte Carlos B.
Published: December 2017

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is an important mediator of long-term synaptic potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus. The local effects of BDNF depend on the activation of translation activity, which requires the delivery of transcripts to the synapse. In this work, we found that neuronal activity regulates the dendritic localization of the RNA-binding protein heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (hnRNP K) in cultured rat hippocampal neurons by stimulating BDNF-Trk signaling. Microarray experiments identified a large number of transcripts that are coimmunoprecipitated with hnRNP K, and about 60% of these transcripts are dissociated from the protein upon stimulation of rat hippocampal neurons with BDNF.In vivostudies also showed a role for TrkB signaling in the dissociation of transcripts from hnRNP K upon high-frequency stimulation (HFS) of medial perforant path-granule cell synapses of male rat dentate gyrus (DG). Furthermore, treatment of rat hippocampal synaptoneurosomes with BDNF decreased the coimmunoprecipitation of hnRNP K with mRNAs coding for glutamate receptor subunits, Ca2+- and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIβ (CaMKIIβ) and BDNF. Downregulation of hnRNP K impaired the BDNF-induced enhancement of NMDA receptor (NMDAR)-mediated mEPSC, and similar results were obtained upon inhibition of protein synthesis with cycloheximide. The results demonstrate that BDNF regulates specific populations of hnRNP-associated mRNAs in neuronal dendrites and suggests an important role of hnRNP K in BDNF-dependent forms of synaptic plasticity.
Interobserver agreement of various thyroid imaging reporting and data systems
Authors: Grani Giorgio , Lamartina Livia , Cantisani Vito , Maranghi Marianna , Lucia Piernatale , Durante Cosimo
Published: December 2017

Ultrasonography is the best available tool for the initial work-up of thyroid nodules. Substantial interobserver variability has been documented in the recognition and reporting of some of the lesion characteristics. A number of classification systems have been developed to estimate the likelihood of malignancy: several of them have been endorsed by scientific societies, but their reproducibility is yet to be assessed. We evaluated the interobserver variability of the AACE/ACE/AME, ACR, ATA, EU-TIRADS and K-TIRADS classification systems and the interobserver concordance in the indication to FNA biopsy. Two raters independently evaluated 1055 ultrasound images of thyroid nodules identified in 265 patients at multiple time points, in two separate sets (501 and 554 images). After the first set of nodules, a joint reading was performed to reach a consensus in the feature definitions. The interobserver agreement (Krippendorff alpha) in the first set of nodules was 0.47, 0.49, 0.49, 0.61 and 0.53, for AACE/ACE/AME, ACR, ATA, EU-TIRADS and K-TIRADS systems, respectively. The agreement for the indication to biopsy was substantial to near-perfect, being 0.73, 0.61, 0.75, 0.68 and 0.82, respectively (Cohen’s kappa). For all systems, agreement on the nodules of the second set increased. Despite the wide variability in the description of single ultrasonographic features, the classification systems may improve the interobserver agreement that further ameliorates after a specific training. When selecting nodules to be submitted to FNA biopsy, that is main purpose of these classifications, the interobserver agreement is substantial to almost perfect.
Lessons learnt from a case of missed central hypothyroidism
Authors: Glyn Tessa , Harris Beverley , Allen Kate
Published: December 2017

We present the case of a 57-year-old lady who had a delayed diagnosis of central hypothyroidism on a background of Grave’s thyrotoxicosis and a partial thyroidectomy. During the twenty years following her partial thyroidectomy, the patient developed a constellation of symptoms and new diagnoses, which were investigated by numerous specialists from various fields, namely rheumatology, renal and respiratory. She developed significantly impaired renal function and raised creatine kinase (CK). She was also referred to a tertiary neurology service for investigation of myositis, which resulted in inconclusive muscle biopsies. Recurrently normal TSH results reassured clinicians that this did not relate to previous thyroid dysfunction. In 2015, she developed increased shortness of breath and was found to have a significant pericardial effusion. The clinical biochemist reviewed this lady’s blood results and elected to add on a free T4 (fT4) and free T3 (fT3), which were found to be <0.4 pmol/L (normal range (NR): 12–22 pmol/L) and 0.3 pmol/L (NR: 3.1–6.8 pmol/L), respectively. She was referred urgently to the endocrine services and commenced on Levothyroxine replacement for profound central hypothyroidism. Her other pituitary hormones and MRI were normal. In the following year, her eGFR and CK normalised, and her myositis symptoms, breathlessness and pericardial effusion resolved. One year following initiation of Levothyroxine, her fT4 and fT3 were in the normal range for the first time. This case highlights the pitfalls of relying purely on TSH for excluding hypothyroidism and the devastating effect the delay in diagnosis had upon this patient.

Learning points:

Isolated central hypothyroidism is very rare, but should be considered irrespective of previous thyroid disorders.

If clinicians have a strong suspicion that a patient may have hypothyroidism despite normal TSH, they should ensure they measure fT3 and fT4.

Laboratories that do not perform fT3 and fT4 routinely should review advice sent to requesting clinicians to include a statement explaining that a normal TSH excludes primary but not secondary hypothyroidism.

Thyroid function tests should be performed routinely in patients presenting with renal impairment or a raised CK.
High-fat diet exposure from pre-pubertal age induces polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in rats
Authors: Patel Roshni , Shah Gaurang
Published: December 2017

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with hyperandrogenism, oligo-anovulation, polycystic ovaries and metabolic syndrome. Many researchers reported that PCOS often starts with menarche in adolescents. Presently available animal model focuses on ovarian but not metabolic features of PCOS. Therefore, we hypothesized that high-fat diet feeding to pre-pubertal female rats results in both reproductive and metabolic features of PCOS. Pre-pubertal female rats were divided into two groups: group I received normal pellet diet and group II received high-fat diet (HFD). In the letrozole study, adult female rats were divided into two groups: group I received 1% carboxy methyl cellulose and group II received 1 mg/kg letrozole orally. Oral glucose tolerance test, lipid profile, fasting glucose, insulin, estrus cycle, hormonal profile, ovary weight, luteinizing hormone (LH) receptor and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor expression were measured. Polycystic ovarian morphology was assessed through histopathological changes of ovary. Feeding of HFD gradually increase glucose intolerance and fasting insulin levels. Triglyceride level was higher in HFD study while total cholesterol level was higher in the letrozole study. Alteration in testosterone and estrogen levels was observed in both studies. LH receptor expression was upregulated only in HFD study. Histopathological changes like increase cystic follicle, diminished granulosa cell layer and thickened theca cell layer were observed in letrozole as well as HFD study. High-fat diet initiated at pre-puberty age in rats produces both metabolic disturbances and ovarian changes similar to that observed clinically in PCOS patients. Letrozole on the other hand induces change in ovarian structure and function.