bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modeling Vapor Flow from a Pervaporative Irrigation System
Authors: Todman Lindsay C. , Ireson Andrew M. , Butler Adrian P. , Templeton Michael R.
Published: October 2013

Experimental and modeling results were used to develop a conceptual understanding of the process of pervaporative irrigation in dry soils. When irrigating in this way, a pervaporative membrane is formed into a tube, buried in the soil, and filled with water. If the surrounding soil is dry, a chemical potential gradient across the membrane draws water into the soil. Water can only desorb from the membrane as a vapor, however, so it enters the soil in the vapor phase. This study corroborates previous evidence that vapor flow can significantly affect the flux from the irrigation membrane under arid conditions. A new model of water transport from a pervaporative irrigation membrane in unvegetated soils was developed, taking into account transport in both liquid and vapor phases, and successfully simulated experimental observations of the total water flux, relative humidity, and water content distribution in three soil types. Modeling results showed that the capacity for moisture sorption within different soil types affects both condensation in the soil and the subsequent flux from the pervaporative membrane. A mathematical relationship for the moisture sorption isotherm for a soil can therefore be used to predict the flux across the membrane in that soil. If condensation is significant, liquid flows through the soil also affect the flux from the membrane. Model simulations suggest that the flux from the pervaporative membrane is primarily limited by humid conditions within the soil rather than the transport of water across the membrane, thus plant interactions with the soil conditions should increase the irrigation flux.
Experimental Research on the Wettability of Recycled Aggregate Concrete with Fly Ash
Authors: Guo Yuanchen , Wang Xue , Qian Jueshi
Published: October 2013

Material adsorption, the reverse process of evaporation diffusion, directly reflects the wettability of materials.
Wettability is one of the main factors that affect the drying shrinkage of materials. A device that measures the wettability
of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) with fly ash is proposed in this study based on pore structure theory. The isothermal
absorption curve of RAC is examined with different fly ash contents. Results show that as the recycled aggregate
replacement rate increases, the moisture absorption capacity of RAC gradually increases. The addition of fly ash improves
the porosity of RAC structures and reduces material wettability.
A Combined Fractal and Wavelet Angiography Image Compression Approach
Authors: A Al-Fahoum , B Harb
Published: October 2013

In this paper, a combined Fractal and Wavelet (CFW) compression algorithm targeting x-ray angiogram
images is proposed. Initially, the image is decomposed using wavelet transform. The smoothness of the low frequency
part of the image appears as an approximation image with higher self similarities, therefore, it is coded using a fractal
coding technique. However, the rest of the image is coded using an adaptive wavelet thresholding technique. This model
is implemented and its performance is compared with best performances of the available published algorithms. A data set
containing 1000 x-ray angiograms is used to study the performance of the algorithm. A minimum compression ratio of 30
with a peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) of 36 dB and percent diameter stenosis deviation of (<0.2%) was achieved.
Results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed technique in obtaining a diagnostic quality of reconstructed images
at very low bit rates.
Prevalence and quality of life in high school pupils with acne in Serbia
Authors: Peric Jelena , Maksimovic Natasa , Jankovic Janko , Mijovic Biljana , Reljic Vesna , Jankovic Slavenka
Published: October 2013

Background/Aim. Acne is a common problem in adolescent children with
considerable emotional and psychological effects. The aim of this study was
to determine the self-reported prevalence of acne and to assess its impact on
the quality of life in high school pupils in Serbia. Methods. The
cross-sectional study was conducted in May 2011 in two medical high schools
in Serbia. Only pupils who gave a written informed consent to participate in
the study (n = 440) were asked to fill in two questionnaires: short
demographic questionnaire and Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI), a
disease-specific questionnaire measuring disability induced by acne. Internal
consistency (tested by Cronbach?s alpha) and item-total score correlations
(Spearman's correlation analysis) were used for reliability analyses.
Results. The study population consisted of 440 pupils, 281 from Belgrade and
159 from Uzice. Among them 371 (84.3%) were girls and 69 (15.7%) boys, with
similar sex distribution in Belgrade and Uzice. The total mean age of pupils
was 16.48 years (SD = 0.55). Out of 440 pupils 228 (51.8%) self-reported
their acne. The acne prevalence was significantly higher in pupils from Uzice
(73.6%) than in those from Belgrade (39.6%). The overall mean CADI score for
the whole sample was 2.87 ? 2.74, with the similar quality of life impairment
in adolescents from Belgrade and from Uzice. The mean Cronbach?s alpha was
0.82. Conclusion. This study shows that the quality of life impairment due to
acne is mild for the majority of the affected pupils. The Serbian version of
the CADI is a reliable, valid, and valuable tool for assessing the impact of
acne on the quality of life.
Combined spinal-epidural technique: Single-space vs double distant space technique
Authors: Slavkovic Zoran , Stamenkovic Dusica , Geric Veselin , Veljovic Milic , Ivanovic Nebojsa , Todorovic Slobodan , Maric Predrag , Karanikolas Menelaos
Published: October 2013

Background/Aim. Several combined spinal-epidural (CSE) anesthesia techniques
have been described. This study was designed to compare the single space
(?needle-throughneedle?) technique (SST) and the double distant space
technique (DDS) with regards to the time needed for the procedure, patient
discomfort during the procedure and patient's preference technique. Methods.
This prospective, randomized single-blind study included 156 patients
undergoing colorectal surgery under general anesthesia and CSE. All neuraxial
blocks were performed before general anesthesia induction. DDS group of
patients had thoracic epidural catheter placed at T6-7 or T7-8, followed by
subarachnoid injection at the L2-3 interspace. The SST group of patients had
a single injection using the needle-through-needle technique (Espocan?
needle) at L2-3. The epidural catheter was used for postoperative analgesia
for 72 hours. Body habitus, spinal anatomy and spinal landmarks were assessed
preoperatively. The number of epidural and spinal punctures, the feeling that
the dura is perforated (dural perforation click) and the time needed to
perform CSE were also recorded. Complications during epidural catheter
placement and perioperative and postoperative epidural catheter function and
patient preference for the anesthetic procedure were recorded. Results.
Epidural and subarachnoid spaces were successfully identified in all the
patients. Duration of CSE procedure, the number of spinal punctures, dural
click feeling and the effects of test dose did not differ between the groups.
The patients in both groups (90% of DDS and 87% of SST) would choose CSE as
preferred method in the future. The CSE procedure was painful for 16% of DDS
vs 20% of SST patients. A significant correlation between time needed for CSE
technique performance and body habitus (r = 0.338, p < 0.01), spinal
landmarks (r = 0.452, p < 0.001) and anatomy (r = 0.265, p < 0.05) was found
in the SST group. There was no correlation between the number of
epidural/spinal punctures and epidural bacteriological findings. There was no
correlation between the patients? choice of the CSE technique and the number
of spinal punctures, duration of CSE procedure and epidural catheter stay.
Conclusion. The two CSE techniques did not differ with regards to the
procedure time and patient's preference. Procedure time correlated with body
habitus, spinal landmarks and the anatomy in the SST group.
Risk factors and preventive measures for occupational diseases in dental technicians
Authors: Petrovic Dimitrije , Krunic Nebojsa , Kostic Milena
Published: October 2013

nema
Listeria monocytogenes meningitis in an immunocompetent 18-year old patient as a possible diagnostic and therapeutical problem
Authors: Vrbic Miodrag , Dinic Marina , Jovanovic Maja , Rankovic Aleksandar , Popovic-Dragonjic Lidija , Djordjevic-Spasic Marina
Published: October 2013

Introduction. Listeria monocytogenes is the third most frequent cause of
bacterial meningitis in adults. It commonly affects persons with defective
cell-mediated immunity or advanced age, and only a few patients with no
underlying predisposition have been reported. Case report. We presented an
previously healthy, 18-year-old man with typical clinical features of
meningitis. On the account of earlier treatment with ceftriaxone and
cerebrospinal fluid finding, an assumption of partially treated bacterial
meningitis was made. The initial treatment with vancomycin and ceftriaxone,
substituted on day 4 with meropenem, did not produce any clinical effect. On
day 6 Listeria monocytogenes was isolated and, even as late as that, the
administration of ampicillin was followed by complete recovery of the
patient. Conclusion. In younger, immunocompetent individuals, in spite of the
existent diagnostic and therapeutic problems, the subacute course of Listeria
monocytogenes meningitis provides enough time for appropriate treatment and
favorable disease outcome.
Epidemiology of rabies in bats in Texas (2001–2010)
Authors: Mayes Bonny C. , Wilson Pamela J. , Oertli Ernest H. , Hunt Patrick R. , Rohde Rodney E.
Published: October 2013

Objective—To obtain epidemiological information on rabies in bats in Texas.

Design—Epidemiological study.

Sample—Laboratory reports of bats that had been submitted for rabies testing in Texas from 2001 through 2010.

Procedures—Laboratory reports were reviewed to obtain information on seasonality of rabies in bats; distribution, species, and rabies virus variants of rabid bats; and human and domestic animal exposures to rabid bats.

Results—The number of rabid bats during the first 5 years of the study period remained static until a > 2-fold increase in 2006; during the subsequent 4 years, the annual number of rabid bats remained at this higher level, including a peak in 2008. The highest proportions of rabid bats were seen in late summer and early fall. The Brazilian free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) was the most often affected species. Additionally, the rabies virus variant associated with the Brazilian free-tailed bat was the most prevalent. The percentage of rabid bats from urban areas was greater than that from rural areas. Dogs and cats were the domestic animals most frequently exposed to rabid bats. Most humans exposed to rabid bats did not report a known bite or scratch. The highest numbers of humans exposed to rabid bats were males between 11 to 15 years old.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Information on the epidemiology of rabies in bats and the epidemiology of exposures to rabid bats may be useful in planning and implementing local, state, and national rabies control and prevention campaigns and in encouraging rabies vaccination of domestic animals.
Population pharmacokinetics of doxycycline in the tears and plasma of northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) following oral drug administration
Authors: Freeman Kate S. , Thomasy Sara M. , Stanley Scott D. , Van Bonn William , Gulland Frances , Friedlaender Ari S. , Maggs David J.
Published: October 2013

Objective—To assess tear and plasma concentrations of doxycycline following oral administration to northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris).

Design—Pharmacokinetic study.

Animals—18 juvenile northern elephant seals without signs of ocular disease.

Procedures—Study seals were receiving no medications other than a multivitamin and were free from signs of ocular disease as assessed by an ophthalmic examination. Doxycycline (10 or 20 mg/kg [4.5 or 9.1 mg/lb]) was administered orally every 24 hours for 4 days. Tear and plasma samples were collected at fixed time points, and doxycycline concentration was assessed by means of liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Concentration-time data were calculated via noncompartmental analysis.

Results—Following administration of doxycycline (10 mg/kg/d, PO), maximum plasma doxycycline concentration was 2.2 μg/mL at 6.1 hours on day 1 and was 1.5 μg/mL at 4.0 hours on day 4. Administration of doxycycline (20 mg/kg/d, PO) produced a maximum plasma doxycycline concentration of 2.4 μg/mL at 2.3 hours on day 1 and 1.9 μg/mL at 5.8 hours on day 4. Doxycycline elimination half-life on day 4 in animals receiving doxycycline at a dosage of 10 or 20 mg/kg/d was 6.7 or 5.6 hours, respectively. Mean plasma-to-tear doxycycline concentration ratios over all days were not significantly different between the low-dose (9.85) and high-dose (9.83) groups. For both groups, doxycycline was detectable in tears for at least 6 days following cessation of dosing.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Oral administration of doxycycline at the doses tested in the present study resulted in concentrations in the plasma and tears of northern elephant seals likely to be clinically effective for treatment of selected cases of systemic infectious disease, bacterial ulcerative keratitis, and ocular surface inflammation. This route of administration should be considered for treatment of corneal disease in northern elephant seals and possibly other related pinniped species.
Clinical evaluation and biochemical analyses of thiamine deficiency in Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) maintained at a zoological facility
Authors: Croft Lara , Napoli Eleonora , Hung Connie K. , St. Leger Judy , Gearhart Scott , Heym Kathy , Wong Sarah , Sakaguchi Danielle , Lin Alex , Puschner Birgit , Giulivi Cecilia
Published: October 2013

Objective—To determine thiamine-dependent enzyme activities in various tissue samples of Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and thiaminase activities in dietary fish.

Design—Cross-sectional study.

Animals—11 Pacific harbor seals with thiamine deficiency and 5 control seals.

Procedures—Seals underwent evaluation to rule out various diseases and exposure to toxins. For seals that died, measurement of thiamine-dependent enzymes in liver and brain samples and determination of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number in liver, brain, and muscle samples were performed. Thiaminase activity in dietary fish was determined.

Results—8 seals with thiamine deficiency died. Affected seals typically had acute neurologic signs with few nonspecific findings detected by means of clinicopathologic tests and histologic examination of tissue samples. Thiamine-dependent enzyme activities in liver samples of affected seals were significantly lower than those in control liver samples. The primary activation ratios and latencies for enzymes indicated that brain tissue was more affected by thiamine deficiency than liver tissue. Activities of pyruvate dehydrogenase were more affected by thiamine deficiency than those of transketolase and ketoglutarate dehydrogenase. For control seals, the mtDNA copy number in muscle samples was significantly lower than that for affected seals; conversely, the copy number in control liver samples was significantly greater than that of affected seals. Thiaminase activity was substantially higher in smelt than it was in other types of dietary fish.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results of analyses in this study confirmed a diagnosis of thiamine deficiency for affected seals resulting from high thiaminase activity in dietary fish, inadequate vitamin administration, and increased thiamine demand caused by pregnancy and lactation.
Existence and approximation of solutions of fractional order iterative differential equations
Authors: Deng JianHua , Wang JinRong
Published: October 2013

In this paper, we investigate existence and approximation of solutions of fractional order iterative differential equations by virtue of nonexpansive mappings, fractional calculus and fixed point methods. Three existence theorems as well as convergence theorems for a fixed point iterative method designed to approximate these solutions are obtained in two different work spaces via Chebyshev’s norm, Bielecki’s norm and β norm. Finally, an example is given to illustrate the obtained results.
Calculation method for the continuum states of atomic systems
Authors: Nikolopoulos Lampros
Published: October 2013

In the present work, we develop a calculational method of solving the scattering equations for spherically symmetric potentials by expanding the solutions on Coulomb functions. We utilize a multistep integration scheme together with the standard partial wave analysis in a region where the potential term dominates. The method applies to any physical problem expressed as [∇ 2 + V(r) + k 2]ψ(r) = 0, while the extension of the method to more general scattering problems is briefly discussed. At present, we demonstrate a two-step Coulomb-fitted integration scheme by calculating the short-range scattering phase shifts for various potentials V (r).
Numerical simulation for two-dimensional Riesz space fractional diffusion equations with a nonlinear reaction term
Authors: Liu Fawang , Chen Shiping , Turner Ian , Burrage Kevin , Anh Vo
Published: October 2013

Fractional differential equations have attracted considerable interest because of their ability to model anomalous transport phenomena. Space fractional diffusion equations with a nonlinear reaction term have been presented and used to model many problems of practical interest. In this paper, a two-dimensional Riesz space fractional diffusion equation with a nonlinear reaction term (2D-RSFDE-NRT) is considered. A novel alternating direction implicit method for the 2D-RSFDE-NRT with homogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions is proposed. The stability and convergence of the alternating direction implicit method are discussed. These numerical techniques are used for simulating a two-dimensional Riesz space fractional Fitzhugh-Nagumo model. Finally, a numerical example of a two-dimensional Riesz space fractional diffusion equation with an exact solution is given. The numerical results demonstrate the effectiveness of the methods. These methods and techniques can be extended in a straightforward method to three spatial dimensions, which will be the topic of our future research.
Estimating the varying topology of discrete-time dynamical networks with noise
Authors: Tu Chengyi , Cheng Yuhua , Chen Kai
Published: October 2013

We propose an improved method to estimate the varying topology of discrete-time dynamical networks using autosynchronization. The networks considered in this paper can be weighted or unweighted and directed or undirected, and the dynamics of each node can be nonuniform. Furthermore, we suggest using a moving-average filter to suppress the influence of noise on parameter estimation. Finally, several examples are illustrated to verify the theoretical results by numerical simulation.
Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 expression in fibroblasts of Down syndrome subjects
Authors: Salemi Michele , Barone Concetta , Romano Corrado , Romano Carmelo , Scavuzzo Cataldo , Salluzzo Maria , Tirolo Cataldo , Cantarella Rita , Ragalmuto Alda , Paola Sandro , Bosco Paolo
Published: October 2013

Down syndrome (DS) is the most common chromosomal disorder. It is featured by intellectual disability and is caused by trisomy 21. People with DS can develop some traits of Alzheimer disease at an earlier age than subjects without trisomy 21. Apoptosis is a programmed cell death process under both normal physiological and pathological conditions. Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 is a mediator of programmed-necrotic cell death and appears to be also involved in the apoptosis. The aim of the present work was to detect the intracellular distribution of PARP-1 protein using immunofluorescence techniques and the expression of PARP-1 mRNA in culture of fibroblasts of DS subjects. The analysis of the intracellular distribution of PARP-1 show a signal at the nuclear level in about 75 % of the cells of DS subjects with a slight uniformly fluorescent cytoplasm. In contrast, in about 65% of the analyzed fibroblasts of the normal subjects only a slight fluorescent was found. These observations have been confirmed by PARP-1 gene mRNA expression evaluation. The data obtained from this study strengthen the hypothesis that the over-expression of PARP-1 gene could have a role in the activation of the apoptotic pathways acting in the neurodegenerative processes in DS.
Effect of salicin on induction and carbon catabolite repression of endoxylanase synthesis in Penicillium janthinellum MTCC 10889
Authors: Kundu Aditi , Ray Rina
Published: October 2013

Amongst various carbon sources, xylan was found to be the sole inducer of endoxylanase production by Penicillium janthinellum MTCC 10889 in submerged cultivation. Endoxylanase synthesis by a xylan induced culture was initially repressed after a simultaneous addition of xylose, probably by the inducer exclusion mechanism, but it was resumed and achieved its highest level at a much later stage of growth (at 120 h). Xylose added after 30 h of growth cannot exert its full repressive effect. Although glucose was proved to be a more potent repressor than xylose, supplementation of salicin, an alcoholic β-glycoside containing d-glucose, with pure xylan resulted in an about 3.22 fold increase in the enzyme synthesis at 72 h followed by constant high production of the enzyme at least until the 144th h of growth. Inducing capacity of salicin in a xylan induced culture was significantly reduced when it was added after 30 h of growth. Addition of salicin and xylan help to partially overcome the repressive effect of xylose and glucose. Failure of salicin in recovering the endoxylanase synthesis in actinomycin D and cyclohexamide inhibited the xylan induced culture indicating that salicin cannot initiate the de novo synthesis of the enzyme.
Influence of freezing on physicochemical forms of natural and technogenic radionuclides in Chernozem soil
Authors: Kovacheva Petya , Djingova Rumyana
Published: October 2013

Sharp variations of different climatic parameters influence the transport, transfer, and deposition of contaminants in nature. Investigations of the impact of environmental temperature on the fractionation of radionuclides in soil are necessary for adequate assessment of their distribution and bioavailability in case of a nuclear accident. The impact of a sharp decrease of environmental temperature shortly after radioactive contamination on the physicochemical fractionation of natural and technogenic radionuclides in Chernozem soil and its influence on their potential migration ability and bioavailability in case of subsequent warming were evaluated. The soil was contaminated in a laboratory with 241Am, 60Co, 137Cs, 228Ra, 234Th, and U and two temperature regimes were used for storage. Changes of the radionuclides association with various soil phases in the first weeks after contamination were studied. Physicochemical forms of 241Am, 60Co, 228Ra, 234Th, and U were determined using two sequential extraction procedures. The ion-exchangeable forms of 137Cs were evaluated by single extraction with 1 M NH4NO3. The data showed that the freezing, following the radioisotope contamination of the soil, causes an increase of the amount of potentially mobile forms of radiocobalt, radiocesium, radium, and thorium and has an insignificant impact on the fractionation of americium and uranium.
Catalysis and reaction mechanisms of N-formylation of amines using Fe(III)-exchanged sepiolite
Authors: Eren Bilge , Aydin Reyhan , Eren Erdal
Published: October 2013

This study presents a rapid, economical and “green” N-formylation of anilines with formic acid (FA) using Fe(III)-exchanged sepiolite (IES) as a catalyst. The IES exhibited excellent catalytic properties and the reactions were complete within 20.90 min to afford products with high yields. The adsorption mechanism of FA on the IES sample was studied by infrared (IR) spectroscopy at a temperature range of 120–400°C. The thermal desorption of pyridine was detected by the IR technique to estimate the acidity of IES. Lewis acid-bound pyridine bands at 1618–1631 cm-1 and 1443–1445 cm-1 were observed even after the IES sample was heated above 400°C.
Mercury(II) complexes of new bidentate phosphorus ylides: synthesis, spectra and crystal structures
Authors: Sabounchei Seyyed , Panahimehr Mohammad , Khavasi Hamid , Bagherjeri Fateme , Boscovic Collete
Published: October 2013

The reaction of dppm (1,1-bis(diphenylphosphino)methane) with 2-bromo-4-phenylacetophenone and benzyl bromoacetate in chloroform produces new phosphonium salts, [Ph2PCH2PPh2CH2C(O) C6H4Ph]Br (I) and [Ph2PCH2PPh2CH2COOCH2Ph]Br (II). By allowing the phosphonium salts to react with the appropriate base, the bidentate phosphorus ylides, Ph2PCH2PPh2=C(H)C(O)C6H4Ph (III) and Ph2PCH2PPh2=C(H)C(O)OCH2Ph (IV), were obtained. The reaction of these ligands with mercury(II) halides in dry methanol led to the formation of the mononuclear complexes {HgX2[(Ph2PCH2PPh2C(H)C(O)C6H4Ph)]} (X = Cl (V); X = Br (VI); X = I (VII)) and {HgX2[(Ph2PCH2PPh2C(H)COOCH2Ph)]} (X = Cl (VIII); X = Br (IX); X = I (X)). The FTIR and 1H, 31P and 13C NMR spectra were studied. The structure of compound III was unequivocally determined by the single-crystal X-ray diffraction technique. Single-crystal X-ray analysis of the {HgBr2[(Ph2PCH2PPh2C(H)C(O)C6H4Me)]} complex (XI) revealed the presence of a mononuclear complex containing the Hg atom in a distorted tetrahedral environment. In all complexes, the ylides referred to above were coordinated through the ylidic carbon and the phosphine atom.
Global Position Sensing and Step Activity as Outcome Measures of Community Mobility and Social Interaction for an Individual With a Transfemoral Amputation Due to Dysvascular Disease
Authors: Jayaraman Arun , Deeny Sean , Eisenberg Yochai , Mathur Gayatri , Kuiken Todd
Published: October 2013

Background and Purpose

Community mobility of individuals following lower limb amputation is highly variable and has a great impact on their quality of life. Currently, clinical assessments of ambulatory ability and motivation influence prosthetic prescription. However, these outcome measures do not effectively quantify community mobility (ie, mobility outside of the clinic) of individuals with an amputation. Advances in global positioning systems (GPSs) and other wearable step-monitoring devices allow for objective, quantifiable measurement of community mobility. This case report will examine the combined use of a GPS unit and a step activity monitor to quantify community mobility and social interaction of an individual with transfemoral amputation due to dysvascular disease.

Case Description

A 76-year-old woman with a unilateral transfemoral amputation due to vascular disease carried a commercial GPS unit and step activity monitor to quantify her community mobility and social interaction every day over a period of 1 month. The step activity monitor was affixed to her prosthesis. The patient used a wheelchair as well as her prosthesis for everyday mobility.

Outcome

Information from the GPS unit and step activity monitor provided quantitative details on the patient's steps taken in and out of the home, wheelchair use, prosthesis use, driving trips, and time spent on social and community trips.

Discussion

This case report describes a potential clinical measurement procedure for quantifying community mobility and social interaction of an individual with lower limb amputation. Future efforts are needed to validate this measurement tool on large sample sizes and in individuals with different mobility levels. Additionally, automatization of data analysis and technological approaches to reduce compromised GPS signals may eventually lead to a practical, clinically useful tool.
Increasing the Clinical Utility of the BESTest, Mini-BESTest, and Brief-BESTest: Normative Values in Canadian Adults Who Are Healthy and Aged 50 Years or Older
Authors: O'Hoski Sachi , Winship Bonnie , Herridge Lauren , Agha Taimoor , Brooks Dina , Beauchamp Marla K. , Sibley Kathryn M.
Published: October 2013

Background

Balance is a composite ability requiring the integration of multiple systems. The Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest) and 2 abbreviated versions (the Mini-BESTest and the Brief-BESTest) are balance assessment tools that target these systems. To date, no normative data exist for any version of the BESTest.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to determine the age-related normative scores on the BESTest, Mini-BESTest, and Brief-BESTest for Canadians who are healthy and 50 to 89 years of age.

Design

A cross-sectional study design was used.

Methods

Seventy-nine adults who were healthy and aged 50 to 89 years (mean age=68.9 years; 50.6% women) participated. Normative scores were reported by age decade.

Results

Mean BESTest scores were 95.7 (95% confidence interval [CI]=94.4–97.1) for adults who were aged 50 to 59 years, 91.4 (95% CI=89.8–93.0) for those who were aged 60 to 69 years, 85.4 (95% CI=82.5–88.2) for those who were aged 70 to 79 years, and 79.4 (95% CI=74.3–84.5) for those who were aged 80 to 89 years. Similar results were obtained for the Mini-BESTest and the Brief-BESTest, and all 3 tests showed statistically significant differences in scores among the age cohorts.

Limitations

Because only adults who were 50 to 89 years of age were tested, there are still no normative data for people outside this age range. Also, the scores presented may not be generalizable to all countries.

Conclusions

These normative data enhance the clinical utility of the BESTest, Mini-BESTest, and Brief-BESTest by providing clinicians with reference points to guide treatment.
Health-Enhancing Physical Activity in Children With Cerebral Palsy: More of the Same Is Not Enough
Authors: Verschuren Olaf , Darrah Johanna , Novak Iona , Ketelaar Marjolijn , Wiart Lesley
Published: October 2013

Physical activity is important for young people's health. The emphasis over the last 2 decades has been on moderate to vigorous exercise when designing activity and exercise programs for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP). Emerging evidence suggests that sedentary behavior is distinctly different from a lack of moderate to vigorous physical activity and has independent and different physiological mechanisms. The concept of concurrently increasing moderate to vigorous physical activity and replacing sedentary behavior with light physical activity may be beneficial for children and adolescents with CP. This article is a summary of the evidence for what works and what does not work for improving the physical activity of children and adolescents with CP. It also discusses what is known about sedentary behavior of children and adolescents with CP and what research directions are needed to build foundational knowledge in this area with this population.
Autochthonous falciparum malaria possibly transmitted by luggage-carried vector in Paris, France, February 2013
Authors: Gallien S , Taieb F , Hamane S , De Castro N , Molina J M
Published: October 2013

We report a case of autochthonous falciparum malaria in a patient in Paris, France, in February 2013 who reported no recent travel to malaria-endemic countries. The parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, was possibly transmitted by an infective Anopheles mosquito carried in baggage from a malaria-endemic area.
Incubation period for campylobacteriosis and its importance in the estimation of incidence related to travel
Authors: Horn B J , Lake R J
Published: October 2013

Binary file ES_Abstracts_Final_ECDC.txt matches
Plasmodium knowlesi infection imported to Germany, January 2013
Authors: Orth H , Jensen B O , Holtfreter M C , Kocheril S J , Mallach S , MacKenzie C , Müller-Stöver I , Henrich B , Imwong M , White N J , Häussinger D , Richter J
Published: October 2013

Plasmodium knowlesi was known as a plasmodium of macaques until P. knowlesi transmission to humans was recognised in Borneo and later throughout South-East Asia. We describe here a case of a P. knowlesi infection imported to Germany from Thailand. The patient had not taken antimalarial chemoprophylaxis and suffered from daily fever attacks. Microscopy revealed trophozoites and gametocytes resembling P. malariae. P. knowlesi malaria was confirmed by PCR.
Lotus – A Source of Food and Medicine: Current Status and Future Perspectives in Context of the Seed Proteomics
Authors: Moro Carlo F , Yonekura Masami , Kouzuma Yoshiaki , Agrawal Ganesh K , Rakwal Randeep
Published: October 2013

Nelumbo nucifera (Gaertn.), commonly known as the lotus, is an aquatic plant native to India and presently consumed as food, mainly in China and Japan. In addition to its use as food, the lotus plant is also widely used in Indian and Chinese traditional medicine. Extracts from different parts of the lotus plant have been reported to show several biological activities, such as antioxidant, free radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory, and immuno-modulatory activities. Despite this, little work has been done in isolating and identifying the proteins responsible for these activities. To date, there is no report on systematic protein analysis of the lotus plant. In this review, we discuss the medicinal value of the lotus plant and reported works on its biological activities. We also present a proteomics approach for systematic investigation of the lotus seed proteome. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijls.v7i1.6394 International Journal of Life Sciences 7(1): 2013; 1-5
Grains Quality Characteristics of Local Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Cultivars Grown at Khartoum State, Sudan
Authors: Makawi Abubaker Bashir , Mahmood Mohamed Ishaq , Hassan Hayat Abdel Rahman , Ahmed Isam A. Mohamed
Published: October 2013

Three wheat cultivars, Elnelain, Nepta and Argeen were studied for their various quality and rheological characteristics compared with the Australian wheat flour (control). Physicochemical characteristics as well as farinograph, extensograph, gluten content, sedimentation value and bread quality were assessed. Significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) were found for hectoliter weight and 1000 kernel weight between the Australian and Sudanese wheat cultivars. However, Sudanese wheat flours had a lower wet gluten (22.7-28.9 g), sedimentation values (15-20 ml), water absorption(57.9-66.4%), dough development time(2.5-6.8 min), stability(1.5-7.9 min), resistance to extension(160-304 Bu), energy (62-80 cm2) and bread specific volume (3.06-3.40 cm3) compared to the Australian one. Nepta cultivars gave the best characteristics of farinograph, extensograph and the highest bread specific volume among Sudanese wheat investigated. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijls.v7i1.8061 International Journal of Life Sciences 7(1): 2013; 12-16
Depiction of masturbation in North American movies
Authors: Madanikia Yasaman , Bartholomew Kim , Cytrynbaum Joshua Benjamin
Published: October 2013

Although masturbation is one of the most common sexual behaviours, ambivalent cultural attitudes toward this behaviour persist. We examined how masturbation is portrayed in popular North American movies as a means of documenting current social norms regarding masturbation. The sample consisted of 44 movies from 2005 to 2010 in which a target character was shown masturbating. Coders assessed several aspects of these portrayals, including the positivity of the scene, initiating factors (e.g., watching pornography, boredom), and the outcome of the masturbation (e.g., interruption, sexual relief). As well, we explored potential gender differences in these portrayals. Masturbation was generally shown in a somewhat negative light, especially when engaged in by male characters. It was portrayed as a substitute for preferred partnered sex and as often leading to negative outcomes such as being caught or interrupted. The results suggest that movie portrayals of masturbation may reinforce misconceptions about masturbation and its outcomes.
Mindful sex
Authors: Brotto Lori A.
Published: October 2013

This commentary summarizes the evolution of the first empirically-studied mindfulness-based treatment of sexual dysfunction. Defined as present-moment, non-judgmental awareness, mindfulness skills have been incorporated into both individual and group treatment programs and found to be effective for significantly improving several domains of sexual response and decreasing sex-related distress. More recently, mindfulness has been used in the management of women with distressing genital pain. Although much remains to be studied in regards to the mechanisms by which mindfulness may be efficacious, and concerning the extent to which these skills may show parallel usefulness in the treatment of sexual dysfunction in men, there is certainly a growing momentum of both academic and clinical interest in mindful sex.
Differential pressure in shunt therapy: investigation of position-dependent intraperitoneal pressure in a porcine model
Authors: Freimann Florian Baptist , Ötvös Jens , Chopra Sascha Santosh , Vajkoczy Peter , Wolf Stefan , Sprung Christian
Published: October 2013

Object

The differential pressure between the intracranial and intraperitoneal cavities is essential for ventriculoperitoneal shunting. A determination of the pressure in both cavities is decisive for selecting the appropriate valve type and opening pressure. The intraperitoneal pressure (IPP)—in contrast to the intracranial pressure—still remains controversial with regard to its normal level and position dependency.

Methods

The authors used 6 female pigs for the experiments. Two transdermal telemetric pressure sensors (cranial and caudal) were implanted intraperitoneally with a craniocaudal distance of 30 cm. Direct IPP measurements were supplemented with noninvasive IPP measurements (intragastral and intravesical). The IPP was measured with the pigs in the supine (0°), 30°, 60°, and vertical (90°) body positions. After the pigs were euthanized, CT was used to determine the intraperitoneal probe position.

Results

With pigs in the supine position, the mean (± SD) IPP was 10.0 ± 3.5 cm H2O in a mean vertical distance of 4.5 ± 2.8 cm to the highest level of the peritoneum. The difference between the mean IPP of the cranially and the caudally implanted probes (Δ IPP) increased according to position, from 5.5 cm H2O in the 0° position to 11.5 cm H2O in the 30° position, 18.3 cm H2O in the 60° position, and 25.6 cm H2O in the vertical body position. The vertical distance between the probe tips (cranially implanted over caudally implanted) increased 3.4, 11.2, 19.3, and 22.3 cm for each of the 4 body positions, respectively. The mean difference between the Δ IPP and the vertical distance between both probe tips over all body positions was 1.7 cm H2O.

Conclusions

The IPP is subject to the position-dependent hydrostatic force. Normal IPP is able to reduce the differential pressure in patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunts.
Intracerebral foreign body granuloma caused by a resorbable plate with passive intraosseous translocation after cranioplasty
Authors: Katsuragi Yoko T. , Gomi Akira , Sunaga Ataru , Miyazaki Kunio , Kamochi Hideaki , Arai Fumihiro , Fukushima Noriyoshi , Sugawara Yasushi
Published: October 2013

Numerous reports have demonstrated the usefulness of bioresorbable materials, but few have described severe complications caused by delayed degradation. The authors present the case of an intracranial foreign body granuloma caused by plates made of unsintered hydroxyapatite (uHA) particles and poly-l-lactide (PLLA; Super Fixsorb MX, Takiron) after cranioplasty. This 1-month-old boy presented to the authors' department with Pfeiffer syndrome. He had multiple-suture synostosis causing turribrachycephaly, Chiari malformation Type 1, and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. At 6 months old, the child was treated with multidirectional cranial distraction osteogenesis. The uHA-PLLA plates were applied as base stones to reinforce the pins. After 16 days of distraction and 3 weeks of consolidation, the pins were removed. Seventeen months postoperatively, the plate on the right temporal bone showed passive intraosseous translocation (PIT), and by 2 years postoperatively, the plate was completely left behind in the cerebrum. At 3.5 years postoperatively, MRI disclosed a contrast-enhanced mass with surrounding brain edema at the site of the plate. The lesion was resected. The clinical history and histological specimens led to a diagnosis of foreign body granuloma surrounding the nonabsorbed resorbable plate in the dura mater. Resorbable plates are clearly useful resources in cases in which delayed absorption will not prove problematic, but careful application and follow-up is required when dealing with the growing skull given the possibility of intracranial displacement after PIT.
El elitismo criollista en la obra de José Lezama Lima
Authors: Benabdelouahed Saïd
Published: October 2013

L'oeuvre et la pensée de Lezama Lima contiennent des motifs et des stratégies esthétiques et idéologiques élitistes. Cette attitude inavouée se manifeste dans les jugements que l'auteur porte sur les éléments culturels, historiques et sociaux dans le cadre d'une recherche globale de la cubanité.
L'émergence d'une élite d'origine asiatique au Pérou
Authors: Lausent-Herrera Isabelle
Published: October 2013

Para los asiáticos del Perú, el siglo XX habrá sido el de un lento pero irresistible ascenso. Constituyen hoy una élite sólidamente instalada, siendo uno de sus símbolos y el símbolo de su reconocimiento el acceso de A. Fujimori a la presidencia del país.
Lourdes Espínola : Eros, mujer y poesía especular
Authors: Fernandes Carla
Published: October 2013

Algunas características teóricas, estéticas y estilísticas de la obra de Lourdes Espínola. Evolución de la poeta paraguaya hacia una forma de madurez conquistada a través de la elaboración cíe sus poemarios sucesivos. De lo femenino a lo universal.
Los puertos en la poesía de Alvaro Mutis
Authors: Rodríguez Amaya Fabio
Published: October 2013

RESUME : Le thème du port - entité physique du monde des marins - et du port relié à l'hôpital, dans les oeuvres poétiques complètes de Mutis apparaît traité, en premier lieu, à partir d'une rigoureuse lecture textuelle et, en second lieu, dans sa dimension métaphorique et symbolique. Ports et hôpitaux sont étroitement liés à un "seuil du voyage" physique et métaphysique de Maqroll, tantôt mentionnés ou évoqués, tantôt développés par le biais d'images à la forte charge expressive. Il s'agit d'un voyage où le corps et l'esprit se détériorent, s'usent, se rouillent et dont la destination finale est la mort.
Arrivées de vice-rois et événements royaux célébrés au Callao à l'époque coloniale
Authors: Périssat Karine
Published: October 2013

RESUMEN: Las festividades organizadas en el Callao muestran la ambigüedad de un puerto que, durante más de tres siglos, señoreó la economía de América del Sur y sirvió de punto de partida y de llegada en los intercambios con la Metrópoli. Esta ambigüedad se debea que Lima, si bien vivió orientada hacia el mar, no concedió sino un papel menor en los regocijos reales a un sitio que consideraba como una excrecencia suya y no como ciudad de pleno derecho.
Le Cotonnier à la Côte d'Ivoire.
Authors: Lucky R. H.
Published: October 2013

La Côte d'Ivoire est doublement fortunée d'avoir et un coton dont la valeur marchande suit de près celle des « Upland » américains, et un personnel administratif qui, agissant sous l'impulsion donnée par son Gouverneur M. Lapalud, s'intéresse à fond à l'avenir cotonnier de la Colonie. Ces deux facteurs permettent de prédire d'ores et déjà le succès du développement de la culture de cet important textile dans la plus riche des Colonies de l'A. O. F.
Elevational patterns of genetic variation in the cosmopolitan mossBryum argenteum(Bryaceae)
Authors: Pisa Sergio , Werner Olaf , Vanderpoorten Alain , Magdy Mahmoud , Ros Rosa M.
Published: October 2013

•Premise of the study:The Baas Becking tenet posits that ‘everything is everywhere, but the environment selects’ to explain cosmopolitan distributions in highly vagile taxa. Bryophyte species show wider distributions than vascular plants and include examples of truly cosmopolitan ranges, which have been interpreted as a result of high dispersal capacities and ecological plasticity. In the current study, we documented patterns of genetic structure and diversity in the cosmopolitan mossBryum argenteumalong an elevational gradient to determine if genetic diversity and structure is homogenized by intense migrations in the lack of ecological differentiation.

•Methods:60 specimens were collected in the Sierra Nevada Mountains (Spain) between 100 and 2870 m and sequenced for ITS andrps4. Comparative analyses, genetic diversity estimators, and Mantel's tests were employed to determine the relationship between genetic variation, elevation, and geographic distance and to look for signs of demographic shifts.

•Key results:Genetic diversity peaked above 1900 m and no signs of demographic shifts were detected at any elevation. There was a strong phylogenetic component in elevational variation. Genetic variation was significantly correlated with elevation, but not with geographic distance.

•Conclusions:The results point to the long‐term persistence ofBryum argenteumin a range that was glaciated during the Late Pleistocene. Evidence for an environmentally driven pattern of genetic differentiation suggests adaptive divergence. This supports the Baas Becking tenet and indicates that ecological specialization might play a key role in explaining patterns of genetic structure in cosmopolitan mosses.
Exon‐primed intron‐crossing (EPIC) markers for evolutionary studies of Ficus and other taxa in the fig family (Moraceae)
Authors: Yao Xiaohong , Li Chenhong , Dick Christopher W.
Published: October 2013

• Premise of the study: The genus Ficus (fig trees) comprises ca. 750 species of trees, vines, and stranglers found in tropical forests throughout the world. Fig trees are keystone species in many tropical forests, and their relationship with host‐specific wasp pollinators has received much attention, although many questions remain unresolved regarding the levels of host specificity, cospeciation, and the role of hybridization in fig and wasp speciation. We developed exon‐primed intron‐crossing (EPIC) markers to obtain phylogenetic resolution needed to address these questions.

• Methods and Results: Expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from F. elastica were compared to Arabidopsis and Populus genomes to locate introns and to design primers in flanking exons. Primer pairs for 80 EPIC markers were tested in samples from divergent clades within Ficus and the outgroup Poulsenia (Moraceae).

• Conclusions: Thirty‐one EPIC markers were successfully sequenced across Ficus, and 29 of the markers also amplified in Poulsenia, indicating broad transferability within Moraceae. All of the EPIC markers were polymorphic and showed levels of polymorphism similar to that of the widely used internal transcribed spacer (ITS).
Microflow photochemistry: UVC-induced [2 + 2]-photoadditions to furanone in a microcapillary reactor
Authors: Bachollet Sylvestre , Terao Kimitada , Aida Shin , Nishiyama Yasuhiro , Kakiuchi Kiyomi , Oelgemöller Michael
Published: October 2013

[2 + 2]-Cycloadditions of cyclopentene and 2,3-dimethylbut-2-ene to furanone were investigated under continuous-flow conditions. Irradiations were conducted in a FEP-microcapillary module which was placed in a Rayonet chamber photoreactor equipped with low wattage UVC-lamps. Conversion rates and isolated yields were compared to analogue batch reactions in a quartz test tube. In all cases examined, the microcapillary reactor furnished faster conversions and improved product qualities.