bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PROBABILISTIC ANALYSIS OF BEARING CAPACITY OF SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS USING THREE-DIMENSIONAL LIMIT ANALYSES
Authors: SIMÕES JOÃO T. , NEVES LUÍS C. , ANTÃO ARMANDO N. , GUERRA NUNO M. C.
Published: October 2013

Strip shallow foundations on random heterogeneous soil responding in undrained conditions are analyzed using three-dimensional upper limit analysis and Latin Hypercube sampling. The results obtained considering the three-dimensional variability of soil are compared with results using plane models, showing significant differences in terms of both mean and standard deviation of bearing capacity. An averaged two-dimensional model fitted to a small set of three-dimensional samples is shown to yield accurate predictions of the bearing capacity distribution.
OPTIMAL NODE LOCATION IN TRIANGULAR PLATE BENDING ELEMENTS
Authors: REZAIEE-PAJAND MOHAMMAD , KARKON MOHAMMAD
Published: October 2013

Many triangular elements have been formulated for bending plate analysis so far. In this type of element, researchers generally considered the same distance between the side nodes. The present study will show that these types of node locations are not the best. To clarify the effect of side node locations, three new triangular elements will be formulated for the analysis of thin bending plates. These are nonconforming elements and have 10, 15, and 21 degrees of freedom, respectively. Merits and disadvantages of these proposed elements will be revealed by solving different structures. Optimal side nodes' location will be positioned by changing the place of element nodes. Numerical tests will confirm that element accuracy in the best possible situation is much better than the state in which side nodes have the same distance. Moreover, this study will reveal that the presented optimal locations of nodes have no significant dependence on the load cases, boundary conditions, distortion of element shape, and variation of the meshes.
MESHLESS FINITE VOLUME METHOD WITH SMOOTHING
Authors: HUANG ZHECONG , ZHENG HONG , DAI FENG
Published: October 2013

Starting from the integral forms of the equilibrium condition and the constitutive law over the small volumes centered at the nodes, this study approximates stresses and displacements independently by means of the meshless approximation. By interpreting the meshless approximation from a new perspective, the procedure does not need to differentiate the nodal shape functions. The stresses can be approximated as accurately as the displacements, even if the shape functions for the stresses and the displacements are both taken as those simple interpolation functions such as the Shepard functions. Besides, in general no background mesh is needed. Illustrated by some elastic–plastic problems, the procedure enjoys high efficiency and excellent numerical properties.
Evaluation of environmental impact on historical stone masonry through on-site monitoring appraisal
Authors: Erkal Aykut , D’Ayala Dina , Stephenson Victoria
Published: October 2013

This paper presents the design and application of an environmental monitoring system on the historical site of Odda’s Chapel in Deerhurst, Gloucestershire, UK, and the determination of hygroscopic behaviour of the original building materials to obtain long-term moisture content variation. The monitoring system provides a comprehensive profile of hygrothermal conditions in the walls at the locations where moisture conditions are potentially causing decay and damage. The system makes use of temperature and relative humidity sensing technology placed on the wall construction, providing continuous data including rainfall, wind-driven rain and runoff rain measurements. The relative merits and results of the designed system are evaluated and discussed, as well as the implications of its application in the conservation of historical structures. The environmental monitoring results show general deterioration in the shell of the building. Internal wall surface measurements are essential for the documentation of wall interior response and should be conducted across the wall section at several locations. The fact that 91% of in-wall recorded relative humidity (RH) values are greater than 75% RH throughout the monitoring period demonstrates the need for measures to conserve this historical stone masonry.
PGE2Desensitizesβ-Agonist Effect on Human Lung Fibroblast-Mediated Collagen Gel Contraction through Upregulating PDE4
Authors: Fang Qiuhong , Ma Yingmin , Wang Jing , Michalski Joel , Rennard Stephen I. , Liu Xiangde
Published: October 2013

In the current study, we investigated the effect of a long-actingβ-agonist (salmeterol) and a phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor (cilomilast) on human lung fibroblast-mediated collagen gel contraction. Higher concentrations of salmeterol (10−7and 10−6 M) inhibited fibroblast-mediated collagen gel contraction. No effect was observed with cilomilast alone (up to 10−5 M). In the presence of 10−8 M salmeterol, however, cilomilast could significantly inhibit fibroblast-mediated collagen gel contraction in a concentration-dependent manner (10−7~10−5 M). Blockade of endogenous PGE2by indomethacin further potentiated the inhibitory effect of salmeterol on fibroblast-mediated collagen gel contraction, but it did not affect cilomilast's effect. Pretreatment with PGE2abolished the inhibitory effect of salmeterol, but it potentiated the inhibitory effect of cilomilast on fibroblast-mediated collagen gel contraction. Finally, indomethacin slightly inhibited PDE4C expression, while PGE2stimulated the expression of PDE4A and -4C in human lung fibroblasts. These findings suggest that long-actingβ-agonist and PDE4 inhibitor have a synergistic effect in regulating fibroblast tissue repair functions and that PGE2can modulate the effect ofβ-agonist and PDE4 inhibitor at least in part through the mechanism of regulating PDE4 expression.
Influence of Body Position on Severity of Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Systematic Review
Authors: Menon Akshay , Kumar Manoj
Published: October 2013

Aim. The aim of this review is to determine the relationship between sleeping body posture and severity of obstructive sleep apnea. This relationship has been investigated in the past. However, the conclusions derived from some of these studies are conflicting with each other. This paper intends to summarize the reported relationships between sleep posture and various sleep indices in patients diagnosed with sleep apnea. Methods and Materials. A systematic review of the published English literature during a 25-year period from 1983 to 2008 was performed. Results. Published data concerning the sleep apnea severity and posture in adults are limited. Supine sleep posture is consistently associated with more severe obstructive sleep apnea indices in adults. However, relationship between sleep apnea severity indices and prone posture is inconsistent.
The Cancer Diaspora: Metastasis beyond the Seed and Soil Hypothesis
Authors: Pienta Kenneth J. , Robertson Bruce A. , Coffey Donald S. , Taichman Russell S.
Published: October 2013

Do cancer cells escape the confinement of their original habitat in the primary tumor or are they forced out by ecologic changes in their home niche? Describing metastasis in terms of a simple one-way migration of cells from the primary to the target organs is an insufficient concept to cover the nuances of cancer spread. A diaspora is the scattering of people away from an established homeland. To date, “diaspora” has been a uniquely human term used by social scientists; however, the application of the diaspora concept to metastasis may yield new biologic insights as well as therapeutic paradigms. The diaspora paradigm takes into account, and models, several variables including: the quality of the primary tumor microenvironment, the fitness of individual cancer cell migrants as well as migrant populations, the rate of bidirectional migration of cancer and host cells between cancer sites, and the quality of the target microenvironments to establish metastatic sites. Ecologic scientific principles can be applied to the cancer diaspora to develop new therapeutic strategies. For example, ecologic traps – habitats that lead to the extinction of a species – can be developed to attract cancer cells to a place where they can be better exposed to treatments or to cells of the immune system for improved antigen presentation. Merging the social science concept of diaspora with ecologic and population sciences concepts can inform the cancer field to understand the biology of tumorigenesis and metastasis and inspire new ideas for therapy. Clin Cancer Res; 19(21); 5849–55. ©2013 AACR.
Abnormalities in Auditory Efferent Activities in Children with Selective Mutism
Authors: Muchnik Chava , Ari-Even Roth Daphne , Hildesheimer Minka , Arie Miri , Bar-Haim Yair , Henkin Yael
Published: October 2013

Two efferent feedback pathways to the auditory periphery may play a role in monitoring self-vocalization: the middle-ear acoustic reflex (MEAR) and the medial olivocochlear bundle (MOCB) reflex. Since most studies regarding the role of auditory efferent activity during self-vocalization were conducted in animals, human data are scarce. The working premise of the current study was that selective mutism (SM), a rare psychiatric disorder characterized by consistent failure to speak in specific social situations despite the ability to speak normally in other situations, may serve as a human model for studying the potential involvement of auditory efferent activity during self-vocalization. For this purpose, auditory efferent function was assessed in a group of 31 children with SM and compared to that of a group of 31 normally developing control children (mean age 8.9 and 8.8 years, respectively). All children exhibited normal hearing thresholds and type A tympanograms. MEAR and MOCB functions were evaluated by means of acoustic reflex thresholds and decay functions and the suppression of transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions, respectively. Auditory afferent function was tested by means of auditory brainstem responses (ABR). Results indicated a significantly higher proportion of children with abnormal MEAR and MOCB function in the SM group (58.6 and 38%, respectively) compared to controls (9.7 and 8%, respectively). The prevalence of abnormal MEAR and/or MOCB function was significantly higher in the SM group (71%) compared to controls (16%). Intact afferent function manifested in normal absolute and interpeak latencies of ABR components in all children. The finding of aberrant efferent auditory function in a large proportion of children with SM provides further support for the notion that MEAR and MOCB may play a significant role in the process of self-vocalization.
Imaging and Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers in the Search for Alzheimer's Disease Mechanisms
Authors: Osorio R.S. , Pirraglia E. , Gumb T. , Mantua J. , Ayappa I. , Williams S. , Mosconi L. , Glodzik L. , de Leon M.J.
Published: October 2013

Background: The pathophysiological process of Alzheimer's disease (AD) begins many years before the emergence of clinical symptoms (preclinical AD). A hypothetical biomarker progression in the pathogenesis of AD has been suggested, beginning with the deposition of amyloid-β (Aβ) and followed by increases in neurofibrillary tangles, synaptic loss, hippocampal atrophy, and lastly, cognitive impairment. Objective: We explored the effect of several risk factors for AD on the pattern of AD biomarker expression in normal subjects. Methods: AD biomarker evidence was examined at baseline in 96 cognitively normal elderly subjects with none or at least one of the following: ApoE4+ allele, a maternal history of AD (mFHx), sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), and longitudinal evidence of decline to mild cognitive impairment or AD (decliners) at follow-up. Results: Decliners and ApoE4+ subjects presented with expected reduced cerebrospinal fluid Aβ42, elevated P-tau and T-tau. In addition, decliners had fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography hypometabolism in the medial temporal lobe. Individuals with mFHx demonstrated no Aβ42 effect, but had elevations in P-tau and T-tau. SDB was found to be associated with elevated Aβ42, P-tau and T-tau, as well as with reduced medial temporal lobe glucose metabolic rates. Conclusion: Our results indicate a heterogeneous biomarker expression, suggesting diversity of AD pathways in at-risk presymptomatic subjects.
Wärmeanwendungen unter Berücksichtigung der Wärmeregulation - Teil 1
Authors: Pecher Otto , Zeiger Thomas , Schobersberger Wolfgang
Published: October 2013

Wärmeanwendungen sind in der Krankheitsprävention und zur Linderung vielfältiger Beschwerden ein fester Bestandteil unserer Kultur. Durch die Fortschritte der Medizin wurden Wärmeanwendungen als therapeutisches Verfahren in Randgebiete verdrängt. Mit dem demographischen Wandel, der Zunahme chronischer und vor allem stoffwechselbedingter Erkrankungen sowie durch den Kostendruck im Gesundheitswesen wächst jedoch das Interesse an diesen Verfahren bei Betroffenen sowie auch in der Medizin. Neben der Konduktion und Konvektion werden im privaten und medizinischen Umfeld radiative Verfahren genutzt. Die Wirkung der Wärmeapplikation ist unabhängig vom Medium mit reflektorischen Reaktionen (Muskelentspannung und Schmerzlinderung) sowie Effekten auf Basis der Durchblutungserhöhung und der Temperaturerhöhung im Gewebe erklärbar. Da Wärme im Körper praktisch ausschliesslich mittels Konvektion über das Blut verteilt werden kann, erklärt sich der Einfluss auf das Herzkreislaufsystem. Unter Berücksichtigung der Wärmeregulationsmechanismen lassen sich drei Prinzipien unterscheiden. Die Wärmeapplikation oberhalb, innerhalb und unterhalb der Thermoneutralzone differieren jeweils hinsichtlich der Herzkreislaufbelastung und der Wärmeverteilung. Mit Wärmeanwendungen sind allerdings auch Gefahren verbunden - vor allem, wenn die Wärmeregulation durch Erkrankungen oder Medikationen auf zentraler oder lokaler Ebene gestört ist. Dies geschieht vor allem in Hinblick auf die Herzkreislaufbelastung und auf thermische Schädigungen der Haut. Daher sind Wärmeapplikationssysteme zu fordern, die den Wärmefluss individuell an die Wärmeaufnahmefähigkeit des Körpers anpassen. Als Regelgrösse kann dazu die kontinuierliche Messung der Hauteigentemperatur genutzt werden, um eine effiziente und sichere Wärmeanwendung zu ermöglichen.
Emergence and Persistence of Overweight and Obesity in 7- to 11-Year-Old Children
Authors: Bartle Naomi C. , Hill Claire , Webber Laura , van Jaarsveld Cornelia H.M. , Wardle Jane
Published: October 2013

Aim: After dramatic rises in paediatric obesity, the critical period for obesity onset may now be pre-adolescence. Methods: We monitored adiposity over 4 years in 400 children aged 7-9 years recruited from schools in London. Weight, height, waist circumference (WC) and fat mass were measured annually. Weight status was defined using International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) criteria, and standardised scores and percentiles used British 1990 reference data. Results: BMI, WC and fat mass index all tracked strongly over time (average correlation for BMI = 0.95). Emergence of obesity was relatively uncommon: only 2% of the total sample increased from overweight to obese over the 4-year period, and this was nearly matched by the 1.3% that reduced from obese to overweight. However, more children (6%) moved from healthy weight to overweight than the reverse direction (2%). There were greater absolute gains in adiposity in children with higher baseline weight status, but this was disguised in analyses using standardised scores. Obesity was not an emergent trait in middle childhood, but rates were already high and, in absolute terms, adiposity increased more in overweight and obese than healthy weight children. Conclusion: These results highlight the need for active management of obesity in middle childhood.
Local Arterial Stiffening Assessed by MRI Precedes Atherosclerotic Plaque Formation
Authors: Gotschy Alexander , Bauer Elisabeth , Schrodt Christian , Lykowsky Gunthard , Ye Yu-Xiang , Rommel Eberhard , Jakob Peter M. , Bauer Wolfgang R. , Herold Volker
Published: October 2013

Background—

Atherosclerosis is known to impair vascular function and cause vascular stiffening. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential predictive role of vascular stiffening in the early detection of atherosclerosis. Therefore, we investigated the time course of early functional and morphological alterations of the vessel wall in a murine atherosclerosis model. Because initial lesions are distributed inhomogeneously in early-stage atherosclerosis, MR microscopy was performed to measure vascular elasticity locally, specifically the local pulse wave velocity and the arterial wall thickness.

Methods and Results—

Local pulse wave velocity and the mean arterial wall thickness were determined in the ascending and the abdominal aortae of ApoE
−/−
and wild-type mice. In vivo MRI revealed that baseline pulse wave velocity and morphology were similar in 6-week-old ApoE
−/−
and WT mice, whereas at the age of 18 weeks, local pulse wave velocity was significantly elevated in ApoE
−/−
mice. Significantly increased vessel wall thickness was not found in ApoE
−/−
mice until the age of 30 weeks. Histological analysis of the aortae of ApoE
−/−
and WT mice showed that increased pulse wave velocity coincided with the fragmentation of the elastic laminae in the arterial wall, which is hypothesized to induce early vascular stiffening and may be promoted by macrophage-mediated matrix degradation.

Conclusions—

We newly report that the assessment of local pulse wave velocity via MRI provides early information about the local progression of atherosclerosis before macroscopic alterations of the vessel wall occur.
High-Dimensional Feature Selection by Feature-Wise Kernelized Lasso
Authors: Yamada Makoto , Jitkrittum Wittawat , Sigal Leonid , Xing Eric P. , Sugiyama Masashi
Published: October 2013

The goal of supervised feature selection is to find a subset of input features that are responsible for predicting output values. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) allows computationally efficient feature selection based on linear dependency between input features and output values. In this letter, we consider a feature-wise kernelized Lasso for capturing nonlinear input-output dependency. We first show that with particular choices of kernel functions, nonredundant features with strong statistical dependence on output values can be found in terms of kernel-based independence measures such as the Hilbert-Schmidt independence criterion. We then show that the globally optimal solution can be efficiently computed; this makes the approach scalable to high-dimensional problems. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated through feature selection experiments for classification and regression with thousands of features.
Deep Convection Triggering by Boundary Layer Thermals. Part I: LES Analysis and Stochastic Triggering Formulation
Authors: Rochetin Nicolas , Couvreux Fleur , Grandpeix Jean-Yves , Rio Catherine
Published: October 2013

This paper proposes a new formulation of the deep convection triggering for general circulation model convective parameterizations. This triggering is driven by evolving properties of the strongest boundary layer thermals. To investigate this, a statistical analysis of large-eddy simulation cloud fields in a case of transition from shallow to deep convection over a semiarid land is carried out at different stages of the transition from shallow to deep convection. Based on the dynamical and geometrical properties at cloud base, a new computation of the triggering is first proposed. The analysis of the distribution law of the maximum size of the thermals suggests that, in addition to this necessary condition, another triggering condition is required, that is, that this maximum horizontal size should exceed a certain threshold. This is explicitly represented stochastically. Therefore, the new formulation integrates the whole transition process from the first cloud to the first deep convective cell and can be decomposed into three steps: (i) the appearance of clouds, (ii) crossing of the inhibition layer, and (iii) deep convection triggering.
Prolonged social withdrawal disorder: A hikikomori case in Spain
Authors: Ovejero Santiago , Caro-Cañizares Irene , de León-Martínez Victoria , Baca-Garcia Enrique
Published: October 2013

Background:

The Japanese term hikikomori means literally ‘to be confined’. Social withdrawal can be present in severe psychiatric disorders; however, in Japan, hikikomori is a defined nosologic entity. There have been only a few reported cases in occidental culture.

Material:

We present a case report of a Spanish man with prolonged social withdrawal lasting for 4 years.

Discussion:

This is a case of prolonged social withdrawal not bound to culture, as well as the second case of hikikomori reported in Spain. We propose prolonged social withdrawal disorder as a disorder not linked to culture, in contrast to hikikomori.

Conclusion:

Further documentation of this disorder is still needed to encompass all cases reported in Japan and around the world.
Expanding the boundaries of shared book reading: E-books and printed books in parent–child reading as support for children’s language
Authors: Korat Ofra , Shamir Adina , Heibal Shani
Published: October 2013

Early shared book reading activities are considered to be a promising context for supporting young children’s language development. Ninety low socioeconomic status preschoolers and their mothers were randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) e-book reading; (2) printed book reading; (3) regular kindergarten literacy program (control). Mothers of children in the intervention groups received guidance on how to read to their child, and had five sessions of reading within a period of two weeks. The final session was videotaped and transcribed. Children in both intervention groups showed significant progress in word comprehension and phonological awareness compared to the control group. Children’s initial knowledge in each skill and both interventions contributed to language progress more than maternal education, frequency of shared book reading and computer use. The authors conclude that parents and children may expand their shared book reading experience to include e-books, which may serve as promising contexts for developing young children’s language.
Learning Activities, Exploration, and the Performance of Strategic Initiatives
Authors: Walter Jorge , Lechner Christoph , Kellermanns Franz W.
Published: October 2013

This study examines the contingent effect of the degree of exploration characterizing strategic initiatives on the relationship between group-level organizational learning activities (i.e., searching, processing, codifying, and practicing) and the performance of strategic initiatives. Results from a sample of 96 strategic initiatives conducted by three large European insurance corporations provide broad, albeit not unanimous, support for our prediction that the four learning activities are more beneficial when the degree of exploration is high. Moreover, for initiatives with lower degrees of exploration, we found no significant association of searching, processing, codifying, or practicing with initiative performance. These findings suggest that effective organizational learning depends not only on investments in learning activities, but also on the alignment between these investments and the degree of exploration inherent in the learning task.
Alternative framing: The effect of the Internet on political support in authoritarian China
Authors: Tang Min , Huhe Narisong
Published: October 2013

This study seeks to identify and test a mechanism through which the Internet influences public support in an authoritarian environment in which alternative information is strictly censored by the state. Through online discussions, web users often interpret sanctioned news information in directions different from or even opposite to the intention of the authoritarian state. This alternative framing on the Internet can strongly affect the political views of web users. Through an experimental study conducted in China, we find that subjects exposed to alternative online framing generally hold lower levels of policy support and evaluate government performance more negatively. This finding implies that even though the access to information on sensitive topics is effectively controlled by the government, the diffusion capabilities of the Internet can still undermine the support basis of the seemingly stable authoritarian regime.
The practical implications of the emerging findings in the neurobiology of maltreatment for looked after and adopted children: recognising the diversity of outcomes
Authors: Woolgar Matt
Published: October 2013

The cutting-edge scientific research that is emerging regarding the neurobiological consequences of early maltreatment and neglect is highly relevant for thinking about the diverse needs of adopted and fostered children. Knowledge about the science has an important role to play in many areas, from child care proceedings to the mental health and educational needs of adopted children and young people. However, the science is complex and it is difficult to provide a succinct but valid summary of the rapidly expanding literature to guide practice. Indeed, there has been some concern from the scientists themselves that the research can be too easily misunderstood. The purpose of this article is to review some of the more recent research on the neurobiological consequences of maltreatment. A narrative is developed that pays due respect to the complexity of the findings, while drawing out practical implications for professionals working with adopted and fostered children. In particular, the notion of differential susceptibility and its consequences for individual differences in response to early negative environments is described. The science also stresses the inter-relatedness of the biological systems affected and, in turn, their dynamic relationships with environments over time. The article reviews the research relating to neuroscience, physiology and genetics in particular, before describing some animal research to integrate the various neurobiological consequences of maltreatment over the course of development, and which reveal implications for interventions.
Alcohol Discourses among Ladakhi Youth in the Context of Acculturation
Authors: Ozer Simon
Published: October 2013

Alcohol consumption among young people has been a great concern in the West. New research concerning the process of globalisation and acculturation points to a disturbing increase in alcohol consumption in the youth of developing countries, such as India. Research has also shown that discourses and attitudes concerning this problem are of grave importance in regard to the management of this increase. The present study examines the ambiguity found in earlier discourses on alcohol in Ladakh, and then compares it to the empirical findings in a recent survey of alcohol discourses and perceptions among Ladakhi youth. Findings indicate that a vast majority considered there to be an increase in alcohol consumption among the Ladakhi youth, and a majority found this consumption to be problematic. As many Ladakhis reported alcohol usage to be higher for Ladakhis outside of Ladakh, as Ladakhis who reported it to be the same as in Ladakh. A narrow majority blamed the individual for alcohol problems, while most of the young Ladakhis requested a preventive intervention from the Ladakhi society. The perceptions were categorised and thus revealed a continued ambiguity in the attitudes towards alcohol consumption in the context of acculturation among Ladakhi youth.
Oligoclonal bands and age at onset correlate with genetic risk score in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Harbo Hanne F , Isobe Noriko , Berg-Hansen Pål , Bos Steffan D , Caillier Stacy J , Gustavsen Marte W , Mero Inger-Lise , Celius Elisabeth Gulowsen , Hauser Stephen L , Oksenberg Jorge R , Gourraud Pierre-Antoine
Published: October 2013

Background:

Many genetic risk variants are now well established in multiple sclerosis (MS), but the impact on clinical phenotypes is unclear.

Objective:

To investigate the impact of established MS genetic risk variants on MS phenotypes, in well-characterized MS cohorts.

Methods:

Norwegian MS patients ( n = 639) and healthy controls ( n = 530) were successfully genotyped for 61 established MS-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Data including and excluding Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) markers were summed to a MS Genetic Burden (MSGB) score. Study replication was performed in a cohort of white American MS patients ( n = 1997) and controls ( n = 708).

Results:

The total human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and the non-HLA MSGB scores were significantly higher in MS patients than in controls, in both cohorts ( P << 10−22). MS patients, with and without cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) oligoclonal bands (OCBs), had a higher MSGB score than the controls; the OCB-positive patients had a slightly higher MSGB than the OCB-negative patients. An early age at symptom onset (AAO) also correlated with a higher MSGB score, in both cohorts.

Conclusion:

The MSGB score was associated with specific clinical MS characteristics, such as OCBs and AAO. This study underlines the need for well-characterized, large cohorts of MS patients, and the usefulness of summarizing multiple genetic risk factors of modest effect size in genotype-phenotype analyses.
Brainstem manifestations in neuromyelitis optica: a multicenter study of 258 patients
Authors: Kremer L , Mealy M , Jacob A , Nakashima I , Cabre P , Bigi S , Paul F , Jarius S , Aktas O , Elsone L , Mutch K , Levy M , Takai Y , Collongues N , Banwell B , Fujihara K , de Seze J
Published: October 2013

Background:

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a severe autoimmune disease of the central nervous system characterized by spinal cord and optic nerve involvement. Brainstem manifestations have recently been described.

Objective:

To evaluate the time of occurrence, the frequency and the characteristics of brainstem symptoms in a cohort of patients with NMO according to the ethnic background and the serologic status for anti-aquaporin-4 antibodies (AQP4-abs).

Methods:

We performed a multicenter study of 258 patients with NMO according to the 2006 Wingerchuk criteria and we evaluated prospectively the frequency, the date of onset and the duration of various brainstem signs in this population.

Results:

Brainstem signs were observed in 81 patients (31.4%). The most frequently observed signs were vomiting (33.1%), hiccups (22.3%), oculomotor dysfunction (19.8%), pruritus (12.4%), followed by hearing loss (2.5%), facial palsy (2.5%), vertigo or vestibular ataxia (1.7%), trigeminal neuralgia (2.5%) and other cranial nerve signs (3.3%). They were inaugural in 44 patients (54.3%). The prevalence was higher in the non-Caucasian population (36.6%) than in the Caucasian population (26%) ( p<0.05) and was higher in AQP4-ab-seropositive patients (32.7%) than in seronegative patients (26%) (not significant).

Conclusions:

This study confirms the high frequency of brainstem symptoms in NMO with a majority of vomiting and hiccups. The prevalence of these manifestations was higher in the non Caucasian population.
‘I am very straight in my gay life’
Authors: Therkelsen Anette , Blichfeldt Bodil Stilling , Chor Jane , Ballegaard Nina
Published: October 2013

Studies of gay tourists predominantly focus on gay men. On the basis of an exploratory qualitative study, this article offers knowledge on lesbian tourists and how they differ from more traditional conceptions of gay tourists. Although a very heterogeneous group, the lesbian tourists partaking in the study are less likely than gay men to visit gay destinations and gay spaces and have in many ways more in common with other female tourists than with gay male tourists. ‘Reasons to go’ for the studied lesbian tourists are constituted by a diversity of cultural, nature-based and hedonistic experiences, and lesbian bars, events and communities appear only to be a supplement to the other more central holiday experiences. This contributes with new knowledge to the existing literature. The article discusses these issues and how the multiple identities of these lesbian tourists, for example, being a woman; a mother; a partner; a particular type of tourist; and gay, are all important for their holidaying.
Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection in post-chemotherapy residual mass with 360-degree involvement of the aorta
Authors: Regmi Subodh Kumar , Seth Amlesh , Choudhary Shiv Kumar , Singh Animesh
Published: October 2013

Post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection in cases with encasement of major vessels is a formidable surgery. A 25-year-old man presented to us after a right high inguinal orchidectomy that showed a mixed germ cell tumor with predominant embryonal cell carcinoma elements. Following four cycles of bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin (BEP), the serum markers had normalized but a large retroperitoneal mass predominantly on the left side encasing the large vessels including the left renal hilum persisted. A thoraco-abdominal approach was taken and the supraceliac aorta was defined, and the large mass encasing the left renal hilum was excised along with a left nephrectomy. The preaortic mass was divided applying the “split and roll” technique and subsequently removed. The interaortocaval and the precaval regions were also subsequently cleared. The aorta and the IVC were preserved and cleared completely of the tumor mass. Post-chemotherapy large residual lymph nodes present a difficult challenge in managing testicular malignancies especially if they encase major vessels that need to be preserved. Careful approach to tumor resection and standard surgical principles for lymph node dissection need to be followed to ensure a successful outcome.
A retrospective study of antipsychotic drug switching in a pediatric population
Authors: Linton David , Procyshyn Ric M , Elbe Dean , Lee Lik Hang N , Barr Alasdair M
Published: October 2013

Background

Antipsychotic drugs can be used to help treat a wide variety of psychiatric disorders. However, specific antipsychotic drugs for any particular patient may need to be changed for a number of different reasons, including a lack of therapeutic efficacy and / or intolerance to medication side-effects. Drug switching may occur through a limited number of established patterns. The nature of these changes is not well characterized in youth, despite their frequent occurrence.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of antipsychotic drug switches was conducted on patients who had been admitted as inpatients to a tertiary care child and adolescent psychiatric institute. PharmaNet (a large, central administrative database) records of all medications prescribed in the 52 weeks prior to admission, and then between admission and discharge, were analyzed for switching patterns. Additional data regarding diagnoses were obtained from medical chart review.

Results

Patients represented a diagnostically heterogeneous population, and almost all antipsychotic drugs were administered off-label. In the one year prior to and during admission to the hospital, a total of 31 out of 139 patients switched antipsychotic drugs. The frequency of switching increased closer to the time of admission, and the proportional rate of switching was even higher during hospital stay. The most common switch was from risperidone to quetiapine. Our analysis identified three main patterns of drug switching, all occurring with similar frequency: titrated drug switches, abrupt drug switches and concurrent drug administration.

Conclusions

The present study indicates that antipsychotic drug switching in youth may be relatively common, particularly in the year prior to hospitalization. No specific manner of drug switching predominates. This study also demonstrates the feasibility of using large administrative databases to characterise switching patterns in youth.
Chronic disease prevention policy in British Columbia and Ontario in light of public health renewal: a comparative policy analysis
Authors: Kothari Anita , Gore Dana , MacDonald Marjorie , Bursey Gayle , Allan Diane , Scarr Jennifer ,   The Renewal of Public Health Systems Research Team
Published: October 2013

Background

Public health strategies that focus on legislative and policy change involving chronic disease risk factors such as unhealthy diet and physical inactivity have the potential to prevent chronic diseases and improve quality of life as a whole. However, many public health policies introduced as part of public health reform have not yet been analyzed, such as in British Columbia and Ontario. The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a descriptive, comparative analysis of public health policies related to the Healthy Living Core Program in British Columbia and Chronic Disease Prevention Standard in Ontario that are intended to prevent a range of chronic diseases by promoting healthy eating and physical activity, among other things.

Methods

Policy documents were found through Internet search engines and Ministry websites, at the guidance of policy experts. These included government documents as well as documents from non-governmental organizations that were implementing policies and programs at a provincial level. Documents (n = 31) were then analysed using thematic content analysis to classify, describe and compare policies in a systematic fashion, using the software NVivo.

Results

Three main categories emerged from the analysis of documents: 1) goals for chronic disease prevention in British Columbia and Ontario, 2) components of chronic disease prevention policies, and 3) expected outputs of chronic disease prevention interventions. Although there were many similarities between the two provinces, they differed somewhat in terms of their approach to issues such as evidence, equity, and policy components. Some expected outputs were adoption of healthy behaviours, use of information, healthy environments and increased public awareness.

Conclusions

The two provincial policies present different approaches to support the implementation of related programs. Differences may be related to contextual factors such as program delivery structures and different philosophical approaches underlying the two frameworks. These differences and possible explanations for them are important to understand because they serve to contextualize the differences in health outcomes across the two provinces that might eventually be observed. This analysis informs future public health policy directions as the two provinces can learn from each other.
ZnO nanoneedle/H2O solid-liquid heterojunction-based self-powered ultraviolet detector
Authors: Li Qinghao , Wei Lin , Xie Yanru , Zhang Kai , Liu Lei , Zhu Dapeng , Jiao Jun , Chen Yanxue , Yan Shishen , Liu Guolei , Mei Liangmo
Published: October 2013

ZnO nanoneedle arrays were grown vertically on a fluorine-doped tin oxide-coated glass by hydrothermal method at a relatively low temperature. A self-powered photoelectrochemical cell-type UV detector was fabricated using the ZnO nanoneedles as the active photoanode and H2O as the electrolyte. This solid-liquid heterojunction offers an enlarged ZnO/water contact area and a direct pathway for electron transport simultaneously. By connecting this UV photodetector to an ammeter, the intensity of UV light can be quantified using the output short-circuit photocurrent without a power source. High photosensitivity, excellent spectral selectivity, and fast photoresponse at zero bias are observed in this UV detector. The self-powered behavior can be well explained by the formation of a space charge layer near the interface of the solid-liquid heterojunction, which results in a built-in potential and makes the solid-liquid heterojunction work in photovoltaic mode.
Nanohybrid structure analysis and biomolecule release behavior of polysaccharide-CDHA drug carriers
Authors: Huang Li-Ying , Liu Ting-Yu , Liu Tse-Ying , Mevold Andreas , Hardiansyah Andri , Liao Hung-Chou , Lin Chin-Ching , Yang Ming-Chien
Published: October 2013

Nanoscaled polymer composites were prepared from polysaccharide chitosan (CS) and Ca-deficient hydroxyapatite (CDHA). CS-CDHA nanocomposites were synthesized by in situ precipitation at pH 9, and the CS-CDHA carriers were then fabricated by ionic cross-linking methods using tripolyphosphate and chemical cross-linking methods by glutaraldehyde and genipin. Certain biomolecules such as vitamin B12, cytochrome c, and bovine serum albumin were loaded into the CS-CDHA carriers, and their release behaviors were investigated. Furthermore, these CS-CDHA carriers were examined by transmission electron microscopy, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis, and X-ray diffraction. The release behavior of the biomolecules was controlled by the CS/CDHA ratios and cross-linked agents. By increasing the concentration of CS and the concentration of the cross-linking agents, cross-linking within carriers increases, and the release rate of the biomolecules is decreased. Moreover, the release rate of the biomolecules from the CS-CDHA carriers at pH 4 was higher than that at pH 10, displaying a pH-sensitive behavior. Therefore, these CS-CDHA hydrogel beads may be useful for intelligent drug release and accelerate bone reconstruction.
Epidemiology and clinical features of rotavirus and norovirus infection among children in Ji’nan, China
Authors: Sai Lintao , Sun Jintang , Shao Lihua , Chen Shuai , Liu Haihong , Ma Lixian
Published: October 2013

Background

Acute gastroenteritis caused by bacteria, virus and parasite is an important cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Rotavirus and norovirus have been recognized as the most common pathogens causing acute gastroenteritis among children. However, there is still no valuable data about infections of rotavirus and norovirus in children in Ji’nan, an eastern city in China. The aims of the present study are to determine the incidence of rotavirus and norovirus associated acute gastroenteritis in Ji’nan among children, to characterize rotavirus and norovirus strains circulating during this period; and to provide useful epidemiological and clinical data.

Methods

Fecal specimens and clinical data were collected from 767 children (502 outpatients and 265 inpatients) under 5 years of age with acute diarrhea at Shandong University Qilu Hospital and Qilu children’s Hospital in Ji’nan, China between February 2011 and January 2012. Virus RNA was extracted, amplified, electrophoresed, sequenced and phylogenetically analyzed to determine the prevalent genotypes. Chi-square and U test were used to compare characteristics of clinical manifestation in each group.

Results

Of the 767 specimens 263 (34.3%) were positive for rotavirus and 80 (10.4%) were positive for norovirus. Among 263 rotavirus positive cases, G3 (40.7%) was the most prevalent serotype, P[8] (46.8%) was the dominant genotype and G3P[8] (31.9%) was the most common combination. All of the norovirus strains belonged to GII genogroup including GII.3, GII.4 and GII.6, of which GII.4 (61.2%) was the predominant genotype. Phylogenetic analysis of the GII.4 sequences showed that 18 GII.4 strains belonged to GII.4 2004–2006 cluster and 31 GII.4 strains were divided into GII.4 2006b cluster. A peak number of rotavirus infections was observed during the cold season from November to next January. Higher rates of norovirus infections were detected from September to November. Most patients with rotavirus and norovirus associated diarrhea experienced vomiting (88.2% and 67.5%, respectively) and fever (79.1% and 46.3%, respectively).

Conclusions

The present study showed that rotavirus and norovirus were still the important causative agents of pediatric diarrhea in Ji’nan during this period.
Activation of Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Mediates Rat Pain-Related Responses Induced by BmK I, a Sodium Channel-Specific Modulator
Authors: Jiang Feng , Pang Xue-Yan , Niu Qing-Shan , Hua Li-Ming , Cheng Ming , Ji Yong-Hua
Published: October 2013

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is known to regulate cell proliferation and growth by controlling protein translation. Recently, it has been shown that mTOR signaling pathway is involved in long-term synaptic plasticity. However, the role of mTOR under different pain conditions is less clear. In this study, the spatiotemporal activation of mTOR that contributes to pain-related behaviors was investigated using a novel animal inflammatory pain model induced by BmK I, a sodium channel-specific modulator purified from scorpion venom. In this study, intraplantar injections of BmK I were found to induce the activation of mTOR, p70 ribosomal S6 protein kinase (p70 S6K) and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) in rat L5-L6 spinal neurons. In the spinal cord, mTOR, p70 S6K and 4E-BP1 were observed to be activated in the ipsilateral and contralateral regions, peaking at 1–2 h and recovery at 24 h post-intraplantar (i.pl.) BmK I administration. In addition, intrathecal (i.t.) injection of rapamycin - a specific inhibitor of mTOR - was observed to result in the reduction of spontaneous pain responses and the attenuation of unilateral thermal and bilateral mechanical hypersensitivity elicited by BmK I. Thus, these results indicate that the mTOR signaling pathway is mobilized in the induction and maintenance of pain-activated hypersensitivity.
Fahr’s syndrome: literature review of current evidence
Authors: Saleem Shafaq , Aslam Hafiz Muhammad , Anwar Maheen , Anwar Shahzad , Saleem Maria , Saleem Anum , Rehmani Muhammad Asim Khan
Published: October 2013

Fahr’s disease or Fahr’s syndrome is a rare, neurological disorder characterized by abnormal calcified deposits in basal ganglia and cerebral cortex. Calcified deposits are made up of calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate, and are commonly located in the Basal Ganglia, Thalamus, Hippocampus, Cerebral cortex, Cerebellar Subcortical white matter and Dentate Nucleus. Molecular genetics of this disease haven’t been studied extensively; hence evidence at the molecular and genetic level is limited. Fahr’s disease commonly affects young to middle aged adults. Etiology of this syndrome does not identify a specific agent but associations with a number of conditions have been noted; most common of which are endocrine disorders, mitochondrial myopathies, dermatological abnormalities and infectious diseases. Clinical manifestations of this disease incorporate a wide variety of symptoms, ranging from neurological symptoms of extrapyramidal system to neuropsychiatric abnormalities of memory and concentration to movement disorders including Parkinsonism, chorea and tremors amongst others. Diagnostic criteria for this disease has been formulated after modifications from previous evidence and can be stated briefly, it consist of bilateral calcification of basal ganglia, progressive neurologic dysfunction, absence of biochemical abnormalities, absence of an infectious, traumatic or toxic cause and a significant family history. Imaging modalities for the diagnosis include CT, MRI, and plain radiography of skull. Other investigations include blood and urine testing for hematologic and biochemical indices. Disease is as yet incurable but management and treatment strategies mainly focus on symptomatic relief and eradication of causative factors; however certain evidence is present to suggest that early diagnosis and treatment can reverse the calcification process leading to complete recovery of mental functions. Families with a known history of Fahr’s disease should be counseled prior to conception so that the birth of affected babies can be prevented. This review was written with the aim to remark on the current substantial evidence surrounding this disease.