bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Atrichadenotecnum multispinosus sp. n. (Psocoptera: Psocidae) from southwestern China, with new synonyms and new combinations from Psocomesites and Clematostigma
Authors: LIU LUXI , YOSHIZAWA KAZUNORI , LI FASHENG , LIU ZHIQI
Published: August 2013

Atrichadenotecnum multispinosus sp. n. is described from southwestern China. Psocomesites and Clematostigma from China are discussed, with five species transferred to Atrichadenotecnum and four species placed as new synonyms. Keys to adult males and females of Atrichadenotecnum species are presented.
A new Peruvian species of Enna (Araneae, Lycosoidea, Trechaleidae)
Authors: DA SILVA ESTEVAM L. CRUZ
Published: August 2013

The spider genus Enna O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897 comprises 38 species, distributed from Mexico to Southern Brazil, and is the most diverse genus of Trechaleidae (Platnick, 2013). Enna was revised by Silva et al. (2008) and 13 further species were described by Silva & Lise (2009a, 2009b), Carico & Silva (2010), Silva & Lise (2011) and Silva et al. (2012). Silva & Lise (2010) and Silva et al. (2012) also synonymised two Enna species. Currently, there are 11 Enna species known from Peru (Silva et al. 2008; Silva & Lise 2009a, 2009b, 2011; Carico & Silva 2010; Silva et al. 2012). In this work, a new species of Enna is described and illustrated from Peru. A distribution map is provided.
Turbulence and Radiation in Stratocumulus-Topped Marine Boundary Layers: A Case Study from VOCALS-REx
Authors: Ghate Virendra P. , Albrecht Bruce A. , Miller Mark A. , Brewer Alan , Fairall Christopher W.
Published: August 2013

Observations made during a 24-h period as part of the Variability of the American Monsoon Systems (VAMOS) Ocean–Cloud–Atmosphere–Land Study Regional Experiment (VOCALS-REx) are analyzed to study the radiation and turbulence associated with the stratocumulus-topped marine boundary layer (BL). The first 14 h exhibited a well-mixed (coupled) BL with an average cloud-top radiative flux divergence of ~130 W m−2; the BL was decoupled during the last 10 h with negligible radiative flux divergence. The averaged radiative cooling very close to the cloud top was −9.04 K h−1 in coupled conditions and −3.85 K h−1 in decoupled conditions. This is the first study that combined data from a vertically pointing Doppler cloud radar and a Doppler lidar to yield the vertical velocity structure of the entire BL. The averaged vertical velocity variance and updraft mass flux during coupled conditions were higher than those during decoupled conditions at all levels by a factor of 2 or more. The vertical velocity skewness was negative in the entire BL during coupled conditions, whereas it was weakly positive in the lower third of the BL and negative above during decoupled conditions. A formulation of velocity scale is proposed that includes the effect of cloud-top radiative cooling in addition to the surface buoyancy flux. When scaled by the velocity scale, the vertical velocity variance and coherent downdrafts had similar magnitude during the coupled and decoupled conditions. The coherent updrafts that exhibited a constant profile in the entire BL during both the coupled and decoupled conditions scaled well with the convective velocity scale to a value of ~0.5.
Variability of Winter Storminess in the Eastern United States during the Twentieth Century from Tide Gauges
Authors: Thompson Philip R. , Mitchum Gary T. , Vonesch Cedric , Li Jianke
Published: August 2013

Interannual to multidecadal variability of winter storminess in the eastern United States was studied using water level measurements from coastal tide gauges. The proximity to the coast of the primary winter storm track in the region allows the use of tide gauges to study temporal modulations in the frequency of these storms. Storms were identified in high-passed, detided sea level anomalies in 20 gauges from all coasts of North America to assess variability in winter storminess along particular storm tracks. The primary result is a significant multidecadal increase in the number of storms affecting the southeastern United States from the early to late twentieth century. The authors propose that this change is due to an increased tendency for the jet stream to meander south over the eastern United States since the 1950s. This mechanism is supported by long-term changes in the large-scale sea level pressure pattern over North America. The nature of the multidecadal change in storm frequency is unclear, because limited tide gauge record lengths prevent distinguishing between a trend and an oscillation.
Southern Hemisphere Stationary Wave Response to Changes of Ozone and Greenhouse Gases
Authors: Wang Lei , Kushner Paul J. , Waugh Darryn W.
Published: August 2013

The Southern Hemisphere (SH) stratospheric stationary wave amplitude increased significantly in late spring and early summer during the last two decades of the twentieth century. A suite of chemistry climate model simulations are examined to explore the underlying cause and the separate effects of anthropogenic forcing from ozone depleting substances (ODSs) and greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the past and projected SH stationary wave evolution. The model simulations produce trends in the wave amplitude similar to that observed, although somewhat weaker. In simulations with changing ODSs, this increase in amplitude is reproduced during the ozone depletion period and is reversed during the ozone recovery period. This response is related to changes in the strength and timing of the breakdown of the SH polar vortex associated with ozone depletion and recovery. GHG increases have little impact on the simulated stratospheric stationary wave amplitude but are projected to induce an eastward phase shift of the waves. This phase shift is linked to the strengthening of the subtropical jets driven by GHG forcing via sea surface warming.
Deep Ocean Changes near the Western Boundary of the South Pacific Ocean
Authors: Sloyan Bernadette M. , Wijffels Susan E. , Tilbrook Bronte , Katsumata Katsuro , Murata Akihiko , Macdonald Alison M.
Published: August 2013

Repeated occupations of two hydrographic sections in the southwest Pacific basin from the 1990s to 2000s track property changes of Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW). The largest property changes—warming, freshening, increase in total carbon, and decrease in oxygen—are found near the basin’s deep western boundary between 50° and 20°S. The magnitude of the property changes decreases with increasing distance from the western boundary. At the deep western boundary, analysis of the relative importance of AABW (γn > 28.1 kg m−3) freshening, heating, or isopycnal heave suggests that the deep ocean stratification change is the result of both warming and freshening processes. The consistent deep ocean changes near the western boundary of the southwest Pacific basin dispel the notion that the deep ocean is quiescent. High-latitude climate variability is being directly transmitted into the deep southwest Pacific basin and the global deep ocean through dynamic deep western boundary currents.
Volume and Potential Vorticity Budgets of Eighteen Degree Water
Authors: Deremble Bruno , Dewar W. K.
Published: August 2013

Mode waters are a distinctive baroclinic feature of the World Ocean characterized by relatively weak vertical stratification. They correspond dynamically to low potential vorticity (PV). In the North Atlantic subtropical gyre, the mode waters have become known as Eighteen Degree Water. Their dynamics involves air–sea interaction, diapycnal and isopycnal mixing, and subduction. Understanding mode water dynamics is therefore both challenging and important since it connects several aspects of the ocean circulation. Mass and PV budget of the mode water's core, evaluated in a realistic primitive equation North Atlantic model, are used to characterize mode water maintenance. It is shown that the surface PV flux has very little impact on mode water; the surface buoyancy flux in combination with eddy mass flux is the most important control on mode water structure. A mean PV formalism is used to show that the PV and water-mass formation budgets are intrinsically linked. A decomposition of the budget demonstrates the role of the mean PV field in permitting the eddy mass flux to discharge the net formation to the surrounding fluid.
An Assessment of Density-Based Finescale Methods for Estimating Diapycnal Diffusivity in the Southern Ocean
Authors: Frants Marina , Damerell Gillian M. , Gille Sarah T. , Heywood Karen J. , MacKinnon Jennifer , Sprintall Janet
Published: August 2013

Finescale estimates of diapycnal diffusivity κ are computed from CTD and expendable CTD (XCTD) data sampled in Drake Passage and in the eastern Pacific sector of the Southern Ocean and are compared against microstructure measurements from the same times and locations. The microstructure data show vertical diffusivities that are one-third to one-fifth as large over the smooth abyssal plain in the southeastern Pacific as they are in Drake Passage, where diffusivities are thought to be enhanced by the flow of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current over rough topography. Finescale methods based on vertical strain estimates are successful at capturing the spatial variability between the low-mixing regime in the southeastern Pacific and the high-mixing regime of Drake Passage. Thorpe-scale estimates for the same dataset fail to capture the differences between Drake Passage and eastern Pacific estimates. XCTD profiles have lower vertical resolution and higher noise levels after filtering than CTD profiles, resulting in XCTD κ estimates that are, on average, an order of magnitude higher than CTD estimates. Overall, microstructure diffusivity estimates are better matched by strain-based estimates than by estimates based on Thorpe scales, and CTD data appear to perform better than XCTD data. However, even the CTD-based strain diffusivity estimates can differ from microstructure diffusivities by nearly an order of magnitude, suggesting that density-based fine-structure methods of estimating mixing from CTD or XCTD data have real limitations in low-stratification regimes such as the Southern Ocean.
A Modified Multivariate Madden–Julian Oscillation Index Using Velocity Potential
Authors: Ventrice Michael J. , Wheeler Matthew C. , Hendon Harry H. , Schreck Carl J. , Thorncroft Chris D. , Kiladis George N.
Published: August 2013

A new Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) index is developed from a combined empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis of meridionally averaged 200-hPa velocity potential (VP200), 200-hPa zonal wind (U200), and 850-hPa zonal wind (U850). Like the Wheeler–Hendon Real-time Multivariate MJO (RMM) index, which was developed in the same way except using outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) data instead of VP200, daily data are projected onto the leading pair of EOFs to produce the two-component index. This new index is called the velocity potential MJO (VPM) indices and its properties are quantitatively compared to RMM. Compared to the RMM index, the VPM index detects larger-amplitude MJO-associated signals during boreal summer. This includes a slightly stronger and more coherent modulation of Atlantic tropical cyclones. This result is attributed to the fact that velocity potential preferentially emphasizes the planetary-scale aspects of the divergent circulation, thereby spreading the convectively driven component of the MJO’s signal across the entire globe. VP200 thus deemphasizes the convective signal of the MJO over the Indian Ocean warm pool, where the OLR variability associated with the MJO is concentrated, and enhances the signal over the relatively drier longitudes of the equatorial Pacific and Atlantic. This work provides a useful framework for systematic analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of different MJO indices.
Wavelet Analysis of Seasonal Rainfall Variability of the Upper Blue Nile Basin, Its Teleconnection to Global Sea Surface Temperature, and Its Forecasting by an Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Elsanabary Mohamed Helmy , Gan Thian Yew
Published: August 2013

Rainfall is the primary driver of basin hydrologic processes. This article examines a recently developed rainfall predictive tool that combines wavelet principal component analysis (WPCA), an artificial neural networks-genetic algorithm (ANN-GA), and statistical disaggregation into an integrated framework useful for the management of water resources around the upper Blue Nile River basin (UBNB) in Ethiopia. From the correlation field between scale-average wavelet powers (SAWPs) of the February–May (FMAM) global sea surface temperature (SST) and the first wavelet principal component (WPC1) of June–September (JJAS) seasonal rainfall over the UBNB, sectors of the Indian, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans where SSTs show a strong teleconnection with JJAS rainfall in the UBNB (r ≥ 0.4) were identified. An ANN-GA model was developed to forecast the UBNB seasonal rainfall using the selected SST sectors. Results show that ANN-GA forecasted seasonal rainfall amounts that agree well with the observed data for the UBNB [root-mean-square errors (RMSEs) between 0.72 and 0.82, correlation between 0.68 and 0.77, and Hanssen–Kuipers (HK) scores between 0.5 and 0.77], but the results in the foothills region of the Great Rift Valley (GRV) were poor, which is expected since the variability of WPC1 mainly comes from the highlands of Ethiopia. The Valencia and Schaake model was used to disaggregate the forecasted seasonal rainfall to weekly rainfall, which was found to reasonably capture the characteristics of the observed weekly rainfall over the UBNB. The ability to forecast the UBNB rainfall at a season-long lead time will be useful for an optimal allocation of water usage among various competing users in the river basin.
Determinants of educational participation and gender differences in education in six Arab countries
Authors: Smits Jeroen , Huisman Janine
Published: August 2013

We study the determinants of educational participation and gender differences in education for young children in six Arab countries: Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia and Yemen. Although these countries have made much progress in getting young children into school, school dropout after age 11 was still very high, and in the rural areas there were major gender differences in participation. In cities of most of these countries (except Yemen) gender differences have almost disappeared. Multivariate analyses show that similar household-level factors (e.g. wealth, education, number of siblings) as those in the West play a role, but that their importance relative to context factors is much less. For young rural girls, only 33 per cent of the variation in participation is explained by household-level factors. For older and urban girls and for boys this is more, but still substantially less than in the West. Strengthening the position of rural mothers and improving the educational infrastructure seem particularly important for reducing gender differences.
Excretion of N1, N12-diacetylspermine in the urine of healthy individuals
Authors: Hiramatsu Kyoko , Sakaguchi Kouji , Fujie Nana , Saitoh Fumie , Takahama Emi , Moriya Shun-suke , Iwasaki Kaori , Sakaguchi Masayoshi , Takahashi Kei-ichi , Kawaikta Masao
Published: August 2013

Background

Urinary N 1 ,N12-diacetylspermine (DiAcSpm) is a novel tumour marker that can be used to detect early cancers. In this study, we examined whether spot urine samples could represent the daily excretion of DiAcSpm after creatinine normalization and which factors should be taken into account in determining reference values for this biomarker.

Methods

We collected the following urine samples: (1) samples from seven healthy volunteers collected on each day of two 2-day sessions to examine the circadian variation of DiAcSpm excretion; (2) samples from 3952 male and 1782 female volunteers to estimate the DiAcSpm concentrations in apparently healthy adults and (3) samples from 16 female volunteers collected every morning over a 3-month period to examine the menstruation-related variation in DiAcSpm excretion. The DiAcSpm concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or a colloidal gold aggregation procedure using DiAcSpm-specific antibodies.

Results

(1) The circadian variation of DiAcSpm in the urine was greatly diminished after creatinine normalization. (2) DiAcSpm was higher in females than in males, and the creatinine-normalized medians (95th percentile) of the urinary DiAcSpm concentrations were 149 (305) and 100 (192) nmol/g creatinine for females and males, respectively. (3) The mean concentrations of urinary DiAcSpm were lower after menstruation than before menstruation by approximately 30 nmol/g creatinine.

Conclusion

Spot urine samples obtained at any time of a day may be used to estimate the daily excretion of DiAcSpm in nmol DiAcSpm per gram creatinine. Sex, age and menstrual condition should be considered when determining the reference values for urinary DiAcSpm.
Are Gamers Better Crossers? An Examination of Action Video Game Experience and Dual Task Effects in a Simulated Street Crossing Task
Authors: Gaspar John G. , Neider Mark B. , Crowell James A. , Lutz Aubrey , Kaczmarski Henry , Kramer Arthur F.
Published: August 2013

Objective:

A high-fidelity street crossing simulator was used to test the hypothesis that experienced action video game players are less vulnerable than nongamers to dual task costs in complex tasks.

Background:

Previous research has shown that action video game players outperform nonplayers on many single task measures of perception and attention. It is unclear, however, whether action video game players outperform nonplayers in complex, divided attention tasks.

Method:

Experienced action video game players and nongamers completed a street crossing task in a high-fidelity simulator. Participants walked on a manual treadmill to cross the street. During some crossings, a cognitively demanding working memory task was added.

Results:

Dividing attention resulted in more collisions and increased decision making time. Of importance, these dual task costs were equivalent for the action video game players and the nongamers.

Conclusion

These results suggest that action video game players are equally susceptible to the costs of dividing attention in a complex task.

Application:

Perceptual and attentional benefits associated with action video game experience may not translate to performance benefits in complex, real-world tasks.
From Love to Melancholy
Authors: Allen Reniqua
Published: August 2013

The Black bohemian is a largely overlooked character in both “Black” and White Hollywood despite an established subculture that has existed for years. This article looks at how Black American bohemian identity in two independent love films has evolved from the segregated world of Generation-X in Love Jones to the integrated world of two young millennial Black bohemians in Medicine for Melancholy. Using the markers of culture, space, and politics, this article posits that while we can read major superficial changes in the way Black bohemian identity has evolved between Generation-X and Generation-Y using these two films, on a fundamental level, Hollywood has not changed in its depictions of alternative Black life and love and continues to rely on the cliché tropes of a monolithic Black identity.
Cognitive Strategies, Working Memory, and Growth in Word Problem Solving in Children With Math Difficulties
Authors: Swanson H. Lee , Lussier Catherine M. , Orosco Michael J.
Published: August 2013

This study investigated the role of strategy instruction and working memory capacity (WMC) on word problem solving accuracy in children with ( n = 100) and without ( n = 92) math difficulties (MD). Within classrooms, children in Grades 2 and 3 were randomly assigned to one of four treatment conditions: verbal-only strategies (e.g., underlining question sentence), verbal + visual strategies, visual-only strategies (e.g., correctly placing numbers in diagrams), or untreated control. Strategy interventions included 20 sessions in both Year 1 and Year 2. The intent-to-treat as well as the “as-treated” analyses showed that treatment effects were significantly moderated by WMC. In general, treatment outcomes were higher when WMC was set to a high rather than low level. When set to a relatively high WMC level, children with MD performed significantly better under visual-only strategy conditions and children without MD performed better under verbal + visual conditions when compared to control conditions.
Parents’ Goals, Knowledge, Practices, and Needs Regarding Music Education for Their Young Children in South Korea
Authors: Youm Hyun Kyung
Published: August 2013

The purpose of this study was to explore South Korean parents’ understanding of and desires for music education for their children. Following a constructivist paradigm and qualitative research methodology, data collection involved in-depth interviews, observations, written questionnaires, family music materials, and the researcher’s journals. The participants were 22 South Korean mothers whose children (younger than 5 years old) attended music programs in the Seoul metropolitan area. Data were analyzed by coding, description, constant comparison, inductive analysis, contextualization, negative case analysis, classification, and interpretation. Analyses revealed that these parents’ goals for their children’s participation in music programs included facilitating the child’s development, enriching the child’s life, preparing for future learning, and providing opportunities to play through music. They described the music programs according to the activities they observed or experienced but did not show deeper understanding about a program’s philosophy or history. Family music practices indicated that the primary activities were singing, listening to music, playing instruments, and dancing/movement. Participants expressed the desire to learn music skills and knowledge not only for their children but also for themselves. The findings of this study demonstrate the necessity of education for parents of young children relating to various aspects of children’s music education.
A Comparison of “Popular Music Pedagogy” Discourses
Authors: Mantie Roger
Published: August 2013

The purpose of this study was to interrogate discourses of “popular music pedagogy” in order to better understand music education practices generally and specifically those in the United States. Employing a conceptual framework based on the work of Jan Blommaert (2005), a content analysis was conducted on a sample of 81 articles related to popular music and music education according to the variables of journal and nationality. Results suggest that international differences in discourse existed. American-based authors focused on issues of legitimacy and quality (repertoire and teaching), whereas non-American-based authors focused on matters of utility and efficacy, with an emphasis on the quality of learning and pedagogical relationship. The lack of awareness (national and international) of discourse features and functions may be limiting the effectiveness of both communication and practice.
The loss-averse newsvendor problem with random yield
Authors: Liu Wei , Song Shiji , Wu Cheng
Published: August 2013

This paper studies a single-period inventory problem with random yield and demand, where the loss-averse preferences are adopted to describe the retailer’s (newsvendor’s) decision-making behavior. When the loss-averse retailer orders, the fraction of good units in a batch is stochastic. He will choose an order quantity to maximize his expected utility. Both shortage cost and no shortage cost are considered, respectively. The retailer’s optimal ordering policies are obtained, then the impacts of loss aversion, price and cost on the optimal order quantity are analysed. For the model without shortage cost, the loss-averse retailer’s optimal order quantity is always less than the risk-neutral retailer’s, and decreasing in the loss aversion level. While for the model with shortage cost, the loss-averse retailer’s optimal order quantity may be larger than the risk-neutral retailer’s, and increasing in the loss aversion level. Moreover, it may be decreasing in selling price and increasing in purchasing cost, which will never occur in the case of zero shortage cost. The numerical experiments are conducted to demonstrate our theoretical results.
Change in Health Literacy Over 2 Years in Older Adults With Diabetes
Authors: Morris Nancy S. , MacLean Charles D. , Littenberg Benjamin
Published: August 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the stability of health literacy in adults with diabetes over time. Understanding the dynamic nature of health literacy is important when tailoring health messages, especially those targeted at the management of chronic health conditions.

Method

This was a descriptive longitudinal study of 751 adults with diabetes randomly selected from primary care practices in the Vermont Diabetes Information System study between July 2003 and December 2007. Participants were interviewed and completed questionnaires upon entrance into the study and again 24 months later. Health literacy was measured with the Short Test for Functional Health Literacy of Adults. Participants also completed the SF-12 and the Self-Administered Comorbidity Questionnaire and self-reported their sex, income, education, marital status, race/ethnicity, health insurance, duration of diabetes, and problems with vision.

Results

A significant decrease in health literacy was noted over 24 months. The largest decrease was in adults ≥65 years of age and those with higher physical function at baseline. Smaller declines were noted for women and participants who were white, higher educated, poly-pharmacy users, and with fair to excellent vision.

Conclusions

Health literacy exhibits decline with increasing age among adults with diabetes. Individual variability in health literacy has implications for the best timing and approach to provide self-management education and support.
The Relationship Between Hemoglobin A1C in Youth With Type 1 Diabetes and Chaos in the Family Household
Authors: Levin Laura , Kichler Jessica C. , Polfuss Michele
Published: August 2013

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to examine how physical and social environments, as measured by household chaos, affect the diabetes control (ie, A1C) in youth with type 1 diabetes (T1DM).

Methods

One hundred and four patients (53 male, 51 female) with T1DM (aged 1-13 years) and their caregivers were recruited from a diabetes clinic at a Midwestern children’s hospital. The caregivers completed a demographic questionnaire as well as a questionnaire pertaining to chaos in the household. A medical record review at baseline and 3- and 6-month follow-up was also conducted.

Results

Results found that above and beyond the demographic covariates, there still remained a significant relationship between household chaos and glycemic control. Those who scored more than 1 standard deviation above the mean Confusion, Hubbub, and Order Scale (CHAOS) measure score showed significantly worse glycemic control at 6-month follow-up.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated the relationship of family environment and glycemic control for youth with T1DM. The findings highlight the need to individually assess the youth’s home environment to promote diabetes management and care during clinic visits.
Perpetuating One’s Own Disadvantage
Authors: Sengupta Nikhil K. , Sibley Chris G.
Published: August 2013

Contact with the dominant group can increase opposition, among the disadvantaged, to social policies that would benefit their group. This effect can be explained in terms of contact promoting support for an ideology of meritocracy, which privileges the distribution of societal resources based on individual merit, rather than group-level disadvantage. We tested this ideological mechanism in a large, nationally representative sample of Māori (a disadvantaged group in New Zealand; N = 1,008). Positive intergroup contact with the dominant group (New Zealand Europeans) predicted increased opposition to a topical reparative policy (Māori ownership of the foreshore), and this was fully mediated by increased support for the ideology of meritocracy. Intergroup contact may enable the ideological legitimation of inequality among members of disadvantaged groups, engendering political attitudes that are detrimental to their group’s interests. Contact with ingroup members had the opposite effect, increasing support for reparative policy by reducing subscription to meritocratic ideology.
Wealth and the Inflated Self
Authors: Piff Paul K.
Published: August 2013

Americans may be more narcissistic now than ever, but narcissism is not evenly distributed across social strata. Five studies demonstrated that higher social class is associated with increased entitlement and narcissism. Upper-class individuals reported greater psychological entitlement (Studies 1a, 1b, and 2) and narcissistic personality tendencies (Study 2), and they were more likely to behave in a narcissistic fashion by opting to look at themselves in a mirror (Study 3). Finally, inducing egalitarian values in upper-class participants decreased their narcissism to a level on par with their lower-class peers (Study 4). These findings offer novel evidence regarding the influence of social class on the self and highlight the importance of social stratification to understanding basic psychological processes.
Metabolic Bone Disease
Authors: Viswanathan Sreekanth , Khasawneh Wasim , McNelis Kera , Dykstra Carly , Amstadt Randi , Super Dennis M. , Groh‐Wargo Sharon , Kumar Deepak
Published: August 2013

Background: Metabolic bone disease (MBD) is an important prematurity‐related morbidity, but remains inadequately investigated in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants, the group most at risk. The objective was to describe the incidence and associated risk factors of MBD in ELBW infants. Methods: Retrospective analysis of all ELBW infants admitted between January 2005 and December 2010 who survived > 8 weeks. MBD was defined as the presence of osteopenia or rickets in radiographs. Results: Of the 230 infants included in the study, 71 (30.9%) developed radiological evidence of MBD (cases) of which 24/71 (33.8%) developed spontaneous fractures. MBD and fractures were noted at mean postnatal ages of 58.2 ± 28 and 100.0 ± 61 days, respectively. Compared with controls, cases were smaller at birth (664.6 ± 146 g vs 798.1 ± 129 g), more premature (25.0 ± 1.8 vs 26.4 ± 1.9 weeks), more frequently associated with mechanical ventilation, chronic lung disease, parenteral nutrition days, cholestasis, furosemide, postnatal steroids, and antibiotics use (all P < .01). Cases had lower average weekly intake of calcium, phosphorous, vitamin D, protein, and calories during the first 8 weeks of life compared with controls. Cases with MBD, compared with controls, had higher mortality (14.1 vs 4.4%) and longer hospital stay (140.2 ± 51 vs 101.0 ± 42 days; P < .01). Conclusions: MBD remains an important morbidity in ELBW infants despite advances in neonatal nutrition. Further research is needed to optimize the management of chronic lung disease and early nutrition in ELBW infants.
Tracheocutaneous Fistula Closure in the Pediatric Population: Should Secondary Closure Be the Standard of Care?
Authors: Osborn Alexander J. , de Alarcón Alessandro , Hart Catherine K. , Cotton Robin T. , Rutter Michael J.
Published: August 2013

Objective

Tracheocutaneous fistula (TCF) closure is achieved by excision followed either by primary closure or healing by secondary intention. Although primary closure provides immediate resolution of the fistula, it is associated with more severe potential complications. Healing by secondary intention minimizes these potential complications; however, it is inconvenient for the patient and may be more likely to require revision surgery. We have had 2 life‐threatening complications after primary closure, and as a result, we largely changed our practice pattern. We compared complication and success rates of the 2 methods since this change to determine its ramifications.

Study Design

Historical cohort study.

Setting

Academic tertiary care pediatric otolaryngology practice.

Subjects and Methods

Two hundred sixteen patients who underwent TCF closure between January 2004 and August 2012.

Results

Forty‐six (21.3%) fistulae were addressed by primary closure, and 170 (78.7%) were addressed by secondary intention. The complication and revision rates were not significantly different between the 2 methods (8.7% vs 10% and 8.7% vs 14.7%, respectively).

Conclusion

In our study, we did not see any statistical differences between the 2 methods studied but could not exclude clinically important differences that may have favored one method over the other. Although our comparative results were inconclusive, we have adopted secondary closure as standard practice for management of pediatric TCF. Individual surgeons and patients may use the data presented to help guide decisions concerning which procedure is most appropriate.
Comparison of disease-specific quality of life tools in patients with chronic venous disease
Authors: Kuet Mong-Loon , Lane Tristan RA , Anwar Muzaffar A , Davies Alun H
Published: August 2013

Objectives

This work was presented as a poster in the American Venous Forum 25th Annual Meeting; 28 February 2013; Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Quality of life (QoL) is an important outcome measure in the treatment for chronic venous disease. The Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire (AVVQ) and the ChronIc Venous Insufficiency quality of life Questionnaire (CIVIQ-14) are two validated disease-specific QoL questionnaires in current use. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between the AVVQ and the CIVIQ-14 to enable better comparison between studies and to compare these disease-specific QoL tools with generic QoL and clinician-driven tools.

Methods

Adults attending our institution for management of their varicose veins completed the AVVQ, CIVIQ-14 and EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D). Clinical data, CEAP classification and the Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS) were collected. The relationship between the AVVQ and CIVIQ-14 scores was analysed using Spearman’s correlation. The AVVQ and CIVIQ-14 scores were also analysed with a generic QoL tool (EQ-5D) and a clinician-driven tool, the VCSS.

Results

One hundred patients, mean age 57.5 (44 males; 56 females), participated in the study. The median AVVQ score was 21.9 (range 0–74) and the median CIVIQ-14 score was 30 (range 0–89). A strong correlation was demonstrated between the AVVQ and CIVIQ-14 scores ( r = 0.8; p < 0.0001). Strong correlation was maintained for patients with C1-3 disease ( r = 0.7; p < 0.0001) and C4-6 disease ( r = 0.8; p < 0.0001). The VCSS correlated strongly with the AVVQ and CIVIQ-14 scores ( r = 0.7; p < 0.0001 and r = 0.7; p < 0.0001, respectively). Both the AVVQ and CIVIQ-14 scores correlated well with the EQ-5D score ( r = −0.5; p < 0.0001 and r = −0.7; p < 0.0001, respectively).

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that there is good correlation between two widely used varicose vein specific QoL tools (AVVQ and CIVIQ-14) across the whole spectrum of disease severity. Strong correlation exists between these disease-specific QoL tools and generic and clinician-driven tools. Our findings confirm valid comparisons between studies using either disease-specific QoL tool.
The influence of sprint interval training on body composition, physical and metabolic fitness in adolescents and young adults with intellectual disability: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Boer Pieter-Henk , Meeus Mira , Terblanche Elmarie , Rombaut Lies , Wandele Inge De , Hermans Linda , Gysel Tineke , Ruige Johannes , Calders Patrick
Published: August 2013

Objective:

In this study we evaluated the effect of sprint interval training on metabolic and physical fitness in adolescents and young adults with intellectual disabilities when compared with continuous aerobic training and no training (control).

Methods:

Fifty-four persons with intellectual disabilities (age: 17 (3.0), body mass index: 27.7 (3.7), intelligence quotient: 59 (8.6)) were matched based on age, gender and intelligence quotient between sprint interval training ( n = 17), continuous aerobic training ( n = 15) and control ( n = 14). Sprint interval training was composed of three blocks of 10 minutes at ventilatory threshold (blocks 1 and 3: 10 sprint bouts of 15 seconds, followed by 45 seconds relative rest; block 2: continuous training) twice a week for 15 weeks. Continuous aerobic training was composed of three blocks of 10 minutes continuous training. After eight weeks, intensity was increased to 110% of ventilatory threshold. The control group did not participate in supervised exercise training. Before and after the training period, body composition, physical and metabolic fitness were evaluated.

Results:

Sprint interval training showed a significant positive evolution for waist circumference, fat%, systolic blood pressure, lipid profile, fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, peak VO2, peak Watt, ventilatory threshold, 6-minute walk distance and muscle fatigue resistance when compared with no training ( P < 0.01). The sprint interval training group demonstrated significant improvements for fat%, systolic blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein, fasting insulin, peak VO2 and peak power and ventilatory threshold ( P < 0.01) when compared with continuous aerobic training.

Conclusion:

In this study we could observe that sprint interval training has stronger beneficial effects on body composition, physical fitness and metabolic fitness compared with control. Compared with continuous aerobic training, sprint interval training seems to result in better outcome.
Toward Minimum Standards for Certifying Patient Decision Aids
Authors: Joseph-Williams Natalie , Newcombe Robert , Politi Mary , Durand Marie-Anne , Sivell Stephanie , Stacey Dawn , O’Connor Annette , Volk Robert J. , Edwards Adrian , Bennett Carol , Pignone Michael , Thomson Richard , Elwyn Glyn
Published: August 2013

Objective. The IPDAS Collaboration has developed a checklist and an instrument (IPDASi v3.0) to assess the quality of patient decision aids (PDAs) in terms of their development process and shared decision-making design components. Certification of PDAs is of growing interest in the US and elsewhere. We report a modified Delphi consensus process to agree on IPDASi (v3.0) items that should be considered as minimum standards for PDA certification, for inclusion in the refined IPDASi (v4.0). Methods. A 2-stage Delphi voting process considered the inclusion of IPDASi (v3.0) items as minimum standards. Item scores and qualitative comments were analyzed, followed by expert group discussion. Results. One hundred and one people voted in round 1; 87 in round 2. Forty-seven items were reduced to 44 items across 3 new categories: 1) qualifying criteria, which are required in order for an intervention to be considered a decision aid (6 items); 2) certification criteria, without which a decision aid is judged to have a high risk of harmful bias (10 items); and 3) quality criteria, believed to strengthen a decision aid but whose omission does not present a high risk of harmful bias (28 items). Conclusions. This study provides preliminary certification criteria for PDAs. Scoring and rating processes need to be tested and finalized. However, the process of appraising the quality of the clinical evidence reported by the PDA should be used to complement these criteria; the proposed standards are designed to rate the quality of the development process and shared decision-making design elements, not the quality of the PDA’s clinical content.
Stromal fibrosis of the breast: outcome analysis
Authors: Shin Suyoung , Ko Eun Sook , Han Boo-Kyung , Ko Eun Young
Published: August 2013

Background

Stromal fibrosis in the breast is a non-specific benign pathologic entity with wide spectrum of imaging finding. The false-negative rates (number of cancers missed) previously reported have limited value because short follow-up period and small number of populations.

Purpose

To describe the mammographic and sonographic findings of stromal fibrosis of the breast diagnosed by imaging-guided biopsy and to determine the false-negative rate at percutaneous biopsy.

Material and Methods

Between January 2007 and December 2008, 3097 consecutive imaging-guided breast core biopsies were performed. Patients were included in our study if stromal fibrosis was the predominant pathologic finding. Patients who had received <2 years of follow-up were excluded. Mammographic and sonographic findings were reviewed. Follow-up imaging for >2 years and histologic data were reviewed to evaluate lesion stability.

Results

Stromal fibrosis was diagnosed in 187 (6.0%) of 3097 imaging-guided biopsies among patients with >2 years of follow-up (mean, 41.9 months). Among them, 91 (49%) of 187 lesions were not visible on mammography and calcifications were the most common findings, being identified in 33 lesions (17.6%). The most common sonographic finding was an oval hypoechoic mass with a circumscribed margin. Forty-two lesions (22.5%) were excised. Four false-negative lesions (2.1%, 4/187) were identified; all false-negative lesions were diagnosed within 6 months because of imaging-pathology discordance (75%, 3/4) or disease progression (25%, 1/4).

Conclusion

Stromal fibrosis diagnosed by imaging-guided biopsy has a wide spectrum of imaging finding and can be managed safely with radiologic-pathologic correlation and subsequent short-term imaging follow-up.
Clinical evaluation of thrombus aspiration combined with tirofiban in patients with acute myocardial infarction with elective percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Liu Xiangyong , Dong Pingshuan , Xing Shiying , Wang Honglei , Li Zhijuan , Zhang Huifeng , Yang Xuming , Wang Shaoxin , Zhai Qiuling
Published: August 2013

Objective:

To compare the efficacy and safety of combined treatment with thrombus aspiration and intracoronary tirofiban in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI), with elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods:

Patients undergoing elective PCI during recovery from acute MI were randomized into two groups; the intervention group received thrombus aspiration and intracoronary tirofiban; the control group received conventional PCI. Baseline clinical characteristics, postoperative coronary blood flow (thrombolysis in myocardial infarction [TIMI] grade), TIMI myocardial perfusion (TMP) grade, no/slow reflow rate and cardiac function (measured by echocardiography 1 month postoperatively) were evaluated. Major adverse cardiac event rate and bleeding complications during surgery (and at 1 month and 1 year postoperatively) were also evaluated.

Results:

A total of 80 patients were included. Postoperatively, the number of patients with TIMI flow grade 3 and the mean TMP grade were both significantly higher, and the no/slow reflow rate was significantly lower, in the intervention group versus the control group. Echocardiography indicated that cardiac function was significantly improved in the intervention group compared with the control group. There were no major complications in either study group.

Conclusion:

Thrombus aspiration combined with intracoronary tirofiban during recovery from acute MI was effective and relatively well tolerated.
A novel mutation of the high-temperature requirement A serine peptidase 1 (HTRA1) gene in a Chinese family with cerebral autosomal recessive arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CARASIL)
Authors: Chen Yan , He Zhiyi , Meng Su , Li Lei , Yang Hua , Zhang Xiaotang
Published: August 2013

Objective:

Mutations in the high-temperature requirement A serine peptidase 1 ( HTRA1) gene were studied in a Chinese family with cerebral autosomal recessive arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CARASIL).

Methods:

Exons 1–9 of the HTRA1 gene were amplified and bidirectionally sequenced in a Chinese family with CARASIL. Mutation effects were analysed by three-dimensional modelling of the serine protease HTRA1 protein.

Results:

The proband was found to be homozygous for a novel missense mutation (c.854 C > T) identified in exon 4 of the HTRA1 gene; the parents of the proband were heterozygous for the same missense mutation. This c.854 C > T mutation resulted in a change from proline to leucine (p.P285L) in serine protease HTRA1, and was absent in 260 control chromosomes. Three-dimensional models showed that the change from proline to leucine (p.P285L) could attenuate the hydrogen bond between S284 and S287 residues, which might affect function of serine protease HTRA1.

Conclusion:

Discovery of a novel missense mutation (c.854C>T) associated with CARASIL expands the known CARASIL-related mutations in HTRA1.
Randomized, multicenter trial to assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of a single dose of a novel AMPA receptor antagonist BGG492 for the treatment of acute migraine attacks
Authors: Gomez-Mancilla Baltazar , Brand Ronald , Jürgens Tim P , Göbel Harmut , Sommer Claudia , Straube Andreas , Evers Stefan , Sommer Martin , Campos Victor , Kalkman Hans O , Hariry Sam , Pezous Nicole , Johns Donald , Diener Hans-Christoph ,   for the BGG492 Study Group
Published: August 2013

Background

Glutamate is implicated in migraine pathophysiology; amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) receptor antagonists represent a potential therapeutic approach because of their anti-excitatory actions.

Methods

This randomized, double-blind, proof-of-concept study assessed the efficacy of the AMPA receptor antagonist, BGG492 (250 mg), vs placebo and sumatriptan (100 mg), in 75 subjects with acute migraine attacks. Efficacy was measured using the Patient Migraine Diary. Pharmacokinetic and safety data were collected.

Results

Improvement from severe/moderate to mild/no headache pain (primary response) was reported in 58%, 58%, and 54% of BGG492-treated subjects at 2, 3, and 4 hours post-dose ( p = 0.2, 0.5, and 0.5 vs placebo), respectively, compared with 68%, 84%, and 92% sumatriptan-treated subjects, and 40%, 48%, and 44% in the placebo group. Percentages of subjects with ≥ 2-point improvement in pain score from baseline at 2 hours were 29%, 40%, and 16% for BGG492, sumatriptan, and placebo, respectively. Pain-free response at 2 hours was reported for 25%, 24%, and 16% of BGG492, sumatriptan, and placebo subjects, respectively. Adverse events were reported by 80%, 56%, and 60% of BGG492, sumatriptan, and placebo subjects, respectively.

Conclusions

Proof-of-concept criterion was not met (≥ 25% BGG492 subjects with a primary response vs placebo at two timepoints). BGG492 was comparable to sumatriptan in terms of pain-free response.