bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Restoration of Dopamine Signaling to the Dorsal Striatum Is Sufficient for Aspects of Active Maternal Behavior in Female Mice
Authors: Henschen Charles W. , Palmiter Richard D. , Darvas Martin
Published: August 2013

Striatal dopamine (DA) is important for motivated behaviors, including maternal behavior. Recent evidence linking the dorsal striatum with goal-directed behavior suggests that DA signaling in the dorsal striatum, not just the nucleus accumbens, could be involved in maternal behavior. To investigate this question, we tested the maternal behavior of mice with DA genetically restricted to the dorsal striatum. These mice had a mild deficit in pup retrieval but had normal licking/grooming and nursing behavior; consequently, pups were weaned successfully. We also tested a separate group of mice with severely depleted DA in all striatal areas. They had severe deficits in pup retrieval and licking/grooming behavior, whereas nursing behavior was left intact; again, pups survived to weaning at normal rates. We conclude that DA signaling in the striatum is a part of the circuitry mediating maternal behavior and is specifically relevant for active, but not passive, maternal behaviors. In addition, DA in the dorsal striatum is sufficient to allow for active maternal behavior.
The “Any Typist” Myth: Narratives of Gender and Skill in the Mid-Twentieth-Century Printing Trades
Authors: Burke Bridget
Published: August 2013

The career of Rhoda Hils, a teletypist who crossed picket lines, appealed for union membership, and wrote for Editor and Publisher, demonstrates the ways in which conflicts based on gender, technology, and union principles played out in the International Typographical Union (ITU) in the mid-twentieth century. In this article, Bridget Burke explores the impact of new printing technologies and changes in the workforce and emphasizes the movement of female office workers into the trade through the introduction of teletypesetting machinery. She examines the reactions of union officers, trade publications, and workers on the floor who saw these changes as either threats to their autonomy or, conversely, as opportunities to challenge union control. As the percentage of women in the trade increased, strategies of inclusion and exclusion practiced by the ITU, the labor union that represented journeymen printers, determined the fate of both male union printers and the female typists who challenged their livelihoods. These strategies are well documented in the ITU “rat file” from this period, which tracks individual nonunion workers engaged in strike-breaking activities. The narratives of the membership appeal process document how nonunion workers engaged with the ITU. Finally, the trade publications of the printing industry chronicle the marketing and implementation of teletype installations and presented arguments about speed and efficiency that conflicted with the ITU's definitions of competency.
Swimming by medusae Sarsia tubulosa in the viscous vortex ring limit
Authors: Katija Kakani , Jiang Houshuo
Published: August 2013

Lay Abstract

As organisms swim in their natural environment, they are constantly striving to successfully forage, escape from predation, and search for mates to reproduce. At some stage in their life cycle, most organisms in the ocean have operated in environments where the Reynolds number (Re) is small and have developed strategies and behaviors to overcome the effects of viscosity. Relatively little is known about these animal‐fluid interactions at relatively small (Re > 1), viscous size scales. We combine high‐speed kinematic and velocity field measurements of 1‐mm velar‐diameter, jet‐propelled medusae, Sarsia tubulosa, and apply rigorous criteria to identify an analytical model that best describes the hydrodynamic signals created during swimming. We found that the hydrodynamic signature of a jet‐propelled medusa at relatively small size scales is best described by an impulsive Stokeslet, which has important ecological implications for the ambush‐feeding predator.
Annealing to sequences within the primer binding site loop promotes an HIV-1 RNA conformation favoring RNA dimerization and packaging
Authors: Seif Elias , Niu Meijuan , Kleiman Lawrence
Published: August 2013

The 5′ untranslated region (5′ UTR) of HIV-1 genomic RNA (gRNA) includes structural elements that regulate reverse transcription, transcription, translation, tRNALys3 annealing to the gRNA, and gRNA dimerization and packaging into viruses. It has been reported that gRNA dimerization and packaging are regulated by changes in the conformation of the 5′-UTR RNA. In this study, we show that annealing of tRNALys3 or a DNA oligomer complementary to sequences within the primer binding site (PBS) loop of the 5′ UTR enhances its dimerization in vitro. Structural analysis of the 5′-UTR RNA using selective 2′-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension (SHAPE) shows that the annealing promotes a conformational change of the 5′ UTR that has been previously reported to favor gRNA dimerization and packaging into virus. The model predicted by SHAPE analysis is supported by antisense experiments designed to test which annealed sequences will promote or inhibit gRNA dimerization. Based on reports showing that the gRNA dimerization favors its incorporation into viruses, we tested the ability of a mutant gRNA unable to anneal to tRNALys3 to be incorporated into virions. We found a ∼60% decrease in mutant gRNA packaging compared with wild-type gRNA. Together, these data further support a model for viral assembly in which the initial annealing of tRNALys3 to gRNA is cytoplasmic, which in turn aids in the promotion of gRNA dimerization and its incorporation into virions.
Fecal transplantation does not transfer either susceptibility or resistance to food borne listeriosis in C57BL/6 and BALB/c/By mice
Authors: Myers-Morales Tanya , Bussell Kate M , D'Orazio Sarah EF
Published: August 2013

The composition of the intestinal microbiota has wide reaching effects on the health of an individual, including the development of protective innate immune responses.  In this report, a fecal transplantation approach was used to determine whether resistance to food borne listeriosis was dependent on the murine gut microbiota.  Transplantation of BALB/c/By feces did not increase the susceptibility of C57BL/6 mice toListeria monocytogenesinfection.   Likewise, transplantation of C57BL/6 fecal matter did not enhance the resistance of BALB/c/By mice.  Thus, intestinal microbiota composition is not a key factor that confers either susceptibility or resistance to food borne listeriosis in mice.
Optimal Pricing, Production, and Inventory for New Product Diffusion Under Supply Constraints
Authors: Shen Wenjing , Duenyas Izak , Kapuscinski Roman
Published: August 2013

Management of new product introductions is critical for nearly all firms, and one of its most important dimensions is the management of demand during the introduction. Research analyzing this area predominantly uses versions of the diffusion model to capture the demand trajectory of a new product with a fixed potential market. The classic Bass model assumes that demand for innovative products is influenced both by “external” media influence and “internal” word-of-mouth effect, but it excludes price and assumes that capacity is unlimited. In reality, both factors critically influence firms' strategies. Price fluctuations for a new product are common, and price is often a critical lever that helps to shape the demand. Also, firms often have significant capacity constraints, which influence the feasibility of their strategies. In this paper, we consider how a capacity-constrained firm prices products during new product introductions. Thus, the demand rate is influenced by price and, when capacity is insufficient, we allow some customers to be either lost or backlogged, which slows down the word-of-mouth effect. To understand the effect of both pricing and capacity, we consider the integrated optimal pricing, production, and inventory decisions, using control-theory framework (a generalization of the classic Bass model). Most of our results are fairly robust and apply under the assumption of lost sales and partial backlogging, as well as make-to-order and make-to-stock environments. We show that in most cases, the optimal trajectory of demand is unimodal, as in the Bass model, but the optimal price trajectory and the corresponding pricing policy are more complicated when capacity is limited. Using a numerical study, we explore when pricing flexibility is most valuable and whether simple pricing policies may be effective. We find that benefits of pricing flexibility are highest when capacity is neither unlimited (very large) nor very small and when word-of-mouth effect dominates direct impact from media. The ability to adjust prices is significantly more important than the option of producing in advance and holding inventory. We also find that simple pricing policies, appropriately chosen for given capacity, perform very well. In a numerical study, we show that demand uncertainty and increases in capacity over time do not affect our main insights.
Diagnosing Diabetes Mellitus: Performance of Hemoglobin A1c Point-of-Care Instruments in General Practice Offices
Authors: Sølvik Una Ørvim , Røraas Thomas , Christensen Nina Gade , Sandberg Sverre
Published: August 2013

BACKGROUND

Hemoglobin A1c (Hb A1c) measurement by hospital laboratory instruments, but not by point-of-care (POC) instruments, has been recommended for use to diagnose diabetes mellitus. We evaluated results from 13 Hb A1c external quality assurance (EQA) surveys over a 6-year period in Norway, from both POC instruments used in general practice (GP) offices and instruments in hospital laboratories, against the analytical quality specifications recommended for use of Hb A1c to diagnose diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

All GP offices (n = 1288) and hospital laboratories (n = 52) measuring Hb A1c in Norway participated in the EQA survey. The percentage of participants that performed measurements within the quality specifications was calculated. Pooled within-laboratory CVs were estimated for the Afinion, DCA 2000, DCA 2000+, DCA VantageTM, and Nycocard Hb A1c Reader instruments and for hospital laboratory instruments.

RESULTS

Between 60% to 90% of Afinion and DCA users and hospital laboratories performed Hb A1c measurements within the quality specifications for both trueness (6.0%) and imprecision (CV ≤2.0%) at 2 levels in each EQA survey. The pooled within-laboratory CVs for the Afinion and DCA instruments and hospital laboratories were below the recommended limit of 2.0% for most of the surveys.

CONCLUSIONS

A large proportion of GP offices using Afinion and DCA POC instruments to measure Hb A1c fulfill the analytical quality specifications for diagnosing diabetes mellitus, and these instruments demonstrate analytical quality comparable to that of hospital laboratory instruments. When GP offices participate in a stringent quality assurance program and generate Hb A1c measurements that meet analytical quality specifications, these measurements can be recommended for use to diagnose diabetes mellitus.
„… da Mittel zur Anschaffung von Büchern überhaupt nicht zur Verfügung stehen.“
Authors: Butte Sandra , Wiederkehr Stefan
Published: August 2013

Die Berliner Akademiebibliothek führt seit 2012 systematische Recherchen nach NS-Raubgut in ihren Beständen durch. Der Beitrag gibt einen Überblick über die Projektziele und vorläufige Ergebnisse. In der Akademiebibliothek, deren Bestände u. a. aufgrund fehlender Erwerbungsmittel bis 1945 nur langsam, ab 1950 aber sehr schnell anwuchsen, überwiegt „sekundäres Raubgut“. Bei 2.079 Zugängen bis zum Erwerbungsjahr 1956 besteht ein Raubgutverdacht im engeren Sinne.
Die Vermittlung von Recherchekompetenzen in Online-Tutorials
Authors: Schröder Nadine
Published: August 2013

Der vorliegende Beitrag

Bei dem vorliegendem Text handelt es sich in wesentlichen Teilen um eine überarbeitete und gekürzte Fassung der Bachelorarbeit der Verfasserin, die diese im Sommersemester 2011 an der Fachhochschule Köln vorgelegt hat. Schröder, Nadine: Die Vermittlung von Recherchekompetenzen in Online-Tutorials. 2011. http://www.fbi.fh-koeln.de/institut/papers/kabi/volltexte/band060.pdf (22.02.2013).

beschäftigt sich mit Recherchekompetenzen von Studierenden und der Vermittlung der betreffenden Kenntnisse und Fähigkeiten in Online-Tutorials als einer Methode der Vermittlung von Informationskompetenz. Eine Analyse ausgewählter bibliothekarischer Online-Tutorials untersucht, inwieweit die Inhalte in Bezug auf die Informationsbedürfnisse der Studierenden berücksichtigt und didaktisch aufbereitet werden.
Aktuelle Entwicklungen an den österreichischen Bibliotheken 2012Der folgende Beitrag bietet einen Überblick über Projekte und Initiativen, die 2012 das österreichische Bibliothekswesen geprägt haben. Der Autor ist Leiter der Universitätsbibliothek der Medizinischen Universität Wien, der größten medizinischen Fachbibliothek in Österreich, Vorsitzender des Forums Universitätsbibliotheken Österreichs (ubifo) und Mitglied der AG Strategische Planung im Österreichischen Bibliothekenverbund, des Open Access Netzwerk Österreich (OANA), des Fachnormenausschusses Bibliotheks-, Archiv-, Dokumentations- Informationswesen und optische Speichersysteme (FNA 069 BADOS), von Bibliotheken Archive Museen (BAM) Österreich sowie des Präsidiums der Vereinigung Österreichischer Bibliothekarinnen und Bibliothekare (VÖB).
Authors: Bauer Bruno
Published: August 2013

Im vorliegenden Beitrag wird über aktuelle Probleme und Trends im österreichischen Bibliothekswesen im Jahr 2012 berichtet. Vorgestellt werden Verbundaktivitäten und Kooperationsprojekte österreichischer Bibliotheken, aktuelle Projekte der Österreichischen Nationalbibliothek und des Forums Universitätsbibliotheken Österreichs. Angesprochen werden auch Themen wie Open Access, NS-Provenienzforschung, Ausbildung im Bibliotheks-, Dokumentations- und Informationswesen, Tagungen und Publikationen der Bibliotheksverbände sowie Bibliotheks- und Informationspolitik in Österreich.
Birkhoff matrices, residues and rigidity for q-difference equations
Authors: Roques Julien
Published: August 2013

We introduce and give numerical characterizations of two notions of rigidity for a class of regular singular q-difference equations. A special attention is devoted to the generalized q-hypergeometric equations: we show their rigidity and we proceed with a detailed “monodromic” study of these equations.
Finite time blow-up for semilinear wave equations with variable coefficients
Authors: Han Wei
Published: August 2013

This paper is devoted to studying initial value problems for
semilinear wave equations with variable coefficients with subcritical
exponents for n (n ≥ 1) space dimensions. We prove that
solutions to a certain kind of subcritical wave equations cannot be
global if the initial values are positive somewhere and nonnegative
no matter how small the initial data are, and also we give the sharp
lifespan estimate of solutions for the problems. This solves a part
of the famous Strauss' conjecture about semilinear wave equations in
the case of subcritical exponents and variable coefficients Cauchy
problems.
Correction to
A common generalization of metric,
ultrametric and topological fixed point theorems
[Forum Math. 27 (2015), 303–327]
Authors: Kuhlmann Katarzyna , Kuhlmann Franz-Viktor
Published: August 2013

Corrections to http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/forum-2012-0060.
Muslim Revival in Tatarstan
Authors: Karimova Liliya
Published: August 2013

This article examines post-Soviet Muslim revival among the Volga Tatars, historically Sunni (Hanafi) Muslims, in the central Russian Republic of Tatarstan. Drawing on ethnographic research among practicing Muslim Tatar women and discourse analysis of their piety stories, I argue that at the heart of the revival is the Tatars’ debate over the extent and nature of Islam that should be part of Tatar identity. In this debate, sources of Islamic knowledge and physical manifestations of Muslim piety function as the primary, if inaccurate, indicators of one’s Muslim identity. I conclude that practicing Muslim Tatars are aware of the role their religious education and physical practices play in others’ (often stereotypical) perceptions of them, and they deal with such perceptions by (re)negotiating their religious identities in personal narratives.
The Guide after Rumi
Authors: Gatling Benjamin
Published: August 2013

This article interrogates discourses on the nature of the Islamic revival in Central Asia by ethnographically examining notions of “tradition” and traditionality in the performance of Sufi ritual in contemporary Tajikistan. It discusses the social work of ritual in constructing and maintaining Sufi tradition in one Tajik Sufi brotherhood and uses this case study to consider the contours of religious revivalism and “newfound” Islamic religiosity in Tajikistan. This paper highlights the active processes of traditionalization at work in Tajik Sufism and the authority-lending and pedagogical capacities of nascent religious discourse.
Suboptimal effect of different vitamin D3 supplementations and doses adapted to baseline serum 25(OH)D on achieved 25(OH)D levels in patients with a recent fracture: a prospective observational study
Authors: Shab-Bidar Sakineh , Bours Sandrine P G , Geusens Piet P M M , van der Velde Robert Y , Janssen Marcel J W , van den Bergh Joop P W
Published: August 2013

Objective

Guidelines on the need for dose adaptation of vitamin D3 supplementation according to baseline serum 25(OH)D are inconclusive. The effects of increasing doses of vitamin D3 at lower baseline serum 25(OH)D values on the serum 25(OH)D after 4.2 and 11 months were determined in an observational study.

Design

A prospective observational study.

Methods

Out of 1481 consecutive women and men with a recent clinical fracture, 707 had a baseline 25(OH)D level <50 nmol/l and were supplemented with increasing doses of vitamin D3 (400, 800, 1700, and ≥3500 IU/day) according to the lower baseline 25(OH)D. Final analysis was restricted to the 221 participants who had full follow-up data available for 11 months.

Results

Serum 25(OH)D ≥50 nmol/l was achieved in 57–76% of patients after 4.2 months and in 73–79% after 11 months. These percentages were similar for all doses (P=0.06 andP=0.91 respectively). The mean achieved 25(OH)D was similar for all dose groups (56.1–64.0 nmol/l after 4.2 months and 60.2–76.3 nmol/l after 11 months). With multivariate analysis, the increase in 25(OH)D (17±32.0 after 4.2 months and 24.3±34.0 nmol/l after 11 months) was dependent on the baseline 25(OH)D (P<0.001), not on supplementation dose, season, age, BMI, or gender.

Conclusions

The increase in serum 25(OH)D was significantly larger with higher vitamin D3 supplementation doses. However, this dose–effect response was mainly explained by the baseline 25(OH)D, not the supplementation dose, with a greater magnitude of response at lower baseline 25(OH)D concentrations. In 21–27% of patients, serum 25(OH)D3 levels did not reach 50 nmol/l after 11 months, at any dose. Further studies are needed to identify possible causes of suboptimal response such as non-compliance, undiagnosed malabsorption syndromes, or variability in cholecalciferol content of the vitamin D supplements.
Cafeteria diet inhibits insulin clearance by reduced insulin-degrading enzyme expression and mRNA splicing
Authors: Brandimarti P , Costa-Júnior J M , Ferreira S M , Protzek A O , Santos G J , Carneiro E M , Boschero A C , Rezende L F
Published: August 2013

Insulin clearance plays a major role in glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity in physiological and/or pathological conditions, such as obesity-induced type 2 diabetes as well as diet-induced obesity. The aim of the present work was to evaluate cafeteria diet-induced obesity-induced changes in insulin clearance and to explain the mechanisms underlying these possible changes. Female Swiss mice were fed either a standard chow diet (CTL) or a cafeteria diet (CAF) for 8 weeks, after which we performed glucose tolerance tests, insulin tolerance tests, insulin dynamics, and insulin clearance tests. We then isolated pancreatic islets for ex vivo glucose-stimulated insulin secretion as well as liver, gastrocnemius, visceral adipose tissue, and hypothalamus for subsequent protein analysis by western blot and determination of mRNA levels by real-time RT-PCR. The cafeteria diet induced insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and increased insulin secretion and total insulin content. More importantly, mice that were fed a cafeteria diet demonstrated reduced insulin clearance and decay rate as well as reduced insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) protein and mRNA levels in liver and skeletal muscle compared with the control animals. Furthermore, the cafeteria diet reduced IDE expression and alternative splicing in the liver and skeletal muscle of mice. In conclusion, a cafeteria diet impairs glucose homeostasis by reducing insulin sensitivity, but it also reduces insulin clearance by reducing IDE expression and alternative splicing in mouse liver; however, whether this mechanism contributes to the glucose intolerance or helps to ameliorate it remains unclear.
Cartilage to bone transitions in health and disease
Authors: Staines K A , Pollard A S , McGonnell I M , Farquharson C , Pitsillides A A
Published: August 2013

Aberrant redeployment of the ‘transient’ events responsible for bone development and postnatal longitudinal growth has been reported in some diseases in what is otherwise inherently ‘stable’ cartilage. Lessons may be learnt from the molecular mechanisms underpinning transient chondrocyte differentiation and function, and their application may better identify disease aetiology. Here, we review the current evidence supporting this possibility. We firstly outline endochondral ossification and the cellular and physiological mechanisms by which it is controlled in the postnatal growth plate. We then compare the biology of these transient cartilaginous structures to the inherently stable articular cartilage. Finally, we highlight specific scenarios in which the redeployment of these embryonic processes may contribute to disease development, with the foresight that deciphering those mechanisms regulating pathological changes and loss of cartilage stability will aid future research into effective disease-modifying therapies.
Plasticity of basal cells during postnatal development in the rat epididymis
Authors: Shum Winnie W C , Hill Eric , Brown Dennis , Breton Sylvie
Published: August 2013

Our previous study has shown that basal cells sense luminal factors by forming a narrow body projection that can cross epithelial tight junctions. As a first step toward characterizing the structural plasticity of basal cells, in this study, we followed their appearance and morphology in the rat epididymis and vas deferens (VD) during postnatal development and examined their modulation by androgens in adulthood. Immunofluorescence labeling for cytokeratin 5 showed that basal cells are absent at birth. They progressively appear in a retrograde manner from the VD and cauda epididymis to the initial segments during the postnatal weeks PNW1–3. At the onset of differentiation, basal cells are in contact with the lumen and their nucleus is located at the same level as that of adjacent epithelial cells. Basal cells then position their nucleus to the base of the epithelium, and while some are still in contact with the lumen, others have a ‘dome-shaped’ appearance. At PNW5–6, basal cells form a loose network at the base of the epithelium, and luminal-reaching basal cells are rarely detected. The arrival of spermatozoa during PNW7–8 did not trigger the development of projections in basal cells. However, cells with a narrow luminal-reaching projection began to reappear between PNW8 and PNW12 in the corpus and the cauda. Treatment with flutamide from PNW10 to PNW12 significantly reduced the number of luminal-reaching basal cell projections. In summary, basal cells exhibit significant structural plasticity during differentiation. Fewer apical-reaching projections were detected after flutamide treatment in adulthood, indicating the role of androgens in the luminal-sensing function of basal cells.
Device Size for Transcatheter Closure of Ovoid Interatrial Septal Defect
Authors: Cho Eun Hyun , Song Jinyoung , Choi Eun Young , Lee Sang Yoon
Published: August 2013

Background: For successful transcatheter closure of an atrial septal defect with the Amplatzer septal occluder, the shape of the defect should be considered before selecting the device size. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of transcatheter closure of an ovoid atrial septal defect.

Methods: Between January 2010 and February 2012, cardiac computer tomography examinations were performed in 78 patients who subsequently underwent transcatheter closure of an atrial septal defect. In this retrospective study, we reviewed these patients' medical records. We defined an ovoid atrial septal defect as a value of 0.75 for the ratio of the shortest diameter of the defect to the longest diameter, as measured in a computed tomography image. Transthoracic echocardiography examinations were made at 1 day and 6 months after the procedure.

Results: Transcatheter closure of an atrial septal defect was successful in 26 patients in the ovoid-defect group and in 52 patients in the round-defect group. There were no serious complications in either group, and the rate of complete closure at 6 months was 92.3% in the ovoid-defect group and 93.1% in the round-defect group (P > .05). The mean (SD) difference between the device size and the defect's longest diameter, and the mean ratio of the device size to the longest diameter were significantly smaller in the ovoid-defect group (1.7 � 2.9 versus 3.8 � 2.5 and 1.1 � 0.1 versus 1.3 � 0.2, respectively).

Conclusions: Transcatheter closure of an atrial septal defect is indicated even for an ovoid atrial septal defect. Ovoid atrial septal defects can be closed successfully with smaller sizes of the Amplatzer septal occluder than for round atrial septal defects.
Does Oral Hygiene Trigger Carotid Artery Intima-Media Thickness?
Authors: Uyar Ihsan Sami , Sahin Veysel , Akpinar Mehmet Besir , Abacilar Feyzi , Okur Faik Fevzi , Ozdemir Ugur , Ates Mehmet , Yasa Elif Filiz
Published: August 2013

Background and Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether poor oral hygiene is associated with the intima-media thickness of the carotid arteries, which is one of the predictors of future progression of subclinical atherosclerosis.

Methods: We selected 108 patients during periodontal examinations according to their oral hygiene. The patients had no history of atherosclerotic disease. The results of carotid artery B-mode ultrasonography examinations were analyzed at baseline and after a mean of 7.8 months. Patients were scored on the DMFT index for the number of decayed (D), missing (M), and filled (F) teeth (T). We also used the Silness-Loe plaque index (SLI) to evaluate oral hygiene and dental plaque. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to DMFT and SLI criteria. Group I had a DMFT index of 0 to 3 and an SLI score of 0 or 1; group II had a DMFT index of 4 to 28 and an SLI score of 2 or 3.

Results: Dental status and oral hygiene were significantly associated with carotid artery intima-media thickness. Patients with increasing DMFT and SLI indices were correlated with intima-media thickness of the carotid artery.

Conclusions: Chronic poor oral hygiene and tooth loss are related to subclinical atherosclerotic changes in the carotid arteries and might be indicative of future progression of atherosclerosis.
Successful Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis-Related Fulminant Myocarditis Using Extracorporeal Life Support
Authors: Mohite Prashant N. , Zych Bartlomiej , Popov Aron F. , Banner Nicholas R. , Simon Andre R.
Published: August 2013

Myocarditis is a known extraintestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel diseases, but it rarely leads to acute cardiac pump failure. We report a case of fulminant myocarditis associated with ulcerative colitis treated successfully with an extracorporeal membrane oxygenator.
Coronary Artery Occlusion after Cardiac Transplantation
Authors: Ghodsizad Ali , Koerner Michael , Karck Matthias , Ruhparwar Arjang
Published: August 2013

Five months after undergoing orthotopic cardiac transplantation,
a 62-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with
chest pain and shortness of breath. A well-demarcated foreign
body was apparent in the chest radiograph, on the left side of
the chest. An examination revealed no abnormal findings and
no signs of chest trauma.
A Case Series of a Hybrid Approach to Aortic Arch Disease
Authors: Michler Robert E. , Lipsitz Evan , Neragi-Miandoab Siyamek
Published: August 2013

Objective: Debranching of the aortic arch and endovascular stent placement as a combination therapy for complex aortic arch pathology has emerged over the past few years as an alternative to traditional repair. This hybrid approach is a viable option for patients who would not tolerate conventional arch replacement, as well as for patients with a failed stent graft of the descending aorta and a subsequent type I endoleak.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the preoperative characteristics and postoperative outcomes of 5 patients who underwent debranching of the aortic arch and implantation of an endovascular stent across the aortic arch between 2008 and 2011. Data were analyzed with the Student t test and the Kaplan-Meyer method.

Results: The mean age was 70.6 � 18 years; 4 men and 1 woman were evaluated. One patient had previous aortic surgery for dissection. The preoperative morbidities included arrhythmia (1 patient), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2 patients), cerebrovascular accident (1 patient), diabetes mellitus (2 patients), coronary artery disease (2 patients), and active angina (1 patient). One patient had a myocardial infarction 3 weeks before surgery. The primary technical-success rate was 100%, and none of the patients died in the perioperative phase. The mean follow-up time was 22 � 18.4 months, and the median follow-up time was 13.8 months (range, 7.13-50.7 months). Two patients died during follow-up. The pathology of the aorta in the patients who died was arch aneurysm; the 3 remaining patients are alive and regularly followed at our institution.

Conclusion: The combination of surgery and simultaneous endovascular stenting in the operating room is an alternative approach for patients who are poor candidates for traditional arch repair under circulatory arrest.
Enriched Environments and Motor Outcomes in Cerebral Palsy: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Morgan Catherine , Novak Iona , Badawi Nadia
Published: August 2013

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Neuroplasticity evidence from animals favors an early enriched environment for promoting optimal brain injury recovery. In infants, systematic reviews show environmental enrichment (EE) improves cognitive outcomes but the effect on motor skills is less understood. The objective of this review was to appraise the effectiveness evidence about EE for improving the motor outcomes of infants at high risk of cerebral palsy (CP).

METHODS:

A systematic review was conducted. Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (PubMed), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Education Resource Information Center, SocINDEX, and PsycINFO databases were searched for literature meeting inclusion criteria: randomized controlled trials; high risk of /diagnosis of CP; >25% participants ≤2 years; parent or infant interventions postdischarge; and motor outcomes reported. Data were extracted using the Cochrane protocol regarding participants, intervention characteristics, and outcomes. Methodological quality was assessed using risk of bias assessment and GRADE.

RESULTS:

A total of 226 studies were identified. After removing duplicates and unrelated studies, 16 full-text articles were reviewed, of which 7 studies met inclusion criteria. The risk of bias varied between studies with the more recent studies demonstrating the lowest risk. Enrichment interventions varied in type and focus, making comparisons difficult. A meta-analysis was conducted of studies that compared enrichment to standard care (n = 5), and totaled 150 infants. A small positive effect for enrichment was found; standardized mean difference 0.39 (95% confidence interval 0.05–0.72; I2 = 3%; P = .02)

CONCLUSIONS:

EE looks promising for CP, and therefore high-quality studies with well-defined EE strategies are urgently required.
Urinary Phthalates and Increased Insulin Resistance in Adolescents
Authors: Trasande Leonardo , Spanier Adam J. , Sathyanarayana Sheela , Attina Teresa M. , Blustein Jan
Published: August 2013

BACKGROUND

Di-2-ethylhexylphthalate (DEHP) is an environmental chemical commonly found in processed foods. Phthalate exposures, in particular to DEHP, have been associated with insulin resistance in adults, but have not been studied in adolescents.

METHODS:

Using cross-sectional data from 766 fasting 12- to 19-year-olds in the 2003–2008 NHANES, we examined associations of phthalate metabolites with continuous and categorical measures of homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).

RESULTS:

Controlling for demographic and behavioral factors, diet, continuous age, BMI category, and urinary creatinine, for each log (roughly threefold) increase in DEHP metabolites, a 0.27 increase (95% confidence interval 0.14–0.40; P < .001) in HOMA-IR was identified. Compared with the first tertile of DEHP metabolite in the study population (14.5% insulin resistant), the third tertile had 21.6% prevalence (95% confidence interval 17.2%–26.0%; P = .02). Associations persisted despite controlling for bisphenol A, another endocrine-disrupting chemical commonly found in foods, and HOMA-IR and insulin resistance were not significantly associated with metabolites of lower molecular weight phthalates commonly found in cosmetics and other personal care products.

CONCLUSIONS:

Urinary DEHP concentrations were associated with increased insulin resistance in this cross-sectional study of adolescents. This study cannot rule out the possibility that insulin-resistant children ingest food with higher phthalate content, or that insulin-resistant children excrete more DEHP.
Pediatrician Identification of Latino Children at Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Zuckerman Katharine E. , Mattox Kimber , Donelan Karen , Batbayar Oyundari , Baghaee Anita , Bethell Christina
Published: August 2013

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Latino–white disparities in age at autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis may be modified by primary care pediatrician (PCP) practices and beliefs. The objectives of this study were to assess ASD and developmental screening practices, attitudes toward ASD identification in Latino children, and barriers to ASD identification for Latino children, in a sample of 267 California PCPs.

METHODS:

In mail-based PCP survey, we assessed rates of bilingual general developmental and ASD screening, perceptions of parent ASD knowledge in Latino and white families, reports of difficulty assessing for ASDs in Latino and white children, and perceptions of barriers to early ASD identification for Latinos.

RESULTS:

Although 81% of PCPs offered some form of developmental screening, 29% of PCPs offered Spanish ASD screening per American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines, and only 10% offered both Spanish general developmental and Spanish ASD screening per American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines. Most PCPs thought that Latino (English and Spanish primary family language) parents were less knowledgeable about ASDs than white parents. PCPs had more difficulty assessing ASD risk for Latino children with Spanish primary family language than for white children, even when the PCP conducted recommended ASD screening or had >25% Latino patients. The most frequent barrier to ASD identification in Latinos was access to developmental specialists.

CONCLUSIONS:

Multiple factors in the primary care setting may contribute to delayed ASD identification for Latinos. Promoting language-appropriate screening, disseminating culturally appropriate ASD materials to Latino families, improving the specialist workforce, and providing PCP support in screening and referral of Latino children may be important ways to reduce racial and ethnic differences in care.
Rapid Implementation of Evidence-Based Guidelines for Imaging After First Urinary Tract Infection
Authors: Jerardi Karen E. , Elkeeb Dena , Weiser Jason , Brinkman William B.
Published: August 2013

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

The American Academy of Pediatrics published a new guideline for management of first urinary tract infection (UTI) in children aged 2 to 24 months in September 2011. The imaging evaluation changed from the previous guideline to recommend voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) only for patients with an abnormal renal and bladder ultrasound (RBUS). The objective was to decrease the proportion of guideline-eligible children with a normal RBUS who underwent VCUG from median of 92% for patients treated as inpatients and 100% for patients treated in the emergency department to 5% in both settings.

METHODS:

This was a quality improvement implementation study in a large academic medical center. Key drivers included: appropriate guideline knowledge, timely identification of guideline eligible patients, and effective communication with the community-based primary care provider. A multidisciplinary team developed and tested interventions. Impact was assessed with annotated run charts. Statistical comparisons were made with χ2 analysis and Fisher’s exact test.

RESULTS:

The proportion of children with first UTI and normal RBUS who underwent VCUG decreased from a median of 92% to 0% within 1 month of initiating the project among those hospitalized and from 100% to 40% within 4 months among those diagnosed in the emergency department. Rates have been sustained for 12 months and 8 months, respectively. Interventions using the electronic medical record and ordering system were most impactful.

CONCLUSIONS:

Rapid adoption of evidence-based UTI care across multiple settings is achievable. Practice change occurred faster and to a greater magnitude in the inpatient setting compared with the outpatient setting.
Implementation of Critical Congenital Heart Disease Screening in Minnesota
Authors: Kochilas Lazaros K. , Lohr Jamie L. , Bruhn Eric , Borman-Shoap Emily , Gams Becky L. , Pylipow Mary , Saarinen Annamarie , Gaviglio Amy , Thompson Theodore R.
Published: August 2013

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the level of preparedness and resources needed in Minnesota for the implementation of newborn screening for critical congenital heart diseases (CCHDs).

METHODS:

A cross sectional survey of all birth centers in Minnesota was performed to assess the capacity to deliver care essential for the CCHD screening program. Compliance with the screening algorithm, nursing workload, and cost were assessed by using a pilot program implemented in 6 normal newborn nurseries.

RESULTS:

Ninety-one of 99 eligible centers participated in the survey and 90 reported the ability to screen newborns in accordance with recommendations. Only 22 centers, with 63% of births, had access to echocardiography and routinely stocked prostaglandins for neonatal use. Our pilot study screened 7549 newborns with 6 failed screens and 1 CCHD diagnosis. Two of the failed screens were due to misinterpretation of the algorithm, 1 failed screen was not reported, and 4 failed screens were not recognized. Repeated screens were required for 115 newborns, with 29% of retesting due to misinterpretation of the algorithm. The mean nursing time required was 5.5 minutes, and the cost was $5.10 per screen.

CONCLUSIONS:

In Minnesota, two-thirds of newborns are born in centers with resources for initial diagnosis and management of CCHD. Implementation of a pilot screening program demonstrated minimal increase in nursing workload, but identified problems with interpretation of the algorithm and data reporting. This pilot project suggests the need for simplification of the algorithm, additional training of health care providers, and development of a centralized reporting mechanism.
MgNd2: a future resorbable magnesium-based implant material?
Authors: Seitz Jan-Marten , Fau Danielle R. , Eifler Rainer , Kietzmann Manfred , Weber Constantin , Durisin Martin , Bach Friedrich-Wilhelm
Published: August 2013

At present, resorbable materials for implant applications are of great interest in biomedical engineering. Furthermore, the magnesium alloy MgNd2 provides unique mechanical and corrosive characteristics combined with appropriate biocompatibility, making it an ideal candidate for resorbable biomedical applications. MgNd2 provides low strength, enabling plastic deformation at ~80 MPa and a tensile elongation of ~30%, which is exceptional for magnesium alloys. Mass-loss analyses using simulated body fluid have exhibited a slow and homogeneous corrosion behavior in vitro, revealing a corrosion rate of less than 1 mm/year. Using cell viability and cytocompatibility tests, a general biocompatibility determined for MgNd2 showed no negative impact on cells. Due to excellent characteristics of MgNd2, it was successfully introduced as a resorbable stenting material within biological air-ducting tubuli and, furthermore, demonstrated desired in situ deformation characteristics.
Individual, population, and ecosystem effects of hypoxia on a dominant benthic bivalve in Chesapeake Bay
Authors: Long W. Christopher , Seitz Rochelle D. , Brylawski Bryce J. , Lipcius Romuald N.
Published: August 2013

Hypoxia is an environmental stressor that affects abundance, biomass, diversity, and ecosystem function of benthic assemblages worldwide, yet its collective impact at individual, population, and ecosystem levels has rarely been investigated. We examined the effects of hypoxia on the biomass‐dominant clam, Macoma balthica, in the York and Rappahannock Rivers (Chesapeake Bay, USA). We (1) surveyed the M. balthica populations in both rivers in 2003 and 2004, (2) determined the effects of low dissolved oxygen (DO) on M. balthica fecundity in a laboratory experiment, and (3) employed a predator‐exclusion field experiment to establish the effects of hypoxia and prey density on predation upon M. balthica. The resultant data were used to parameterize a matrix model, which was analyzed to define potential effects of hypoxia at the population level. In both rivers, hypoxia decreased individual clam growth and caused local extinction of populations. Hypoxia reduced egg production of M. balthica by 40% and increased protein investment per egg. In the predator‐exclusion field experiment, hypoxia magnified predation rates threefold and altered the functional response of predators to M. balthica from a stabilizing type III functional response to a destabilizing type II functional response. In a density‐independent matrix model, hypoxia resulted in coupled source–sink metapopulation dynamics, with hypoxic areas acting as black‐hole sinks. Increases in the spatial and temporal extent of hypoxia caused the populations to decline toward extinction. In a second model that incorporated density dependence, under mild hypoxic conditions trophic transfer from M. balthica to predators increased, but at increased spatial or temporal extent of hypoxia trophic transfer decreased. The major decline in trophic transfer to predators under severe hypoxia resulted from diversion of M. balthica biomass into the microbial loop. Our model predicted that there are multiple stable states for M. balthica populations (high and very low densities), such that the saddle point (threshold at which the population switches from one state to the other) increased and resilience decreased with the spatial extent of hypoxia. We underscore how effects of a stressor at the individual level can combine to have substantial population and ecosystem‐level effects.
Refuge availability and within‐species differences in cannibalism determine population variability and dynamics
Authors: Nilsson Karin A. , Persson Lennart
Published: August 2013

Theoretical studies show that both cannibalism and intraspecific resource competition can have major effects on population dynamics. Cannibalistic intensity, offspring size, harvesting and refuge availability are important factors affecting the interplay between cannibalism and competition. We studied two populations of the common guppy (Poecilia reticulata) that differed in their cannibalistic voracity as well as offspring size. We manipulated the availability of refuges for juveniles and harvesting intensity of large adults to investigate how these factors influenced the dynamics of the two populations.

Overall population dynamics was mainly affected by the origin of the founder populations and the presence of refuges. The population with a higher cannibalistic propensity and smaller offspring exhibited higher population variability, and the presence of refuges reduced cannibalism and stabilised the dynamics in both populations. Harvest of large cannibalistic females destabilised the dynamics and caused extinctions of several populations without refuges. Both populations displayed cannibal‐driven cycles with repression of recruitment when no refuges were present. Cycle periods were shorter with refuges present and the dynamics were more cohort like with synchronised peaks in density of vulnerable juveniles and cannibals. We suggest that increased number of refuging juveniles led to intensified resource competition in the population. The harvest yield was low in the refuge treatments as few females grew large due to resource competition, leading to a small impact of harvesting in these treatments.
Process‐based and correlative modeling of desert mistletoe distribution: a multiscalar approach
Authors: Lira-Noriega Andrés , Soberón Jorge , Miller Curtis P.
Published: August 2013

Because factors affecting distributional areas of species change as scale (extent and grain) changes, different environmental and biological factors must be integrated across geographic ranges at different resolutions, to understand fully the patterns and processes underlying species' ranges. We expected climate factors to be more important at coarse resolutions and biotic factors at finer resolutions. We used data on occurrence of a parasitic plant (Phoradendron californicum), restricted to parts of the Sonoran and Mojave deserts, to analyze how climate and mobility factors explain its distributional area. We developed analyses at five spatial resolutions (1, 5, 10, 20, 50 km) within the distributional area of the disperser species, and compared ecological niche models from three commonly used correlative methods with a process‐based model that estimates colonization and extinction rates in a metapopulation framework. Correlative models improved when layers associated with hosts and disperser were used as predictors, in comparison with models based on climate only; however, they tended to overfit to data as more layers were added. Dispersal‐related parameters were more relevant at finer resolutions (1–5 km), but importance of extinction‐related parameters did not change with scale. We observed greater coincidence between correlative and process‐based models when based only on dimensions of the abiotic niche (i.e., climate), but a clearer and more comprehensive mechanistic understanding was derived from the process‐based algorithm.