bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Precocious puberty in Turner Syndrome: report of a case and review of the literature
Authors: Improda Nicola , Rezzuto Martina , Alfano Sara , Parenti Giancarlo , Vajro Pietro , Pignata Claudio , Salerno Mariacarolina
Published: October 2012

Introduction

Turner Syndrome (TS) is caused by monosomy or structural abnormalities of the X chromosome, with a prevalence of about 1/2000 females live birth. Most important clinical features of TS are short stature and gonadal failure. Approximately one third of girls with TS may undergo spontaneous puberty. Here we report on the case of a girl with a rare 45X0/47XXX mosaic TS exhibiting a precocious puberty.

Case report

The patient was diagnosed with TS at the age of 4 years, upon a diagnostic work-up for dysmorphic features. Chromosome analysis revealed a mosaic karyotype (45X0/47XXX). She presented with normal height and normal growth velocity so that Growth Hormone (GH) therapy was not started. She was referred to our Department at the age of 7 years and 10 months, because of vaginal bleeding. A physical examination revealed a Tanner stage III for breast and Tanner stage III for pubic hair development. Height and weight were within the normal range for age. Psychological evaluation showed moderate global developmental delay, together with emotional and social immaturity and reading difficulties. The growth rate was accelerated. Her bone age was 10 years. Pelvic ultrasound demonstrated increased size for age of both the uterus and the ovaries, with bilateral ovarian follicles. GnRH stimulation test revealed pubertal response of gonadotropins (peak LH 22.5 mIU/ml). MRI of the brain was normal. These clinical, radiologic and laboratory findings were consistent with a diagnosis of idiopathic central precocious puberty; therefore, GnRH analog therapy was started, in order to slow pubertal progression and to preserve adult stature. Furthermore, GH treatment was added to further improve adult height.

Conclusion

Our case highlights the possibility of precocious puberty as an atypical clinical feature of TS. Thus, precocious puberty may occur in TS girls when a dosage compensation by the cell line with more than two X chromosomes allows normal ovarian function. GnRH analog therapy in addition to GH treatment should be recommended in TS girls with precocious puberty in order to slow pubertal progression and to preserve adult stature.
Natural gums as sustained release carriers: development of gastroretentive drug delivery system of ziprasidone HCl
Authors: AJ Rajamma , HN Yogesha , SB Sateesha
Published: October 2012

Background

Objective of this study is to show the potential use of natural gums in the development of drug delivery systems. Therefore in this work gastro retentive tablet formulations of ziprasidone HCl were developed using simplex lattice design considering concentration of okra gum, locust bean gum and HPMC K4M as independent variables. A response surface plot and multiple regression equations were used to evaluate the effect of independent variables on hardness, flag time, floating time and drug release for 1 h, 2 h, and 8 h and for 24 h. A checkpoint batch was also prepared by considering the constraints and desirability of optimized formulation to improve its in vitro performance. Significance of result was analyzed using ANOVA and p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Formulation chiefly contains locust bean gum found to be favorable for hardness and floatability but combined effect of three variables was responsible for the sustained release of drug. The in vitro drug release data of check point batch (F8) was found to be sustained well compared to the most satisfactory formulation (F7) of 7 runs. The ‘n’ value was found to be between 0.5 and 1 suggesting that release of drug follows anomalous (non-fickian) diffusion mechanism indicating both diffusion and erosion mechanism from these natural gums. Predicted results were almost similar to the observed experimental values indicating the accuracy of the design. In vivo floatability test indicated non adherence to the gastric mucosa and tablets remain buoyant for more than 24 h.

Conclusions

Study showed these eco-friendly natural gums can be considered as promising SR polymers.
Assessment of diabetic distress and disease related factors in patients with type 2 diabetes in Isfahan: A way to tailor an effective intervention planning in Isfahan-Iran
Authors: Tol Azar , Baghbanian Abdolvahab , Sharifirad Golamreza , Shojaeizadeh Davoud , Eslami Ahmadali , Alhani Fatemeh , Tehrani Mohamadreza Mohajeri
Published: October 2012

Background

The purpose of this study was to assess diabetes distress and its related factors among type 2 diabetic patients to better tailor intervention planning in Isfahan-Iran.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2011. Study population was patients with type 2 diabetes referring to Omolbanin, an outpatient diabetic center in Isfahan. 140 diabetic patients met the inclusion criteria and were all included in the study. Patient’s diabetes distress was measured by DDS. A 17-item self-report diabetes distress scale was used with subscales reflecting 5 domains: 1) Emotional burden (5 items), 2) Physician distress (4 items), 3) Regimen distress (5 items) and 4) Interpersonal distress (3 items). The responses to each item were rated between 1 and 6 (1 = not a problem, 2 = a slight problem, 3 = a moderate problem, 4 = somewhat serious problem, 5 = a serious problem, 6 = a very serious problem). The minimum and the maximum of score in the scale were 17 and 114 respectively. Collected data was analyzed by using SPSS software version 11.5.

Results

Mean age of participants were 53.23 years (SD = 7.82). 54.3% was female, 97.1% was married, and 57.1% had education lower than diploma. The average score of total diabetes distress was 2.96 ± 0.83. The average score of each domain was (3.40 ± 1.18), (2.57 ± 0.88), (2.97 ± 0.90), (2.76 ± 0.91) respectively. ‘Emotional Burden’ was considered as the most important domain in measuring diabetes distress. Total diabetes distress had significant association with age (p = 0.02), duration of diabetes (p<0.001), marital status, comorbidity, complications (p<0.001), and history of diabetes (p = 0.01). Pearson correlation coefficient revealed that diabetes distress of type 2 diabetic patients has a linear and direct relation with HbAlc (r = 0.63, p<0.001).

Conclusion

It seems some keywords have a main role in diabetes distress such as emotional support, communication with patient and physician, self-efficacy and social support. All of these points are achievable through empowerment approach in diabetes care plan.
Chronic myeloid leukemic cells trigger poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-dependent inactivation and cell death in lymphocytes
Authors: Aurelius Johan , Martner Anna , Riise Rebecca E , Romero Ana I , Palmqvist Lars , Brune Mats , Hellstrand Kristoffer , Thorén Fredrik B
Published: October 2012

CML cells induce PARP-1 dependent parthanatos in NK cells, and inhibition of PARP-1 maintains lymphocyte viability and function.

NK cells and T cells are commonly dysfunctional in CML, and their status may determine the course of disease. We aimed to define the molecular mechanisms of leukemia-induced immunosuppression with focus on the role of ROS and the PARP-1 pathway of cell death. Malignant granulocytes from patients with BCR-ABL-positive CML expressed the oxygen radical-producing enzyme NOX, produced large amounts of ROS, and triggered extensive cell death in NK cells. Inhibition of PARP-1 maintained NK cell viability in cocultures with suppressive leukemic cells. Under conditions of oxidative stress, PARP-1 inhibition upheld the capacity of NK cells to kill myeloid leukemic cells, in addition to restoring the proliferation and cytokine production of NK cells and cytotoxic T cells. Our findings are suggestive of a novel pathway of relevance to immunosuppression in CML.
Sensing Material Systems - Novel Design Strategies
Authors: Bohnenberger Sascha , Khoo Chin Koi , Davis Daniel , Thomsen Mette Ramsgard , Karmon Ayelet , Burry Mark
Published: October 2012

The development of new building materials has decisively influenced the progression of architecture through the link between built form and available material systems. The new generation of engineered materials are no exception. However, to fully utilise these materials in the design process, there is a need for designers to understand how these new materials perform. In this paper we propose a method for sensing and representing the response of materials to external stimuli, at the early design stage, to help the designer establish a material awareness. We present a novel approach for embedding capacitive sensors into material models in order to improve material performance of designs. The method was applied and tested during two workshops, both discussed in this paper. The outcome is a method for anticipating engineered material behaviour.
Aerial Robotic Construction towards a New Field of Architectural Research
Authors: Willmann Jan , Augugliaro Federico , Cadalbert Thomas , D'Andrea Raffaello , Gramazio Fabio , Kohler Matthias
Published: October 2012

This paper takes a first step in characterizing a novel field of architectural research - aerial robotic construction (ARC) - where aerial robotics is used not only for construction, but as a guiding principle in the design and fabrication process. Featuring autonomous flying vehicles that lift small building elements and position them according to a precise digital blueprint, ARC offers a comprehensive new approach to architecture research and technology. Developed by the research groups of Gramazio & Kohler and Raffaello D'Andrea at ETH Zurich, ARC offers unique advantages over traditional approaches to building: it does not require scaffolding, it is easily scalable, and it offers digital integration and informational oversight across the entire design and building process. This paper considers 1) research parameters for the individual components of ARC (such as module design, connection methodologies, vehicle cooperation, and construction sequencing/synchronization), and 2) the architectural implications of integrating these discrete components into a systemic, unifying process at the earliest stages of design. Fidelity between the design concept and the full-scale construction is of particular concern.
Development and Testing of a Quad Rotor Smartphone Control System for Novice Users
Authors: Cummings M.L. , Jackson K. , Quimby P. , Pitman D.
Published: October 2012

With recent regulatory efforts to reduce restrictions placed on the operation of Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs) in the United States, it is likely that in the next few years, these vehicles will become commonplace in the commercial marketplace as they are in military environments. In order to reduce the barrier to entry for operations of MAVs, customers of these systems will require ease of operation as well as minimal training time in order to reduce costs. To this end, a smartphone application was developed to control a quadrotor remotely in the exploration of an unknown environment, and tested for users with only three minutes of training. Initial motion capture room tests produced encouraging results for localization and target identification tasks, however, such environments are inherently artificial and the extensibility of such results is limited. A follow-on outdoor field study was conducted in order to compare the indoor and outdoor results and to assess operator performance in a realistic environment. Performance on the outdoor localization tasks was comparable to the indoor study, however, participants generally performed slightly worse on the target identification task in the outdoor experiment, attributed to camera image quality and GPS localization issues. Other issues such as wind and flight safety considerations are discussed.
The Relationship of Nephrotoxicity to Vancomycin Trough Serum Concentrations in a Veteran's Population: A Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Horey Amy , Mergenhagen Kari A , Mattappallil Arun
Published: October 2012

BACKGROUND:

The risk of vancomycin-associated nephrotoxicity varies greatly depending on the trough concentration. Recent guidelines suggest target vancomycin trough concentrations of 15–20 mg/L as a predictor of efficacy in the treatment of severe gram-positive infections. Limited data exist quantifying the risk for nephrotoxicity with various ranges of vancomycin troughs.

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the occurrence of nephrotoxicity during vancomycin therapy and up to 72 hours after its completion, in relation to the maximum trough concentration value, and identify risk factors that impact nephrotoxicity associated with vancomycin use.

METHODS:

We reviewed the medical records of veterans with a baseline serum creatinine less than 2 mg/dL who received 48 or more hours of vancomycin therapy and had 1 or more vancomycin trough samples obtained within 96 hours of therapy initiation from January 1, 2006, to November 1, 2008, to determine the occurrence of nephrotoxicity (as defined by RIFLE [Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss, and End-stage renal disease] criteria).

RESULTS:

Thirty-four (12.6%) patients developed nephrotoxicity. In multiple logistic regression analysis, maximum trough concentrations (OR 1.14; 95% CI 1.09 to 1.20), documented hypotension (OR 4.7; 95% CI 1.3 to 16.4), and weight (OR 1.02; 95% CI 1.0 to 1.03) were found to be significantly associated with the occurrence of nephrotoxicity. Once stratified into ranges of 5–10 mg/L (4.9%), 10.1–15 mg/L (3.1%), 15.1–20 mg/L (10.6%), 20.1–35 mg/L (23.6%), and greater than 35 mg/L (81.8%), increasing trough ranges were associated with a subsequently higher risk of nephrotoxicity.

CONCLUSIONS:

In the population evaluated, hypotension and trough concentrations were predictors of nephrotoxicity; elevated vancomycin trough concentration had the highest odds of association. These data reinforce the close therapeutic monitoring guidelines for vancomycin trough concentrations, especially when targeting troughs of 15–20 mg/L.
Argatroban Dose Reductions for Suspected Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia Complicated by Child-Pugh Class C Liver Disease
Authors: Yarbrough Peter M , Varedi Amir , Walker Amanda , Rondina Matthew T
Published: October 2012

OBJECTIVE:

To report our experience of reduced-dose argatroban in a patient with suspected heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and Child-Pugh class C liver disease and review the relevant literature to summarize current recommendations on argatroban use in patients with severe liver disease.

CASE SUMMARY:

A 58-year-old male with Child-Pugh class C liver disease (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease [MELD] score = 31, total bilirubin 4.5 mg/dL) and hemodialysis-dependent renal failure was hospitalized with acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Three days after heparin initiation for DVT, he developed thrombocytopenia. Given his heparin exposure (both for treatment of DVT and ongoing hemodialysis), HIT was suspected and all heparinoids were immediately discontinued. Argatroban was initiated for the treatment of HIT while laboratory testing for HIT antibodies and the serotonin release assay were completed. Because of the patient's advanced liver disease, the starting dose of argatroban was reduced to 0.2 μg/kg/min, with frequent monitoring of the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) (goal 60–85 seconds). Despite this dose reduction, the aPTT was supratherapeutic. Following further dose reductions, a final argatroban maintenance dose of 0.05 μg/kg/min was necessary for the attainment of goal aPTTs.

DISCUSSION:

Reducing the starting dose of argatroban to 0.5 μg/kg/min is recommended in patients with liver disease. Nevertheless, this recommended dose is largely based on data from patients with more moderate liver disease (eg, Child-Pugh class A or B), and dosing in more advanced liver disease remains largely unexplored. Patients with more advanced liver disease may require additional dose reductions to avoid supratherapeutic concentrations of anticoagulation agents and to minimize bleeding risk.

CONCLUSIONS:

This report illustrates the importance of careful selection of argatroban dosing and appropriate aPTT monitoring in patients with severe liver disease. Excessive anticoagulation may precipitate major bleeding complications, placing patients with this complicated disease at undue risk.
Pharmacists and the Primary Care Workforce
Authors: Smith Marie A
Published: October 2012

The primary care workforce shortage will be magnified by the growing elderly population and expanded coverage as a result of health care reform initiatives. The pharmacist workforce consists of community-based health care professionals who are well trained and highly accessible, yet underutilized. Some health care professionals have advocated that primary care teams should include pharmacists with complementary skills to those of the physician to achieve quality improvement goals and enhance primary care practice efficiencies. New primary care delivery models such as medical homes, health neighborhoods, and accountable care organizations provide opportunities for pharmacists to become integral members of primary care interdisciplinary teams.
Pregnancy Desire Among a Sample of Young Couples Who Are Expecting a Baby
Authors: Sipsma Heather , Divney Anna A. , Niccolai Linda M. , Gordon Derrick , Magriples Urania , Kershaw Trace S.
Published: October 2012

CONTEXT

Adolescents’ desire for a pregnancy has been explored more among females than among males. A more comprehensive understanding of teenagers’ pregnancy desires is needed to inform pregnancy prevention efforts and to support couples as they undergo the transition to parenthood.

METHODS

In an observational cohort study conducted in 2007–2011 at clinics in Connecticut, data were collected from 296 couples (females aged 14–21 and their partners) who were expecting a baby. The degree to which each partner had wanted the pregnancy and partners’ perceptions of each other's pregnancy desires were assessed. Multilevel regression models examined associations between pregnancy desire and individual, partner, family and community characteristics, and between desire and life and relationship satisfaction.

RESULTS

Forty‐nine percent of females and 53% of males reported having wanted the pregnancy. Pregnancy desire scores were positively associated with being male, expecting a first baby, perceived partner desire and parental response to the pregnancy; scores were negatively associated with being in school, being employed and parental support. Females’ perceptions of their partners’ pregnancy desires were slightly more accurate than males’ (kappas, 0.36 and 0.28, respectively). Pregnancy desire was positively associated with both life and relationship satisfaction, particularly among males.

CONCLUSIONS

Adolescents’ pregnancy desires require further attention as a possible focus of pregnancy prevention efforts, and health care providers may want to ensure that young couples with unwanted pregnancies are offered additional psychological and social services as they transition to parenthood.
Famous's House of Animation ––Creativity and Independence in Indian Animation
Authors: Deneroff Harvey
Published: October 2012

The three things which impressed me most about Indian animation during my two-year tenure as Festival Director of the Week With the Masters Animation Celebration, in Trivandrum, India,1 were the student films from the National Institute of Design (NID), projects commissioned by MTV-India
and Channel [V], and the work of Famous's House of Animation, in Mumbai, a division of Famous Cine Labs & Studios Ltd. –– all of which are related.
Animation in Nepal
Authors: Fudong Fungma
Published: October 2012

Due to the excess of foreign television channels available to the city-dwellers of Nepal, animation characters such as Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck have indeed become regular household names. Even before cable networks had spread themselves through the maze of these cities, local video
stores already provided a sizeable collection of western animation. Surprisingly enough, the same Nepalese audience found very little to talk about concerning their homemade animated characters Shyam or Meena. While an in-depth analysis of animation in Nepal is required to understand why these
characters are not as popular as their Western counterparts, an inspection of the patterns and nature of the animation created in Nepal can certainly provide preliminary insights.
New Turkish Cinema–Individual Tales of Common Concerns
Authors: Dönmez-Colin Gönül
Published: October 2012

For several years until the beginning of the 1990s, Turkish cinema seemed to be suffering from a paucity of ideas, or a synthesis of experiences in relation to life as it is lived. Following the impact made by Yilmaz Guney and courageous works by a number of talented filmmakers, such
as Ali Özgenturk and Erden Kiral, the momentum was gradually lost, taking with it creativity and originality. Several rural films were made — mostly by urban directors--as if to cash in on a successful formula, and leftist ideology was used almost as if following a fashion, without
sincerity or conviction.
Memory and Amnesia: An Interview with Korean Director Seong-Wook Moon
Authors: Ciecko Anne , Kwon Jae-Woong
Published: October 2012

This interview took place at a cafe in New York City on August 19,2002 during Seong-Wook Moon's first trip to the US. He was in New York to screen his most recent film at the 2nd annual New York Korean Film Festival, and also to scout locations for his next-planned feature, a New York-based
film on US/Korea bilateral relations. Ordering his espresso, Seong-wook Moon explained that he does much of his work in Seoul cafes, and parts of New York reminded him of the Korean city. We then spent the next few hours asking director Moon about his other cross-cultural experiences and impressions:
Polish film school and movie-making in Korea; his thoughts on the state of contemporary Korean cinema; his status as an independent; as well as international directors and writers who have influenced and inspired him; the joys of digital filmmaking, and the latest feature he wrote and directed:
the dystopic-but-lyrical Nabi {The Butterfly).
Report on Pusan International Film Festival
Authors: Gateward Frances , Collier Joelle
Published: October 2012

The Seventh Pusan International Film Festival was held from Nov. 14-Nov. 23 2002 in Korea's second largest city, Busan (Pusan). In its few years of operation, PIFF has established itself as one of the premiere film events in Asia. This year's festival saw a large increase in attendance,
with more than 65 percent of the 226 films from 57 countries completely sold out; foreign guests and members of the press were present in unprecedented numbers. As in past years, the pedestrian mall designated as PIFF Square (where most of the screening venues are located, as well the bronze
hand-prints of honored film luminaries) was filled with food vendors, soju tents, and booths promoting all manner of products and services related to film, creating a festive atmosphere day and night.
Kwang Woo Noh, Coordinator of Korean Film Festival
Authors: Kwon Jae-Woong
Published: October 2012

The New York Korean Film Festival was started in 2001. Kwang Woo Noh was one of the founders. This interview was conducted in New York, August 18, 2002.

JWK: Could you briefly explain the preparation procedure of this film festival? KWN: Usually we begin to plan and program in January
and February. And then we contact Korean distributors and sponsors. We decide where we will have the festival. This year, we got Anthology Film Archives in May. Last year's success made Anthology Film Archives schedule for us with good cooperation.
The New Age of Asian Animation
Authors: Lent John A.
Published: October 2012

Asian animation is in the throes of change—rapid change—with shifts in loci and methods of production that have turned the field upside down. No longer is animation the exclusionary domain of East Asia, no longer is it produced almost solely for overseas clients, no longer
does it depend only on traditional materials of production. In the past five years, India has become a large production center of animation; service companies have entered coproduction agreements and have begun to make domestic fare, and increasingly, computers have wholly or partly replaced
cel and other means of production.
Having It Both Ways: Making Children Films an Adult Matter in Miyazaki's My Neighbor Totoro
Authors: Prunes Mariano
Published: October 2012

Miyazaki Hayao's fourth feature length film, My Neighbor Totoro (1988), became an instant popular and critical success which proved fundamental in establishing both Miyazaki's and the Studio Ghibli's reputation as producers of the finest Japanese animation of the last two decades, a
position confirmed by Miyazaki's triumph at the Berlin Film Festival this year. My Neighbor Totoro, like most Miyazaki's films, is centered on the world of children, and usually is marketed and discussed as a children's film. However, the film has also proven extremely successful with the
international audience for Japanese animation, one that is characterized by (and often denigrated for) its preference of more mature, or definitively adult, subject matter.
Some Characteristics of Chinese Animation
Authors: Huilin Zhang
Published: October 2012

The reason why Chinese animation has been identified with the fame of a Chinese School lies in its distinguishing characteristics. Chinese animation attained its typical characteristics in the second half of 1950s, and maintained these for the following three decades. These characteristics
can be classified into two sections: those concerning an aesthetic dimension and its educational value concerning function dimension.
Hong Kong Animation: My Life As McDull
Authors: Gigi Hu Tze Yue
Published: October 2012

In December 2001 Just as Japan's "Disney" master animator-cum-director, Miyazaki Hayao, released his much awaited animation feature film, Spirited Away, in Hong Kong, My Life As McDull was also promptly released as promised by its production team. In retrospect, when Tsui
Hark's much-talked about animation feature film, A Chinese Ghost Story was screened in 1997, it also encountered the lurking presence of Miyazaki's so-called retirement epic animation film, Princess Mononoke, which also went on screen just days after the historic handover of Hong Kong to the
mainland Chinese government.
Taiwan's Cuckoo's Nest and the New Labor Situation
Authors: Shiau Hong Chi , Lent John A.
Published: October 2012

Taiwan's Cuckoo's Nest (aka Wang Film Production Inc.) was established by James (Chung-Yang) Wang in 1978 with help from Hanna Barbera. In less than a decade, it grew from a basement studio to two multistoried complexes and increased its output of 17 cartoon episodes to more than 200
yearly in the 1980s (Lent, 1998). As a result, Taiwan became one of the world's largest producers of animation in the early 1990s. The animation industry in Taiwan, however, was and still is, positioned in a dependent relationship within the subcontracting environment.
Image/thinking
Authors: Becker Claudia
Published: October 2012

This article re-examines Vilém Flusser's philosophy of photography and its relation to what I will name the philosophical question of 'image-thinking'. It places his work on photography in the context of the much discussed 'pictorial' and 'iconic' turns in the study of visual
culture and, through this, aims to reveal the depth of Flusser's approach to understanding media culture and to argue for the significance and continuing relevance of his philosophy of photography.
Index marks the spot? The photo-diagram's referential system
Authors: Bear Jordan
Published: October 2012

This article explores the genealogy of a paradox in the evidentiary logic of the press photograph. While such photographs are supposed to gain their special authority from their unmediated relationship to the events they represent, they are often illegible without supplementary graphical
material. The picture press of the 1920s and 1930s, saturated with re-creations of brutal crimes and messy accidents, fashioned an elaborate system of arrows, daggers, circles and crosses added by hand in paint or ink to help guide the viewer's attention to the salient detail. Examining the
hybrid idiom of the photo-diagram, this article investigates how photography's indexicality and its multiplicity seek reconciliation at this revealing juncture in media history, and explores the ramifications for the evidentiary status of the press photograph in the digital era.
Myth and the ready-made in David Levinthal's toy stories
Authors: Stracey Frances
Published: October 2012

The rise, in the 1980s, of what is now labelled appropriation-photography can be understood as the full absorption of the logic of the ready-made into photographic art. Like its Duchampian predecessor, the deployment of the ready-made was used to question the nature of institutionalized
art-photography: was art inherent to the photo's medium; was it an auratic attribute of the author; conferred by the institution; or ratified by its consumption? It also enabled a critique of the politics of representation at stake in photographic practice outside of the immediate institutions
of art. However, the correlation of appropriation-photography and a politics of representation relies upon the reduced logic of the subversive effect of a re-presented image. David Levinthal's photographs of mass-produced toys extends the reduced logic of the ready-made cultural artefact through
their playful configuration, as well as through the more complex forms of photographic technique this allows (such as magnification, blurring, depth of focus). This enables a distinctive critical re-presentation of cultural myth. However, Levinthal also introduces a number of photographic
techniques, which would seem to renege on the avant-garde claims of appropriation-photography, such as the reintroduction of pictorial composition and the use of large-scale Polaroids that emphatically reassert the unique and the expertly crafted image. This article examines this ambiguity
in Levinthal's work, particularly with respect to its presentation of myth, and diagnoses it as symptomatic of the conditions of recent art-photography.
Ownership and Quality in Markets with Asymmetric Information: Evidence from Nursing Homes
Authors: Ben-Ner Avner , Karaca-Mandic Pinar , Ren Ting
Published: October 2012

The ownership and governance of for-profit (FP), nonprofit (NP), and local government (LG) organizations are different. Therefore, the objectives of these different types of organizations and their performance may differ. We conjecture that in markets where there is substantial asymmetric information between providers and customers, FP firms, LG organizations and NP organizations provide similar levels of quality attributes that are observable to their customers and are well understood by them. However, FP firms are likely to provide lower levels of less-well observed and less-well understood desirable but costly quality attributes than their NP and LG counterparts. Using a rich dataset, we study the quality of outcomes for Minnesota nursing homes, which do not compete on prices. We find support for our theoretical conjectures: FP homes provide lower quality on a number of dimensions, especially those that are less observable by nursing home residents and their families.
Mass spectrometry: a revolution in clinical microbiology?
Authors: Lavigne Jean-Philippe , Espinal Paula , Dunyach-Remy Catherine , Messad Nourredine , Pantel Alix , Sotto Albert
Published: October 2012

Recently, different bacteriological laboratory interventions that decrease reporting time have been developed. These promising new broad-based techniques have merit, based on their ability to identify rapidly many bacteria, organisms difficult to grow or newly emerging strains, as well as their capacity to track disease transmission. The benefit of rapid reporting of identification and/or resistance of bacteria can greatly impact patient outcomes, with an improvement in the use of antibiotics, in the reduction of the emergence of multidrug resistant bacteria and in mortality rates. Different techniques revolve around mass spectrometry (MS) technology: matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), PCR combined with electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (PCR/ESI-MS), iPLEX MassArray system and other new evolutions combining different techniques. This report emphasizes the (r)evolution of these technologies in clinical microbiology.
Supratentorial hemorrhage suggested on susceptibility-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in an infant with hydranencephaly
Authors: Niwa Tetsu , Pistorius Lou , Vijlbrief Daniel C. , de Vries Linda S.
Published: October 2012

Hydranencephaly is a fetal central nervous system disorder in which most of the cerebral hemispheres are damaged and largely replaced with cerebrospinal fluid. We present susceptibility-weighted imaging findings in an infant with hydranencephaly, who showed foci of signal loss mainly at the peripheral portion of the thalamus and falx cerebri. Although the exact cause of hydranencephaly has not been established, these findings suggest previous hemorrhage and parenchymal destructive changes.
Three-dimensional cultures modeling premalignant progression of human breast epithelial cells: role of cysteine cathepsins
Authors: Mullins Stefanie R. , Sameni Mansoureh , Blum Galia , Bogyo Matthew , Sloane Bonnie F. , Moin Kamiar
Published: October 2012

The expression of the cysteine protease cathepsin B is increased in early stages of human breast cancer. To assess the potential role of cathepsin B in premalignant progression of breast epithelial cells, we employed a 3D reconstituted basement membrane overlay culture model of MCF10A human breast epithelial cells and isogenic variants that replicate the in vivo phenotypes of hyperplasia (MCF10AneoT) and atypical hyperplasia (MCF10AT1). MCF10A cells developed into polarized acinar structures with central lumens. In contrast, MCF10AneoT and MCF10AT1 cells form larger structures in which the lumens are filled with cells. CA074Me, a cell-permeable inhibitor selective for the cysteine cathepsins B and L, reduced proliferation and increased apoptosis of MCF10A, MCF10AneoT and MCF10AT1 cells in 3D culture. We detected active cysteine cathepsins in the isogenic MCF10 variants in 3D culture with GB111, a cell-permeable activity-based probe, and established differential inhibition of cathepsin B in our 3D cultures. We conclude that cathepsin B promotes proliferation and premalignant progression of breast epithelial cells. These findings are consistent with studies by others showing that deletion of cathepsin B in the transgenic MMTV-PyMT mice, a murine model that is predisposed to development of mammary cancer, reduces malignant progression.
cCMP, cUMP, cTMP, cIMP and cXMP as possible second messengers: Development of a hypothesis based on studies with soluble guanylyl cyclase α1β1
Authors: Beste Kerstin Y. , Seifert Roland
Published: October 2012

Adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate and guanosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate are second messengers that regulate multiple physiological functions. The existence of additional cyclic nucleotides in mammalian cells was postulated many years ago, but technical problems hampered development of the field. Using highly specific and sensitive mass spectrometry methods, soluble guanylyl cyclase has recently been shown to catalyze the formation of several cyclic nucleotides in vitro. This minireview discusses the broad substrate-specificity of soluble guanylyl cyclase and the possible second messenger roles of cyclic nucleotides other than adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate and guanosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate. We hope that this article stimulates productive and critical research in an area that has been neglected for many years.
Drug use evaluation of diabetes mellitus in hospitalized patients of a tertiary care referral hospital
Authors: Khalam Ameera , Dilip Chandrasekhar , Shinu Cholamugath
Published: October 2012

Background: Many drugs are available for the treatment of diabetes mellitus and are sometimes prescribed in combination. Irrational use of drugs is increasing expenditure and strain on health budgets. The aim of this study was to determine patient demographic characteristics, analyze prescription patterns of antidiabetic drugs, distribution of complications of diabetes, distribution of co-existing illnesses, distribution of common symptoms of diabetes and distribution of adverse drug reactions.

Methods: A study was carried out for 11 months in diabetic inpatients in the General Medicine Department. Data of 200 patients were collected and evaluated.

Results: The pattern of drug prescription in diabetes shows that insulin (80.5%) was most frequently prescribed followed by biguanides (23%), sulfonylureas (22.5%), thiazolidinediones (11%), dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-4) inhibitors (9.5%) and meglitinides (5.5%). The percentage of patients on diet control therapy was found to be 3%. Combination therapy was prescribed to 26.5% and monotherapy to 65% of patients; 47.5% of these patients were male and 52.5% were female. The most common co-existing illness was found to be hypertension (53.5%). In addition, 67% of patients had irregular blood sugar monitoring and the remaining 33% had regular (either 4 or 6 hourly) monitoring.

Conclusions: It is concluded that the prescribing trend is moving away from monotherapy with insulin and sulfonylureas and towards combination therapies. There is also a significant increase in prescriptions of newer oral antidiabetic drugs, such as DPP-4 inhibitors and insulin analogs. Most inpatients had their blood glucose checked irregularly and haphazardly by ward staff. This study strongly highlights the need for patient education or counseling on use of antidiabetic and concomitant drugs, monitoring of blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, diet control and correction of diabetic complications.
Biochemical and morphological changes in Trypanosoma brucei brucei- infected rats treated with homidium chloride and diminazene aceturate
Authors: Adeyemi Oluyomi Stephen , Sulaiman Faoziyat Adenike
Published: October 2012

Background: Chemotherapy which is one of the major methods for controlling trypanosomal infections is beset with several challenges including unwanted toxicity and limited efficacy. These factors and others underscore research efforts aimed at finding safer and more effective therapeutic agents for trypanosomiasis. Homidium chloride and diminazene aceturate are registered drugs for the treatment of animal trypanosomiasis.

Methods: Study investigated and compared, in an experimental Trypanosoma infection, the effects of two trypanocides on the pathology of tissues and some biochemical indices in rats.

Results: Data revealed that the levels of alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase in infected positive animals were significantly (p<0.05) elevated relative to uninfected negative controls but showed no significant difference when compared with the trypanocide-treatment groups. The histopathological presentations in the infected and treatment groups are a demonstration of the inimical cellular alterations associated with Trypanosoma brucei brucei infection.

Conclusions: The inimical alterations to biochemical and morphological parameters observed in the infected as well as the treatment groups is an implication suggesting shortcomings of the investigated trypanocides to alleviate pathology associated with Trypanosoma brucei brucei infection. We present evidence that further supports the urgent need for the development of safer and more effective trypanocides.
On the role of substance, locality, and amount of exposure in the acquisition of morphophonemic alternations
Authors: Baer-Henney Dinah , van de Vijver Ruben
Published: October 2012

We discuss what factors influence the acquisition of morphophonemic alternations. What mechanisms are available to the learner; what is the basis for grammatical generalizations? Using the Artificial Language Paradigm we compared the acquisition of three alternations differing in phonetic substance, locality, and amount of exposure: one alternation was substantively based and structurally local, another one was structurally local but not substantively based, and the last alternation was neither substantively based nor structurally local. Within each alternation we exposed the experimental groups to a greater or smaller number of instances. Results show a clear advantage for the substantively based alternation during acquisition. In addition, the local dependency has an advantage over the non-local one and alternations that are presented frequently have an advantage over those that are presented infrequently. We show that all three factors influence the acquisition of morphophonemic alternations, but they do so to a different degree. Phonetic substance causes the strongest boost in the acquisition process and builds on locality, which also plays a role, and amount of exposure influences the acquisition process independent of the nature of the alternation. We argue that acquisition models should take the interaction of these factors into account.
Differential contribution of prosodic cues in the native and non-native segmentation of French speech
Authors: Tremblay Annie , Coughlin Caitlin E. , Bahler Carly , Gaillard Stéphanie
Published: October 2012

This study investigates the use of prosodic information in the segmentation of French speech by mid-level and high-level English second/foreign language (L2) learners of French and native French listeners. The results of two word-monitoring tasks, one with natural stimuli and one with resynthesized stimuli, show that as L2 learners become more proficient in French, they go from parsing accented syllables as word-initial to parsing them as word-final, but unlike native listeners, they use duration increase but not fundamental frequencyx (
Phonetic reduction and variation in American Sign Language: A quantitative study of sign lowering
Authors: Tyrone Martha E. , Mauk Claude E.
Published: October 2012

During normal sign language use, a signer's productions will often be reduced from the citation forms of signs. This study examines a form of phonetic reduction in American Sign Language, in which signs that are located at the forehead are lowered in space. In particular, we explore the effects of signing rate and phonetic environment on the lowering of specific ASL signs and on their phonetic variation along the other two movement axes. Movement data were captured as native signers produced utterances that were controlled for phonetic environment and signing rate. We found that all signers produced lowered forms as an effect of the phonetic factors that we manipulated. In addition, several rate-induced effects occurred, which we had not predicted. Results are discussed in relation to past research on variation in sign production and in speech.
Predicting acoustically reduced words in spontaneous speech: The role of semantic/syntactic and acoustic cues in context
Authors: van de Ven Marco , Ernestus Mirjam , Schreuder Robert
Published: October 2012

In spontaneous speech, words may be realised shorter than in formal speech (e.g., English
Nano ZnO/acrylic coating for antifouling applications
Authors: Hemalatha Jadav , Kavitha Chandramohan , Dasan Keereyadath Priya
Published: October 2012

Fouling causes huge material and economic costs in maintenance of mariculture, shipping, naval vessels, and seawater pipelines, etc. Prevention of biofouling is an important property expected of coatings in these fields. In the present work, we prepared nano ZnO/acrylic latex by mechanical mixing as well as by the in situ method. The effect of nanoparticles on the drying of coatings and their antimicrobial nature were investigated.
Paracoccidioidomicose enzoótica em tatus (Dasypus novemcinctus) no estado do Pará
Authors: Naiff Roberto D. , Ferreira Luiz C. L. , Barrett Toby V. , Naiff Maricleide F. , Arias Jorge R.
Published: October 2012

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis foi encontrado, por inoculação de triturado de fígado e baço em hamsters, em 4 de 20 tatus (Dasypus novemcinctus) examinados na região de Tucuruí, Pará. Hamsters inoculados por via intradérmica e peritoneal com o parasito desenvolveram infecções generalizadas e morreram em 1½ a 13 meses. A diagnose do fungo foi confirmada por histopatologia e cultura. Não se observaram sinais macroscópios de doenças nos tatus. A distribuição geográfica de D. novemcinctus abrange a área endêmica de paracoccidioidomicose humana, sugerindo-se que o tatu tenha algum papel na ecologia do fungo.
Dinâmica da transmissão do Trypanosoma cruzi numa área rural da Argentina. 1 — Os cães como reservatórios: um perfil epidemiológico
Authors: Gürtler Ricardo E. , Lauricelia Marta , Solakz Nora D. , Bujas Marcos A. , Wisnivesky-Colli Cristina
Published: October 2012

Levou-se a cabo numa área rural da Argentina uma pesquisa epidemiológica dos cães associados ao domicílio, com vistas a caracterizar sua dinâmica populacional as infecções naturais pelo T. cruzi empregando técnicas sorológicas e xenodiagnóstico. A estrutura de idades da população mostrou que os indivíduos participam no ciclo doméstico da transmissão uma média de 4 anos; a proporção de sexos por grupos etários sugeriu uma mortalidade diferencial para as fêmeas, especialmente nas cadelas. Achou-se uma prevalência geral de infecção de 84%, crescendo desde 69% em cães 1 ano até 100% nos maiores de 3 anos, indicando alta eficiência de transmissão do T. cruzi aos cães na qual a infecção congênita ou pelo leite pode estar implicada. A sorologia mostrou concordância de 98% com os xenodiagnósticos positivos. A parasitemia não diminuiu com a idade em cães seropositives < 10 anos. Ao menos os 50% dos reservatórios achavam-se estreitamente associados as moradas da gente. A estreita associação trdfica entre os cães e T. infestans; a persistência da parasitemia nos reservatórios; a alta eficiência de transmissão do parasito a este; padrões de exposição do hospedeiro adequados; e altas taxas de recrutamento de indivíduos suscetíveis qualificam o cão como hospedeiro amplificador da doença de Chagas nas áreas rurais do centro e norte da Argentina. Os programas rurais de atenção primária da saúde vieram estimular a introdução de medidas dirigidas a diminuir o contacto cão-barbeiro para ser executadas em conexão à luta química contra os vetores na Argentina.
Comprometimento hepático na brucelose humana. Apresentação de 2 casos clínicos
Authors: Pignatari Antonio Carlos Campos , Castelo Filho Adauto , Stavale João Norberto , Matas Sandro Luiz de Andrade , Jamnik Sergio , Kim Su Bong
Published: October 2012

São relatados dois casos de brucelose humana apresentando comprometimento hepático, com especial referência ao diagnóstico diferencial das hepatites granulomatosas.
Antigen characterization of vector-borne and cultured metacyclic trypomastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi
Authors: Yoshida N. , Teixeira M. M. G. , Sbravate C. A.
Published: October 2012

Metacyclic trypomastigotes ol the CL strain of Trypanosoma cruzi obtained from triatomid vectors and from axenic cultures were comparatively analysed as to their antigen make-up and immunogenic characteristics. They were found to be similar by the various parameters examined. Thus, sera of mice immunized with either one of the two metacyclic types precipitated a 82Kd surface protein from 131I-labeled culture metacyclics. Sera of mice protected against acute T. cruzi infection by immunization with killed culture metacyclics of a different strain (G) recognized, by immunoblotting, a 77Kd protein in both types of CL strain metacyclics. A monoclonal antibody raised against G strain metacyclics, and specific for metacyclic stages of this strain, reacted with both CL strain metacyclic types. Both metacyclic forms were similarly Iysed by various anti-T. cruzi sera, in a complement-mediated reaction.