bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MicroRNA Induced Cardiac Reprogramming In Vivo
Authors: Jayawardena Tilanthi M. , Finch Elizabeth A. , Zhang Lunan , Zhang Hengtao , Hodgkinson Conrad P. , Pratt Richard E. , Rosenberg Paul B. , Mirotsou Maria , Dzau Victor J.
Published: October 2014

Rationale
:

A major goal for the treatment of heart tissue damaged by cardiac injury is to develop strategies for restoring healthy heart muscle through the regeneration and repair of damaged myocardium. We recently demonstrated that administration of a specific combination of microRNAs (miR combo) into the infarcted myocardium leads to direct in vivo reprogramming of noncardiac myocytes to cardiac myocytes. However, the biological and functional consequences of such reprogramming are not yet known.

Objective
:

The aim of this study was to determine whether noncardiac myocytes directly reprogrammed using miRNAs in vivo develop into mature functional cardiac myocytes in situ, and whether reprogramming leads to improvement of cardiac function.

Methods and Results
:

We subjected fibroblast-specific protein 1-Cre mice/tandem dimer Tomato (tdTomato) mice to cardiac injury by permanent ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery and injected lentiviruses encoding miR combo or a control nontargeting miRNA. miR combo significantly increased the number of reprogramming events in vivo. Five to 6 weeks after injury, morphological and physiological properties of tdTomato
−
and tdTomato
+
cardiac myocyte–like cells were analyzed ex vivo. tdTomato
+
cells expressed cardiac myocyte markers, sarcomeric organization, excitation–contraction coupling, and action potentials characteristic of mature ventricular cardiac myocytes (tdTomato
−
cells). Reprogramming was associated with improvement of cardiac function, as analyzed by serial echocardiography. There was a time delayed and progressive improvement in fractional shortening and other measures of ventricular function, indicating that miR combo promotes functional recovery of damaged myocardium.

Conclusions
:

The findings from this study further validate the potential use of miRNA-mediated reprogramming as a therapeutic approach to promote cardiac regeneration after myocardial injury.
Polygenic Overlap Between Kidney Function and Large Artery Atherosclerotic Stroke
Authors: Holliday Elizabeth G. , Traylor Matthew , Malik Rainer , Bevan Stephen , Maguire Jane , Koblar Simon A. , Sturm Jonathan , Hankey Graeme J. , Oldmeadow Christopher , McEvoy Mark , Sudlow Cathie , Rothwell Peter M. , Coresh Josef , Hamet Pavel , Tremblay Johanne , Turner Stephen T. , de Andrade Mariza , Rao Madhumathi , Schmidt Reinhold , Crick Peter A. , Robino Antonietta , Peralta Carmen A. , Jukema J. Wouter , Mitchell Paul , Rosas Sylvia E. , Wang Jie Jin , Scott Rodney J. , Dichgans Martin , Mitchell Braxton D. , Kao W.H. Linda , Fox Caroline S. , Levi Christopher , Attia John , Markus Hugh S.
Published: October 2014

Background and Purpose—

Epidemiological studies show strong associations between kidney dysfunction and risk of ischemic stroke (IS), the mechanisms of which are incompletely understood. We investigated whether these associations may reflect shared heritability because of a common polygenic basis and whether this differed for IS subtypes.

Methods—

Polygenic models were derived using genome-wide association studies meta-analysis results for 3 kidney traits: estimated glomerular filtration rate using serum creatinine (eGFRcrea: n=73 998), eGFR using cystatin C (eGFRcys: n=22 937), and urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (n=31 580). For each, single nucleotide polymorphisms passing 10
P
value thresholds were used to form profile scores in 4561 IS cases and 7094 controls from the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia. Scores were tested for association with IS and its 3 aetiological subtypes: large artery atherosclerosis, cardioembolism, and small vessel disease.

Results—

Polygenic scores correlating with higher eGFRcrea were associated with reduced risk of large artery atherosclerosis, with 5 scores reaching
P
<0.05 (peak
P
=0.004) and all showing the epidemiologically expected direction of effect. A similar pattern was observed for polygenic scores reflecting higher urinary albumin to creatinine ratio, of which 3 associated with large artery atherosclerosis (peak
P
=0.01) and all showed the expected directional association. One urinary albumin to creatinine ratio–based score also associated with small vessel disease (
P
=0.03). The global pattern of results was unlikely to have occurred by chance (
P
=0.02).

Conclusions—

This study suggests possible polygenic correlation between renal dysfunction and IS. The shared genetic components may be specific to stroke subtypes, particularly large artery atherosclerotic stroke. Further study of the genetic relationships between these disorders seems merited.
Simple Text-Messaging Intervention Is Associated With Improved Door-to-Needle Times for Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Burnett Molly M. , Zimmermann Lara , Coralic Zlatan , Quon Tina , Whetstone William , Kim Anthony S.
Published: October 2014

Background and Purpose—

Timely administration of intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator (IV tPA) is associated with improved outcomes for acute ischemic stroke; yet, developing processes to consistently provide prompt treatment remains a challenge. We developed and evaluated a simple quality improvement intervention designed to improve door-to-needle (DTN) times for resident-led Code Stroke teams at an academic medical center.

Methods—

We evaluated a simple text-messaging based intervention with real-time feedback to improve DTN times for intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator. We used the rank-sum test and linear regression to evaluate for a change in DTN times that was temporally associated with the rollout of the intervention.

Results—

A total of 202 patients received intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator; 94 preintervention and 108 postintervention. The median DTN time was significantly lower in the postintervention period (56 minutes [interquartile range 44–71] versus 82 minutes [IQR 68–103],
P
<0.0001) and a significantly higher proportion of patients were treated within 60 minutes (61% versus 16%,
P
<0.001).

Conclusions—

A simple real-time text-messaging intervention was associated with a significant improvements in DTN times for acute ischemic stroke.
A combined cryo-scanning electron microscopy/cryoplaning approach to study the infection of Meloidogyne incognita eggs by Pochonia chlamydosporia
Authors: Manzanilla-López Rosa H. , Devonshire Jean , Ward Elaine , Hirsch Penny R.
Published: October 2014

The fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia is a saprophytic soil-dwelling fungus and is also a parasite of the eggs of the root-knot plant-parasitic nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.). Studies on its molecular characterisation, diversity, tritrophic interactions and ecology have been carried out. However, to elucidate the role in soil and rhizosphere ecology of this and other nematophagous fungi used in biological control, and to enhance their exploitation, it is necessary to improve the understanding of the biology and fungus-nematode infection process using different approaches, including microscopy. Low-temperature Scanning Electron Microscopy (cryo-SEM) techniques allow the examination of frozen, fully hydrated samples that can reveal important ultrastructural features occurring through fungus-nematode interactions. A method that combined cryo-SEM with cryoplaning was developed to examine samples of eggs, gelatinous matrix and females of Meloidogyne incognita colonised by P. chlamydosporia. The fungal samples were produced in potato dextrose agar to which different nematode stages were added and processed for cryo-SEM and cryoplaning within a period of 0-72 h post inoculation. The method was found to be rapid and economical, provided clear and detailed external images of the infection process and allowed viewing of sections through structures with minimal processing in comparison to other cryo-SEM techniques and it could be adapted to study other fungus-nematode interactions.
Cycling towards the future
Authors: Korpiola Mia
Published: October 2014

In the agrarian and peripheral Grand Duchy of Finland, the challenges of the modern transport technology to the law made themselves known in the course of the nineteenth century. The first velocipedes found their way to Finland in the late 1860s but a bicycle boom only took place in the 1890s. The bicycles led to new risks and problems which had to be regulated somehow. This was done first by the self-regulation of bicycle clubs or associations, and then by police regulations (German: Policey) in various towns. The regulation of bicycling was only local and the same applied to automobile traffic at the beginning of the twentieth century. However, in Helsinki, for example, international multi-party traffic and transportation treaties were also applied in tandem with local norms to some extent. The article maintains that around 1900, local police regulation was still in an important means to deal quickly with the new problems caused by modernization and industrialization especially because of the slow and cumbersome parliamentary law-drafting processes.
The types, publication date, and validity of Nucella elongata Golikov & Kussakin (Mollusca, Ocenebrinae)
Authors: CHICHVARKHIN ANTON , CHICHVARKHINA OLGA
Published: October 2014

The name Nucella heyseana var. elongata Golikov & Kussakin, 1962 was proposed for a ‘form of uncertain taxonomic level’, found in Kunashir and Sakhalin islands. However, this entity was previously recorded as Thais lamellosa (non Gmelin, 1791) (Kussakin 1956: 105–106, 108). In this description, the individual collected from southern shore of Kunashir Island was verbally described in the text and illustrated with a photographic image (Golikov & Kussakin 1962: 312–315, pl. 2, fig. 2c [‘в’ in Russian]).  N. heyseana var. elongata was expressly proposed as an infrasubspecific entity, as a variation of N. heyseana (Dunker, 1882) specific to particular habitats. Therefore it is not an available name according the provisions of International Code of Zoological Nomenclature Articles 45.5 and 45.6.3 (ICZN 1999; hereafter the Code). According to Article 1.3.4 it should be excluded from the species group as not regulated by the Code. In 1974, Golikov & Kussakin described this form as the species Nucella elongata Golikov and Kussakin, 1962, mentioning the same entity (Golikov & Kussakin 1974: 295). This verbal description is identical with their previous text published in 1962, although the new species was not illustrated. However, the same specimen from Kunashir Island was clearly designated as the holotype repeating the same shell measurements and collecting location. In this and following publications N. elongata was reported from Kurile Islands and Sakhalin (Golikov & Kussakin 1978: 190–191, fig. 132; Golikov & Scarlato 1985: 426). In 1978, they repeated their texts dated 1962 and 1974 confirming the same specimen from Kunashir Island as the holotype preserved in Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg (ZIN) collection, although they illustrated different shell (presumably a paratype, which we did not find in ZIN) obtained from southeastern Sakhalin.
„Sublokatorka” po latach. Z Hanną Krall rozmawiają Elżbieta Janicka i Joanna Tokarska-Bakir. Warszawa, 28 lutego i 8 marca 2013 roku
Authors: Krall Hanna , Janicka Elżbieta , Tokarska-Bakir Joanna
Published: October 2014

"Sublokatorka" now. An interview with Hanna Krall: Warsaw, 28 February and 28 March 2013The interview was conducted by Elżbieta Janicka and Joanna Tokarska-Bakir. Hanna Krall told the story of the issues related to the publication of Sublokatorka, which finally appeared in the Paris-based printing house Libella, owned by Zofia and Kazimierz Romanowicz, in 1985. Hanna Krall also spoke about how the book was received by the public in the unofficial underground discourse in the Communist Poland. Moreover, the author of Sublokatorka told the interviewers about the construction of stories about the Holocaust, as well as about the people who inspired the protagonists of Sublokatorka: Luba Bielicka-Blum, Rywka Urman, Krystyna Krahelska, Krzysztof Kieślowski and Jerzy Stuhr. „Sublokatorka” po latach. Z Hanną Krall rozmawiają Elżbieta Janicka i Joanna Tokarska-Bakir. Warszawa, 28 lutego i 8 marca 2013 rokuHanna Krall opowiada Elżbiecie Janickiej i Joannie Tokarskiej-Bakir o kłopotach z publikacją Sublokatorki, która ostatecznie ukazała się w paryskim wydawnictwie Zofii i Kazimierza Romanowiczów Libella w 1985 roku. Tematem rozmowy jest także burzliwy, niewolny od werbalnej agresji, odbiór książki w drugim, niezależnym obiegu kultury w PRL. W wywiadzie mowa ponadto o sposobach konstruowania i stawkach opowieści o Zagładzie, a także o pierwowzorach postaci z Sublokatorki takich jak: Luba Bielicka-Blum, Rywka Urman, Krystyna Krahelska, Krzysztof Kieślowski czy Jerzy Stuhr.
Validating Atmospheric Reanalysis Data using Tropical Cyclones as Thermometers
Authors: Kossin James P.
Published: October 2014

Temperatures in the upper troposphere of the atmosphere, near the tropopause, play a key role in the evolution of tropical cyclones (TC) by controlling their potential intensity (PI), which describes the thermodynamically based maximum TC intensity that the environment will support. Accurately identifying past trends in PI is critical for understanding the causes of observed changes in TC intensity, but calculations of PI trends using different atmospheric reanalysis products can give very different results, largely due to differences in their representation of upper-tropospheric temperatures. Without a means to verify the fidelity of the upper-tropospheric temperatures, PI trends calculated from these products are very uncertain.

Here, a method is introduced to validate the upper-tropospheric temperatures in the reanalysis products by using the TCs themselves as thermometers. Using a 30-yr global dataset of TC cloud-top temperatures and three widely utilized atmospheric reanalysis products—Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA), ECMWF interim reanalysis (ERA-Interim), and NCEP–NCAR Global Reanalysis 1—it is shown that storm-local upper-level temperatures in the MERRA and ERA-Interim data vary similarly to the TC cloud-top temperatures on both interannual and decadal time scales, but the NCEP–NCAR data have substantial biases that introduce an increasing trend in storm-local PI not found in the other two products. The lack of global storm-local PI trends is due to a balance between temporal increases in the mean state and the poleward migration of TCs into lower climatological PI, and it has significant implications for the detection and attribution of mean TC intensity trends.
Global Lightning Parameterization from CMIP5 Climate Model Output
Authors: Magi Brian I.
Published: October 2014

Lightning is best known as a component of severe weather, but diverse communities of researchers, such as those in atmospheric chemistry and global fire modeling, have long recognized that lightning plays a significant role in many components of the Earth system. Global climate models are unlikely to be able to simulate lightning from first principles, but the same models do simulate many parameters related to convection, including total precipitation rate, convective precipitation rate, and convective mass flux. This study combines satellite observations of lightning and CMIP5 climate model simulations to derive an empirical parameterization of monthly lightning in terms of monthly simulated convective parameters. Convective mass flux best captures the spatiotemporal distribution of observed lightning. Derived lightning seasonality is captured with 95% confidence over 69% of land but only 30% of ocean. Spatially, the correlation of derived lightning and observed lightning is 0.74. Overall, global observations suggest lightning occurs at an annual rate of 47 flashes per second, while lightning from the parameterization occurs at 44 flashes per second. A robust feature of the relationship between lightning and climate model convective parameters is that lightning flash rate increases linearly with increases in convective precipitation rate and in convective mass flux for a significant subset of the total range of those convective parameters. Namely, this linear proportionality is evident when the convective precipitation rate is less than 4–5 mm day−1 and the convective mass flux is less than 15–16 kg m−2 h−1, which account for about 90% of the values simulated by the climate models.
Upscale Error Growth in a High-Resolution Simulation of a Summertime Weather Event over Europe*
Authors: Selz Tobias , Craig George C.
Published: October 2014

The growth of small-amplitude, spatially uncorrelated perturbations has been studied in a weather forecast of a 4-day period in the summer of 2007, using a large domain covering Europe and the eastern Atlantic and with explicitly resolved deep convection. The error growth follows the three-stage conceptual model of Zhang et al., with rapid initial growth (e-folding time about 0.5 h) on all scales, relaxing over about 20 h to a slow growth of the large-scale perturbations (e-folding time 12 h). The initial growth was confined to precipitating regions, with a faster growth rate where conditional instability was large. Growth in these regions saturated within 3–10 h, continuing for the longest where the precipitation rate was large. While the initial growth was mainly in the divergent part of the flow, the eventual slow growth on large scales was more in the rotational component.

Spectral decomposition of the disturbance energy showed that the rapid growth in precipitating regions projected onto all Fourier components; however, the amplitude at saturation was too small to initiate the subsequent large-scale growth. Visualization of the disturbance energy showed it to expand outward from the precipitating regions at a speed corresponding to a deep tropospheric gravity wave. These results suggest a physical picture of error growth with a rapidly growing disturbance to the vertical mass transport in precipitating regions that spreads to the radius of deformation while undergoing geostrophic adjustment, eventually creating a balanced perturbation that continues to grow through baroclinic instability.
Reversing Broken Windows: Evidence of Lagged, Multilevel Impacts of Risk Perceptions on Perceptions of Incivility
Authors: Link Nathan W. , Kelly James M. , Pitts Joseph R. , Waltman-Spreha Kelly , Taylor Ralph B.
Published: October 2014

Despite a large number of studies testing Broken Windows Theory (BWT), the reverse theoretical pathway has never been assessed longitudinally (risk perceptions → incivilities perceptions). It is estimated here using panel data from Baltimore, Maryland. Results show lagged, multilevel impacts of risk perceptions on shifting incivilities perceptions. Furthermore, impacts of risk perceptions on later shifts in perceived incivilities vary significantly across streetblocks. Findings support Harcourt’s assertion that “disorder” is not a fixed and unambiguous label; rather, it is dependent on a person defining his or her surroundings. People who report a high degree of crime risk are “biased” toward defining neighborhood features as more problematic than those who do not.
Efforts to Reduce Consumer Fraud Victimization Among the Elderly
Authors: Mears Daniel P. , Reisig Michael D. , Scaggs Samuel , Holtfreter Kristy
Published: October 2014

Concern about the risk of consumer fraud victimization among the elderly has led to programs that disseminate fraud prevention information and provide services. However, little is known about how seniors access such information or learn about or contact these programs. Drawing on scholarship on fraud, media consumption, and the fear of crime, this study contributes to efforts to understand and reduce consumer fraud victimization. Analyses of data from adults age 60 and above demonstrate that certain segments of the elderly population access a greater variety of information sources to learn about fraud prevention. In turn, such access is associated with greater fraud prevention program awareness and contact.
Familial tumoral calcinosis
Authors: Alkhatib Amal , Burton Laura E , Carachi Robert
Published: October 2014

Introduction

Tumoral calcinosis is a rare condition characterised by progressive, ectopic, periarticular deposits of calcium. These tumour-like growths often infiltrate muscle and tendon, usually presenting as multiple masses or as a painless, solitary mass. Our case report will focus on familial tumoral calcinosis, an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder generally observed in patients within the first two decades of life.

Case presentation

Our case report introduces two Sudanese siblings from consanguineous parents who presented with simultaneous recurrent multiple soft tissue swellings.

Conclusion

The cases discussed highlight the main features of familial tumoral calcinosis and indicate the need for improved clinical guidance on the investigations, treatment and genetic screening of familial tumoral calcinosis.
“Once You Go to a White School, You Kind of Adapt”
Authors: Ispa-Landa Simone , Conwell Jordan
Published: October 2014

Studies of when youth classify academic achievement in racial terms have focused on the racial classification of behaviors and individuals. However, institutions—including schools—may also be racially classified. Drawing on a comparative interview study, we examine the school contexts that prompt urban black students to classify schools in racial terms. Through Diversify, a busing program, one group of black students attended affluent suburban schools with white-dominated achievement hierarchies ( n = 38). Diversify students assigned schools to categories of whiteness or blackness that equated whiteness with achievement and blackness with academic deficiency. Students waitlisted for Diversify ( n = 16) attended urban schools without white-dominated achievement hierarchies. These students did not classify schools as white or black, based on academic quality. We assert that scholars may productively conceive of schools, not just individual students, as sites of potential racial classification. Furthermore, the racial classification of schools reinforces antagonism between black students attending ‘‘white’’ and ‘‘black’’ schools and perpetuates harmful racial stereotypes.
Self-Affirmation Before Exposure to Health Communications Promotes Intentions and Health Behavior Change by Increasing Anticipated Regret
Authors: van Koningsbruggen Guido M. , Harris Peter R. , Smits Anjès J. , Schüz Benjamin , Scholz Urte , Cooke Richard
Published: October 2014

Health-risk information can elicit negative emotions like anticipated regret that may positively affect health persuasion. The beneficial impact of such emotions is undermined when target audiences respond defensively to the threatening information. We tested whether self-affirming (reflecting on cherished attributes) before message exposure can be used as strategy to enhance the experience of anticipated regret. Women were self-affirmed or not before exposure to a message promoting fruit and vegetable consumption. Self-affirmation increased anticipated regret and intentions reported following message exposure and consumption in the week after the intervention; regret mediated the affirmation effect on intentions. Moreover, results suggest that anticipated regret and intentions are serial mediators linking self-affirmation and behavior. By demonstrating the mediating role of anticipated regret, we provide insights into how self-affirmation may promote healthy intentions and behavior following health message exposure. Self-affirmation techniques could thus potentially be used to increase the effectiveness of health communication efforts.
Religious Socialization and Interracial Dating
Authors: Perry Samuel L.
Published: October 2014

This article examines the impact of religious socialization on Americans’ propensity to engage in interracial dating or romance. Drawing on national survey data, I fit logistic regression models to estimate the net effects of four measures of religious socialization on respondents’ likelihood of engaging in interracial romance. Findings reveal that strong bivariate associations between respondents’ level of religious salience and practice at age 12 and interracial romantic engagement become nonsignificant in the face of sociodemographic controls. However, respondents with Jewish fathers and mothers remain significantly more likely to have interracially dated than those with Protestant fathers and mothers. Moreover, region moderates the effect of childhood religious service attendance such that respondents who more frequently attended religious services at age 12 and reside in non-Western regions, and particularly within the South, are less likely to have interracially dated. Findings ultimately suggest that parents’ religious tradition and childhood religious practice, within certain regional contexts, affect Americans’ likelihood of dating interracially.
Marital discord and depression in middle-aged and older couples
Authors: Whisman Mark A. , Robustelli Briana L. , Beach Steven R. H. , Snyder Douglas K. , Harper James M.
Published: October 2014

Although a large literature links relationship discord with depression, most prior studies have evaluated relationship discord as a continuous variable and have examined this association in younger couples. Based on findings suggesting that the latent structure of marital discord is taxonic, this study evaluated whether taxon status was associated with depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older individuals and whether taxon status accounted for unique variance in depressive symptoms, over and above that which was accounted for by continuous measures of marital quality. This association was examined in a community sample of 502 couples who had been married at least 10 years and in which at least one spouse was 55 to 75 years old. There were statistically significant differences between taxon (discordant) and complement (nondiscordant) women and men in depressive symptoms, with discordant spouses reporting higher levels of depressive symptoms than nondiscordant spouses. For wives but not for husbands, taxon status contributed to symptoms beyond the effect of the mean of continuously distributed marital quality scales, indicating a point at which couple taxon status incrementally predicts a significant increase in depressive symptoms. Implications for clinical assessment and further research are discussed.
Chronic venous leg ulcers: Effects of foam sclerotherapy on healing and recurrence
Authors: Grover G , Tanase A , Elstone A , Ashley S
Published: October 2014

Introduction

Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive treatment option used for ablation of axial and perforator reflux for chronic venous ulceration. Active ulceration presents a significant health burden in both the primary and secondary care setting. The objective of this study is to determine ulcer healing rates at 24 weeks and 12 months, and ulcer recurrence rates at one year for chronic venous ulcers after ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy.

Methods

Between 2007 and 2012, 54 patients underwent ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy for clinical, aetiological, anatomical and pathological C6 ulcers. All patients were followed up clinically, and venous duplex was performed on all legs before and after treatment. A prospectively maintained database was analysed to determine venous truncal occlusion rates, 24-week and 12-month healing and recurrence rates (using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis).

Results

Fifty-seven ulcerated legs, 39 primary and 18 with recurrent superficial venous reflux were analysed. Median time of active ulceration at presentation was 15.2 months (range 5 months to 17 years). At a median follow-up of 2.7 months, 90% (51 legs) achieved full truncal occlusion after one session, 4% (2) short segment occlusion and 5% (3) failed to occlude and one patient died and was lost to follow-up; 13/57 (23%) required a second session of treatment for completion of treatment, recanalisations and to treat perforator disease, 88% (50/57) ulcers healed at a median of 5.3 months (interquartile range 2.9–8.4 months) following their first ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy treatment. The 24-week and 12-month estimated healing rates were 53% and 72%, respectively. The estimated 12-month recurrence rate was 9.2%. There were no reported incidences of deep venous thrombosis or neurological symptoms.

Conclusion

This study affirms the role of ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy as a safe and effective option for abolition of superficial reflux.
A Criminal Justice System–Wide Response to Mental Illness
Authors: Davidson Megan L.
Published: October 2014

The present study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of the Memphis Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training curriculum among law enforcement and correctional officers. A panel research design was used in which a sample of 179 law enforcement officers and 100 correctional officers in nine Florida counties were surveyed on the first day of training (pretest), the last day of training (posttest), and 1 month following their completion of CIT training (follow-up). These surveys measured the extent to which CIT training achieved several officer-level objectives, including increased knowledge of mental illness, improved self-efficacy when responding to mental health crises, and enhanced perceptions of verbal de-escalation skills. The results of these surveys revealed that the training effectively achieved these objectives in the short term, but a measurable decay was found in the follow-up time frame with regard to self-efficacy and perceptions of verbal de-escalation.
Combined high-order algorithms in robust least-squares estimation with harmonic regressor and strictly diagonally dominant information matrix
Authors: Stotsky Alexander
Published: October 2014

This article describes new high-order algorithms in the least-squares problem with harmonic regressor and strictly diagonally dominant information matrix. Estimation accuracy and the number of steps to achieve this accuracy are controllable in these algorithms. Simplified forms of the high-order matrix inversion algorithms and the high-order algorithms of direct calculation of the parameter vector are found. The algorithms are presented as recursive procedures driven by estimation errors multiplied by the gain matrices, which can be seen as preconditioners. A simple and recursive (with respect to order) algorithm for update of the gain matrix, which is associated with Neumann series, is found. It is shown that the limiting form of the algorithm (algorithm of infinite order) provides perfect estimation. A new form of the gain matrix is also a basis for unification method of high-order algorithms. New combined and fast convergent high-order algorithms of recursive matrix inversion and algorithms of direct calculation of the parameter vector are presented. The stability of algorithms is proved and explicit transient bound on estimation error is calculated. New algorithms are simple, fast and robust with respect to round-off error accumulation.
Usage of whey protein may cause liver damage via inflammatory and apoptotic responses
Authors: Gürgen SG , Yücel AT , Karakuş AÇ , Çeçen D , Özen G , Koçtürk S
Published: October 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the long- and short-term inflammatory and apoptotic effects of whey protein on the livers of non-exercising rats. Thirty rats were divided into three groups namely (1) control group, (2) short-term whey (WS) protein diet (252 g/kg for 5 days), and (3) long-term whey (WL) protein diet (252 g/kg for 4 weeks). Interleukin 1β (IL-1β), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and cytokeratin 18 (CK-18-M30) were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunohistochemical methods. Apoptosis was evaluated using the terminal transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL) method. Hepatotoxicity was evaluated by quanitation of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Based on the biochemical levels and immunohistochemical results, the highest level of IL-1β was identified in the WL group ( p < 0.01). The IL-6 and TNF-α results were slightly lower in the WS group than in the control group and were highest in the WL group ( p < 0.01). The CK-18-M30 and TUNEL results were highest in the WS group and exhibited medium intensity in the WL group ( p < 0.01). AST results were statistically significant for all groups, while our ALT groups were particularly significant between the WL and control groups ( p < 0.01). The results showed that when whey protein is used in an uninformed manner and without exercising, adverse effects on the liver may occur by increasing the apoptotic signal in the short term and increasing inflammatory markers and hepatotoxicity in the long term.
Psychometric Properties of the Coronary Heart Disease Scale of the Quality-of-Life Instruments for Chronic Diseases (QLICD-CHD)
Authors: Fan An , Zhong Shou Qiang , Zuo Xiao Yu , Liang Yan , Mai Wei Yi , Chen Can , Su Wei Yang , Zhang Fan , Zhao Xiao Lei , Lin Mei Hua , Wan Chong Hua , Ding Yuan Lin , Rao Shao Qi
Published: October 2014

The purpose of this study was to validate the applicability of our proposed disease-specific questionnaire to Cantonese coronary heart disease (CHD) patients. During the investigation from August 2010 to March 2012, 1000 Cantonese inpatients were recruited. The reliability of the scale was judged by the internal consistency, and the content and construct validity were assessed by using Pearson correlation and confirmatory factor analysis, respectively. Results showed that the Cronbach’s α coefficient for the whole scale and most domains/facets were larger than .70 (.59 to .93). Most items had moderate to strong Pearson correlations with their respective facets ( r > 0.50). Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the indices for goodness of fit were nearly acceptable. Overall, the QLICD-CHD scale has adequate psychometric properties when applied to Cantonese CHD patients.
Acetaminophen for Patent Ductus Arteriosus
Authors: Le Jennifer , Gales Mark A. , Gales Barry J.
Published: October 2014

Objective: To evaluate the literature describing acetaminophen use in treatment of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Data Sources: Searches were conducted in MEDLINE with full text (EBSCOhost; 1946 to September 2014) using the search terms acetaminophen, paracetamol, and patent ductus arteriosus. The references of identified articles were reviewed to identify other relevant articles. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Human clinical trials and case reports limited to the English language were reviewed. In all, 12 case reports and 2 randomized, controlled clinical trials explored the use of acetaminophen in treating PDA. Data Synthesis: The case reports described the use of oral or intravenous acetaminophen in patients with contraindications to or who had previously failed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug therapy for PDA. More than 76% of patients achieved successful PDA closure in reported cases. The clinical trials compared the efficacy of oral acetaminophen versus oral ibuprofen in preterm infants. Acetaminophen was noninferior to ibuprofen, with closure rates from 72.5% to 81.2%. The acetaminophen dose used in most case series and trials was 15 mg/kg dose every 6 hours for 3 days. Acetaminophen therapy was well tolerated, with only a few incidents of elevated liver enzymes being reported. Conclusion: Oral acetaminophen is an alternative to PDA therapy in preterm infants when indomethacin/ibuprofen is not effective or is contraindicated, and it may be considered before surgical ligation.
Transmission of a transverse wave across a generalized porous thermo-elastic solid interface
Authors: Singh Jaswant
Published: October 2014

Reflection and transmission of an incident plane transverse wave at a plane interface between two dissimilar generalized porous thermo-elastic solid half spaces is analyzed. The theory of generalized thermo-elastic material with voids in the context of Lord–Shulman theory has been employed to set down the equations of motion and constitutive relations. The reflection and transmission coefficients for a transverse wave incident at a plane interface have been derived. Partition of energy at the interface has also been considered together with the law of balance of energy.
Examining Statewide Capacity for School Health and Mental Health Promotion
Authors: Maras Melissa A. , Weston Karen J. , Blacksmith Jennifer , Brophy Chelsey
Published: October 2014

Schools must possess a variety of capacities to effectively support comprehensive and coordinated school health promotion activities, and researchers have developed a district-level capacity-building framework specific to school health promotion. State-level school health coalitions often support such capacity-building efforts and should embed this work within a data-based, decision-making model. However, there is a lack of guidance for state school health coalitions on how they should collect and use data. This article uses a district-level capacity-building framework to interpret findings from a statewide coordinated school health needs/resource assessment in order to examine statewide capacity for school health promotion. Participants included school personnel ( N = 643) from one state. Descriptive statistics were calculated for survey items, with further examination of subgroup differences among school administrators and nurses. Results were then interpreted via a post hoc application of a district-level capacity-building framework. Findings across districts revealed statewide strengths and gaps with regard to leadership and management capacities, internal and external supports, and an indicator of global capacity. Findings support the utility of using a common framework across local and state levels to align efforts and embed capacity-building activities within a data-driven, continuous improvement model.
Anticancer Activity of the Phytomedicine DAS-77
Authors: Akindele Abidemi J. , Mahajan Girish , Wani Zahoor A. , Sharma Sadhana , Satti Naresh K. , Adeyemi Olufunmilayo O. , Mondhe Dilip M. , Saxena Ajit K.
Published: October 2014

This study was designed to investigate the anticancer activity of extracts of the phytomedicine DAS-77. The sulforhodamine B (SRB) in vitro cytotoxicity assay, Sarcoma-180 (S-180) ascites and solid tumor, and L1210 lymphoid leukemia in vivo models were employed. DAS-A001 (ethanol extract, IC50 12 and 13 µg/mL with HCT-116 and PC3, respectively); DAS-A002 (hydroethanol extract, IC50 <5 and 13 µg/mL with HCT-116 and PC3, respectively); DAS-A003 (aqueous extract, IC50 <5 µg/mL with THP-1); and DAS-A004 (dichloromethane:methanol extract; IC50 <5 and 17 µg/mL with HCT-116 and PC3, respectively) demonstrated significant activity in vitro. DAS-A002 and DAS-A003 (80-120 mg/kg) elicited significant ( P < .05-.001) dose-dependent inhibition of tumor growth in the S-180 ascites model. Peak effects were produced at the highest dose of 120 mg/kg with inhibition values of 87.50% and 89.23% for DAS-A002 and DAS-A003, respectively, compared with a value of 97.27% for 5-FU (20 mg/kg). As regards the S-180 solid tumor model, inhibition of tumor growth was found to be 52.56% and 37.95%, respectively, for DAS-A002 and DAS-A003. The effect of DAS-A002 was comparable and not significantly different ( P > .05) from that of 5-FU (20 mg/kg; 50.18% inhibition). DAS-A003 but not DAS-A002 showed significant activity in the leukemia model with 177.78% increase in mean survival time relative to 211.11% for 5-FU. Findings in this study suggest that the hydroethanol and aqueous extracts of DAS-77 possess significant anticancer activity.
Improved Insulin Absorption by Means of Standardized Injection Site Modulation Results in a Safer and More Efficient Prandial Insulin TreatmentA Review of the Existing Clinical Data
Authors: Pfützner Andreas , Raz Itamar , Bitton Gabriel , Klonoff David , Nagar Ron , Hermanns Norbert , Haak Thomas
Published: October 2014

Temperature changes on the surface of the skin lead to modifications of subcutaneous microcirculation. This phenomenon is employed in a standardized way by the InsuPad device to stabilize skin conditions before injections, which is associated with enhanced prandial insulin absorption. Three programmed warming cycles to 40°C within 50 minutes are resulting in faster insulin appearance in the plasma. Early standardized meal tolerance studies indicated a substantial improvement in postprandial glucose control when the same short-acting insulin analog dose was applied using InsuPad, and a dose reduction by 20% resulted in comparable glucose excursions. Similar results were obtained when patients applied the device under real-world conditions for 1 month. The InsuPad device was also tested in a prospective, controlled, parallel 3-month real-world study with 145 well-controlled but insulin-resistant patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Patients were treated to target in both treatment arms (6.2 ± 0.5% in each group), with or without the device. However, patients with InsuPad needed 28% less prandial insulin, needed 12.5% less total insulin, and had 46% less confirmed hypoglycemic events (blood glucose < 63 mg/dL) as compared to the control group. Except for very few inflammatory or allergic skin reactions, there were no device-specific adverse events reported from these studies. In conclusion, use of InsuPad when applying prandial insulin doses may result in a safer and more efficient treatment of type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
Necessary, but not sufficient
Authors: Elden Stuart
Published: October 2014

This response to John Agnew agrees that the history of ideas is never enough for the project of understanding the world but argues that it is a crucial part of that work. The commentary begins by contesting the claim that there is a turn towards this perspective in geography and suggests that much more needs to be done. I engage with Agnew’s article, especially with regard to the question of territory, by clarifying the project undertaken in The Birth of Territory. The inquiry there, I suggest, examined the complicated relation between words, concepts and practices; and many of the texts examined were not detached works of theory but practical texts – either written by or for political actors, or constitutions, treaties, papal bulls, handbooks of land surveying or law. This commentary closes by suggesting that the history of ideas, genealogy and conceptual history can, as part of what Foucault called ‘the history of the present’, offer valuable tools for critical geography. They are one element within such a project, necessary, but not sufficient.
Beyond the history of ideas
Authors: Paasi Anssi
Published: October 2014

This paper comments on the recent debate on the limits of the history of ideas approach in human geography. The commentary reflects firstly in general on the importance of ‘keywords’ in social life and academic cultures, before commenting on John Agnew’s article concerning the limits of a genealogical approach in the history of ideas and on the roles of geopolitics, region and territory as geographical keywords. The commentary also problematizes the significance of linguistic contexts in shaping academic languages and how hegemonic languages modify our understanding of relevant categories.
By whose words shall we know and to what end? Genealogies and its Others in geography
Authors: Sultana Farhana
Published: October 2014

The discursive and material tensions between words and ideas within geography have real impacts on the lives of peoples and the places we describe and study, and thus we should not take such tasks lightly. Political geography is limited by relying on existing genealogies and the limits of Anglo-based language. Silences and gaps can be better addressed by engaging with scholarship and ways of being from ‘other’ places as well as enriching genealogies to include postcolonial and feminist scholarship. While we can argue over the tracing of keywords or problematic interpretations in genealogical interventions, we should also at the same time be accountable to what has been and is continued to be overlooked, ignored, erased, or captured.
Adolescent Premature Ovarian Insufficiency Following Human Papillomavirus Vaccination
Authors: Little Deirdre Therese , Ward Harvey Rodrick Grenville
Published: October 2014

Three young women who developed premature ovarian insufficiency following quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination presented to a general practitioner in rural New South Wales, Australia. The unrelated girls were aged 16, 16, and 18 years at diagnosis. Each had received HPV vaccinations prior to the onset of ovarian decline. Vaccinations had been administered in different regions of the state of New South Wales and the 3 girls lived in different towns in that state. Each had been prescribed the oral contraceptive pill to treat menstrual cycle abnormalities prior to investigation and diagnosis. Vaccine research does not present an ovary histology report of tested rats but does present a testicular histology report. Enduring ovarian capacity and duration of function following vaccination is unresearched in preclinical studies, clinical and postlicensure studies. Postmarketing surveillance does not accurately represent diagnoses in adverse event notifications and can neither represent unnotified cases nor compare incident statistics with vaccine course administration rates. The potential significance of a case series of adolescents with idiopathic premature ovarian insufficiency following HPV vaccination presenting to a general practice warrants further research. Preservation of reproductive health is a primary concern in the recipient target group. Since this group includes all prepubertal and pubertal young women, demonstration of ongoing, uncompromised safety for the ovary is urgently required. This matter needs to be resolved for the purposes of population health and public vaccine confidence.
Electrodeposition and characterisation of copper deposits from non-cyanide electrolytes
Authors: Sekar R. , Jagadesh K. K. , Ramesh Bapu G. N. K.
Published: October 2014

Acid copper plating on mild steel metallic foil is very difficult due to the galvanic displacement reaction of copper on mild steel. This can be avoided by using a suitable complexing agent. The present investigation deals with the electrodeposition of copper from non-cyanide electrolytes using glycerol as complexing agent in an alkaline medium in the presence of gelatin, anisaldehyde, imidazole and peptone as additives. These additives influence the morphology of the deposited copper films by reducing the grain size, ensuring smoothness and brightness of the films. The additives also improve the throwing power of the depositing electrolytes. The X-ray diffraction pattern obtained for the electrodeposited copper film shows a polycrystalline and face centred cubic structure. The crystal size of the copper film was calculated using Debye Scherrer's formula. A uniform and pin hole free surface morphology was observed under SEM, which revealed the grain refining brought about by the additives.