bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surface Modification of Ferromagnetic L1o FePt Nanoparticles Using Biotin–Avidin as Biomolecular Recognition Probes
Authors: Indrianingsih Anastasia W , Suda Masayuki , Heta Yushi , Suzuki Koji , Einaga Yasuaki
Published: August 2011

Water-dispersible biotin-modified biofunctional ferromagnetic L1o FePt nanoparticles (NPs) have been synthesized by using a silica nanoreactor strategy. The coercivity field of the NPs was 16 kOe at room temperature, with a particle size of around 5.19 nm. Biotin-coated L1o FePt NPs were biocompatible in an aqueous environment and show site-specific interactions with avidin compounds that could potentially yield a new magnetic material for biological applications, such as for biomolecular recognition.
Thematic Review: Democracy and participation
Authors: Somervill Peter
Published: August 2011

The meaning of democracy is complex and contested (Gaventa, 2006: 21), and yet at its heart lies a simple and commonly understood idea. Similarly, participation is a deceptively simple notion in principle but in practice seems to be understood in many different ways. This paper interrogates these two concepts and attempts to clarify the relationship between them. As a Thematic Review paper, it focuses on debates relevant to interpreting and enacting democracy and participation, such as that on alleged ‘democratic deficits’. For reasons of brevity, the paper examines political decision making without reference to the different scales (local, national, etc) on which such decision making occurs.
A Transparent Sand for Geotechnical Laboratory Modeling
Authors: Ezzein Fawzy M. , Bathurst Richard J.
Published: August 2011

The paper describes a new transparent granular soil that can be used for laboratory geotechnical modeling purposes. The transparent soil consists of fused quartz particles in combination with a mixture of two mineral oils as pore fluid. The solid particles and the matching liquid have the same refractive index. The soil has important advantages with respect to transparency, stability, health safety, and utility over glass and silica gel materials. The transparent soil is also inexpensive compared to silica gel-fluid materials that have been used in the past. Conventional laboratory shear box, triaxial compression, and permeability tests were carried out to demonstrate that the mechanical properties and hydraulic permeability of the transparent soil are typical of granular soils with angular particles.
NSF 14: Shaping the Future of the Plastic Piping Industry
Authors: Ciechanowski Ata
Published: August 2011

In 1951, NSF, then the National Sanitation Foundation, was approached by the Thermoplastics division of the Society of the Plastics Industry to initiate a research study related to the suitability of plastic pipe for potable water supplies. The results were reported in 1955 under the title “A Study of Plastic Pipe for Potable Water Supplies.” Following the publication of the study, NSF was requested by the plastics industry to establish a continuing testing and certification program on plastics materials, pipe, and fittings for potable water applications not only for toxicological considerations but also for performance evaluation. The Public Health and Industry Advisory Committee recommended the use of ASTM test procedures. The certification program was first started in 1959 and led to the creation of National Sanitation Foundation Standard Number 14 for Thermoplastic Materials in 1965. In 1991, NSF 14 became ANSI/NSF 14, the national standard for Plastic Piping Systems Components and Related Materials.
Educational Perspectives
Authors: Chapman Rachel L. , Wiseman Karen
Published: August 2011

The morbidity and mortality (M&M) conference offers an opportunity to incorporate principles of quality assurance and patient safety into neonatal practice, while providing a rich opportunity to teach many of the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) core competencies. A historical review highlights the basis of the M&M conference as rooted in the desire to improve physician practice and patient outcomes. Despite the lack of an identifiable, systematic approach to M&M-type conferences among neonatology programs, both the tradition of improving physician practice and patient outcomes by framing suboptimal outcomes as educational opportunities and the dawning of the era of competency-based graduate medical education support the need for neonatology divisions to offer M&M conferences in a contemporary format. Educational models emphasizing quality improvement, patient safety, and incorporation of the core competencies are available to support the goals and objectives of a divisional M&M conference. Setting clear goals, incorporating trained moderators, and having a documentation plan may all contribute to the success of the conference. The addition of an action plan and follow-up component to M&M conferences further credentials this activity as an integral part of overall quality improvement efforts while providing real-life evidence of practice-based learning and improvement and the importance of systems-based thinking.
Translating Evidence into Practice, Policy, and Public Health in Perinatal Medicine
Authors: Lee Henry C. , Dudley R. Adams , Gonzales Ralph
Published: August 2011

Although translation of medical research has traditionally been referred to as the process whereby basic science is applied to clinical medicine, focus has been growing on applying clinical research findings to the broader clinical community, what has been deemed “translating evidence into practice.” Scientific studies and clinical trials provide the evidence by which medicine can improve health, but how can the clinician actually apply this evidence to daily practice to improve patient outcomes? In this article, we describe some of the history of thought in the arena of translational medicine, consider some seminal examples in perinatal medicine, and hypothesize about the future of the field.
Modeling the ligand specific μ- and δ-opioid receptor conformations
Authors: Sencanski Milan , Ivanovic Milovan , Vuckovic Sonja , Dosen-Micovic Ljiljana
Published: August 2011

An automated docking procedure was applied to study the binding of a series
of ?- and ?-selective ligands to ligand-specific ?- and ?-opioid receptor
models. Short-time molecular dynamic simulations were used to obtain
ligand-specific ?- and ?-opioid receptors from arbitrarily chosen models of
the active form of these receptors. The quality of receptor model depended
on the molecular volume of the ligand in the receptor-ligand complex used in
the molecular dynamic simulations. Within a series of ligands of similar
size (volume), the results of ligand docking to the obtained ligand-specific
receptor conformation were in agreement with point mutation studies. The
correlation of the calculated and the experimentally determined binding
energies was improved in relation to the initial receptor conformation.
Reconditioning of self-ligating brackets
Authors: Sfondrini Maria Francesca , Xheka Esmeralda , Scribante Andrea , Gandini Paola , Sfondrini Giuseppe
Published: August 2011

Objective:

To test the null hypothesis that there is no significant difference in the shear bond strength (SBS) and Adhesive Remnant Index (ARI) scores of new vs reconditioned self-ligating brackets.

Materials and Methods:

One hundred and twenty permanent extracted bovine teeth were embedded in resin blocks. Three different new and reconditioned self-ligating orthodontic brackets (Smart Clip [3M Unitek]; Quick [Forestadent]; and Damon3MX [Ormco]) were tested. Scanning electron microphotographs of the different new (groups 1, 3, and 5) and reconditioned (groups 2, 4, and 6) bracket bases were taken before starting the experiments. Brackets were then bonded to the teeth using an orthodontic adhesive and were then tested in shear mode using an Instron Universal Testing Machine. ARI scores were then recorded. Statistical analysis was performed to determine significant differences in SBS and ARI Scores.

Results:

Smart Clip and Damon3MX reconditioned brackets showed significantly lower SBS than did new ones. On the contrary, Quick reconditioned brackets showed significantly higher SBS than did new ones. No significant differences in ARI scores were found after the reconditioning process for the three different brackets tested.

Conclusion:

The in-office reconditioning procedure alters the SBS of self-ligating brackets, although SBS values still remain clinically acceptable.
Evaluation of plasma islet amyloid polypeptide and serum glucose and insulin concentrations in nondiabetic cats classified by body condition score and in cats with naturally occurring diabetes mellitus
Authors: Henson Michael S. , Hegstad-Davies Rebecca L. , Wang Qi , Hardy Robert M. , Armstrong P. Jane , Jordan Kathryn , Johnson Kenneth H. , O'Brien Timothy D.
Published: August 2011

Objective—To evaluate and compare circulating concentrations of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP), insulin, and glucose in nondiabetic cats classified by body condition score (BCS) and in cats with naturally occurring diabetes mellitus.

Animals—109 (82 nondiabetic, 21 nonketoacidotic diabetic, and 6 ketoacidotic diabetic) cats.

Procedures—Cats were examined and BCSs were assessed on a scale of 1 to 9. After food was withheld for 12 hours, blood was collected and plasma concentrations of IAPP and serum concentrations of insulin and glucose were measured. Differences in these values were evaluated among nondiabetic cats grouped according to BCS and in diabetic cats grouped as ketoacidotic or nonketoacidotic on the basis of clinicopathologic findings. Correlations were determined among variables.

Results—In nondiabetic cats, BCS was significantly and positively correlated with circulating IAPP and insulin concentrations. Mean plasma IAPP concentrations were significantly different between cats with BCSs of 5 and 7, and mean serum insulin concentrations were significantly different between cats with BCSs of 5 and 8. Serum glucose concentrations were not significantly different among nondiabetic cats. Mean IAPP concentrations were similar between nonketoacidotic diabetic cats and nondiabetic cats with BCSs of 8 or 9. Mean IAPP concentrations were significantly reduced in ketoacidotic diabetic cats, compared with those of nondiabetic cats with BCSs of 6 through 8 and of nonketoacidotic diabetic cats.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results indicated that increased BCS (a measure of obesity) is associated with increased circulating concentrations of IAPP and insulin in nondiabetic cats.
Evaluation of infectivity of a canine lineage H3N8 influenza A virus in ponies and in primary equine respiratory epithelial cells
Authors: Quintana Ayshea M. , Hussey Stephen B. , Burr Ema C. , Pecoraro Heidi L. , Annis Kristina M. , Rao Sangeeta , Landolt Gabriele A.
Published: August 2011

Objective—To evaluate whether an equine-derived canine H3N8 influenza A virus was capable of infecting and transmitting disease to ponies.

Animals—20 influenza virus-seronegative 12- to 24-month-old ponies.

Procedures—5 ponies were inoculated via aerosol exposure with 107 TCID50 of A/Canine/Wyoming/86033/07 virus (Ca/WY)/pony. A second group of 5 ponies (positive control group) was inoculated via aerosol exposure with a contemporary A/Eq/Colorado/10/07 virus (Eq/CO), and 4 sham-inoculated ponies served as a negative control group. To evaluate the potential for virus transmission, ponies (3/inoculation group) were introduced 2 days after aerosol exposure and housed with Ca/WY- and Eq/CO-inoculated ponies to serve as sentinel animals. Clinical signs, nasal virus shedding, and serologic responses to inoculation were monitored in all ponies for up to 21 days after viral inoculation. Growth and infection characteristics of viruses were examined by use of Madin-Darby canine kidney cells and primary equine and canine respiratory epithelial cells.

Results—Ponies inoculated with Ca/WY had mild changes in clinical appearance, compared with results for Eq/CO-inoculated ponies. Additionally, Ca/WY inoculation induced significantly lower numbers for copies of the matrix gene in nasal secretions and lower systemic antibody responses in ponies than did Eq/CO inoculation. The Ca/WY isolate was not transmitted to sentinel ponies.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Inoculation of ponies with the canine H3N8 isolate resulted in mild clinical disease, minimal nasal virus shedding, and weak systemic antibody responses, compared with responses after inoculation with the equine H3N8 influenza isolate. These results suggested that Ca/WY has not maintained infectivity for ponies.
Effect of growth on monocarboxylate transporters and indicators of energy metabolism in the gluteus medius muscle of Thoroughbreds
Authors: Kitaoka Yu , Hoshino Daisuke , Mukai Kazutaka , Hiraga Atsushi , Takemasa Tohru , Hatta Hideo
Published: August 2011

Objective—To examine the changes in monocarboxylate transporter (MCT) 1 and MCT4 content and in indicators of energy metabolism in the gluteus medius muscle (GMM) of Thoroughbreds during growth.

Animals—6 Thoroughbreds (3 males and 3 females).

Procedures—Samples of GMM were obtained when horses were 2, 6, 12, and 24 months old. Muscle proteins were separated via SDS-PAGE; amounts of MCT1 and MCT4 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α content were determined by use of western blotting. Muscle activities of phosphofructokinase and citrate synthase were measured biochemically; lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes were separated by agarose gel electrophoresis and quantified.

Results—Compared with findings when horses were 2 months old, MCT1 protein content in GMM samples obtained when the horses were 24 months old was significantly higher; however, MCT4 protein content remained unchanged throughout the study period. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α content was significantly increased at 24 months of age and citrate synthase activity was increased at 6 and 24 months of age, compared with findings at 2 months. Phosphofructokinase activity remained unaltered during growth. The percentage contributions of lactate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 isoenzymes to the total amount of all 5 isoenzymes at 12 and 24 months of age were significantly higher than those at 2 months of age.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Changes in protein contents of MCTs and the lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme profile in GMM samples suggested that lactate usage capacity increases with growth and is accompanied by an increase in the oxidative capacity in Thoroughbreds.
In vitro comparison of stiffness of plate fixation of radii from large- and small-breed dogs
Authors: Gauthier Christopher M. , Conrad Bryan P. , Lewis Daniel D. , Pozzi Antonio
Published: August 2011

Objective—To compare in vitro axial compression, abaxial compression, and torsional stiffnesses of intact and plated radii from small- and large-breed dogs.

Sample—Radii from 18 small-breed and 9 large-breed skeletally mature dogs.

Procedures—3 groups were tested: large-breed dog radii plated with 3.5-mm limited-contact dynamic compression plates (LCDCPs), small-breed dog radii plated with 2.0-mm dynamic compression plates (DCPs), and small-breed dog radii plated with 2.0/2.7-mm cut-to-length plates (CTLPs). The axial compression, abaxial compression, and torsional stiffnesses of each intact radius were determined under loading with a material testing machine. An osteotomy was performed, radii were plated, and testing was repeated. The stiffness values of the plated radii were expressed as absolute and normalized values; the latter was calculated as a percentage of the stiffness of the intact bone. Absolute and normalized stiffness values were compared among groups.

Results—The absolute stiffnesses of plated radii in axial and abaxial compression were 52% to 83% of the intact stiffnesses in all fixation groups. No difference was found in torsion. There was no difference in normalized stiffnesses between small-breed radii stabilized with CTLPs and large-breed radii stabilized with LCDCPs; however, small-breed radii stabilized with DCPs were less stiff than were any other group.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Plated radii of small-breed dogs had normalized stiffnesses equal to or less than plated radii of large-breed dogs. The complications typically associated with plating of radial fractures in small-breed dogs cannot be ascribed to an overly stiff bone-plate construct.
Humoral immunity and injection-site reactions in cattle vaccinated with a multivalent clostridial vaccine administered via subcutaneous injection or via transdermal needle-free injection
Authors: Woolums Amelia R. , Ensley Douglas T. , Tanner Patrick A. , Fankhauser Rebecca , Shen Jing , Songer J. Glenn , Leard A. Timothy , Milward Francis W. , Pence Mel E. , Hurley David J.
Published: August 2011

Objective—To evaluate injection-site reactions and serum antibody titers in cattle vaccinated with a clostridial vaccine administered SC or via needle-free transdermal injection.

Animals—Sixteen 11-to 12-month-old Herefords.

Procedures—Cattle in 2 groups were vaccinated on days 0 and 28 with a commercially available multivalent clostridial vaccine administered SC or transdermally Injection sites and serum antibody titers were evaluated at several time points after vaccination. Serum antibody titers against Clostridium perfringens beta toxin, Clostridium novyi alpha toxin, and Clostridium septicum alpha toxin were determined with an ELISA; Clostridium sordellii lethal toxin titers were determined with a toxin neutralization assay.

Results—Firm injection site swellings developed in cattle vaccinated via either route; however, at several observation times, swellings were significantly smaller in cattle vaccinated transdermally. Serum titers against C perfringens beta toxin and C septicum alpha toxin did not differ significantly between groups after vaccination; serum titers against C novyi alpha toxin were not significantly different between groups, except on days 10 and 56, when they were significantly higher in cattle vaccinated SC. Titers against C sordellii lethal toxin were significantly higher in cattle vaccinated SC on several days after vaccination, but titers were not significantly different after day 49.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Transdermal vaccination of cattle resulted in serum antibody titers that were similar to those induced via SC vaccination and caused injection-site reactions that were significantly smaller. Transdermal vaccination may be an effective technique for vaccinating cattle against clostridial diseases while minimizing local reactions that often develop after clostridial vaccination.
Gender differences in salary and practice ownership expectations of matriculating veterinary students
Authors: Bristol David G.
Published: August 2011

Objective—To examine gender differences in initial and long-term salary and practice ownership expectations among first-year veterinary students.

Design—Survey.

Sample—First-year veterinary students at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine during 2000 through 2003 and 2005 through 2009.

Procedures—A 1-page survey was distributed to students during orientation exercises or on the first day of a first-year course on ethics and jurisprudence. Students were asked to indicate their expected salary at graduation and in 5-year increments after graduation and to indicate whether they expected to own a practice after graduation.

Results—Responses were obtained from 567 female and 120 male students. There was no significant difference in initial salary expectations between male and female students. However, men had higher expectations for salary increases over the course of their career, so that expected salary was significantly higher for men than for women 5 years after graduation and beyond. A significantly greater percentage of men (69/93 [74.2%]) than women (242/499 [48.5%]) indicated they expected to own a practice.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Although male and female veterinary students had similar expectations with regard to initial salaries, the male students had higher long-term salary expectations and were more likely to indicate an expectation to become a practice owner. Differences in expectations may lead to differences in behavior when those expectations are or are not met.
Treatment and survival of patients with nonmalignant intracranial meningioma: results from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program of the National Cancer Institute
Authors: Cahill Kevin S. , Claus Elizabeth B.
Published: August 2011

Object

The authors conducted a study to determine population-based estimates of survival following the diagnosis and treatment of nonmalignant intracranial meningioma in the US in the modern era.

Methods

Patients with nonmalignant intracranial meningioma were identified through the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database for the years 2004–2007. Predictors of undergoing resection were identified and odds ratios calculated. Estimates of survival were calculated using Kaplan-Meier estimation method and Cox proportional hazards model.

Results

There were 12,284 patients with a diagnosis of nonmalignant intracranial meningioma included in the analysis. Only 55% had histological confirmation of the diagnosis of nonmalignant meningioma. Resection was used as an initial treatment in 43% of cases. Patients treated with surgery were more likely to be younger (OR 9.3, 95% CI 8.1–10.7, for resection in patients age 40–59 years compared with age > 80 years), male (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.3–1.5, for males compared with females), white (OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.7–0.9, for black patients compared with white patients), and have larger tumors (OR 11.8, 95% CI 10.3–13.6, for tumors of the largest quartile compared with the smallest quartile). Patients treated with resection had a 3-year postdiagnosis survival estimate of 93.4% (95% CI 92.5%–94.3%) compared with 88.3% (95% CI 85.5%–90.6%) in patients not treated with resection (p < 0.01). Younger patient age, female sex, unilateral tumors, and resection were predictors of improved postdiagnosis survival after multivariate adjustment in patients with histologically confirmed meningiomas.

Conclusions

This analysis represents the first modern population-based analysis of treatment patterns and outcomes in US patients with nonmalignant intracranial meningioma. Over 85% of patients survive 3 years after diagnosis, and resection is associated with improved survival.
Combined occipitoatlantoaxial rotatory fixation
Authors: Fusco Matthew R. , Hankinson Todd C. , Rozzelle Curtis J.
Published: August 2011

Occipitoatlantoaxial rotatory fixation (OAARF) is a rare condition involving fixed rotational subluxation of the atlas in relation to both the occiput and axis. Atlantoaxial rotatory fixation (AARF) appears to precede OAARF in most cases, as untreated AARF may cause compensatory counter-rotation and occipitoaxial fixation at an apparently neutral head position. We report a case of OAARF in an 8-year-old girl with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Cervical imaging demonstrated slight rightward rotation of the occiput at 7.63° in relation to C-2 and significant rightward rotation of C-1 at 65.90° in relation to the occiput and at 73.53° in relation to C-2. An attempt at closed reduction with halo traction was unsuccessful. Definitive treatment included open reduction, C-1 laminectomy, and occipitocervical internal fixation and fusion.
Endoscopy versus microsurgical cyst excision and shunting for treating intracranial arachnoid cysts
Authors: Gangemi Michelangelo , Seneca Vincenzo , Colella Giuseppe , Cioffi Valentina , Imperato Alessia , Maiuri Francesco
Published: August 2011

Object

Endoscopic surgery is routinely used to treat intracranial arachnoid cysts. However, the indications and results with respect to the different cyst locations, compared with those of microsurgical fenestration and cyst shunting, deserve to be discussed.

Methods

The authors review 18 patients with intracranial arachnoid cysts treated by pure endoscopic technique in their neurosurgical department. There were 10 male and 8 female patients ranging in age from 2 months to 48 years (median age 19.4 years). The cyst location was suprasellar in 5 cases, quadrigeminal in 5, cortical hemispheric in 2, sylvian region in 3, and posterior fossa in 3. The authors also reviewed the literature, comprising 61 reports for an overall number of 645 patients with intracranial arachnoid cysts treated by different surgical techniques. These techniques included microsurgical excision or fenestration by craniotomy, cyst shunting, and endoscopic fenestration. The surgical results of the different techniques according to the different cyst locations underwent statistical analysis.

Results

The overall success rate (complete or partial clinical remission) in the authors' endoscopic series was 83.3% (15 of 18 cases), which is rather similar to that of 222 patients treated endoscopically and reported on in the literature (84.2%). In the overall endoscopic group, a higher success rate was found for cysts in the suprasellar (89.7%), quadrigeminal (88.5%), and posterior cranial fossa (83.3%) regions compared with sylvian (70%) and cortical and interhemispheric (75%) regions. The statistical comparison of the results of the endoscopic series with those of craniotomy and shunting revealed no significant differences for suprasellar, quadrigeminal, or posterior cranial fossa cysts, whereas the success rate of endoscopy is lower than that of other techniques for sylvian and cortical cysts.

Conclusions

Endoscopy is a safe and effective therapeutic modality for patients with intracranial arachnoid cysts. Cysts of the suprasellar and quadrigeminal regions and posterior fossa are the best indications for neuroendoscopy; on the other hand, cortical cysts are best treated by microsurgical fenestration or shunting. For sylvian cysts, the endoscopic procedure may be advocated in most cases.
Getting Rapture Ready: The Materiality of the Rapture in North America
Authors: Baker Kelly J.
Published: August 2011

Evangelical and fundamentalist belief in the Rapture, an event in which righteous Christians are called up to heaven, can be found in fiction, prophecy books, and on the internet, yet much of the scholarship on the Rapture focuses upon the rhetoric and beliefs of this impending beginning of the end. However, rapture readiness is also an act of faith with bodily practice, artifacts, and materiality. This article explores rapture practice, RaptureReady.com, and the work of Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins to argue that the Rapture is more than words and requires material action to become ready for the end and avoid the cataclysm of the Tribulation period and judgment.
Patient Perspective on Remission in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: van TUYL LILIAN H.D. , SMOLEN JOSEF S. , WELLS GEORGE A. , SCHOLTE-VOSHAAR MARIEKE , HOOGLAND WIJNANDA , BOERS MAARTEN
Published: August 2011

Absence of disease activity, or remission, is the most important treatment goal for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Since a new preliminary definition of remission in RA for clinical trials has been proposed, we investigated what determinants of disease activity patients associate with a state of remission and whether dimensions of impact of disease on daily life are involved. Our report summarizes progress of a workshop at OMERACT 10 on the patient perspective on remission in RA, including the results of a short pre-conference survey among patients, the discussions among the participants and a research agenda resulting from these discussions. This initial OMERACT workshop on remission from the patient perspective showed that there is a great interest among patients, physicians, and researchers to study the concept of remission, taking into account measures that patients indicate as important, but that there is a lack of data on appropriate measures, resulting in a considerable research agenda.
OARSI/OMERACT Initiative to Define States of Severity and Indication for Joint Replacement in Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis. An OMERACT 10 Special Interest Group
Authors: GOSSEC LAURE , PATERNOTTE SIMON , BINGHAM CLIFTON O. , CLEGG DANIEL O. , COSTE PHILIPPE , CONAGHAN PHILIP G. , DAVIS AILEEN M. , GIACOVELLI GIAMPAOLO , GUNTHER KLAUS-PETER , HAWKER GILLIAN , HOCHBERG MARC C. , JORDAN JOANNE M. , KATZ JEFFREY N. , KLOPPENBURG MARGREET , LANZAROTTI ARTURO , LIM KEITH , LOHMANDER L. STEFAN , MAHOMED NIZAR N. , MAILLEFERT JEAN FRANCIS , MANNO REBECCA L. , MARCH LYN M. , MAZZUCA STEVEN A. , PAVELKA KAREL , PUNZI LEONARDO , ROOS EWA M. , ROVATI LUCIO C. , SHI HELEN , SINGH JASVINDER A. , SUAREZ-ALMAZOR MARIA E. , TAJANA-MESSI ELEONORA , DOUGADOS MAXIME
Published: August 2011

Objective.

To define pain and physical function cutpoints that would, coupled with structural severity, define a surrogate measure of “need for joint replacement surgery,” for use as an outcome measure for potential structure-modifying interventions for osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods.

New scores were developed for pain and physical function in knee and hip OA. A cross-sectional international study in 1909 patients was conducted to define data-driven cutpoints corresponding to the orthopedic surgeons’ indication for joint replacement. A post hoc analysis of 8 randomized clinical trials (1379 patients) evaluated the prevalence and validity of cutpoints, among patients with symptomatic hip/knee OA.

Results.

In the international cross-sectional study, there was substantial overlap in symptom levels between patients with and patients without indication for joint replacement; indeed, it was not possible to determine cutpoints for pain and function defining this indication. The post hoc analysis of trial data showed that the prevalence of cases that combined radiological progression, high level of pain, and high degree of function impairment was low (2%–12%). The most discriminatory cutpoint to define an indication for joint replacement was found to be [pain (0–100) + physical function (0–100) > 80].

Conclusion.

These results do not support a specific level of pain or function that defines an indication for joint replacement. However, a tentative cutpoint for pain and physical function levels is proposed for further evaluation. Potentially, this symptom level, coupled with radiographic progression, could be used to define “nonresponders” to disease-modifying drugs in OA clinical trials.
Care of the Lower Extremities in Patients With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure
Authors: Cooper Karen L.
Published: August 2011

Patients with heart failure and pulmonary edema are often admitted to the critical care unit. Many of these patients have severe peripheral edema, which may be associated with exudates and wounds of the lower extremities and which present a challenge to critical care nurses. Little information is available on treatment of peripheral edema in the intensive care unit or in patients with unstable hemodynamic status. Nursing care is based on available evidence, findings on chest radiographs, and hemodynamic status. Medications that contribute to peripheral edema should be evaluated and discontinued if possible. An appropriate mattress surface with an underpad that promotes wicking away of moisture should be selected. The patient’s lower extremities should be elevated according to his or her current pulmonary status, and skin-protective interventions should be instituted. Multilayer compression wraps should be avoided until the patient’s hemodynamic status is stable and the patient can get out of bed.
Assessment of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and its relationship with proinflammatory cytokines and parameters of disease activity in multiple myeloma patients
Authors: Tsirakis G. , Pappa C. A. , Kaparou M. , Katsomitrou V. , Hatzivasili A. , Alegakis T. , Xekalou A. , Stathopoulos E. N. , Alexandrakis M.
Published: August 2011

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant plasma cell disease. Several proinflammatory cytokines produced by malignant plasma cells and bone marrow (BM) stromal cells are involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. We evaluated serum levels of the proinflammatory cytokines Interleukin-1Î² (IL-1Î²), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-8 (IL-8), macrophage inflammatory protein-1Î± (MIP-1Î±), in MM patients before treatment, and determined its significance in tumor progression. We also analyzed the correlation between measured parameters with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Forty-four MM patients and 20 healthy controls were studied. Serum levels of the proinflammatory cytokines were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), whereas PCNA value in the BM was determined by immunohistochemistry staining. The mean concentrations of the measured cytokines were significantly different among the three stages of disease, with higher values in advanced disease stage. Furthermore, patients with MM had significantly higher serum levels of the measured cytokines than in controls. A positive correlation was found between IL-6 with IL-1Î², IL-8 and MIP-1Î±. Similarly, IL-8 and MIP-1Î± were positively correlated with markers of disease activity such as beta 2 microglobulin and LDH. The proliferation index, determined by PCNA immunostaining, was higher in advanced disease stage. Furthermore PCNA value correlated significantly with beta 2 microglobulin, LDH and the levels of the measured cytokines. Our results showed that the proliferative activity, as measured with PCNA, increases in parallel with disease stage. The positive correlation between PCNA and other measured mediators supports the involvement of these factors in the biology of myeloma cell growth and can be used as markers of disease activity and as possible therapeutic targets.
On Differential Gene expression Using RNA-Seq Data
Authors: Lee Juhee , Ji Yuan , Liang Shoudan , Cai Guoshuai , Müller Peter
Published: August 2011

Motivation

RNA-Seq is a novel technology that provides read counts of RNA fragments in each gene, including the mapped positions of each read within each gene. Besides many other applications it can be used to detect differentially expressed genes. Most published methods collapse the position-level read data into a single gene-specific expression measurement. Statistical inference proceeds by modeling these gene-level expression measurements.

Results

We present a Bayesian method of calling differential expression (BM-DE) that directly models the position-level read counts. We demonstrate the potential advantage of the BM-DE method compared to existing approaches that rely on gene-level aggregate data. An important additional feature of the proposed approach is that BM-DE can be used to analyze RNA-Seq data from experiments without biological replicates. This becomes possible since the approach works with multiple position-level read counts for each gene. We demonstrate the importance of modeling for position-level read counts with a yeast data set and a simulation study.

Availability

A public domain R package is available from http://odin.mdacc.tmc.edu/~ylji/BMDE/ .
The Elizabeth Casson Memorial Lecture 2011: Occupational Therapy — A Profession in Adolescence?
Authors: Turner Annie
Published: August 2011

The Elizabeth Casson Memorial Lecture 2011, given on 30 June at the 35th Annual Conference and Exhibition of the College of Occupational Therapists, held at the Brighton Centre, Brighton, Sussex.
Exploring Mental Health Service Users' Experiences of Social Inclusion in their Community Occupations
Authors: Smyth Genevieve , Harries Priscilla , Dorer Gemma
Published: August 2011

Introduction:

Social inclusion is a recent policy driver, which aims to develop fair access to opportunity for marginalised groups: a major goal in keeping with the values of occupational therapists. Evaluation of progress towards social inclusion includes listening to individuals' experiences of inclusion or exclusion in their local communities. This research aimed to explore the experiences of social inclusion for mental health service users when engaged in everyday community occupations and to identify possible factors that influenced the service user experience.

Method:

Eight in-depth interviews with mental health service users were carried out, using interpretative phenomenological analysis to recount participants' life world perspectives.

Findings:

The findings revealed three themes: the outside experience, which described features of the social, physical and economic environment that influenced inclusion; the internal disability, which described features within participants themselves that influenced inclusion; and an active lifestyle, which described how features of occupation influenced inclusion. Feelings of inclusion or exclusion were predominantly linked to the response received from others, which was at times stigmatising and hostile.

Conclusion:

Given the negative impact of the reactions of society, occupational therapists need to prioritise working with local communities to facilitate their capacity to support social inclusion, as well as focusing on individual skill acquisition.
Experiences of Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Students in Using the Assessment of Communication and Interaction Skills in Mental Health Settings in Norway
Authors: Bonsaksen Tore , Myraunet Ingunn , Celo Cecilia , Granå Kjell Emil , Ellingham Brian
Published: August 2011

Introduction:

This study investigated the utility of the Assessment of Communication and Interaction Skills (ACIS) in mental health settings, as experienced by Norwegian occupational therapists and occupational therapy students.

Method:

An informal draft translation was used to investigate the appropriateness of the assessment for mental health practice. Focus group interviews were conducted with three occupational therapy practice educators working in mental health settings and six occupational therapy students on practice placement, who used the ACIS during an 8-week mental health practice placement in 2009. The focus groups aimed to explore the experiences of using the translated ACIS in working with clients.

Findings:

Three main themes emerged: observing with the ACIS, scoring the ACIS and using the ACIS in clinical practice.

Conclusion:

The ACIS has the potential for making a positive contribution, both for the individual client and for the larger team of multi professional staff, by giving a structure and terminology that supports precise observation and reporting. Questions were raised as to how the therapist's level of engagement during the observation may have an impact upon the client's performance. The process of scoring and giving feedback concerning the client's skills may be emotionally challenging for therapists, students and clients, and issues about how to give feedback to clients require consideration.
Web semântica no ensino à distância
Authors: Eluan Andrenizia Aquino , Fachin Gleisy Regina Bóries , Gauthier Fernando Alvaro Ostuni , Tedesco José Leomar
Published: August 2011

Com a evolução da tecnologia de informação e comunicação, a Web vem agregando diversidade de recursos que podem facilitar o desenvolvimento de várias áreas do conhecimento, pois promove o acesso e o uso da informação de forma globalizada, acessível e sem fronteiras. Neste artigo, será abordado a Web semântica como um meio de compartilhar informações ao adotar padrões de interoperabilidade para a comunicação em rede. Entre as preocupações que circundam o espaço educacional, estão às estratégias de busca e recuperação de informação de forma relevante e eficiente para o aprendizado e construção do conhecimento. Neste contexto, encontra-se a Educação a Distância, área que poderá desfrutar dos recursos da Web Semântica e de algumas vantagens da utilização de ontologias, as quais serão apresentadas neste artigo.
História dos conceitos e ciência da informação: apontamentos teórico-metodológicos para uma perspectiva epistemológica
Authors: Rabello Rodrigo
Published: August 2011

Considerando as questões de ordem conceitual presentes no universo epistemológico da ciência da informação, objetiva-se discorrer sobre a relevância e a possível contribuição teórico-metodológica da história dos conceitos para a ciência da informação no que tange aos esforços de elucidação e compreensão dos conceitos que compõem o seu quadro teórico. Para delimitar o prisma de análise, abordou-se, primeiramente, algumas interpretações teórico-disciplinares presentes na ciência da informação e, em seguida, discorreu-se acerca das acepções de conceito científico e da história dos conceitos, buscando construir um diálogo entre essa perspectiva teórico-metodológica e as discussões epistemológicas no campo da ciência da informação.
Banco de prática de responsabilbidade social na área de Biblioteconomia
Authors: Machado Elisa Campos , Paula Carolina Marques
Published: August 2011

O banco de dados de práticas de responsabilidade social na área de Biblioteconomia é um dos primeiros resultados do projeto de pesquisa “Biblioteca como prática de responsabilidade social”. O objetivo deste projeto é fazer uma análise e reflexão sobre o processo de criação, formação e/ou desenvolvimento de bibliotecas como resultado de ações de responsabilidade social de empresas no país. Para sistematizar as experiências levantadas durante a pesquisa, foi necessário o desenvolvimento de uma ferramenta que gerenciasse os dados coletados sobre o tema com vistas a agilizar a análise dos mesmos. O presente trabalho apresenta as opções metodológicas para a construção deste banco de dados, os critérios definidos para a inserção dos dados, assim como os resultados obtidos. Espera-se que esta ferramenta sirva de base para a construção de indicadores para futuras pesquisas na área, visto que, no país, temos um grande déficit de dados organizados e de fácil acesso sobre projetos na área de Biblioteconomia.
Zerar o número de municípios brasileiros sem Bibliotecas - análise do discurso do Presidente Lula
Authors: Almeida Ludmila , Bastos Gustavo Grandini , Romão Lucilia Maria de Sousa
Published: August 2011

Neste trabalho buscamos analisar, à luz da Análise do Discurso de filiação francesa, enunciados colhidos em meios de comunicação de massa em formato eletrônico (Portão de Notícias G1, O Globo). Investigamos a maneira como as bibliotecas são faladas em depoimentos oficiais do presidente Lula e o modo como são designados os programas oficiais de distribuição de livros que, em âmbito nacional, repetem sentidos tidos como legitimados pela ideologia dominante. Dentre eles, destacamos o efeito de redução do conceito de biblioteca à existência de acervo, o que nos faz buscar apoio em algumas noções da Biblioteconomia. Observamos que o discurso sobre a biblioteca, no âmbito oficial, apaga e silencia outros sentidos possíveis para significar a leitura, especialmente marcando um apagamento do prazer e da presença de um profissional nessa unidade informacional. Nosso interesse debruça-se sobre o gesto de interpretar esse processo, não do ponto de vista da análise dos conteúdos das declarações do maior mandatário do país, mas de observar como estão postas em movimento as formações imaginárias e discursivas (Pêcheux, 1969) sobre a biblioteca, que apareceram nos enunciados escolhidos para a constituição do nosso corpus.
A produção científica brasileira no periódico Scientometrics de 1978 até 2006
Authors: Mattos Ana Maria , Job Ivone
Published: August 2011

O objetivo deste artigo é revelar a produção científica dos pesquisadores brasileiros que publicaram artigos na revista Scientometrics, de 1978 até 2006. Classifica os artigos recuperados quanto a tipo de autoria; afiliação e cooperação institucional dos autores; autores mais produtivos; ano de publicação; e número de citações que o artigo recebeu. Os dados analisados revelam: (a) preferência pela autoria compartilhada; (b) predominância de afiliação institucional a universidades e institutos públicos; (c) autores mais produtivos pertencentes às áreas das ciências biológicas e da saúde; (d) predominância de publicação em 1998 e 2006; e (e) cinco artigos que obtiveram entre10 e 25 citações. A pesquisa permite concluir que houve 1,55% de participação de pesquisadores brasileiros na revista no período analisado; a cooperação institucional internacional predominada pela UFRJ; e que é desejável aumentar a produção internacional de pesquisadores do campo da CI que publicam sobre bibliometria.
Utilizando a análise de citações de teses para avaliar a coleção de livros em bibliotecas universitárias
Authors: Mattos Ana Maria , Fraga Tania Marisa de Abreu
Published: August 2011

O objetivo desta pesquisa é determinar a adequação, ou não, da coleção de livros das bibliotecas da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul para os alunos do curso de Doutorado em Administração. A metodologia verifica a correlação existente entre os livros citados nas teses de 1999 até 2007 e o acervo disponível nas bibliotecas. A investigação conclui que a coleção de livros nacionais apresenta-se adequada as demandas informacionais dos usuários estudados, mas a coleção de livros estrangeiros, não.
A infra-estrutura em informação científica e em Ciência da Informação na antiga União Soviética (1917-1991)
Authors: Santos Júnior Roberto Lopes dos , Pinheiro Lena Vânia Ribeiro
Published: August 2011

Análise da história e do desenvolvimento da infra-estrutura em informação científica na antiga União Soviética e na Rússia, na qual será feito um estudo sobre os principais órgãos, institutos de pesquisa e ensino e publicações sobre Informatika/ Ciência da Informação no país. O período estudado estende-se desde a ascensão do partido bolchevique na Rússia, em novembro de 1917, passando pelo desenvolvimento da Ciência da Informação no país, nas décadas de 1950 a 1970, até a dissolução da União Soviética, em dezembro de 1991, apresentando também algumas informações sobre a área após essa data. Nessa analise, destaca-se a atuação de organizações como, por exemplo, a do Instituto Estatal de Informação Científica e Técnica (VINITI), e aspectos relacionados a prestação de serviços e elaboração de produtos de informação, a formação profissional, os periódicos secundários relacionados a Informatika/ Ciência da Informação no país e eventos técnico-científicos ocorridos tanto na União Soviética como em âmbito internacional.
Fluxos informacionais para o monitoramento da Convenção dos Direitos da Criança: a atuação da rede NGO Group for CRC
Authors: Frota Maria Guiomar da Cunha , Quintão Paula Gomes
Published: August 2011

O presente artigo apresenta os resultados de uma pesquisa que investiga uma rede social internacional denominada NGO Group for CRC. A rede é composta por cerca de noventa organizações não governamentais e foi criada para monitorar a implementação da Convenção dos Direitos da Criança (CRC). A CRC é o principal documento jurídico relativo aos direitos da criança, tendo sido aprovada pela totalidade dos países pertencentes à ONU, com exceção dos EUA. Pretende-se especificamente analisar o fluxo informacional que se estabelece em meio à rede, seus membros e as organizações que a ela se associam. As questões investigadas são as seguintes: 1) Em que medida o fluxo informacional torna-se parte intrínseca da estrutura em rede? 2) Como os fluxos informacionais se configuram e de que modo são apropriados e veiculados pela rede NGO Group for CRC no curso do monitoramento da implementação da Convenção dos Direitos da Criança?