bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Late-Onset Glycogen Storage Disease Type II (Pompe’s Disease) with a Novel Mutation: A Malaysian Experience
Authors: Fu Liong Hiew , Abdul Wahab Siti Aishah , Yakob Yusnita , Lock Hock Ngu , Thong Wong Kum , Viswanathan Shanthi
Published: July 2014

Pompe’s disease (acid maltase deficiency, glycogen storage disease type II) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by a deficiency of lysosomal acidα-1,4-glucosidase, resulting in excessive accumulation of glycogen in the lysosomes and cytoplasm of all tissues, most notably in skeletal muscles. We present a case of adult-onset Pompe’s disease with progressive proximal muscles weakness over 5 years and respiratory failure on admission, requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation. Electromyography showed evidence of myopathic process with small amplitudes, polyphasic motor unit action potentials, and presence of pseudomyotonic discharges. Muscle biopsy showed glycogen-containing vacuoles in the muscle fibers consistent with glycogen storage disease. Genetic analysis revealed two compound heterozygous mutations at c.444C>G (p.Tyr148*) in exon 2 and c.2238G>C (p.Trp746Cys) in exon 16, with the former being a novel mutation. This mutation has not been reported before, to our knowledge. The patient was treated with high protein diet during the admission and subsequently showed good clinical response to enzyme replacement therapy with survival now to the eighth year.Conclusion. In patients with late-onset adult Pompe’s disease, careful evaluation and early identification of the disease and its treatment with high protein diet and enzyme replacement therapy improve muscle function and have beneficial impact on long term survival.
Pharmacogenetic Predictors of Outcome in Patients with Stage II and III Colon Cancer Treated with Oxaliplatin and Fluoropyrimidine-Based Adjuvant Chemotherapy
Authors: Custodio Ana , Moreno-Rubio Juan , Aparicio Jorge , Gallego-Plazas Javier , Yaya Ricardo , Maurel Joan , Rodríguez-Salas Nuria , Burgos Emilio , Ramos David , Calatrava Ana , Andrada Encarna , Díaz-López Esther , Sánchez Antonio , Madero Rosario , Cejas Paloma , Feliu Jaime
Published: July 2014

Identifying molecular markers for tumor recurrence is critical in successfully selecting patients with colon cancer who are more likely to benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy. We investigated the effect of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) within genes involved in oxaliplatin and fluoropyrimidines metabolism, DNA repair mechanisms, drug transport, or angiogenesis pathways on outcome for patients with stage II and III colon cancer treated with adjuvant chemotherapy. Genomic DNA was extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples of 202 patients with stage II and III colon cancer receiving oxaliplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy from January 2004 to December 2009. Genotyping was performed for 67 SNPs in 32 genes using the MassARRAY (SEQUENOM) technology. Our results were validated in an independent cohort of 177 patients treated with the same chemotherapy regimens. The combination of the selectin E (SELE) rs3917412 G>A G/G and the methylentetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) rs1801133 T/T genotypes was associated with a significantly increased risk for recurrence in both the training [RR = 4.103; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.803–9.334; P = 0.001] and the validation cohorts (RR = 3.567; 95% CI, 1.253–10.151; P = 0.017) in the multiple regression analysis considering the stage, lymphovascular invasion, and bowel perforation as covariates. The combined analysis of these polymorphisms was also significantly associated with overall survival in both cohorts (RR = 3.388; 95% CI, 0.988–11.623; P = 0.052, and RR = 3.929; 95% CI, 1.144–13.485; P = 0.020, respectively). Our findings suggest that the SELE rs3917412 and MTHFR rs1801133 SNPs could serve as pharmacogenetic predictors of tumor recurrence in patients with early-stage colon cancer treated with oxaliplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy, thus allowing personalized selection of treatment to optimize clinical outcomes. Mol Cancer Ther; 13(9); 2226–37. ©2014 AACR.
Prevalence and Covariates of Elevated Depressive Symptoms in Rural Memory Clinic Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment or Dementia
Authors: Kosteniuk Julie G. , Morgan Debra G. , O'Connell Megan E. , Crossley Margaret , Kirk Andrew , Stewart Norma J. , Karunanayake Chandima P.
Published: July 2014

Background/Aims: To estimate the prevalence, severity, and covariates of depressive symptoms in rural memory clinic patients diagnosed with either mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia. Methods: In a cross-sectional study of 216 rural individuals who attended an interdisciplinary memory clinic between March 2004 and July 2012, 51 patients were diagnosed with MCI and 165 with either dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) or non-AD dementia. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies of Depression Scale (CES-D) was used to estimate the severity and prevalence of clinically elevated depressive symptomatology. Results: The prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms was 51.0% in the MCI patients and 30.9% in the dementia patients. Depressive symptoms were more severe in the MCI patients than in the dementia patients. Elevated depressive symptoms were statistically associated with younger age for the MCI group, with lower self-rated memory for the dementia group, and with increased alcohol use and lower quality of life ratings for all patients. In the logistic regression models, elevated depressive symptoms remained negatively associated with self-rated memory and quality of life for the patients with dementia, but significant bivariate associations did not persist in the MCI group. Conclusions: The high prevalence and severity of depressive symptoms among rural memory clinic patients diagnosed with either MCI or dementia warrant continued investigation.
Regulation of 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2 by MicroRNA
Authors: Rezaei Mina , Andrieu Thomas , Neuenschwander Samuel , Bruggmann Rémy , Mordasini David , Frey Felix J. , Vogt Bruno , Frey Brigitte M.
Published: July 2014

The enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2) is selectively expressed in aldosterone target tissues, conferring aldosterone selectivity for the mineralocorticoid receptor. A diminished activity causes salt-sensitive hypertension. The mechanism of the variable and distinct 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 gene (
HSD11B2
) expression in the cortical collecting duct is poorly understood. Here, we analyzed for the first time whether the 11β-HSD2 expression is modulated by microRNAs (miRNAs). In silico analysis revealed 53 and 27 miRNAs with potential binding sites on human or rat HSD11B2 3′-untranslated region. A reporter assay demonstrated 3′-untranslated region–dependent regulation of human and rodent HSD11B2. miRNAs were profiled from cortical collecting ducts and proximal convoluted tubules. Bioinformatic analyses showed a distinct clustering for cortical collecting ducts and proximal convoluted tubules with 53 of 375 miRNAs, where 13 were predicted to bind to the rat HSD11B2 3′-untranslated region. To gain insight into potentially relevant miRNAs in vivo, we investigated 2 models with differential 11β-HSD2 activity linked with salt-sensitive hypertension. (1) Comparing Sprague-Dawley with low and Wistar rats with high 11β-HSD2 activity revealed rno-miR-20a-5p, rno-miR-19b-3p, and rno-miR-190a-5p to be differentially expressed. (2) Uninephrectomy lowered 11β-HSD2 activity in the residual kidney with differentially expressed rno-miR-19b-3p, rno-miR-29b-3p, and rno-miR-26-5p. In conclusion, miRNA-dependent mechanisms seem to modulate 11β-HSD2 dosage in health and disease states.
Long-Term High-Dose Vitamin D
3
Supplementation and Blood Pressure in Healthy Adults
Authors: Scragg Robert , Slow Sandy , Stewart Alistair W. , Jennings Lance C. , Chambers Stephen T. , Priest Patricia C. , Florkowski Christopher M. , Camargo Carlos A. , Murdoch David R.
Published: July 2014

Previous randomized controlled trials of vitamin D supplementation and blood pressure (BP) mainly have given vitamin D for short periods (<6 months) or at low doses (400 IU per day). This study aims to determine whether long-term high-dose vitamin D taken for 18 months lowers BP. Adults were recruited from a healthcare organization or university into a double-blind controlled trial and randomized to receive either vitamin D
3
200 000 IU for 2 months followed by 100 000 IU monthly up to 18 months (n=161) or placebo (n=161). BP was measured at baseline, 5, and 18 months. Subjects had a mean (SD) age of 47.6 (9.7) years, 75% were women, and 94% were of European ancestry (white). Mean (SD) 25-hydroxyvitamin D
3
changed from 73 (22) nmol/L at baseline to 124 (28) nmol/L at 18 months in the vitamin D group, and from 71 (22) nmol/L to 56 (22) nmol/L in the placebo group. Mean BP was similar for the vitamin D and placebo groups at baseline (123.4/76.3 versus 122.6/75.6 mm Hg; respectively). The mean change (95% confidence interval) in BP at 18 months minus baseline in the vitamin D group compared with placebo group was −0.6 (−2.8 to 1.6) mm Hg for systolic (
P
=0.61) and 0.5 (−1.1, 2.2) mm Hg for diastolic (
P
=0.53). Long-term vitamin D supplementation, which increased mean 25-hydroxyvitamin D
3
concentration >100 nmol/L for 18 months, had no effect on systolic or diastolic BP in predominantly white, healthy adults without severe vitamin D deficiency. Beneficial effects on BP cannot be ruled out for other populations.
Spirit and Rebirth in the Gospel of John
Authors: Weissenrieder Annette
Published: July 2014

Insofar as Christianity can be said to have begun with the disappearance of a body, namely the absence of Jesus’ body in the grave, this disappearance occasioned not so much a disjuncture with Jesus’ preceding work as a new start, by way of a salvific turn, according to multiple accounts in the New Testament. It is through the absence of Jesus’ body and subsequent appearances of the risen Jesus that the messianic promise is fulfilled. Furthermore, the absence of Jesus’ body opens up space for transfigured bodies in multiple forms to fill the gap, each in its own way. Christian faith was thus marked, from the earliest time, by questions regarding the meaning, representation, and transformation of the body. In the Gospel of John, after Jesus is resurrected he blows (ἐμφυσάω) the holy spirit into his disciples. Here the infusion of the spirit evokes the framework of ancient embryology, in which spirit brings life. Ancient embryology illumines the recurrent passages in John referring to birth, being reborn, and children of God, especially 1:13–14 and 3:3–8.
The Early Ḥanafiyya and Kufa
Authors: Melchert Christopher
Published: July 2014

The Ḥanafī school of law is conventionally thought to have evolved out of an earlier Kufan legal tradition, as the Mālikī evolved out of an earlier Medinese. I have questioned whether the early Ḥanafī school should be characterized as Kufan when Abū Ḥanīfa, Abū Yūsuf, and Muḥammad b. al Ḥasan al Shaybānī seem to have all done their most important work in Baghdad and when Kufan followers of theirs are practically impossible to find, notably in Ḥanafī biographical dictionaries. To the contrary, however, Nurit Tsafrir has insisted that Abū Ḥanīfa did have numerous Kufan followers and that Ḥanafī law had no need of being introduced to Kufa but evolved there as a continuing local tradition. Here I survey three bodies of evidence for early Ḥanafism: biographies of persons said to be followers of Abū Ḥanīfa, the earliest Ḥanafī legal literature, and Ḥanafīḥadīthliterature, mainly collections ofḥadīthallegedly transmitted by Abū Ḥanīfa. The object is to come to a full accounting of where Ḥanafism was transmitted. Much evidently depends on how to assess contradictory reports of some figures’ friendliness or hostility toward Abū Ḥanīfa and his doctrine. The biographical and legal literature reveals no significant Ḥanafī presence in Kufa after Abū Ḥanīfa’s departure, but theḥadīthliterature is ambiguous.
Practice Patterns and Guideline Adherence in the Management of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Authors: McElligott James T. , Lemay John R. , O’Brien Elizabeth S. , Roland Virginia A. , Basco William T. , Roberts James R.
Published: July 2014

Background. Current data are limited on compliance with guidelines for the treatment of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods. A survey assessing compliance with ADHD guidelines for diagnosis and management was distributed to pediatricians in a practice research network. Comparisons were made by practitioner characteristics. Results. In all, 42/76 surveys were returned (55%). Respondents largely adhered to American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines. A lower percentage reported compliance for rescreening with a standardized tool (80%), use of electrocardiograms (78% rarely use), and the use of routine additional testing (80% rarely use). Academic practitioners were more likely to rescreen (100% vs 79%, P < .05). Private practitioners more often used newer therapeutic agents (7% vs 44%, P < .01). Older graduates were more comfortable diagnosing at a young age (93% vs 56%, P < .01) and were more comfortable using sleep agents (60% vs 15%, P < .01). Conclusion. Pediatricians largely adhered to AAP guidelines. These findings support changes made to the guidelines in 2011. Differences in practice patterns exist by practitioner experience, location, and practice type.
The implications of neoliberalism for social work: Reflections from a six-country international research collaboration
Authors: Spolander Gary , Engelbrecht Lambert , Martin Linda , Strydom Marianne , Pervova Irina , Marjanen Päivi , Tani Petri , Sicora Alessandro , Adaikalam Francis
Published: July 2014

The near global implementation of public sector and social welfare reform as a result of neoliberal economic reform has impacted on social work and social inequality. State strategies to reduce social and economic inequality are being challenged and rolled back. This article uses the reflections from a six-country EU-funded social work research collaboration to promote debate and compare global social work perspectives, to highlight the complexity of research, to explore implications for practice and the Global Agenda. It concludes by highlighting that global comparisons are complex, multi-faceted and that political, cultural and economic context is critical to develop effective responses.
Massive intrathoracic lipoma: a report of two cases, one being congenital
Authors: Tamatey Martin N , Sereboe Lawrence A , Tettey Mark M , Entsua-Mensah Kow , Gyan Baffoe , Gyasi Richard K
Published: July 2014

Massive intrathoracic lipomas are uncommon. Few cases have been reported worldwide. We report two cases, one of which was congenital. They were managed by thoracotomy and complete excision, with excellent outcomes.
The search for an ‘asset-effect’: What do we want from asset-based welfare?
Authors: Gregory James
Published: July 2014

This article calls for a critical revaluation of the case for asset-based welfare as a progressive strategy for greater social inclusion. Whilst there is a strong case for helping low-income households to build a financial cushion, the idea that there is a stronger ‘asset-effect’ – with positive benefits beyond financial stability and access to goods and services – is unsupported by current evidence. Recent interpretations of that evidence have tended to claim a unique asset-effect that could in fact be achieved by other means. The idea of an asset-effect is also normatively opaque in the current debate, with little clarity on the deeper issue of the individual behaviours that the ‘effect’ is intended to create. This leaves an ambiguity in the relationship between asset-based welfare and the rights and duties of citizenship; a lacuna that is easily exploited by ideologies of self-sufficiency at the expense of more egalitarian accounts of social inclusion.
Embedding Agamben's Critique of Foucault: The Theological and Pastoral Origins of Governmentality
Authors: Leshem Dotan
Published: July 2014

This article tackles Giorgio Agamben's critique of Michel Foucault's genealogy of governmentality in two ways: first, by presenting an alternative model of the relations between pastoral and theological economy and, second, by conducting a genealogy of the former as revealed in the state of exception, when canon law is suspended. Following the author's genealogy of oikonomia in the state of exception, he argues that politics and economy are distinct from one another by virtue of the fact that the primary relation of the latter is one of inclusion while that of the former is one of exclusion. Finally, the author traces three of oikonomia's prolific qualities in the operation of governmentality in civil society and of market economy: (i) its inclusiveness; (ii) the constant representation of the irreconcilability of law and authority; and (iii) its operation by accommodating to the ways of the governed.
Advancement of Knowledge of Brucella Over the Past 50 Years
Authors: Olsen S. C. , Palmer M. V.
Published: July 2014

Fifty years ago, bacteria in the genus Brucella were known to cause infertility and reproductive losses. At that time, the genus was considered to contain only 3 species: Brucella abortus, Brucella melitensis, and Brucella suis. Since the early 1960s, at least 7 new species have been identified as belonging to the Brucella genus ( Brucella canis, Brucella ceti, Brucella inopinata, Brucella microti, Brucella neotomae, Brucella ovis, and Brucella pinnipedialis) with several additional new species under consideration for inclusion. Although molecular studies have found such high homology that some authors have proposed that all Brucella are actually 1 species, the epidemiologic and diagnostic benefits for separating the genus based on phenotypic characteristics are more compelling. Although pathogenic Brucella spp have preferred reservoir hosts, their ability to infect numerous mammalian hosts has been increasingly documented. The maintenance of infection in new reservoir hosts, such as wildlife, has become an issue for both public health and animal health regulatory personnel. Since the 1960s, new information on how Brucella enters host cells and modifies their intracellular environment has been gained. Although the pathogenesis and histologic lesions of B. abortus, B. melitensis, and B. suis in their preferred hosts have not changed, additional knowledge on the pathology of these brucellae in new hosts, or of new species of Brucella in their preferred hosts, has been obtained. To this day, brucellosis remains a significant human zoonosis that is emerging or reemerging in many parts of the world.
‘We are our own educators!’: Buzz Johnson, people’s publisher
Authors: Searle Chris
Published: July 2014

A tribute to Buzz Johnson (1951–2014), who created in the UK one of the most important and prolific black publishing houses on and for Caribbean peoples. For him publishing – anything from forgotten history to rap poetry, social commentary and fiction – which related to the Caribbean or the struggles of its peoples in the UK – was part of public education. He managed to recover forgotten histories, get up-and-coming writers known and keep in print classics by Caribbean stalwarts, and all without financial backing and commercial back-up. An example, argues the author, of an activist-publisher and true educator.
Overview of current biological and thermo-chemical treatment technologies for sustainable sludge management
Authors: Zhang Linghong , Xu Chunbao (Charles) , Champagne Pascale , Mabee Warren
Published: July 2014

Sludge is a semi-solid residue produced from wastewater treatment processes. It contains biodegradable and recalcitrant organic compounds, as well as pathogens, heavy metals, and other inorganic constituents. Sludge can also be considered a source of nutrients and energy, which could be recovered using economically viable approaches. In the present paper, several commonly used sludge treatment processes including land application, composting, landfilling, anaerobic digestion, and combustion are reviewed, along with their potentials for energy and product recovery. In addition, some innovative thermo-chemical techniques in pyrolysis, gasification, liquefaction, and wet oxidation are briefly introduced. Finally, a brief summary of selected published works on the life cycle assessment of a variety of sludge treatment and end-use scenarios is presented in order to better understand the overall energy balance and environmental burdens associated with each sludge treatment pathway. In all scenarios investigated, the reuse of bioenergy and by-products has been shown to be of crucial importance in enhancing the overall energy efficiency and reducing the carbon footprint.
A Perfect Childhood? Clinical Correlates of Minimization and Denial on the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire
Authors: MacDonald Kai , Thomas Michael L. , MacDonald Tina M. , Sciolla Andres F.
Published: July 2014

Childhood trauma has pervasive and enduring effects on myriad health outcomes, and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) is a widely used screening tool. To assess recall and reporting biases, the CTQ includes a Minimization/Denial (MD) Scale, although this scale is typically omitted or not reported on. As this practice is not supported by empirical data, we sought to examine the clinical correlates of the CTQ MD Scale, as well as its function as a response bias index (i.e., its moderation effects). We examined correlations between the MD Scale and attachment style, temperament, personality, depression, and clinical diagnoses in a group of 200 adult psychiatric outpatients. Regression analyses were performed to assess the impact of MD on the relationships between the CTQ and clinical variables. Twenty percent of our sample met MD criteria. When patients were grouped as MD-positive versus MD-negative, significant between-group differences were found on several clinical measures. MD status, however, did not significantly moderate the relationships between the CTQ and clinical variables. This is one of the first clinically focused examinations of the CTQ’s MD Scale. Although the MD Scale was associated with several clinical variables, it did not significantly moderate the relationship between the CTQ and clinical variables. These findings, therefore, call into question the value of the MD Scale as a response bias index, although they should be replicated in larger studies before the currently ubiquitous practice of ignoring it can be considered evidence-based.
Experiences of Forced Sex Among Female Patrons of Alcohol-Serving Venues in a South African Township
Authors: Watt Melissa H. , Sikkema Kathleen J. , Abler Laurie , Velloza Jennifer , Eaton Lisa A. , Kalichman Seth C. , Skinner Donald , Pieterse Desiree
Published: July 2014

South Africa has among the highest rates of forced sex worldwide, and alcohol use has consistently been associated with risk of forced sex in South Africa. However, methodological challenges affect the accuracy of forced sex measurements. This study explored the assessment of forced sex among South African women attending alcohol-serving venues and identified factors associated with reporting recent forced sex. Women ( n = 785) were recruited from 12 alcohol-serving venues in a peri-urban township in Cape Town. Brief self-administered surveys included questions about lifetime and recent experiences of forced sex. Surveys included a single question about forced sex and detailed questions about sex by physical force, threats, verbal persuasion, trickery, and spiked drinks. We first compared the single question about forced sex to a composite variable of forced sex as unwanted sex by physical force, threats, or spiked drinks. We then examined potential predictors of recent forced sex (demographics, drinking behavior, relationship to the venue, abuse experiences). The single question about forced sex had low sensitivity (0.38); more than half of the respondents who reported on the detailed questions that they had experienced forced sex by physical force, threats, or spiked drinks reported on the single question item that they had not experienced forced sex. Using our composite variable, 18.6% of women reported lifetime and 10.8% reported recent experiences of forced sex. In our adjusted logistic regression model, recent forced sex using the composite variable was significantly associated with hazardous drinking (OR = 1.92), living farther from the venue (OR = 1.81), recent intimate partner violence (OR = 2.53), and a history of childhood sexual abuse (OR = 4.35). The findings support the need for additional work to refine the assessment of forced sex. Efforts to prevent forced sex should target alcohol-serving venues, where norms and behaviors may present particular risks for women who frequent these settings.
A review of numerical simulation and modeling of combustion in scramjets
Authors: Clark Ryan J , Bade Shrestha SO
Published: July 2014

This paper reviews numerical simulations and modeling of high-speed combustion as it pertains to scramjets. Simulation results were presented from various researchers that have dedicated their time and effort to numerical investigation of high-speed combustion in scramjets. In addition to their findings, validation works were presented, showing the validity of ANSYS Fluent 12.1 in the application of high-speed combustion in scramjets.
The melancholy of murderous mothers: Depression and the medicalization of women’s anger
Authors: Kruger Lou-Marie , van Straaten Kirsten , Taylor Laura , Lourens Marleen , Dukas Carla
Published: July 2014

Informed by recent feminist critiques of the notion of depression, we explored how a group of South African low-income mothers who have been diagnosed with depression subjectively describe and explain their psychological distress. Working within a feminist materialist-discursive framework, we focused both on the explicit content of what the women were saying and on the implicit or underlying discourses that informed their narratives. Our findings suggest that respondents often subjectively experienced their psychological distress as anger, which was also articulated in violence directed at their children. This suggests that not only does the diagnosis of depression serve to medicalize the distress of participants, but it may simultaneously serve to obscure their anger at having to mother in adverse conditions. In exploring reasons for their anger, we found that participants were frustrated with trying to live up to idealized notions of motherhood in impoverished contexts.
Evaluation of the toxicity of zinc in the rat olfactory neuronal cell line, Odora
Authors: Hsieh H , Amlal H , Genter MB
Published: July 2014

Zinc (Zn) has long been touted as a panacea for common cold. Recently, there has been some controversy over whether an intranasal (IN) zinc gluconate gel, purported to fight colds, causes anosmia, or loss of the sense of smell, in humans. Previous evidence has shown that IN zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) solutions can cause anosmia in humans as well as significant damage to the olfactory epithelium in rodents. Using an in vitro olfactory neuron model (the rat Odora cell line), we tested the hypothesis that Zn toxicity was caused by inhibition of the hydrogen voltage-gated channel 1(HVCN1), leading to acidosis and apoptotic cell death. Following studies to characterize the toxicity of zinc gluconate and ZnSO4, Odora cells were grown on coverslips and loaded with 2′,7′-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5-(and-6)-carboxyfluorescein acetoxymethyl ester to measure intracellular pH in the presence and absence of Zn salts. While we found that HVCN1 is not functional in Odora cells, we found that olfactory neurons in vitro maintain their intracellular pH through a sodium/proton exchanger, specifically the sodium proton antiporter 1. ZnSO4, at nontoxic levels, had no impact on intracellular pH after acute exposure or after 24 h of incubation with the cells. In conclusion, Zn toxicity is not mediated through an acidification of intracellular pH in olfactory neurons in vitro.
Ethical decision-making in hospice care
Authors: Walker Andreas , Breitsameter Christof
Published: July 2014

Background:

Hospices are based on a holistic approach which places the physical, psychological, social and spiritual welfare of their patients at the forefront of their work. Furthermore, they draw up their own mission statements which they are at pains to follow and seek to conduct their work in accordance with codes of ethics and standards of care.

Research question and design:

Our study researched what form the processes and degrees of latitude in decision-making take in practice when questions of an ethical and ethically relevant nature arise. We used a qualitative approach. Data collection and evaluation was based on the methods of grounded theory.

Ethical considerations:

The study was reported to the relevant Ethics Commission who had raised no objections following the submission of the study protocol. The study at the hospices was approved by the directors of the hospices and the nursing teams. The rights of the participants were protected by obtaining informed consent.

Results:

Medication in the prefinal phase and questions affecting the provision of solids and liquids in the end-of-life phase have an ethical dimension. In the context of these two fields, decisions are taken collectively. A nurse’s individual (and ethically relevant) leeway in decision-making processes is restricted to the nurse’s own style of administering care. The nurse’s decision-making often depends to a far greater degree on her ability to adapt her concept of ideal care to fit the practical realities of her work than to any conceptual framework.

Discussion:

An adaptive process is necessary for the nurse because she is required to incorporate the four pillars of hospice care – namely, physical, psychological, social and spiritual care – into the practice of her daily work.

Conclusion:

Ethically relevant decisions are often characterised by nurses adjusting their aspiration levels to the practical conditions with which they are confronted.
Financing Social Innovation for Poverty Reduction: A Case Study of Microfinancing and Microenterprise Development in Bangladesh
Authors: Mahmuda Ismat , Baskaran Angathevar , Pancholi Jatin
Published: July 2014

Microfinancing is widely perceived to contribute towards social innovation for poverty reduction. We examined the Challenging the Frontiers of Poverty Reduction (CFPR) programme implemented by the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) between 2002 and 2007, as it used an innovative approach to microfinancing by transferring assets rather than cash to ultra poor participants. We examined two aspects: (i) the impact of microfinancing through asset transfer instead of cash on social innovation leading to poverty reduction; (ii) the factors that contributed to positive or negative impact on the economic conditions and poverty levels of the participant households and the trajectories of changes experienced by the success and failure cases. For this, we employed survey data from twenty-one beneficiaries and eight in-depth interviews among these households. The study found that participants who demonstrated proper planning, hard work and personal interest in the enterprise through microfinancing have witnessed improved quality of life and poverty reduction, while lack of motivation, absence of proper planning and certain social barriers resulted in failure. Our study makes two major contributions: (i) it fills a gap in the literature on microfinancing of social innovation to help ultra poor households to graduate out of poverty; (ii) it provides policy alternatives for designing appropriate microfinancing programmes for ultra poor which can produce high success rates in reducing poverty through social innovation not only in Bangladesh, but also in other developing countries.
Internationalization as Mergers and Acquisitions
Authors: Deschamps Eric , Lee Jenny J.
Published: July 2014

This study investigated the various emerging forms of internationalization and how senior international affairs officers describe their motivations and rationales for implementing these activities. Based on interviews with senior international officers at 30 international offices in U.S. public universities, this study identified and classified increased entrepreneurial activities in the forms of acquisitions and mergers.
Prediction and analysis of ductile fracture in sheet metal forming—Part I: A modified Ayada criterion
Authors: Liu HS , Fu MW
Published: July 2014

A modified ductile fracture criterion is proposed based on the traditional Ayada criterion and coded into the finite element simulation platform of VUMAT/ABAQUS for prediction and analysis of ductile fracture in metal plastic strain processes. In this modified ductile fracture criterion, stress triaxiality is taken into account, and more importantly, the exponential effect of the equivalent plastic strain on the damage behavior, which is generally ignored in other ductile fracture criteria, is also considered. The material related constants in the modified ductile fracture criterion are determined by tensile tests together with finite element simulations. The applicability and reliability of the ductile fracture criterion in ductile fracture prediction in two types of classic stress states, viz. shear stress, tensile stress in sheet metal forming, are investigated based on the deformation behavior and fracture occurrence in two case studies with two typical types of materials, i.e. Al 6061 and T10A. The materials have a wide range of plasticity. The simulation and experimental results verify the applicability and reliability of the developed ductile fracture criterion in prediction of the ductile fracture with and without necking in different stress states of plastic strain.
Histamine-2-Receptor Antagonist Administration and Gastrointestinal Bleeding When Used for Stress Ulcer Prophylaxis in Patients With Severe Sepsis or Septic Shock
Authors: Barletta Jeffrey F.
Published: July 2014

Background: The Surviving Sepsis Campaign suggests that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) be considered over histamine-2-receptor antagonists (H2RA) for stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP), but there are no studies demonstrating superiority with PPIs in this population. Objective: To determine if H2RAs are associated with an increased risk for gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock. Methods: This study queried the Multiparameter Intelligent Monitoring in Intensive Care II database to identify adult patients with severe sepsis or septic shock requiring mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours. Patients were excluded if they had GI bleeding as a primary diagnosis, variceal bleeding, received both PPIs and H2RAs or no acid suppression. Demographic characteristics, medication use and potential confounders for GI bleeding were recorded. ICD-9 coding was used to identify GI bleeding listed as a secondary diagnosis. Multivariate analysis was performed to assess the role of H2RAs as an independent risk factor for GI bleeding. Results: There were 686 patients evaluated. The incidence of GI bleeding was 9.5%. Patients who received H2RAs had a bleeding incidence of 2.3% versus 10% with PPIs ( P = 0.111). On controlling for confounding variables, drug selection (H2RA or PPI) was not associated with an increased risk for bleeding. Acute or chronic liver disease was the only independent risk factor identified: odds ratio [OR] (95% CI) = 3.75 (2.19-6.44); P < 0.001. Conclusion: H2RAs are not associated with an increased risk for GI bleeding in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock who require mechanical ventilation. These data do not support the Surviving Sepsis Campaign recommendation of PPIs as the preferred agent in this population.
Priapism Associated With the Use of Stimulant Medications and Atomoxetine for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children
Authors: Eiland Lea S. , Bell Edward A. , Erramouspe John
Published: July 2014

Objective: To review the association of priapism with stimulant medications and atomoxetine commonly used in the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Data Sources: A comprehensive literature search was conducted through PubMed (1966-May 15, 2014) using the search terms priapism, methylphenidate, amphetamine, atomoxetine, attention-deficit disorder with hyperactivity, and pediatrics. Google Scholar, Scopus, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Web site were also searched. References from identified literature were also reviewed. Study Selection and Data Extraction: All identified literature focused on ADHD treatment. Literature regarding priapism caused by methylphenidate, amphetamines, and atomoxetine were included. Data Synthesis: Stimulant medications and atomoxetine have been linked to the occurrence of priapism in children. Specifically, methylphenidate has been implicated in a recent FDA safety announcement warning as a result of 15 case reports (mean age = 12.5 years), and thus, the drug label and medication guides have been updated to reflect this concern. Prolonged erections and priapism occurred with immediate- and long-acting products, dose increases, and drug withdrawal periods. Priapism has also occurred in 4 patients taking amphetamines and one 11-year-old patient taking atomoxetine for ADHD. Conclusions: Priapism has been associated with stimulants, amphetamines, and atomoxetine use for ADHD in children. Providers and health care practitioners should educate male patients prescribed these ADHD medications as well as caregivers regarding the signs, symptoms, and complications with priapism. Discontinuation and evaluation of the medication is warranted if this adverse drug reaction occurs. Depending on the priapism subtype, other products may be initiated or medications not associated with priapism may be utilized.
Clinical and Economic Impact of a Quality Improvement Initiative to Enhance Early Recognition and Treatment of Sepsis
Authors: Judd William R. , Stephens Dana M. , Kennedy Charles A.
Published: July 2014

Background: Studies evaluating the clinical effectiveness of sepsis screening tools and methods to improve the time from diagnosis to antibiotic administration are needed to improve sepsis-related outcomes. Objective: To evaluate the clinical and economic impact of a sepsis quality improvement initiative to improve early recognition and treatment of sepsis. Methods: A retrospective observational study of adults with sepsis was performed in a 433-bed tertiary medical center. Baseline data were collected for 181 patients with sepsis diagnosis-related group (DRG) coding assignments from July through September 2013. The intervnetion group included 216 patients from October through December 2013. A First-Dose STAT Antibiotic policy was developed, and nurses were instructed to complete an electronic sepsis screening tool once per shift. Primary outcomes included in-hospital mortality and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS). Secondary outcomes included overall LOS and cost per case. Results: Nonsignificant decreases in overall LOS (7.43 ± 5.68 days vs 6.77 ± 5 days; P = 0.138) and in-hospital mortality (13.8% vs 8.8%; P = 0.113) were observed in patients with sepsis DRGs. Early recognition and treatment contributed to significant reductions in ICU LOS (5.85 ± 4.38 days vs 4.21 ± 3.64 days; P = 0.003) and total cost per case ($14 378 vs $12 311; P = 0.033). The percentage of highest disease-severity DRG coding assignments decreased from 7.9% to 0%. Conclusions: Strategies to improve early recognition and treatment of sepsis, including routine use of an electronic sepsis screening tool and implementation of a First-Dose STAT Antibiotic policy, contributed to significant reductions in ICU LOS and cost per case.
Large displacement behavior of a rocking flexible structure under harmonic excitation
Authors: Caliò Ivo , Greco Annalisa
Published: July 2014

In this paper the nonlinear dynamic behavior of a rocking flexible structure subjected to harmonic excitation is investigated. The dynamic response of the structure is characterized by a sequence of full contact and rocking phases which may be halted by the overturning of the system. In the study, reference is made to a simple lumped mass model which, in the full contact phase, behaves as a linear single degree-of-freedom system. In the rocking phase the system exhibits two degrees of freedom and its response is evaluated with reference to large rigid rotations and small elastic deformations. New explicit and numerical results are presented as a function of structural and loading parameters. The complex dynamic behavior of the rocking flexible structure, subjected to harmonic excitation, is compared with the corresponding nonlinear dynamics of the rigid system with the aim of highlighting the limits of applicability of the rigid body assumption. Extensive numerical applications have been performed in order to evaluate the main features of the nonlinear response of the flexible model subjected to harmonic acceleration at the base.
Vibration analysis of supported thick-walled cylindrical shell made of functionally graded material under pressure loading
Authors: Isvandzibaei Mohammad Reza , Jamaluddin Hishamuddin , Raja Hamzah Raja Ishak
Published: July 2014

This paper presents a study on the vibration of a supported thick-walled cylindrical shell made of functionally graded material (FGM) subjected to pressure loading. The FGM shell is developed in accordance to the volume fraction law from two constituents, namely stainless steel and nickel. For the power law exponent distribution the top surface of the structure is steel/nickel-rich, whereas the bottom surface is nickel/steel-rich. The FGM properties are graded along the thickness direction of the shell. The supported FGM thick shell equations with one ring and pressure loading are established based on first-order shear deformation theory. The governing equations of motion were employed, using energy function and by applying the Ritz method. The boundary conditions represented by the end conditions of the FGM thick shell are simply supported–simply supported, clamped–clamped, free–free, clamped–free, clamped–simply supported, free–simply supported, sliding–free and sliding–clamped. The effects of the volume fraction law exponent, pressure loading, ring position and different boundary conditions on natural frequency characteristics are studied. The results obtained are compared with those available in the literature.
Finite-time robust-tracking and model-following controller for uncertain dynamical systems
Authors: Mobayen Saleh
Published: July 2014

This paper presents sliding mode control to achieve finite-time robust-tracking and model-following for uncertain dynamical systems with time-varying state-delays and disturbances. The selection of sliding surface and the existence of the sliding mode are two significant issues, which have been addressed. The control law is designed to guarantee the existence of the sliding mode around the linear sliding surface in finite time. Simulation results are presented to show the efficiency of the proposed scheme as a promising way for controlling similar nonlinear systems.
A very tangled knot: Official state socialist women’s organizations, women’s agency and feminism in Eastern European state socialism
Authors: Funk Nanette
Published: July 2014

This article discusses some current research claims on gender and state socialism in Eastern Europe from 1945 to 1989. It raises questions about claims by Revisionist Feminist Scholars that official state socialist women’s organizations were ‘agents’ on behalf of women, or women’s movements, perhaps feminist, and not ‘transmission belts’ of communist parties. State socialist policies are described as ‘friendly towards women’ and ‘pro-women’. In contrast, the author claims that these organizations both were and were not agents on behalf of women, and also prevented women’s agency. Meaningful women’s agency is not actually shown to occur intermittently throughout their history, but in two contexts – before 1955 or in moments of political rupture. Scholars do not distinguish the who, when, and what – Who could be agents? When could they be agents? And what kind of agents could they be? State policies, the author claims, were also at one and the same time ‘friendly’ and ‘unfriendly’ towards women, sometimes harming women. The author explores why this research is happening now, discussing research on Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, the Democratic Women’s Organization of Germany (DFD), the Democratic Association of Hungarian Women (MNDSZ), later renamed MNOT, the Romanian National Council of Women (CNF) and the Yugoslav Anti-Fascist Women’s Organization (AFZ).
Care in the home for seriously ill children with complex needs
Authors: Ward Cynthia , Glass Nel , Ford Rosemary
Published: July 2014

This article reviews contemporary literature on home care of the seriously ill child with complex care needs and the sick child/parent dyad. The literature search revealed three major themes, namely the increasing acuity of child illness, the evolving role of the parent as care provider, and the health professional as care provider. While there is much known about the complexity of care of children and the role of family in that care, little is known about what families require in terms of support and sustenance during the long years of care provision.
An issue of attribution: The Tunisian revolution, media interaction, and agency
Authors: Wolover DJ
Published: July 2014

Studies of the Arab Spring have been populated with two kinds of media scholarship: while one acknowledges the role of social media in popular uprisings, the other argues that their role has been overblown. Drawing on recent theories of the media, this article seeks to resolve the debate through a media interaction approach, which shows how it is impossible to study the effects of one media form in isolation from those of others. First, how social media and the mainstream news media have interacted in providing the coverage of Tunisian uprising is outlined. This study suggests that not only did these influential news sources rely on a developing distributed mediascape to provide information, they also influenced distributed media in return, suggesting not only an intersection of traditional and distributed media but rather their reformulation. Second, the putative role of social media in popular uprisings shows regional bias in the early days of media coverage while also being indicative of a shift in what constitutes a reliable source within the culture of journalism with Western media displaying a technological determinist slant while the Arab source displays an organic determinist position.
Justice and political authority in left-libertarianism
Authors: Wendt Fabian
Published: July 2014

From a left-libertarian perspective, it seems almost impossible for states to acquire political authority. For that reason, left-libertarians like Peter Vallentyne understandably hope that states without political authority could nonetheless implement left-libertarian justice. Vallentyne has argued that one can indeed assess a state’s justness without assessing its political authority. Against Vallentyne, I try to show that states without political authority have to be judged unjust even if they successfully promote justice. The reason is that institutions can be unjust independently from what they achieve or do: they can be ‘intrinsically unjust’. Institutions, I argue, are intrinsically unjust when they have legal liberties and powers without having the corresponding moral liberties and powers. States without political authority are intrinsically unjust in that sense. Hence the issues of a state’s justness and a state’s political authority cannot be dealt with separately. This is a problem not only for left-libertarians but for ‘philosophical anarchism’ more generally.