bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acute effects on the ventricular function in Swedish snuffers: an echocardiographic study
Authors: Sundström D. , Waldenborg M. , Emilsson K.
Published: October 2011

Aims:  Cigarettes and Swedish snuff contain nicotine, which influence the cardiovascular system. Cigarette smoke has been shown to give an acute impairment in diastolic heart parameters. The systolic and diastolic heart function in snuff users is not thoroughly enough investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate if Swedish snuff will give an acute decrease in systolic and diastolic heart parameters in the left and right ventricles in healthy Swedish snuffers.

Methods and results:  Thirty healthy volunteers were examined with echocardiography. The study involved recordings from four different times: before snuff intake, 5 and 30 min after intake and finally 30 min after snuff withdrawal. The systolic and diastolic heart parameters were collected with conventional echocardiographic methods. In addition, the heart frequency and blood pressure response were measured. The pulse and blood pressure response were significantly altered (P<0·01) during the test. Left ventricular ejection fraction and the amplitudes of mitral and tricuspid annulus motion did not alter significantly. The main finding in the study was the significant decrease (P<0·05) in several diastolic heart parameters for both the left and right ventricles.

Conclusions:  This study shows that snuff intake causes a significant decrease in E/A ratio and a delay in ventricular relaxation and therefore a decrease in diastolic heart function in the left and right ventricles. The mechanism behind these alterations is probably very complex, but a combination of nicotine effects and loading conditions is probably the main factor.
Min‐degree constrained minimum spanning tree problem: complexity, properties, and formulations
Authors: de Almeida Ana Maria , Martins Pedro , de Souza Maurício C.
Published: October 2011

This paper addresses a new combinatorial problem, the Min‐Degree Constrained Minimum Spanning Tree (md‐MST), that can be stated as: given a weighted undirected graph with positive costs on the edges and a node‐degrees function , the md‐MST is to find a minimum cost spanning tree T of G, where each node i of T either has at least a degree of or is a leaf node. This problem is closely related to the well‐known Degree Constrained Minimum Spanning Tree (d‐MST) problem, where the degree constraint is an upper bound instead.

The general NP‐hardness for the md‐MST is established and some properties related to the feasibility of the solutions for this problem are presented, in particular we prove some bounds on the number of internal and leaf nodes. Flow‐based formulations are proposed and computational experiments involving the associated Linear Programming (LP) relaxations are presented.
Revised activity–composition models for clinopyroxene and amphibole
Authors: DIENER J. F. A. , POWELL R.
Published: October 2011

Recent activity–composition models for clinopyroxene and amphibole are revised to provide better consistency with observed phase relations in natural rocks. For clinopyroxene, the calibration in NCFMAS is retained, but the incorporation of acmite is revised to improve the partitioning of ferric iron between coexisting clinopyroxenes. For amphibole, the NCFMASH calibration is retained, but the addition of ferric iron is changed to provide consistency with the clinopyroxenes. The thermodynamics of orthoamphibole (gedrite) is also adjusted to resolve an unrelated inconsistency. The effects of these improvements are illustrated through comparison of calculated pseudosections produced with the existing and new models with natural data from lawsonite eclogites.
Treatment of Recalcitrant Excessive Granulation Tissue with Photodynamic Therapy in an Eight‐Year‐Old Patient with Focal Dermal Hypoplasia Syndrome
Authors: Liu Jenny , Hsu Phillip T. , VanderWielen Beth A. , Teng Joyce M.
Published: October 2011

Abstract:  We report a pediatric patient with focal dermal hypoplasia syndrome who developed painful excessive granulation tissue refractory to traditional medical and surgical therapies. Complete response was achieved rapidly with a combination of photodynamic therapy and intralesional steroid injections. The patient has remained in remission for longer than a year.
Likely Amantadine‐Induced Livedo Reticularis in a Child
Authors: Barrera Fernando , Browning John C.
Published: October 2011

Abstract:  We present an 11‐year‐old boy with livedo reticularis (LR) secondary to amantadine treatment for his attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We are unaware of previous reports of amantadine‐induced LR associated with treatment for ADHD in the pediatric population.
Forehead Pressure Necrosis in Neonates Following Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
Authors: Hogeling Marcia , Fardin Shala R. , Frieden Ilona J. , Wargon Orli
Published: October 2011

Abstract:  After treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) via nasal masks and a face mask, three neonates developed pressure necrosis involving their central forehead and left eyebrow. The pressure necrosis resulted in permanent scarring in all three infants. We describe a case series of a new cutaneous iatrogenic complication of CPAP.
Propranolol versus Prednisone in the Treatment of Infantile Hemangiomas: A Retrospective Comparative Study
Authors: Bertrand Janie , McCuaig Catherine , Dubois Josée , Hatami Afshin , Ondrejchak Sandra , Powell Julie
Published: October 2011

Abstract:  The goal of the current study was to compare the clinical effectiveness of oral propranolol with that of oral prednisone in the treatment of infantile hemangiomas (IH). Patients treated for IH with oral propranolol were retrospectively matched with patients treated with oral prednisone according to type, location, and size of the IH and age at start of treatment. Response to treatment was evaluated by rating serial medical photographs taken 1, 2, and 6 months after initiation of treatment. Degree of clinical improvement in overall appearance (including color and size) was rated as follows: worse or stable (0), slight (<25%), moderate (25–50%), good (50–75%), or excellent (>75%). A second assessment was done using a 100‐mm visual analog scale to rate improvement at 6 months. Pre and post‐treatment imaging was available for several patients. Twelve pairs of infants with IH were analyzed. At 1 month, clinical improvement in the propranolol group was moderate to good in all patients. In the prednisone group, only one patient had moderate improvement, with others showing slight (7/12) or no improvement or stabilization (3/12) from baseline and one case worsening. At 6 months, the propranolol group showed good to excellent response in all cases, whereas nine in the prednisone group showed slight to moderate response. Doppler ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging correlated with the clinical improvement in the cases in which it was performed. No major side effects were observed in either group. Propranolol appears superior to oral prednisone in inducing more‐rapid and greater clinical improvement in this study. A larger prospective study comparing these two treatment modalities is warranted.
Propranolol Therapy in 55 Infants with Infantile Hemangioma: Dosage, Duration, Adverse Effects, and Outcome
Authors: Schupp Christine J. , Kleber Johann‐Baptist , Günther Patrick , Holland‐Cunz Stefan
Published: October 2011

Abstract:  Propranolol has recently been reported to be a highly effective treatment for infantile hemangioma (IH) and is emerging as a first‐line therapy. This study reports the observations after completed propranolol therapy in 55 patients. Propranolol was administered in a dosage of 2 mg/kg per day with initial monitoring of vital signs. Therapy duration was planned for 4 to 6 months; if there was significant relapse, the period of treatment was extended. The mean age of 55 patients at the beginning of the treatment was 6 months (52.7% <4 mos, 30.9% 4–9 mos, 16.3% >9 mos). Thirteen patients (21.7%) showed a reaction possibly due to the medication, but we did not observe any life‐threatening adverse effects. The therapy was interrupted due to temporary aggravation of preexisting bronchial asthma in one child. The initially administered dosage was adjusted to the increase of weight in 21 patients (38.2%), but most did not require a dosage adjustment despite somatic growth. Mean duration of treatment was 6 months; younger patients needed longer treatment periods. Response to treatment was favorable; eight (14.5%) showed total regression and 46 (83.4%) partial regression, and one (1.8%) had no response. Propranolol is an efficacious therapy for severe IH. Risks and complications appear moderate. If indicated, therapy should be initiated early to minimize the extent of residual changes. Young patients show quick and extended benefit. Prospective controlled trails are necessary to observe the effects on a long‐term basis.
Understanding the Past: Statistical Analysis of Causal Attribution
Authors: Yamamoto Teppei
Published: October 2011

Would the third‐wave democracies have been democratized without prior modernization? What proportion of the past militarized disputes between nondemocracies would have been prevented had those dyads been democratic? Although political scientists often ask these questions of causal attribution, existing quantitative methods fail to address them. This article proposes an alternative statistical methodology based on the widely accepted counterfactual framework of causal inference. The contribution of this article is threefold. First, it clarifies differences between causal attribution and causal effects by specifying the type of research questions to which each quantity is relevant. Second, it provides a clear resolution of the long‐standing methodological debate on “selection on the dependent variable.” Third, the article derives new nonparametric identification results, showing that the complier probability of causal attribution can be identified using an instrumental variable. The proposed framework is illustrated via empirical examples from three subfields of political science.
Electrocardiograms Transmitted via Facsimile May Not Allow Accurate Interval Interpretation
Authors: FAROOQI KANWAL M. , CERESNAK SCOTT R. , FREEMAN KATHERINE , PASS ROBERT H.
Published: October 2011

Background:

Electrocardiograms (ECGs) are sent via facsimile by pediatricians and psychiatrists to cardiologists for assessment. The validity of this method of transmission has not been established.

Methods:
 ECGs were collected from 100 consecutive patients from the cardiology clinic of the Children's Hospital at Montefiore. The ECGs were faxed and also electronically faxed (efax) and printed. Two electrophysiologists (EP1 and EP2) interpreted the intervals on original, faxed, and efaxed ECGs and intervals (RR, PR, and QT) were compared. A three‐way analysis of variance to examine differences between raters, among ECG intervals, and among methods (repeated factor) was performed. Because no interaction terms were significant, a Duncan's multiple range test was used to evaluate where differences occurred among the three intervals and three methods, given these main effects were significant.

Results:
 The difference between raters EP1 and EP2 was not significant (P = 0.6681). Although the interval measurements of the faxed and efaxed ECGs were not significantly different from each other (P > 0.05), each was significantly different from the original across all three ECG intervals and both raters (P = 0.0138). The RR interval yielded mean (SD) values for the original, faxed, and efaxed methods of 0.6986 seconds (0.2074), 0.6646 seconds (0.1938), and 0.6838 seconds (0.1935), respectively. For the QT interval, the mean (SD) values for the original, faxed, and efaxed methods were 0.3370 seconds (0.0524), 0.32134 seconds (0.0466), and 0.3284 seconds (0.0515), respectively.

Conclusions:
 ECG transmission via facsimile or efax may introduce significant distortion of the intervals. Alternative means of sending ECGs for interpretation should be considered. PACE 2011; 34:1283–1287)
A Randomized Trial of Computer Kiosk–expedited Management of Cystitis in the Emergency Department
Authors: Stein John C. , Navab Bahar , Frazee Brad , Tebb Kathleen , Hendey Gregory , Maselli Judy , Gonzales Ralph
Published: October 2011

Academic Emergency Medicine 2011; 18:1053–1059 © 2011 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Objectives:  The objective was to assess the efficiency and safety of an interactive computer kiosk module for the management of uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTI) in emergency departments (EDs).

Methods:  This was a prospective unblinded randomized trial. Women age 18 to 64 years seeking care for suspected UTI in three urban EDs were referred to a computer kiosk after triage. The kiosk evaluated women for uncomplicated UTI (based on patient report of at least one irritable voiding symptom within 7 days and absence of complicating features), and eligible patients were randomized to expedited management or usual ED care. Expedited management consisted of a brief clinician encounter to confirm computer kiosk responses and selection of one of four standard antibiotic regimens. Study outcomes included urine culture results, duration of ED visit, time to illness resolution, return visits, and satisfaction with care.

Results:  Seventeen percent (n = 103) of 624 participants with suspected UTI fulfilled uncomplicated criteria and were randomized. Sixty‐nine percent of these women had a positive urine culture. Compared with the control group, the computer‐expedited management group had lower median visit duration (89 minutes, interquartile range [IQR] = 65 to 150 minutes vs. 146 minutes, IQR = 105 to 216 minutes) for a decrease of 57 minutes (95% confidence interval [CI] = 27 to 87, p = 0.004). They had similar time to illness resolution, number of return visits, and satisfaction with care.

Conclusions:  An interactive computer kiosk accurately, efficiently, and safely expedited the management of women with uncomplicated UTI in a busy, urban ED. Expanding the use of this technology to other conditions could help to improve ED patient flow.
Tracheal telocytes
Authors: Rusu M. C. , Jianu Adelina M. , Mirancea N. , Didilescu Andreea C. , Mănoiu V. S. , Păduraru D.
Published: October 2011

Recently, a novel type of stromal cell – the telocytes (TC) – was identified in mouse trachea. These cells are known to possess the ultrastructural characteristics, which support their role in intercellular signaling. We found TC in all stromal compartments of the tracheal wall. TC with long prolongations (telopodes, Tp) were lining longitudinally the collagen bundles, and were serially arranged (end‐to‐end connections of Tp were found). Noteworthy, Tp frequently establish stromal synapses with mast cells (MC). Primary cilia were also identified in TC. In conclusion, tracheal TC could be involved in the tracheal regulation (e.g. secretion, contractility). The tandem TC‐MC deserves further investigations.
Makaynûn and its territory: the formation of an urban centre during the South Arabian period in the Hadramawt
Authors: Mouton Michel , Benoist Anne , Schiettecatte Jérémie
Published: October 2011

Work at the site of Makaynûn in eastern Hadramawt (Yemen) and surrounding territory has yielded information on ancient settlement patterns in southern Arabia. This small regional centre lay within an area marked out by a network of seasonal flood‐water cultivation systems that irrigated agricultural areas. Each system was associated with one or more villages that were contemporary with the central site. As well as providing a communal refuge, the central site contained religious buildings, dwellings and doubtless the residence of the local elite, within the shelter of a defensive enclosure. This territory was overlain by a symbolic geography defined by the location of the sanctuaries and cemeteries of the Makaynûn community. This model of settlement was repeated all along the valley, where comparable systems were found at the mouths of the main tributary valleys.
Recovering the past from above Hibabiya — an Early Islamic village in the Jordanian desert?
Authors: Kennedy David
Published: October 2011

Britain and the Middle East were the two areas in which the technique of aerial archaeology was pioneered in the 1920s. Overwhelmingly the latter took place in Syria where a French Jesuit priest, Antoine Poidebard, worked for a generation. Further south in Transjordan — as it then was — three men presided over a brief (1927–1929) but fruitful period: an archaeologist with a passion for the newly developing technique (O.G.S. Crawford) and two pilots of the Royal Air Force with an amateur interest in what they saw beneath their wings (Flt. Lt. P.E. Maitland and Gp/Capt L.W.B. Rees). An aerial photograph published at the time seemed to identify a ‘village’ as prehistoric. Over eighty years later and just after it was destroyed, a fresh examination and the rediscovery of some crucial dating evidence have combined to identify it as, probably, an early Islamic village on the desert fringe.
A new Ancient North Arabian inscription with a reference to the Nabataean king Aretas
Authors: al‐Salameen Zeyad
Published: October 2011

This study deals with a newly discovered Ancient North Arabian inscription found in al‐Ḥussayniah, north of Maʿān, in southern Jordan. The inscription is dated to ‘the year Ḥarithat the king died’, most likely referring to the year of the death of Aretas IV (AD 40).
The notion τὸ πέρας τῆς ἀνακομιδῆς and the location of Ptolemais of the Hunts in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea
Authors: Bukharin M.D.
Published: October 2011

The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea describes the route of a trade ship in the ancient Erythraean Sea following certain reference points. One of these was called τὸ πέρας τῆς ἀνακομιδῆς, from which the distance to Ptolemais of the Hunts was given. It was generally understood as the ‘endpoint of return’ and thought to be Berenice. In fact, the phrase is to be understood as ‘the endpoint of sailing/delivery from (Egypt)’ and the place appears to be identifiable with modern Anfile Bay, where the trade ships turned back. The port itself had to be visited on the way back to Egypt. The reason was connected with the primary goal of the establishment of the port: it was much more practical to take elephants aboard on the way back to Egypt. The information on Ptolemais of the Hunts seems to derive from a late Ptolemaic source. The exact route of the ship, referred to by the author of the Periplus, is unknown and even knowledge of the exact distance from the reference point does not allow us to identify a region, where Ptolemais of the Hunts is to be sought.
Modulation of Amniotic Fluid Activin‐A and Inhibin‐A in Women With Preterm Premature Rupture of the Membranes and Infection‐Induced Preterm Birth
Authors: Rosenberg Victor A. , Buhimschi Irina A. , Dulay Antonette T. , Abdel‐Razeq Sonya S. , Oliver Emily A. , Duzyj Christina M. , Lipkind Heather , Pettker Christian M. , Buhimschi Catalin S.
Published: October 2011

Citation Rosenberg VA, Buhimschi IA, Dulay AT, Abdel‐Razeq SS, Oliver EA, Duzyj CM, Lipkind H, Pettker CM, Buhimschi CS. Modulation of amniotic fluid activin‐A and inhibin‐A in women with preterm premature rupture of the membranes and infection‐induced preterm birth. Am J Reprod Immunol 2012; 67: 122–131

Problem  Activins and inhibins are important modulators of inflammatory processes. We explored activation of amniotic fluid (AF) activin‐A and inhibin‐A system in women with intra‐amniotic infection and preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM).

Method of study  We analyzed 78 AF samples: ‘2nd trimester‐control’ (n = 12), ‘3rd trimester‐control’ (n = 14), preterm labor with intact membranes [positive‐AF‐cultures (n = 13), negative‐AF‐cultures (n = 13)], and PPROM [positive‐AF‐cultures (n = 13), negative‐AF‐cultures (n = 13)]. Activin‐A levels were evaluated ex‐vivo following incubation of amniochorion and placental villous explants with Gram‐negative lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or Gram‐positive (Pam3Cys) bacterial mimics. Ability of recombinant activin‐A and inhibin‐A to modulate inflammatory reactions in fetal membranes was explored through explants’ IL‐8 release.

Results  Activin‐A and inhibin‐A were present in human AF and were gestational age‐regulated. Activin‐A was significantly upregulated by infection. Lower inhibin‐A levels were seen in PPROM. LPS elicited release of activin‐A from amniochorion, but not from villous explants. Recombinant activin‐A stimulated IL‐8 release from amniochorion, an effect that was not reversed by inhibin‐A.

Conclusion  Human AF activin‐A and inhibin‐A are involved in biological processes linked to intra‐amniotic infection/inflammation‐induced preterm birth.
Variations in incubator temperature and humidity management: a survey of current practice
Authors: Deguines C , Décima P , Pelletier A , Dégrugilliers L , Ghyselen L , Tourneux P
Published: October 2011

Aim:  To describe and assess routine procedures and practices for incubator temperature and humidity management in France in 2009.

Methods:  A questionnaire was sent to all the 186 neonatal care units in France.

Results:  The questionnaire return rate was 86%. Seventy‐five per cent of the units preferred skin servo‐control to air temperature control in routine practice. Air temperature control was mainly used for infants with a gestational age of more than 28 weeks and aged over 7 days of life. In general, thermal management decisions did not depend on the infant’s age but were based on a protocol applied specifically by each unit. All units humidified the incubator air, but there was a large difference between the lowest and highest reported humidity values (45% and 100% assumed to be a maximal value, respectively). More than 65% of the units used a fixed humidity value, rather than a variable, protocol‐derived value.

Conclusion:  We observed large variations in incubator temperature and humidity management approaches from one neonatal care unit to another. There is a need for more evidence to better inform practice. A task force should be formed to guide clinical practice.
Obesity, inflammation and metabolic syndrome in Danish adolescents
Authors: Gøbel Rikke Juul , Jensen Signe Marie , Frøkiær Hanne , Mølgaard Christian , Michaelsen Kim Fleischer
Published: October 2011

Aim:  To describe biomarkers of inflammation and markers related to the metabolic syndrome (MS) in healthy obese Danish adolescent and compare to a normal‐weight group.

Methods:  Fifty‐one obese and 30 normal‐weight adolescents (12–15 years) were included. Anthropometry and blood pressure were measured, and blood was sampled.

Results: Obese adolescents had significantly higher blood pressure, insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, C‐peptide, total cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), triglyceride, C‐reactive protein (CRP), interleukin‐6 and tumour necrosis factor alpha and lower high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol values, compared with normal‐weight adolescents, whereas there were no differences between the groups for glucose, free fatty acids or faecal calprotectin. Within the obese group insulin, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, and CRP were positively associated with body mass index (BMI) Z‐scores. The MS was present in 14% of obese adolescents. CRP was positively associated with most anthropometric measures within the obese group, and in multiple linear regression analysis both BMI Z‐score and the sum of skin folds explained a considerable part (R2 = 0.421) of the variation in CRP.

Conclusion:  Otherwise healthy Danish obese adolescents had marked low‐grade inflammation, elevated biomarkers of the MS and high prevalence of the MS.
Demand for public hospital emergency department services in Australia: 2000–2001 to 2009–2010
Authors: FitzGerald Gerry , Toloo Sam , Rego Joanna , Ting Joseph , Aitken Peter , Tippett Vivienne
Published: October 2011

Objective: Hospital EDs are a significant and high‐profile component of Australia's health‐care system, which in recent years have experienced considerable crowding. This crowding is caused by the combination of increasing demand, throughput and output factors. The aim of the present article is to clarify trends in the use of public ED services across Australia with a view to providing an evidence basis for future policy analysis and discussion.

Methods: The data for the present article have been extracted, compiled and analysed from publicly available sources for a 10 year period between 2000–2001 and 2009–2010.

Results: Demand for public ED care increased by 37% over the decade, an average annual increase of 1.8% in the utilization rate per 1000 persons. There were significant differences in utilization rates and in trends in growth among states and territories that do not easily relate to general population trends alone.

Conclusions: This growth in demand exceeds general population growth, and the variability between states both in utilization rates and overall trends defies immediate explanation. The growth in demand for ED services is a partial contributor to the crowding being experienced in EDs across Australia. There is a need for more detailed study, including qualitative analysis of patient motivations in order to identify the factors driving this growth in demand.
New Insights from One Case of Female Ejaculation
Authors: Rubio-Casillas Alberto , Jannini Emmanuele A.
Published: October 2011

Introduction

Although there are historical records showing its existence for over 2,000 years, the so-called female ejaculation is still a controversial phenomenon. A shared paradigm has been created that includes any fluid expulsion during sexual activities with the name of “female ejaculation.”

Aim

To demonstrate that the “real” female ejaculation and the “squirting or gushing” are two different phenomena.

Methods

Biochemical studies on female fluids expelled during orgasm.

Results

In this case report, we provided new biochemical evidences demonstrating that the clear and abundant fluid that is ejected in gushes (squirting) is different from the real female ejaculation. While the first has the features of diluted urines (density: 1,001.67 ± 2.89; urea: 417.0 ± 42.88 mg/dL; creatinine: 21.37 ± 4.16 mg/dL; uric acid: 10.37 ± 1.48 mg/dL), the second is biochemically comparable to some components of male semen (prostate-specific antigen: 3.99 ± 0.60 × 103 ng/mL).

Conclusions

Female ejaculation and squirting/gushing are two different phenomena. The organs and the mechanisms that produce them are bona fide different. The real female ejaculation is the release of a very scanty, thick, and whitish fluid from the female prostate, while the squirting is the expulsion of a diluted fluid from the urinary bladder.
Poor Response to Alprostadil ICI Test is Associated with Arteriogenic Erectile Dysfunction and Higher Risk of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events
Authors: Rastrelli Giulia , Corona Giovanni , Monami Matteo , Melani Cecilia , Balzi Daniela , Sforza Alessandra , Forti Gianni , Mannucci Edoardo , Maggi Mario
Published: October 2011

ABSRACT

Introduction

Intracavernous alprostadil injection (ICI) test has been considered useless in assessing the vascular status of subjects with erectile dysfunction (ED).

Aim

To analyze the clinical correlates of ICI test in patients with ED and to verify the value of this test in predicting major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).

Methods

A consecutive series of 2,396 men (mean age 55.9 ± 11.9 years) attending our outpatient clinic for sexual dysfunction was retrospectively studied. A subset of this sample (N = 1,687) was enrolled in a longitudinal study.

Main Outcome Measures

Several clinical, biochemical, and instrumental (penile color Doppler ultrasound; PCDU) factors were evaluated. All patients underwent an ICI test, and responses were recorded on a four-point scale ranging from 1 = no response to 4 = full erection.

Results

Among the patients studied, 16.4%, 41.2%, 40.2% and 2.2% showed grade 4, 3, 2, and 1 ICI test response, respectively. After adjusting for confounders, subjects with grade 1 ICI test response showed reduced perceived sleep-related, masturbation-related, and sexual-related erections when compared with the rest of the sample. In addition, a worse response to ICI test was associated with a higher prevalence of hypogonadism-related symptoms and signs along with lower testosterone levels. The prevalence of both diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome was inversely related to ICI test response. Accordingly, dynamic and basal peak systolic velocity (PSV), as well as acceleration at PCDU, decreased as a function of ICI test response. In the longitudinal study, after adjusting for confounders, grade 1 response was independently associated with a higher incidence of MACE (hazard ratio = 2.745 [1.200–6.277]; P < 0.05). These data were confirmed even when only subjects with normal PSV (>25 cm/s) were considered.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that poor ICI test response is associated with several metabolic disturbances and higher incidence of MACE. We strongly recommend performing ICI test with alprostadil in all ED subjects.
The End of a National Monarchy: Nepal's Recent Constitutional Transition from Hindu Kingdom to Secular Federal Republic
Authors: Malagodi Mara
Published: October 2011

The article analyses Nepal's transition in 2007 from the constitutional definition of the state as a ‘Hindu monarchical kingdom’ to a ‘secular federal republic’, followed by the abolition of the Shah monarchy in 2008. Nepal's institutional change in 2007–2008 invites reflection on the role of Hindu kingship in informing Nepali nationalism in its constitutional formulation. The developments of the Shah monarchy are interpreted as the product of both the institution and the various historical figures that have occupied that institutional place. However, it is argued that the more or less charismatic qualities of individual Shah kings were ‘contained’ within and minimised by the prevailing institutional dimension of the monarchy in defining the Nepali nation. The nationalist legitimacy of the Shah monarchy as Nepal's core political institution rested upon the notion of Hindu kingship, which transcended the single historical personalities of the Shah kings and proved so pervasive that it has shaped the constitutional definition of the nation even in republican Nepal.
Effects of platelet‐rich fibrin on human periodontal ligament fibroblasts and application for periodontal infrabony defects
Authors: Chang Y‐C , Zhao J‐H
Published: October 2011

Background:  Platelet‐rich fibrin (PRF) by Choukroun’s technique is derived from an autogenous preparation of concentrated platelets. Little is known about the effects of PRF on periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PDLFs) and the application of PRF for periodontal regeneration.

Methods:  PDLFs were derived from healthy individuals undergoing extraction for orthodontic reasons. Blood collection was carried out from healthy volunteers. PRF was obtained from a table centrifuge centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 12 minutes. The effects of PRF on PDLFs were determined by measuring the expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal‐regulated protein kinase (p‐ERK), osteoprotegerin (OPG) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. Moreover, we retrospectively examined the feasibility and safety of reconstructing the periodontal infrabony defects with PRF in six patients.

Results:  PRF was found to increase ERK phosphorylation and OPG in PDLFs in a time‐dependent manner (p < 0.05). ALP activity was also significantly upregulated by PRF (p < 0.05). Application of PRF in infrabony defects exhibited pocket reduction and clinical attachment gain after six months. Periapical radiography revealed radiographic defect filled in grafted teeth.

Conclusions:  The enhancement of p‐ERK, OPG and ALP expression by PRF may provide benefits for periodontal regeneration. Clinical and radiologic analysis showed that the use of PRF is an effective modality for periodontal infrabony defects.
Tigers and Telazol®: The Unintended Evolution of Caution to Contraindication
Authors: KREEGER TERRY J. , ARMSTRONG DOUGLAS L.
Published: October 2011

Abstract: Scientific writing depends on citing accurate sources. There can be real‐world consequences for failing to do so. As an example, several authors have stated that tiletamine‐zolazepam (Telazol®) is contraindicated for tiger (Panthera tigris) immobilization. This admonition has virtually evolved into dogma in the field of wildlife chemical immobilization and was recently used to challenge field research. However, a literature review revealed that no author cited the primary reference that raised concern about the use of Telazol in tigers. We conducted an internet‐based inquiry of zoo veterinarians combined with personal communications and other field reports to gather data on the use of Telazol in tigers. These data indicated that the mortality rate (1.3%) of tigers given Telazol was similar to other immobilization regimens in other species, which suggested that, although adverse reactions may still occur, tiletamine‐zolazepam should not be contraindicated in tigers. This investigation emphasized the need to conduct thorough literature reviews before making unsubstantiated claims.
Reaction of Harbor Seals to Cruise Ships
Authors: JANSEN JOHN K. , BOVENG PETER L. , DAHLE SHAWN P. , BENGTSON JOHN L.
Published: October 2011

Abstract: The largest aggregations of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) in Alaska, USA, haul out on floating ice in tidewater glacial fjords. Seals use these fjords in peak numbers during the critical periods of pupping, breeding, and molting when visits by tour ships also peak. Documented and suspected declines of harbor seals in fjords with rising vessel traffic underscore the need to better understand possible impacts, particularly in areas where ship visits have risen substantially in the past 2 decades. We examined the interruption of haul‐out bouts of harbor seals due to approaching cruise ships in Disenchantment Bay, Alaska. We conducted observations from cruise ships and focused on disturbance of seals as evidenced by seals flushing into the water from the floating ice on which they rested. We investigated rate of flushing in relation to vessel distance, approach angle, group size, and seal type (mother, pup, or other). Using a survival‐regression analysis, we found that the risk of disturbing harbor seals increased when ships approached within 500 m; seals approached as close as 100 m were 25 times more likely to enter the water than seals 500 m from a ship. Seals were 4 times more prone to enter the water when ships were approaching directly rather than passing abeam. Seals responded similarly regardless of group size or seal type. Energetic models indicated a potential to disrupt energy balance and cause thermal stress in disturbed pups if they spent >50% of their time in ice‐chilled water. Studies at non‐glacial sites suggest that pups spend 40–70% of their time in the water. Voluntary guidelines for approaching seals in Alaska recommend that cruise ships approach ≥91 m (100 yards), a distance at which we show 90% of seals would flush into the water. Our findings indicate a need to develop regulations to maintain a 500‐m separation between cruise ships and seals in all Alaskan glacial fjords.
Bed Site Selection by Neonate Deer in Grassland Habitats on the Northern Great Plains
Authors: GROVENBURG TROY W. , JACQUES CHRISTOPHER N. , KLAVER ROBERT W. , JENKS JONATHAN A.
Published: October 2011

Abstract: Bed site selection is an important behavioral trait influencing neonate survival. Vegetation characteristics of bed sites influence thermal protection of neonates and concealment from predators. Although previous studies describe bed site selection of neonatal white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in regions of forested cover, none determined microhabitat effects on neonate bed site selection in the Northern Great Plains, an area of limited forest cover. During summers 2007–2009, we investigated bed site selection (n = 152) by 81 radiocollared neonate white‐tailed deer in north‐central South Dakota, USA. We documented 80 (52.6%) bed sites in tallgrass‐Conservation Reserve Program lands, 35 (23.0%) bed sites in forested cover, and 37 (24.3%) in other habitats (e.g., pasture, alfalfa, wheat). Bed site selection varied with age and sex of neonate. Tree canopy cover (P < 0.001) and tree basal area (P < 0.001) decreased with age of neonates, with no bed sites observed in forested cover after 18 days of age. Male neonates selected sites with less grass cover (P < 0.001), vertical height of understory vegetation (P < 0.001), and density of understory vegetation (P < 0.001) but greater bare ground (P = 0.047), litter (P = 0.028), and wheat (P = 0.044) than did females. Odds of bed site selection increased 3.5% (odds ratio = 1.035, 95% CI = 1.008–1.062) for every 1‐cm increase in vertical height of understory vegetation. Management for habitat throughout the grasslands of South Dakota that maximizes vertical height of understory vegetation would enhance cover characteristics selected by neonates.
Site Occupancy Dynamics of Northern Spotted Owls in the Eastern Cascades, Washington, USA, 1990–2003
Authors: KROLL ANDREW J. , FLEMING TRACY L. , IRWIN LARRY L.
Published: October 2011

Abstract: Northern spotted owls (Strix occidentalis caurina) have received intense research and management interest since their listing as a threatened species by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in 1990. Several spotted owl (Strix occidentalis) response variables have been examined in various investigations, but recent advances in statistical modeling permit evaluations of temporal and spatial variability in site occupancy, local‐extinction, and colonization probabilities while incorporating imperfect detection probabilities. Following recent work by other researchers on site occupancy dynamics of spotted owls in Oregon, USA, we evaluated temporal variability of detection, occupancy, local‐extinction, and colonization probabilities for spotted owls, as well as potential influences of barred owl (Strix varia) presence on these parameters. We used spotted owl survey data collected from 1990 to 2003 on a study area in the eastern Cascades Mountains, Washington, USA, to compare competing occupancy models from Program PRESENCE using Akaike's Information Criterion. Detection probabilities for individual spotted owls ranged from 0.54 to 0.80 if barred owls were not detected during the survey season and from 0.19 to 0.71 if barred owls were detected during the survey season. Pair detection probabilities ranged from 0.27 to 0.67 if barred owls were not detected during an individual survey and from 0.09 to 0.36 if barred owls were detected during an individual survey. During the study, site occupancy probabilities for spotted owl pairs declined by approximately 50%. For all spotted owls, both singles and pairs, site occupancy probabilities declined moderately during the study. Barred owl presence was negatively associated with spotted owl detection probabilities, and it had a positive association with local‐extinction probabilities for all spotted owls, both singles and pairs. Given that our study area has supported higher densities of barred owls for longer periods than other study areas, our results may provide insight into how barred owls have influenced spotted owl site occupancy dynamics in adjacent British Columbia, Canada, or will influence spotted owl site occupancy dynamics in Oregon and California, USA, in the future.
Achieving Better Estimates of Greater Sage‐Grouse Chick Survival in Utah
Authors: DAHLGREN DAVID K. , MESSMER TERRY A. , KOONS DAVID N.
Published: October 2011

Abstract: Declining sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) populations may be characterized by poor recruitment largely attributed to low chick survival. However, few published studies have explicitly examined factors that influence chick survival. We used a suture method to radiomark 1‐2‐day‐old sage‐grouse chicks (n = 150) in 2005‐2006 on Parker Mountain in south‐central Utah, USA, and monitored their survival to 42 days. We modeled effects of year, hatch date, chick age, brood‐female age, brood‐mixing, and arthropod abundance on chick survival. Our best model revealed an average survival estimate of 0.50 days to 42 days, which is the highest level ever documented for this long‐lived species. Brood‐mixing occurred in 21% (31/146) of chicks and 43% (18/42) of broods we studied. Moreover, yearling females had more chicks leave their broods than did adults. We found that survival may be higher among chicks that switch broods compared to those that stayed with their natal mother until fledging. Thus, brood‐mixing may be an adaptive strategy leading to increased sage‐grouse chick survival and higher productivity, especially among chicks born to yearling females. Our findings also indicate that arthropod abundance may be an important driver of chick survival, particularly during the early brood‐rearing period and, therefore, sage‐grouse populations may benefit from a management strategy that attempts to increase arthropod abundance via brood habitat management.
Screening Global Positioning System Location Data for Errors Using Animal Movement Characteristics
Authors: BJØRNERAAS KARI , VAN MOORTER BRAM , ROLANDSEN CHRISTER MOE , HERFINDAL IVAR
Published: October 2011

Abstract: Animal locations estimated by Global Positioning System (GPS) inherently contain errors. Screening procedures used to remove large positional errors often trade data accuracy for data loss. We developed a simple screening method that identifies locations arising from unrealistic movement patterns. When applied to a large data set of moose (Alces alces) locations, our method identified virtually all known errors with minimal loss of data. Thus, our method for screening GPS data improves the quality of data sets and increases the value of such data for research and management.
Testing Reliability of Body Size Measurements Using Hind Foot Length in Roe Deer
Authors: GAREL MATHIEU , GAILLARD JEAN‐MICHEL , CHEVRIER THIERRY , MICHALLET JACQUES , DELORME DANIEL , VAN LAERE GUY
Published: October 2011

Abstract: We quantified the repeatability of >900 individual measures of hind foot length from 2 French populations of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) monitored by capture‐recapture. We found a high repeatability (i.e., high intra‐class correlation, 0.76, 95% CI = 0.72–0.83 and 0.92, 95% CI = 0.91–0.95) in both populations. We also found that inexperienced observers reached a high level of intra‐ (1.00, 95% CI = 0.96–1.00) and inter‐observer repeatability (0.99, 95% CI = 0.98–1.00) when measuring hind foot length of harvested animals with a tool specifically designed for this task. Managers should pay particular attention to limit measurement errors because unreliable measurements require an increased sample size to assess individual variation and can mask biological patterns.
Survival of Adult Martens in Northern Wisconsin
Authors: MCCANN NICHOLAS P. , ZOLLNER PATRICK A. , GILBERT JONATHAN H.
Published: October 2011

Abstract: Low adult marten (Martes americana) survival may be one factor limiting their population growth >30 yr after their reintroduction in Wisconsin, USA. We estimated annual adult marten survival at 0.81 in northern Wisconsin, with lower survival during winter (0.87) than summer‐fall (1.00). Fisher (Martes pennanti) and raptor kills were infrequent, and each reduced marten adult annual survival <10%. Annual adult survival was similar to or higher than survival in other areas, suggesting that it was not unusually low and therefore did not limit recovery of marten populations in northern Wisconsin. We captured few juvenile martens, suggesting low reproduction or reduced juvenile survival.
Validation of a Demographic Model for Woodland Caribou
Authors: SLEEP DARREN J. H. , LOEHLE CRAIG
Published: October 2011

Abstract: Wildlife population models are potentially valuable for conservation planning. Validation is necessary to ensure that models are sufficiently robust for predicting management outcomes consistent with conservation objectives. Sorensen et al. (2008) produced a model of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus) population growth rate that was recently modified and used as a predictive tool at several scales. We computed confidence intervals and evaluated the performance of this model using novel data. Confidence intervals were wide, and results suggested that the model may have a positive bias, resulting in over‐estimation of population growth rates, as well as low predictive power. Wide confidence intervals mean that current understanding of factors governing woodland caribou herd dynamics is not sufficient for wildlife managers to make reliable projections of responses to management.
Dove Habitat Association Based on Remotely Sensed Land Cover Types in South Texas
Authors: COLLINS MARGARET L. , SMALL MICHAEL F. , VEECH JOSEPH A. , BACCUS JOHN T. , BENN STEPHEN J.
Published: October 2011

Abstract:We tested whether presence of white‐winged doves (Zenaida asiatica) and mourning doves (Z. macroura) in South Texas, USA, was associated with any of the land cover types recorded in the 2001 National Land Classification Database. We used the point‐transect method to conduct presence—absence surveys for both species at 236 points encompassing 744 observations. Within predefined land cover types surrounding each survey point, we used Geographic Information Systems to determine the proportions of each land cover type present. We used randomization tests to compare proportions of land cover types present at points with and without doves. We used Program DISTANCE to estimate dove densities at survey points and to test whether certain land cover types were associated with greater dove densities. Our results indicated white‐winged dove occurrence in South Texas was positively associated with urban land and cropland, whereas mourning dove occurrence was positively associated with cropland. For land cover types found to be associated with dove presence, estimated density for each dove species increased as the proportion of associated land cover type increased. These results can assist wildlife biologists in the development of a more efficient and targeted protocol for censusing doves. In addition, our methods can be applied to other species across several geographic areas and landscape scales.
Predicting Wood Duck Harvest Rates in Eastern North America
Authors: BALKCOM GREGORY D. , GARRETTSON PAMELA R. , PADDING PAUL I.
Published: October 2011

Abstract: We developed a method for predicting wood duck (Aix sponsa) harvest rates in eastern North America using waterfowl banding and recovery data, annual indices of hunter numbers, and harvest survey data from the United States and Canada. We predicted that under the current season length (60 days), if hunter numbers remain unchanged, increasing the wood duck bag limit from 2 to 3 would increase harvest of adult male wood ducks in the Atlantic and Mississippi flyways by 12.3%, causing an increase in harvest rate of 7.1% from 0.087 to 0.093. The Flyway Councils and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service can consider this information to predict the impacts of regulatory changes.