bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The DQB1(*)03:02 HLA haplotype is associated with increased risk of chronic pain after inguinal hernia surgery and lumbar disc herniation
Authors: Dominguez C.A. , Kalliomäki M. , Gunnarsson U. , Moen A. , Sandblom G. , Kockum I. , Lavant E. , Olsson T. , Nyberg F. , Rygh L.J. , Røe C. , Gjerstad J. , Gordh T. , Piehl F.
Published: October 2013

Neuropathic pain conditions are common after nerve injuries and are suggested to be regulated in part by genetic factors. We have previously demonstrated a strong genetic influence of the rat major histocompatibility complex on development of neuropathic pain behavior after peripheral nerve injury. In order to study if the corresponding human leukocyte antigen complex (HLA) also influences susceptibility to pain, we performed an association study in patients that had undergone surgery for inguinal hernia (n = 189). One group had developed a chronic pain state following the surgical procedure, while the control group had undergone the same type of operation, without any persistent pain. HLA DRB1genotyping revealed a significantly increased proportion of patients in the pain group carrying DRB1(*)04 compared to patients in the pain-free group. Additional typing of the DQB1 gene further strengthened the association; carriers of the DQB1(*)03:02 allele together with DRB1(*)04 displayed an increased risk of postsurgery pain with an odds risk of 3.16 (1.61-6.22) compared to noncarriers. This finding was subsequently replicated in the clinical material of patients with lumbar disc herniation (n = 258), where carriers of the DQB1(*)03:02 allele displayed a slower recovery and increased pain. In conclusion, we here for the first time demonstrate that there is an HLA-dependent risk of developing pain after surgery or lumbar disc herniation; mediated by the DRB1(*)04-DQB1(*)03:02 haplotype. Further experimental and clinical studies are needed to fine-map the HLA effect and to address underlying mechanisms.
On the pharmacological effects of two lidocaine concentrations tested on spontaneous and evoked pain in human painful neuroma: A new clinical model of neuropathic pain
Authors: Miclescu Adriana , Hägglöf Björn , Schmelz Martin , Gordh Torsten
Published: October 2013

Aims

Spontaneous and evoked pains are key symptoms of patients with neuropathic pain and there is a current discussion on the predictive value of evoked pain read outs for the reduction of spontaneous pain. Here we describe a new clinical model of neuropathic pain that may be useful for evaluation of new drugs. We also report the effects of lidocaine in this model as reference values.

Methods

In a randomized double-blind experiment, the analgesic effects of local lidocaine were investigated separately for spontaneous pain and for stimulus-evoked allodynia and hyperalgesia in sixteen patients with painful neuromas after traumatic nerve injuries in the upper extremities. The patterns of sensory changes were compared before and after treatment with lidocaine (0.1% or 0.5%, 1 ml), with 1–2 weeks interval, injected close to the neuroma. Spontaneous and evoked pains were assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and quantitative/qualitative sensory testing.

Results

Lidocaine dose-dependently reduced spontaneous and evoked pain scores by more than 90% with maximum effects between 1 and 5 min for evoked pain and between 3 and 15 min for spontaneous pain. While evoked pain normalized rapidly reaching about 50% of the control level 20 minutes after the injection spontaneous pain levels were lower than 25% at this time. Moreover, in 4 patients the reduction of ongoing pain lasted 24 h whereas evoked pain had returned to baseline levels in all the patients after 1 h.

Conclusion

Differential analgesic effects of local lidocaine on spontaneous and evoked pain suggest that different mechanism underlie these two key clinical symptoms. Thus, clinical trials assessing localized traumatic neuropathic pain should investigate both aspects of pain separately with the proposed model allowing testing of new drugs systemically or locally administered.
The mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist spironolactone enhances morphine antinociception
Authors: Jokinen Viljami , Lilius Tuomas O. , Neuvonen Mikko S. , Väänänen Antti J. , Niemi Mikko O. , Rauhala Pekka V. , Kalso Eija A.
Published: October 2013

Aims

Spironolactone, an antimineralocorticoid, has been reported to potentiate the cataleptic effect of morphine in the rat. Since no previous research exists on the matter and the interaction might be clinically significant, the effects of spironolactone on morphine antinociception and pharmacokinetics in the rat were investigated.

Methods

Male SD rats were used to assess the effects of spironolactone on acute morphine-induced antinociception, development of morphine tolerance, and established morphine tolerance in the tail-flick and hot plate tests. Spironolactone was also administered with loperamide to assess whether spironolactone enhances the brain distribution of the acknowledged P-glycoprotein substrate across the blood-brain barrier.

Results

Spironolactone had no antinociceptive effects of its own but when co-administrated with morphine the antinociceptive effect of morphine was greatly enhanced. Morphine concentrations in the brain were increased fourfold in the spironolactone co-administrated group. Spironolactone did not inhibit the formation of pro-nociceptive morphine-3-glucuronide, nor did inhibit the development of tolerance. The peripherally restricted opioid, loperamide, had no antinociceptive effects by itself, but co-administration with spironolactone produced a clear change in the hot plate test.

Conclusions

Although mineralocorticoids have been proposed to take part in pain signaling, in our setting spironolactone did not have antinociceptive properties of its own. The increased antinociceptive effect of morphine is apparently caused by the increased morphine brain concentrations. We suggest this to be due to P-glycoprotein inhibition, as indicated by the loperamide assay. The clinical relevance of P-glycoprotein inhibition by spironolactone should be studied.
Expression of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II in dorsal root ganglia in diabetic rats 6 months and 1 year after diabetes induction
Authors: Ferhatovic L. , Jelicic A. , Boric M. , Banozic A. , Sapunar D. , Puljak L.
Published: October 2013

Aim

The aim of this study was to compare expression of total calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (tCaMKII) and its α, β, γ and δ isoforms in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) in rat models of diabetes mellitus type I (DM1), 6 months and 1 year after diabetes induction.

Methods

A total of 45 male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 160-200 g were assigned into four experimental groups: 6-months DM1 and its control group, 1-year and its control group. For the induction of DM1, after overnight fasting animals were injected intraperitonealy with 55 mg/kg of the streptozotocine (STZ). Rats were sacrificed 6 months and 1 year after the diabetes induction. The L4 and L5 ganglions were removed, fixed, embedded in freezing medium and sectioned on a cryostat. Immunofluorescence analysis was performed for detection of tCaMKII and its α, β, γ and δ isoforms. Image J software was used for analysis of immunofluorescence.

Results

The diabetes was successfully induced as confirmed by measurement of glucose levels and weight increase. Analysis of tCaMKII expression in DRGs revealed no differences between DM1 and control animals after 6 and 12 months. In diabetic animals, the expression of α and β isoforms decreased significantly after 6 months, compared to the controls, while decrease of γ and δ was observed after one year of diabetes in diabetic animals.

Conclusions

The observed changes in the expression of CaMKII isoforms reveal plastic changes of this enzyme during the chronic diabetic state and may be involved in the chronic neuropathic pain development.
Pronociceptive effects of a TRPA1 channel agonist methylglyoxal in healthy control and diabetic animals
Authors: Viisanen Hanna , Lasierra Maria , Wei Hong , Koivisto Ari , Åkerman Karl E. , Pertovaara Antti
Published: October 2013

Aims

Methylglyoxal (MG), a reactive carbonyl compound generated in diabetes mellitus (DM), activates the TRPA1 ion channel. Here we studied whether MG induces mechanical hypersensitivity or ongoing pain and whether the pronociceptive effect of MG is changed following its sustained endogenous release in DM.

Methods

DM was induced by streptozotocin (50-60 mg/kg i.p.) in the rat. MG and Chembridge-5861528 (CHEM), a selective TRPA1 channel antagonist, were administered intraplantarly (i.pl.) in control and diabetic animals. Limb withdrawal to monofilaments was used as an index of hypersensitivity, and observation of sustained pain-like behavior and conditioned place-avoidance test were used to assess ongoing pain. In vitro calcium imaging was used to study whether MG induces sustained activation of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons of diabetic as well as control animals.

Results

MG produced mechanical hypersensitivity and ongoing pain behavior in control animals, which effects were reduced in diabetic animals. CHEM treatment at a dose suppressing the MG-induced mechanical hypersensitivity failed to suppress the MG-induced ongoing pain behavior. MG was able to produce sustained calcium inflow in DRG neurons of DM as well as control animals.

Conclusions

The results suggest that MG induces hypersensitivity and ongoing pain that are reduced in diabetes mellitus, possibly due to changes caused by the DM-induced sustained endogenous release of MG. Moreover, the MG-induced mechanical hypersensitivity can be more effectively reversed by a TRPA1 antagonist than the MG-induced ongoing pain behavior.
Human inducible pluripotent stem cell-derived sensory neurons express multiple functional ion channels and GPCRs
Authors: Saarnilehto M. , Pekkanen-Mattila M. , Aalto-Setälä K. , Silvennoinen O. , Koivisto A.
Published: October 2013

Aims

Aim of the study was to characterize functional ion channel and GPCR responses by using selective pharmacological tools and intracellular calcium imaging from human inducible pluripotent stem cell-derived sensory neurons.

Methods

Sensory neurons were generated from human keratinocytes that were reprogrammed to inducible pluripotent stem cells by using standard Yamanaka factors. Inducible pluripotent stem cells were differentiated into sensory neurons by using 2 differentiation protocols (small molecule and PA6 co-culture). Sensory neurons were loaded with intracellular calcium dye Fluo-4. Single-cell calcium imaging was performed with Photometrics Evolve EM-CCD camera at physiological temperature. Cells were perfused with a Ringer solution at 2–3 ml/min into which pharmacological compounds were dissolved. Data was analyzed with Till Photonics Offline Analysis program.

Results

Most of the results were obtained from PA6 differentiated neurons. 50 s application of 50 mM KCl solution was used as diagnostic tool to activate voltage-gated calcium channels and thereby evoke intracellular calcium elevation. Functional ASIC, NMDA, kainate and TRPA1 ion channels were present in a subset of sensory neurons. Majority of sensory neurons showed robust responses to purinergic stimulation with ATP and histaminergic stimulation with histamine, but not to subtype selective histamine H1, H2 or H4 stimulation suggesting the presence of H3 receptor subtype All cells responded strongly to protease-activated receptor stimulation with a low dose of trypsin. Interestingly, at single-cell level notable heterogeneity of ion channel and GPCR responses was observed.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that iPS-derived sensory neurons will be valuable in further pharmacological studies as well as sensory neuropathy disease modeling.
Patient satisfaction with psychiatric outpatient care in a university hospital setting
Authors: Lally John , Byrne Fintan , McGuire Eimear , McDonald Colm
Published: October 2013

Objectives

To measure patient satisfaction with psychiatric outpatient care in a university hospital setting. We wished to ascertain whether there was an association between increased patient satisfaction and background factors such as demographic details, diagnosis and patient preference for outpatient treatment in a hospital or a community setting.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional survey of individuals’ satisfaction levels with their outpatient treatment. Outpatients were invited to complete the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 (CSQ-8), a well validated self-report instrument, along with some additional questions on their attitudes to the service.

Results

One hundred and sixty-two respondents had a mean total CSQ-8 score of 26.7 (s.d. = 4.6) indicating a moderate to high level of satisfaction with outpatient care. Ninety percent of patients were satisfied with their psychiatric outpatient care. There were no significant sociodemographic or clinical associations with satisfaction levels identified. Sixty one percent of patients were in favour of retaining outpatient care in the university hospital.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates high satisfaction levels with psychiatric outpatient care in a university hospital setting. The majority of patients expressed a preference for maintaining outpatient care in the general hospital setting, rather than transferring to a stand-alone mental health facility in a suburban setting.
A short historical review of SCNP with special reference to the UKU
Authors: Bech Per , Ban Thomas A.
Published: October 2013

Objective

To give a review of the history of SCNP since the first meeting in 1960 with specific focus on UKU.

Methods

Consulting the appropriate minutes from the meetings.

Results

One of the major goals of the SCNP was the standardization of clinical trials with psychotropic drugs. In 1969, the SCNP established a Committee for Clinical Investigations (UKU) with the representation of clinical investigators and the drug industry; moreover, during the 1970s and ’80s, the UKU initiated clinical trialsand contributed to the methodology of clinical investigations with psychotropic drugs. With the decrease in governmental funding and increasing influence of the US Food and Drug Administration on themethodology of clinical investigations around the world in the 1990s, the UKU was dissolved. The changes had a detrimental effect on the developments on the methodology of clinical investigations, and the lack of clinical feedback led to an impasse in psychotropic drug development with some pharmaceutical companies abandoning research in the central nervous system area.

Conclusion

It is suggested that a revival of UKU to provide a platform for dialogue among government, industry, and academia could help break the impasse.
Transforming Identities – New Approaches to Bronze Age Deposition in Ireland
Authors: Becker Katharina
Published: October 2013

This paper explores the interpretation of the deposition of artefacts in Ireland from c. 2500 to c. 800bc, combining a contextual analysis with post-processual ideas about materiality, artefacts, and their biographies. Hoards, single and burial finds are shown to be complementary strands of the depositional record and the result of deliberate deposition. It is argued that both the symbolic value of these items as well as economic and practical rationales determine the depositional mode. The paper attempts to infer social practices and rules that determined the differential treatment of materials and object types. The main structuring factor in the depositional record is the type-specific meanings of individual artefacts, which embody social identities beyond the utilitarian function of the object. The act of deposition facilitates and legitimates the literal and symbolic transformation of artefacts and the concepts they embody. The need for a separation between ritual and profane interpretation is removed, as deposition is understood as the reflection of prehistoric concepts rather than labelled according to modern notions of functionality. It is also argued that both dry and wet places are meaningful contexts and that different forms of wet landscapes were conceptualised differently
Acoustic, perceptual and aerodynamic voice evaluation in an obese population
Authors: Celebi S , Yelken K , Develioglu O N , Topak M , Celik O , Ipek H D , Kulekci M
Published: October 2013

Objective:

To investigate perceptual, acoustic and aerodynamic voice parameters in obese individuals.

Methods:

Twenty obese and 20 normal-weight volunteers underwent voice evaluation by laryngoscopy, acoustic analysis, aerodynamic measurement and perceptual analysis (using the grade-roughness-breathiness-asthenia-strain (‘GRBAS') scale and the Voice Handicap Index 10 scale). Data from both subject groups were compared.

Results:

No difference was found in acoustic analysis parameters between the two groups (p > 0.05). Maximum phonation time in the obese group (mean ± standard deviation, 19.6 ± 4.9 seconds) was significantly shorter than in controls (26.4 ± 4.1 seconds) (p < 0.001), although the s/z ratio was very similar between the two groups. In the obese and control groups, the mean ± standard deviation grade-roughness-breathiness-asthenia-strain scores were 1 ± 1.3 and 0.2 ± 0.6 (p = 0.002) and the mean ± standard deviation Voice Handicap Index 10 scores were 0.5 ± 1.2 and 1.2 ± 1.7 (p = 0.27), respectively.

Conclusion:

Obese individuals had poorer vocal quality as judged by the grade-roughness-breathiness-asthenia-strain scale, and reduced maximum phonation time. However, there was no change in voice quality as assessed by acoustic analysis and Vocal Handicap Index 10 score, compared with controls.
Role of neck dissection for metastatic nonseminomatous testicular carcinoma: case report and literature review
Authors: O'Connor A , Dias A , Timon C
Published: October 2013

Objectives:

To review the incidence, treatment and prognosis of testicular carcinoma metastatic to the neck, and to propose a selective neck dissection be performed for residual disease post-chemotherapy.

Case report:

A 17-year-old young man with metastatic testicular carcinoma presented with a left neck mass. A palpable neck mass is the initial sign in approximately 5 per cent of cases of metastatic testicular teratoma. Approximately 30 per cent of patients with advanced-stage testicular cancer have extra-retroperitoneal disease post-chemotherapy, which requires resection. The presented patient underwent a left selective neck dissection, thymectomy, median sternotomy, left thoracotomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection. Eighteen months later, a computed tomography scan of the thorax showed no evidence of disease recurrence in the neck or mediastinum.

Conclusion:

While surgical management of testicular cancer retroperitoneal metastases is well described, there is limited literature on the management of cervical lymph node metastases. In the presented case of metastatic testicular carcinoma with cervical lymph node metastases, a selective neck dissection was successfully performed for a post-chemotherapy mass.
Post-aural ache: an unusual presentation of a metastatic temporal bone lesion from a primary adenocarcinoma of the lung
Authors: Thirunavukarasu V , Carter T , Dezso A , Holland C
Published: October 2013

Objective:

We report a rare case of temporal bone metastasis from a lung primary, presenting only as post-aural tenderness.

Case report:

A 57-year-old man presented to our out-patient department with left post-aural pain of four months' duration. Clinical examination revealed tenderness in the left post-aural region; the ear, nose and throat examination was otherwise unremarkable. Computed tomography and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging showed erosion of the left petrous temporal bone. Incisional biopsy was carried out. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis showed infiltrative metastatic adenocarcinoma of the lung. Further imaging with positron emission tomography confirmed increased uptake from the right lower lobe of the lung, suggesting the site of the primary lesion. The patient was treated with chemo-radiotherapy.

Conclusion:

Post-aural pain is a non-specific symptom, and, with normal clinical and audiometric test results, rare lesions such as the one presented could be easily missed. A thorough clinical examination must be performed to identify genuine signs, and appropriate imaging undertaken to exclude rare causes, such as this metastatic lesion of the temporal bone.
Defective object clitic paradigms and the relation between language development and loss
Authors: PAOLI SANDRA
Published: October 2013

Through an investigation of morphologically defective pronominal object paradigms in a number of northern Italian dialects, this article offers a reflection on the relation between the development and the loss of linguistic items based on the reconstruction of the possible diachronic path that has led to the current situation. The paper sets out to achieve two objectives. First, it presents a detailed description of the peculiarities of the object clitic paradigm in the northern Italian dialects and places them within the wider Romance context. Secondly, it discusses and evaluates the way the processes of emergence and loss of linguistic items relate to one another, with specific reference to what appears to be a more general hierarchy operative in languages, the Referential Hierarchy (Silverstein 1976, Comrie 1981, and many others).
Macroinfaunal recovery on the beach most severely affected by the ‘Prestige’ oil spill (O Rostro, Galicia, north-west Spain)
Authors: Junoy J. , Castellanos C. , Bernardo-Madrid R. , Riera R. , Viéitez J.M.
Published: October 2013

Exposed sandy beaches are widespread coastal habitats with temporal and spatial variability. O Rostro beach (Galicia, north-west Spain) was the most severely affected beach in the ‘Prestige’ oil spill (November 2002). Monitoring sampling was conducted to study macroinfaunal composition and structure after the oil spill episode. The purpose of this survey was to characterize macroinfaunal variations on the beach over a yearly scale (2003–2007) and determine the recovery period. These data are compared with the only available data collected before the spill (1995). Two zones where identified with different recovery trends: (1) supralittoral, occupied either by talitrid amphipods, oniscoidean isopods and insects; and (2) intertidal, where marine crustaceans prevailed. Beach morphodynamics partially buried the oil, which gradually reappeared and was dragged to the coast. Negative ecological effects were observed in the short term (six months after the 2002 spill) but macroinfauna apparently recovered in the following years (2004–2007), showing that macroinfaunal assemblages of this beach are resilient enough to recover after severe stress.
Respect for the Moral Law: the Emotional Side of Reason
Authors: DeWitt Janelle
Published: October 2013

Respect, as Kant describes it, has a duality of nature that seems to embody a contradiction – i.e., it is both a moral motive and a feeling, where these are thought to be mutually exclusive. Most solutions involve eliminating one of the two natures, but unfortunately, this also destroys what is unique about respect. So instead, I question the non-cognitive theory of emotion giving rise to the contradiction. In its place, I develop the cognitive theory implicit in Kant's work, one in which emotions take the form of evaluative judgments that determine the will. I then show that, as a purely rational emotion, respect is perfectly suited to be a moral motive.
Human Agency, Reasons, and Inter-subjective Understanding
Authors: Hasselberger William
Published: October 2013

In this essay I ague that the mainstream ‘Standard Story’ of action – according to which actions are bodily motions with the right internal mental states as their causal triggers (e.g., ‘belief-desire-pairs’, ‘intentions’) – gives rise to a deeply problematic conception of inter-subjective action-understanding. For the Standard Story, since motivating reasons are internal mental states and bodily motions are not intrinsically intentional, an observer mustascribeinternal states to others to make rational sense of their outwardly observable bodily motions. I argue this is both phenomenologically distorted and requires, on pain of infinite regress, a deeper, non-inferential, practical-perceptual form of understanding: ‘knowledge-how’, in a broadly Rylean sense. Recognizing the irreducible role of practical-perceptual knowledge-how in inter-subjective understanding, I argue, undermines core assumptions of the Standard Story concerning what an agent can directly perceive in interacting with others, and how our everyday practices of explaining actions with reasons function – and this opens the space for a radically opposed alternative view of inter-subjective action understanding.
CONVENTIONAL EXPRESSIONS
Authors: Edmonds Amanda
Published: October 2013

Conventional expressions, a subset of multiword units, are the target of the current study, which aims to address questions concerning native and nonnative speakers’ knowledge and processing of a set of such strings. To this end, 13 expressions identified as conventional in the southwest of France were tested in an online contextualized naturalness judgment task, which was administered to 20 French natives, 20 long-stay (i.e., >1 year in the southwest of France) Anglophone nonnative speakers of French, and 20 short-stay (i.e., 4–6 months in the same region) Anglophones. The naturalness judgments provided by the participants revealed that all groups judged the conventional expressions similarly and significantly differently from the matched conditions, which involved grammatical but not conventional strings. The reaction time results suggested that conventional expressions have a mental correlate for both natives and nonnatives, although the processing patterns recorded differed for the two groups. The reaction time results are argued to be most consistent with a pragmatic competence model of conventional expression processing.
Genotyping of Giardia isolates in Scotland: a descriptive epidemiological study
Authors: ALEXANDER C. , JONES B. , INVERARITY D. , POLLOCK K. G. J.
Published: October 2013

Giardiasis, caused by the intestinal protozoan parasite Giardia intestinalis (synonyms: G. lamblia, G. duodenalis), is one of the most frequent parasites to infect the Scottish population. Transmission of the infective cysts in faecal matter is commonly via food and/or water. Giardia is subdivided into assemblages, where clinical and epidemiological differences have been described between assemblages A and B. This snapshot descriptive epidemiological study examines 30 positive cases of Giardia of which 72% (n = 21) were shown to be assemblage A, 14% (n = 4) assemblage B and 10% (n = 3) mixed assemblages (A and B). There was a 2:3 female:male ratio of affected individuals with foreign travel recorded in 22 of these cases. The commonest symptom was diarrhoea which was reported in 80% of cases followed by tiredness. Five cases required hospitalization emphasizing the importance of gaining a greater understanding of how Giardia assemblages influence clinical outcomes to assist in formulating guidelines to manage potential Giardia outbreaks.
Holt–Oram syndrome with aortopulmonary window – a rare association
Authors: Srinivas Sunil K. , Balekundri Vijayalakshmi I. , Manjunath Cholenahally N.
Published: October 2013

A 4-month-old male infant presented with recurrent cough for 2 months. He had a shortened right upper limb with absent right thumb and continuous murmur in the left parasternal area. The X-ray showed an absent radius and the first metacarpal and phalyngeal bones on the right side. Echocardiogram revealed aortopulmonary window and small secundum atrial septal defect. Aortopulmonary window was successfully treated by device closure. Holt–Oram syndrome with aortopulmonary window is an extremely rare association.
A frequency questionnaire to estimate free-living physical activity among Tunisian preadolescent and adolescent children
Authors: Ben Gharbia Houda , Gartner Agnès , Traissac Pierre , Delpeuch Francis , Maire Bernard , El Ati Jalila
Published: October 2013

Objective

To develop a child- and adolescent-appropriate physical activity frequency questionnaire (PAFQ) in Tunisia, North Africa.

Design

A PAFQ was developed from a physical activity (PA) inventory that comprised major activity components (at home, preparing meals, school time, transport, non-sport leisure, sports, prayer and sleeping time). Then, type and duration of each activity undertaken during the past week were estimated. Total energy expenditure (TEE) estimated by the PAFQ was compared with data derived from two criterion methods: heart-rate monitoring (HRM) and a 24 h PA recall (24h-R), both collected during a 3 d period including one weekday and two weekend days.

Setting

Two elementary schools and two high schools of the most developed and urbanized area, Greater Tunis.

Subjects

One hundred and forty-two volunteer children and adolescents aged 10–19 years.

Results

The PAFQ strongly was correlated with both HRM (r= 0·70; 95 % CI 0·62, 0·76) and 24h-R (r= 0·81; 95 % CI 0·77, 0·84). It featured acceptable agreement with both criterion measures, slightly underestimating TEE compared with 24h-R (−2·8 %, mean of individual differences −272·7 kJ/d; 95 % CI −490·6, −57·4 kJ/d) and moderately overestimating it compared with HRM (+11·3 %, mean of individual differences +1106·2 kJ/d; 95 % CI 845·8, 1366·6 kJ/d). Reliability ranged from moderate to good (weighted kappa coefficients from 0·47 to 0·78 and intra-class correlation coefficients between 0·79 and 0·86 for energy expenditure by PA categories), indicating strong agreement between the two assessments.

Conclusions

This PAFQ could be useful in the description and surveillance of PA patterns or for the evaluation of population-based interventions directed at promoting PA in Tunisian children and adolescents.
Ionic Liquids as Floatation Media for Cryo-Ultramicrotomy of Soft Polymeric Materials
Authors: Kim Paul , David Emeric , Raboin Louis , Ribbe Alexander E. , Russell Thomas P. , Hoagland David A.
Published: October 2013

Ionic liquids (ILs) and their mixtures with low molecular solvents present ideal properties for use as flotation liquids in cryo-ultramicrotomy. With control of Tg and η by co-solvent addition, flat, ultra-thin sections are reliably floated onto transmission electron microscopy grids even at temperatures as low as −100°C. Even more, the liquids and their mixtures are stable in the microtome trough for several hours because of low vapor pressure and low solidification temperature. Compared to established flotation media for soft polymer systems, the time and skill needed for cryo-ultramicrotomy are significantly reduced. Although just a handful of ILs are discussed and a good general choice identified, if different liquid characteristics are needed for a particular sample, thousands of additional ILs will perform similarly, giving this new approach enormous flexibility.
Advocacy in Pain Management: The Role of the Anaesthetic Nurse Specialist
Authors: McLean G. , Martin D. , Cousley A. , Hoy L.
Published: October 2013

Peri-operative nursing practice is constantly changing and demanding specialist knowledge, skills and expertise to embrace these changes. All patients in need of anaesthesia are entitled to the same high quality peri-operative care and therefore those assisting the anaesthetist must be competent and effective practitioners. With this in mind the authors shall give a reflective account highlighting the role of Anaesthetic Nurse Specialist (ANS) in promoting leadership within the peri-operative environment and how it can be nurtured and facilitated to achieve professional autonomy and promote patient advocacy.
HnRNP L and hnRNP LL antagonistically modulate PTB-mediated splicing suppression of CHRNA1 pre-mRNA
Authors: Rahman Mohammad Alinoor , Masuda Akio , Ohe Kenji , Ito Mikako , Hutchinson David O. , Mayeda Akila , Engel Andrew G. , Ohno Kinji
Published: October 2013

CHRNA1 gene, encoding the muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha subunit, harbors an inframe exon P3A. Inclusion of exon P3A disables assembly of the acetylcholine receptor subunits. A single nucleotide mutation in exon P3A identified in congenital myasthenic syndrome causes exclusive inclusion of exon P3A. The mutation gains a de novo binding affinity for a splicing enhancing RNA-binding protein, hnRNP LL and displaces binding of a splicing suppressing RNA-binding protein, hnRNP L. The hnRNP L binds to another splicing repressor PTB through the proline-rich region and promotes PTB binding to the polypyrimidine tract upstream of exon P3A, whereas hnRNP LL lacking the proline-rich region cannot bind to PTB. Interaction of hnRNP L with PTB inhibits association of U2AF65 and U1 snRNP with the upstream and downstream of P3A, respectively, which causes a defect in exon P3A definition. HnRNP L and hnRNP LL thus antagonistically modulate PTB-mediated splicing suppression of exon P3A.
Development of a multiplexed electrospray micro-thruster with post-acceleration and beam containment
Authors: Lenguito G. , Gomez A.
Published: October 2013

We report the development of a compact thruster based on Multiplexed ElectroSprays (MES). It relied on a microfabricated Si array of emitters coupled with an extractor electrode and an accelerator electrode. The accelerator stage was introduced for two purposes: containing beam opening and avoiding electrode erosion due to droplet impingement, as well as boosting specific impulse and thrust. Multiplexing is generally necessary as a thrust multiplier to reach eventually the level required (O(102) μN) by small satellites. To facilitate system optimization and debugging, we focused on a 7-nozzle MES device and compared its performance to that of a single emitter. To ensure uniformity of operation of all nozzles their hydraulic impedance was augmented by packing them with micrometer-size beads. Two propellants were tested: a solution of 21.5% methyl ammonium formate in formamide and the better performing pure ionic liquid ethyl ammonium nitrate (EAN). The 7-MES device spraying EAN at ΔV = 5.93 kV covered a specific impulse range from 620 s to 1900 s and a thrust range from 0.6 μN to 5.4 μN, at 62% efficiency. Remarkably, less than 1% of the beam was demonstrated to impact on the accelerator electrode, which bodes well for long-term applications in space.
The magnetic P-T phase diagram of langasite Ba3TaFe3Si2O14 at high hydrostatic pressures up to 38 GPa
Authors: Gavriliuk A. G. , Lyubutin I. S. , Starchikov S. S. , Mironovich A. A. , Ovchinnikov S. G. , Trojan I. A. , Xiao Yuming , Chow Paul , Sinogeikin S. V. , Struzhkin V. V.
Published: October 2013

The langasite-type crystals with 3d ions are considered as a class of multiferroics in which ferroelectricity can be induced by the magnetic ordering. In this paper, the high-pressure magnetic states of the langasite-type powdered sample Ba3TaFe3Si2O14 have been investigated in a diamond anvil cell by the nuclear forward scattering of synchrotron radiation technique at different temperatures in hydrostatic conditions. In the pressure range of 0 < P < 19.5 GPa, an increase of the Neel temperature TN from 27 to 41 K was observed in the antiferromagnetic phase of the material. At pressures ∼19.5 GPa, a transition to another magnetic phase with huge increase in the Neel temperature to ∼120 K was found. We attribute this change to the structural transition at ∼19.5 GPa which is evidenced by a drastic change of Raman spectra at this pressure. A tentative magnetic P-T phase diagram of Ba3TaFe3Si2O14 is proposed.
Electronic transitions in liquid amides studied by using attenuated total reflection far-ultraviolet spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations
Authors: Morisawa Yusuke , Yasunaga Manaka , Fukuda Ryoichi , Ehara Masahiro , Ozaki Yukihiro
Published: October 2013

Attenuated total reflection far-ultraviolet (ATR-FUV) spectra in the 140–260 nm region were measured for several types of liquid amides (formamide, FA; N-methylformamide, NMF; N-methylacetamide, NMA; N,N-dimethylformamide, NdMF; and N,N-dimethylacetamide, NdMA) to investigate their electronic transitions in the FUV region. The spectra were compared with the corresponding gas-phase spectra to examine the shift in the major absorption band in the 180–200 nm region going from the gas phase to the liquid phase, and it was found that the peak shift was dependent on the particular amide. FA and NMF, which exhibit intermolecular C=O…H–N hydrogen bonding, show a large shift of ∼0.60 eV to lower energy; however, NMA, which also exhibits hydrogen bonding, shows only a small shift. In NdMF and NdMA, C=O groups seem to be coupled, which results in a small peak shift. Two types of quantum chemical calculations, time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) and symmetry-adapted-cluster configuration interaction (SAC-CI) method, were performed to elucidate the origin of the shifts and the band assignments. The shift estimated by the monomer and dimer models with TD-DFT reproduced well the observed shift from the gas phase to the liquid phase. This suggests that the intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interaction significantly affects the magnitude of the shift. The many-body effects were also considered using the larger cluster models (trimer to pentamer). The energy shift calculated using SAC-CI with the monomer and the state-specific polarizable continuum model was also accurate, indicating that the nonlinear polarization effect appears to be important. As for the band assignments, it was found that though the major band can be mainly attributed to the π-π* transition, several types of Rydberg transitions also exist in its vicinity and mixing of orbitals with the same symmetry occurs. The number and type of Rydberg transitions in the spectra depend upon the type of amide molecules. The valence-Rydberg coupling of the π-π* transition is more significant than n-π* transition, which also holds in the pure liquid phase.
A microwave metamaterial with integrated power harvesting functionality
Authors: Hawkes Allen M. , Katko Alexander R. , Cummer Steven A.
Published: October 2013

We present the design and experimental implementation of a power harvesting metamaterial. A maximum of 36.8% of the incident power from a 900 MHz signal is experimentally rectified by an array of metamaterial unit cells. We demonstrate that the maximum harvested power occurs for a resistive load close to 70 Ω in both simulation and experiment. The power harvesting metamaterial is an example of a functional metamaterial that may be suitable for a wide variety of applications that require power delivery to any active components integrated into the metamaterial.
Single-mode subwavelength waveguides with wire metamaterials
Authors: Belov Pavel A. , Dubrovka Rostyslav , Iorsh Ivan , Yagupov Ilya , Kivshar Yuri S.
Published: October 2013

We study the guided modes of a slab of wire metamaterial and reveal that such a structure supports deep-subwavelength propagating modes exhibiting the properties of single-mode waveguides at any fixed frequency below the plasma frequency of metal wires. We compare our analytical results with the dispersion relations extracted from the experimental measurements.
Vacancy compensation and related donor-acceptor pair recombination in bulk AlN
Authors: Gaddy Benjamin E. , Bryan Zachary , Bryan Isaac , Kirste Ronny , Xie Jinqiao , Dalmau Rafael , Moody Baxter , Kumagai Yoshinao , Nagashima Toru , Kubota Yuki , Kinoshita Toru , Koukitu Akinori , Sitar Zlatko , Collazo Ramón , Irving Douglas L.
Published: October 2013

A prominent 2.8 eV emission peak is identified in bulk AlN substrates grown by physical vapor transport. This peak is shown to be related to the carbon concentration in the samples. Density functional theory calculations predict that this emission is caused by a donor-acceptor pair (DAP) recombination between substitutional carbon on the nitrogen site and a nitrogen vacancy. Photoluminescence and photoluminescence-excitation spectroscopy are used to confirm the model and indicate the DAP character of the emission. The interaction between defects provides a pathway to creating ultraviolet-transparent AlN substrates for optoelectronics applications.
Ferroelectric dipole electrets for output power enhancement in electrostatic vibration energy harvesters
Authors: Asanuma Haruhiko , Oguchi Hiroyuki , Hara Motoaki , Yoshida Ryo , Kuwano Hiroki
Published: October 2013

We propose a ferroelectric dipole electret composed of polarized lead zirconate titanate. Deep insight into the physics behind the parallel plate capacitor theoretically predicts that we can extract large electric field near the surface of the ferroelectric dipole electret by increasing its surface charge density and thickness. Experiment for ferroelectric dipole electret shows good agreement with the theory. The maximum output power density of electrostatic vibration energy harvesters using the ferroelectric dipole electret was 78 μW/cm3, a three-fold increase over a conventional polymer electret. Our results will pave the way for use of ferroelectrics as electrets.
On-chip non-reciprocal optical devices based on quantum inspired photonic lattices
Authors: El-Ganainy R. , Eisfeld A. , Levy Miguel , Christodoulides D. N.
Published: October 2013

We propose integrated optical structures that can be used as isolators and polarization splitters based on engineered photonic lattices. Starting from optical waveguide arrays that mimic Fock space (quantum state with a well-defined particle number) representation of a non-interacting two-site Bose Hubbard Hamiltonian, we show that introducing magneto-optic nonreciprocity to these structures leads to a superior optical isolation performance. In the forward propagation direction, an input TM polarized beam experiences a perfect state transfer between the input and output waveguide channels while surface Bloch oscillations block the backward transmission between the same ports. Our analysis indicates a large isolation ratio of 75 dB after a propagation distance of 8 mm inside seven coupled waveguides. Moreover, we demonstrate that, a judicious choice of the nonreciprocity in this same geometry can lead to perfect polarization splitting.
Trap characterization of silicon nitride thin films by a modified trap spectroscopy technique
Authors: Midya Kousik , Dhar Subhabrata , Kottantharayil Anil
Published: October 2013

Energy levels of traps in silicon nitride are determined using a modified trap spectroscopy method, based on filling of traps using electrical stress followed by optical detrapping, in a metal–silicon nitride–silicon structure. Indium tin oxide with 84% transmittance is used as transparent electrode. Photon energy dependent shift in the flat band voltage is used to estimate type and energetic position of the traps. Here, we report detection of two prominent hole trap levels at 0.5 and 1.1 eV above the valance band edge. The study suggests that phonons hardly participate in the detrapping process of holes in Si3N4.
Structural and magnetic properties of Cr-diluted CoFeB
Authors: Cui Yishen , Ding Manli , Joseph Poon S. , Paul Adl T. , Keshavarz S. , Mewes Tim , Wolf Stuart A. , Lu Jiwei
Published: October 2013

The crystallization process and the magnetization of Cr diluted CoFeB were investigated in both ribbon samples and thin film samples with Cr content up to 30 at. %. A primary crystallization of bcc phase from an amorphous precursor in ribbon samples was observed when the annealing temperature rose between 421 °C and 456 °C, followed by boron segregation at temperatures between 518 °C and 573 °C. The two onset crystallization temperatures showed strong dependences on both Cr and B concentrations. The impact of Cr concentration on the magnetic properties including a reduced saturation magnetization and an enhanced coercive field was also observed. The magnetizations of both ribbon samples and thin film samples were well fitted using the generalized Slater-Pauling curve with modified moments for B (−0.94 μB) and Cr (−3.6 μB). Possible origins of the enhanced coercive field were also discussed. We also achieved a damping parameter in CoFeCrB thin films at the same level as Co40Fe40B20, much lower than the value reported for CoFeCrB films previously. The results suggest a possible advantage of CoFeCrB in reducing the critical switching current density in Spin Transfer Torque Random Access Memory.
Liquid-bridging in particle self-assemblies toward constructing periodic nano-mesh structures and nano-dot arrays
Authors: Chul Park Seung , Lee In-Ho , Na Jun-Hee , Lee Sin-Doo
Published: October 2013

We demonstrate a simple generic principle of constructing periodic nano-mesh structures and nano-dot arrays by liquid-bridging in particle self-assemblies. A self-assembly of nano- to micro-sized spheres of polystyrene, produced in a close-packed monolayer on a substrate by a convective method, is used as a template for liquid-bridging of a functional fluid in the pores among the neighboring particles. After the solidification of the fluid, followed by the detachment of the particles from the substrate, a periodic mesh structure is directly obtained. Moreover, deposition of a desired substance onto such mesh structure made of a sacrificial material, which is subsequently removable through a lift-off process, enables to produce a periodic dot array of the substance. Depending on the size of the particle and the nature of liquid bridging in the particle assembly, a variety of nano-mesh structures of silver-ink and nano-dot arrays of gold are constructed. This simple liquid bridging-based methodology is easily applicable for different classes of functional fluids such as soluble organic semiconductors.
Nanowire-integrated microporous silicon membrane for continuous fluid transport in micro cooling device
Authors: So Hongyun , Cheng Jim C. , Pisano Albert P.
Published: October 2013

We report an efficient passive micro pump system combining the physical properties of nanowires and micropores. This nanowire-integrated microporous silicon membrane was created to feed coolant continuously onto the surface of the wick in a micro cooling device to ensure it remains hydrated and in case of dryout, allow for regeneration of the system. The membrane was fabricated by photoelectrochemical etching to form micropores followed by hydrothermal growth of nanowires. This study shows a promising approach to address thermal management challenges for next generation electronic devices with absence of external power.
Leakage current in quantum-cascade lasers through interface roughness scattering
Authors: Flores Y. V. , Kurlov S. S. , Elagin M. , Semtsiv M. P. , Masselink W. T.
Published: October 2013

The impact of interface roughness (IFR)-scattering on the quantum efficiency of quantum-cascade lasers (QCLs) is demonstrated and analyzed both experimentally and theoretically. An InGaAs/InAlAs strain-compensated QCL emitting at λ ∼ 5.4 μm is analyzed in pulsed mode at liquid nitrogen temperatures. Measurements of the differential slope efficiency as a function of laser resonator length allow the pumping efficiency to be measured as a function of electron temperature. Excellent agreement is obtained when comparing the data to a calculation of the leakage current into higher-lying states via IFR-scattering, providing evidence of the importance of IFR-scattering on the QCLs quantum efficiency.
Transiently suppressed relaxations in metallic glass
Authors: Jiao W. , Wen P. , Bai H. Y. , Kong Q. P. , Wang W. H.
Published: October 2013

We show suppressed relaxation behavior and an apparent hardening effect under repeated loading in metallic glasses through cyclically tensile stress relaxation experiments. The effects are attributed to the gradual exhaustion of deformation units via activation energy spectra analysis. We find the suppression is partly alleviated and rapidly saturates with increasing the time interval between the cyclic loadings, reflecting the observed phenomena are associated with the un-recovered activated deformation units. These results may shine light on the long-standing issues such as the fatigue damage, cyclic hardening, and the deformation mechanism of metallic glasses.