bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Instrumento para condução de observação social sistemática: métodos e resultados da concordância interobservadores
Authors: Freitas Eulilian Dias de , Camargos Vitor Passos , Xavier César Coelho , Caiaffa Waleska Teixeira , Proietti Fernando Augusto
Published: October 2013

A observação social sistemática tem sido utilizada para a coleta de informações do entorno físico e social da vizinhança. Os objetivos deste artigo foram descrever a operacionalização da observação social sistemática do entorno físico e social de vizinhanças urbanas e avaliar a concordância do instrumento utilizado. O instrumento foi elaborado para coleta de informações em diferentes domínios. No total, 1.306 segmentos de rua, pertencentes a 149 diferentes vizinhanças de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil, foram observados. Para o estudo de concordância, 149 segmentos foram reauditados. Para se estabelecer a concordância, foi utilizado o kappa Fleiss interobservador. A concordância média dos itens foi 0,57 (DP = 0,24); 53% tiveram concordância substancial ou quase perfeita; 20,4%, moderada. O instrumento se mostrou adequado para observação de características com maior estabilidade temporal, principalmente quanto a serviços, caracterização dos imóveis, ambiente para pedestres e segurança.
A Constituição Cidadã e os 25 anos do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS)
Authors: Paim Jairnilson Silva
Published: October 2013

Este artigo, comemorando 25 anos da Constituição Federal de 1988, teve como objetivos resenhar o desenvolvimento das políticas sociais, discutir projetos políticos e analisar desafios para a sustentabilidade do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Apoiando-se em estudos sobre políticas públicas que privilegiam a gênese, revisita as origens da política social liberal, centrada na assistência social, e analisa a hegemonia das políticas americanas voltadas para a pobreza e suas repercussões nas políticas universais. Após identificar a formulação de projetos políticos na transição democrática brasileira, discute seus desdobramentos nos governos seguintes, juntamente com as dificuldades enfrentadas pelo SUS. Conclui que as forças políticas que alcançaram o poder nas duas últimas décadas não apresentaram um projeto para a Nação à altura daqueles que geraram a Constituição Cidadã.
Factores asociados con la seropositividad a Brucella canis en criaderos caninos de dos regiones de Antioquia, Colombia
Authors: Castrillón-Salazar Laura , Giraldo-Echeverri Carlos Andrés , Sánchez-Jiménez Miryan Margot , Olivera-Angel Martha
Published: October 2013

El objetivo fue determinar la seroprevalencia a Brucella canis en perros y humanos convivientes en criaderos caninos y explorar los factores de riesgo asociados a la seropositividad. Se tomaron 20 criaderos, en los cuales se realizó diagnóstico serológico por PARP-2ME de 428 caninos y 91 humanos. Se aplicó una encuesta para determinar los factores de riesgo y se analizaron los datos mediante regresión logística. Se determinó una seroprevalencia de 15% en caninos y 9% en humanos convivientes. Se determinaron como factores asociados a la seropositividad canina el historial de seropositividad canina, conservar los caninos seropositivos, historial de aborto, higiene y protección del operario deficientes durante el servicio reproductivo, y procedimiento inseguro durante la atención de abortos. Como factores protectores se establecieron la ubicación rural de los criaderos, facilidad de aseo de los caniles, PARP-2ME premonta, y procedimiento seguro durante la atención de partos. En humanos se determinaron factores asociados: criaderos ubicados en el Valle Aburrá y de tipo urbano.
Effects of Early Dental Office Visits on Dental Caries Experience
Authors: Beil Heather , Rozier R. Gary , Preisser John S. , Stearns Sally C. , Lee Jessica Y.
Published: October 2013

Objectives. We determined the association between timing of a first dentist office visit before age 5 years and dental disease in kindergarten.

Methods. We used North Carolina Medicaid claims (1999–2006) linked to state oral health surveillance data to compare caries experience for kindergarten students (2005–2006) who had a visit before age 60 months (n = 11 394) to derive overall exposure effects from a zero-inflated negative binomial regression model. We repeated the analysis separately for children who had preventive and tertiary visits.

Results. Children who had a visit at age 37 to 48 and 49 to 60 months had significantly less disease than children with a visit by age 24 months (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 0.88; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.81, 0.95; IRR = 0.75; 95% CI = 0.69, 0.82, respectively). Disease status did not differ between children who had a tertiary visit by age 24 months and other children.

Conclusions. Medicaid-enrolled children in our study followed an urgent care type of utilization, and access to dental care was limited. Children at high risk for dental disease should be given priority for a preventive dental visit before age 3 years.
Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Antiretroviral Treatment Among HIV-Infected Pregnant Medicaid Enrollees, 2005–2007
Authors: Zhang Shun , Senteio Charles , Felizzola Jesus , Rust George
Published: October 2013

Objectives. We examined racial/ethnic differences in prenatal antiretroviral (ARV) treatment among 3259 HIV-infected pregnant Medicaid enrollees.

Methods. We analyzed 2005–2007 Medicaid claims data from 14 southern states, comparing rates of not receiving ARVs and suboptimal versus optimal ARV therapy.

Results. More than one third (37.3%) had zero claims for ARV drugs. Three quarters (73.4%) of 346 Hispanic women received no prenatal ARVs. After we adjusted for covariates, Hispanic women had 3.89 (95% confidence interval = 2.58, 5.87) times the risk of not receiving ARVs compared with Whites. Hispanic women often had only 1 or 2 months of Medicaid eligibility, perhaps associated with barriers for immigrants. Less than 3 months of eligibility was strongly associated with nontreatment (adjusted odds ratio = 29.0; 95% confidence interval = 13.4, 62.7).

Conclusions. Optimal HIV treatment rates in pregnancy are a public health priority, especially for preventing transmission to infants. Medicaid has the surveillance and drug coverage to ensure that all HIV-infected pregnant women are offered treatment. States that offer emergency Medicaid coverage for only delivery services to pregnant immigrants are missing an opportunity to screen, diagnose, and treat pregnant women with HIV, and to prevent HIV in children.
The Unique Impact of Abolition of Jim Crow Laws on Reducing Inequities in Infant Death Rates and Implications for Choice of Comparison Groups in Analyzing Societal Determinants of Health
Authors: Krieger Nancy , Chen Jarvis T. , Coull Brent , Waterman Pamela D. , Beckfield Jason
Published: October 2013

Objectives. We explored associations between the abolition of Jim Crow laws (i.e., state laws legalizing racial discrimination overturned by the 1964 US Civil Rights Act) and birth cohort trends in infant death rates.

Methods. We analyzed 1959 to 2006 US Black and White infant death rates within and across sets of states (polities) with and without Jim Crow laws.

Results. Between 1965 and 1969, a unique convergence of Black infant death rates occurred across polities; in 1960 to 1964, the Black infant death rate was 1.19 times higher (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.18, 1.20) in the Jim Crow polity than in the non–Jim Crow polity, whereas in 1970 to 1974 the rate ratio shrank to and remained at approximately 1 (with the 95% CI including 1) until 2000, when it rose to 1.10 (95% CI = 1.08, 1.12). No such convergence occurred for Black–White differences in infant death rates or for White infants.

Conclusions. Our results suggest that abolition of Jim Crow laws affected US Black infant death rates and that valid analysis of societal determinants of health requires appropriate comparison groups.
Seroprevalence of HIV, Hepatitis B Virus, and HCV Among Injection Drug Users in Connecticut: Understanding Infection and Coinfection Risks in a Nonurban Population
Authors: Akselrod Hana , Grau Lauretta E. , Barbour Russell , Heimer Robert
Published: October 2013

Objectives. We examined HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV), and HCV seroprevalence in an interim analysis and the potential risk factors associated with these infections among injection drug users (IDUs) residing in nonurban communities of southwestern Connecticut.

Methods. We recruited and interviewed active adult IDUs about their injection-associated risk and conducted serological tests for HIV, HBV, and HCV. Regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for infection and coinfection.

Results. Among 446 participants, 51.6% carried at least 1 infection, and 16.3% were coinfected. Infection risk was associated with longer duration of injection use, overdose, substance abuse treatment, depression, and involvement with the criminal justice system. Coinfection was associated with longer injection drug use, lower education, overdose, and criminal justice involvement. Multivariate models identified injection drug use duration, substance abuse treatment, and criminal justice involvement as the most significant predictors of infection; injection drug use duration and education were the most significant predictors of coinfection.

Conclusions. Suburban IDUs are at significant risk for acquiring single and multiple viral infections. Effective harm reduction strategies are needed to reach users early. There might be roles for interventions in the treatment and justice systems in which IDUs interact.
Refining the Notion of Maturing Out: Results From the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions
Authors: Vergés Alvaro , Haeny Angela M. , Jackson Kristina M. , Bucholz Kathleen K. , Grant Julia D. , Trull Timothy J. , Wood Phillip K. , Sher Kenneth J.
Published: October 2013

Objectives. Our aim was to determine if the decrease in drug use disorders with age is attributable to changes in persistence, as implied by the notion of maturing out. Also, we examined the association between role transitions and persistence, recurrence, and new onset of drug use disorders.

Methods. We performed secondary analysis of the 2 waves of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions data (baseline assessment 2001–2002, follow-up conducted 2004–2005). We conducted logistic regressions and multinomial logistic regression to determine the effect of age on wave 2 diagnosis status, as well as the interaction between age and role transitions.

Results. Rates of persistence were stable over the life span, whereas rates of new onset and recurrence decreased with age. Changes in parenthood, marital, and employment status were associated with persistence, new onset, and recurrence. We found an interaction between marital status and age.

Conclusions. Our findings challenge commonly held notions that the age-related decrease in drug use disorders is attributable to an increase in persistence, and that the effects of role transitions are stronger during young, compared with middle and older, adulthood.
Expanded HIV Testing in the US Department of Veterans Affairs, 2009–2011
Authors: Czarnogorski Maggie , Halloran, CNS James , Pedati Caitlin , Dursa Erin K. , Durfee Janet , Martinello Richard , Davey Victoria , Ross David
Published: October 2013

Objectives. We measured HIV testing and seropositivity among veterans in Veterans Affairs (VA) care for calendar years 2009 through 2011 and analyzed 2011 results by patient demographics.

Methods. We performed a repeated-measures cross-sectional study using standardized electronic data extraction from the VA electronic health records for all veterans with at least 1 outpatient visit during 2009 through 2011. We analyzed testing rates and seropositivity by demographic characteristics for 2011.

Results. Of veterans with an outpatient visit, 20.0% had an HIV test in 2011, compared with 9.2% in 2009. Documented HIV testing rates were highest in women and Blacks. Of confirmed positive test results, 67.0% were in outpatients older than 50 years. Seropositivity was highest among men aged 30 to 49 years, women aged 50 to 69 years, and Black outpatients of both genders. Implementation of an electronic clinical reminder was associated with higher testing rates.

Conclusions. The significant effect of an electronic clinical reminder suggests that such decision support tools can substantially increase testing rates. The frequency of positive test results in older individuals suggests the need for additional work to define optimum approaches to HIV testing in this population.
Promoting Physical Activity Through the Shared Use of School Recreational Spaces: A Policy Statement From the American Heart Association
Authors: Young Deborah R. , Spengler John O. , Frost Natasha , Evenson Kelly R. , Vincent Jeffrey M. , Whitsel Laurie
Published: October 2013

Most Americans are not sufficiently physically active, even though regular physical activity improves health and reduces the risk of many chronic diseases. Those living in rural, non-White, and lower-income communities often have insufficient access to places to be active, which can contribute to their lower level of physical activity.

The shared use of school recreational facilities can provide safe and affordable places for communities. Studies suggest that challenges to shared use include additional cost, liability protection, communication among constituencies interested in sharing space, and decision-making about scheduling and space allocation.

This American Heart Association policy statement has provided recommendations for federal, state, and local decision-makers to support and expand opportunities for physical activity in communities through the shared use of school spaces.
Moving Forward: Breaking the Cycle of Mistrust Between American Indians and Researchers
Authors: Pacheco Christina M. , Daley Sean M. , Brown Travis , Filippi Melissa , Greiner K. Allen , Daley Christine M.
Published: October 2013

American Indians (AIs) have some of the poorest documented health outcomes of any racial/ethnic group. Research plays a vital role in addressing these health disparities.

Historical and recent instances of unethical research, specifically the Havasupai diabetes project, have generated mistrust in AI communities. To address the concerns about unethical research held by some AIs in the Heartland (Midwest), the Center for American Indian Community Health (CAICH) has launched a series of efforts to inform AIs about research participants’ rights.

CAICH educates health researchers about the importance of learning and respecting a community’s history, culture, values, and wishes when engaging in research with that community. Through community-based participatory research, CAICH is also empowering AIs to assert their rights as research participants.
Ethical Considerations for Conducting Health Disparities Research in Community Health Centers: A Social-Ecological Perspective
Authors: Boutin-Foster Carla , Scott Ebony , Melendez Jennifer , Rodriguez Anna , Ramos Rosio , Kanna Balavenkatesh , Michelen Walid
Published: October 2013

Community health centers (CHCs) provide optimal research settings. They serve a high-risk, medically underserved population in the greatest need of intervention. Low socioeconomic status renders this population particularly vulnerable to research misconduct.

Traditional principles of research ethics are often applied to participants only. The social-ecological model offers a comprehensive framework for applying these principles across multiple levels (participants, providers, organizations, communities, and policy).

Our experience with the Trial Using Motivational Interviewing, Positive Affect and Self-Affirmation in African-Americans with Hypertension, a randomized trial conducted in CHCs, led us to propose a new platform for discussing research ethics; examine the social, community, and political factors surrounding research conducted in CHCs; and recommend how future research should be conducted in such settings.
Ethical Community-Engaged Research: A Literature Review
Authors: Mikesell Lisa , Bromley Elizabeth , Khodyakov Dmitry
Published: October 2013

Health research has relied on ethical principles, such as those of the Belmont Report, to protect the rights and well-being of research participants.

Community-based participatory research (CBPR), however, must also consider the rights and well-being of communities. This requires additional ethical considerations that have been extensively discussed but not synthesized in the CBPR literature.

We conducted a comprehensive thematic literature review and summarized empirically grounded discussions of ethics in CBPR, with a focus on the value of the Belmont principles in CBPR, additional essential components of ethical CBPR, the ethical challenges CBPR practitioners face, and strategies to ensure that CBPR meets ethical standards. Our study provides a foundation for developing a working definition and a conceptual model of ethical CBPR.
Migrant Home Attendants: Regulation and Practice in 7 Countries
Authors: Cohen-Mansfield Jiska , Garms-Homolová Vjenka , Bentwich Miriam
Published: October 2013

We compared regulation and working and living conditions of foreign home attendants in 7 countries (Canada, Germany, Israel, Singapore, Spain, United Kingdom, United States). We conducted a literature search in the PSYCinfo, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar databases for 2002 to 2012.

We found substantial between-country differences in the legal status of migrant caregivers and regulations regarding working and living conditions and drew 3 conclusions.

Improving regulations will likely improve not only the well-being of foreign home attendants but also the care they provide. Countries in which many foreign home attendants work without specific legal entry programs should rethink their policies. Finally, requiring an employer’s recommendation to obtain permanent residency may constrain foreign workers from registering complaints or leaving suboptimal employment situations.
Shared Decision-Making for Cancer Care Among Racial and Ethnic Minorities: A Systematic Review
Authors: Mead Erin L. , Doorenbos Ardith Z. , Javid Sara H. , Haozous Emily A. , Alvord Lori Arviso , Flum David R. , Morris Arden M.
Published: October 2013

To assess decision-making for cancer treatment among racial/ethnic minority patients, we systematically reviewed and synthesized evidence from studies of “shared decision-making,” “cancer,” and “minority groups,” using PubMed, PsycInfo, CINAHL, and EMBASE. We identified significant themes that we compared across studies, refined, and organized into a conceptual model.

Five major themes emerged: treatment decision-making, patient factors, family and important others, community, and provider factors. Thematic data overlapped categories, indicating that individuals’ preferences for medical decision-making cannot be authentically examined outside the context of family and community.

The shared decision-making model should be expanded beyond the traditional patient–physician dyad to include other important stakeholders in the cancer treatment decision process, such as family or community leaders.
Elevated HbA1c and Fasting Plasma Glucose in Predicting Diabetes Incidence Among Older Adults
Authors: Lipska Kasia J. , Inzucchi Silvio E. , Van Ness Peter H. , Gill Thomas M. , Kanaya Alka , Strotmeyer Elsa S. , Koster Annemarie , Johnson Karen C. , Goodpaster Bret H. , Harris Tamara , De Rekeneire Nathalie ,   for the Health ABC Study
Published: October 2013

OBJECTIVE

To determine which measures—impaired fasting glucose (IFG), elevated HbA1c, or both—best predict incident diabetes in older adults.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

From the Health, Aging, and Body Composition study, we selected individuals without diabetes, and we defined IFG (100–125 mg/dL) and elevated HbA1c (5.7–6.4%) per American Diabetes Association guidelines. Incident diabetes was based on self-report, use of antihyperglycemic medicines, or HbA1c ≥6.5% during 7 years of follow-up. Logistic regression analyses were adjusted for age, sex, race, site, BMI, smoking, blood pressure, and physical activity. Discrimination and calibration were assessed for models with IFG and with both IFG and elevated HbA1c.

RESULTS

Among 1,690 adults (mean age 76.5, 46% men, 32% black), 183 (10.8%) developed diabetes over 7 years. Adjusted odds ratios of diabetes were 6.2 (95% CI 4.4–8.8) in those with IFG (versus those with fasting plasma glucose [FPG] <100 mg/dL) and 11.3 (7.8–16.4) in those with elevated HbA1c (versus those with HbA1c <5.7%). When FPG and HbA1c were considered together, odds ratios were 3.5 (1.9–6.3) in those with IFG only, 8.0 (4.8–13.2) in those with elevated HbA1c only, and 26.2 (16.3–42.1) in those with both IFG and elevated HbA1c (versus those with normal FPG and HbA1c). Addition of elevated HbA1c to the model with IFG resulted in improved discrimination and calibration.

CONCLUSIONS

Older adults with both IFG and elevated HbA1c have a substantially increased odds of developing diabetes over 7 years. Combined screening with FPG and HbA1c may identify older adults at very high risk for diabetes.
A randomized controlled trial of the efficacy of autologous platelet therapy for the treatment of osteoarthritis in dogs
Authors: Fahie Maria A. , Ortolano Girolamo A. , Guercio Vincent , Schaffer Jeffrey A. , Johnston Gary , Au Jennifer , Hettlich Bianca A. , Phillips Tom , Allen Matthew J. , Bertone Alicia L.
Published: October 2013

Objective—To determine efficacy of a single intra-articular injection of an autologous platelet concentrate for treatment of osteoarthritis in dogs.

Design—Randomized, controlled, 2-center clinical trial.

Animals—20 client-owned dogs with osteoarthritis involving a single joint.

Procedures—Dogs were randomly assigned to a treatment or control group. In all dogs, severity of lameness and pain was scored by owners with the Hudson visual analog scale and the University of Pennsylvania Canine Brief Pain Inventory, respectively, and peak vertical force (PVF) was determined with a force platform. Dogs in the treatment group were then sedated, and a blood sample (55 mL) was obtained. Platelets were recovered by means of a point-of-use filter and injected intra-articularly within 30 minutes. Control dogs were sedated and given an intra-articular injection of saline (0.9% NaCl) solution. Assessments were repeated 12 weeks after injection of platelets or saline solution.

Results—Dogs weighed between 18.3 and 63.9 kg (40.3 and 140.6 lb) and ranged from 1.5 to 8 years old. For control dogs, lameness scores, pain scores, and PVF at week 12 were not significantly different from pretreatment values. In contrast, for dogs that received platelet injections, lameness scores (55% decrease in median score), pain scores (53% decrease in median score), and PVF (12% increase in mean PVF) were significantly improved after 12 weeks, compared with pretreatment values.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggested that a single intra-articular injection of autologous platelets resulted in significant improvements at 12 weeks in dogs with osteoarthritis involving a single joint.
Prevalence of uveal cysts and pigmentary uveitis in Golden Retrievers in three Midwestern states
Authors: Townsend Wendy M. , Gornik Kara R.
Published: October 2013

Objective—To determine the prevalence of uveal cysts and pigmentary uveitis (PU) in Golden Retrievers in 3 Midwestern states.

Design—Prospective cross-sectional study.

Animals—164 American Kennel Club-registered Golden Retrievers in the states of Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan.

Procedures—For all dogs, biomicroscopic and binocular indirect ophthalmoscopic examinations of both eyes were performed after pupillary dilation. A finding of pigment deposition in a radial pattern or in zones on the anterior aspect of the lens capsule of 1 or both eyes was required for a diagnosis of PU.

Results—Eighty of the 328 (24.4%) eyes and 57 of the 164 (34.8%) dogs had visible uveal cysts. Of those 80 eyes with cysts, 41 (51.3%) had a single cyst located nasally and posterior to the iris, 33 (41.3%) had multiple uveal cysts, and 6 (75%) had a single, free-floating cyst. A diagnosis of PU was made for 9 (5.5%) dogs.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Prevalences of uveal cysts (34.3%) and PU (5.5%) in the examined Golden Retrievers were both higher than prevalences reported previously (5.4% for uveal cysts and 1.5% for PU) in the Canine Eye Registry Foundation's 2009 All-Breeds Report. Study findings have indicated that PU is not a rare condition and should be considered as a differential diagnosis for Golden Retrievers with ocular disease.
Perianesthetic complications in dogs undergoing magnetic resonance imaging of the brain for suspected intracranial disease
Authors: Hicks Jill A. , Kennedy Martin J. , Patterson Edward E.
Published: October 2013

Objective—To evaluate the occurrence of perianesthetic complications in dogs undergoing MRI for suspected intracranial disease and identify risk factors associated with observed complications.

Design—Retrospective case-control study.

Animals—238 client-owned dogs undergoing MRI of the brain.

Procedures—Signalment, clinical signs, neurologic examination findings, presumptive diagnosis, anesthesia-related variables, whether CSF was collected and CSF analysis results, severe perianesthetic complications (need for a ventilator following anesthesia or perianesthetic death), and anesthetic recovery time were recorded. Selected factors were compared between dogs with and without intracranial lesions and dogs with and without perianesthetic complications (including severe complications and prolonged anesthetic recovery [> 20 minutes from the end of anesthesia to extubation]).

Results—3 of 149 (2%) dogs with and 0 of 89 dogs without intracranial lesions required ventilation following anesthesia; the difference was nonsignificant. Recovery time was significantly longer in dogs with (median, 15 minutes) than in dogs without (10 minutes) intracranial lesions. Abnormal mentation prior to anesthesia was the only clinical sign that differed significantly between dogs with (15/26 [58%]) and without (70/212 [33%]) perianesthetic complications. A significantly larger proportion of dogs with perianesthetic complications had intracranial masses (13/26 [50%]), compared with dogs without these complications (56/212 [26%]).

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Dogs with complications were more likely to have had intracranial lesions than were dogs without complications, but few dogs had severe complications. Abnormal mentation was more common in dogs with than in dogs without complications. Prospective studies to further evaluate perianesthetic risk factors and procedures for improving outcomes in these patients are warranted.
Laparoscopic removal of a bladder urolith in a standing horse
Authors: Lund Caleb M. , Ragle Claude A. , Lutter J. Dylan
Published: October 2013

Case Description—An 11-year-old Arabian gelding was evaluated for hematuria, stranguria, and pollakiuria that had been observed for 1 week.

Clinical Findings—Transrectal palpation revealed a 5-cm firm round mass in the urinary bladder. Cystoscopy and transrectal ultrasonography confirmed the diagnosis of urinary bladder urolithiasis.

Treatment and Outcome—A multiportal transparalumbar fossa laparoscopic approach was selected for cystotomy and urolith removal. Cystotomy and urolith removal was performed with sedation and local anesthesia with the horse standing. No perioperative complications were observed. Urination returned to normal 5 days after surgery. The horse returned to its previous level of activity at 3 weeks after surgery.

Clinical Relevance—Findings suggested that minimally invasive transparalumbar fossa laparoscopic approach can be successfully used for cystotomy and urolith extraction in standing horses; this avoids the disadvantages of conventional laparocystotomy for removal of large uroliths in male equids and the potential complications of general anesthesia and recovery. The technique provided excellent viewing and access to the bladder, permitting extraction of the urolith and secure closure of the cystotomy with minimal tension and tissue trauma to the bladder.
Philosophy as Drama: Deleuze and Dramatization in the Context of Performance Philosophy
Authors: Cull Laura
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACT:

This article draws from Gilles Deleuze’s concept of “the method of dramatization” as well as his wider engagement both with dramatic plays, to explore the idea of philosophy as drama, and indeed, with drama or dramatization as a vital new form of philosophy. Here, we see how Deleuze’s concept of dramatization invites us to think of philosophical texts as stage directions and philosophical concepts as characters waiting to be played anew in specific contexts. In turn, we see how dramatization allows Deleuze to construe both concepts and characters, not as fixed essences, but as individuals arising from a drama of relations. The discussion is placed in the context of recent debates in the emerging field of performance philosophy as to what extent philosophy and performance should be considered separate endeavours.
Tracking Patient Outcomes after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Cupido Colleen , Peterson Devin , Sutherland Melanie Stevens , Ayeni Olufemi , Stratford Paul W.
Published: October 2013

Purpose: To model how patients' knee range of motion (ROM), pain, and self-reported lower-extremity (LE) functional status change over the first 26 weeks following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and to estimate the test–retest reliability of these measurements. Methods: Patients were assessed weekly over 26 weeks following ACL reconstruction. Outcomes were knee ROM, LE functional status measured by the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), and pain measured by the 4-item pain intensity measure (P4). A nonlinear model was applied to describe change for each outcome. Intra-class correlation coefficients and standard errors of measurement were applied to estimate test-retest reliability and minimal detectable change. Results: A nonlinear model provided the following model fit values (R2): P4=0.71, extension ROM=0.51, flexion ROM=0.99, LEFS=0.97. For pain and ROM, the limit values were reached by approximately 12 weeks after reconstruction; LEFS values continued to increase up to 26 weeks. Test-retest reliability coefficients varied from 0.85 to 0.95. Conclusions: The greatest improvement occurred in the first 8 weeks after surgery. Recovery was nearly complete by 12 weeks with respect to pain and ROM, although LE functional status continued to improve throughout the study period. Scores on all measures demonstrated reliability, which supports their use with individual patients.
Method and Madness in Contemporary Analytic Philosophy of Religion
Authors: Kraay Klaas J.
Published: October 2013

Abstract:

After briefly outlining the history of contemporary analytic philosophy of religion and saying something about its practitioners' beliefs, I describe and evaluate four recent meta-philosophical analyses of this subdiscipline. (These four analyses each identify problems with this subfield and propose solutions.) Then I introduce a framework for a research program in the philosophy of religion that I think these authors should all welcome.
Analytic Philosophy, Theism, and Contemporary Philosophy of Religion
Authors: Penner Myron A.
Published: October 2013

Abstract:

Klaas J. Kraay's 2013 Newman Lecture, “Method and Madness in Contemporary Analytic Philosophy of Religion” is a valuable survey of and interaction with four recent works by philosophers of religion, each of which advances arguments concerning how philosophy of religion ought to be pursued, given the relatively high percentage of theists in the field. My response to Kraay's stimulating lecture will focus on the phenomenon of “insider” vs “outsider” perspectives in the study of religion, as well as some comments on and supplements to Kraay's survey.
Interreligious Cultural Practice as Lived Reality
Authors: Pistrick Eckehard
Published: October 2013

This essay provides grass-roots insights into interreligiosity in Middle Albania. I focus on two individuals, Muslim Arif and Orthodox Anastas, to show how notions of cultural intimacy prevail over hegemonic discourses on religious identity that have re-emerged in postsocialist and 'post-atheist' Albania. The process of religious revitalisation took place simultaneously with a pervasive reshaping of local cultural identity. These discourses give simultaneously an opportunity for religious differentiation and symbolic contestations, as well as for diverse collaborations on a social, cultural and economic level. I illustrate how cultural intimacy is performed and cultivated as a shared practice of multipart singing, and understood by the local shepherds not as a marker of difference but as common ground for mutual dialogue. By sharing the social activity of singing the shepherds do not only form a 'sonic community' but also celebrate an interreligious 'community of friends'.
'0 Feet Away'
Authors: Batiste Dominique Pierre
Published: October 2013

Why do gay men utilise geo-social media applications such as Grindr and Scruff? Social media scholarship describes technological mediations and changes to social space and communities; however, there are theoretical gaps concerning what geo-social technology means for gay men. I suggest that gay men's ability to see other gay men, via geo-social media, reveals the queer cartography of any geographical location. This re-mapping of social space proves the public sphere less heteronormative than purported, cultivates community between gay men who may initiate face-to-face contact utilising geo-locative technology, and allows gay men to interact with one another outside of specifically gay spaces. This research is based in Toulouse, France, and adds to scholarship concerning French gay men's resistance to heteronormativity. This research also holds global significance concerning subjugated communities' uses of geo-social technology in their resistance against dominant cultures.
Responses to ‘The academic rat race: dilemmas and problems in the structure of academic competition’
Authors: Taylor Huber Mary , Heath Joseph , Boden Rebecca , Craig John , Newfield Christopher
Published: October 2013

Responses to ‘The academic rat race: dilemmas and problems in the structure of academic competition’, published in Learning and Teaching 5.2 from Mary Taylor Huber, Joseph Heath, Rebecca Boden, John Craig and Christopher Newfield
Risk Priority Number: A Measuring Instrument for Hygienic Management on Broiler Farms, Reflecting Their Campylobacter Status
Authors: Matt Monika , Stüger Hans , Pless Peter
Published: October 2013

Hygiene management is essential for rearing Campylobacter free broiler flocks. In this study, several hygiene factors (e.g., thinning, water supply, stable cloths, stable condition, stable environment, etc.) are categorized and aggregated in a developed risk priority number (RPN). This number is measuring the quality of hygiene management of a broiler farm with one single value (range: 801–4005 points), the higher the RPN, the better is the hygiene status. The distribution of the values is left skewed and none of the 53 examined Austrian broiler farms reached the maximum. Cecal samples (n = 610) from broilers at the point of slaughter determined the Campylobacter status of the farms. Farms with a high RPN consistently produced more Campylobacter free batches than farms with a low RPN. Ranking of the broiler farms based on their RPN was significantly correlated with their microbiological results for Campylobacter detection (Spearman’s correlation coefficient = 0.646). The risk priority number is an easy tool for the assessment and measurement of the hygiene management system at a broiler farm. Besides the educational benefits of the RPN, benchmarking against the mean value or the maximum is possible.
No Reprieve for Tasmanian Rock Art
Authors: Sims Peter
Published: October 2013

The Australian State of Tasmania, at latitude 42 degrees south, became an island about 8,000 years ago when the sea rose to its present level, following the melting of polar and glacial ice that covered much of the land mass. After that time, the Tasmanian Aboriginal rock art developed independently of mainland Australia, with its form being basically linear with some naturalistic figures and a predominance of cupules. The petroglyphs with one lithophone site occur on various rock substrates varying in hardness from granite to sandstone. Many sites exist along the western coastline that borders the Southern Ocean where the landscape in some places has changed little since the arrival of Europeans in 1803. The significance of this Tasmanian Aboriginal cultural heritage along what is now known as the Tarkine Coast, named after an Aboriginal band that once inhabited this area, was recognised by the Australian Government in February 2013 when a 21,000 ha strip, 2 km wide, was inscribed on its National Heritage Register, being one of 98 special places listed in the country. However, politics and racism hamper its management. This paper is based on the results of 40 years of field recording of the Tasmanian Aboriginal rock art sites, many of which remain unpublished.
Detection and Discrimination of Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer by Multimodal Imaging
Authors: Heuke Sandro , Vogler Nadine , Meyer Tobias , Akimov Denis , Kluschke Franziska , Röwert-Huber Hans-Joachim , Lademann Jürgen , Dietzek Benjamin , Popp Jürgen
Published: October 2013

Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) belongs to the most frequent human neoplasms. Its exposed location facilitates a fast ambulant treatment. However, in the clinical practice far more lesions are removed than necessary, due to the lack of an efficient pre-operational examination procedure: Standard imaging methods often do not provide a sufficient spatial resolution. The demand for an efficient in vivo imaging technique might be met in the near future by non-linear microscopy. As a first step towards this goal, the appearance of NMSC in various microspectroscopic modalities has to be defined and approaches have to be derived to distinguish healthy skin from NMSC using non-linear optical microscopy. Therefore, in this contribution the appearance of ex vivo NMSC in a combination of coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS), second harmonic generation (SHG) and two photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) imaging—referred as multimodal imaging—is described. Analogous to H&E staining, an overview of the distinct appearances and features of basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma in the complementary modalities is derived, and is expected to boost in vivo studies of this promising technological approach.
Using the Hierarchical Pathfinding A* Algorithm in GIS to Find Paths through Rasters with Nonuniform Traversal Cost
Authors: Antikainen Harri
Published: October 2013

A fair amount of research has been carried out on pathfinding problems in the context of transportation networks, whereas pathfinding in off-network space has received far less interest. In geographic information systems (GIS), the latter is usually associated with the cost surface method, which allows optimum paths to be calculated through rasters in which the value of each cell depicts the cost of traversal through that cell. One of the problems with this method is computational expense, which may be very high with large rasters. In this study, a pathfinding method called Hierarchical Pathfinding A* (HPA*), based on an abstraction strategy, is investigated as an alternative to the traditional approach. The aim of this study is to enhance the method to make it more suitable for calculating paths over cost rasters with nonuniform traversal cost. The method is implemented in GIS and tested with actual data. The results indicate that by taking into account the information embedded in the cost raster, paths of relatively good quality can be calculated while effecting significant savings in computational effort compared to the traditional, nonhierarchical approach.
Boronic Acid-Based Approach for Separation and Immobilization of Glycoproteins and Its Application in Sensing
Authors: Wang Xiaojin , Xia Ning , Liu Lin
Published: October 2013

Glycoproteins influence a broad spectrum of biological processes including cell-cell interaction, host-pathogen interaction, or protection of proteins against proteolytic degradation. The analysis of their glyco-structures and concentration levels are increasingly important in diagnosis and proteomics. Boronic acids can covalently react with cis-diols in the oligosaccharide chains of glycoproteins to form five- or six-membered cyclic esters. Based on this interaction, boronic acid-based ligands and materials have attracted much attention in both chemistry and biology as the recognition motif for enrichment and chemo/biosensing of glycoproteins in recent years. In this work, we reviewed the progress in the separation, immobilization and detection of glycoproteins with boronic acid-functionalized materials and addressed its application in sensing.
Dithiolopyrrolone Natural Products: Isolation, Synthesis and Biosynthesis
Authors: Qin Zhiwei , Huang Sheng , Yu Yi , Deng Hai
Published: October 2013

Dithiolopyrrolones are a class of antibiotics that possess the unique pyrrolinonodithiole (4H-[1,2] dithiolo [4,3-b] pyrrol-5-one) skeleton linked to two variable acyl groups. To date, there are approximately 30 naturally occurring dithiolopyrrolone compounds, including holomycin, thiolutin, and aureothricin, and more recently thiomarinols, a unique class of hybrid marine bacterial natural products containing a dithiolopyrrolone framework linked by an amide bridge with an 8-hydroxyoctanoyl chain linked to a monic acid. Generally, dithiolopyrrolone antibiotics have broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against various microorganisms, including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and even parasites. Holomycin appeared to be active against rifamycin-resistant bacteria and also inhibit the growth of the clinical pathogen methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus N315. Its mode of action is believed to inhibit RNA synthesis although the exact mechanism has yet to be established in vitro. A recent work demonstrated that the fish pathogen Yersinia ruckeri employs an RNA methyltransferase for self-resistance during the holomycin production. Moreover, some dithiolopyrrolone derivatives have demonstrated promising antitumor activities. The biosynthetic gene clusters of holomycin have recently been identified in S. clavuligerus and characterized biochemically and genetically. The biosynthetic gene cluster of thiomarinol was also identified from the marine bacterium Pseudoalteromonas sp. SANK 73390, which was uniquely encoded by two independent pathways for pseudomonic acid and pyrrothine in a novel plasmid. The aim of this review is to give an overview about the isolations, characterizations, synthesis, biosynthesis, bioactivities and mode of action of this unique family of dithiolopyrrolone natural products, focusing on the period from 1940s until now.
Direct Light-up of cAMP Derivatives in Living Cells by Click Reactions
Authors: Ito Kenichiro , Liu Hongshan , Komiyama Makoto , Hayashi Tetsuya , Xu Yan
Published: October 2013

8-Azidoadenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (8-azido cAMP) was directly detected in living cells, by applying Cu-free azide-alkyne cycloaddition to probe cAMP derivatives by fluorescence light-up. Fluorescence emission was generated by two non-fluorescent molecules, 8-azido cAMP as a model target and difluorinated cyclooctyne (DIFO) reagent as a probe. The azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction between 8-azido cAMP and DIFO induces fluorescence in 8-azido cAMP. The fluorescence emission serves as a way to probe 8-azido cAMP in cells.
Antioxidant Activity and Anti-Adipogenic Effects of Wild Herbs Mainly Cultivated in Korea
Authors: Lee Young-Jun , Kim Dan-Bi , Lee Jong , Cho Ju-Hyun , Kim Bong , Choi Hyeon-Son , Lee Boo-Yong , Lee Ok-Hwan
Published: October 2013

Wild herbs, which are edible plants that grow in mountainous areas, have diverse biological effects such as anti-obesity and anti-cancer activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the total phenolic and flavonoid contents as well as the antioxidant activity of methanol extracts of Aster scaber, Ligularia fischeri, Kalopanax pictus, Codonopsis lanceolata, and Cirsium setidens and to assess their effects on lipid accumulation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production during adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cells. The results revealed that among the five studied wild herb extracts, Ligularia fischeri showed the highest total phenolic contents (215.8 ± 14.2 mg GAE/g) and Aster scaber showed the highest total flavonoid content (103.9 ± 3.4 mg RE/g). Furthermore, Aster scaber and Ligularia fischeri extracts showed higher antioxidant activity than the other wild herbs. Regarding anti-adipogenic activity, the Cirsium setidens extract significantly inhibited lipid accumulation (~80%) and ROS production (~50%) during adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cells compared with control cells. These results suggest that wild herbs could be used for the development of functional foods as well as health promoting and pharmaceutical agents.
Proteomic Analysis of Matched Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded Specimens in Patients with Advanced Serous Ovarian Carcinoma
Authors: Smith Ashlee , Sun Mai , Bhargava Rohit , Stewart Nicolas , Flint Melanie , Bigbee William , Krivak Thomas , Strange Mary , Cooper Kristine , Zorn Kristin
Published: October 2013

Objective: The biology of high grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) is poorly understood. Little has been reported on intratumoral homogeneity or heterogeneity of primary HGSOC tumors and their metastases. We evaluated the global protein expression profiles of paired primary and metastatic HGSOC from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples. Methods: After IRB approval, six patients with advanced HGSOC were identified with tumor in both ovaries at initial surgery. Laser capture microdissection (LCM) was used to extract tumor for protein digestion. Peptides were extracted and analyzed by reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled to a linear ion trap mass spectrometer. Tandem mass spectra were searched against the UniProt human protein database. Differences in protein abundance between samples were assessed and analyzed by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) for select proteins from the original and an additional validation set of five patients was performed. Results: Unsupervised clustering of the abundance profiles placed the paired specimens adjacent to each other. IHC H-score analysis of the validation set revealed a strong correlation between paired samples for all proteins. For the similarly expressed proteins, the estimated correlation coefficients in two of three experimental samples and all validation samples were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The estimated correlation coefficients in the experimental sample proteins classified as differentially expressed were not statistically significant. Conclusion: A global proteomic screen of primary HGSOC tumors and their metastatic lesions identifies tumoral homogeneity and heterogeneity and provides preliminary insight into these protein profiles and the cellular pathways they constitute.