bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is behind armour blunt trauma a real threat to users of body armour? A systematic review
Authors: Carr Debra J , Horsfall I , Malbon C
Published: November 2013

Introduction

Behind armour blunt trauma (BABT) has been defined as a non-penetrating injury caused by the rapid deformation of body armour. There has been an increasing awareness of BABT as an injury mechanism in both the military and civilian worlds; whether BABT results in serious injuries is debatable.

Method

A systematic review of the openly accessible literature was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses method to investigate those injuries classified as BABT and their severity.

Results

50 sources were identified that included pertinent information relevant to this systematic review on BABT injuries. Typical injuries reported included skin contusion, laceration and penetration, rib fracture and contusions to lungs, kidneys, spleen and (rarely) the heart. No evidence of fatal injuries due to BABT was identified.

Conclusions

Whether BABT can lead to life-threatening injuries when small-arms ammunition impacts body armour components designed to stop that ammunition is debatable. It should be emphasised that other data may be available in government reports that are not openly available. Further research should be considered that investigates developments in body armour, including initiatives that involve reducing burden, and how they affect BABT.
A pilot program for physical exercise promotion in adults with type 1 diabetes: the PEP-1 program
Authors: Brazeau Anne-Sophie , Gingras Véronique , Leroux Catherine , Suppère Corinne , Mircescu Hortensia , Desjardins Katherine , Briand Philippe , Ekoé Jean-Marie , Rabasa-Lhoret Rémi
Published: November 2013

Physical inactivity is highly common in adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) as specific barriers (i.e., hypoglycemia) may prevent them from being active. The objective of this study was to examine the efficacy of the Physical Exercise Promotion program in type 1 diabetes (PEP-1) program, a group program of physical activity (PA) promotion (intervention) compared with an information leaflet (control), to improve total energy expenditure (TEE) in adults with T1D after 12 weeks. TEE was measured with a motion sensor over a 7-day period at inclusion, after the program (12 weeks) and 1-year after inclusion. The 12 weekly sessions of the program included a 30-min information session (glycemic control and PA) and 60 min of PA. A total of 48 adults, aged 18 to 65 years with a reported PA practice <150 min per week, were recruited (45.8% men; aged 44.6 ± 13.3 years; 8.0% ± 1.1% glycated hemoglobin (A1c)) and randomized in this pilot trial. Ninety percent of participants completed the program and 88% completed the 1-year follow-up. No change was observed for TEE and A1c in both groups. After the 12-week program, the mean peak oxygen uptake increased (14%; p = 0.003) in the intervention group; however, at the 1-year follow-up, it was no longer different from baseline. In the control group, no difference was observed for the peak oxygen uptake. These results suggest that the PEP-1 pilot program could increase cardiorespiratory fitness. However, this benefit is not sustained over a long-term period. The PEP-1 program did not increase TEE in patients with T1D and other strategies remain necessary to counteract physical inactivity in this population.
Processing of glacial sediments for the recovery of indicator minerals: protocols used at the Geological Survey of Canada
Authors: Plouffe A. , McClenaghan M.B. , Paulen R.C. , McMartin I. , Campbell J.E. , Spirito W.A.
Published: November 2013

A successful method of mineral exploration in glaciated terrain is the use of indicator minerals recovered from carefully selected glacial sediments, and subsequently traced back to their bedrock source. The successful application of indicator mineral methods relies on efficient and effective recovery as well as the correct identification of a wide variety of indicator minerals. The Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) has developed protocols for ongoing and future research projects to achieve the highest quality for reporting indicator mineral data. Such protocols include the use of field duplicate samples, blank samples, and base material spiked with known numbers, morphologies, species, and sizes of indicator minerals. Field duplicate samples serve to estimate sediment heterogeneity. Spiked samples are used to monitor the accuracy of the sample processing and mineral identification methods for recovering specific minerals. Blank samples serve to detect potential carry-over contamination. In certain instances, a specific sample processing order is essential and should be communicated to the commercial processing laboratory. Ore-rich samples collected near known mineralization are to be processed last, to reduce chances of carry-over contamination. Repeated indicator mineral counts should be carried out on at least 10% of the heavy mineral concentrates to measure reproducibility (precision) of the mineral counts. All indicator mineral data, original laboratory reports, heavy mineral concentrates, unmounted picked grains, and grain mounts are now archived at the GSC, using specific guidelines.
Impaired renal function and development in Belgrade rats
Authors: Veuthey Tania , Hoffmann Dana , Vaidya Vishal S. , Wessling-Resnick Marianne
Published: November 2013

Belgrade rats carry a disabling mutation in the iron transporter divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1). Although DMT1 plays a major role in intestinal iron absorption, the transporter is also highly expressed in the kidney, where its function remains unknown. The goal of this study was to characterize renal physiology of Belgrade rats. Male Belgrade rats died prematurely with ∼50% survival at 20 wk of age. Necropsy results indicated marked glomerular nephritis and chronic end-stage renal disease. By 15 wk of age, Belgrade rats displayed altered renal morphology associated with sclerosis and fibrosis. Creatinine clearance was significantly lower compared with heterozygote littermates. Urinary biomarkers of kidney injury, including albumin, fibrinogen, and kidney injury molecule-1, were significantly elevated. Pilot morphological studies suggest that nephrogenesis is delayed in Belgrade rat pups due to their low iron status and fetal growth restriction. Such defects in renal development most likely underlie the compromised renal metabolism observed in adult b/b rats. Belgrade rat kidney nonheme iron levels were not different from controls but urinary iron and transferrin levels were higher. These results further implicate an important role for the transporter in kidney function not only in iron reabsorption but also in glomerular filtration of the serum protein.
SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin reduces renal growth and albuminuria in proportion to hyperglycemia and prevents glomerular hyperfiltration in diabetic Akita mice
Authors: Vallon Volker , Gerasimova Maria , Rose Michael A. , Masuda Takahiro , Satriano Joseph , Mayoux Eric , Koepsell Hermann , Thomson Scott C. , Rieg Timo
Published: November 2013

Our previous work has shown that gene knockout of the sodium-glucose cotransporter SGLT2 modestly lowered blood glucose in streptozotocin-diabetic mice (BG; from 470 to 300 mg/dl) and prevented glomerular hyperfiltration but did not attenuate albuminuria or renal growth and inflammation. Here we determined effects of the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin (300 mg/kg of diet for 15 wk; corresponding to 60–80 mg·kg−1·day−1) in type 1 diabetic Akita mice that, opposite to streptozotocin-diabetes, upregulate renal SGLT2 expression. Akita diabetes, empagliflozin, and Akita + empagliflozin similarly increased renal membrane SGLT2 expression (by 38–56%) and reduced the expression of SGLT1 (by 33–37%) vs. vehicle-treated wild-type controls (WT). The diabetes-induced changes in SGLT2/SGLT1 protein expression are expected to enhance the BG-lowering potential of SGLT2 inhibition, and empagliflozin strongly lowered BG in Akita (means of 187–237 vs. 517–535 mg/dl in vehicle group; 100–140 mg/dl in WT). Empagliflozin modestly reduced GFR in WT (250 vs. 306 μl/min) and completely prevented the diabetes-induced increase in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (255 vs. 397 μl/min). Empagliflozin attenuated increases in kidney weight and urinary albumin/creatinine ratio in Akita in proportion to hyperglycemia. Empagliflozin did not increase urinary glucose/creatinine ratios in Akita, indicating the reduction in filtered glucose balanced the inhibition of glucose reabsorption. Empagliflozin attenuated/prevented the increase in systolic blood pressure, glomerular size, and molecular markers of kidney growth, inflammation, and gluconeogenesis in Akita. We propose that SGLT2 inhibition can lower GFR independent of reducing BG (consistent with the tubular hypothesis of diabetic glomerular hyperfiltration), while attenuation of albuminuria, kidney growth, and inflammation in the early diabetic kidney may mostly be secondary to lower BG.
Association of COMT val158met and DRD2 G>T genetic polymorphisms with individual differences in motor learning and performance in female young adults
Authors: Noohi Fatemeh , Boyden Nate B. , Kwak Youngbin , Humfleet Jennifer , Burke David T. , Müller Martijn L. T. M. , Bohnen Nico I. , Seidler Rachael D.
Published: November 2013

Individuals learn new skills at different rates. Given the involvement of corticostriatal pathways in some types of learning, variations in dopaminergic transmission may contribute to these individual differences. Genetic polymorphisms of the catechol- O-methyltransferase (COMT) enzyme and dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) genes partially determine cortical and striatal dopamine availability, respectively. Individuals who are homozygous for the COMT methionine ( met) allele show reduced cortical COMT enzymatic activity, resulting in increased dopamine levels in the prefrontal cortex as opposed to individuals who are carriers of the valine ( val) allele. DRD2 G-allele homozygotes benefit from a higher striatal dopamine level compared with T-allele carriers. We hypothesized that individuals who are homozygous for COMT met and DRD2 G alleles would show higher rates of motor learning. Seventy-two young healthy females (20 ± 1.9 yr) performed a sensorimotor adaptation task and a motor sequence learning task. A nonparametric mixed model ANOVA revealed that the COMT val-val group demonstrated poorer performance in the sequence learning task compared with the met-met group and showed a learning deficit in the visuomotor adaptation task compared with both met-met and val-met groups. The DRD2 TT group showed poorer performance in the sequence learning task compared with the GT group, but there was no difference between DRD2 genotype groups in adaptation rate. Although these results did not entirely come out as one might predict based on the known contribution of corticostriatal pathways to motor sequence learning, they support the role of genetic polymorphisms of COMT val158met (rs4680) and DRD2 G>T (rs 1076560) in explaining individual differences in motor performance and motor learning, dependent on task type.
Predictive control of ankle stiffness at heel contact is a key element of locomotor adaptation during split-belt treadmill walking in humans
Authors: Ogawa Tetsuya , Kawashima Noritaka , Ogata Toru , Nakazawa Kimitaka
Published: November 2013

Split-belt treadmill walking has been extensively utilized as a useful model to reveal the adaptability of human bipedal locomotion. While previous studies have clearly identified different types of locomotor adaptation, such as reactive and predictive adjustments, details of how the gait pattern would be adjusted are not fully understood. To gain further knowledge of the strategies underlying split-belt treadmill adaptation, we examined the three-dimensional ground reaction forces (GRF) and lower limb muscle activities during and after split-belt treadmill walking in 22 healthy subjects. The results demonstrated that the anterior component of the GRF (braking force) showed a clear pattern of adaptation and subsequent aftereffects. The muscle activity in the tibialis anterior muscle during the early stance phase was associated with the change of braking force. In contrast, the posterior component of GRF (propulsive force) showed a consistent increase/decrease in the fast/slow leg during the adaptation period and was not followed by subsequent aftereffects. The muscle activity in the gastrocnemius muscle during the stance phase gradually decreased during the adaptation phase and then showed a compensatory reaction during the washout phase. The results indicate that predictive feedforward control is required to set the optimal ankle stiffness in preparation for the impact at the heel contact and passive feedback control is used for the production of reflexively induced propulsive force at the end of the stance phase during split-belt treadmill adaptation. The present study provides information about the detailed mechanisms underlying split-belt adaptation and should be useful for the construction of specific rehabilitation protocols.
Aberrant synchrony in the somatosensory cortices predicts motor performance errors in children with cerebral palsy
Authors: Kurz Max J. , Heinrichs-Graham Elizabeth , Arpin David J. , Becker Katherine M. , Wilson Tony W.
Published: November 2013

Cerebral palsy (CP) results from a perinatal brain injury that often results in sensory impairments and greater errors in motor performance. Although these impairments have been well catalogued, the relationship between sensory processing networks and errors in motor performance has not been well explored. Children with CP and typically developing age-matched controls participated in this investigation. We used high-density magnetoencephalography to measure event-related oscillatory changes in the somatosensory cortices following tactile stimulation to the bottom of the foot. In addition, we quantified the amount of variability or errors in the isometric ankle joint torques as these children attempted to match a target. Our results showed that neural populations in the somatosensory cortices of children with CP were desynchronized by the tactile stimulus, whereas those of typically developing children were clearly synchronized. Such desynchronization suggests that children with CP were unable to fully integrate the external stimulus into ongoing sensorimotor computations. Our results also indicated that children with CP had a greater amount of errors in their motor output when they attempted to match the target force, and this amount of error was negatively correlated with the degree of synchronization present in the somatosensory cortices. These results are the first to show that the motor performance errors of children with CP are linked with neural synchronization within the somatosensory cortices.
Activation of group I metabotropic glutamate receptors enhances persistent sodium current and rhythmic bursting in main olfactory bulb external tufted cells
Authors: Dong Hong-Wei , Ennis Matthew
Published: November 2013

Rhythmically bursting olfactory bulb external tufted (ET) cells are thought to play a key role in synchronizing glomerular network activity to respiratory-driven sensory input. Whereas spontaneous bursting in these cells is intrinsically generated by interplay of several voltage-dependent currents, bursting strength and frequency can be modified by local intrinsic and centrifugal synaptic input. Activation of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) engages a calcium-dependent cation current ( ICAN) that increases rhythmic bursting, but mGluRs may also modulate intrinsic mechanisms involved in bursting. Here, we used patch-clamp electrophysiology in rat olfactory bulb slices to investigate whether mGluRs modulate two key intrinsic currents involved in ET cell burst initiation: persistent sodium ( INaP) and hyperpolarization-activated cation ( Ih) currents. Using a BAPTA-based internal solution to block ICAN, we found that the mGluR1/5 agonist DHPG enhanced INaP but did not alter Ih. INaP enhancement consisted of increased current at membrane potentials between −60 and −50 mV and a hyperpolarizing shift in activation threshold. Both effects would be predicted to shorten the interburst interval. In agreement, DHPG modestly depolarized (∼3.5 mV) ET cells and increased burst frequency without effect on other major burst parameters. This increase was inversely proportional to the basal burst rate such that slower ET cells exhibited the largest increases. This may enable ET cells with slow intrinsic burst rates to pace with faster sniff rates. Taken with other findings, these results indicate that multiple neurotransmitter mechanisms are engaged to fine-tune rhythmic ET cell bursting to context- and state-dependent changes in sniffing frequency.
Peanut Sensitization Profiles in Italian Children and Adolescents with Specific IgE to Peanuts
Authors: Calamelli Elisabetta , Caffarelli Carlo , Ricci Giampaolo
Published: November 2013

Peanuts are one of the most relevant foods implicated in IgE-mediated adverse reactions in pediatric population. This study aimed to evaluate the pattern of sensitization towards five peanut allergenic components (rAra h 1, 2, 3, 8 and 9) in a population of Italian children and adolescents with specific IgE (sIgE) to peanut. rAra h 9 was the main allergen implicated in peanut sensitization (58%), followed by rAra h 8 (35%), rAra h 2 (27%), rAra h 3 (23%) and rAra h 1 (12.5%). rAra h 1, 2, and 3 were the main allergenic components in young children: 8/13 (62%) between 2 and 5 years, 8/23 (35%) between 6 and 11 years, and 3/12 (25%) between 1 and 16 years. No differences were found among the levels of sIgE towards rAra h 1, 2, 3, and 9 in the three groups; in contrast, the levels of sIgE against rAra h 8 showed an increasing trend according to age. In conclusion rAra h 1, 2, and 3 were the prevalent sensitizing allergens during the first years of life in Italian patients with sIgE to peanuts (“genuine” allergy); in contrast rAra h 9 and 8 were mainly involved in school-age children and adolescents with pollen allergy (“secondary” sensitization).
Review of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in China
Authors: Ye Lingna , Cao Qian , Cheng Jianfeng
Published: November 2013

Inflammatory bowel disease mainly consisting of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease has been rising gradually during the last two decades in China. In this review article, we provide the latest epidemiological trends in incidence, prevalence, and mortality of IBD patients in China and summarize the risk factors and genetic susceptibility of Chinese IBD patients. We also compare these characteristics to those of IBD patients in Western countries.
A Study of Developing a System Dynamics Model for the Learning Effectiveness Evaluation
Authors: Lan Tian-Syung , Lan Yu-Hua , Chen Kai-Ling , Chen Pin-Chang , Lin Wen-Cheng
Published: November 2013

This study used the research method of system dynamics and applied the Vensim software to develop a learning effectiveness evaluation model. This study developed four cause-and-effect chains affecting learning effectiveness, including teachers’ teaching enthusiasm, family involvement, school’s implementation of scientific activities, and creative teaching method, as well as the system dynamics model based on the four cause-and-effect chains. Based on the developed system dynamic model, this study performed simulation to investigate the relationship among family involvement, learning effectiveness, teaching achievement, creative teaching method, and students’ learning interest. The results of this study verified that there are positive correlations between family involvement and students’ learning effectiveness, as well as students’ learning effectiveness and teachers’ teaching achievements. The results also indicated that the use of creative teaching method is able to increase students’ learning interest and learning achievement.
Dual-Polarized Cross Bowtie Dipole for 3G and LTE Applications
Authors: Zhang Zhi-Ya , Zhao Jia-Yue , Liu Qiongqiong , Fu Guang
Published: November 2013

A dual-polarized cross bowtie dipole element with parasitical circular patch and vertical metal cylinders for base station antennas is presented. A pair of orthogonal cross bowtie dipoles, with a reflector ground plane, is used to obtain the two linear polarizations. Besides two inverted L-shaped feed strips and two shorted feed baluns, parasitical circular patch is introduced to improve the impendence bandwidth and vertical metal cylinders are employed to decrease the lateral dimensions of the antenna. A wideband impedance characteristic of about 45.6% for VSWR ≤ 1.5 (+45° polarization) and VSWR ≤ 1.5 (−45° polarization) ranging from 1.76 to 2.80 GHz is obtained. Moreover, the stable peak gain, unidirectional radiation patterns, high isolation between the two orthogonal polarizations, and low cross-polarization over the whole operating band are also achieved. The proposed antenna is very suitable for potential base station applications in mobile communication such as TD-SCDMA, WCDMA, and CDMA2000 and LTE applications.
Metal and Precursor Effect during 1‐Heptyne Selective Hydrogenation Using an Activated Carbon as Support
Authors: Lederhos Cecilia R. , Badano Juan M. , Carrara Nicolas , Coloma-Pascual Fernando , Almansa M. Cristina , Liprandi Domingo , Quiroga Mónica
Published: November 2013

Palladium, platinum, and ruthenium supported on activated carbon were used as catalysts for the selective hydrogenation of 1‐heptyne, a terminal alkyne. All catalysts were characterized by temperature programmed reduction, X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. TPR and XPS suggest that the metal in all catalysts is reduced after the pretreatment with H2 at 673 K. The TPR trace of the PdNRX catalyst shows that the support surface groups are greatly modified as a consequence of the use of HNO3 during the catalyst preparation. During the hydrogenation of 1‐heptyne, both palladium catalysts were more active and selective than the platinum and ruthenium catalysts. The activity order of the catalysts is as follows: PdClRX > PdNRX > PtClRX ≫ RuClRX. This superior performance of PdClRX was attributed in part to the total occupancy of the d electronic levels of the Pd metal that is supposed to promote the rupture of the H2 bond during the hydrogenation reaction. The activity differences between PdClRX and PdNRX catalysts could be attributed to a better accessibility of the substrate to the active sites, as a consequence of steric and electronic effects of the superficial support groups. The order for the selectivity to 1‐heptene is as follows: PdClRX = PdNRX > RuClRX > PtClRX, and it can be mainly attributed to thermodynamic effects.
Optimization of IC Separation Based on Isocratic-to-Gradient Retention Modeling in Combination with Sequential Searching or Evolutionary Algorithm
Authors: Ukić Šime , Rogošić Marko , Novak Mirjana , Šimović Ena , Tišler Vesna , Bolanča Tomislav
Published: November 2013

Gradient ion chromatography was used for the separation of eight sugars: arabitol, cellobiose, fructose, fucose, lactulose, melibiose, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, and raffinose. The separation method was optimized using a combination of simplex or genetic algorithm with the isocratic-to-gradient retention modeling. Both the simplex and genetic algorithms provided well separated chromatograms in a similar analysis time. However, the simplex methodology showed severe drawbacks when dealing with local minima. Thus the genetic algorithm methodology proved as a method of choice for gradient optimization in this case. All the calculated/predicted chromatograms were compared with the real sample data, showing more than a satisfactory agreement.
Nickel in Soil Modifies Sensitivity to Diazinon Measured by the Activity of Acetylcholinesterase, Catalase, and Glutathione S-Transferase in EarthwormEisenia fetida
Authors: Zawisza-Raszka Agnieszka , Dolezych Bogdan
Published: November 2013

Nickel in typical soils is present in a very low concentration, but in the contaminated soils it occurs in locally elevated concentrations. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of nickel in the concentrations of 300 (very high, close to LOEC for reproduction) and 900 (extremely high, close to LOEC for mortality) mg/kg dry soil on the life history and acetylcholinesterase, catalase, and glutathione S-transferase activities in earthwormEisenia fetidaand to establish how nickel modifies the sensitivity to organophosphorous pesticide—diazinon. Cocoons production and juveniles’ number were significantly lower only in groups exposed to Ni in the concentration of 900 mg/kg dry soil for two months. Diazinon administration diminished the AChE activity in the GI tract and in the body wall. The interaction between diazinon and nickel was observed, and, in consequence, the AChE activity after the pesticide treatment was similar to controls in worms preexposed to nickel. Both pesticide administration and exposure to nickel caused an increase in the GST activity in examined organs and CAT activity in body wall. Both biometric and development data and simple enzymatic analysis, especially the AChE and GST, show a Ni pretreatment effect on the subsequent susceptibility to pesticide.
Immune Modulation and Stereotactic Radiation: Improving Local and Abscopal Responses
Authors: Zeng Jing , Harris Timothy J. , Lim Michael , Drake Charles G. , Tran Phuoc T.
Published: November 2013

New and innovative treatment strategies for cancer patients in the fields of immunotherapy and radiotherapy are rapidly developing in parallel. Among the most promising preclinical treatment approaches is combining immunotherapy with radiotherapy where early data suggest synergistic effects in several tumor model systems. These studies demonstrate that radiation combined with immunotherapy can result in superior efficacy for local tumor control. More alluring is the emergence of data suggesting an equally profound systemic response also known as “abscopal” effects with the combination of radiation and certain immunotherapies. Studies addressing optimal radiation dose, fractionation, and modality to be used in combination with immunotherapy still require further exploration. However, recent anecdotal clinical reports combining stereotactic or hypofractionated radiation regimens with immunotherapy have resulted in dramatic sustained clinical responses, both local and abscopal. Technologic advances in clinical radiation therapy has made it possible to deliver hypofractionated regimens anywhere in the body using stereotactic radiation techniques, facilitating further clinical investigations. Thus, stereotactic radiation in combination with immunotherapy agents represents an exciting and potentially fruitful new space for improving cancer therapeutic responses.
Impulsive Controller Design for Complex Nonlinear Singular Networked Systems with Packet Dropouts
Authors: Zhao Xian-Lin , Wang Ai-Min , Dai Cun-Li , Li Xiao-Lin , Lu Wei
Published: November 2013

Globally exponential stability of Complex (with coupling) Nonlinear Singular Impulsive Networked Control Systems (CNSINCS) with packet dropouts and time-delay is investigated. Firstly, the mathematic model of CNSINCS is established. Then, by employing the method of Lyapunov functional, exponential stability criteria are obtained and the impulsive controller design method is given. Finally, some simulation results are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
The Epidemiology of Herpes Simplex Virus Type-2 Infection among Pregnant Women in Rural Mysore Taluk, India
Authors: Bochner Aaron F. , Madhivanan Purnima , Niranjankumar Bhavana , Ravi Kavitha , Arun Anjali , Krupp Karl , Klausner Jeffrey D.
Published: November 2013

Objectives. To assess the prevalence and determinants of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infections among pregnant women attending mobile antenatal health clinic in rural villages in Mysore Taluk, India. Methods. Between January and September 2009, 487 women from 52 villages participated in this study. Each participant consented to provide a blood sample for HSV-2 and HIV testing and underwent an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Results. HSV-2 prevalence was 6.7% (95% confidence interval (CI) 4.4–9.0), and one woman tested positive for HIV. The median age of women was 20 years and 99% of women reported having a single lifetime sex partner. Women whose sex partner traveled away from home had 2.68 (CI: 1.13–6.34) times the odds of being HSV-2 seropositive compared to women whose sex partner did not travel. Having experienced genital lesions was also associated with HSV-2 infection (P value = 0.08). Conclusion. The 6.7% HSV-2 prevalence was similar to results obtained in studies among pregnant women in other parts of India. It appeared that most women in this study contracted HSV-2 from their spouses and few regularly used condoms. This finding highlights the need for public health policies to increase awareness and education about prevention methods among women and men living in rural India.
Caesarean Delivery Complicated by Unintentional Subdural Block and Conversion Disorder
Authors: Elsharkawy Hesham , Khanna Ashish K. , Barsoum Sabri
Published: November 2013

Combined spinal epidural (CSE) can provide excellent labor analgesia. Subdural block is also a potential but rare complication of attempted epidural placement during a CSE procedure, which may present as a block that is usually patchy in nature, with a component of sensory and/or motor deficit and a variable duration of action. In addition, a conversion disorder or a functional neurological disorder has been described with epidural and spinal anesthesia in obstetric patients. In this clinical report, we describe a 33-year-old G4P3 at 40 weeks gestation that received an unintentional subdural block as part of her labor analgesia and after an uneventful caesarean delivery presented with a conversion disorder. The rarity of the association between a subdural block and a conversion disorder complicated by the fact that the neurological deficit produced by the subdural block and that produced by a conversion disorder are similar in distribution made the clinical presentation and diagnosis a challenge for the obstetric anesthesia team. A functional neurological disorder of this nature complicating a subdural block in an obstetric anesthesia clinical practice has not been described so far.
A ReducedDrosophilaModel Whose Characteristic Behavior Scales Up
Authors: Irving Andrew David
Published: November 2013

Computational biology seeks to integrate experimental data with predictive mathematical models—testing hypotheses which result from the former through simulations of the latter. Such models should ideally be approachable and accessible to the widest possible community, motivating independent studies. One of the most commonly modeled biological systems involves a gene family critical to segmentation inDrosophilaembryogenesis—the segment polarity network (SPN). In this paper, we reduce a celebrated mathematical model of the SPN to improve its accessibility; unlike its predecessor our reduction can be tested swiftly on a widely used platform. By reducing the original model we identify components which are unnecessary; that is, we begin to detect the core of the SPN—those mechanisms that are essentially responsible for its characteristic behavior. Hence characteristic behavior can scale up; we find that any solution of our model (defined as a set of conditions for which characteristic behavior is seen) can be converted into a solution of the original model. The original model is thus made more accessible for independent study through a more approachable reduction which maintains the robustness of its predecessor.
In Vivo Study of Ligament‐Bone Healing after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using Autologous Tendons with Mesenchymal Stem Cells Affinity Peptide Conjugated Electrospun Nanofibrous Scaffold
Authors: Zhu Jingxian , Zhang Xin , Shao Zhenxing , Dai Linghui , Li La , Hu Xiaoqing , Wang Xiaokun , Zhou Chunyan , Ao Yingfang
Published: November 2013

Electrospinning nanofibrous scaffold was commonly used in tissue regeneration recently. Nanofibers with specific topological characteristics were reported to be able to induce osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. In this in vivo study, autologous tendon grafts with lattice‐like nanofibrous scaffold wrapping at two ends of autologous tendon were used to promote early stage of ligament‐bone healing after rabbit ACL reconstruction. To utilize native MSCs from bone marrow, an MSCs specific affinity peptide E7 was conjugated to nanofibrous meshes. After 3 months, H‐E assessment and specific staining of collagen type I, II, and III showed direct ligament‐bone insertion with typical four zones (bone, calcified fibrocartilage, fibrocartilage, and ligament) in bioactive scaffold reconstruction group. Diameters of bone tunnel were smaller in nanofibrous scaffold conjugated E7 peptide group than those in control group. The failure load of substitution complex also indicated a stronger ligament‐bone insertion healing using bioactive scaffold. In conclusion, lattice‐like nanofibrous scaffold with specific MSCs affinity peptide has great potential in promoting early stage of ligament‐bone healing after ACL reconstruction.
Identification of Cassava MicroRNAs under Abiotic Stress
Authors: Ballén-Taborda Carolina , Plata Germán , Ayling Sarah , Rodríguez-Zapata Fausto , Becerra Lopez-Lavalle Luis Augusto , Duitama Jorge , Tohme Joe
Published: November 2013

The study of microRNAs (miRNAs) in plants has gained significant attention in recent years due to their regulatory role during development and in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Although cassava (Manihot esculentaCrantz) is tolerant to drought and other adverse conditions, most cassava miRNAs have been predicted using bioinformatics alone or through sequencing of plants challenged by biotic stress. Here, we use high-throughput sequencing and different bioinformatics methods to identify potential cassava miRNAs expressed in different tissues subject to heat and drought conditions. We identified 60 miRNAs conserved in other plant species and 821 potential cassava-specific miRNAs. We also predicted 134 and 1002 potential target genes for these two sets of sequences. Using real time PCR, we verified the condition-specific expression of 5 cassava small RNAs relative to a non-stress control. We also found, using publicly available expression data, a significantly lower expression of the predicted target genes of conserved and nonconserved miRNAs under drought stress compared to other cassava genes. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis along with condition specific expression of predicted miRNA targets, allowed us to identify several interesting miRNAs which may play a role in stress-induced posttranscriptional regulation in cassava and other plants.
Phase II Crossover Trial of Varenicline in Mild-to-Moderate Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Kim Seong Yoon , Choi Seong Hye , Rollema Hans , Schwam Elias M. , McRae Tom , Dubrava Sarah , Jacobsen Janice
Published: November 2013

Background: Evidence supports a role of α4β2 receptors in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods: This Korean, multicenter, double-blind, two-period (6 weeks each), crossover study randomized participants to the order in which they received varenicline (1 mg twice daily) and placebo. Assessments included AD Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog) 75, Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), adverse events (AEs) and Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS). Results: For varenicline versus placebo (n = 66 randomized), there was no significant difference in the week 6 least square (LS) mean ADAS-Cog 75 total score (primary endpoint; 18.07 vs. 18.49; p = 0.3873) and a slight worsening in the week 6 LS mean NPI (3.82 vs. 2.55; p = 0.0468), primarily driven by decreased appetite/eating. Common treatment-related AEs were nausea (23.3; 3.4%), vomiting (15.0%; 0) and decreased appetite (15.0; 6.8%). Conclusions: Varenicline did not improve cognition, behavior or global change in this population. The most frequent varenicline-associated AEs were gastrointestinal; psychiatric AEs were rare and similar between the groups.
Risk Factor Analysis of Calcification in Aortic and Mitral Valves in Maintenance Peritoneal Dialysis Patients
Authors: Wang Chunyuan , Jiang Linsen , Feng Sheng , Shi Yongbing , Shen Huaying , Shi Xiaosong , Wang Zhi , Zeng Yin
Published: November 2013

Background/Aims: This study aimed to investigate potential risk factors for calcification in aortic and mitral valves in maintenance peritoneal dialysis (MPD) patients. Methods: We enrolled MPD patients who had undergone over 18 months of dialysis in our dialysis center, examined their cardiac valve calcification status by echocardiography, and recorded their biochemical data and dialysis-related indicators. These results were compared by logistic regression analyses to identify the risk factors associated with calcification in aortic and mitral valves. Results: Among the 117 enrolled MPD patients, 41 exhibited calcification in aortic or mitral valves, including 38 with aortic valve calcification (AVC) and 17 with mitral valve calcification (MVC); 14 of them had calcification in both aortic and mitral valves. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age (OR=1.965, p=0.01), diabetes history (OR=4.693, p=0.029), calcium-phosphorus product (OR=2.373, p=0.001) and prealbumin (OR=0.908, p=0.012) were independently related to AVC, whereas age (OR=3.179, p=0.023), calcium-phosphorus product (OR=6.512, p=0.001), prealbumin (OR=0.885, p=0.033), high-density lipoprotein (OR=19.540, p=0.011) and diabetes history (OR=6.948, p=0.038) were independently related to MVC. Conclusions The incidence of cardiac valve calcification in MPD patients is high, and the incidence of AVC is higher than MVC. Age, diabetes history, calcium-phosphorus product and hypo-prealbuminemia are independent risk factors for AVC, whereas age, calcium-phosphorus product and hypo-prealbuminemia are independent risk factors for MVC.
Adjusted Anion Gap Is Associated with Glomerular Filtration Rate Decline in Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Togawa Akashi , Uyama Satoko , Takanohashi Seiko , Shimasaki Megumi , Miyaji Takehiko , Endo Hiroyuki , Fujigaki Yoshihide
Published: November 2013

Background: Metabolic acidosis is known to accelerate the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, whether undetermined anions as indicated by the adjusted anion gap (aAG) are associated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline in patients with CKD is unclear. Methods: Data from 42 patients with CKD (baseline eGFR, 7.1-52.0 ml/min/ 1.73 m2) without massive proteinuria (urinary protein-creatinine ratio, UPCR <3.5) were retrospectively analyzed. aAG was calculated from serum sodium, serum chloride, serum bicarbonate, serum albumin, serum potassium, serum calcium and serum phosphate. The association between the percentage of the 6-month change of eGFR (%ΔeGFR/6m) and aAG was examined. Results: The mean baseline eGFR was 27.5 ± 11.1 ml/min/1.73 m2 and the mean %ΔeGFR/6m was 13.8 ± 10.3. UPCR and aAG were 1.13 ± 0.93 and 9.48 ± 1.88, respectively. %ΔeGFR/6m was associated with aAG (r = 0.438, p < 0.005), but not with UPCR (r = 0.194, p = 0.218). In multivariate linear regression analyses, aAG remained significantly associated with %ΔeGFR/6m (β = 0.45, p < 0.01) after controlling for age, baseline eGFR, UPCR and HCO3- concentration. Conclusion: These data suggest that aAG appears to be associated with the progression of CKD. aAG might be an independent predictor of CKD progression.
Adalimumab in Recalcitrant Severe Psoriasis Associated with Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: Yayli Savas , Irla Nathalie , Yawalkar Nikhil
Published: November 2013

Tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors may induce various cutaneous side effects including eczematous-like lesions. The management of such side effects can be challenging. Herein, we report a case of a 55-year-old man who had a flare-up and subsequent improvement of atopic dermatitis during treatment of severe psoriasis with adalimumab.
Influence of single nucleotide polymorphisms on thrombin generation in factor V Leiden heterozygotes
Authors: Segers Olivier , Simioni Paolo , Tormene Daniela , Castoldi Elisabetta
Published: November 2013

Carriership of the factor V (FV) Leiden mutation increases the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) ~4-fold, but the individual risk of each FV Leiden carrier depends on several co-inherited risk and protective factors. Under the hypothesis that thrombin generation might serve as an intermediate phenotype to identify genetic modulators of VTE risk, we enrolled 188 FV Leiden heterozygotes (11 with VTE) and determined the following parameters: thrombin generation in the absence and presence of activated protein C (APC); plasma levels of prothrombin, factor X, antithrombin, protein S and tissue factor pathway inhibitor; and the genotypes of 24 SNPs located in the genes encoding these coagulation factors and inhibitors. Multiple regression analysis was subsequently applied to identify the (genetic) determinants of thrombin generation. The endogenous thrombin potential (ETP) showed a striking inter-individual variability among different FV Leiden carriers and, especially when measured in the presence of APC, correlated with VTE risk. Several SNPs in the F2 (rs1799963, rs3136516), F10 (rs693335), SERPINC1 (rs2227589), PROS1 (Heerlen polymorphism) and TFPI (rs5940) genes significantly affected the ETPAPC and/or the ETP+APC in FV Leiden carriers. Most of these SNPs have shown an association with VTE risk in conventional epidemiological studies, suggesting that the genetic dissection of thrombin generation leads to the detection of clinically relevant SNPs. In conclusion, we have identified several SNPs that modulate thrombin generation in FV Leiden heterozygotes. These SNPs may help explain the large variability in VTE risk observed among different FV Leiden carriers.
Increased β-Adrenergic Inotropy in Ventricular Myocardium From
Trpm4
−/−
Mice
Authors: Mathar Ilka , Kecskes Miklos , Van der Mieren Gerry , Jacobs Griet , Camacho Londoño Juan E. , Uhl Sebastian , Flockerzi Veit , Voets Thomas , Freichel Marc , Nilius Bernd , Herijgers Paul , Vennekens Rudi
Published: November 2013

Rationale
:

The
Trpm4
gene has recently been associated with several disorders, including cardiac conduction diseases and Brugada syndrome. Transient receptor potential member 4 (TRPM4) proteins constitute Ca
2+
-activated, but Ca
2+
-impermeable, nonselective cation channels and are expressed both in atrial and in ventricular cardiomyocytes. The physiological function of TRPM4 in the heart remains, however, incompletely understood.

Objective
:

To establish the role of TRPM4 in cardiac muscle function.

Methods and Results
:

We used TRPM4 knockout mice and performed patch-clamp experiments, membrane potential measurements, microfluorometry, contractility measurements, and in vivo pressure–volume loop analysis. We demonstrate that TRPM4 proteins are functionally present in mouse ventricular myocytes and are activated on Ca
2+
-induced Ca
2+
release. In
Trpm4
−/−
mice, cardiac muscle displays an increased β-adrenergic inotropic response both in vitro and in vivo. Measurements of action potential duration show a significantly decreased time for 50% and 90% repolarization in
Trpm4
−/−
ventricular myocytes. We provide evidence that this change in action potential shape leads to an increased driving force for the L-type Ca
2+
current during the action potential, which explains the altered contractility of the heart muscle.

Conclusions
:

Our results show that functional TRPM4 proteins are novel determinants of the inotropic effect of β-adrenergic stimulation on the ventricular heart muscle.
The World of the Neurology Ward: Hauntology and European Modernism mal tourné in Butoh
Authors: Marshall Jonathan W.
Published: November 2013

Butoh retroactively constructs its origins even as it denies access to them. Seen as Derridean hauntology, butoh serves to excavate a butoh subtext from within European and Japanese modernism, a vexed promise of futurity that did not (could not) eventuate. History's spectral presence inhabits and traumatizes nervous bodies.
Performing on the Platform: Creating Theatre with India's Platform Children
Authors: Kumar Sanjay
Published: November 2013

Young, trained, middle-class facilitators from pandies' theatre of Delhi enable impoverished boys—rescued from India's railway platforms and incarcerated in NGO-run shelters or state reformatories—to create theatre based on their lives. The resulting performances—which re-perform sagas of violence, rape, drug abuse, prostitution, and death—question the very premises of social amelioration.
Making Space for a Creative Economy: The Work of La Machine
Authors: Calder David
Published: November 2013

The street theatre company La Machine has converted the derelict shipyards of Nantes into a cultural destination for an aspiring creative city. The discursive and embodied reconfiguration of the shipyards as both public space and workspace reveals the complex labor fueling creative economies.
“The Unnatural History and Petticoat Mystery of Boulton and Park”: A Victorian Sex Scandal and the Theatre Defense
Authors: Carriger Michelle Liu
Published: November 2013

The 1870–71 tabloid trial of cross-dressers Ernest Boulton and Frederick Park revealed Victorian society wrestling with the concept of “theatricality” in everyday life. The prosecution sought to expose that the traditionally unspeakable act of sodomy was (paradoxically) encoded in cross-dressing; while the defense employed the “theatre defense”—a systematic insistence that the defendants were just amateur actors. But within British society theatre was both part of the status quo and a haven for a disturbing doubleness—“conspiracies of meaning” that troubled Victorian obsessions with truth-telling and the “natural.”
Do KIPP Schools Boost Student Achievement?
Authors: Gleason Philip M. , Tuttle Christina Clark , Gill Brian , Nichols-Barrer Ira , Teh Bing-ru
Published: November 2013

The Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) is an influential and rapidly growing nationwide network of charter schools serving primarily disadvantaged minority students. Prominent elements of KIPP's educational model include high expectations for student achievement and behavior, and a substantial increase in time in school. KIPP is being watched closely by policy makers and educators as a possible model for urban education, but existing studies of KIPP's effects on students have been subject to methodological limitations, making them less than conclusive. We measure the achievement impacts of forty-one KIPP middle schools across the country, using propensity-score matching to identify traditional public school students with similar characteristics and prior-achievement histories as students who enter KIPP. We find consistently positive and statistically significant impacts of KIPP on student achievement, with larger impacts in math than reading. These impacts persist over four years following admission, and are not driven by attrition of low performers from KIPP schools.
Charter School Authorizers and Student Achievement
Authors: Zimmer Ron , Gill Brian , Attridge Jonathon , Obenauf Kaitlin
Published: November 2013

In the academic and policy debates over the merits of charter schools, two things are clear: First, they are here to stay and, second, their quality varies widely. Policy makers therefore need to understand how to design charter laws that promote the creation of high-performing schools. Crucial to this discussion is the charter authorizing process, which varies across the nation. In some states, authorizing power is held exclusively by local school districts, whereas other states allow a range of authorizers that may include not only local districts, but also nonprofit organizations, counties, higher educational institutions, or a state agency. In this paper we use individual student-level data from Ohio, which permits a wide range of organizations to authorize charter schools, to examine the relationship between type of authorizer and charter-school effectiveness as measured by students’ achievement trajectories.