bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Explaining Variation in Contemporaneous Responses to Hurt in Premarital Romantic Relationships: A Relational Turbulence Model Perspective
Authors: McLaren Rachel M. , Haunani Solomon Denise , Priem Jennifer S.
Published: January 2011

The authors use the relational turbulence model to derive hypotheses linking characteristics of relationships and reactions to hypothetical hurtful messages from a romantic relationship partner. It was hypothesized that relational uncertainty and perceptions of goal interference and facilitation from a partner predict perceptions of relational turbulence, which in turn predicts the intensity of hurt feelings, negative emotions, and the perceived intentionality of hurt evoked by hypothetical scenarios involving that partner. Participants in a web-based survey ( N = 381) completed measures of relationship qualities and recorded responses to five hypothetical scenarios that described their romantic partner delivering a potentially hurtful message. As anticipated, relationship uncertainty and interference from a partner predicted increased relational turbulence, whereas facilitation from a partner was associated with less turbulence; relational turbulence significantly predicted all three reactions to hurtful messages. The discussion highlights the contribution of the study to an understanding of hurtful messages by revealing the dynamic relational characteristics that influence people’s contemporaneous reactions to hurt.
The Effect of Feeling Stereotyped on Social Power and Inhibition
Authors: Cook Jonathan E. , Arrow Holly , Malle Bertram F.
Published: January 2011

An experience sampling study examined the degree to which feeling stereotyped predicts feelings of low power and inhibition among stigmatized and nonstigmatized individuals. For 7 days, participants with a concealable (gay and lesbian), a visible (African American), or no identifiable stigma recorded feelings of being stereotyped, of powerlessness, and of inhibition immediately following social interactions. For members of all three groups, feeling stereotyped was associated with more inhibition, and this relation was partially mediated by feeling low in power. Although stigmatized participants reported feeling stereotyped more often than nonstigmatized participants, they reacted less strongly to the experience, consistent with the presence of buffering mechanisms developed by those living with stigma. African Americans appeared to buffer the impact of feeling stereotyped more effectively than gay and lesbian participants, an effect that was partly attributable to African Americans’ higher identity centrality.
Early Embryonic Lethality in Genetically Engineered Mice: Diagnosis and Phenotypic Analysis
Authors: Papaioannou V. E. , Behringer R. R.
Published: January 2011

Embryonic lethality is a common phenotype that occurs in mice that are homozygous for genetically engineered mutations. These phenotypes highlight the time and place that a gene is first required during embryogenesis. Early embryonic lethality (ie, before and up to mid-gestation) can be straightforward to analyze because the stage at which death occurs suggests why an embryo has failed. Here we summarize general strategies for analyzing early embryonic lethal phenotypes in genetically engineered mouse mutants.
Is Radiographic Measurement of Bony Landmarks Reliable for Lateral Meniscal Sizing?
Authors: Yoon Jung-Ro , Kim Taik-Seon , Lim Hong-Chul , Lim Hyung-Tae , Yang Jae-Hyuk
Published: January 2011

Background: The accuracy of meniscal measurement methods is still in debate.

Hypothesis: The authors’ protocol for radiologic measurements will provide reproducible bony landmarks, and this measurement method of the lateral tibial plateau will correlate with the actual anatomic value.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.

Methods: Twenty-five samples of fresh lateral meniscus with attached proximal tibia were obtained during total knee arthroplasty. Each sample was obtained without damage to the meniscus and bony attachment sites. The inclusion criterion was mild to moderate osteoarthritis in patients with mechanical axis deviation of less than 15°. Knees with lateral compartment osteoarthritic change or injured or degenerated menisci were excluded. For the lateral tibial plateau length measurements, the radiographic beam was angled 10° caudally at neutral rotation, which allowed differentiation of the lateral plateau cortical margins from the medial plateau. The transition points were identified and used for length measurement. The values of length were then compared with the conventional Pollard method and the anatomic values. The width measurement was done according to Pollard’s protocol. For each knee, the percentage deviation from the anatomic dimension was recorded. Intraobserver error and interobserver error were calculated.

Results: The deviation of the authors’ radiographic length measurements from anatomic dimensions was 1.4 ± 1.1 mm. The deviation of Pollard’s radiographic length measurements was 4.1 ± 2.0 mm. With respect to accuracy—which represents the frequency of measurements that fall within 10% of measurements—the accuracy of authors’ length was 98%, whereas for Pollard’s method it was 40%. There was a good correlation between anatomic meniscal dimensions and each radiologic plateau dimensions for lateral meniscal width ( R2 = .790) and the authors’ lateral meniscal length ( R2 = .823) and fair correlation for Pollard’s lateral meniscal length ( R2 = .660). The reliability of each radiologic measurement showed good reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients, .823 to .973). The authors tried to determine the best-fit equation for predicting meniscal size from Pollard’s method of bone size, as follows: anatomic length = 0.52 × plateau length (according to Pollard’s method) + 5.2, not as Pollard suggested (0.7 × Pollard’s plateau length). Based on this equation—namely, the modified Pollard method—the percentage difference decreased, and the accuracy increased to 92%.

Conclusion: Lateral meniscal length dimension can be accurately predicted from the authors’ radiographic tibial plateau measurements.

Clinical Relevance: This study may provide valuable information in preoperative sizing of lateral meniscus in meniscal allograft transplantation.
Levetiracetam for Treatment of Neonatal Seizures
Authors: Abend Nicholas S. , Gutierrez-Colina Ana M. , Monk Heather M. , Dlugos Dennis J. , Clancy Robert R.
Published: January 2011

Neonatal seizures are often refractory to treatment with initial antiseizure medications. Consequently, clinicians turn to alternatives such as levetiracetam, despite the lack of published data regarding its safety, tolerability, or efficacy in the neonatal population. We report a retrospectively identified cohort of 23 neonates with electroencephalographically confirmed seizures who received levetiracetam. Levetiracetam was considered effective if administration was associated with a greater than 50% seizure reduction within 24 hours. Levetiracetam was initiated at a mean conceptional age of 41 weeks. The mean initial dose was 16 ± 6 mg/kg and the mean maximum dose was 45 ± 19 mg/kg/day. No respiratory or cardiovascular adverse effects were reported or detected. Levetiracetam was associated with a greater than 50% seizure reduction in 35% (8 of 23), including seizure termination in 7. Further study is warranted to determine optimal levetiracetam dosing in neonates and to compare efficacy with other antiseizure medications.
Using the Self-Directed Search in Research
Authors: Poitras Sarah-Caroline , Guay Frederic , Ratelle Catherine F.
Published: January 2011

Using Item Response Theory (IRT) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), the goal of this study was to select a reduced pool of items from the French Canadian version of the Self-Directed Search—Activities Section ( Holland, Fritzsche, & Powell, 1994 ). Two studies were conducted. Results of Study 1, involving 727 French Canadian students, showed that the psychometric qualities of the 66-item French Canadian version are equivalent to those of the original English version. Based on IRT and factor loadings derived from a CFA, 24 items were selected from the original 66 items. In Study 2 ( n = 339 French Canadian young adults), we tested and obtained support for the construct validity of the 24 selected items using CFA and correlational analyses among interests’ dimensions. We concluded that the selected pool of items accurately captured Holland’s theoretical framework and showed adequate psychometrics qualities and construct validity.
Preference Is Biased by Crowded Facial Expressions
Authors: Kouider Sid , Berthet Vincent , Faivre Nathan
Published: January 2011

Crowding occurs when nearby flankers impede the identification of a peripheral stimulus. Here, we studied whether crowded features containing inaccessible emotional information can nevertheless affect preference judgments. We relied on gaze-contingent crowding, a novel method allowing for constant perceptual unawareness through eye-tracking control, and we found that crowded facial expressions can bias evaluative judgments of neutral pictographs. Furthermore, this emotional bias was effective not only for static images of faces, but also for videos displaying dynamic facial expressions. In addition to showing an alternative approach for probing nonconscious cognition, this study reveals that crowded information, instead of being fully suppressed, can have important influences on decisions.
The Reproducibility and Convergent Validity of the Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury (WISCI) in Chronic Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Burns Anthony S. , Delparte Jude J. , Patrick Mary , Marino Ralph J. , Ditunno John F.
Published: January 2011

Background. The Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury II (WISCI II) is a hierarchical scale that measures improvements in walking following spinal cord injury (SCI). The WISCI II has good face validity, concurrent validity, and reliability following acute SCI; however, psychometric properties need to be determined for chronic SCI. Because prior studies have demonstrated a relationship between lower-extremity motor scores (LEMS) and walking, outcome measures for walking should demonstrate a linkage between the underlying impairment (weakness) and walking—convergent validity. Objective. To determine convergent validity and reproducibility of the WISCI II. Methods. Self-selected and maximum WISCI levels were assessed for 76 patients with chronic SCI (34 paraplegia, 42 tetraplegia); 10-m walking speeds were calculated. Convergent validity was assessed by correlating WISCI II levels to LEMS and walking speed. Reproducibility was assessed with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the smallest real difference (SRD). Results. Convergent validity of the self-selected and maximum WISCI II with LEMS was moderate for paraplegia (ρ = 0.479 and ρ = 0.533) and strong for tetraplegia (ρ = 0.852 and ρ = 0.816). Tetraplegia, but not paraplegia, demonstrated convergent validity of walking speed at the self-selected and maximum WISCI levels with LEMS (ρ = 0.752 and ρ = 0.813). WISCI reproducibility was excellent (self-selected ICC = 0.994; maximum ICC = 0.995), resulting in SRDs of 0.785 (self-selected) and 0.597 (maximum), suggesting that a change of one WISCI level can be interpreted as real in a chronic patient. Conclusions. Results suggest that the WISCI II should be a very useful outcome measure for detecting changes in walking function following chronic SCI.
Two distinct auto-regulatory loops operate at the PU.1 locus in B cells and myeloid cells
Authors: Leddin Mathias , Perrod Chiara , Hoogenkamp Maarten , Ghani Saeed , Assi Salam , Heinz Sven , Wilson Nicola K. , Follows George , Schönheit Jörg , Vockentanz Lena , Mosammam Ali M. , Chen Wei , Tenen Daniel G. , Westhead David R. , Göttgens Berthold , Bonifer Constanze , Rosenbauer Frank
Published: January 2011

The transcription factor PU.1 occupies a central role in controlling myeloid and early B-cell development, and its correct lineage-specific expression is critical for the differentiation choice of hematopoietic progenitors. However, little is known of how this tissue-specific pattern is established. We previously identified an upstream regulatory cis element whose targeted deletion in mice decreases PU.1 expression and causes leukemia. We show here that the upstream regulatory cis element alone is insufficient to confer physiologic PU.1 expression in mice but requires the cooperation with other, previously unidentified elements. Using a combination of transgenic studies, global chromatin assays, and detailed molecular analyses we present evidence that PU.1 is regulated by a novel mechanism involving cross talk between different cis elements together with lineage-restricted autoregulation. In this model, PU.1 regulates its expression in B cells and macrophages by differentially associating with cell type–specific transcription factors at one of its cis-regulatory elements to establish differential activity patterns at other elements.
Normal bone marrow signal-transduction profiles: a requisite for enhanced detection of signaling dysregulations in AML
Authors: Marvin James , Swaminathan Suchitra , Kraker Geoffrey , Chadburn Amy , Jacobberger James , Goolsby Charles
Published: January 2011

Molecular and cytogenetic alterations are involved in virtually every facet of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), including dysregulation of major signal-transduction pathways. The present study examines 5 phosphoproteins (pErk, pAkt, pS6, pStat3, and pStat5) in response to 5 cytokine/growth factors (stem cell factor [SCF], Flt-3/Flk-2 ligand [FL], granulocyte/macrophage-colony stimulating factor [GM-CSF], interleukin-3 [IL-3], and granulocyte-CSF [G-CSF]) within 7 immunophenotypically defined populations, spanning progenitor to mature myeloid/myelomonocytic cells in normal bone marrows with further comparison to AML samples. The normal cohort showed pathway-specific responses related to lineage, maturation, and stimulus. Heterogeneous-signaling responses were seen in homogeneous immunophenotypic subsets emphasizing the additive information of signaling. These profiles provided a critical baseline for detection of dysregulated signaling in AML falling into 4 broad categories, viz lack of response, increased activation, altered constitutive expression, and dysregulated response kinetics, easily identified in 10 of 12 AMLs. These studies clearly show robust and reproducible flow cytometry phosphoprotein analyses capable of detecting abnormal signal-transduction responses in AML potentially contributing to definitive reliable identification of abnormal cells. As functional correlates of underlying genetic abnormalities, signal-transduction abnormalities may provide more stable indicators of abnormal cells than immunophenotyping which frequently changes after therapy and disease recurrence.
Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics: impact on the gut immune system and allergic reactions
Authors: Gourbeyre Pascal , Denery Sandra , Bodinier Marie
Published: January 2011

Probiotics and prebiotics, alone or together (synbiotics), can influence the intestinal microbiota and modulate the immune response. They may therefore be tools that can prevent or alleviate certain pathologies involving the gut immune system, such as allergies for which no treatment is yet available. This review focuses first on the definitions of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics and key cells in the gut immune system. It then discusses their effects on mucosal immune stimulation. Experimental findings suggest that different probiotic species have similar effects on innate immunity by improving the mechanisms of pathogen destruction. On the contrary, their impacts seem to be variable on the adaptive immune system. Prebiotics can also exert an influence on the gut immune system via the stimulation of the autochthonous bacteria metabolism. Finally, this review focuses on the effects of food supplements on allergy. Different studies performed in humans or rodents have supported a potential role for selected probiotics and prebiotics in reducing some allergic parameters. Probiotic effects on allergy treatment are unclear, especially in human studies. However, they are potentially effective at short-term for prevention when they are administered in perinatal conditions. A clinical study performed with an infant cohort revealed a beneficial effect of prebiotics in preventing allergic manifestations at long-term. Further studies are nonetheless essential to confirm these findings. Food supplements offer potential tools for the prevention or treatment of allergy, but insufficient evidence is available at present to recommend their use in clinical practice.
Multidisciplinary Health Care Professionals' Perceptions of the Use and Utility of a Symptom Assessment System for Oncology Patients
Authors: Bainbridge Daryl , Seow Hsien , Sussman Jonathan , Pond Greg , Martelli-Reid Lorraine , Herbert Carole , Evans William
Published: January 2011

This study examines the value of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS), a measure of symptom burden adopted by Ontario's cancer centers, among clinical teams and barriers to its use in the enhancement of multidisciplinary care.
Evaluation of Chemotherapy-Induced Severe Myelosuppression Incidence in Obese Patients With Capped Dosing
Authors: Lopes-Serrao Monique D. , Ussery Sarah M. Gressett , Hall Ronald G. , Shah Sachin R.
Published: January 2011

The better tolerability of chemotherapy in obese patients with capped dosing suggests that there is room to increase the dose in obese patients above the nationally recognized body surface area cap, especially in early-stage lung or colon cancers in which the intention of treatment is curative.
Medication Safety of Five Oral Chemotherapies: A Proactive Risk Assessment
Authors: Weingart Saul N. , Spencer Justin , Buia Stephanie , Duncombe Deborah , Singh Prabhjyot , Gadkari Mrinalini , Connor Maureen
Published: January 2011

Each stage of the medication process poses risks to the safe use of oral chemotherapies. Failure mode and effects analysis may identify opportunities to improve medication safety and reduce the risk of patient harm.
Palliative Care Consultations in Patients With Cancer: A Mayo Clinic 5-Year Review
Authors: Kamal Arif H. , Swetz Keith M. , Carey Elise C. , Cheville Andrea L. , Liu Heshan , Ruegg Suzanne R. , Moynihan Timothy J. , Sloan Jeff A. , Kaur Judith S.
Published: January 2011

Patients with cancer often have complex needs that must be met within a short intervention window. The authors highlight opportunities for improved multidisciplinary care for patients with advanced cancer and their families.
Strategic Use of Clinical Pathways
Authors: Gesme Dean H. , Wiseman Marian
Published: January 2011

Clinical pathways are detailed, evidence-based processes for delivering cancer care for specific patient presentations. Some oncologists have embraced clinical pathways, while others resist.
Inactivation of expression of two genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae with the external guide sequence methodology
Authors: Cheng Xudong , Ko Jae-Hyeong , Altman Sidney
Published: January 2011

The artificial inhibition of expression of genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is not a widespread, useful phenomenon. The external guide sequence (EGS) technology, which is well-proven in bacteria and mammalian cells in tissue culture and in mice, can also be utilized in yeast. The TOP2 and SRG1 genes can be inhibited by ∼30% with EGSs in vivo. Results in vitro also show convenient cleavage of the relevant transcripts by RNase P and appropriate EGSs. The feasible constructs shown to date have an EGS covalently linked to M1 RNA, the RNA subunit of RNase P from Escherichia coli. Greater efficiency in cleavage of transcripts can be fashioned using more than one EGS targeted to different sites in a transcript and stronger promoters controlling the EGS constructs.
Rapid Analyses of Tiny Amounts of Powder Samples Using Transversely Excited Atmospheric CO2 Laser-Induced Helium Gas Plasma with the Aid of High-Vacuum Silicon Grease as a Binder on a Metal Subtarget
Authors: Khumaeni Ali , Lie Zener Sukra , Lee Yong Inn , Kurihara Kazuyoshi , Kagawa Kiichiro , Niki Hideaki
Published: January 2011

Rapid quantitative analyses of powder samples available in tiny amounts have successfully been conducted by utilizing a transversely excited atmospheric (TEA) CO2 laser-induced He gas plasma. In this study, 4 mg of powder sample was homogeneously mixed with 4 mg of high-vacuum silicon grease and the silicon grease–mixed powder sample (SMP) was painted on a metal surface, which serves as a subtarget. The grease functions to strongly bind the powder and to suppress blow-off of the powder particles. When a TEA CO2 laser (750 mJ, 10.6 μm, 200 ns) was directly focused on the metal subtarget in He gas at 1 atmosphere, a hightemperature He gas plasma was induced, producing a profusion metastable He atoms. It is assumed that the powder particles together with the silicon grease were vaporized to be effectively atomized and excited through metastable He atoms. The result revealed that this technique can be widely employed in the rapid semi-quantitative analyses of powder samples present in minute amounts. A quantitative analysis of loam soil containing different concentrations of Cu was successfully demonstrated, resulting in a good linear calibration curve. The detection limits of Cr and Pb in loam soil were approximately 4 and 13 mg/kg, respectively. Also, we confirmed that this technique can be applied to check the quality of commercial products such as gold film (Au foil), mineral supplement tablets, and prestigious cosmetic powders.
Study on the Effect of Pixel Resolution and Blending Grade on Near-Infrared Hyperspectral Unmixing of Tablets
Authors: Lopes Marta B. , Wolff Jean-Claude , Bioucas-Dias José M. , Figueiredo Mário A. T.
Published: January 2011

Many pharmaceutical problems require chemical identification of the ingredients present in a drug product, e.g., a tablet. Examples include the identification of the compounds present in many steps of the manufacturing process and the chemical characterization of counterfeit and third-party tablets. Hyperspectral unmixing of near-infrared images is a key method for solving the above problems, as it provides estimates of the number of pure compounds present in a mixture, their spectral signatures, and the corresponding spatially mapped abundance fractions. The performance of hyperspectral unmixing depends upon the degree of homogeneity of the tablets, as well as the pixel resolution used for image acquisition. This work explores the use of the recent simplex identification via split augmented Lagrangian (SISAL) algorithm to unmix near-infrared images of tablets under different homogeneity and pixel resolution conditions. SISAL is known to solve complex problems beyond the reach of previous hyperspectral unmixing methods. The tablets used in this study are 4- and 5-compound model pharmaceutical mixtures, produced with good and poor blending processes, and the acquisition was performed at three pixel resolutions: 8.1, 27.9, and 40.3 μm/pixel. Heterogeneity proved to increase SISAL's accuracy, as did increased pixel resolution in homogeneous tablets. Given the fast image acquisition and algorithm execution times, low- and high-resolution images should always be acquired; combined with the homogeneity grade of the samples, this may be determinant to a case-by-case decision on the proper action to be taken next.
Erythrocyte membrane protein analysis by sodium dodecyl sulphate-capillary gel electrophoresis in the diagnosis of hereditary spherocytosis
Authors: Debaugnies France , Cotton Frédéric , Boutique Charles , Gulbis Béatrice
Published: January 2011

Background: Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) is currently the reference method for detecting protein deficiencies related to hereditary spherocytosis. The aim of the study was to evaluate an automated capillary gel electrophoresis system, the Experion instrument from BioRad, for its ability to separate and quantify the erythrocyte membrane proteins.

Methods: The major erythrocyte membrane proteins (actin, protein 4.2, protein 4.1, band 3, ankyrin, α- and β-spectrin) were extracted and purified from membrane ghosts by centrifugation, immunoprecipitation and electroelution. Analyses were performed using SDS-PAGE and sodium dodecyl sulphate capillary gel electrophoresis (SDS-CGE) to establish a separation profile of the total ghosts. Then, the samples from patients received for investigations of erythrocyte membrane defects were analysed.

Results: Five of the seven expected erythrocyte membrane proteins were finally separated and identified. In the 20 studied cases, taking into account the screening test results and the clinical and family histories, the SDS-CGE method allowed us to achieve the same conclusion as with SDS-PAGE, except for the patient with elliptocytosis.

Conclusions: The new SDS-CGE method presents interesting features that could make this instrument a powerful diagnostic tool for detection of erythrocyte membrane protein abnormalities, and can be proposed as an automated alternative method to the labour intensive SDS-PAGE analysis.
Miss Grimshaw and the White Elephant: Categorism in a risque humor competition
Authors: Lloyd Michael
Published: January 2011

A humorous competition called “The Adventures of Naked Man” ran in a New Zealand newspaper from 1999 to 2000. The competition's protagonist is the sole naked person in a drawn setting where, because of some convenient object or body position, his penis is always obscured from sight. Entrants to the competition submitted a caption to go with the drawn setting, the task being to make humor; the common solution to this task being some form of penis joke based upon double entendre. The editors of the competition employed a “taste test” to reject entries that were too vulgar thus protecting the competition from attack by “moral guardians,” although the details of the test were never fully explained. This article analyzes the full corpus of Naked Man episodes in regard to the finely detailed work of categorization. Drawing on some basic principles of Membership Categorization Analysis, it is shown that the degree of sexual allusiveness in the humor is closely connected to categorizations of people and activities, and in this process the fine detail of quite simple drawings are very significant.
A Proposal for a Common Minimal Topic Set in Introductory Biology Courses for Majors
Authors: Gregory Eileen , Ellis Jane P. , Orenstein Amanda N.
Published: January 2011

A common complaint among instructors of introductory biology is that the courses cover too much material. Without a national consensus specifying which topics are essential, instructors are leery of excluding material. A survey was administered to two-year college and four-year college and university section members of the National Association of Biology Teachers to identify the topics and skills that college and university biology instructors believe students completing introductory biology should know and comprehend. Analysis identified a strong consensus for 20 topics and seven skills that should be included in all year-long introductory college biology course sequences for majors.
Influence of intermittent administration of parathyroid hormone on muscle tissue and bone healing in orchiectomized rats or controls
Authors: Komrakova Marina , Krischek Carsten , Wicke Michael , Sehmisch Stephan , Tezval Mohammad , Rohrberg Maximillian , Brandsch Thomas , Stuermer Klaus M , Stuermer Ewa K
Published: January 2011

Influence of human parathyroid hormone (hPTH 1–34) on muscle and bone healing was studied in either orchiectomized (Orx at 8 months of age) or sham-operated male rats. Eleven-month-old Sprague–Dawley rats underwent bilateral transverse metaphyseal osteotomy of tibia and were divided into four groups (n=12): 1) sham-vehicle, 2) sham group-PTH everyday, 3) Orx-vehicle, 4) Orx-PTH everyday, and 5) Orx-PTH every other day. PTH dosage was 40 μg/kg body weight. After 5 weeks, fiber cross-sectional area, capillary density, and enzyme activity (lactate dehydrogenase, citrate synthase, and complex I) were measured in soleus (MS), gastrocnemius (MG), and longissimus (ML) muscles; tibiae were analyzed by computed tomographical, histological, and gene expression analyses. The effect of PTH in all rats was increased serum osteocalcin, cortical and callus densities and callus area. In sham rats capillary density was increased in limb muscles (MS: 1.3–1.7, MG: 1.2–1.4 capillaries/fiber), and rate of osseous bridging of osteotomy was enhanced (67–100%). In Orx rats serum creatine kinase was decreased (6670–2847 U/l), and bone genes (Igf-1, osteoprotegerin, and receptor activator of nuclear factor kB ligand) were up-regulated. Cross-sectional area, enzyme activity, food intake, weight of body, visceral organs, adipose tissue, MG, and MS were not affected by PTH. PTH had a favorable effect on muscle capillary density and improved bone healing being more effective in sham rats and having no adverse systemic effect. The effect was less if PTH was applied every other day. The findings may show up trends for therapeutic treatment of male patients.
Incarceration, Sex With an STI- or HIV-Infected Partner, and Infection With an STI or HIV in Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY: A Social Network Perspective
Authors: Khan Maria R. , Epperson Matthew W. , Mateu-Gelabert Pedro , Bolyard Melissa , Sandoval Milagros , Friedman Samuel R.
Published: January 2011

Objectives. We examined the link between incarceration and sexually transmitted infection (STI), including HIV, from a social network perspective.

Methods. We used data collected during a social network study conducted in Brooklyn, NY (n = 343), to measure associations between incarceration and infection with herpes simplex virus-2, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis or HIV and sex with an infected partner, adjusting for characteristics of respondents and their sex partners.

Results. Infection with an STI or HIV was associated with incarceration of less than 1 year (adjusted prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.33; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01, 1.76) and 1 year or longer (adjusted PR = 1.37; 95% CI = 1.08, 1.74). Sex in the past 3 months with an infected partner was associated with sex in the past 3 months with 1 partner (adjusted PR = 1.42; 95% CI = 1.12, 1.79) and with 2 or more partners (adjusted PR = 1.85; 95% CI = 1.43, 2.38) who had ever been incarcerated.

Conclusions. The results highlight the need for STI and HIV treatment and prevention for current and former prisoners and provide preliminary evidence to suggest that incarceration may influence STI and HIV, possibly because incarceration increases the risk of sex with infected partners.
Modelling of Freezing Kinetics of Extract of Betel Leaves (Piper betle L.)
Authors: Pin K.Y. , Ilicali C. , Luqman Chuah A. , Choong T.S.Y. , Muhammad Shahrul M.N , Rasadah M.A. , Law C.L.
Published: January 2011

Betel is a native medicinal plant from central and eastern parts of Peninsular Malaysia. It is now an important commercial crop in India and Sri Lanka. There are various beneficial bioactivities discovered in this herb including anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. Freeze drying is one of the common methods used to dehydrate the herbal aqueous extract. This work studied the freezing process of aqueous extract of betel leaves (Piper betle L.). The effects of different freezing temperatures on the freezing kinetics were investigated. Freezing temperatures of -20, -25, -30°C were selected for the study. The freezing time which was taken as the time required for the temperature of the sample to reach the freezing temperature was determined from the kinetics data. The freezing point of betel leaves extract was determined as -4°C. The freezing process was described with numerical model. The predicted data showed good agreement with the experimental results.
Impact of Dialysis Modality on Survival after Kidney Transplant Failure
Authors: Perl Jeffrey , Hasan Omar , Bargman Joanne M. , Jiang Depeng , Na Yingbo , Gill John S. , Jassal S. Vanita
Published: January 2011

Background and objectives

An increasing number of patients are returning to dialysis after allograft loss (DAGL). These patients are at a higher mortality risk compared with incident ESRD patients. Among transplant-naïve patients, those treated with peritoneal dialysis (PD) enjoy an early survival advantage compared with those treated with hemodialysis (HD), but this advantage is not sustained over time. Whether a similar time-dependent survival advantage exists for PD-treated patients after allograft loss is unclear and may impact dialysis modality selection in these patients.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

We identified 2110 adult patients who initiated dialysis after renal transplant failure between January 1991 and December 2005 from The Canadian Organ Replacement Register. Multivariable regression analysis was used to evaluate the impact of initial dialysis modality on early (2 years), late (after 2 years), and overall mortality using an intention-to-treat approach.

Results

After adjustment, there was no difference in overall survival between HD- and PD-treated patients (hazard ratio(HD:PD), 1.05; 95% confidence interval, 0.85 to 1.31), with similar results seen for both early and late survival. Superior survival was seen in more contemporary cohorts of patients returning to DAGL.

Conclusions

The use of PD compared with HD is associated with similar early and overall survival among patients initiating DAGL. Differences in both patient characteristics and predialysis management between patients returning to DAGL and transplant-naive incident dialysis patients may be responsible for the absence of an early survival advantage with the use of PD in DAGL patients.
Kidney Function and Long-Term Medication Adherence after Myocardial Infarction in the Elderly
Authors: Chang Tara I. , Desai Manisha , Solomon Daniel H. , Winkelmayer Wolfgang C.
Published: January 2011

Background and objectives

The association of kidney function with long-term outpatient medication adherence in the elderly remains understudied.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

A cohort of 2103 patients over the age of 65 years enrolled in a pharmacy benefits program after hospital discharge for myocardial infarction was studied. Using linear mixed effects models, the association of baseline kidney function with long-term adherence to recommended medications after myocardial infarction was examined, including angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), β-blockers, and statins. The primary outcome measure was the percentage of days covered as calculated by pharmacy refill data for 12 serial 3-month intervals (totaling 36 months of follow-up).

Results

Overall long-term adherence to ACEIs/ARBs, β-blockers, and statins was poor. The mean percentage of days covered by 36 months was only 50% to 60% for all three medication classes. Patients with baseline kidney dysfunction had significantly lower long-term ACEI/ARB and β-blocker adherence compared with patients with higher baseline kidney function. Long-term statin adherence did not vary by baseline level of kidney function.

Conclusions

Long-term medication adherence after myocardial infarction in the elderly is low, especially in patients with kidney dysfunction. Future strategies to improve medication adherence should pay special attention to the elderly with kidney dysfunction because they may be especially vulnerable to its adverse clinical consequences.
Upper Permian ostracode assemblage from the Jadar Block (Vardar zone, NW Serbia)
Authors: Crasquin Sylvie , Sudar Milan , Jovanovic Divna , Kolar-Jurkovsek Tea
Published: January 2011

Ostracodes from the Changhsingian (latest Permian age) in the uppermost part
of the ?Bituminous Limestone? Formation of the Komiric Section in NW Serbia
(Jadar Block, Vardar Zone) are described and illustrated. Three new species
of ostracodes are introduced: Basslerella jadarensis n. sp., Acratia
serbianella n. sp., and Knoxiella vardarensis n. sp. The ostracode
assemblage, together with conodonts and foraminifers, is the first record of
the youngest Late Permian age microfaunas from Serbia and from the central
part of the Balkan Peninsula.
Carnauba wax microparticles produced by melt dispersion technique
Authors: Milanovic Jelena , Levic Steva , Manojlovic Verica , Nedovic Viktor , Bugarski Branko
Published: January 2011

Melt dispersion technique was investigated for carnauba wax microparticles production. Microbeads with spherical shape and narrow size distribution were produced. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of significant process variables (initial wax concentration, stirring speed, stirring time, and surfactants) on sphericity, size distribution, and morphological properties of wax microparticles. Optimal conditions were evaluated on the basis of particle size distribution and visual analysis. Surface morphology of microparticles was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Effects of process conditions on the size distribution of particles were evaluated by sieve analysis. Main purpose of these investigations was to apply optimized parameters to aroma encapsulation for their use in food and feed industry.
Persistent fetal intracranial arteries: a comprehensive review of anatomical and clinical significance
Authors: Tubbs R. Shane , Verma Ketan , Riech Sheryl , Mortazavi Martin M. , Shoja Mohammadali M. , Loukas Marios , Curé Joel K. , Żurada Anna , Cohen-Gadol Aaron A.
Published: January 2011

As fetal intracranial vessels may persist into adulthood, knowledge of their anatomy and potential clinical and surgical complications should be borne in mind by the surgeon. A comprehensive review of these vessels, however, is not easily identified in the literature. Therefore, the present analysis was undertaken so that such information is available to the clinician and morphologist.
Shunt surgery in patients with hydrocephalus and white matter changes
Authors: Tisell Magnus , Tullberg Mats , Hellström Per , Edsbagge Mikael , Högfeldt Mats , Wikkelsö Carsten
Published: January 2011

Object

Patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) often present with impaired gait and cognition together with ventricular enlargement and normal intracranial pressure. Many have vascular risk factors as well as periventricular and deep white matter changes on MR imaging. Abnormal CSF dynamics, that is, high resistance to outflow or improvement after CSF drainage, indicate good effects of shunt surgery.

The authors examined whether the worst-case iNPH patients with extensive vascular white matter disease and normal CSF dynamics would benefit from shunt surgery. These patients also fulfilled the criteria for Binswanger disease. Therefore, a randomized controlled double-blind study was performed.

Methods

Fourteen consecutive patients fulfilling the above criteria were randomized to receive either open or closed shunts. At 3 months after surgery, the patients with initially ligated shunts had their shunts opened. Clinical evaluation consisting of 7 quantitative psychometric and 6 continuous gait tests was performed preoperatively and 3 and 6 months after surgery.

Results

Patients randomized to receive open shunts had improved motor (30% increase) and psychometric (23% increase) scores 3 months after shunt placement. There were no significant changes between the 3- and 6-month follow-up in these same patients. Conversely, those with initially ligated shunts were unchanged during the first 3-month period, although they improved in both motor (28%) and cognitive (18%) functions following removal of the ligature.

Conclusions

Patients with enlarged ventricles, hydrocephalic symptoms, and extensive vascular white matter changes benefit from shunt surgery.
Posterior approach for thoracolumbar corpectomies with expandable cage placement and circumferential arthrodesis: a multicenter case series of 67 patients
Authors: Hofstetter Christoph P. , Chou Dean , Newman C. Benjamin , Aryan Henry E. , Girardi Federico P. , Härtl Roger
Published: January 2011

Object

The purpose of this multicenter trial was to investigate the outcome and durability of a single-stage thoracolumbar corpectomy using expandable cages via a posterior approach.

Methods

The authors conducted a retrospective chart review of 67 consecutive patients who underwent single-stage thoracolumbar corpectomies with circumferential reconstruction for pathological, traumatic, and osteomyelitic pathologies. Circumferential reconstruction was accomplished using expandable cages along with posterior instrumentation and fusion. Correction of the sagittal deformity, the American Spinal Injury Association score, and complications were recorded.

Results

Single-stage thoracolumbar corpectomies resulted in an average sagittal deformity correction of 6.2° at a mean follow-period of 20.5 months. At the last follow-up, a fusion rate of 68% was observed for traumatic and osteomyelitic fractures. Approximately one-half of the patients remained neurologically stable. Improvement in neurological function occurred in 23 patients (38%), whereas 7 patients (11%) suffered from a decrease in lower-extremity motor function. The deterioration in neurological function was due to progression of metastatic disease in 5 patients. Five constructs (7%) failed—3 of which had been placed for traumatic fractures, 1 for a pathological fracture, and 1 for an osteomyelitic fracture. Other complications included epidural hematomas in 3 patients and pleural effusions in 2.

Conclusions

Single-stage posterior corpectomy and circumferential reconstruction were performed at multiple centers with a consistent outcome over a wide range of pathologies. Correction of the sagittal deformity was sustained, and the neurological outcome was good in the majority of patients; however, 18% of acute traumatic fractures required revision of the construct.
On a simple method of determing the homology and the cohomology of finitely presented groups
Authors: Majumdar Subrata , Akhter Nasima
Published: January 2011

In this paper the authors obtained a method of constructing free resolutions of Z for finitely presented groups directly from their presentations by extending Lyndon’s 3-term partial resolution to a full-length resolution. Authors resolutions and the method of their construction are such that free generators of the modules and the boundary homomorphisms are directly and explicitly obtained by solving of linear equations over the corresponding integral group rings, and hence these are immediately applicable for computing homology and cohomology of the groups for arbitrary coefficient modules. Authors have also described a general situation where their method is valid. The method has been used for a number of classes of group including Fuchsian groups, a few Euclidean crystallographic groups, NEC groups, the fundamental groups of a few interesting manifolds, groups of isometries of the hyperbolic plane and a few nilpotent groups of class 2. Key words: Group presentation; Free resolution; Homology; Cohomology DOI: 10.3329/jbas.v34i2.6854Journal of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, Vol. 34, No. 2, 103-114, 2010
Physico-chemical characterization and biological screening of metal complexes with Cyanex 301
Authors: Pal Tarun Kumar , Alam Md Ashraful , Paul Suchitra Rani
Published: January 2011

New metal complexes of Mg(II), VO(II), Mn(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Pd(II) with cyanex 301(L) i.e., bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl) dithiophosphinic acid were synthesized. The complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductivity, molecular mass determination, magnetic measurements, infrared and electronic spectral studies. The prepared metal complexes have the compositions: 2. [MgL2].H2O, 3. [VOL2], 4. K[MnL3].H2O, 5. [FeL3], 6. K[CoL3].H2O, 7. K[NiL3], 8. K[CuL3] and 9. [PdL2]. The complexes 2, 3 and 9 are assumed to have tetrahedral, square pyramidal and square planar geometries, respectively but the complexes 4 - 8 are octahedral based on experimental data. From magnetic measurements the complexes 2 and 9 are found to be diamagnetic and others are paramagnetic. Measured molar conductance showed that the complexes 2, 3, 5 and 9 are non-electrolytes and rest are electrolytes. Besides, some complexes have shown good antibacterial and antifungal activities. Key words: Cyanex 301; Antibacterial; Antifungal; DMSO; Bis (2, 4, 4-trimethylpentyl) dithiophosphinic acid DOI: 10.3329/jbas.v34i2.6859Journal of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, Vol. 34, No. 2, 153-161, 2010
Generalized Alpha-Beta Divergences and Their Application to Robust Nonnegative Matrix Factorization
Authors: Cichocki Andrzej , Cruces Sergio , Amari Shun-ichi
Published: January 2011

We propose a class of multiplicative algorithms for Nonnegative Matrix Factorization (NMF) which are robust with respect to noise and outliers. To achieve this, we formulate a new family generalized divergences referred to as the Alpha-Beta-divergences (AB-divergences), which are parameterized by the two tuning parameters, alpha and beta, and smoothly connect the fundamental Alpha-, Beta- and Gamma-divergences. By adjusting these tuning parameters, we show that a wide range of standard and new divergences can be obtained. The corresponding learning algorithms for NMF are shown to integrate and generalize many existing ones, including the Lee-Seung, ISRA (Image Space Reconstruction Algorithm), EMML (Expectation Maximization Maximum Likelihood), Alpha-NMF, and Beta-NMF. Owing to more degrees of freedom in tuning the parameters, the proposed family of AB-multiplicative NMF algorithms is shown to improve robustness with respect to noise and outliers. The analysis illuminates the links of between AB-divergence and other divergences, especially Gamma- and Itakura-Saito divergences.
Estimating the Energy Consumption Impact of Casual Carpooling
Authors: Minett Paul , Pearce John
Published: January 2011

Some of the transportation energy consumed during peak commuter periods is wasted through slow running in congested traffic. Strategies to increase average vehicle occupancy (and reduce vehicle counts and congestion) could be expected to be at the forefront of energy conservation policies. Casual carpooling (also called “slugging”) is a system of carpooling without trip-by-trip pre-arrangement. It operates in three US cities, and has been suggested in New Zealand as a strategy for managing transportation challenges when oil prices rise. The objective of the paper is to find out if casual carpooling reduces energy consumption, and if so, how much. Energy consumption by single occupant vehicles; casual carpool vehicles; and a mix of buses and single occupant vehicles; are estimated and compared, and the impact on the rest of the traffic is calculated. The paper estimates that casual carpooling in San Francisco is conserving in the order of 1.7 to 3.5 million liters of gasoline per year, or 200-400 liters for each participant, much of which comes from the impact on the rest of the traffic. The paper concludes by calling for applied research to discover how to catalyze casual carpooling in other cities as a means of reducing transportation energy consumption.