bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Early Detection of Prenatal Cardiocirculatory Compromise in Small for Gestational Age Infants
Authors: Vijlbrief Daniel C. , van Bel Frank , Molenschot Mirella C. , Benders Manon J.N.L. , Pistorius Lou R. , Kemperman Hans , de Vries Willem B.
Published: February 2014

Background: Impairment of gas and substrate exchange through the placenta leads to fetal hypoxia and growth restriction. Oxygenation of vital organs is maintained with preferential perfusion at the expense of less vital organs, challenging the fetal cardiovascular system. Objectives: To identify cardiovascular compromise in preterm small for gestational age (SGA) infants using the cardiac biomarker B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), which indicates the workload of the myocardium. Methods: In this retrospective case-control study, 26 SGA infants born at less than 32 weeks of gestation from October 2009 to October 2010 were matched for gestational age and month of birth with 26 appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants. Antenatal Doppler ultrasound was used to identify fetal hemodynamic changes by determination of the pulsatility index (PI) of the middle cerebral artery (MCA-PI), umbilical artery (UA-PI) and veins of the ductus venosus (DV-PIV). These indices were compared with BNP levels obtained within 6 h after birth. Results: Antenatal PIs of MCA, UA and DV were significantly related to elevated BNP levels after birth in SGA infants, but not in AGA infants (SGA: MCA-PI = r2 0.23, p < 0.05; UA-PI = r2 0.46, p < 0.01; DV-PIV = r2 0.31, p < 0.05). Furthermore, signs of perinatal (chronic) asphyxia coincided with elevated levels of BNP. SGA was related to more postnatal cardiocirculatory complications. No significant relations between postnatal cardiac ultrasound measurements, placenta size and BNP were found. Conclusion: BNP levels were elevated early after birth in SGA infants and corresponded positively with Doppler indices of circulatory compromise. This suggests an increased workload of the myocardium.
Phosphatidylserine Containing Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Improve Memory Abilities in Nondemented Elderly Individuals with Memory Complaints: Results from an Open-Label Extension Study
Authors: Vakhapova Veronika , Cohen Tzafra , Richter Yael , Herzog Yael , Kam Yossi , Korczyn Amos D.
Published: February 2014

Background: The present study is an open-label extension (OLE) aimed at evaluating the effect of 100 mg/day of phosphatidylserine enriched with docosahexaenoic acid (PS-DHA) on cognitive performance in nondemented elderly individuals with memory complaints. Methods: From the participants who completed the core study, 122 continued with a 15-week OLE. Efficacy was assessed using a computerized tool and the Clinical Global Impression of Change (CGI-C) rating scale. Results: A significant improvement in sustained attention and memory recognition was observed in the PS-DHA naïve group, while the PS-DHA continuers maintained their cognitive status. Additionally, a significant improvement in CGI-C was observed in the naïve group. Conclusions: The results demonstrate that consumption of 100 mg/day of PS-DHA might be associated with improving or maintaining cognitive status in elderly subjects with memory complaints.
Variability of Cognitive Performance during Hemodialysis: Standardization of Cognitive Assessment
Authors: Tholen Susanne , Schmaderer Christoph , Kusmenkov Ekatharina , Chmielewski Stefan , Förstl Hans , Kehl Victoria , Heemann Uwe , Baumann Marcus , Grimmer Timo
Published: February 2014

Background/Aims: Up to 70% of hemodialysis patients over the age of 54 have relevant cognitive impairment. No standardized protocol for the evaluation and monitoring of this population is available today. We hypothesized that the dialysis procedure and the testing environment induce fluctuations of cognitive performance. Methods: 26 hemodialysis patients were randomly tested using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) before, during and after hemodialysis and inside the dialysis room or alone in a separate room. Tests were performed at weekly intervals using five test variations to prevent learning effects. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was performed as a reference test. Results: MoCA scores significantly differed between the conditions: ‘before hemodialysis' revealed the best MoCA score as compared to ‘during hemodialysis' or ‘after hemodialysis' (p = 0.013). During the combined condition ‘before dialysis AND separate room', best performance was achieved (p < 0.001). The BP decline had no significant influence on cognitive performance, whereas the fluid shift showed a significant impact (p = 0.008). Conclusion: Cognitive performance in hemodialysis patients highly depends on the time point and testing environment. Therefore, we strongly suggest a standardization, using the MoCA before hemodialysis in a separate room, in order to make testing results of future research in this field comparable.
Changes in the Bacterial Community Structure in Stored Wormbed Leachate
Authors: Romero-Tepal Elda M. , Contreras-Blancas Eduardo , Navarro-Noya Yendi E. , Ruíz-Valdiviezo Víctor M. , Luna-Guido Marco , Gutiérrez-Miceli Federico A. , Dendooven Luc
Published: February 2014

Organic wastes, such as cow manure, are often composted with earthworms (vermicomposting) while excess water is drained and collected. This wormbed leachate is nutrient-rich and it has been extensively used to fertilize plants. However, it is derived partially from a not yet finished compost process and could exhibit phytotoxicity or contain potentially hazardous microorganisms. The bacterial community in wormbed leachate derived from vermicomposting of cow manure was studied by pyrosequencing the 16S rRNA gene. The fresh wormbed leachate was rich in Mollicutes, particularly the genus Acholeplasma which contain phytopathogen species. The abundance of the Mollicutes decreased when the leachate was stored, while that of the Rhizobiales and the genus Pseudomonas increased. The bacterial communities changed rapidly in the leachate during storage. The changes in ammonium, nitrate and inorganic carbon content of the wormbed leachate when stored were correlated to changes in the bacterial community structure. It was found that storage of the wormbed leachate might be required before it can be applied to crops as large proportions of potentially plant pathogens were found in the fresh leachate.
Efficacy of Combined Therapy with Cyclosporin and Low-Dose Prednisolone in Interstitial Pneumonia Associated with Connective Tissue Disease
Authors: Watanabe Naohiro , Sakamoto Koji , Taniguchi Hiroyuki , Kondoh Yasuhiro , Kimura Tomoki , Kataoka Kensuke , Ono Kenzo , Fukuoka Junya , Nishiyama Osamu , Hasegawa Yoshinori
Published: February 2014

Background: The optimal treatment method for interstitial pneumonia (IP) with connective tissue disease (CTD) remains controversial. In addition, a clinically meaningful end point to judge drug efficacy has not been fully investigated. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate, from various aspects, the therapeutic benefit and tolerability of combined therapy with cyclosporin A (CsA) and low-dose prednisolone (PSL) for chronic fibrosing CTD-IP patients. Methods: A total of 26 CTD-IP patients diagnosed by surgical lung biopsy and subsequently treated with the above combination therapy were retrospectively reviewed. The therapeutic regimen comprised methylprednisolone induction therapy for 2-4 weeks, followed by a combined therapy of CsA with low-dose PSL for 1 year. Evaluation of the therapeutic benefit was based on not only pulmonary function but also exercise capacity, health-related quality of life and dyspnea. Results: After 1 year of therapy, clinically significant improvements in forced vital capacity (≥10%), carbon monoxide diffusing capacity of the lung (≥15%), 6-min walk distance (≥28 m), and St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (≤-7) were observed in 61.5, 69.2, 61.5 and 69.2% of the patients, respectively. All measurements showed statistically significant improvements compared with baseline values. The 1-year treatment did not need to be discontinued in any patients due to unacceptable toxicity, and no deaths occurred. Conclusions: Combined therapy with CsA and low-dose PSL for CTD-IP patients was well-tolerated and patients displayed a noteworthy response.
Pyloric Exclusion for Treatment of Complicated Duodenal Atresia
Authors: Balakumar Vikram , DeRoss Anthony L. , Kouretas Peter C. , Boulanger Scott C. , Barksdale Edward M.
Published: February 2014

Duodenal atresia (DA) is a well-described congenital anomaly that usually responds well to surgical correction. Associated defects are common, and these confounding variables often influence outcome. The authors present a case of a newborn female with an unusual constellation of problems including DA with annular pancreas, trisomy 21, and coarctation of the aorta. She developed protracted complications postoperatively and was treated with an innovative surgical strategy.
Hemodialysis without Anticoagulation for a Patient with Chronic Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation
Authors: Yamanouchi Masayuki , Ubara Yoshifumi , Mise Koki , Hayami Noriko , Hiramatsu Rikako , Sumida Keiichi , Suwabe Tatsuya , Hasegawa Eiko , Hoshino Junichi , Sawa Naoki , Takemoto Fumi , Takaichi Kenmei
Published: February 2014

We report a 68-year-old Japanese man with end-stage renal failure requiring hemodialysis and chronic disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) related to thrombosis in an aortic aneurysm. He had undergone graft replacement for the dissection of the ascending and descending thoracic aorta in 1990 and 2002, respectively. Computed tomography disclosed an aneurysm with thrombosis in the residual aorta adjacent to the graft anastomosis. DIC was diagnosed based on elevation of serum fibrinogen degradation products while his activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time and fibrinogen level were normal. In 2008, hemodialysis was initiated for end-stage renal failure. Dialysis was performed without administration of an anticoagulant because his activated clotting time (ACT) was prolonged to 150-180 s. Thereafter, stable hemodialysis continued without clotting in the dialysis circuit until 2013. If monitoring of ACT can be done, hemodialysis without anticoagulation may be a therapeutic option in such patients.
Topical Bevacizumab for Neovascular Glaucoma: A Pilot Study
Authors: Waisbourd Michael , Shemesh Gabi , Kurtz Shimon , Rachmiel Rony , Moisseiev Elad , Zayit-Soudri Shiri , Loewenstein Anat , Barequet Irina
Published: February 2014

Background/Aims: Bevacizumab (Avastin), an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drug, has been successfully used in recent years to treat ocular pathologies, mostly by intravitreal administration. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of topically applied bevacizumab for the treatment of neovascular glaucoma (NVG). Methods: Patients with NVG were treated with topical bevacizumab (25 mg/ml) 4 times daily during 2 weeks. The following parameters were evaluated at baseline and on days 3, 7 and 14: visual acuity, slit-lamp examination, intraocular pressure (IOP), heart rate and systemic blood pressure. Iris neovascularization was documented using slit-lamp color photos at baseline and on day 14. Results: Eight eyes of 8 patients with NVG were evaluated. After the 2-week treatment, mean IOP was lowered from 34.9 mm Hg (SD 12.8) at baseline to 28.8 mm Hg (SD 9.9) on day 14, representing a mean reduction of 6.1 mm Hg (17.5%). Three patients had clinical regression of their iris neovascularization. Ocular adverse events were transient and included mild upper eyelid swelling, mild exacerbation of superficial punctate keratitis and mild corneal epithelial bullae in an already edematous cornea. There were no serious systemic adverse events. Conclusions: Topical application of bevacizumab may lower IOP and result in regression of neovascularization in patients with NVG.
Bolus Administration of Intravenous Glucose in the Treatment of Hyperkalemia: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Chothia Mogamat-Yazied , Halperin Mitchell L. , Rensburg Megan A. , Hassan Mogamat Shafick , Davids Mogamat Razeen
Published: February 2014

Background: Hyperkalemia is a common medical emergency that may result in serious cardiac arrhythmias. Standard therapy with insulin plus glucose reliably lowers the serum potassium concentration ([K+]) but carries the risk of hypoglycemia. This study examined whether an intravenous glucose-only bolus lowers serum [K+] in stable, nondiabetic, hyperkalemic patients and compared this intervention with insulin-plus-glucose therapy. Methods: A randomized, crossover study was conducted in 10 chronic hemodialysis patients who were prone to hyperkalemia. Administration of 10 units of insulin with 100 ml of 50% glucose (50 g) was compared with the administration of 100 ml of 50% glucose only. Serum [K+] was measured up to 60 min. Patients were monitored for hypoglycemia and EKG changes. Results: Baseline serum [K+] was 6.01 ± 0.87 and 6.23 ± 1.20 mmol/l in the insulin and glucose-only groups, respectively (p = 0.45). At 60 min, the glucose-only group had a fall in [K+] of 0.50 ± 0.31 mmol/l (p < 0.001). In the insulin group, there was a fall of 0.83 ± 0.53 mmol/l at 60 min (p < 0.001) and a lower serum [K+] at that time compared to the glucose-only group (5.18 ± 0.76 vs. 5.73 ± 1.12 mmol/l, respectively; p = 0.01). In the glucose-only group, the glucose area under the curve (AUC) was greater and the insulin AUC was smaller. Two patients in the insulin group developed hypoglycemia. Conclusion: Infusion of a glucose-only bolus caused a clinically significant decrease in serum [K+] without any episodes of hypoglycemia.
Benefit of a Second Opinion for Lung Cancer: No Metastasis to the Kidney but a Synchronous Primary Renal Neoplasm
Authors: ter Avest Marleen J. , Schook Romane M. , Koudstaal Lyan G. , Grünberg Katrien , Paul Marinus A. , Smit Egbert F. , Postmus Pieter E.
Published: February 2014

Background: The finding of a renal mass on imaging is suggestive of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer in the presence of a lung tumor but can also have another origin. Case Report: We describe the case of a patient diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer based on a renal metastasis. A second opinion including review of histopathological data and additional imaging followed by lung surgery and cryoablation of the kidney lesion revealed two tumors of different origins, non-small cell lung cancer and a renal cell carcinoma. Discussion: The presence of a renal mass diagnosed on a CT scan in a patient with lung cancer is not always synonymous with metastatic disease. Confirmation of diagnosis by tissue sampling is mandatory, especially if a synchronous primary tumor is possible.
Cochlear Implantation with Round Window Insertion in Children with Otitis Media with Effusion
Authors: Sun Jia-Qiang , Sun Jing-Wu , Hou Xiao-Yan
Published: February 2014

Aims: To discuss indications and surgical techniques for cochlear implantation (CI) in children with profound sensorineural hearing loss and otitis media with effusion (OME). Methods: Between January 2003 and May 2013, a total of 550 patients received cochlear implants at the Anhui Provincial Hospital, Hefei, China. Of these, 30 children with OME underwent CI with round window insertion in one stage. Results: One-stage operations of CI with round window insertion were carried out in 30 children with OME. All electrodes were implanted successfully. CI was performed without complications and the electrode arrays were protected well. All implant devices worked normally and all patients performed well during an average follow-up period of 12 months. None of the patients experienced any immediate or delayed postoperative infection-related complications. Conclusions: CI with round window insertion could be safely and effectively performed in one stage in children with profound sensorineural hearing loss and OME. It is unnecessary to delay implantation to control OME, but it remains a challenging problem in operation.
Successful Postoperative Treatment of a Lumbosacral Ulcer in a Neonate after Myelomeningocele
Authors: Meszes Angéla , Tálosi Gyula , Máder Krisztina , Kiss Judit , Sánta Csilla , Kemény Lajos , Csoma Zsanett
Published: February 2014

Wound care in neonates demands special awareness of the anatomical and physiological characteristics of their skin, and the danger of adverse mechanical and toxicological events. Here, we present the case of a full-term neonate born with myelomeningocele. Following the closing surgery on the 3rd day of postuterine life, the operated region became inflamed, the sutures opened and a necrotic discharging ulcer developed. Besides parenteral antibiotic treatment based on the microbiological findings, intelligent hydrofiber dressings were applied to the wound with regard to the special characteristics of wound care in neonates. After 72 days, the ulcer had healed with a small residual scar, and the infant is currently demonstrating normal physical and mental development.
Blue Nevus with a Dermoscopic Appearance of Peripheral Streaks with Branches
Authors: Sakamoto Sachiko , Oiso Naoki , Narita Tomohiko , Kawada Akira
Published: February 2014

Blue nevi are dermal dendritic melanocytic proliferations presenting as papules, nodules or plaques of blue, blue-gray or blue-brown color. Dermoscopic appearance commonly shows global patterns as homogeneous mono/dichromatic pigmentation and multichromatic pigmentation. Here, we report the case of a blue nevus with the dermoscopic feature of peripheral streaks with branches. With histopathologic deep sections, we confirmed that dermal dendritic melanocytes were distributed in the direction of the streaks. We emphasize that streaks are a rare but important sign of blue nevi.
Topical Treatment for Orbital Capillary Hemangioma in an Adult Using a β-Blocker Solution
Authors: Ohnishi Ken , Tagami Mizuki , Morii Eiichi , Azumi Atsushi
Published: February 2014

Purpose: To report a case of orbital capillary hemangioma in an adult who was successfully treated with topical timolol maleate 0.5% solution. Methods: Case report. Results: A 43-year-old female presented both superficial and deep orbital capillary hemangioma. Topical timolol maleate was applied twice daily. The superficial lesions have nearly disappeared after 1 year of treatment. The deeper lesions have also been reduced in size according to MRI. Conclusion: We report an adult patient with a relatively large orbital capillary hemangioma who was successfully treated with a topical β-blocker solution. This treatment might be applicable for orbital capillary hemangiomas, regardless of the patient's age, because of its effectiveness and safety.
Endothelial Cell Mineralocorticoid Receptors Regulate Deoxycorticosterone/Salt-Mediated Cardiac Remodeling and Vascular Reactivity But Not Blood Pressure
Authors: Rickard Amanda J. , Morgan James , Chrissobolis Sophocles , Miller Alyson A. , Sobey Christopher G. , Young Morag J.
Published: February 2014

Recent studies have identified novel pathological roles for mineralocorticoid receptors (MR) in specific cell types in cardiovascular disease. The mechanisms by which MR promotes inflammation and fibrosis involve multiple cell-specific events. To identify the role of MR in endothelial cells (EC-MR), the current study explored the vascular responses to aldosterone in wild-type (WT) and EC-null mice (EC-MRKO). Nitric oxide function was impaired in the thoracic aorta and mesenteric arteries of aldosterone-treated WT mice. Although endothelial nitric oxide function was equivalently impaired in the mesenteric arteries of aldosterone-treated EC-MRKO mice, endothelial function was unaffected in the aorta, suggesting a differential role for EC-MR depending on the vascular bed. Second, the contribution of EC-MR to cardiovascular inflammation, fibrosis, and hypertension was determined in WT and EC-MRKO treated with deoxycorticosterone/salt for 8 days or 8 weeks. At 8 days, loss of EC-MR prevented macrophage infiltration and the expression of proinflammatory genes in the myocardium. Increased cardiac fibrosis was not detected in either genotype at this time, mRNA levels of profibrotic genes were significantly lower in EC-MRKO mice versus WT. At 8 weeks, deoxycorticosterone/salt treatment increased macrophage recruitment and proinflammatory gene expression in WT but not in EC-MRKO. Collagen deposition and connective tissue growth factor expression were significantly reduced in EC-MRKO versus WT. Interestingly, systolic blood pressure was equivalently elevated in deoxycorticosterone/salt treated WT and EC-MRKO. Our data demonstrate that (1) EC-MR signaling contributes to vascular nitric oxide function in large conduit arteries but not in resistance vessels and (2) an independent role for EC-MR in the inflammatory and profibrotic response to deoxycorticosterone/salt.
Revisiting the Relationship Between Blood Pressure and Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1
Authors: Schutte Aletta Elisabeth , Volpe Massimo , Tocci Giuliano , Conti Elena
Published: February 2014

Conflicting evidence exists on the relationship between blood pressure (BP) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). We reviewed available articles and pooled extrapolated regression coefficients for the association between BP and total IGF-1 as reported in the literature and included additional data from 912 individuals from the general population. We identified 20 studies including 11 704 subjects. We also measured total IGF-1, insulin-like binding protein-3, and BP in 912 black and white men and women from South Africa (aged 20–70 years). When plotting positive and negative weighed regression coefficients (29 data points) against IGF-1, we found a significant positive relationship (
r
=0.31;
P
<0.001; n=11 704) intercepting the 0 point at 191 ng/mL IGF-1, suggesting an inverse BP/IGF-1 relationship in low IGF-1 conditions, and a positive relationship in overtly high IGF-1 conditions. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the relationship between BP and IGF-1 is dependent on, or related to, IGF-1 concentrations, as an expression of direct or reverse causality. Low IGF-1 bioavailability (associated with aging and vascular deterioration), resistance to IGF-1, and the complex interplay between IGF-1 and other vasoactive hormones could mask the vasoprotective functions of IGF-1 in cross-sectional studies or could modify their functions in prospective studies.
Exploring the Roles of Spectral Detail and Intonation Contour in Speech Intelligibility: An fMRI Study
Authors: Kyong Jeong S. , Scott Sophie K. , Rosen Stuart , Howe Timothy B. , Agnew Zarinah K. , McGettigan Carolyn
Published: February 2014

The melodic contour of speech forms an important perceptual aspect of tonal and nontonal languages and an important limiting factor on the intelligibility of speech heard through a cochlear implant. Previous work exploring the neural correlates of speech comprehension identified a left-dominant pathway in the temporal lobes supporting the extraction of an intelligible linguistic message, whereas the right anterior temporal lobe showed an overall preference for signals clearly conveying dynamic pitch information [Johnsrude, I. S., Penhune, V. B., & Zatorre, R. J. Functional specificity in the right human auditory cortex for perceiving pitch direction. Brain, 123, 155–163, 2000; Scott, S. K., Blank, C. C., Rosen, S., & Wise, R. J. Identification of a pathway for intelligible speech in the left temporal lobe. Brain, 123, 2400–2406, 2000]. The current study combined modulations of overall intelligibility (through vocoding and spectral inversion) with a manipulation of pitch contour (normal vs. falling) to investigate the processing of spoken sentences in functional MRI. Our overall findings replicate and extend those of Scott et al. [Scott, S. K., Blank, C. C., Rosen, S., & Wise, R. J. Identification of a pathway for intelligible speech in the left temporal lobe. Brain, 123, 2400–2406, 2000], where greater sentence intelligibility was predominately associated with increased activity in the left STS, and the greatest response to normal sentence melody was found in right superior temporal gyrus. These data suggest a spatial distinction between brain areas associated with intelligibility and those involved in the processing of dynamic pitch information in speech. By including a set of complexity-matched unintelligible conditions created by spectral inversion, this is additionally the first study reporting a fully factorial exploration of spectrotemporal complexity and spectral inversion as they relate to the neural processing of speech intelligibility. Perhaps surprisingly, there was little evidence for an interaction between the two factors—we discuss the implications for the processing of sound and speech in the dorsolateral temporal lobes.
The Reception of Muʿtazilism among Jews Who Were Not Professional Theologians
Authors: Sklare David
Published: February 2014

‭Muʿtazilite ideas and tendencies probably began to percolate into Jewish culture by the early ninth century. The reception of Muʿtazilite Kalām among Jews can be observed not only among those who wrote theological works, but also among those who were not professional theologians, both Rabbanites and Karaites. The presence of Kalām doctrines seems to have been rather widespread and longlasting, found among some Karaites until at least the seventeenth century.‬
Towards a New Edition of al-Ṣafī Ibn al-ʿAssāl’s Apologetic Works
Authors: Awad Wadi Abullif Malik
Published: February 2014

‭Al-Ṣafī Ibn al-ʿAssāl is well known as a canonist, but much less so as an apologist. He is the author of three major apologies and a shorter one and wrote epitomes of various apologetic works by earlier Christian writers. Following a brief outline of al-Ṣafī’s life, I shall inroduce his apologetic treatises and the works they aim to refute. For each text I will point to the earliest manuscripts and available editions and give a short outline of its contents. The article closes with a short overview on the reception of al-Ṣafī’s apologetic works and a sample edition of a short extract from his K. al-Ṣaḥāʾiḥ fī Jawāb al-naṣāʾiḥ.‬
Ḥadīth in the Christian Arabic Kalām of Būluṣ Ibn Rajāʾ (c. 1000)
Authors: Bertaina David
Published: February 2014

‭The Coptic saint and theologian Būluṣ b. Rajāʾ (b. c. 955; d. c. 1010) wrote a work entitled Kitāb al-Wāḍiḥ in which he employed kalām-style interrogation to defend Christianity and critique Islamic truth claims. As a Muslim convert to the Coptic Church in Fatimid Egypt, Ibn Rajāʾ was familiar with the Islamic ḥadīth tradition and made use of them in his religious arguments. This article examines the biography of Ibn Rajāʾ, the contents of Kitāb al-Wāḍiḥ in Ms. Paris BNF Syriac 203, and its audience. The article investigates how Ibn Rajāʾ employed oral traditions in his work, concluding that he was attracted to ḥadīths as supporting evidence for his polemics while he was also disenchanted with their lack of reliability in his apologetics.‬
Comparative descriptions of non-adult stages of four genera of Gordiids (Phylum: Nematomorpha)
Authors: SZMYGIEL CLEO , SCHMIDT-RHAESA ANDREAS , HANELT BEN , BOLEK MATTHEW G.
Published: February 2014

Freshwater hairworms infect terrestrial arthropods as larvae but are free-living in aquatic habitats as adults. Estimates suggest that only 18% of hairworm species have been described globally and biodiversity studies on this group have been hindered by unreliable ways of collecting adult free living worms over large geographical areas. However, recent work indicates that non-adult cyst stages of hairworms may be the most commonly encountered stages of gordiids in the environment, and can be used for discovering the hidden diversity of this group. Unfortunately, little information is available on the morphological characteristics of non-adult stages of hairworms. To address this problem, we describe and compare morphological characteristics of non-adult stages for nine species of African and North American gordiids from four genera (Chordodes, Gordius, Paragordius, and Neochordodes). Observations were made on the oviposition behavior of adult worms and morphological characteristics were recorded for egg strings, larvae and cysts using light and differential interference contrast microscopy and/or scanning electron microscopy. Our study indicates that three distinct types of oviposition behaviors and three distinct morphological types of egg string, larva, and cysts were present among the four genera of gordiids. Although species identification based on cyst characteristics was not always possible among different species of gordiids, cyst morphology was conserved among some genera and all clades of gordiids. More importantly, our work indicates that gordiid larval morphology can be used for predicting cyst morphology among other gordiid genera. The capability to identify and predict gordiid genera and/or clades based on cyst morphology will be useful for culturing gordiids in the laboratory from field collected cysts and these new techniques will undoubtedly allow others to discover new species of gordiids from around the world.
Routines of families with adolescents with autistic disorders: A comparison study
Authors: Bagatell Nancy J. , Cram Megan , Alvarez Christian G. , Loehle Laura
Published: February 2014

Background.

Research has consistently shown that families with children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have difficulty engaging in family routines, yet little is known about families with adolescents with ASD.

Purpose.

The purpose of this study is to compare the routines of families with adolescents with ASD (FASD) and families with typically developing adolescents.

Method.

Twenty families in each group were compared using the Family Routines Inventory and supplemental questions. Data were analyzed using a Mann-Whitney U and content analysis.

Findings.

No significant difference between groups was found; however, there was a trending toward significance in the subscale of mealtime routines in both endorsement and adherence. Analysis of open-ended questions revealed differences in how routines were carried out.

Implications.

Occupational therapists should consider assessing and addressing routines of importance to FASD to increase family health and well-being. Further research is needed to better understand the routines of FASD.
Local and global communications in Chilean social science: Inequality and relative autonomy
Authors: Ramos Zincke Claudio
Published: February 2014

This article analyzes the connections of the social sciences in Chile with the knowledge produced in central countries in comparison to those established within Chile and with other Latin American countries, paying particular attention to the connections regarding theory. It is based on content analysis of academic publications, and on social network analysis applied to a database of more than 20,000 bibliographical references generated for this research project from the universe of investigations published by Chilean social scientists over a period of seven years in the first decade of this century, in journals and books, both in Chile and abroad. The results show that, regarding international communications, there is a low level of connectivity with other Latin American countries, but that the communications among Chilean authors are relatively important and particularly those with a group of local theorists who occupy central positions in the network. This does not appear to be a pattern of cognitive dependence although it occurs within the context of a global science that is characterized by a remarkable inequality.
Rethinking the relationship between intellectuals and nationalism: A sociology of knowledge approach to philosophers’ construction of national cultural identities in modern Japan and China
Authors: Chew Matthew M
Published: February 2014

This study constructs a sociology of knowledge approach to explaining the relationship between intellectuals and nationalism, one that challenges the conventional intellectual historical approach of understanding the relationship through macro and remote factors. The sociological approach conceptualizes knowledge production dynamics as intervening variables that refract macro and remote causal impacts on knowledge contents. This study focuses on one such dynamic: a ‘nationalist intellectual distinction’ tactic that compels academics to produce indigenous knowledge that in turn inspires popular discourses on national culture. The utility of the approach is demonstrated through a comparative historical analysis of how early 20th-century Chinese and Japanese philosophers contributed to constructing national cultural identities. Based on primary and secondary historical data, it is found that all prominent philosophers in the two countries used nationalist intellectual distinction to build indigenous philosophies. Modern Japanese philosophers defined indigenous rationality, epistemology, and logic as aesthetical, mystical, and emotional and described indigenous ontology in terms of nothingness. Modern Chinese philosophers conceptualized indigenous rationality, epistemology, and logic in moral-practical terms and characterized indigenous ontology as this-worldly and humanistic. It is also found that popular discourses on national culture, which strongly shaped the national cultural identities of the two countries in the past 70 years, borrowed heavily from these philosophers’ ideas on indigenous rationality, logic, and ontology.
Binge drinking and drinking and driving among South Korean international college students in the USA
Authors: Sa J , Seo D-C , Nelson TF , Lohrmann DK , Ellis NT
Published: February 2014

Objective:

To investigate two risky behaviours (i.e. binge drinking and drinking and driving) and their individual- and college-level correlates among South Korean international college students in the USA

Design:

Cross-sectional online survey (student response rate = 41.6%).

Setting:

South Korean college students ( N = 1201) were recruited from 52 different four-year universities in the USA in 2009.

Method:

Self-reported binge drinking, drinking and driving, smoking, study-related stress, life dissatisfaction, region lived in, and type of university attended, were assessed using already-validated instruments.

Results:

A total of 92% of the sample reported at least one occasion of binge drinking in the previous 30 days. Among those who had driven a motor vehicle in the previous 30 days ( n = 950; 79% of the overall sample), 67% had engaged in drinking and driving. Students’ binge drinking was positively associated with current cigarette use and higher levels of life dissatisfaction at college and study-related stress. Students’ drinking and driving was also positively associated with higher levels of life dissatisfaction at college and study-related stress. These relationships were stronger among students attending private institutions than among those attending public institutions. While both college-level correlates (university region and university type) were significantly associated with drinking and driving, none of the college-level correlates were significant in the binge drinking models.

Conclusion:

A very high proportion of South Korean international students attending colleges in the USA appear to engage in binge drinking and drinking and driving. Development of intervention programmes designed specifically for them is necessary.
‘It’s all hands-on, even for management’: Managerial work in the UK cafe sector
Authors: Lloyd Caroline , Payne Jonathan
Published: February 2014

The growth in managerial jobs is often presented by policy makers as evidence of the UK’s success in developing high-skilled, well-paid employment. At the same time, concerns have been raised that the lack of higher level qualifications in the managerial workforce has a detrimental impact on productivity and performance. This article focuses on the relatively neglected figure of the first line manager in private services through a study of the UK cafe sector. It explores the content and quality of the cafe manager’s job, and interrogates the purported benefits of upskilling through graduate level qualifications. The findings indicate that these jobs leave much to be desired in terms of pay and work content, and that managers are highly constrained by the degree of centralized control wielded by head office. Limited autonomy and, in many cases, poor job quality raise crucial questions about the ability of lower level managers to influence performance, even allowing for higher level qualifications.
‘I wish I had . . .’: Target reflections on responses to workplace mistreatment
Authors: Salin Denise , Tenhiälä Aino , Roberge Marie-Élène , Berdahl Jennifer L
Published: February 2014

The aim of this article is to examine target responses to workplace mistreatment and to analyze factors that affect the degree of discrepancy between actual and ‘ideal’ (i.e. desired) responses. Two-hundred and seventeen faculty members at a major research university in North America reported their actual and ideal responses to mistreatment. The most common responses involved passive and social support-seeking strategies. Respondents generally wished they could have been more assertive. The size of the discrepancy between actual and ideal responses to mistreatment was predicted by the perceived severity of the behavior, the coping strategy chosen and a difference in organizational status and gender between the perpetrator and the target of mistreatment. While our findings show that status differences were associated with a larger discrepancy regardless of the direction of the status differences, our results indicate that the mechanisms behind the discrepancy differed. Despite being a relatively high status population, faculty at a prestigious university responded more passively to mistreatment than desired, primarily due to situational constraints. Because the reasons for this discrepancy were often structural (i.e. based on organizational or social status structures), this research highlights the need for organizations to address mistreatment proactively, even in the absence of formal complaints.
Towards a progressive understanding of performativity in critical management studies
Authors: Wickert Christopher , Schaefer Stephan M
Published: February 2014

A central debate in critical management studies (CMS) revolves around the concern that critical research has rather little influence on what managers do in practice. We argue that this is partly because CMS research often focuses on criticizing antagonistically, rather than engaging with managers. In light of this, we seek to re-interpret the anti-performative stance of CMS by focusing on how researchers understand, conceptualize and make use of the performative effects of language. Drawing on the works of JL Austin and Judith Butler, we put forward the concept of progressive performativity, which requires critical researchers to stimulate the performative effects of language in order to induce incremental, rather than radical, changes in managerial behaviour. The research framework we propose comprises two interrelated processes: (i) the strategy of micro-engagement, which allows critical researchers to identify and ‘ally’ with internal activists among managers, and to support their role as internal agents of change; and (ii) ‘reflexive conscientization’ − that is, a dialogic process between researchers and researched that aims to gradually raise the critical consciousness of actors in order to provide spaces in which new practices can be ‘talked into existence’ through the performative effects of language.
Echoes between Van Diemen’s Land and Tasmania: Sound and the space of the island in Richard Flanagan’s Death of a River Guide and Carmel Bird’s Cape Grimm
Authors: Cummins Joseph
Published: February 2014

This article encounters two Tasmanian novels, Richard Flanagan’s Death of a River Guide (1994) and Carmel Bird’s Cape Grimm (2004). The novels each contain two soundscapes: one detailing the hidden histories of violence and genocide at the frontier meeting of Aboriginal people and colonialists in the 1820s, and a second, set in a contemporary timeframe, that echoes these past traumas within the lives of characters facing extinction of their own. Deploying a close listening approach in the analysis of these soundscapes, the essay charts the space of the island in the novels, arguing that the resonance between the soundscapes past and present constitutes a transhistorical continuum of sound that links the colonial to the present. While there are both similarities and differences between the soundscapes in Flanagan and Bird, in the novels the sonic continuum reconstructs colonial history and remaps the space of the island. The discussion is positioned in relation to discourses of sound in Australian gothic literature, haunting, and theories of space.
Toward a Video Pedagogy
Authors: Andrist Lester , Chepp Valerie , Dean Paul , Miller Michael V.
Published: February 2014

Given the massive volume of course-relevant videos now available on the Internet, this article outlines a pedagogy to facilitate the instructional employment of such materials. First, we describe special features of streaming media that have enabled their use in the classroom. Next, we introduce a typology comprised of six categories (conjuncture, testimony, infographic, pop fiction, propaganda, and détournement). We define properties of each video type and the strengths of each type in meeting specific learning goals common to sociology instruction. We conclude by discussing the importance of a video pedagogy for helping instructors to employ video more consciously and efficiently.
Validity and Reliability of the Spanish Version of Caregiver Abuse Screen (CASE)
Authors: Pérez-Rojo Gema , Nuevo Roberto , Sancho Mayte , Penhale Bridget
Published: February 2014

Detection of elder abuse risk is a critical issue because a lot of cases remain hidden. Screening tools can be used to detect elder abuse. However, few tools have been developed for use with caregivers. The purpose was to develop a translation and adaptation of a Spanish version of the Caregiver Abuse Screen (CASE) and to assess its validity and reliability. The CASE was then used with 211 primary caregivers. Validity and reliability were evaluated, as well as the factorial structure of the instrument. This version showed good psychometric properties. It was found to have strong internal consistency and split-half reliability as well as allowing for a good replication of the original factorial structure. Additionally, several variables related to elder abuse were linked to the CASE such as depression, burden, frequency, and reactions to problem behaviors. The version developed showed sufficient validity and reliability and could be considered as a suitable instrument to assess risks of elder abuse in a Spanish-speaking context.
Performance of LDA and DCT models
Authors: Rathore Abhishek Singh , Roy Devshri
Published: February 2014

The Doubly Correlated Topic Model is a generative probabilistic topic model for automatically identifying topics from the corpus of the text documents. It is a mixed membership model, based on the fact that a document exhibits a number of topics. We used word co-occurrence statistical information for identifying an initial set of topics as posterior information for the model. Posterior inference methods utilized by the existing models are intractable and therefore provide an approximate solution. Consideration of co-occurred words as initial topics provides a tighter bound on the topic coherence. The proposed model is motivated by the Latent Dirichlet Allocation Model. The Doubly Correlated Topic Model differs from the Latent Dirichlet Allocation Model in its posterior inference; it uses the highest ranked co-occurred words as initial topics rather than obtaining from Dirichlet priors. The results of the proposed model suggest some improved performance on entropy and topical coherence over different datasets.
Gender, Gender Ideology, and Couples’ Migration Decisions
Authors: Brandén Maria
Published: February 2014

Couples generally move to accommodate men’s, rather than women’s, career opportunities. Using Swedish panel data including 1,039 married or cohabiting individuals, this study examines the importance of traditional gender ideology and behavior in explaining this pattern. Two dimensions of gender and migration are examined: (a) the willingness to move for a partner’s career and (b) the likelihood of couple migration for one’s own work or educational opportunities. Findings show that women are more willing to move for their partner’s career. Childless women are more likely to move with their partners to pursue their own work or education than childless men, whereas mothers are less likely to report this than fathers. Gender ideology and division of household responsibilities do not explain the gender differences in migration behavior. They are more important for individuals’ willingness to move for their partners, with particularly pronounced gender differences among nonegalitarian respondents.
Public Markets
Authors: Visconti Luca M. , Minowa Yuko , Maclaran Pauline
Published: February 2014

Although today’s public markets echo ancient market forms, they incorporate many original aspects which merit scrutiny because: 1) they are connected to a dominant neo-liberal market functioning and structures; and 2) they illuminate important tensions that question how sustainability is practicable at a macro level. Taking an ecological perspective, we show that public markets bring certain benefits in relation to sustainability. Significantly, however, we illustrate how these perceived benefits are underpinned by three compromises or “trade-offs” that public markets also invoke and that operate at inter-social, inter-nation, and inter-gender levels. We argue that what may look sustainable on a local level can raise challenges to macro sustainability more broadly conceived. Our contribution is twofold. First, we offer an updated, comprehensive definition of public markets and discuss to what extent they may represent a megatrend. Second, we contribute to the literature on sustainability by conceptualizing the notion of ecological sustainability, which suggests that an overarching analysis of sustainability reveals possible internal trade-offs between its economic, social, environmental, and ethical constituents, which the case of public markets helps highlight
Protocadherin 17 promoter methylation in tumour tissue from patients with bladder transitional cell carcinoma
Authors: Wang Xiao-Bo , Lin Ying-Li , Li Zhi-Gang , Ma Jian-Hua , Li Jian , Ma Jian-Guo
Published: February 2014

Objective

To investigate the clinical significance of protocadherin 17 ( PCDH17) promoter methylation in bladder cancer.

Methods

Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction was used to examine the promoter methylation status of PCDH17 in tumour tissue specimens obtained from patients with bladder cancer, and in normal bladder epithelial tissue specimens obtained from age- and sex-matched controls. The correlations between methylation status and demographic and clinicopathological parameters, and disease outcome, were assessed.

Results

Methylation of the PCDH17 promoter was detected in 77/115 (67.0%) patients with bladder cancer and 0/43 (0%) of the controls. Methylation was significantly associated with high cancer grade (G3), advanced cancer stage (T2–T4), large tumour diameter (> 3 cm) and tumour recurrence. Methylation was also associated with significantly shorter survival time compared with unmethylated PCDH17 in patients with bladder cancer, and was an independent predictor of overall survival.

Conclusions

PCDH17 promoter methylation is closely associated with bladder cancer malignancy and may be used as an independent predictor of clinical outcomes in patients with bladder cancer.