bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reproductive Rights Denied: The Hyde Amendment and Access to Abortion for Native American Women Using Indian Health Service Facilities
Authors: Arnold Shaye Beverly
Published: August 2014

Restrictions on the use of federal funds to provide abortions have limited the access to abortion services for Native American women receiving care at Indian Health Service facilities. Current data suggest that the vast majority of Indian Health Service facilities are unequipped to provide abortions under any circumstances. Native American women experience disproportionately high rates of sexual assault and unintended pregnancy. Hyde Amendment restrictions systematically infringe on the reproductive rights of Native American women and present a pressing public health policy concern.
Patterns of Visit Attendance in the Nurse–Family Partnership Program
Authors: Holland Margaret L. , Xia Yinglin , Kitzman Harriet J. , Dozier Ann M. , Olds David L.
Published: August 2014

Objectives. We examined visit attendance patterns in the Memphis trial of the Nurse–Family Partnership and associations between these patterns and family characteristics, outcomes, and treatment–control differences in outcomes.

Methods. We employed repeated measures latent class analysis to identify attendance patterns among the 228 mothers assigned to receive home nurse visits during pregnancy and until the child was aged 2 years, associated background characteristics, outcomes, and treatment–control differences by visit class. Home visits were conducted from June 1990 to March 1994. We collected outcome data from May 1992 to April 1994 and July 2003 to December 2006.

Results. We identified 3 visit attendance patterns. High attenders (48%) had the most visits and good outcomes. Low attenders (33%) had the most education and the best outcomes. Increasing attenders (18%) had the fewest completed visits during pregnancy, the poorest intake characteristics, and the poorest outcomes. Treatment–control group differences varied by class, with high and low attenders having better outcomes on some measures than did their control group counterparts.

Conclusions. Three patterns were associated with distinct groups of mothers with different long-term outcomes. Further examination and use of patterns to classify mothers and prioritize resources may improve efficiency in the Nurse–Family Partnership.
Use of Research Evidence in State Policymaking for Childhood Obesity Prevention in Minnesota
Authors: Gollust Sarah E. , Kite Hanna A. , Benning Sara J. , Callanan Rachel A. , Weisman Susan R. , Nanney Marilyn S.
Published: August 2014

Objectives. We describe how scientific evidence about obesity has been used in Minnesota legislative materials to understand how research evidence might more effectively be translated into policymaking.

Methods. We selected 13 obesity-related bills introduced from 2007 to 2011 in Minnesota. Using state archives, we collected all legislative committee meeting materials and floor testimony related to each bill. We used a coding instrument to systematically analyze the content of a sample of 109 materials for their use of research evidence and non–research-based information.

Results. Research evidence was mentioned in 41% of all legislative materials. Evidence was often used to describe the prevalence or consequences of obesity or policy impacts but not to describe health disparities. In 45% of materials that cited evidence, no source of evidence was indicated. By contrast, 92% of materials presented non–research-based information, such as expert beliefs, constituent opinion, political principles, and anecdotes.

Conclusions. Despite an abundance of available research evidence on obesity, less than half of legislative materials cited any such evidence in discussions around obesity-related bills under consideration in Minnesota.
Enhanced production of valerenic acid in hairy root culture of Valeriana officinalis by elicitation
Authors: Torkamani Mohammad , Jafari Morad , Abbaspour Nasser , Heidary Reza , Safaie Naser
Published: August 2014

Valerenic acid (VA) is a pharmacologically-active sesquiterpene found in valerian (Valeriana officinalis L., Valerianaceae) roots and rhizomes. The plant produces only small amounts of this metabolite naturally. So, induction of hairy roots as well as elicitation can be useful to increase its commercial production. In this study, Wild-type strain ‘A13’ of Agrobacterium rhizogenes was used to induce hairy roots in valerian. The influence of three different elicitors including Fusarium graminearum extract (FE), methyl jasmonate (MJ) and salicylic acid (SA) on VA production in the selected hairy root line ‘LeVa-C4’ was also investigated. The 23-day-old cultures were treated with different concentrations of the elicitors at exposure time of 3 and 7 days. FE (1%) and MJ (100 µM L−1) highly promoted VA production at 7 days after elicitation, to a level of 12.31- and 6-fold higher than that of non-elicited controls, respectively, and FE did not exert any negative effects on biomass yield of hairy root. SA did not significantly increase the production of VA. This is the first time study to assess the elicitation of hairy root cultures to promote VA biosynthesis in valerian and the resulting experiments demonstrated that F. graminearum extract and MJ were indeed a potent inducer of VA biosynthesis.
Phenolic production and antioxidant properties of some Macedonian medicinal plants
Authors: Tusevski Oliver , Kostovska Aneta , Iloska Ana , Trajkovska Ljubica , Simic Sonja
Published: August 2014

Investigations have been made to study the production of phenolic compounds (total phenolics, flavonoids and phenylpropanoids) and total antioxidant capacity in 27 Macedonian traditional medicinal plants to improve its potential as a source of natural antioxidants. Antioxidant potential of plant extracts was analyzed by five different assays: cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), phosphomolybdenum method (PM), reducing power (RP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH·) and 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS·+) radical scavenging activity. Origanum vulgare extract consistently exhibited the highest content of phenolic compounds and the strongest antioxidant capacity based on the tests performed, and can be proposed as a promising source of natural antioxidants. Melissa officinalis and Salvia ringens were also identified as valuable sources of antioxidant compounds. A positive linear correlation between antioxidant activity and total phenolics, flavonoids and phenylpropanoids indicates that these compounds are likely to be the main antioxidants contributing to the observed activities of evaluated plants. These findings suggest that the medicinal plants studied in this paper are good sources of bioactive compounds for the food and pharmaceutical industries.
The relationship of glycerol and glycolysis metabolism patway under hyperosmotic stress in Dunaliella salina
Authors: Xia Bing-Bing , Wang Shuang-Hui , Duan Jing-Bo , Bai Lin-Han
Published: August 2014

This study detected the upstream and downstream key genes of glycolysis in Dunaliella Salina by using Real-time Fluorescence Quantitative PCR assays and measurement of enzyme activity. The results were as follows: the levels of transcription, enzyme activity, and protein of D. salina PFK were up-regulated under hyperosmotic stress while D. salina ENO were down-regulated. At the same time we monitored the change of intracellular degradation of starch, the synthesis of glycerol and PEP concentration in Dunaliella Salina under hyperosmotic stress. We found that lower expression of DsENO reduced the concentration of intracellular PEP which promoted the degradation of starch, and decreased the flow of carbon into the tricarboxylic acid cycle which would favor the synthesis of glycerol.
Chronic exposure to cobalt compounds — an in vivo study
Authors: Gluhcheva Yordanka , Atanasov Vasil , Ivanova Juliana , Pavlova Ekaterina
Published: August 2014

An in vivo experimental model for testing the effects of long-term chronic treatment with cobalt(II) compounds — cobalt chloride (CoCl2) and cobalt-EDTA (Co-EDTA) on mice at different stages of development was optimized. Pregnant mice and their progeny were treated with daily doses of 75 or 125 mg kg−1 body weight until postnatal day 90. The compounds were dissolved in regular tap water. Mice were sacrificed on days 18, 25, 30, 45, 60 and 90 after birth, which correspond to different stages of their development. Altered organ weight indices (calculated as a ratio of organ weight to body weight) of spleen, liver and kidneys, were found depending on the type of compound used, dose, duration of treatment, and the age of the animals. The results also showed significant accumulation of cobalt ions in blood plasma, spleen, liver and kidneys of the exposed mice. More Co(II) was measured in the organs of the immature mice (day 18, 25 and 30 pnd) indicating that they were more sensitive to treatment.
Molecular characterization of two opecoelid trematodes from fishes in the Gulf of Mexico, with a description of a new species of Helicometra
Authors: Andres Michael , Ray Candis , Pulis Eric , Curran Stephen , Overstreet Robin
Published: August 2014

The plagioporine opecoelids Helicometra fasciata (Rudolphi, 1819) Odhner, 1902, and Macvicaria crassigula (Linton, 1910) Bartoli, Bray, and Gibson, 1989 have been reported from fishes in expansive geographic regions, disjointed from their type localities. New material of M. crassigula was collected from near its type locality as well as specimens resembling Helicometra fasciata sensu lato from three triglids in the Gulf of Mexico. Comparisons of the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences, comprising the partial 18S rDNA, internal transcribed spacer region (= ITS1, 5.8S, and ITS2), and partial 28S rDNA gene, from M. crassigula and Helicometra fasciata sensu lato in the Gulf of Mexico were made with sequences deposited in GenBank from those species from the Mediterranean Sea. Results reveal that M. crassigula sensu stricto from the Gulf of Mexico is distinct from the two cryptic species of M. crassigula sensu lato from the Mediterranean Sea and Helicometra fasciata sensu lato in this study differs from H. fasciata sequences from the Mediterranean Sea, thus Helicometra manteri sp. nov. is described.
A Gas-Sensor-Based Measurement Setup for Inline Quality and Process Control in Polymer Extrusion
Authors: Aigner M. , Hundeshagen A. , Hinterberger T. , Mayrbäurl E. , Buchberger W. , Miethlinger J.
Published: August 2014

We report on a gas-sensor-based measurement setup for the detection of volatile degradation products directly in the extrusion process. In contrast to available measurement tools, the system is located in the air flow and works independently of the polymer melt flow. Therefore, the sensor can be used also for non-transparent melts with different colors and filler contents. For process validation, the measurement setup was tested offline using selected organic solvents, as well as directly in the extrusion process using talc-filled polypropylene compounds. We show that the amount of lubricants, the shear load, as well as the temperature and the back pressure influence the level of low molecular weight volatile compounds (LMWVOC) and finally the gas-sensor value.
Interactions between Calcium and Alpha-Synuclein in Neurodegeneration
Authors: Rcom-H'cheo-Gauthier Alex , Goodwin Jacob , Pountney Dean
Published: August 2014

In Parkinson’s disease and some atypical Parkinson’s syndromes, aggregation of the α-synuclein protein (α-syn) has been linked to neurodegeneration. Many triggers for pathological α-syn aggregation have been identified, including port-translational modifications, oxidative stress and raised metal ions, such as Ca2+. Recently, it has been found using cell culture models that transient increases of intracellular Ca2+ induce cytoplasmic α-syn aggregates. Ca2+-dependent α-syn aggregation could be blocked by the Ca2+ buffering agent, BAPTA-AM, or by the Ca2+ channel blocker, Trimethadione. Furthermore, a greater proportion of cells positive for aggregates occurred when both raised Ca2+ and oxidative stress were combined, indicating that Ca2+ and oxidative stress cooperatively promote α-syn aggregation. Current on-going work using a unilateral mouse lesion model of Parkinson’s disease shows a greater proportion of calbindin-positive neurons survive the lesion, with intracellular α-syn aggregates almost exclusively occurring in calbindin-negative neurons. These and other recent findings are reviewed in the context of neurodegenerative pathologies and suggest an association between raised Ca2+, α-syn aggregation and neurotoxicity.
Climate Change and Children: Health Risks of Abatement Inaction, Health Gains from Action
Authors: McMichael Anthony
Published: August 2014

As human-driven climate change advances, many adults fret about the losses of livelihoods, houses and farms that may result. Children fret about their parents’ worries and about information they hear, but do not really understand about the world’s climate and perhaps about their own futures. In chronically worried or anxious children, blood cortisol levels rise and adverse changes accrue in various organ systems that prefigure adult-life diseases. Meanwhile, for many millions of children in poor countries who hear little news and live with day-to-day fatalism, climate change threatens the fundamentals of life—food sufficiency, safe drinking water and physical security—and heightens the risks of diarrhoeal disease, malaria and other climate-sensitive infections. Poor and disadvantaged populations, and especially their children, will bear the brunt of climate-related trauma, disease and premature death over the next few decades and, less directly, from social disruption, impoverishment and displacement. The recent droughts in Somalia as the Indian Ocean warmed and monsoonal rains failed, on top of chronic civil war, forced hundreds of thousands of Somali families into north-eastern Kenya’s vast Dadaab refugee camps, where, for children, shortages of food, water, hygiene and schooling has endangered physical, emotional and mental health. Children warrant special concern, both as children per se and as the coming generation likely to face ever more extreme climate conditions later this century. As children, they face diverse risks, from violent weather, proliferating aeroallergens, heat extremes and mobilised microbes, through to reduced recreational facilities, chronic anxieties about the future and health hazards of displacement and local resource conflict. Many will come to regard their parents’ generation and complacency as culpable.
Investigation of Effect of Milling Atmosphere and Starting Composition on Mg2FeH6 Formation
Authors: Asselli Alexandre , Huot Jacques
Published: August 2014

In this study we investigated the synthesis and the hydrogen storage properties of Mg2FeH6. The complex hydride was prepared by ball milling under argon and hydrogen atmosphere from 2Mg + Fe and 2MgH2 + Fe compositions. The samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microcopy. Kinetics of hydrogen absorption and desorption were measured in a Sievert’s apparatus. We found that the milling atmosphere plays a more important role on Mg2FeH6 synthesis than the starting compositions. Ball milling under hydrogen pressure resulted in smaller particles sizes and doubled the yield of Mg2FeH6 formation. Despite the microstructural differences after ball milling, all samples had similar hydrogen absorption and desorption kinetics. Loss of capacity was observed after only five cycles of hydrogen absorption/desorption.
Faith and Work: An Exploratory Study of Religious Entrepreneurs
Authors: Griebel Jenna , Park Jerry , Neubert Mitchell
Published: August 2014

The influence of religion on work has not been fully explored, and, in particular, the relationship between religion and entrepreneurship as a specific type of work. This study explores the link between entrepreneurial behavior and religion. The study finds that religion, for entrepreneurs, is highly individualized, leading to the initial impression that religion and work have no relationship. Upon closer inspection, however, the study finds that religion does shape entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurial activity is impacted by a need for the entrepreneurs to reinterpret their work in religious terms, ending the tension for them between faith and work.
Recovery of extracellular vesicles from human breast milk is influenced by sample collection and vesicle isolation procedures
Authors: Zonneveld Marijke I. , Brisson Alain R. , van Herwijnen Martijn J. C. , Tan Sisareuth , van de Lest Chris H. A. , Redegeld Frank A. , Garssen Johan , Wauben Marca H. M. , Nolte‐'t Hoen Esther N. M.
Published: August 2014

Extracellular vesicles (EV) in breast milk carry immune relevant proteins and could play an important role in the instruction of the neonatal immune system. To further analyze these EV and to elucidate their function it is important that native populations of EV can be recovered from (stored) breast milk samples in a reproducible fashion. However, the impact of isolation and storage procedures on recovery of breast milk EV has remained underexposed. Here, we aimed to define parameters important for EV recovery from fresh and stored breast milk. To compare various protocols across different donors, breast milk was spiked with a well‐defined murine EV population. We found that centrifugation of EV down into density gradients largely improved density‐based separation and isolation of EV, compared to floatation up into gradients after high‐force pelleting of EV. Using cryo‐electron microscopy, we identified different subpopulations of human breast milk EV and a not previously described population of lipid tubules. Additionally, the impact of cold storage on breast milk EV was investigated. We determined that storing unprocessed breast milk at −80°C or 4°C caused death of cells present in breast milk, leading to contamination of the breast milk EV population with storage‐induced EV. Here, an alternative method is proposed to store breast milk samples for EV analysis at later time points. The proposed adaptations to the breast milk storage and EV isolation procedures can be applied for EV‐based biomarker profiling of breast milk and functional analysis of the role of breast milk EV in the development of the neonatal immune system.
Review of nanostructured devices for thermoelectric applications
Authors: Pennelli Giovanni
Published: August 2014

A big research effort is currently dedicated to the development of thermoelectric devices capable of a direct thermal-to-electrical energy conversion, aiming at efficiencies as high as possible. These devices are very attractive for many applications in the fields of energy recovery and green energy harvesting. In this paper, after a quick summary of the fundamental principles of thermoelectricity, the main characteristics of materials needed for high efficiency thermoelectric conversion will be discussed, and a quick review of the most promising materials currently under development will be given. This review paper will put a particular emphasis on nanostructured silicon, which represents a valid compromise between good thermoelectric properties on one side and material availability, sustainability, technological feasibility on the other side. The most important bottom-up and top-down nanofabrication techniques for large area silicon nanowire arrays, to be used for high efficiency thermoelectric devices, will be presented and discussed.
CRM/e-CRM Effects on Banks Performance and Customer-Bank Relationship Quality
Authors: Al-Refaie Abbas , Tahat Mohammad D. AL , Bata Nour
Published: August 2014

This research aims at examining the effects of customer relationship management (CRM) and electronic CRM (e-CRM) on banks performance in Jordan using structural equation modelling. Two structural models, I, and II are developed. Fourteen reputable Jordanian banks are selected. Results of Model I show that: (1) internet service function and customer support have significant influence on relationship management (RM), (2) marketing support function has insignificant influence on RM, which indicates, and (3) RM has positive influence on business performance; learning and growth, customer satisfaction, internal process, and financial perspective. Results of Model II reveal that: (1) the e-CRM significantly influences customer based-service attributes, (2) the e-CRM directly related with relationship quality (RQ), and indirectly affects RQ through customer based-service attributes, (3) RQ significantly influences customer lifetime value (CLV). In conclusions, although Jordanian banks should direct more marketing support to enable customer communicate with banks using e-CRM in a fast, easy and efficient way.
A Comprehensive Relational Model of Factors Influencing Knowledge Sharing
Authors: Shanshan Shang
Published: August 2014

This article aims to get the main factors affecting knowledge sharing and their influencing route so that to promote knowledge implementation through theory analysis and empirical test. The paper collects almost all the factors that have significant influence on knowledge sharing from a large amount of relative researches, and classifies the effect of factors as direct, indirect, mediate and moderate effect. Based on the deep review and analysis, the paper selects top management support, organization culture, social relationship, attitude to knowledge sharing, self-efficacy, trust, motivation, intention to knowledge sharing, IT, and training as the major influential factors and proposes a comprehensive relational model according to the effects of the factors. Finally, the paper verifies the model and examines the effects of the factors by empirical test through the data collected from questionnaires. The findings can give some guidance to managers and scholars.
Socio-Cultural Influences of Society on Knowledge Construction
Authors: Chang Bo
Published: August 2014

This study examined the socio-cultural influences of a society on promoting or constraining knowledge construction practice in a local administrative learning community. Findings show that socio-cultural factors such as hierarchical structure, economic reform, and traditional Chinese culture shape knowledge construction. The implications of this study for knowledge management are: The hierarchical structure allows knowledge to flow easily from the top to the bottom, but does not leave much room for grassroots knowledge to be developed, shared and circulated. Cultural norms such as saving face constrain people's choices of learning and knowledge sharing. Economic reform has resulted in fierce competition and introduced non-linear and decentralized management structure, which encourages creativity and high individual autonomy, and breaks the fixed pattern of circulating knowledge from the top to the bottom. However, fierce competition also prevents people from sharing knowledge with others, especially the tacit knowledge which is gained from experience.
A Case Study of Research through the App Store
Authors: Böhmer Matthias , Krüger Antonio
Published: August 2014

With a growing number of mobile applications available on application stores and the improved capabilities of smartphones, people download more applications to their devices. Researchers began to leverage this momentum for distributing applications to conduct studies on end-users' devices. This paper grounds the approach of research through the application store in the theory of quasi-experimental design. Further, with people having more applications installed, finding applications quickly when they need them can become a time-consuming issue that impacts user experience. This paper presents our approach to improve future design of smartphone launcher menus. The authors present our approach of combining research through the app store with the idea of studying people's smartphones as the apparatus themselves. Therefore the authors designed a game that takes advantage of the user's smartphone itself as a field of play. By timing a simple visual search task for an icon, the authors aim to deduce how well a user knows where he can find his applications, and thus how well he can build a mental model of his smartphone launcher menu. The authors introduce our approach, present the game rappidly that serves as a vehicle of our research question, and discuss open challenges and future work.
The effect of religion on poverty
Authors: Beyers Jaco
Published: August 2014

Poverty is a human condition. Social, economic, psychological and political factors affect society and can alleviate as well as stimulate poverty. Religion provides a unique perspective on the phenomenon of poverty. This article suggests three functions of religion regarding poverty. Firstly, religion can redirect human thought to spiritual concerns, focusing on spiritual poverty instead of material concerns. Secondly, it can provide the moral fibres needed in society. Religion can influence the response to poverty by having an ethical impact when principles benefiting all in society are applied within economic systems. Religion can also influence the response to poverty by fostering an attitude of willingness to practise generosity. Religion can educate communities in order for human dignity of all in society to be restored. Thirdly, religion can be part of the system actively encouraging and participating in alleviating poverty.
Rhetoric and Events
Authors: Crick Nathan
Published: August 2014

Rhetoric is an art that finds its habitation in events. Rhetoric emerges within growing points of opposition and struggle, using language to constitute facts that stand out from situations in order to give to an audience the burden of judgment. This article seeks to provide a framework for articulating the relationship between rhetoric and events through the writings of John Dewey and his collaborator Arthur Bentley, who found in the term “event” a way of advancing their transactional perspective on human action that they believed could function as a corrective to pervasive social pathologies. Using their vocabulary, it advances a definition of rhetoric as an art that reacts to events by constituting meaningful situations in which judgments of character are possible. But it also claims that the ethics of transaction requires a more subtle and long-term effort to show how our own characters as “individuals” are themselves formed in transaction with rhetoric and events.
Comprehensive Rhetorical Pluralism and the Demands of Democratic Discourse: Partisan Perfect Reasoning, Pragmatism, and the Freeing Solvent of Jaina Logic
Authors: Stroud Scott R.
Published: August 2014

How we interact with others is a vital part of the rhetorical practices of the sort of democracy the pragmatists hoped to create. This article examines growing evidence of the threat posed by partisanship to our attempts to critically analyze the claims of others, represented by “partisan perfect reasoning”—the habit of analyzing the claims of others in a fashion that preserves the presupposed reasonableness of our original positions. One path for dealing with the risk of such truncated habits of reasoning is the path of skepticism, represented by the “ironism” of Richard Rorty. This article constructs another possible path, the path of affirming all claims as a starting point for respectful dialogue and argument. Using the concepts of anekāntavāda and syādvāda from the Jaina tradition, this article argues that we can mitigate partisan perfect reasoning and foster respect for our conversational others through a novel orientation to rhetorical activity.
ASL/ALT ratio as a triage marker for enteric fever in the emergency department
Authors: Jassim Haitham Mohammed , Naushad Vamanjore A , Alawsi Jamal Hikmat , Chandra Prem , Alkilani Hani , Wilson Gudwin , Matheen Mubeen
Published: August 2014

Objective: Early differentiation of enteric (typhoid) fever from other febrile conditions has been difficult due to the non-specific clinical presentations and lack of substantiating laboratory clues. Transaminase alterations in enteric fever were thought to be non-specific and have not been investigated before in comparison with other febrile conditions with regards to their prevalence and the aspartate amino transferase/alanine amino transferase (AST/ALT) ratio. We sought to examine these parameters as triage markers for enteric fever. Methods: We retrospectively studied 106 patients with enteric fever diagnosed by positive blood culture. 112 febrile patients tested negative for malaria were taken as controls. The controls were matched to the test group with respect to demographic and baseline clinical features. Serum AST, ALT values on first visit to the emergency department was noted and AST/ALT ratio was determined. The values between the test and control groups were compared and the results were analyzed using appropriate statistical methods. Results: The mean AST and ALT levels were found to be significantly higher for enteric fever patients than the control group (109.91 U/L ± 76.07 vs. 29.93 U/L ± 16.74; p < 0.0001) and (83.60 U/L ± 68.04 vs. 32.12 U/L ± 21.79; p < 0.0001) respectively. The mean AST/ALT ratio was found to be higher among enteric fever patients compared to the control group (1.42 ± 0.60 vs.1.07 ± 0.44; p < 0.0001). AST/ALT ratio of ≥ 1 combined with AST of ≥ 40 U/L was found in 72.6% of enteric patients vs. 6.2% in the control group (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: As compared to other common febrile conditions, transaminase alterations in enteric fever seem to follow a specific pattern characterized by higher prevalence of mild elevations (mean levels < 3 fold the upper limit of normal) with a general trend of AST/ALT ratios ≥ 1. In the febrile adult, having an AST/ALT ratio of >1 combined with an AST level of >40 U/L, may provide a simple and cheap triage marker for blood cultures and closer observation especially in the emergency department.
Management of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) in the emergency department
Authors: Bashir Khalid , Irfan Furqan , Cameron Peter A
Published: August 2014

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a common medical condition that can be managed by emergency physicians. Vertigo sufferers usually complain of the room spinning associated with certain head movements such as getting out of bed, looking up and bending down. BPPV can be diagnosed clinically from history and examination and does not require any investigations. BPPV can be effectively treated at the bedside by using one of the Canalith repositioning maneuvers (particle repositioning maneuvers). This treatment has been proven to be effective in randomised controlled trials and carries minimal risks. The common complications during the procedure include nausea, vomiting and vertigo. There are no absolute contraindications. BPPV can resolve spontaneously but symptoms may last for weeks in most patients, to years in others. Failure to respond to physical maneuvers and an unusual pattern of nystagmus may suggest a central pathology. Diagnostic strategies and physical manoeuvres are described in this narrative review. Future directions and recommendations also discussed.
Het recht om vergeten te worden na overlijden
Authors: van der Geld Lucienne
Published: August 2014

Samenvatting

In het ontwerp van de algemene verordening gegevensbescherming staat in artikel 17 het recht om vergeten te worden. Op 13 mei 2014 deed het Hof van Justitie van de Europese Unie een uitspraak waardoor Google verplicht is persoonlijke informatie van een Spaanse staatsburger te verwijderen uit de zoekresultaten. De auteur vraagt zich af of het vergeetrecht doorwerkt na overlijden, waardoor de erfgenamen het recht namens erflater kunnen uitoefenen. Bij een bevestigend antwoord kan er bij testament over worden beschikt. Naast het vergeetrecht zijn er andere uit grondrechten voortvloeiende persoonlijkheidsrechten waarvan de Rechtbank Overijssel recent oordeelde dat de uitoefening daarvan aan de executeur kan worden toegekend.
Arylation of 1,2,4-Triazines in the Presence of AlCl3
Authors: Egorov Ilya N.
Published: August 2014

This paper presents a method for introducing toluene and bromobenzene moieties into 1,2,4- triazines as an alternative to cross-coupling reactions. It is demonstrated that the C=N bond of a wide range of 1,2,4-triazines undergoes addition of arenes in the presence of AlCl3.
A New Wells-Dawson-based Organic-Inorganic Honeycomb Hybrid Compound with Cadmium Bis(2,2´-biimidazole) Spacers
Authors: Ying Jun , Ning Ya-li , Hou Xue , Xiao Ru , Zhang Ju-wen , Tian Ai-xiang
Published: August 2014

A new Wells-Dawson-based organic-inorganic honeycomb hybrid compound, namely [Cd3(H2biim)6P2W18O62]·2H2O (1) (H2biim=2,2´-biimidazole), was hydrothermally synthesized by using a cadmium salt, the biimidazole ligand and the Wells-Dawson-type POM, and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analyses and IR spectroscopy. In compound 1, each polyoxoanion cluster [P2W18O62]6- is coordinated by six [Cd(H2biim)2]2+ subunits via six of its terminal oxygen atoms on two equatorial sites. Each [Cd(H2biim)2]2+ subunit links two adjacent polyoxoanions. Thus, the linking styles of the [P2W18O62]6- and [Cd(H2biim)2]2+ subunits induce a honeycomb-like layer. The electrochemical and photocatalytic properties of the title compound have been studied.
Synthesis of Raspberry and Ginger Ketones by Nickel Boride-catalyzed Hydrogenation of 4-Arylbut-3-en-2-ones
Authors: Bandarenko Mikhail , Kovalenko Vitaly
Published: August 2014

Raspberry and ginger ketones have been synthesized in good yield by the hydrogenation of the corresponding unsaturated precursors 4-(4´-hydroxyphenyl)but-3-en-2-one and 4-(4´-hydroxy-3´- methoxyphenyl)but-3-en-2-one, respectively, using a freshly prepared suspension of nickel boride in methanol as catalyst.
Longitudinal Analysis of DNA Methylation in CD34+ Hematopoietic Progenitors in Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Authors: Wong Yan-Fung , Micklem Chris N. , Taguchi Masataka , Itonaga Hidehiro , Sawayama Yasushi , Imanishi Daisuke , Nishikawa Shinichi , Miyazaki Yasushi , Jakt Lars Martin
Published: August 2014

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a disorder of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that is often treated with DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) inhibitors (5-azacytidine [AZA], 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine), suggesting a role for DNA methylation in disease progression. How DNMT inhibition retards disease progression and how DNA methylation contributes to MDS remain unclear. We analyzed global DNA methylation in purified CD34+ hematopoietic progenitors from MDS patients undergoing multiple rounds of AZA treatment. Differential methylation between MDS phenotypes was observed primarily at developmental regulators not expressed within the hematopoietic compartment and was distinct from that observed between healthy hematopoietic cell types. After AZA treatment, we observed only limited DNA demethylation at sites that varied between patients. This suggests that a subset of the stem cell population is resistant to AZA and provides a basis for disease relapse. Using gene expression data from patient samples and an in vitro AZA treatment study, we identified differentially methylated genes that can be activated following treatment and that remain silent in the CD34+ stem cell compartment of high-risk MDS patients. Haploinsufficiency in mice of one of these genes (NR4A2) has been shown to lead to excessive HSC proliferation, and our data suggest that suppression of NR4A2 by DNA methylation may be involved in MDS progression.
Microtubules provide directional information for core PCP function
Authors: Matis Maja , Russler-Germain David A , Hu Qie , Tomlin Claire J , Axelrod Jeffrey D
Published: August 2014

Planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling controls the polarization of cells within the plane of an epithelium. Two molecular modules composed of Fat(Ft)/Dachsous(Ds)/Four-jointed(Fj) and a ‘PCP-core’ including Frizzled(Fz) and Dishevelled(Dsh) contribute to polarization of individual cells. How polarity is globally coordinated with tissue axes is unresolved. Consistent with previous results, we find that the Ft/Ds/Fj-module has an effect on a MT-cytoskeleton. Here, we provide evidence for the model that the Ft/Ds/Fj-module provides directional information to the core-module through this MT organizing function. We show Ft/Ds/Fj-dependent initial polarization of the apical MT-cytoskeleton prior to global alignment of the core-module, reveal that the anchoring of apical non-centrosomal MTs at apical junctions is polarized, observe that directional trafficking of vesicles containing Dsh depends on Ft, and demonstrate the feasibility of this model by mathematical simulation. Together, these results support the hypothesis that Ft/Ds/Fj provides a signal to orient core PCP function via MT polarization.
Spatial distribution of Northern Hemisphere winter temperatures during different phases of the solar cycle
Authors: Maliniemi V. , Asikainen T. , Mursula K.
Published: August 2014

Several recent studies have found variability in the Northern Hemisphere winter climate related to different parameters of solar activity. While these results consistently indicate some kind of solar modulation of tropospheric and stratospheric circulation and surface temperature, opinions on the exact mechanism and the solar driver differ. Proposed drivers include, e.g., total solar irradiance (TSI), solar UV radiation, galactic cosmic rays, and magnetospheric energetic particles. While some of these drivers are difficult to distinguish because of their closely similar variation over the solar cycle, other suggested drivers have clear differences in their solar cycle evolution. For example, geomagnetic activity and magnetospheric particle fluxes peak in the declining phase of the sunspot cycle, in difference to TSI and UV radiation which more closely follow sunspots. Using 13 solar cycles (1869–2009), we study winter surface temperatures and North Atlantic oscillation (NAO) during four different phases of the sunspot cycle: minimum, ascending, maximum, and declining phase. We find significant differences in the temperature patterns between the four cycle phases, which indicates a solar cycle modulation of winter surface temperatures. However, the clearest pattern of the temperature anomalies is not found during sunspot maximum or minimum, but during the declining phase, when the temperature pattern closely resembles the pattern found during positive NAO. Moreover, we find the same pattern during the low sunspot activity cycles of 100 years ago, suggesting that the pattern is largely independent of the overall level of solar activity.
Continuous estimation of baseflow in snowmelt‐dominated streams and rivers in the Upper Colorado River Basin: A chemical hydrograph separation approach
Authors: Miller Matthew P. , Susong David D. , Shope Christopher L. , Heilweil Victor M. , Stolp Bernard J.
Published: August 2014

Effective science‐based management of water resources in large basins requires a qualitative understanding of hydrologic conditions and quantitative measures of the various components of the water budget, including difficult to measure components such as baseflow discharge to streams. Using widely available discharge and continuously collected specific conductance (SC) data, we adapted and applied a long established chemical hydrograph separation approach to quantify daily and representative annual baseflow discharge at 14 streams and rivers at large spatial (> 1000 km2 watersheds) and temporal (up to 37 years) scales in the Upper Colorado River Basin. On average, annual baseflow was 21–58% of annual stream discharge, 13–45% of discharge during snowmelt, and 40–86% of discharge during low‐flow conditions. Results suggest that reservoirs may act to store baseflow discharged to the stream during snowmelt and release that baseflow during low‐flow conditions, and that irrigation return flows may contribute to increases in fall baseflow in heavily irrigated watersheds. The chemical hydrograph separation approach, and associated conceptual model defined here provide a basis for the identification of land use, management, and climate effects on baseflow.
Antarctic outlet glacier mass change resolved at basin scale from satellite gravity gradiometry
Authors: Bouman J. , Fuchs M. , Ivins E. , van der Wal W. , Schrama E. , Visser P. , Horwath M.
Published: August 2014

The orbit and instrumental measurement of the Gravity Field and Steady State Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) satellite mission offer the highest ever resolution capabilities for mapping Earth's gravity field from space. However, past analysis predicted that GOCE would not detect changes in ice sheet mass. Here we demonstrate that GOCE gravity gradiometry observations can be combined with Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) gravity data to estimate mass changes in the Amundsen Sea Sector. This refined resolution allows land ice changes within the Pine Island Glacier (PIG), Thwaites Glacier, and Getz Ice Shelf drainage systems to be measured at respectively −67 ± 7, −63 ± 12, and −55 ± 9 Gt/yr over the GOCE observing period of November 2009 to June 2012. This is the most accurate pure satellite gravimetry measurement to date of current mass loss from PIG, known as the “weak underbelly” of West Antarctica because of its retrograde bed slope and high potential for raising future sea level.
Istanbul's earthquake hot spots: Geodetic constraints on strain accumulation along faults in the Marmara seismic gap
Authors: Ergintav S. , Reilinger R. E. , Çakmak R. , Floyd M. , Cakir Z. , Doğan U. , King R. W. , McClusky S. , Özener H.
Published: August 2014

During the past century, a series of predominantly westward migratingM > 7 earthquakes broke an ~1000 km section of the North Anatolian Fault (NAF). The only major remaining “seismic gap” along the fault is under the Sea of Marmara (Main Marmara Fault (MMF)). We use 20 years of GPS observations to estimate strain accumulation on fault segments in the Marmara Sea seismic gap. We report the first direct observations of strain accumulation on the Princes' Islands segment of the MMF, constraining the slip deficit rate to 10–15 mm/yr. In contrast, the central segment of the MMF that was thought to be the most likely location for the anticipated gap‐filling earthquakes shows no evidence of strain accumulation, suggesting that fault motion is accommodated by fault creep. We conclude that the Princes' Islands segment is most likely to generate the nextM > 7 earthquake along the Sea of Marmara segment of the NAF.
Crustal anisotropy in a subduction zone forearc: Northern Cascadia
Authors: Matharu G. , Bostock M. G. , Christensen N. I. , Tromp Jeroen
Published: August 2014

S‐wave splitting analyses using low‐frequency earthquake templates at three‐component stations across southern Vancouver Island and northern Washington indicate the presence of a heterogeneous distribution of crustal anisotropy in the North American plate. For southern Vancouver Island, we investigate contributions to anisotropy from the Leech River Complex, a terrane composed of strongly foliated phyllites and schists with steeply dipping foliations striking east‐west. Fast directions across mainland southern Vancouver Island are subparallel to the dominant Leech River Complex foliation direction. East‐to‐west increases in delay times and small‐scale azimuthal variations in fast directions indicate heterogeneous anisotropy. We test azimuthally anisotropic Leech River Complex models constrained by previous geological and seismic reflection studies, through forward modeling using 3‐D spectral element method simulations. The preferred model of a north/northeast shallowly dipping wedge of Leech River Complex material with varying orientation of anisotropy terminating at midcrustal levels explains the splitting observations at a majority of southern Vancouver Island stations. For stations where anisotropic Leech River Complex models do not recreate observations, fast directions are subparallel to local estimates of maximum compressive horizontal stress, suggesting that fluid‐filled cracks could be a source of anisotropy. We assert that the Leech River Complex is the primary source of crustal anisotropy beneath southern Vancouver Island, not cracks as suggested by prior studies. Fast directions at stations on northern Washington exhibit variations with azimuth and incidence angle suggesting complex anisotropy interpreted as due to a combination of cracks and preferred mineral orientation of metamorphosed slates of the Olympic core rocks. These slates may also underlay stations on southern Vancouver Island and represent another source of anisotropy.
The effects of deionization processes on meteor radar diffusion coefficients below 90 km
Authors: Younger J. P. , Lee C. S. , Reid I. M. , Vincent R. A. , Kim Y. H. , Murphy D. J.
Published: August 2014

The decay times of VHF radar echoes from underdense meteor trails are reduced in the lower portions of the meteor region. This is a result of plasma neutralization initiated by the attachment of positive trail ions to neutral atmospheric molecules. Decreased echo decay times cause meteor radars to produce erroneously high estimates of the ambipolar diffusion coefficient at heights below 90 km, which affects temperature estimation techniques. Comparisons between colocated radars and satellite observations show that meteor radar estimates of diffusion coefficients are not consistent with estimates from the Aura Microwave Limb Sounder satellite instrument and that colocated radars operating at different frequencies estimate different values of the ambipolar diffusion coefficient for simultaneous detections of the same meteors. Loss of free electrons from meteor trails due to attachment to aerosols and chemical processes were numerically simulated and compared with observations to determine the specific mechanism responsible for low‐altitude meteor trail plasma neutralization. It is shown that three‐body attachment of positive metal ions significantly reduces meteor radar echo decay times at low altitudes compared to the case of diffusion only that atmospheric ozone plays little part in the evolution of low‐altitude underdense meteor trails and that the effect of three‐body attachment begins to exceed diffusion in echo decay times at a constant density surface.
Self‐Assembly of Ordered Colloidal Nanoparticle Films in Few‐Micron Wide Laser‐Desorbed Lines of Octadecylsiloxane Monolayers on Silicon Oxide Surfaces
Authors: Belgardt Christian , Blaudeck Thomas , von Borczyskowski Christian , Graaf Harald
Published: August 2014

We report about a maskless technique to deposit colloidal polystyrene particles in patterned stripes with a line width as narrow as 1.5 μm. Our approach is based on the digital patterning of a hydrophobic octadecylsiloxane self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) on a silicon oxide surface by laser‐assisted decomposition and desorption of its organic parts. For hydrophilic stripes of the micropatterned SAM area down to widths of approximately 1.5 μm, we observed ordered, mainly monolayered stripes of colloidal polystyrene nanoparticles using a modified vertical deposition technique, dipping the silicon substrate into a colloidal suspension at an angle of around 45° with respect to the surface normal of the liquid. The mechanism of this so‐called “slope self‐assembly” [Wu et al., Langmuir 2013, 29, 14017] and its limitations with respect to stacking can be explained in the framework of a meniscus moving along the steps of alternating surface energy with the decreasing width of the hydrophilic stripes during the deposition process [Fustin et al., Langmuir 2004, 20, 9114].