bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antihyperalgesic Effects of an Aqueous Stem Bark Extract of Mangifera indica L.: Role of Mangiferin Isolated from the Extract
Authors: Garrido‐Suárez Bárbara B. , Garrido Gabino , García Mary Elena , Delgado‐Hernández René
Published: May 2014

This study aimed to assess the effects of a Mangifera indica stem bark extract (MSBE) and mangiferin (MG) on pain‐related acute behaviors in the formalin 5% test. Rats received repeated oral MSBE (125–500 mg/kg) once daily for 7 days before formalin injection. Other four groups with the same treatments were performed in order to study the effect of MSBE on the formalin‐induced long‐term secondary mechano‐hyperalgesia at 7 days after the injury by means of the pin‐prick method. Additional groups received a single oral MSBE dose (250 mg/kg) plus ascorbic acid (1 mg/kg, i.p.). Also, repeated oral MG doses (12.5–50 mg/kg) during 7 days were administered. MSBE decreased licking/biting and flinching behaviors only in phase II and reduced the long‐term formalin injury‐induced secondary chronic mechano‐hyperalgesia. The combination of MSBE plus ascorbic acid produced a reinforcement of this effect for flinching behavior, advising that antioxidant mechanisms are involved, at least in part, in these actions. Chronic administration of MG reproduced the effects of MSBE. For the first time, the antihyperalgesic effects of MSBE and MG in formalin 5% test, a recommended concentration for studying the antinociceptive activity of nitric oxide‐related and N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate‐related compounds, were reported. These results could represent an important contribution to explain the analgesic ethnobotanical effects recognized to M. indica and other species containing MG. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
NMR relaxation parameters from molecular simulations of hydrated inorganic nanopores
Authors: Bhatt Jayesh S. , McDonald Peter J. , Faux David A. , Howlett Nicholas C. , Churakov Sergey V.
Published: May 2014

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxometry is a powerful technique to characterize diffusive motion of fluids in nanoporous to microporous media. Molecular simulations can be used to predict NMR relaxation parameters using a dipolar spin–spin correlation function. In this article, molecular dynamics simulations of water diffusion in anomalous 11 Å tobermorite, consisting of three slit pores and one gel pore of width ∼1.0 nm, have been performed. The spin–spin correlation function components corresponding to both 2D and quasi‐2D translation and rotation of water are presented. It was found that motion in the slit pores is highly correlated, leading to a significantly shorter relaxation time compared to bulk water. The correlation between the slit pores and the gel pore was found to be negligible compared to that within either the gel pore or the slit pore exclusively. Nevertheless, this correlation function can be useful in quantifying water diffusion within the slit pores, which occurs primarily through stochastic site jumping. It was found that stronger surface interaction leads to lower relaxation times, while the hydroxyls on the surface help further lower the water relaxation times. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The use of argon cluster bombardment for the surface preparation of paint cross‐sections for analysis by ToF‐SIMS
Authors: Vermeulen M. , Poleunis C. , Delcorte A. , Bertrand P. , Sanyova J.
Published: May 2014

Surface preparation with gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) sputtering was performed on paint cross‐sections, which belong to the collection of the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage (KIKIRPA), Brussels, Belgium. Superficial cleaning of cross sections with residual embedding resin surface contamination was studied with different sputtering times in order to obtain a gain in the spectral and imaging mode. Sputtering was made directly through the Time‐of‐Flight‐SIMS apparatus. It was thus demonstrated that GCIB sputtering for a short period was very efficient for the superficial decontamination of cultural heritage cross‐sections without visible damage on the valuable samples. The GCIB sputtering time and dose can be highly decreased when combined with a monoatomic argon ion beam preparation techniques such as the ion milling systems. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Subassemblage test of buckling‐restrained braces with H‐shaped steel core
Authors: Kim Do‐Hyun , Lee Chang‐Hwan , Ju Young K. , Kim Sang‐Dae
Published: May 2014

In this study, a subassemblage test was performed using buckling‐restrained braces with an H‐shaped core element, which have been proven in a previous uniaxial component test to have good performance. The loading protocol prescribed the quasi‐static cyclic pattern with stepwise incremental displacement amplitude. Two different end connections (bolted connection and pin connection) and two different buckling‐restrained mechanisms (concrete‐filled tube and hollow steel tube) were examined as the test parameters. The performance of the specimen was evaluated by comparing the test results with the recommended provisions for buckling‐restrained braces. The test results showed that the compression strength capacity of buckling‐restrained brace (BRB) with in‐filled concrete increased by about 10% compared with BRB without in‐filled concrete. According to test result at same story drift of 2Dbm, structural performance of pin connection specimen without bolt slippage is superior to bolted connection specimen. Also, bolted connection specimens showed similar performance for total energy dissipation and cumulative plastic ductility, regardless of the connection types and the existence of concrete filling. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ethical Issues of Expert Witness Testimony
Authors: Ferreres Alberto R.
Published: May 2014

Being a surgical expert witness (EW) in professional liability claims implies ethical responsibilities, which are usually unknown to the parties who try to obtain such testimony as well as to the surgeons involved in providing the expert opinion required by the courts. Giving medical testimony can be included in the field of surgery since (1) being an expert medical witness and judge the performance of another surgeon means that the witness must have a medical license and preferably be board‐certified as a surgeon, and (2) the EW opinion sets the standard of care to be applied in each particular case. Thus, the role of the surgeon EW in the legal arena must have the same degree of integrity as the surgeon in his practice with direct patient care and it should be reviewed and subject to regulation.
Skin Shade Stratification and the Psychological Cost of Unemployment: Is there a Gradient for Black Females?
Authors: Diette Timothy M. , Goldsmith Arthur H. , Hamilton Darrick , Darity William
Published: May 2014

The purpose of this paper is to formally evaluate whether the deleterious impact of unemployment on mental health increases as skin shade darkens for black women in the U.S. Using data drawn from the National Survey of American Life, we find strong evidence of a gradient on depression between skin shade and unemployment for black women. These findings are consistent with the premises of the emerging field of stratification economics. Moreover, the findings are robust to various definitions of skin shade. Unemployed black women with darker complexions are significantly more likely to suffer their first onset of depression than unemployed black females with lighter skin shade. While in some cases, lighter skinned black women appeared not to suffer adverse effects of unemployment compared to their employed counterparts, persons with dark complexions did not enjoy the same degree of protection from poor mental health.
Tumor suppressive miRNA‐34a suppresses cell proliferation and tumor growth of glioma stem cells by targeting Akt and Wnt signaling pathways
Authors: Rathod Sachin S. , Rani Sandhya B. , Khan Mohsina , Muzumdar Dattatraya , Shiras Anjali
Published: May 2014

MiRNA‐34a is considered as a potential prognostic marker for glioma, as studies suggest that its expression negatively correlates with patient survival in grade III and IV glial tumors. Here, we show that expression of miR‐34a was decreased in a graded manner in glioma and glioma stem cell‐lines as compared to normal brain tissues. Ectopic expression of miR‐34a in glioma stem cell‐lines HNGC‐2 and NSG‐K16 decreased the proliferative and migratory potential of these cells, induced cell cycle arrest and caused apoptosis. Notably, the miR‐34a glioma cells formed significantly smaller xenografts in immuno‐deficient mice as compared with control glioma stem cell‐lines. Here, using a bioinformatics approach and various biological assays, we identify Rictor, as a novel target for miR‐34a in glioma stem cells. Rictor, a defining component of mTORC2 complex, is involved in cell survival signaling. mTORC2 lays downstream of Akt, and thus is a direct activator of Akt. Our earlier studies have elaborated on role of Rictor in glioma invasion (Das et al., 2011). Here, we demonstrate that miR34a over‐expression in glioma stem cells profoundly decreased levels of p‐AKT (Ser473), increased GSK‐3β levels and targeted for degradation β‐catenin, an important mediator of Wnt signaling pathway. This led to diminished levels of the Wnt effectors cyclin D1 and c‐myc. Collectively, we show that the tumor suppressive function of miR‐34a in glioblastoma is mediated via Rictor, which through its effects on AKT/mTOR pathway and Wnt signaling causes pronounced effects on glioma malignancy.
Was Tito’s Yugoslavia totalitarian?
Authors: Flere Sergej , Klanjšek Rudi
Published: May 2014

State authorities in Croatia and Slovenia have recently indiscriminately designated Tito’s Yugoslavia as totalitarian without reservations. Neither of these authorities referred to any systematic considerations of totalitarianism, nor did they analyze the manner of the alleged system’s presence and its time limits. The current paper indicates that, from the middle of the 60s, millions of copies of religious newspapers were published and economic enterprises operated beyond the state command economy. In addition, the republics were largely autonomous players and catered for their own interests. Although Tito’s cult was promoted, his power was limited by the federal nature of the state. Neither any other elements of totalitarianism could be found.
Copper as a key regulator of cell signalling pathways
Authors: Grubman Alexandra , White Anthony R.
Published: May 2014

Copper is an essential element in many biological processes. The critical functions associated with copper have resulted from evolutionary harnessing of its potent redox activity. This same property also places copper in a unique role as a key modulator of cell signal transduction pathways. These pathways are the complex sequence of molecular interactions that drive all cellular mechanisms and are often associated with the interplay of key enzymes including kinases and phosphatases but also including intracellular changes in pools of smaller molecules. A growing body of evidence is beginning to delineate the how, when and where of copper-mediated control over cell signal transduction. This has been driven by research demonstrating critical changes to copper homeostasis in many disorders including cancer and neurodegeneration and therapeutic potential through control of disease-associated cell signalling changes by modulation of copper–protein interactions. This timely review brings together for the first time the diverse actions of copper as a key regulator of cell signalling pathways and discusses the potential strategies for controlling disease-associated signalling processes using copper modulators. It is hoped that this review will provide a valuable insight into copper as a key signal regulator and stimulate further research to promote our understanding of copper in disease and therapy.
Varieties of Power in Latin American Pension Finance: Pension Fund Capitalism, Developmentalism and Statism
Authors: Datz Giselle
Published: May 2014

When it comes to analyses of financial power in Latin America, there has been a tendency to assume it is mostly external, relatively homogeneous, and usually constraining of domestic policy autonomy. Increasingly, however, when speaking of financial power in the region, a focus exclusively on foreign capital misses a significant part of the empirical landscape, one inhabited by large domestic institutional investors: public and private pension funds. A focus on these funds reveals that a neat state–finance dichotomy is often unrepresentative of the type of blurred web of interests, influence and ownership that characterizes even those economies that have embraced a significant degree of liberalization. In fact, pension finance is far from uniform across countries. In order to capture this diversity in Latin America, a new typology is suggested that departs from the Anglo-American notion of ‘pension fund capitalism’ and further specifies pension finance as also revealing dynamics best described as ‘pension fund developmentalism and statism’. The typology is not only aimed at capturing more empirical nuance in Latin America; it can also serve as reference for cross-regional analyses of these often neglected, but increasingly powerful financial actors in emerging economies.
Negative Contrast Experience: An Ignatian Appraisal
Authors: Mosely LaReine-Marie
Published: May 2014

In the face of continual and increased human suffering in every corner of the world, good and principled people often do nothing. Edward Schillebeeckx's understanding of negative experiences of contrast begins with outrage at excessive human suffering and is followed by protest and eventual praxis to ameliorate and end the suffering. The author queries whether unconscious bias prevents human beings from seeing this suffering, and suggests that embracing a rigorous Ignatian consciousness examen may correct this impairment.
Vatican II as a Constitutional Text of Faith
Authors: Kaplan Grant
Published: May 2014

This article posits that the hermeneutical approach of Peter Hünermann toward the “text” of the Second Vatican Council possesses the capacity to dissolve disputes that have arisen from a fissure among Catholics about the meaning of the council. At the heart of Hünermann's approach is a bold attempt to read the council's genre in light of “constitutional texts” that have played an important role in founding and reconciling different types of communities in the modern world.
Personhood in Classical and Process-Oriented Metaphysics
Authors: Bracken Joseph A.
Published: May 2014

One major source of conflict in contemporary sexual ethics (e.g., artificial contraception and abortion) is the implicit difference in the worldviews represented by the terms “pro-life” and “pro-choice.” Those who are pro-life support the notion of human personhood as a fixed and unchanging reality from conception to death; those who are pro-choice, in contrast, support the notion of human personhood as developmental, never fully realized. The pro-life position basically reflects the worldview of classical metaphysics; the pro-choice position is logically grounded in process philosophy and theology. The aim of the present article is to compare and contrast these two worldviews so as to see whether or not there is unexpected common ground between the two that could logically justify a consensus position on the more specific moral issues.
Compliance with the Data Protection Acts in a psychiatric department: a complete audit cycle
Authors: Hassab Errasoul A. , Cannon M. , Cotter D.
Published: May 2014

Aim

1) to assess compliance with the Data Protection Acts (DPA) by a Department of Psychiatry in a general hospital, 2) to implement measures that are likely to maximize compliance with the hospital data protection policy, 3) to close the audit cycle by assessing the impact of such measures on departmental compliance with the DPA over five months period.

Method

An individual, anonymised staff questionnaire on data collection practices, procedure of disclosure of data to third parties and previous training on DPA was used to collect information from the department staff. The premises were inspected at different times over a week period using structured checklist. Default points were recorded during each inspection. Post-audit interventions included a mixture of educational interventions and practical solutions. A re-audited took place five months later using the same method.

Results

The baseline audit demonstrated significant lack of compliance with the DPA among staff members and lack of staff training on the DPA. Following the interventions, staff awareness of the requirements of the act rose which in turn lead to better adherence to recommend practices in data handling and to mean default points dropped significantly. Management of manual files appears to constitute the biggest problem in this audit. Daytime breaks were found to pose higher risk to stored data compared with before and after working hours.

Conclusions

A combination of educational and practical interventions including training of staff on the DPA results in overall improvement in compliance and reduction in default points. However, management of manual (physical) data proves to be more difficult and hence will need more input.
Vortices, dissipation and flow transition in volatile binary drops
Authors: Bennacer R. , Sefiane K.
Published: May 2014

Despite its fundamental and practical relevance, flow structure and evolution within volatile mixture drops remains largely unexplored. We study experimentally, using particle image velocimetry (PIV), the evolution of internal flow during the evaporation of ethanol–water mixture drops for different initial concentrations. The investigation revealed the existence of three stages in the evolving flow behaviour within these binary volatile drops. We propose an analysis of the nature of the flow and focus on understanding successive flow stages as well as transition from multiple vortices to a monotonic outward flow. We show that the existence of multiple vortices during the first stage is driven by local concentration gradients along the interface. When the more volatile component (in this case ethanol) is depleted, the intensity of this Marangoni flow abruptly declines. Towards the end of the first stage, ethanol is driven from the bulk of the drop to the interface to sustain weakening concentration gradients. Once these gradients are too weak, the solutal Marangoni number becomes sub-critical and the driving force for the flow switches off. The evolution of flow structure and transition between stages is found to be well correlated with the ratio of Marangoni and Reynolds numbers. Furthermore, we argue that whilst the observed vortices are driven by surface tension shear stress originating at the liquid/vapour interface, the transition in flow and its dynamics is entirely determined by viscous dissipation. The comparison between the analytical expression for vorticity decay based on viscous dissipation and the experimental data shows a very good agreement. The analysis also shows that regardless of the initial concentration, for same sized drops, the transition in flow follows exactly the same trend. This further supports the hypothesis of a viscous dissipation transition of the flow. The last stage is satisfactorily explained based on non-uniform evaporation and continuity-driven flow.
Evaporation of a sodium chloride solution from a saturated porous medium with efflorescence formation
Authors: Veran-Tissoires Stéphanie , Prat Marc
Published: May 2014

Precipitation of sodium chloride driven by evaporation at the surface of a porous medium is studied from a combination of experiments, continuum simulations, pore network simulations and a simple efflorescence growth model on a lattice. The distribution of ions concentration maxima at the porous medium surface, which are seen as the incipient precipitation spots, is shown to be strongly dependent on the factors affecting the velocity field within the porous medium owing to the significance of advection on ion transport. These factors include the evaporation flux distribution at the surface at Darcy’s scale as well as the scale of surface menisci and the internal disorder of the porous medium, which induce spatial fluctuations in the velocity field. The randomness of the velocity field within the porous medium and at its surface explains the discrete nature of incipient precipitation spots at the surface of a porous medium. Experiments varying the mean size of the beads forming the porous medium lead to the identification of two main types of efflorescence, referred to as crusty and patchy, and the impact of these two types on evaporation is completely different. The crusty efflorescence severely reduces the evaporation rate whereas the patchy efflorescence can enhance the evaporation rate compared with pure water. The crusty–patchy transition is analysed from a simple growth model on a lattice taking into account the porous nature of efflorescence structures.
Design Space Exploration of Centimeter-Scale Wind Turbines using a Physics-Modified Optimization Formulation
Authors: Rancourt D. , Fréchette L. , Landry C. , Mavris D. N.
Published: May 2014

This paper explores the design space of centimeter-scale micro wind turbines to power wireless sensors through an experimentally validated modeling and simulation environment. A stochastic optimizer is used to obtain a functional relationship between the minimum wind velocity required to find a feasible design and multiple constraints relevant to turbine designers, such as the maximum turbine radius, electrical power required, minimum voltage required and available generators. This relationship is created from an optimization formulation that uses knowledge from the underlying physics and previous optimizations. It is shown that the design space of micro wind turbines is significantly different than large wind turbines due to the low Reynolds number regime. Also, a strong coupling exists between the choice of generator and optimal wind turbine geometry to minimize the wind required to meet the requirements. Smaller generators are more appropriate for micro wind turbines only if a constraint is applied on the maximum radius of the turbine and if no minimum voltage is required for a fixed power output.
Numerical Evaluation of Size Effect in Piezoelectric Micro-Beam with Linear Micromorphic Electroelastic Theory
Authors: Cao W.-Z. , Yang X.-H. , Tian X.-B.
Published: May 2014

The linear micromorphic electroelastic theory is proposed to solve bending problems of piezoelectric micro-beam in this paper. The basic governing equations with the boundary conditions are derived through the variational principle. Both the cantilever piezoelectric micro-beam subjected to a concentrated load at the free end and the simply supported micro-beam subjected to a distributed load are analyzed. It is found that the predictions from the micromorphic electroelastic theory are remarkably different from those from the classical theory when the micro-beam thickness is approximate or equal to the characteristic length scale parameter, but their difference is slight when the micro-beam thickness is much larger than the characteristic length scale parameter. As a result, it is concluded that the size effect is significant when the micro-beam thickness is comparable to the characteristic length scale parameter.
A Numerical Study of Impulsively Started External Convection at Microscale
Authors: Ramadan K.
Published: May 2014

Impulsively started external convection at microscale level is studied numerically in both planar and axisymmetric geometries. Using similarity transformation, the resulting coupled partial and non-linear ordinary differential equations are simultaneously solved by finite differences together with a well established ordinary differential equation solver, over a range of problem parameters. Rarefaction effects within the slip flow regime on the thermal boundary layer response, heat transfer rate and transition time when system experiences sudden changes in surface temperature are analyzed, and a comparison between sudden surface cooling and heating is presented. The results show that the thermal boundary layer thickness, heat transfer rate and the transition time is considerably influenced by the degree of rarefaction. The transition time tends to be less sensitive with increasing rarefaction. The velocity slip and temperature jump factors are found to have opposite effects on the transition time and the heat transfer rate, with the velocity slip factor having the most profound influence on these parameters.
Effects of synbiotic supplementation on insulin resistance in subjects with the metabolic syndrome: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study
Authors: Eslamparast Tannaz , Zamani Farhad , Hekmatdoost Azita , Sharafkhah Maryam , Eghtesad Sareh , Malekzadeh Reza , Poustchi Hossein
Published: May 2014

To evaluate the effects of synbiotic supplementation on insulin resistance and lipid profile in individuals with the metabolic syndrome, we conducted a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study on thirty-eight subjects with the metabolic syndrome; they were supplemented with either synbiotic capsules containing 200 million of seven strains of friendly bacteria plus fructo-oligosaccharide or placebo capsules twice a day for 28 weeks. Both the synbiotic (G1) and the placebo (G2) groups were advised to follow an energy-balanced diet and physical activity recommendations. Parameters related to the metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance were measured every 7 weeks during the course of the study. After 28 weeks of treatment, the levels of fasting blood sugar and insulin resistance improved significantly in the G1 group (P< 0·001). Both the G1 and G2 groups exhibited significant reductions in TAG levels ( − 71·22 v. − 10·47 mg/dl ( − 0·80 v. − 0·12 mmol/l) respectively; P< 0·001) and total cholesterol levels ( − 21·93 v. − 14·2 mg/dl ( − 0·57 v. − 0·37 mmol/l) respectively; P= 0·01), as well as increases in HDL levels (+7·7 v. +0·05 mg/dl (+0·20 v. +>0·01 mmol/l) respectively; P< 0·001). The mean differences observed were greater in the G1 group. No significant changes were observed in LDL levels, waist circumference, BMI, metabolic equivalent of task and energy intake between the groups. The present results indicate that synbiotic supplementation increases the efficacy of diet therapy in the management of the metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance.
Breakfast replacement with a low-glycaemic response liquid formula in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomised clinical trial
Authors: Stenvers Dirk J. , Schouten Lydia J. , Jurgens Jordy , Endert Erik , Kalsbeek Andries , Fliers Eric , Bisschop Peter H.
Published: May 2014

Low-glycaemic index diets reduce glycated Hb (HbA1c) in patients with type 2 diabetes, but require intensive dietary support. Using a liquid meal replacement with a low glycaemic response (GR) may be an alternative dietary approach. In the present study, we investigated whether breakfast replacement with a low-GR liquid meal would reduce postprandial glycaemia and/or improve long-term glycaemia. In the present randomised, controlled, cross-over design, twenty patients with type 2 diabetes consumed either a breakfast replacement consisting of an isoenergetic amount of Glucerna SR or a free-choice breakfast for 3 months. Postprandial AUC levels were measured using continuous glucose measurement at home. After the 3-month dietary period, meal profiles and oral glucose tolerance were assessed in the clinical setting. The low-GR liquid meal replacement reduced the AUC of postprandial glucose excursions at home compared with a free-choice control breakfast (estimated marginal mean 141 (95 % CI 114, 174) v. estimated marginal mean 259 (95 % CI 211, 318) mmol × min/l; P= 0·0002). The low-GR liquid meal replacement also reduced glucose AUC levels in the clinical setting compared with an isoenergetic control breakfast (low GR: median 97 (interquartile range (IQR) 60–188) mmol × min/l; control: median 253 (IQR 162–386) mmol × min/l; P< 0·001). However, the 3-month low-GR liquid meal replacement did not affect fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c or lipid levels, and even slightly reduced oral glucose tolerance. In conclusion, the low-GR liquid meal replacement is a potential dietary approach to reduce postprandial glycaemia in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, clinical trials into the effects of replacing multiple meals on long-term glycaemia in poorly controlled patients are required before a low-GR liquid meal replacement can be adopted as a dietary approach to the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
ANALYSIS OF A CULTURAL CONSENSUS MODEL OF TWO GOOD-LIFE SUB-DOMAINS – HEALTH & WELL-BEING AND MIGRATION & SOCIOECONOMIC MILIEU – IN THREE POPULATION GROUPS IN CROATIA
Authors: PETERNEL LANA , MALNAR ANA , KLARIĆ IRENA MARTINOVIĆ
Published: May 2014

In this study the construct of a ‘good life’ was explored among upper secondary school senior pupils and their parents and teachers by applying cultural consensus model analysis. A total of 469 students, 474 parents and 158 teachers from four Croatian cities participated in the study, which was conducted in 2011/2012. The information collected through interviewing and free-listing during the first phase of the study was used to create a set of structured questionnaire questions as a part of the survey in the second phase of data collection. The results are reported on two good-life sub-domains: ‘health & well-being’ and ‘migration & socioeconomic milieu’. The results indicate heterogeneity of the sample groups, incomplete inter-generational transmission of cultural values and examples of two sub-groups that resist cultural norms and do not comply with the dominant ‘competence-as-sharing’ paradigm. The value of testing the cultural consensus model based on the emic approach and locally significant phenomena is demonstrated for planning and conducting holistic anthropological research.
Morphometric characteristics of the metacestode Echinococcus vogeli Rausch & Bernstein, 1972 in human infections from the northern region of Brazil
Authors: Almeida F. , Oliveira F. , Neves R. , Siqueira N. , Rodrigues-Silva R. , Daipert-Garcia D. , Machado-Silva J.R.
Published: May 2014

Polycystic echinococcosis, caused by the larval stage (metacestode) of the small-sized tapeworm, Echinococcus vogeli, is an emerging parasitic zoonosis of great public health concern in the humid tropical rainforests of South and Central America. Because morphological and morphometric characteristics of the metacestode are not well known, hydatid cysts from the liver and the mesentery were examined from patients following surgical procedures. Whole mounts of protoscoleces with rostellar hooks were examined under light and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Measurements were made of both large and small hooks, including the total area, total length, total width, blade area, blade length, blade width, handle area, handle length and handle width. The results confirmed the 1:1 arrangement of hooks in the rostellar pad and indicated, for the first time, that the morphometry of large and small rostellar hooks varies depending upon the site of infection. Light and confocal microscopy images displayed clusters of calcareous corpuscles in the protoscoleces. In conclusion, morphological features of large and small rostellar hooks of E. vogeli are adapted to a varied environment within the vertebrate host and such morphological changes in calcareous corpuscles occur at different stages in the maturation of metacestodes.
Characteristic travelling patterns of non-recurrent laryngeal nerves
Authors: Hong K H , Park H T , Yang Y S
Published: May 2014

Background:

The non-recurrent laryngeal nerve is subject to potential injury during thyroid surgery. Intra-operative identification and preservation of this nerve can be challenging. Its presence is associated with an aberrant subclavian artery and the developmental absence of the brachiocephalic trunk. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of non-recurrent laryngeal nerves and present a new classification system for the course of these nerves.

Methods:

Non-recurrent laryngeal nerves were identified on the right side in 15 patients who underwent thyroidectomy. The incidence of non-recurrent laryngeal nerves (during thyroidectomy) and aberrant subclavian arteries (using neck computed tomography) was evaluated, and the course of the nerves was classified according to their travelling patterns.

Results:

The overall incidence of non-recurrent laryngeal nerves was 0.68 per cent. The travelling patterns of the nerves could be classified as: descending (33 per cent), vertical (27 per cent), ascending (20 per cent) or V-shaped (20 per cent).

Conclusion:

Clinicians need to be aware of these variations to avoid non-recurrent laryngeal nerve damage. A retroesophageal subclavian artery (on neck computed tomography) virtually assures a non-recurrent laryngeal nerve. This information is important for preventing vocal fold paralysis. Following a review of non-recurrent laryngeal nerve travelling patterns, a new classification was devised.
Munchausen syndrome by proxy presenting as hearing loss
Authors: Ashraf N , Thevasagayam M S
Published: May 2014

Objective:

To review the diagnosis of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a factitious disorder, in which symptoms are induced or feigned, usually in a child, by the caregiver. The involved caregiver seeks to gain attention or sympathy and often has a psychological need to maintain the sick role. We highlight the diagnostic difficulties and factors that may help with diagnosis in an otolaryngology setting.

Method:

We present the case of Munchausen syndrome by proxy presenting with hearing loss in a five-year old boy, who was diagnosed eight years after his initial presentation. A literature review of Munchausen syndrome by proxy cases presenting with ENT symptoms is provided.

Conclusion:

Munchausen syndrome by proxy is a diagnosis that otolaryngologists should be aware of, particularly where recurrent or persistent illnesses in children, especially those involving otological symptoms, are refractory to the usual treatments.
Of saints and blood: the Narita Buddhist sword cult in Edo Japan
Authors: Bond Kevin
Published: May 2014

This article examines the local character of early modern (1600–1868) Japanese Buddhism using a case study of the Narita Fudō cult of Shinshōji Temple, with particular attention to the temple's most sacred treasure, the legendary Sword of Amakuni. Drawing on local sources produced within and beyond clerical circles, it examines how the sword and its popular narratives became central to the public identity of the cult and the temple's proselytization efforts. This article illuminates the evolving, fluid nature of deity cults as highly mobile properties working across sectarian boundaries, and how these properties gained importance beyond the walls of Buddhist institutions among the artistic and theatrical landscapes of the country's capital.
Task-space bilateral teleoperation systems for heterogeneous robots with time-varying delays
Authors: Liu Yen-Chen
Published: May 2014

This paper proposes control algorithms for heterogeneous teleoperation systems to guarantee stability and tracking performance in the presence of time-varying communication delays. Because robotic manipulators, in most applications of bilateral teleoperation systems, interact with a human operator and remote environment on the end-effector, the control system is developed in the task-space. When the dynamic parameters of the robots are unknown and the communication network is subject to time-varying delay, the developed controller can ensure stability and task-space position tracking. Additionally, if the robotic systems are influenced by human and environmental forces, the presented teleoperation control system is demonstrated to be stable and all signals are proven to be ultimately bounded. By employing the redundancy of the slave robot for sub-task control, the proposed teleoperation system can autonomously achieve additional missions in the remote environment. Numerical examples utilizing a redundant planar robot are addressed to validate the proposed task-space teleoperators with time-varying delay.
Aspects of plant behaviour under anoxia and post-anoxia
Authors: Pfister-Sieber M. , Brändle R.
Published: May 2014

Synopsis

All plants are able to survive anoxic periods, but the degree of tolerance shows large variation. The main injuries related to anoxia are eventually due to changes in energy metabolism. Low energy charge values indicate a cessation of many ATP consuming processes. Sugar starvation, lactic acid fermentation and proton release from leaky vacuoles are responsible for cell death. Long-term anoxia tolerance is dependent on storage products in the vicinity of sinks, on an adequate control of glycolysis, synthesis of essential proteins, and stability of membranes and organelles. However, no fundamental differences between the metabolic pathways of tolerant and non-tolerant tissues are known. It is rather a question of minor changes and the regulation of anaerobic metabolism.

Re-exposure of anoxic tissues to air may even be more detrimental than anoxia itself. These injuries are mainly due to enhanced radical generation. Lipid peroxidation processes lead to membrane damage, disintegration, and leakage of solutes. Under natural conditions plants are equipped with radical-detoxifying systems (SOD, peroxidases and antioxidants). Natural detoxifying systems can be reduced in non-adapted plants under anoxia and they become more sensitive to post-anoxic damage. In addition, the rapid conversion of ethanol to extremely toxic acetaldehyde seems to be a cause of tissue injury and death.
Agenesis of the venous duct: two cases of extrahepatic drainage of the umbilical vein and extrahepatic portosystemic shunt with a review of the literature
Authors: Loomba Rohit S. , Frommelt Michele , Moe David , Shillingford Amanda J.
Published: May 2014

Agenesis of the venous duct is a rare congenital anomaly resulting in abnormal drainage of the umbilical vein into the foetal venous circulation. The clinical presentation and prognosis is variable, and may depend on the specific drainage pathways of the umbilical vein. We present two foetuses with agenesis of the venous duct, both associated with a postnatal portosystemic shunt, but with markedly different postnatal clinical courses. We also review all previously reported cases to better characterise this foetal disorder and the prognosis.
Successful surgical repair of a massive window duct in a 1-month old with aniridia and pulmonary interstitial glycogenosis
Authors: Siomos Austine K. , Mitchell Max B. , Fonseca Brian M.
Published: May 2014

The window duct is a rare congenital anomaly that is physiologically similar to an aortopulmonary window but is extrapericardial at the distal pulmonary trunk. The diagnosis is challenging, and surgical management is complex. Our patient is the first and the youngest to be reported with successful closure and diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging.
Third Wave Shiʻism: Sayyid ‘Arif Husain al-Husaini and the Islamic Revolution in Pakistan
Authors: FUCHS SIMON WOLFGANG
Published: May 2014

This paper seeks to illuminate the intellectual impact of the Iranian Revolution of 1979 among Pakistani Shiʻas by focusing on Sayyid ʻArif Husain al-Husaini, the dominating Shiʻi leader of the 1980s. In particular, I am interested in exploring how al-Husaini adapted hallmark themes of the Iranian revolutionary message, such as Muslim unity or political leadership of the religious scholars (ʻulama), to the specific circumstances of Pakistan. Crucial for such processes of translation was not only pressure from the Pakistani state but rather internal challenges and divisions among the Shiʻi community. While al-Husaini could draw on a strong, indigenous tradition of political mobilisation, his revolutionary ʻthird waveʼ of Shiʻi thought sat uncomfortably between Lucknow-educated traditionalists and Najaf-trained reformers who shied away from getting entangled in these novel forms of politics. By drawing on biographical accounts and al-Husaini's speeches in Urdu, I trace how his revolutionary rhetoric had to accommodate thorny local issues such as sectarianism, South Asian mourning traditions or the lack of an established Shiʻi clerical hierarchy in Pakistan.
THE EFFECTS OF FISCAL SHOCKS IN A NEW KEYNESIAN MODEL WITH USEFUL GOVERNMENT SPENDING
Authors: D'Auria Francesca
Published: May 2014

This paper develops a medium-scale New Keynesian model where consumer preferences depend on government expenditures and public capital is productivity-enhancing in order to account for recent evidence on the effects of government spending shocks. Under plausible assumptions on the degree of complementarity between private and public expenditures and on the output elasticity of public spending and considering alternative monetary policy rules, the effects of fiscal shocks delivered by the model are in line with the evidence.
Gesture restriction affects French–English bilinguals’ speech only in French
Authors: LAURENT ANGÉLIQUE , NICOLADIS ELENA
Published: May 2014

Some studies have shown that bilinguals gesture more than monolinguals. One possible reason for the high gesture frequency is that bilinguals rely on gestures even more than monolinguals in constructing their message. To test this, we asked French–English bilingual adults and English monolingual adults to tell a story twice; on one occasion they could move their hands and on the other they could not. If gestures aid bilinguals in information packaging and/or lexical access, bilinguals should tell shorter stories with fewer word types than monolinguals when their gestures are restricted. In fact, we found that gesture restriction affected bilinguals’ stories only in French, the language in which they used more gestures. These findings challenge the interpretation that bilinguals gesture frequently as an aid in constructing their message. We argue that cultural norms in gesture frequency interact with gesture use in message construction.
The relationship between BMI and blood pressure in children aged 7–12 years in Ankara, Turkey
Authors: Polat Mustafa , Yıkılkan Hülya , Aypak Cenk , Görpelioğlu Süleyman
Published: May 2014

Objective

Recent studies have reported an increasing prevalence of childhood hypertension. Obesity is probably the most important risk factor. The relationship between hypertension and BMI in children has not been studied in Ankara, which is the second largest city in Turkey.

Design

Cross-sectional study analysing direct data on height, weight and blood pressure of students.

Setting

Population-based study in Ankara, the capital city of Turkey.

Subjects

In three schools, 2826 students aged 7–12 years.

Results

The overall prevalence of hypertension was 7·9 %. Among the 222 hypertensive children, 124 (56 %) were boys and ninety-eight (44 %) were girls (P=0·40). In the whole group, 3·6 % had only systolic hypertension, 0·7 % had only diastolic hypertension and 3·5 % had both systolic and diastolic hypertension. The prevalences of overweight and obesity were both 13·9 %. BMI was significantly correlated with blood pressure (P<0·001). Overweight and obesity were more common in boys (P<0·001).

Conclusions

Hypertension was more common than has been reported in other studies. Blood pressure measurement should be routine and frequent in children, especially obese children.
A probabilistic logic programming event calculus
Authors: SKARLATIDIS ANASTASIOS , ARTIKIS ALEXANDER , FILIPPOU JASON , PALIOURAS GEORGIOS
Published: May 2014

We present a system for recognising human activity given a symbolic representation of video content. The input of our system is a set of time-stamped short-term activities (STA) detected on video frames. The output is a set of recognised long-term activities (LTA), which are pre-defined temporal combinations of STA. The constraints on the STA that, if satisfied, lead to the recognition of an LTA, have been expressed using a dialect of the Event Calculus. In order to handle the uncertainty that naturally occurs in human activity recognition, we adapted this dialect to a state-of-the-art probabilistic logic programming framework. We present a detailed evaluation and comparison of the crisp and probabilistic approaches through experimentation on a benchmark dataset of human surveillance videos.
TeV observations of the Galactic center and starburst galaxies
Authors: de Naurois Mathieu
Published: May 2014

The vicinity of the Galactic center harbors many potential accelerators of cosmic rays (CR) that could shine in very-high-energy (VHE) γ-rays, such as pulsar wind nebulae, supernova remnants, binary systems and the central black hole Sgr A*, and is characterized by high gas density, large magnetic fields and a high rate of starburst activity similar to that observed in the core of starburst galaxies. In addition to these astrophysical sources, annihilation of putative WIMPs concentrated in the gravitational well could lead to significant high-energy emission at the Galactic center. The Galactic center region has been observed by atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes, and in particular by the H. E. S. S. array in Namibia for the last ten years above 150 GeV. This large data set, comprising more than 200 hours of observations, led to the discovery of a point-like source spatially compatible with the supermassive black hole Sgr A*, and to an extended diffuse emission, correlated with molecular clouds and attributed to the interaction of cosmic rays with the interstellar medium. Over the same time period, two starburst galaxies, namely M 82 and NGC 253, were detected at TeV energies after very deep exposures. Results from these ten years of observations of the Galactic center region and starburst galaxies at TeV energies are presented, and implications for the various very-high-energy emission mechanisms are discussed.
Improved dynamical modelling of the Arches cluster
Authors: Lee Joowon , Kim Sungsoo S.
Published: May 2014

Recently, Clarkson et al. (2012) measured the intrinsic velocity dispersion of the Arches cluster, a young and massive star cluster in the Galactic center. Using the observed velocity dispersion profile and the surface brightness profile of Espinoza et al. (2009), they estimate the cluster's present-day mass to be ∼ 1.5×104 M⊙ by fitting an isothermal King model. In this study, we trace the best-fit initial mass for the Arches cluster using the same observed data set and also the anisotropic Fokker-Planck calculations for the dynamical evolution.
Lessons from comparisons between the nuclear region of the Milky Way and those in nearby spirals
Authors: Gallagher John S. , Yoast-Hull Tova M. , Zweibel Ellen G.
Published: May 2014

The Milky Way appears as a typical barred spiral, and comparisons can be made between its nuclear region and those of structurally similar nearby spirals. Maffei 2, M83, IC 342 and NGC 253 are nearby systems whose nuclear region properties contrast with those of the Milky Way. Stellar masses derived from NIR photometery, molecular gas masses and star formation rates allow us to assess the evolutionary states of this set of nuclear regions. These data suggest similarities between nuclear regions in terms of their stellar content while highlighting significant differences in current star formation rates. In particular current star formation rates appear to cover a larger range than expected based on the molecular gas masses. This behavior is consistent with nuclear region star formation experiencing episodic variations. Under this hypothesis the Milky Way's nuclear region currently may be in a low star formation rate phase.