bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Usefulness of the C-Reactive Protein in Predicting the Need for Antibiotics
Among Febrile Inpatients with Sickle Cell Disease
Authors: Gershel Jeffrey , Kreiner Robyn , Spitzer Gila , Sterman Adam , Slotkin Emily , Rivlin Kenneth
Published: June 2015

Objective:

To determine whether the C-reactive protein (CRP) can help identify which febrile patients with
sickle cell disease (SCD) require antibiotic therapy.

Patients and Methods:

We performed a chart review of patients with SCD (including S-S, S-C, and S-Thal) admitted to
the hospital with fever [temperature >38.3°C <2 years of age; >38.9°C ≥2 years of age] over a thirty-month period (July
2009 – December 2011). Data extracted included temperature, age, high sensitivity CRP value, chest x-ray and culture
results, and the underlying cause of fever, categorized as bacterial (antibiotics necessary) or non-bacterial (antibiotics not
necessary). The Mann-Whitney U-test was then used to compare the median CRP levels of patients requiring antibiotics
versus those whose illnesses did not require antibiotic treatment.

Results:

Fifty-four febrile patients with SCD were admitted to the hospital. Nineteen had final diagnoses that required
antibiotic treatment and their median CRPs were significantly higher than the thirty-five who had diagnoses that did not
meet the requirements for antibiotic treatment (100.9 mg/L vs 17.3 mg/L, p <.001). All patients who needed antibiotics
had a CRP >39 mg/L.

Conclusion:

The current data indicate that among febrile patients with SCD, the CRP may help differentiate bacterial
infections which require antibiotic treatment from other diseases for which antibiotics are not necessary. Our data suggests
that there may be a level of CRP below which a bacterial etiology is unlikely.
Efficacy of external warming in attenuation of hypothermia in surgical patients
Authors: Zeba Snjezana , Surbatovic Maja , Marjanovic Milan , Jevdjic Jasna , Hajdukovic Zoran , Karkalic Radovan , Jovanovic Dalibor , Radakovic Sonja
Published: June 2015

Background/Aim. Hypothermia in surgical patients can be the consequence of
long duration of surgical intervention, general anaesthesia and low
temperature in operating room. Postoperative hypothermia contributes to a
number of postoperative complications such as arrhythmia, myocardial
ischemia, hypertension, bleeding, wound infection, coagulopathy, and
prolonged effect of muscle relaxants. External heating procedures are used to
prevent this condition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency
of external warming system in alleviation of cold stress and hypothermia in
patients who underwent major surgical procedures. Methods. The study was
conducted in the Military Medical Academy in Belgrade. A total of 30 patients
of both genders underwent abdominal surgical procedures, randomly divided
into two equal groups: the one was externally warmed using warm air mattress
(W), while in the control group (C) surgical procedure was performed in
regular conditions, without additional warming. Oesophageal temperature (Te)
was used as indicator of changes in core temperature, during surgery and
awakening postoperative period, and temperature of control sites on the right
hand (Th) and the right foot (Tf) reflected the changes in skin temperatures
during surgery. Te and skin temperatures were monitored during the
intraoperative period, with continuous measurement of Te during the following
90 minutes of the postoperative period. Heart rates and blood pressures were
monitored continuously during the intraoperative and awakening period.
Results. In the W group, the average Te, Tf and Th did not change
significantly during the intraoperative as well as the postoperative period.
In the controls, the average Te significantly decreased during the
intraoperative period (from 35.61 ? 0.35?C at 0 minute to 33.86 ? 0.51?C at
120th minute). Compared to the W group, Te in the C group was significantly
lower in all the observed periods. Average values of Tf and Th significantly
decreased in the C group (from 30.83 ? 1.85 at 20th minute to 29.0 ? 1.39?C
at 120th minute, and from 32.75 ? 0.96 to 31.05 ? 1.09?C, respectively).
Conclusion. The obtained results confirm that the external warming using warm
air mattress was able to attenuate hypothermia, i.e. substantial decrease in
core temperature, compared with the similar exposure to cold stress in the
control group.
The Continuum of Psychosis Proneness and Schizotypal Traits: A Comment on Loas, et al. (2013)
Authors: McCarthy James B.
Published: June 2015

Loas, Dimassi, Monestes, and Yon (2013) studied a version of the Cognitive Slippage Scale and the Schizotypal Ambivalence Scale in support of the view that thought disorder and withdrawal are highly correlated with schizotypy, a central concept in investigations of the vulnerability for schizophrenia. As a brief comment on Loas, et al., I will draw attention to the need for expanding studies of schizotypal traits and the possibility of using these scales with adolescents and young adults who are developing personality disorders as well as with individuals who have experienced prodromal phases of psychosis. Investigations of the Cognitive Slippage Scale and the Schizotypal Ambivalence Scale might be enhanced by conducting studies with individuals at different points on the psychosis continuum, including those who have developed schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, as well as with their first-degree relatives.
Maternal Ratings of Bullying and Victimization: Differences in Frequencies between Psychiatric Diagnoses in a Large Sample of Children
Authors: Mayes Susan D. , Calhoun Susan L. , Baweja Raman , Mahr Fauzia
Published: June 2015

Little is known about psychiatric diagnoses that place children at risk for bullying and victimization. Mothers of 1,707 children 6–18 yr. rated their child as a bully and a victim (not at all, to very often a problem) on the Pediatric Behavior Scale. Children with psychiatric diagnoses were evaluated in an outpatient psychiatry clinic ( M age = 9.2 yr., 68.4% male). Control children were community children not on psychotropic medication and with no neurodevelopmental disorder ( M age = 8.7 yr., 43.5% male). Children with autism, intellectual disability, and ADHD-Combined type had higher victim and bully maternal ratings than children in the ADHD-Inattentive, depression, anxiety, eating disorder, and control groups. Eating disorder and controls were the only groups in which most children were not rated a victim or a bully. Comorbid oppositional defiant disorder accounted for the higher bully ratings for ADHD-Combined, autism, and intellectual disability. Victimization ratings did not differ between psychiatric groups. Except for eating disorders, victimization ratings were greater in all groups than in control children, suggesting that most psychiatric disorders place children at risk for victimization, as perceived by their mothers.
Self-Reported Religiosity in Kuwaiti and American College Students
Authors: Abdel-Khalek Ahmed M. , Lester David
Published: June 2015

In previous research, Kuwaiti students obtained higher scores than American students on a religiosity scale. For the present study, the self-reported religiosity of Kuwaiti and American students was assessed using a single item. The respondents were 154 Kuwaiti students ( M age = 20.8 yr., SD = 2.4) and 154 American college students ( M age = 21.8 yr., SD = 5.0; 82% women in both samples). The Kuwaiti students responded in Arabic and the American students in English to the question: “What is your level of religiosity in general?” using an 11-point Likert format anchored by 0 and 10. The high score indicates high religiosity. The Kuwaiti students obtained a significantly higher mean score for religiosity than did their American counterparts (6.5 vs 4.5), indicating that religiosity is more important in the lives of the present sample of Kuwaiti students than in their American counterparts. A single-item self-rating scale may be useful in brief surveys such as epidemiological studies.
The Effect of the “Evoking Freedom” Technique on an Unusual and Disturbing Request
Authors: Guéguen Nicolas , Silone Fabien , David Mathieu , Pascual Alexandre
Published: June 2015

The “evoking freedom” technique consists in soliciting someone to comply with a request by simply saying that she is free to accept or to refuse the request. However, previous studies used low cost requests. The present study examined the magnitude of this technique associated with a more disturbing and costly request. Sixty men and 60 women aged approximately 20–25 years walking in the street were asked by a male confederate to hold a closed transparent box containing a live trap-door spider while he went into the post office to pick up a package. In the evoking freedom condition, the confederate added in his request that the participant was “free to accept or to refuse.” More compliance occurred in the “evoking freedom” condition (53.3%) than in the control condition (36.7%). These results confirm the robustness and the magnitude of the evoking freedom technique on compliance and show that this technique remained effective even when the request was psychologically costly to perform and was associated with fear.
Seeing You Fall vs Taking You Down: The Roles of Agency and Liking in Schadenfreude
Authors: Greenier Keegan D.
Published: June 2015

People are more likely to experience schadenfreude, i.e., take pleasure in the misfortunes of another, if they do not like the person experiencing the downfall. In the current study, the roles of liking and agency (being the cause of the downfall vs a passive observer) were investigated using a live (rather than hypothetical) situation for participants to react to. Participants were exposed to a rude, neutral, or nice confederate who won a coveted prize. Participants were then put into a position to either cause the confederate to lose her prize, or to only passively observe it happen. Feelings of schadenfreude were strongest when participants were the agent of a rude other's downfall. Implications for incorporating aspects of this study into future research were discussed.
Avascular Necrosis in a Patient With Hip Pain
Authors: Sabadis Sebastian , Gattie Eric , Cleland Joshua
Published: June 2015

The patient was a 64-year-old man who was referred to a physical therapist 3 weeks following a right L3 hemilaminectomy and an L3-4 facetectomy. At the time of the initial evaluation, the patient was ambulating with a rolling walker due to low back and anterolateral right hip pain, as well as a giving-way sensation of the right hip with weight bearing. The patient was referred to his surgeon, where radiographs revealed collapse/dissolution of the femoral head that was consistent with avascular necrosis.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2015;45(6):497. doi:10.2519/jospt.2015.0406
Postoperative symptoms of psychosis after deep brain stimulation in patients with Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Qureshi Azam A. , Cheng Jennifer J. , Sunshine Abraham N. , Wu Adela , Pontone Gregory M. , Cascella Nicola , Lenz Frederick A. , Grill Stephen E. , Anderson William S.
Published: June 2015

OBJECT

Cases of postoperative psychosis in Parkinson’s disease patients receiving deep brain stimulation (DBS) treatment have previously been published. However, the magnitude of symptom incidence and the clinical risk factors are currently unknown. This retrospective study sheds light on these issues by investigating psychosis in a group of 128 Parkinson’s disease patients who received DBS implants.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was performed to obtain surgery dates, follow-up clinic visit dates, and associated stimulation parameter settings (contacts in use and the polarity of each along with stimulation voltage, frequency, and pulse width) for each patient. Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale II Thought Disorder scores, used as a clinical assessment tool to evaluate the presence of psychosis at each visit, were also collected. The data were compiled into a database and analyzed.

RESULTS

The lifetime incidence of psychosis in this cohort of patients was 28.1%. The data suggest that risk of psychosis remains fairly constant throughout the first 5 years after implantation of a DBS system and that patients older at the time of receiving the first DBS implant are not only more likely to develop psychosis, but also to develop symptoms sooner than their younger counterparts. Further analysis provides evidence that psychosis is largely independent of the clinically used electrode contact and of stimulation parameters prior to psychosis onset.

CONCLUSIONS

Although symptoms of psychosis are widely seen in patients with Parkinson’s disease in the years following stimulator placement, results of the present suggest that most psychoses occurring postoperatively are likely independent of implantation and stimulation settings.
Deep brain stimulation for vocal tremor: a comprehensive, multidisciplinary methodology
Authors: Ho Allen L. , Erickson-Direnzo Elizabeth , Pendharkar Arjun V. , Sung Chih-Kwang , Halpern Casey H.
Published: June 2015

Tremulous voice is a characteristic feature of a multitude of movement disorders, but when it occurs in individuals diagnosed with essential tremor, it is referred to as essential vocal tremor (EVT). For individuals with EVT, their tremulous voice is associated with significant social embarrassment and in severe cases may result in the discontinuation of employment and hobbies. Management of EVT is extremely difficult, and current behavioral and medical interventions for vocal tremor result in suboptimal outcomes. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been proposed as a potential therapeutic avenue for EVT, but few studies can be identified that have systematically examined improvements in EVT following DBS. The authors describe a case of awake bilateral DBS targeting the ventral intermediate nucleus for a patient suffering from severe voice and arm tremor. They also present their comprehensive, multidisciplinary methodology for definitive treatment of EVT via DBS. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time comprehensive intraoperative voice evaluation has been used to guide microelectrode/stimulator placement, as well as the first time that standard pre- and post-DBS assessments have been conducted, demonstrating the efficacy of this tailored DBS approach.
Deep brain stimulation for obesity: rationale and approach to trial design
Authors: Ho Allen L. , Sussman Eric S. , Pendharkar Arjun V. , Azagury Dan E. , Bohon Cara , Halpern Casey H.
Published: June 2015

Obesity is one of the most serious public health concerns in the US. While bariatric surgery has been shown to be successful for treatment of morbid obesity for those who have undergone unsuccessful behavioral modification, its associated risks and rates of relapse are not insignificant. There exists a neurological basis for the binge-like feeding behavior observed in morbid obesity that is believed to be due to dysregulation of the reward circuitry. The authors present a review of the evidence of the neuroanatomical basis for obesity, the potential neural targets for deep brain stimulation (DBS), as well as a rationale for DBS and future trial design. Identification of an appropriate patient population that would most likely benefit from this type of therapy is essential. There are also significant cost and ethical considerations for such a neuromodulatory intervention designed to alter maladaptive behavior. Finally, the authors present a consolidated set of inclusion criteria and study end points that should serve as the basis for any trial of DBS for obesity.
Anterior nuclear deep brain stimulation guided by concordant hippocampal recording
Authors: Van Gompel Jamie J. , Klassen Bryan T. , Worrell Gregory A. , Lee Kendall H. , Shin Cheolsu , Zhao Cong Zhi , Brown Desmond A. , Goerss Steven J. , Kall Bruce A. , Stead Matt
Published: June 2015

OBJECT

Anterior nuclear (AN) stimulation has been reported to reduce the frequency of seizures, in some cases dramatically; however, it has not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. The anterior nucleus is difficult to target because of its sequestered location, partially surrounded by the ventricle. It has traditionally been targeted by using transventricular or lateral transcortical routes. Here, the authors report a novel approach to targeting the anterior nucleus and neurophysiologically confirming effective stimulation of the target, namely evoked potentials in the hippocampus.

METHODS

Bilateral AN 3389 electrodes were placed in a novel trajectory followed by bilateral hippocampal 3391 electrodes from a posterior trajectory. Each patient was implanted bilaterally with a Medtronic Activa PC+S device under an investigational device exemption approval. Placement was confirmed with CT. AN stimulation-induced hippocampal evoked potentials were measured to functionally confirm placement in the anterior nucleus.

RESULTS

Two patients had implantations by way of a novel AN trajectory with concomitant hippocampal electrodes. There were no lead misplacements. Postoperative stimulation of the anterior nucleus with a PC+S device elicited evoked potentials in the hippocampus. Thus far, both patients have reported a > 50% improvement in seizure frequency.

CONCLUSIONS

Placing AN electrodes posteriorly may provide a safer trajectory than that used for traditionally placed AN electrodes. In addition, with a novel battery that is capable of electroencephalographic recording, evoked potentials can be used to functionally assess the Papez circuit. This treatment paradigm may offer increased AN stimulation efficacy for medically intractable epilepsy by assessing functional placement more effectively and thus far has proven safe.
Deep brain stimulation for obesity: past, present, and future targets
Authors: Dupré Derrick A. , Tomycz Nestor , OH Michael Y. , Whiting Donald
Published: June 2015

The authors review the history of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in patients for treating obesity, describe current DBS targets in the brain, and discuss potential DBS targets and nontraditional stimulation parameters that may improve the effectiveness of DBS for ameliorating obesity. Deep brain stimulation for treating obesity has been performed both in animals and in humans with intriguing preliminary results. The brain is an attractive target for addressing obesity because modulating brain activity may permit influencing both sides of the energy equation—caloric intake and energy expenditure.
Deep brain stimulation for psychiatric disorders: where we are now
Authors: Cleary Daniel R. , Ozpinar Alp , Raslan Ahmed M. , Ko Andrew L.
Published: June 2015

Fossil records showing trephination in the Stone Age provide evidence that humans have sought to influence the mind through physical means since before the historical record. Attempts to treat psychiatric disease via neurosurgical means in the 20th century provided some intriguing initial results. However, the indiscriminate application of these treatments, lack of rigorous evaluation of the results, and the side effects of ablative, irreversible procedures resulted in a backlash against brain surgery for psychiatric disorders that continues to this day. With the advent of psychotropic medications, interest in invasive procedures for organic brain disease waned.

Diagnosis and classification of psychiatric diseases has improved, due to a better understanding of psychiatric patho-physiology and the development of disease and treatment biomarkers. Meanwhile, a significant percentage of patients remain refractory to multiple modes of treatment, and psychiatric disease remains the number one cause of disability in the world. These data, along with the safe and efficacious application of deep brain stimulation (DBS) for movement disorders, in principle a reversible process, is rekindling interest in the surgical treatment of psychiatric disorders with stimulation of deep brain sites involved in emotional and behavioral circuitry.

This review presents a brief history of psychosurgery and summarizes the development of DBS for psychiatric disease, reviewing the available evidence for the current application of DBS for disorders of the mind.
Predictors of unfavorable outcomes following deep brain stimulation for movement disorders and the effect of hospital case volume on outcomes: an analysis of 33, 642 patients across 234 US hospitals using the National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample from 2002 to 2011
Authors: Kalakoti Piyush , Ahmed Osama , Bollam Papireddy , Missios Symeon , Wilden Jessica , Nanda Anil
Published: June 2015

OBJECT

With limited data available on association of risk factors and effect of hospital case volume on outcomes following deep brain stimulation (DBS), the authors attempted to identify these associations using a large population-based database.

METHODS

The authors performed a retrospective cohort study involving patients who underwent DBS for 3 primary movement disorders: Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, and dystonia from 2002 to 2011 using the National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. Using national estimates, the authors identified associations of patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and hospital characteristics on short-term postoperative outcomes following DBS. Additionally, effect of hospital volume on unfavorable outcomes was investigated.

RESULTS

Overall, 33, 642 patients underwent DBS for 3 primary movement disorders across 234 hospitals in the US. The mean age of the cohort was 63.42 ± 11.31 years and 36% of patients were female. The inpatients’ postoperative risks were 5.9% for unfavorable discharge, 10.2% for prolonged length of stay, 14.6% for high-end hospital charges, 0.5% for wound complications, 0.4% for cardiac complications, 1.8% for venous thromboembolism, and 5.5% for neurological complications, including those arising from an implanted nervous system device. Compared with low-volume centers, odds of having an unfavorable discharge, prolonged LOS, high-end hospital charges, wound, and cardiac complications were significantly lower in the high-volume and medium-volume centers.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors’ study provides individualized estimates of the risks of postoperative complications based on patient demographics and comorbidities and hospital characteristics, which could potentially be used as an adjunct for risk stratification for patients undergoing DBS.
Deep brain stimulation for severe autism: from pathophysiology to procedure
Authors: Sinha Saurabh , McGovern Robert A. , Sheth Sameer A.
Published: June 2015

Autism is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by early-onset impairment in social interaction and communication and by repetitive, restricted behaviors and interests. Because the degree of impairment may vary, a spectrum of clinical manifestations exists. Severe autism is characterized by complete lack of language development and potentially life-threatening self-injurious behavior, the latter of which may be refractory to medical therapy and devastating for affected individuals and their caretakers. New treatment strategies are therefore needed. Here, the authors propose deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala (BLA) as a therapeutic intervention to treat severe autism. The authors review recent developments in the understanding of the pathophysiology of autism. Specifically, they describe the genetic and environmental alterations that affect neurodevelopment. The authors also highlight the resultant microstructural, macrostructural, and functional abnormalities that emerge during brain development, which create a pattern of dysfunctional neural networks involved in socioemotional processing. They then discuss how these findings implicate the BLA as a key node in the pathophysiology of autism and review a reported case of BLA DBS for treatment of severe autism. Much progress has been made in recent years in understanding the pathophysiology of autism. The BLA represents a logical neurosurgical target for treating severe autism. Further study is needed that considers mechanistic and operative challenges.
Bernardin à la guerre de sept ans: l'apprentissage des réseaux et l'épreuve du patriotisme
Authors: Robinson Philip
Published: June 2015

Les documents touchant à ce sujet sont si peu nombreux qu'on a même pu douter du service militaire de Bernardin pour la France pendant cette guerre (1756–63). La nouvelle édition électronique de la correspondance de Bernardin jette quelques lumières sur cette question. Le lecteur moderne admirateur de notre auteur s’étonnera quelque peu de découvrir que, après avoir quitté le service de la France en Westphalie et à Malte (1760–61) comme officier ingénieur géographe, il semble chercher à servir des pays ennemis de la France (le Portugal et la Prusse). L'examen de cette possibilité pose des questions sur la notion de patriotisme dans le contexte d'un conflit entre armées professionnelles et bien avant les engagements nationaux de la période révolutionnaire. Bernardin, perpétuel surnuméraire et outsider, doit exploiter les divers réseaux sociaux et politiques auxquels il se trouve confronté dans la France et l'Europe de son temps.
Letters Pertinent and Impertinent: The Early Career of Bernardin de Saint-Pierre
Authors: Davies Simon
Published: June 2015

Bernardin de Saint-Pierre did not set out to be a professional writer. With career prospects blocked in France, he tried his luck at marketing his military engineering skills in Eastern Europe before acquiring a highly unsatisfactory post offered by the French authorities in Mauritius. The experience of these vastly contrasting stays in foreign lands had major implications for Bernardin's thought and values. On the one hand he gained first-hand knowledge of international intrigue in Russia and Poland, while on the other he encountered the bleak consequences of colonial government in Mauritius. His reactions to these experiences are reflected in his correspondence from 1762 to 1775. At the same time his letters reveal a yearning to withdraw from the pressures of complicated social existence and to retreat to the tranquillity of the countryside. Both strands of his experience and desire will find expression in his literary works.
Le Retour en Normandie, 1775
Authors: Cook Malcolm
Published: June 2015

En 1775 Bernardin décide de quitter Paris pour faire une visite à pied en Normandie, pour retrouver sa sœur et ses cousins et cousines. Le manuscrit qui décrit ce voyage, inédit jusqu'ici, se trouve à la Bibliothèque nationale de France. Cet article propose une étude des principales idées exprimées par Bernardin au cours de son voyage de trois mois: nous avons les descriptions des lieux et des commentaires sur la manière de vivre des Normands; nous avons aussi des réflexions sur la vie d'une nature beaucoup plus générale, et les réflexions provoquées par une visite à la Trappe. Nous estimons que certaines des idées qui se trouvent ici sont reproduites plus tard dans les Études de la nature.
Literary Correspondences: Bernardin de Saint-Pierre and Mme de Genlis
Authors: Ford Rebecca
Published: June 2015

Although Bernardin's correspondence spans most of his adult life and involves a wide range of correspondents and subject matter, there is a marked increase in the number of correspondents and frequency of correspondence from the time he begins to enjoy real literary success. Indeed, the relationship between the reading and writing of letters and the writing and reading of Bernardin's published works is a close and multi-faceted one. The focus for this article is the correspondence between Bernardin and Mme de Genlis, one of the most significant literary figures in Bernardin's correspondence network. Their correspondence casts light on Bernardin's place in late eighteenth-century literary and cultural life and his developing identity as an author. Bernardin's correspondence with Mme de Genlis helps him to deal with practical issues surrounding the publication of his works, and to explore the moral and ethical implications of authorship; but it also reveals the difficulties inherent in the act of correspondence itself.
Bernardin et les réseaux sociaux: Bernardin s'affiche
Authors: Jaffré-Cook Odile
Published: June 2015

Bien que Bernardin se soit toujours défendu d'agir seul, sans aide ni soutien, une étude approfondie de ses méthodes de travail révèle un instinct certain de promouvoir toutes ses publications. Dans cet article, nous voulons montrer comment, non seulement il se servit de la presse régulièrement mais aussi, comment il sut s'adapter à l'humeur du moment en ayant recours à d'autres formes de publication et nous nous attarderons sur une affiche importante qu'il fit poser en 1792. Cette étude nous paraît importante car la publication de cette affiche est unique dans l’œuvre de notre écrivain. Il est donc intéressant de voir quelles réactions elle suscita tant dans la presse qu'avec ses correspondants.
Unblocking Enlightenment Loos, Bernardin's Boxer Shorts and Other Day-to-Day Practicalities in Eighteenth-Century Normandy: A Whistle-Stop Tour of Catherine de Saint-Pierre's Networks
Authors: Astbury Katherine , Seth Catriona
Published: June 2015

Catherine de Saint-Pierre was Bernardin de Saint-Pierre's sister. Although his letters to her have not survived, we do have her letters to him. While he and his brothers travelled the world from Mauritius to Haiti, Catherine remained in their native Normandy. News and merchandise from far-flung corners of the globe came to her, but she never moved. Nevertheless she played an important role in the family dynamics, as she was often the one who gave family members news about each other. The trials and tribulations of her life in Dieppe fill the pages of her letters, but, in addition to details of her latest ailments, we gain a sense of someone who was very adept at navigating social networks to get the best for her and her family at as little cost as possible. This article reveals the hidden practical realities of getting things done on a budget in Dieppe at the end of the eighteenth century. It highlights the range and versatility of the networks upon which Catherine called as a means of saving money and provides us with some insider details on everyday expenses and exchanges invaluable to all those looking to better understand the economics and legalities of period.
Administrative Sciences Introduces Double Blind Peer-Review
Authors: Rittman Martyn , Roberts Joseph
Published: June 2015

Peer-review has become, and remains, the cornerstone on which scientific publication is built. Despite criticism, it remains almost the only method by which acceptance into the corpus of research literature is based. [...]
Goal-Directed Resilience in Training (GRIT): A Biopsychosocial Model of Self-Regulation, Executive Functions, and Personal Growth (Eudaimonia) in Evocative Contexts of PTSD, Obesity, and Chronic Pain
Authors: Kent Martha , Rivers Crystal , Wrenn Glenda
Published: June 2015

This paper presents a biopsychosocial model of self-regulation, executive functions, and personal growth that we have applied to Goal-Directed Resilience in Training (GRIT) interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obesity, and chronic pain. Implications of the training for the prevention of maladaptation, including psychological distress and health declines, and for promoting healthy development are addressed. Existing models of attention, cognition, and physiology were sourced in combination with qualitative study findings in developing this resilience skills intervention. We used qualitative methods to uncover life skills that are most salient in cases of extreme adversity, finding that goal-directed actions that reflected an individual’s values and common humanity with others created a context-independent domain that could compensate for the effects of adversity. The efficacy of the resilience skills intervention for promoting positive emotion, enhancing neurocognitive capacities, and reducing symptoms was investigated in a randomized controlled trial with a veteran population diagnosed with PTSD. The intervention had low attrition (8%) and demonstrated improvement on symptom and wellbeing outcomes, indicating that the intervention may be efficacious for PTSD and that it taps into those mechanisms which the intervention was designed to address. Feasibility studies for groups with comorbid diagnoses, such as chronic pain and PTSD, also showed positive results, leading to the application of the GRIT intervention to other evocative contexts such as obesity and chronic pain.
Brownian Motion in Minkowski Space
Authors: O'Hara Paul , Rondoni Lamberto
Published: June 2015

We construct a model of Brownian motion in Minkowski space. There are two aspects of the problem. The first is to define a sequence of stopping times associated with the Brownian “kicks” or impulses. The second is to define the dynamics of the particle along geodesics in between the Brownian kicks. When these two aspects are taken together, the Central Limit Theorem (CLT) leads to temperature dependent four dimensional distributions defined on Minkowski space, for distances and 4-velocities. In particular, our processes are characterized by two independent time variables defined with respect to the laboratory frame: a discrete one corresponding to the stopping times when the impulses take place and a continuous one corresponding to the geodesic motion in-between impulses. The subsequent distributions are solutions of a (covariant) pseudo-diffusion equation which involves derivatives with respect to both time variables, rather than solutions of the telegraph equation which has a single time variable. This approach simplifies some of the known problems in this context.
Strategic Interaction Model with Censored Strategies
Authors: Jenish Nazgul
Published: June 2015

In this paper, we develop a new model of a static game of incomplete information with a large number of players. The model has two key distinguishing features. First, the strategies are subject to threshold effects, and can be interpreted as dependent censored random variables. Second, in contrast to most of the existing literature, our inferential theory relies on a large number of players, rather than a large number of independent repetitions of the same game. We establish existence and uniqueness of the pure strategy equilibrium, and prove that the censored equilibrium strategies satisfy a near-epoch dependence property. We then show that the normal maximum likelihood and least squares estimators of this censored model are consistent and asymptotically normal. Our model can be useful in a wide variety of settings, including investment, R&D, labor supply, and social interaction applications.
Fast Pyrolysis of Four Lignins from Different Isolation Processes Using Py-GC/MS
Authors: Lin Xiaona , Sui Shujuan , Tan Shun , Pittman Charles , Sun Jianping , Zhang Zhijun
Published: June 2015

Pyrolysis is a promising approach that is being investigated to convert lignin into higher value products including biofuels and phenolic chemicals. In this study, fast pyrolysis of four types of lignin, including milled Amur linden wood lignin (MWL), enzymatic hydrolysis corn stover lignin (EHL), wheat straw alkali lignin (AL) and wheat straw sulfonate lignin (SL), were performed using pyrolysis gas-chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the four lignins exhibited widely different thermolysis behaviors. The four lignins had similar functional groups according to the FTIR analysis. Syringyl, guaiacyl and p-hydroxyphenylpropane structural units were broken down during pyrolysis. Fast pyrolysis product distributions from the four lignins depended strongly on the lignin origin and isolation process. Phenols were the most abundant pyrolysis products from MWL, EHL and AL. However, SL produced a large number of furan compounds and sulfur compounds originating from kraft pulping. The effects of pyrolysis temperature and time on the product distributions from corn stover EHL were also studied. At 350 °C, EHL pyrolysis mainly produced acids and alcohols, while phenols became the main products at higher temperature. No obvious influence of pyrolysis time was observed on EHL pyrolysis product distributions.
Becoming Food Aware in Hospital: A Narrative Review to Advance the Culture of Nutrition Care in Hospitals
Authors: Laur Celia , McCullough James , Davidson Bridget , Keller Heather
Published: June 2015

The Nutrition Care in Canadian Hospitals (2010–2013) study identified the prevalence of malnutrition on admission to medical and surgical wards as 45%. Nutrition practices in the eighteen hospitals, including diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of malnourished patients, were ad hoc. This lack of a systematic approach has demonstrated the need for the development of improved processes and knowledge translation of practices aimed to advance the culture of nutrition care in hospitals. A narrative review was conducted to identify literature that focused on improved care processes and strategies to promote the nutrition care culture. The key finding was that a multi-level approach is needed to address this complex issue. The organization, staff, patients and their families need to be part of the solution to hospital malnutrition. A variety of strategies to promote the change in nutrition culture have been proposed in the literature, and these are summarized as examples for others to consider. Examples of strategies at the organizational level include developing policies to support change, use of a screening tool, protecting mealtimes, investing in food and additional personnel (healthcare aides, practical nurses and/or diet technicians) to assist patients at mealtimes. Training for hospital staff raises awareness of the issue, but also helps them to identify their role and how it can be modified to improve nutrition care. Patients and families need to be aware of the importance of food to their recovery and how they can advocate for their needs while in hospital, as well as post-hospitalization. It is anticipated that a multi-level approach that promotes being “food aware” for all involved will help hospitals to achieve patient-centred care with respect to nutrition.
Mapping of Asbestos Cement Roofs and Their Weathering Status Using Hyperspectral Aerial Images
Authors: Cilia Chiara , Panigada Cinzia , Rossini Micol , Candiani Gabriele , Pepe Monica , Colombo Roberto
Published: June 2015

The aims of this study were: (i) the mapping of asbestos cement roofs in an urban area; and (ii) the development of a spectral index related to the roof weathering status. Aerial images were collected through the Multispectral Infrared and Visible Imaging Spectrometer (MIVIS) sensor, which acquires data in 102 channels from the visible to the thermal infrared spectral range. An image based supervised classification was performed using the Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) algorithm. The SAM was trained through a set of pixels selected on roofs of different materials. The map showed an average producer’s accuracy (PA) of 86% and a user’s accuracy (UA) of 89% for the asbestos cement class. A novel spectral index, the “Index of Surface Deterioration” (ISD), was defined based on measurements collected with a portable spectroradiometer on asbestos cement roofs that were characterized by different weathering statuses. The ISD was then calculated on the MIVIS images, allowing the distinction of two weathering classes (i.e., high and low). The asbestos cement map was handled in a Geographic Information System (GIS) in order to supply the municipalities with the cadastral references of each property having an asbestos cement roof. This tool can be purposed for municipalities as an aid to prioritize asbestos removal, based on roof weathering status.
Altered Phenotypes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by Heterologous Expression of Basidiomycete Moniliophthora perniciosa SOD2 Gene
Authors: Melo Sônia , Santos Regineide , Melgaço Ana , Pereira Alanna , Pungartnik Cristina , Brendel Martin
Published: June 2015

Heterologous expression of a putative manganese superoxide dismutase gene (SOD2) of the basidiomycete Moniliophthora perniciosa complemented the phenotypes of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae sod2Δ mutant. Sequence analysis of the cloned M. perniciosa cDNA revealed an open reading frame (ORF) coding for a 176 amino acid polypeptide with the typical metal-binding motifs of a SOD2 gene, named MpSOD2. Phylogenetic comparison with known manganese superoxide dismutases (MnSODs) located the protein of M. perniciosa (MpSod2p) in a clade with the basidiomycete fungi Coprinopsis cinerea and Laccaria bicolor. Haploid wild-type yeast transformants containing a single copy of MpSOD2 showed increased resistance phenotypes against oxidative stress-inducing hydrogen peroxide and paraquat, but had unaltered phenotype against ultraviolet–C (UVC) radiation. The same transformants exhibited high sensitivity against treatment with the pro-mutagen diethylnitrosamine (DEN) that requires oxidation to become an active mutagen/carcinogen. Absence of MpSOD2 in the yeast sod2Δ mutant led to DEN hyper-resistance while introduction of a single copy of this gene restored the yeast wild-type phenotype. The haploid yeast wild-type transformant containing two SOD2 gene copies, one from M. perniciosa and one from its own, exhibited DEN super-sensitivity. This transformant also showed enhanced growth at 37 °C on the non-fermentable carbon source lactate, indicating functional expression of MpSod2p. The pro-mutagen dihydroethidium (DHE)-based fluorescence assay monitored basal level of yeast cell oxidative stress. Compared to the wild type, the yeast sod2Δ mutant had a much higher level of intrinsic oxidative stress, which was reduced to wild type (WT) level by introduction of one copy of the MpSOD2 gene. Taken together our data indicates functional expression of MpSod2 protein in the yeast S. cerevisiae.
Hyperactive RAS/PI3-K/MAPK Signaling Cascade in Migration and Adhesion of Nf1 Haploinsufficient Mesenchymal Stem/Progenitor Cells
Authors: Zhou Yuan , He Yongzheng , Sharma Richa , Xing Wen , Estwick Selina , Wu Xiaohua , Rhodes Steven , Xu Mingjiang , Yang Feng-Chun
Published: June 2015

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant disease caused by mutations in the NF1 tumor suppressor gene, which affect approximately 1 out of 3000 individuals. Patients with NF1 suffer from a range of malignant and nonmalignant manifestations such as plexiform neurofibromas and skeletal abnormalities. We previously demonstrated that Nf1 haploinsufficiency in mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells (MSPCs) results in impaired osteoblastic differentiation, which may be associated with the skeletal manifestations in NF1 patients. Here we sought to further ascertain the role of Nf1 in modulating the migration and adhesion of MSPCs of the Nf1 haploinsufficient (Nf1+/−) mice. Nf1+/− MSPCs demonstrated increased nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio, increased migration, and increased actin polymerization as compared to wild-type (WT) MSPCs. Additionally, Nf1+/− MSPCs were noted to have significantly enhanced cell adhesion to fibronectin with selective affinity for CH271 with an overexpression of its complimentary receptor, CD49e. Nf1+/− MSPCs also showed hyperactivation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3-K) and mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways when compared to WT MSPCs, which were both significantly reduced in the presence of their pharmacologic inhibitors, LY294002 and PD0325901, respectively. Collectively, our study suggests that both PI3-K and MAPK signaling pathways play a significant role in enhanced migration and adhesion of Nf1 haploinsufficient MSPCs.
Nuclear and Cytoplasmic Soluble Proteins Extraction from a Small Quantity of Drosophila’s Whole Larvae and Tissues
Authors: Piccolo Luca , Bonaccorso Rosa , Onorati Maria
Published: June 2015

The identification and study of protein’s function in several model organisms is carried out using both nuclear and cytoplasmic extracts. For a long time, Drosophila’s embryos have represented the main source for protein extractions, although in the last year, the importance of collecting proteins extracts also from larval tissues has also been understood. Here we report a very simple protocol, improved by a previously developed method, to produce in a single extraction both highly stable nuclear and cytoplasmic protein extracts from a small quantity of whole Drosophila’s larvae or tissues, suitable for biochemical analyses like co-immunoprecipitation.
Polymorphisms of the CD24 Gene Are Associated with Risk of Multiple Sclerosis: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Braliou Georgia , Pantavou Katerina , Kontou Panagiota , Bagos Pantelis
Published: June 2015

CD24 is a cell-surface protein mainly expressed in cells of the immune and central nervous system (CNS), cells that play a critical role in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS). In the current study, we investigated four polymorphisms of the CD24 gene regarding their associations with MS. To this end, univariate and multivariate meta-analysis were applied along with modifications to include data from family-trios so as to increase the robustness of the meta-analysis. We found that the polymorphism 226 C>T (Ala57Val) of the CD24 gene is associated with MS according to the recessive mode of inheritance (odds ratio = 1.75; 95% CI: 1.09, 2.81). Moreover, the 1527–1528 TG>del polymorphism is inversely associated with MS according to the dominant mode of inheritance (odds ratio = 0.57; 95% CI 0.39, 0.83). Conversely, the 1056 A>G and 1626 A>G polymorphisms were not found to be associated with MS. We conclude that the CD24 226 C>T polymorphism increases the risk of MS, while the 1527–1528 TG>del polymorphism seems to have a protective role against MS, suggesting that these two polymorphisms can be used as predictive biomarkers for MS development.
Slow-Release Sachets of Neoseiulus cucumeris Predatory Mites Reduce Intraguild Predation by Dalotia coriaria in Greenhouse Biological Control Systems
Authors: Pochubay Emily , Tourtois Joseph , Himmelein Jeanne , Grieshop Matthew
Published: June 2015

Intraguild predation of Neoseiulus cucumeris Oudemans (Phytoseiidae) by soil-dwelling predators, Dalotia coriaria Kraatz (Staphylinidae) may limit the utility of open rearing systems in greenhouse thrips management programs. We determined the rate of D. coriaria invasion of N. cucumeris breeder material presented in piles or sachets, bran piles (without mites), and sawdust piles. We also observed mite dispersal from breeder piles and sachets when D. coriaria were not present. Dalotia coriaria invaded breeder and bran piles at higher rates than sawdust piles and sachets. Furthermore, proportions of N. cucumeris in sachets were six- to eight-fold higher compared with breeder piles. When D. coriaria were absent, N. cucumeris dispersed from breeder piles and sachets for up to seven weeks. In earlier weeks, more N. cucumeris dispersed from breeder piles compared with sachets, and in later weeks more N. cucumeris dispersed from sachets compared with breeder piles. Sachets protected N. cucumeris from intraguild predation by D. coriaria resulting in higher populations of mites. Therefore, sachets should be used in greenhouse biocontrol programs that also release D. coriaria. Furthermore, breeder piles that provide “quick-releases” or sachets that provide “slow-releases” of mites should be considered when incorporating N. cucumeris into greenhouse thrips management programs.