bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Long-Term Effects of a Coal Waste Disaster on Social Trust in Appalachian Kentucky
Authors: Scott Shaunna L. , McSpirit Stephanie , Breheny Patrick , Howell Britteny M.
Published: December 2012

In October 2000, a coal impoundment structure emptied more than 300 million gallons of toxic coal waste into the streams of Martin County, Kentucky. This study compares surveys conducted in the months following the disaster with surveys administered 10 years later to determine the long-term impacts of the disaster on trust in government, corporations, and experts. We find that the social trust levels in Martin County partially recovered in the 10 years since the impoundment rupture. This suggests that technological disasters, including those that result in toxic contamination, do not always permanently damage the social fabric of the communities that experience them. However, some factors suggest that Martin County’s recovery in trust may be unwarranted, which, in turn, raises concerns about this community’s susceptibility to environmental hazards and possible future disasters.
Long-term use of gabapentin for musculoskeletal disease and trauma in three cats
Authors: Lorenz Nina D , Comerford Eithne J , Iff Isabelle
Published: December 2012

Gabapentin has been widely used in human medicine to control acute and chronic pain. Although the exact mechanism of action has yet to be determined, its use in veterinary medicine is increasing. The clinical use of gabapentin for analgesia in cats has been reported in review articles and one case report. Managing chronic pain, particularly in the feline patient, poses a challenge to veterinary surgeons. This report details the long-term use of gabapentin for musculoskeletal pain or head trauma in three cats. All cats received gabapentin for several months at an average dose of 6.5 mg/kg q12h. Clinical signs suggestive of pain, such as aggression, avoiding human interaction and loss of appetite, were observed to decrease with the administration of gabapentin, used as part of an analgesia regime or as sole medication. Long-term follow-up with the owners of all cats indicated that satisfactory pain management was achieved, administration was easy and no obvious side effects during the period of administration occurred. We conclude that long-term treatment with gabapentin is of potential benefit in controlling pain in cases of head trauma, as well as musculoskeletal disease. It may provide a valuable adjunct for the management of chronic pain in cats and should be investigated further for its clinical use and safety.
Enhancing behavioral health treatment and crisis management through mobile ecological momentary assessment and SMS messaging
Authors: Smith Brad , Harms William D. , Burres Stephanie , Korda Holly , Rosen Howard , Davis Jamie
Published: December 2012

Many veterans returning from service in Afghanistan or Iraq suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or mild traumatic brain injury. Treating these conditions can be challenging because of high rates of relapse and associated memory impairments. We report on a pilot study that assessed the utility of mobile health (mHealth) technologies, including personal digital assistant-based ecological momentary assessment and two-way interactive text (SMS) messaging, for providing treatment feedback to clinicians, encouraging and motivating veterans throughout treatment, and monitoring participants for relapse after treatment discharge. The results of the pilot suggest that mHealth technologies are feasible adjuncts to traditional mental treatment in the veteran population. Additional work is needed to establish the degree of clinical and economic value.
Patients’ uses of information as researchable domains of social practice
Authors: Mair Michael , Kierans Ciara
Published: December 2012

In this article we argue that research into information for patients has to extend beyond an evaluation of particular information resources to studies of how those resources are engaged with, made sense of and used in practice. We draw on empirical data collected in the course of a study of a patient information resource designed for breast cancer patients in Liverpool and Newcastle in order to demonstrate the limitations of a restricted focus on information resources alone – namely, that it does not take into account the specific ways in which information is incorporated within what patients do as the grounds of ‘further inference and action’. Our interest is less in discussing the strengths and weaknesses of this particular resource than in explicating some neglected aspects of the commonplace ways in which patients ‘work’ with information. We conclude by sketching some broad features of those ‘reading’ and ‘linking’ practices, the study of which, we believe, would help us as researchers to explicate the ‘problem of information’ as it is actually encountered and resolved by patients in realworld settings for their own practical purposes. Taking our lead from ethnomethodological studies and related research in various fields, we argue patients’ uses of information are social practices that can and should be treated as researchable phenomena.
Why do you think you should be the author on this manuscript? Analysis of open-ended responses of authors in a general medical journal
Authors: Malički Mario , Jerončić Ana , Marušić Matko , Marušić Ana
Published: December 2012

Background

To assess how authors would describe their contribution to the submitted manuscript without reference to or requirement to satisfy authorship criteria of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), we analyzed responses of authors to an open-ended question “Why do you think you should be the author on this manuscript?”.

Methods

Responses of authors (n=1425) who submitted their manuscripts (n=345) to the Croatian Medical Journal, an international general medical journal, from March 2009 until July 2010 were transcribed and matched to ICMJE criteria. Statements that could not be matched were separately categorized. Responses according to the number of authors or their byline position on the manuscript were analyzed using Mann–Whitney U test and Moses test of extreme reactions.

Results

The number of authors per manuscript ranged from 1 to 26 (median=4, IQR=3-6), with the median of 2 contributions per author (IQR=2-3). Authors’ responses could be matched to the ICMJE criteria in 1116 (87.0%) cases. Among these, only 15.6% clearly declared contributions from all 3 ICMJE criteria; however, if signing of the authorship form was taken as the fulfillment of the third ICMJE criterion, overall fraction of deserving authorship was 54.2%. Non-ICMJE contributions were declared by 98 (7.6%) authors whose other contributions could be matched to ICMJE criteria, and by 116 (13.0%) authors whose contributions could not be matched to ICMJE criteria. The most frequently reported non-ICMJE contribution was literature review. Authors on manuscripts with more than 8 authors declared more contributions than those on manuscript with 8 or fewer authors: median 2, IQR 1–4, vs. median 2, IQR 1–3, respectively (Mann Whitney U test, p=0.001; Moses Test of Extreme Reactions, p<0.001). Almost a third of single authors (n=9; 31.0%) reported contributions that could not be matched to any ICMJE criterion.

Conclusions

In cases of multi-author collaborative efforts but not in manuscripts with fewer authors open-ended authorship declaration without instructions on ICMJE criteria elicited responses from authors that were similar to responses when ICMJE criteria were explicitly required. Current authorship criteria and the practice of contribution declaration should be revised in order to capture deserving authorship in biomedical research.
Can GPs working in secure environments in England re-license using the Royal College of General Practitioners revalidation proposals?
Authors: Coomber Jane , Charlton Rodger , Thistlethwaite Jill E , England Liz
Published: December 2012

Background

Revalidation for UK doctors is expected to be introduced from late 2012. For general practitioners (GPs), this entails collecting supporting information to be submitted and assessed in a revalidation portfolio every five years. The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility of GPs working in secure environments to collect supporting information for the Royal College of General Practitioners’ (RCGP) proposed revalidation portfolio.

Methods

We invited GPs working in secure environments in England to submit items of supporting information collected during the previous 12 months using criteria and standards required for the proposed RCGP revalidation portfolio and complete a GP issues log. Initial focus groups and initial and follow-up semi-structured face-to-face and telephone interviews were held to explore GPs’ views of this process. Quantitative and qualitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and identifying themes respectively.

Results

Of the 50 GPs who consented to participate in the study, 20 submitted a portfolio. Thirty-eight GPs participated in an initial interview, nine took part in a follow-up interview and 17 completed a GP issues log. GPs reported difficulty in collecting supporting information for valid patient feedback, full-cycle clinical audits and evidence for their extended practice role(s) as sessional practitioners in the high population turnover custodial environment. Peripatetic practitioners experienced more difficulty than their institution based counterparts collating this evidence.

Conclusions

GPs working in secure environments may experience difficulties in collecting the newer types of supporting information for the proposed RCGP revalidation portfolio primarily due to their employment status within a non-medical environment and characteristics of the detainee population. Increased support from secure environment service commissioners and employers will be a prerequisite for these practitioners to enable them to re-license using the RCGP revalidation proposals.
Converting habits of antibiotic prescribing for respiratory tract infections in German primary care – the cluster-randomized controlled CHANGE-2 trial
Authors: Altiner Attila , Berner Reinhard , Diener Annette , Feldmeier Gregor , Köchling Anna , Löffler Christin , Schröder Helmut , Siegel Achim , Wollny Anja , Kern Winfried V
Published: December 2012

Background

With an average prescription rate of 50%, in German primary care antibiotics are still too frequently prescribed for respiratory tract infections. The over-prescription of antibiotics is often explained by perceived patient pressure and fears of a complicated disease progression. The CHANGE-2 trial will test the effectiveness of two interventions to reduce the rate of inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions for adults and children suffering from respiratory tract infections in German primary care.

Methods/Design

The study is a three-arm cluster-randomized controlled trial that measures antibiotic prescription rates over three successive winter periods and reverts to administrative data of the German statutory health insurance company AOK. More than 30,000 patients in two regions of Germany, who visit their general practitioner or pediatrician for respiratory tract infections will be included. Interventions are: A) communication training for general practitioners and pediatricians and B) intervention A plus point-of-care testing. Both interventions are tested against usual care. Outcome measure is the physicians’ antibiotic prescription rate for respiratory tract infections derived from data of the health insurance company AOK. Secondary outcomes include reconsultation rate, complications, and hospital admissions.

Discussion

Major aim of the study is to improve the process of decision-making and to ensure that patients who are likely to benefit from antibiotics are treated accordingly. Our approach is simple to implement and might be used rapidly among general practitioners and pediatricians. We expect the results of this trial to have major impact on antibiotic prescription strategies and practices in Germany, both among general practitioners and pediatricians.

Trial registration

The study is registered at the Current Controlled Trials Ltd (ISRCTN01559032)
The relationship between retinal vessel calibre and knee cartilage and BMLs
Authors: Davies-Tuck Miranda L , Kawasaki Ryo , Wluka Anita E , Wong Tien Y , Hodgson Lauren , English Dallas R , Giles Graham G , Cicuttini Flavia
Published: December 2012

Background

Whether the increase in vascular disease prevalence and mortality in OA populations is a result of co-occurrence of cardiovascular disease and OA, which are both common in the older population, is due to OA treatments or to the common association with reduced physical activity and/or obesity is unclear. One way to explore this non-invasively is to examine the cross-sectional relationship between changes in retinal microvasculature, which have been shown to be markers of generalized vascular pathology, and knee structural changes in an asymptomatic community-based population.

Methods

A community sample of 289 (61% women) aged 50–79 years with no knee symptoms underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of their dominant knee in 2003. Cartilage volume and bone marrow lesions (BMLs) were determined. All subjects also had retinal photographs taken from which retinal arteriolar and venular diameters were determined and summarized as the central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE) and the central retinal venular equivalent (CRVE).

Results

Retinal venular diameter was significantly wider in subjects with a BML compared with subjects without a BML (mean (SD) 214.2 (2.8) μm versus 207.5 (1.1) μm respectively independent of age, gender and BMI. A trend for decreased medial tibial cartilage with increasing CRAE was also observed (regression coefficient −2.70 μl, 95%CI-5.74, 0.5, p=0.08).

Conclusion

These findings suggest that vascular pathology, indicative of inflammatory processes, is associated with early structural knee changes. The role of micro-vascular changes in the pathogenesis of OA warrants further investigation.
Transgenic mice over-expressing carbonic anhydrase I showed aggravated joint inflammation and tissue destruction
Authors: Zheng Yabing , Wang Lin , Zhang Wei , Xu Hengwei , Chang Xiaotian
Published: December 2012

Background

Studies have demonstrated that carbonic anhydrase I (CA1) stimulates calcium salt precipitation and cell calcification, which is an essential step in new bone formation. Our study had reported that CA1 encoding gene has a strong association with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS), two rheumatic diseases with abnormal new bone formation and bone resorption in joints. This study investigated the effect of CA1 on joint inflammation and tissue destruction in transgenic mice that over-express CA1 (CA1-Tg).

Methods

CA1-Tg was generated with C57BL/6J mice by conventional methods. CA1-Tg was treated with collagen-II to induce arthritis (CIA). Wild-type mice, CA1-Tg treated with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and transgenic mice over-expressing PADI4 (PADI4-Tg), a gene known to be involved in rheumatoid arthritis, were used as controls. Histochemistry and X-ray radiographic assay were used to examine joint destruction. Western blotting and real time-PCR were used to examine CA1 expression.

Results

CIA was observed in 60% of CA1-Tg, 20% of PADI4-Tg and 20% of wild-type mice after collagen injections. No CIA was found in CA1-Tg mice that received injections of BSA. The arthritic score was 5.5 ± 0.84 in the CA1-Tgs but the score was less than 2 in the injected wild-type mice and the PADI4-Tgs. The thickness of the hind paws in the CA1-Tgs was 3.46 ± 0.11 mm, which was thicker than that of PADI4-Tgs (2.23 ± 0.08 mm), wild-type mice (2.08 ± 0.06 mm) and BSA-treated CA1-Tgs (2.04 ± 0.07 mm). Histochemistry showed obvious inflammation, synovial hyperplasia and bone destruction in the joints of CA1-Tg that was not detected in PADI4-Tgs or wild-type mice. X-ray assays showed bone fusion in the paws and spines of CA1-Tg mice.

Conclusion

Over-expression of CA1 may aggravate joint inflammation and tissue destruction in the transgenic mice.
Iterative development of MobileMums: a physical activity intervention for women with young children
Authors: Fjeldsoe Brianna S , Miller Yvette D , O’Brien Jasmine L , Marshall Alison L
Published: December 2012

Background

To describe the iterative development process and final version of ‘MobileMums’: a physical activity intervention for women with young children (<5 years) delivered primarily via mobile telephone (mHealth) short messaging service (SMS).

Methods

MobileMums development followed the five steps outlined in the mHealth development and evaluation framework: 1) conceptualization (critique of literature and theory); 2) formative research (focus groups, n= 48); 3) pre-testing (qualitative pilot of intervention components, n= 12); 4) pilot testing (pilot RCT, n= 88); and, 5) qualitative evaluation of the refined intervention (n= 6).

Results

Key findings identified throughout the development process that shaped the MobileMums program were the need for: behaviour change techniques to be grounded in Social Cognitive Theory; tailored SMS content; two-way SMS interaction; rapport between SMS sender and recipient; an automated software platform to generate and send SMS; and, flexibility in location of a face-to-face delivered component.

Conclusions

The final version of MobileMums is flexible and adaptive to individual participant’s physical activity goals, expectations and environment. MobileMums is being evaluated in a community-based randomised controlled efficacy trial (ACTRN12611000481976).
Cellular responses induced by Cu(II) quinolinonato complexes in human tumor and hepatic cells
Authors: Trávníček Zdeněk , Vančo Ján , Hošek Jan , Buchtík Roman , Dvořák Zdeněk
Published: December 2012

Background

Inspired by the unprecedented historical success of cisplatin, one of the most important research directions in bioinorganic and medicinal chemistry is dedicated to the development of new anticancer compounds with the potential to surpass it in antitumor activity, while having lower unwanted side-effects. Therefore, a series of copper(II) mixed-ligand complexes of the type [Cu(qui)(L)]Y · xH2O (1–6), where Hqui = 2-phenyl-3-hydroxy-4(1H)-quinolinone, Y = NO3 (1, 3, 5) or BF4 (2, 4, 6), and L = 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) (1, 2), 5-methyl-1,10-phenanthroline (mphen) (3, 4) and bathophenanthroline (bphen) (5, 6), was studied for their in vitro cytotoxicity against several human cancer cell lines (A549 lung carcinoma, HeLa cervix epitheloid carcinoma, G361 melanoma cells, A2780 ovarian carcinoma, A2780cis cisplatin-resistant ovarian carcinoma, LNCaP androgen-sensitive prostate adenocarcinoma and THP-1 monocytic leukemia).

Results

The tested complexes displayed a stronger cytotoxic effect against all the cancer cells as compared to cisplatin. The highest cytotoxicity was found for the complexes 4 (IC50 = 0.36 ± 0.05 μM and 0.56 ± 0.15 μM), 5 (IC50 = 0.66 ± 0.07 μM and 0.73 ± 0.08 μM) and 6 (IC50 = 0.57 ± 0.11 μM and 0.70 ± 0.20 μM) against A2780, and A2780cis respectively, as compared with the values of 12.0 ± 0.8 μM and 27.0 ± 4.6 μM determined for cisplatin. Moreover, the tested complexes were much less cytotoxic to primary human hepatocytes than to the cancer cells. The complexes 5 and 6 exhibited significantly high ability to modulate secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α (2873 ± 238 pg/mL and 3284 ± 139 pg/mL for 5, and 6 respectively) and IL-1β (1177 ± 128 pg/mL and 1087 ± 101 pg/mL for 5, and 6 respectively) tested on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated THP-1 cells as compared with the values of 1173 ± 85 pg/mL and 118.5 ± 4.8 pg/mL found for the commercially used anti-inflammatory drug prednisone. The ability of the tested complexes to interact with sulfur-containing biomolecules (cysteine and reduced glutathione) at physiological levels was proved by electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry.

Conclusions

Overall positive results of the biological activity studies revealed that the presented complexes may represent good candidates for non-platinum anticancer drugs, however, we are aware of the fact that further and deeper studies mainly in relation to the elucidation of their mechanisms of antiproliferative action will be necessary.
An adaptively emerging mechanism for context-aware service selections regulated by feedback distributions
Authors: Zhu Yishui , Jin Qun
Published: December 2012

Background

In the cloud computing environments, numerous ambient services may be created speedily and provided to a variety of users. In such a situation, people may be annoyed by how to make a proper and optimal selection quickly and economically.

Methods

In this study, we propose an Adaptively Emerging Mechanism (AEM) to reduce this selection burden with an interdisciplinary approach. AEM is applied and integrated into the Flowable Service Model (FSM), which has been proposed and developed in our previous study. We consider the user’s feedback information is a pivotal factor for AEM, which contains the user’s satisfaction degree after using the services. At the same time, we assume that these factors, such as the service cost, matching result precision, responding time, personal and social context information, etc., are essential parts of the optimizing process for the selection of ambient services.

Results and Conclusion

By analyzing the result of AEM simulation, we reveal that AEM can (1) substantially improve the selection process for LOW feedback users; (2) bring no negative effect on the selection process for MEDIUM or HIGH feedback users; and (3) enhance the rationality for services selection.
Anatomy and embryology of the small saphenous vein: nerve relationships and implications for treatment
Authors: Uhl Jean-François , Gillot Claude
Published: December 2012

The aim of this paper is to describe the anatomical relations of the small saphenous vein (SSV) in order to define the high-risk zones for the treatment of chronic venous disease. The SSV runs in the saphenous compartment demarcated by two fascia layers: a muscular fascia and a membranous layer of subcutaneous tissue. The clinician should be keenly aware of the anatomical pitfalls related to the close proximity of nerves to the SSV in order to avoid their injury: At the ankle, the origin of the SSV is often plexiform, located deep below the fascia, and the nerve is really stuck to the vein. The apex of the calf is an area of high risk due to the confluence of nerves which perforate the aponeurosis. Moreover, the possible existence of a ‘short saphenous artery’ which poses a high risk for injection of a sclerosing agent due to a highly variable disposition of this artery surrounding the SSV trunk. For this reason, procedures under echo guidance in this area are mandatory. The popliteal fossa is probably a higher risk zone due to the vicinity of the nerves: the small saphenous arch is close to the tibial nerve, or sometimes the nerve of the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle. In conclusion, before foam injection or surgery, a triple mapping of the small saphenous territory is mandatory: venous haemodynamical mapping verifying the anatomy that is highly variable, nerve mapping to avoid trauma of the nerves and arterial mapping. This anatomical study will help to define the main high-risk zones.
Prohibited Desires: The Military-Apparel Nexus and Its Politics of Sexuality in the Sinhala Language Cinema
Authors: Mel Neloufer de
Published: December 2012

In particular, this essay seeks to elaborate on Sunila Abeysekera's argument that militarization and globalization as depicted in this cinema have been largely contoured on the bodies and subjectivities of the "garment girls" and "army boys" (Abeysekera, 2005: 23-29).
Abeysekera states that the combination of intensive militarization and globalization of the country has led to radical shifts in its social structures -- resulting in the increase of migrant women workers, female heads of households, and the enrollment of rural male youth into the Sri Lanka
army.
Lester James Peries and the Evolution of Sri Lankan Cinema
Authors: Uluwitiya Tanya , Conrich Ian , Gillet Nelly
Published: December 2012

Although there is a general feeling of dismay concerning the current status of cinema in Sri Lanka, filmmaker Lester James Peries continues to fight against the obstacles to create cinematic works that are worthy of recognition both locally and internationally. At the time the following
interview was conducted, although he was not actively working on a project of his own, he was nevertheless engrossed in contributing to his wife Sumithra's new film. The interview was conducted at his house on Dickman's Road (recently named Lester James Peries Mawatha as a tribute by the government
to his services to Sri Lankan cinema), Colombo, Sri Lanka, May 9 and 10, 2007.
What Did We Learn from Research on Comorbidity In Psychiatry? Advantages and Limitations in the Forthcoming DSM-V Era
Authors: Dell’Osso Liliana , Pini Stefano
Published: December 2012

Despite the large amount of research conducted in this area over the last two decades, comorbidity of psychiatric disorders remains a topic of major practical and theoretical significance.

Official diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines of psychiatric disorders still do not provide clinicians and researchers with any treatment-specific indications for those cases presenting with psychiatric comorbidity. We will discuss the diagnostic improvement brought about, in clinical practice, by the punctual and refined recognition of threshold and subthreshold comorbidity. From such a perspective, diagnostic procedures and forthcoming systems of classification of mental disorders should attempt to combine descriptive, categorical and dimensional approaches, addressing more attention to the cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of nuclear, subclinical, and atypical symptoms that may represent a pattern of either full-blown or partially expressed psychiatric comorbidity. This should certainly be regarded as a positive development. Parallel, continuous critical challenge seems to be vital in this area, in order to prevent dangerous trivializations and misunderstandings.
Occult Acetabular Fracture in Elderly Patients
Authors: Guerado Enrique , Cano Juan Ramón , Cruz Encarnación
Published: December 2012

Acetabular fractures in the elderly are increasingly common; however, an antecedent of trauma may not be known, and the diagnosis easily missed. Early identification and prompt management are needed in order to minimise morbidity rates, but little has been published on occult acetabular fracture.

In this paper we present three cases of occult acetabular fracture in patients older than 75 years. All three are females and had previously been operated on the ipsilateral hip with an implant (two proximal femur fractures treated with a proximal intramedullary femoral nail, and one case of total joint replacement); these acetabular fractures could be related to the existence of a stress shielding mechanism.

We believe that whenever an elderly patient feels groin pain, and anteroposterior pelvis X-rays are normal, oblique Judet projections (obturator and iliac) should be obtained. In any case, displacement will make any fracture evident within a few weeks.
Response of Removal Rates to Various Organic Carbon and Ammonium Loads in Laboratory‐Scale Constructed Wetlands Treating Artificial Wastewater
Authors: Wu Shubiao , Kuschk Peter , Wiessner Arndt , Kästner Matthias , Pang Changle , Dong Renjie
Published: December 2012

High levels (92 and 91%) of organic carbon were successfully removed from artificial wastewater by a laboratory‐scale constructed wetland under inflow loads of 670 mg/m2•d (100 mg/d) and 1600 mg/m2d (240 mg/d), respectively. Acidification to pH 3.0 was observed at the low organic carbon load, which further inhibited the denitrification process. An increase in carbon load, however, was associated with a significant elevation of pH to 6.0. In general, sulfate and nitrate reduction were relatively high, with mean levels of 87 and 90%, respectively. However, inhibition of nitrification was initiated with an increase in carbon loads. This effect was probably a result of competition for oxygen by heterotrophic bacteria and an inhibitory effect of sulfide (S2−) toxicity (concentration approximately 3 mg/L). In addition, numbers of healthy stalks of Juncus effusus (common rush) decreased from 14 000 to 10 000/m2 with an increase of sulfide concentration, indicating the negative effect of sulfide toxicity on the wetland plants.
Removal of Chlorophenolics From Pulp and Paper Mill Wastewater Through Constructed Wetland
Authors: Choudhary Ashutosh Kumar , Kumar Satish , Sharma Chhaya
Published: December 2012

This study evaluates the treatment efficiency of horizontal subsurface flow (HSSF) constructed wetland for the removal of AOX (adsorbable organic halides) and chlorophenolics from pulp and paper mill wastewater. The dimensions of HSSF constructed wetland were 3.5 m in length, 1.5 m in width, and 0.28 m in depth, with surface area of 5.25 m2. The HSSF constructed wetland unit was planted with an ornamental plant species, Canna indica. Under hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 5.9 days, the average AOX removal was 89.1%, and 67% to 100% removal of chlorophenolics from pulp and paper mill wastewater was achieved. The complete removal of 2,3‐dichlorophenol, 3,4‐dichlorophenol, 2,3,5‐trichlorophenol, 2,4,6‐trichlorophenol, 3,5‐dichlorocatechol, 3,6‐dichlorocatechol, and 4,5,6‐trichloroguaiacol was observed. Some of the chlorophenolics were found to accumulate in the plant biomass and soil. The evapotranspiration rate varied from 6.7 to 12.7 mm day−1 during the experimental period. The mass balance of chlorophenolics was also studied in constructed wetland system.
Insights from a conference on implementing comparative effectiveness research through shared decision-making
Authors: Politi Mary C , Clayman Marla L , Fagerlin Angela , Studts Jamie L , Montori Victor
Published: December 2012

For decades, investigators have conducted innovative research on shared decision-making (SDM), helping patients and clinicians to discuss health decisions and balance evidence with patients’ preferences for possible outcomes of options. In addition, investigators have developed and used rigorous methods for conducting comparative effectiveness research (CER), comparing the benefits and risks of different interventions in real-world settings with outcomes that matter to patients and other stakeholders. However, incorporating CER findings into clinical practice presents numerous challenges. In March 2012, we organized a conference at Washington University in St Louis (MO, USA) aimed at developing a network of researchers to collaborate in developing, conducting and disseminating research about the implementation of CER through SDM. Meeting attendees discussed conceptual similarities and differences between CER and SDM, challenges in implementing CER and SDM in practice, specific challenges when engaging SDM with unique populations and examples of ways to overcome these challenges. CER and SDM are related processes that emphasize examining the best clinical evidence and how it applies to real patients in real practice settings. SDM can provide one opportunity for clinicians to discuss CER findings with patients and engage in a dialog about how to manage uncertainty about evidence in order to make decisions on an individual patient level. This meeting highlighted key challenges and suggested avenues to pursue such that CER and SDM can be implemented into routine clinical practice.
Tetraethylammonium Tetraselenotungstate: A Versatile Selenium Transfer Reagent in Organic Synthesis
Authors: Sureshkumar Devarajulu , Gopinath Purushothaman , Chandrasekaran Srinivasan
Published: December 2012

Organoselenium compounds have attracted intense research owing to their unique biological properties as well as pharmaceutical significance. Progress has been made in developing reagents for incorporation of selenium in an efficient and controlled manner. Herein, we present a review
on the recently developed selenium reagent, tetraethylammonium tetraselenotungstate, [Et4N]2WSe4 as a versatile selenium transfer reagent in organic synthesis. Tetraselenotungstate has been successfully used for the synthesis of a number of functionalized diselenides,
sugar- and nucleoside-derived diselenides, seleno-cystines, selenohomocystines, selenoamides, selenoureas and sugar- and nucleoside-based cyclic-selenide derivatives. Additionally, this reagent has been employed for the ring opening of aziridines to synthesize a variety of ?-aminodiselenides.
A new selena-aza-Payne type rearrangement of aziridinemethanoltosylates mediated by tetraselenotungstate for the synthesis of allyl amines is also discussed.
Poly(lactic acid) Synthesis and Characterization
Authors: Sanglard Pauline , Adamo Vincent , Bourgeois J.-Pascal , Chappuis Thierry , Vanoli Ennio
Published: December 2012

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a promising biodegradable polymer based on renewable resources. This paper describes scale-up studies to synthesize high molecular weight PLA (>100'000 g/mol) in five steps from commercial lactic acid. The first four steps of this process consist of synthesizing
a highly pure precursor, lactide, which can be converted into a high molecular PLA by ring opening polymerization (ROP). We produced PLA with a molecular weight of 109'000 g/mol using this strategy.
[N,N’-diethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium][CdX4] (X = Cl or Br) with N,N’-diethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium generated in situ: An Effective Route to Viologen Compounds
Authors: Chen Wen-Tong , Yi Xiu-Guang
Published: December 2012

Two viologen (4,4‘-bipyridinium) compounds, [MQ2+][CdX4] (X = Cl or Br; MQ2+=N,N’-diethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium) with the MQ2+ generated in situ, have been synthesised via solvothermal reactions and structurally characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The MQ2+ moieties and [CdX4]2– anions are interconnected by hydrogen bonding to form a supramolecular framework. Both compounds exhibit broad and strong emission in the yellow region which, following theoretical investigation, is ascribed to ligand-to-ligand charge transfer.
Synthesis, Crystal Structure and Hirshfeld Surfaces of a CuII complex with an ICL670-related ligand
Authors: Luo Yang-Hui , Xu Jian , Sun Bai-Wang
Published: December 2012

The complex [Cu2(μ-L)2].DMF (L = 2, 2′-[1-(2, 4, 6-trichlorophenyl)-1H-1, 2, 4-triazole-3, 5-diyl] diphenolate) has been prepared and its structure determined. The two Cu|| ions are four-coordinated in a planar structure, with the DMF molecule wrapped in the “wings” of ligand L. Hirshfeld surface and fingerprint plots reveal that the complex structure is stabilised mainly by H···H, C–H···Cl, C–H···π, π···π and lone-pair···π (C–Cl) intermolecular interactions.
Oxidative Alkylation of 1,3-Diarylpropenes using O2 catalysed by 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-benzoquinone and N-hydroxyphthalimide
Authors: Cheng Dongping , Ye Xinyi , Cui Wei , Sun Ruirui , Yan Jizhong
Published: December 2012

A simple oxidative alkylation of 1,3-diarylpropenes with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds is reported with O2 catalysed by a mixture of 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-benzoquinone, N-hydroxyphthalimide, CuBr and NiCl2.
Carbolithiation of Styrenes with N-tert-butyl aldimines
Authors: Liu Jie , Dang Hai-Shan
Published: December 2012

The addition of aldimine anions to styrene occurs upon the treatment of N-tert-butyl aldimine with LDA followed by the addition of styrene to give the corresponding aldehyde after hydrolysis. Cyclohexenyl amines are generated when the reactions are performed with unsaturated aldimines. This approach affords 4-phenyl substituted butanals and cyclohexenyl amines in a simple and inexpensive way.
Exchange Transfusion: Indication and Adverse Effect
Authors: Begum Suraiya , Baki Md Abdul , Kundu Gopen , Islam Imnul , Talukdar Manik Kumar , Fatema Kaniz
Published: December 2012

Objective: To determine the indication and complications of exchange transfusion (ET) performed for neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia. Methods: The medical records of infants < 28 days old who required exchange transfusion (ET) due to neonatal jaundice in Special Care Baby Unit (SCABU), BIRDEM hospital from January 2009 to April 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Exchange transfusion was performed in 30 neonates during the study period. Indications of exchange transfusion were ABO incompatibility (30.0%), Rh incompatibility (13.3%), septicaemia (6.6%) and in majority causes, were unidentified (50%). Most common complication were thrombocytopenia (33.3%) hyperkalaemia (20%), hypocalcaemia (16.7%) Conclusion: Indication of ET was unidentified in majority cases and among identified cases most common causes was ABO incompatibility. Adverse events were common after exchange transfusion.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjch.v36i1.13029Bangladesh J Child Health 2012; Vol 36 (1): 16-19
Childhood Vasculitis - An Update
Authors: Islam Mohammad Imnul , Talukdar Manik Kumar , Rahman Shahana Akhter
Published: December 2012

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjch.v36i1.13033Bangladesh J Child Health 2012; Vol 36 (1): 30-35
Abstract from Current Literature Vol.43
Authors: BanglaJOL Administrator
Published: December 2012

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bmjk.v43i1-2.13021 Bang Med J (Khulna) 2010; 43
Quantitative Analysis of Dynamic Behaviours of Rural Areas at Provincial Level Using Public Data of Gross Domestic Product
Authors: Chen Yi , Zhang Guangfeng , Li Yiyang , Ding Yi , Zheng Bin , Miao Qiang
Published: December 2012

A spatial approach that incorporates three economic components and one environmental factor has been developed to evaluate the dynamic behaviours of the rural areas at a provincial level. An artificial fish swarm algorithm with variable population size (AFSAVP) is proposed for the spatial problem. A functional region affecting index θ is employed as a fitness function for the AFSAVP driven optimisation, in which a gross domestic product (GDP) based method is utilised to estimate the CO2 emission of all provinces. A simulation for the administrative provinces of China has been implemented, and the results have shown that the modelling method based on GDP data can assess the spatial dynamic behaviours and can be taken as an operational tool for the policy planners.
Awareness of and Attitudes towards Heat Waves within the Context of Climate Change among a Cohort of Residents in Adelaide, Australia
Authors: Akompab Derick , Bi Peng , Williams Susan , Grant Janet , Walker Iain , Augoustinos Martha
Published: December 2012

Heat waves are a public health concern in Australia and unprecedented heat waves have been recorded in Adelaide over recent years. The aim of this study was to examine the perception and attitudes towards heat waves in the context of climate change among a group of residents in Adelaide, an Australian city with a temperate climate. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the summer of 2012 among a sample of 267 residents. The results of the survey found that television (89.9%), radio (71.2%), newspapers (45.3%) were the main sources from which respondents received information about heat waves. The majority of the respondents (73.0%) followed news about heat waves very or somewhat closely. About 26.6% of the respondents were extremely or very concerned about the effects of heat waves on them personally. The main issues that were of personal concern for respondents during a heat wave were their personal comfort (60.7%), their garden (48.7%), and sleeping well (47.6%). Overall, respondents were more concerned about the impacts of heat waves to the society than on themselves. There was a significant association between gender (χ² = 21.2, df = 3, p = 0.000), gross annual household income (p = 0.03) and concern for the societal effects of heat waves. Less than half (43.2%) of the respondents believed that heat waves will extremely or very likely increase in Adelaide according to climate projections. Nearly half (49.3%) believed that the effects of heat waves were already being felt in Adelaide. These findings may inform the reframing and communication strategies for heat waves in Adelaide in the context of climate change.
Mechanisms of Resistance to Endocrine Therapy in Breast Cancer: Focus on Signaling Pathways, miRNAs and Genetically Based Resistance
Authors: García-Becerra Rocío , Santos Nancy , Díaz Lorenza , Camacho Javier
Published: December 2012

Breast cancer is the most frequent malignancy diagnosed in women. Approximately 70% of breast tumors express the estrogen receptor (ER). Tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are the most common and effective therapies for patients with ERα-positive breast cancer. Alone or combined with chemotherapy, tamoxifen significantly reduces disease progression and is associated with more favorable impact on survival in patients. Unfortunately, endocrine resistance occurs, either de novo or acquired during the course of the treatment. The mechanisms that contribute to hormonal resistance include loss or modification in the ERα expression, regulation of signal transduction pathways, altered expression of specific microRNAs, balance of co-regulatory proteins, and genetic polymorphisms involved in tamoxifen metabolic activity. Because of the clinical consequences of endocrine resistance, new treatment strategies are arising to make the cells sensitive to tamoxifen. Here, we will review the current knowledge on mechanisms of endocrine resistance in breast cancer cells. In addition, we will discuss novel therapeutic strategies to overcome such resistance. Undoubtedly, circumventing endocrine resistance should help to improve therapy for the benefit of breast cancer patients.
Complexity over Uncertainty in Generalized Representational Information Theory (GRIT): A Structure-Sensitive General Theory of Information
Authors: Vigo Ronaldo
Published: December 2012

What is information? Although researchers have used the construct of information liberally to refer to pertinent forms of domain-specific knowledge, relatively few have attempted to generalize and standardize the construct. Shannon and Weaver (1949) offered the best known attempt at a quantitative generalization in terms of the number of discriminable symbols required to communicate the state of an uncertain event. This idea, although useful, does not capture the role that structural context and complexity play in the process of understanding an event as being informative. In what follows, we discuss the limitations and futility of any generalization (and particularly, Shannon’s) that is not based on the way that agents extract patterns from their environment. More specifically, we shall argue that agent concept acquisition, and not the communication of states of uncertainty, lie at the heart of generalized information, and that the best way of characterizing information is via the relative gain or loss in concept complexity that is experienced when a set of known entities (regardless of their nature or domain of origin) changes. We show that Representational Information Theory perfectly captures this crucial aspect of information and conclude with the first generalization of RIT to continuous domains.
The Feedback Regulation of PI3K-miR-19a, and MAPK-miR-23b/27b in Endothelial Cells under Shear Stress
Authors: He Jian , Li Yulin , Yang Xufang , He Xu , Zhang Haiying , He Jin , Zhang Lihong
Published: December 2012

Mechanical stimulation regulates endothelial cell (EC) functions through the modulation of signaling networks and gene expression. Our recent studies have identified that shear stress regulation of microRNAs (miRs)-19a, 23b and 27b, led to the modulation of EC proliferation. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms by which shear stress regulates these miRs have not been explored. Previous studies showed that shear stress activates multiple signaling pathways, including phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). In this work we demonstrate that inhibition of the PI3K pathway attenuated the shear-induced miR-19a, and inhibition of the MAPK pathway attenuated miR-23b, 27b. The knockdown of miR-19a using antagomir-19a oligonucleotide (AM19a) decreased the shear-induced PI3K activation; whereas AM-23b, 27b reduced the shear-induced MAPK activation. Furthermore, the overexpression of miR-19a overrode the suppressive effects of PI3K inhibitors on shear-induced PI3K activation; the overexpression of miR-23b, 27b had similar effects on ERK activations, but had little effect on P38 and JNK activation. Our findings suggest a positive feedback loop whereby PI3K and MAPK mediate the shear regulation of miR expression, which in turn modulates the shear-regulated PI3K/MAPK signaling events in ECs.
Mobile Devices for Community-Based REDD+ Monitoring: A Case Study for Central Vietnam
Authors: Pratihast Arun , Herold Martin , Avitabile Valerio , De Bruin Sytze , Bartholomeus Harm , Jr. Carlos , Ribbe Lars
Published: December 2012

Monitoring tropical deforestation and forest degradation is one of the central elements for the Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in developing countries (REDD+) scheme. Current arrangements for monitoring are based on remote sensing and field measurements. Since monitoring is the periodic process of assessing forest stands properties with respect to reference data, adopting the current REDD+ requirements for implementing monitoring at national levels is a challenging task. Recently, the advancement in Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) and mobile devices has enabled local communities to monitor their forest in a basic resource setting such as no or slow internet connection link, limited power supply, etc. Despite the potential, the use of mobile device system for community based monitoring (CBM) is still exceptional and faces implementation challenges. This paper presents an integrated data collection system based on mobile devices that streamlines the community-based forest monitoring data collection, transmission and visualization process. This paper also assesses the accuracy and reliability of CBM data and proposes a way to fit them into national REDD+ Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) scheme. The system performance is evaluated at Tra Bui commune, Quang Nam province, Central Vietnam, where forest carbon and change activities were tracked. The results show that the local community is able to provide data with accuracy comparable to expert measurements (index of agreement greater than 0.88), but against lower costs. Furthermore, the results confirm that communities are more effective to monitor small scale forest degradation due to subsistence fuel wood collection and selective logging, than high resolution remote sensing SPOT imagery.
Flow Cell Design for Effective Biosensing
Authors: Pike Douglas , Kapur Nikil , Millner Paul , Stewart Douglas
Published: December 2012

The efficiency of three different biosensor flow cells is reported. All three flow cells featured a central channel that expands in the vicinity of the sensing element to provide the same diameter active region, but the rate of channel expansion and contraction varied between the designs. For each cell the rate at which the analyte concentration in the sensor chamber responds to a change in the influent analyte concentration was determined numerically using a finite element model and experimentally using a flow-fluorescence technique. Reduced flow cell efficiency with increasing flow rates was observed for all three designs and was related to the increased importance of diffusion relative to advection, with efficiency being limited by the development of regions of recirculating flow (eddies). However, the onset of eddy development occurred at higher flow rates for the design with the most gradual channel expansion, producing a considerably more efficient flow cell across the range of flow rates considered in this study. It is recommended that biosensor flow cells be designed to minimize the tendency towards, and be operated under conditions that prevent the development of flow recirculation.