bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Less teaching, more learning: 10-yr study supports increasing student learning through less coverage and more inquiry
Authors: Luckie Douglas B. , Aubry Jacob R. , Marengo Benjamin J. , Rivkin Aaron M. , Foos Lindsey A. , Maleszewski Joseph J.
Published: December 2012

In this study, we compared gains in student content learning over a 10-yr period in which the introductory biology laboratory curriculum was changed in two ways: an increase of inquiry and a reduction of content. Three laboratory formats were tested: traditional 1-wk-long cookbook laboratories, two 7-wk-long inquiry laboratories, and one 14-wk-long inquiry laboratory. As the level of inquiry increased, student learning gains on content exams trended upward even while traditional content coverage taught decreased. In a quantitative assessment of content knowledge, students who participated in the 14-wk-long inquiry laboratory format outscored their peers in both 7- and 1-wk-long lab formats on Medical College Admissions Test exam questions (scores of 64.73%, 61.97%, and 53.48%, respectively, P < 0.01). In a qualitative study of student opinions, surveys conducted at the end of semesters where traditional 1-wk laboratories ( n = 167 students) were used had low response rates and predominately negative opinions (only 20% of responses were positive), whereas those who participated in 7-wk ( n = 543) or 14-wk ( n = 308) inquiry laboratories had high response rates and 71% and 96% positive reviews, respectively. In an assessment of traditional content coverage in courses, three indexes were averaged to calculate traditional forms of coverage and showed a decrease by 44% over the study period. We believe that the quantitative and qualitative data support greater student-driven inquiry in the classroom laboratory, which leads to deeper learning in fewer topic areas (less teaching) and can reap gains in scientific thinking and fundamental understanding applicable to a broader range of topic areas (more learning) in introductory biology.
A simple device to illustrate the Einthoven triangle
Authors: Jin Benjamin E. , Wulff Heike , Widdicombe Jonathan H. , Zheng Jie , Bers Donald M. , Puglisi Jose L.
Published: December 2012

The Einthoven triangle is central to the field of electrocardiography, but the concept of cardiac vectors is often a difficult notion for students to grasp. To illustrate this principle, we constructed a device that recreates the conditions of an ECG reading using a battery to simulate the electrical vector of the heart and three voltmeters for the main electrocardiographic leads. Requiring minimal construction with low cost, this device provides hands-on practice that enables students to rediscover the principles of the Einthoven triangle, namely, that the direction of the cardiac dipole can be predicted from the deflections in any two leads and that lead I + lead III = lead II independent of the position of heart's electrical vector. We built a total of 6 devices for classes of 30 students and tested them in the first-year Human Physiology course at the University of California-Davis School of Medicine. Combined with traditional demonstrations with ECG machines, this equipment demonstrated its ability to help medical students obtain a solid foundation of the basic principles of electrocardiography.
Examining integrative thinking through the transformation of students' written reflections into concept webs
Authors: Ziegler Brittany , Montplaisir Lisa
Published: December 2012

A shift is currently taking place in which explicit connections between content are being emphasized. Biology is not an isolated discipline, yet undergraduate courses frequently focus on discrete knowledge. Students often engage in rote learning, struggle with transforming and applying content. Integrative thinking occurs when students recognize connections to content. Written reflections provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate this thinking. We transformed student-written reflections into concept webs to gain insights into how students connect biological concepts. We were interested in determining if characteristics of integrative thinking develop through reflections. The results indicate a significant relationship between concepts and integrated relationships. Integrative thinking varied but declined overall. Concept webs allow for an examination of student integrative thinking through the transformation of reflection and provide insights into the connections and relationships that students draw between biological concepts. Reflections can transform learning by facilitating and allowing for the evaluation of integrative thinking.
Interactive knowledge networks for interdisciplinary course navigation within Moodle
Authors: Scherl Andre , Dethleffsen Kathrin , Meyer Michael
Published: December 2012

Web-based hypermedia learning environments are widely used in modern education and seem particularly well suited for interdisciplinary learning. Previous work has identified guidance through these complex environments as a crucial problem of their acceptance and efficiency. We reasoned that map-based navigation might provide straightforward and effortless orientation. To achieve this, we developed a clickable and user-oriented concept map-based navigation plugin. This tool is implemented as an extension of Moodle, a widely used learning management system. It visualizes inner and interdisciplinary relations between learning objects and is generated dynamically depending on user set parameters and interactions. This plugin leaves the choice of navigation type to the user and supports direct guidance. Previously developed and evaluated face-to-face interdisciplinary learning materials bridging physiology and physics courses of a medical curriculum were integrated as learning objects, the relations of which were defined by metadata. Learning objects included text pages, self-assessments, videos, animations, and simulations. In a field study, we analyzed the effects of this learning environment on physiology and physics knowledge as well as the transfer ability of third-term medical students. Data were generated from pre- and posttest questionnaires and from tracking student navigation. Use of the hypermedia environment resulted in a significant increase of knowledge and transfer capability. Furthermore, the efficiency of learning was enhanced. We conclude that hypermedia environments based on Moodle and enriched by concept map-based navigation tools can significantly support interdisciplinary learning. Implementation of adaptivity may further strengthen this approach.
Learning by doing: construction and manipulation of a skeletal muscle model during lecture
Authors: Rodenbaugh David W. , Lujan Heidi L. , DiCarlo Stephen E.
Published: December 2012

Active learning, “learning by doing,” enhances student performance on examinations and improves student retention of course content. Active learning also provides inquiry-based, collaborative, and problem-solving activities that promote curiosity, skepticism, objectivity, and the use of scientific reasoning. To incorporate active learning into our undergraduate anatomy and physiology course of 70 nursing students, students constructed working physical models of skeletal muscle during the scheduled class time. Our goals were to actively engage students in the process of building and testing their own mental models from the information they were acquiring. During the process, the focus was on the student acquiring knowledge, thinking about the information, testing assumptions, solving problems, and appreciating the joy, excitement, and love for learning. We conclude that the construction of physical models during class is a valuable educational experience.
Using a classic paper by Evarts as a platform for discussing cortical control of skeletal muscle in awake, behaving primates
Authors: Cecala Aaron L.
Published: December 2012

A growing portion of premedical curricula is being devoted to the study of physiological mechanisms underlying animal behavior. In the present article, I describe an activity centered around a classic Journal of Neurophysiology paper by Edward V. Evarts that lays the foundation for students to investigate common behavioral and physiological techniques used to study motor control in primates. Students will leave this activity being able to 1) critically assess behavioral, electromyographic, and single unit (extracellular) neurophysiological data typically acquired by behavioral neurophysiologists; 2) provide physiological evidence that the primate precentral gyrus (primary motor cortex) controls voluntary movements of the wrist; 3) intelligently discuss hypotheses concerning the role of the primary motor cortex in the generation of movement in mammalian species; and 4) discuss the ethical implications of using mammalian species as model organisms. The skills and background knowledge gained in this activity lay the platform for advanced study of scientific investigations into sensory, motor, and cognitive processes in undergraduate, graduate, or medical school curricula.
John Greenleaf's life of science
Authors: Watenpaugh Donald E.
Published: December 2012

This article summarizes the life and career of John E. Greenleaf, PhD. It complements an interview of Dr. Greenleaf sponsored by the American Physiological Society Living History Project found on the American Physiological Society website. Dr. Greenleaf is a “thought leader” and internationally renowned physiologist, with extensive contributions in human systems-level environmental physiology. He avoided self-aggrandizement and believed that deeds rather than words define one's legacy. Viewed another way, however, Greenleaf's words define his deeds: 48% of his 185 articles are first author works, which is an unusually high proportion for a scientist of his stature. He found that writing a thorough and thoughtful discussion section often led to novel ideas that drove future research. Beyond Greenleaf's words are the many students, postdocs, and collaborators lucky enough to have worked with him and thus learn and carry on his ways of science. His core principles included the following: avoid research “fads,” embrace diversity, be the first subject in your own research, adhere to rules of fiscal responsibility, and respect administrative forces–but never back down from them when you know you are right. Greenleaf's integrity ensured he was usually right. He thrived on the axiom of many successful scientists: avoid falling in love with hypotheses, so that when unexpected findings appear, they arouse curiosity instead of fear. Dr. Greenleaf's legacy will include the John and Carol Greenleaf Award for prolific environmental and exercise-related publication in the Journal of Applied Physiology.
Insulinoma Causing Liver Metastases 15 Years after Initial Surgery, Accompanied by Glomerulonephritis
Authors: Janez A.
Published: December 2012

Insulinoma is a rare pancreatic endocrine tumor that is typically sporadic, solitary, and less than 2 cm in diameter. Ninety percent of all insulinomas are benign. Up to 10 percent are malignant and are usually larger in size. We report a case of an unusual, not yet described association of two diseases: a malignant pancreatic insulinoma recurred as a multiple liver metastasis 15 years after the initial complete enucleation of a primary tumor with a histomorphological fairly benign outlook, accompanied by ANCA positive crescentic glomerulonephritis.
Menthol Toxicity: An Unusual Cause of Coma
Authors: Baibars Motaz , Eng Simona , Shaheen Khaldoon , Alraiyes Abdul Hamid , Alraies M. Chadi
Published: December 2012

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) consider menthol an effective substance, which help in common cold symptoms and labeled to have low toxicity profile. Direct exposure to high menthol amount has been reported in animal; but no studies have been done to show the effect of menthol on long-term use in humans. Up to our knowledge we are reporting a rare case of chronic exposure to significant amount of menthol associated with cutaneous, gastrointestinal and neurological manifestations.
An 11-Year-Old Male with Refractory Osteomyelitis
Authors: Mauriello Clifford T. , Raustol Ole A. , Aguiar Maria A. , Cunnion Kenji M.
Published: December 2012

We present a case of empirical treatment failure for chronic osteomyelitis in a previously healthy 11-year-old male involving the distal phalanx of the right first digit. After initial debridement, empiric antibiotics were started for presumedStaphylococcus aureusinfection. Operative bacterial cultures yielded no growth. Despite three weeks of antistaphylococcal antibiotics the patient’s symptoms worsened and the destruction of bone progressed. A repeat plain X-ray revealed a new lesion in the proximal phalanx of the right second digit. The recognition of multifocal osteomyelitis led to reexamination of bone tissue specimens using special stains which demonstrated rare broad-based budding yeast. Fungal cultures eventually grewBlastomyces dermatitidis. Treatment with amphotericin B led to rapid clinical improvement. This case illustrates that clinicians must remain vigilant for warning signs that empiric treatment may be failing for presumptiveStaphylococcus aureus, provoking reconsideration of the differential diagnosis and an intensification of efforts to evaluate for alternative etiologies.
Environmental Geophysical Study of the Groundwater Mineralization in a Plot of the Cotonou Littoral Zone (South Benin)
Authors: Nicaise Yalo , Marc Descloitres , Abdoukarim Alassane , Daouda Mama , Moussa Boukari
Published: December 2012

Geophysical investigations comprising electrical resistivity and electromagnetic conductivities methods were deployed in a 350 m2sector, strewn with 11 wells. Within the framework of an environmental study on a small scale in the south of Benin, the water conductivity of these wells was measured to determine in a direct way mineralization of the coastal water table in the littoral zone. This environmental study aimed to prospect by the geophysical methods the space extension of the water table mineralization obtained by direct measurements of water conductivity in the well and the depth of the fresh water/salted water interface in the coastal aquifer. Electromagnetic measurements of conductivities made it possible to chart a gradient of mineralization in the northwest direction. The logs of vertical electric soundings showed a deepening of the fresh water/salted water interface in the southern part and its rupture in the northern part. The electrical resistivities of the interface are sensitive to the degree of its mineralization. It has been observed that the geophysical methods in electrical and electromagnetic prospection are a great contribution to the environmental study of the water table mineralization in the littoral zone for a sustainable management of the water resource.
Great Power Politics in East Asia: The US and China in Competition
Authors: Pant Harsh V.
Published: December 2012

China’s rise has altered the strategic realities in East Asia with the US having to manage a power transition in the region. The signals from Washington that it would not allow growing Chinese power in Asia–Pacific to go unchallenged have become unambiguous. The region is witnessing great power politics at its most pristine and geopolitical competition between the global superpower and its most likely challenger is in full swing. This article outlines the changing strategic realities in East Asia with China’s rapid ascent in global hierarchy and argues that the US has had to recalibrate its regional policy in response to the growing demand from the region for it to play a more assertive role if it wanted to retain its role as an offshore balancer.
The Frequency of Adjusted Renal Dosing of Tenofovir DF and Its Effects on Patient Outcomes
Authors: Langness Jacob A. , Hindman Jason T. , Johnson Steven C. , Kiser Jennifer J.
Published: December 2012

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), a nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor used in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B, is renally eliminated and has been associated with renal toxicities. Dose adjustments are recommended for patients with creatinine clearance (CrCL) <50 mL/min. We retrospectively determined the frequency in which HIV clinic providers adjusted TDF doses in patients with CrCL <50 mL/min over a 2-year period and compared clinical outcomes in patients who had TDF dose adjustments based on CrCL <50 mL/min versus those who did not. Thirty-nine patients with CrCL <50 mL/min were identified. Dose-adjusted patients (N = 9) continued their TDF-based antiretroviral regimens for 21 months longer following the first CrCL < 50 mL/min ( P = .0193) and had gains in CD4 cell counts over 12 months ( P = .0009). There were no statistically significant differences in CrCL or percentage of patients with detectable HIV-1 RNA at 6 and 12 months following first CrCL <50 mL/min in those who did versus did not have a TDF dose adjustment. In summary, HIV providers often failed to dose-adjust TDF in patients with CrCL <50 mL/min, but dose-adjusted patients appeared to stay on their TDF-based regimens longer and have greater gains in CD4 cells. Larger, prospective studies are needed to validate these results.
Emergency Medicine Pharmacists and Sepsis Management
Authors: Weant Kyle A. , Baker Stephanie N.
Published: December 2012

Purpose:

To describe the role that an emergency medicine (EM) clinical pharmacist has on the management of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with sepsis, severe sepsis, or septic shock.

Methods:

The clinical consultations documented by the EM pharmacists at an academic, teaching hospital over a 2-year period were retrospectively reviewed.

Results:

During the study period, a total of 585 consultations were provided by the EM pharmacists to 130 patients who presented to the ED with a diagnosis of sepsis, severe sepsis, or septic shock. Dosing recommendations were the most frequent consultations provided (n = 309, 53%), followed by the addition of appropriate empiric antibiotics (n = 131, 22%) and medication preparation (n = 108, 19%). Antibiotics (n = 307, 83%) and vasopressors (n = 31, 8%) were the medication classes regularly involved in EM pharmacist consultations. Vancomycin (n = 90, 28%) and norepinephrine (n = 15, 48%) were the most common agents involved in these consultations.

Conclusion:

A clinical EM pharmacist has multiple roles in the early management of patients presenting with sepsis, severe sepsis, or septic shock in the ED. Most commonly, they have a role in optimizing empiric antibiotic selection and dosing; thereby ensuring adequate antimicrobial coverage in this complex patient population.
Integrating the Streams of Morality Research
Authors: Graham Jesse , Meindl Peter , Beall Erica
Published: December 2012

The scientific study of morality has blossomed in the past decade, yielding key insights into the psychological processes underlying moral judgments. This blossoming has generally taken place along two streams of research: one concerning cultural and individual differences in these processes, and one concerning their situational determinants. Although these two streams often examine the same factors (e.g., the role of contamination in moral judgment), they have not systematically built on each other’s findings, and their empirical approaches remain distinct. In this article, we describe how these streams have begun to converge in recent empirical work, highlighting work on political ideology as one example. We then discuss the benefits an integrated research approach can have for moral psychology, especially in (a) delineating the links between moral judgment and moral behavior and (b) expanding the range of moral behaviors studied in order to more fully represent everyday moral life.
How Adaptive Is Memory for Cheaters?
Authors: Bell Raoul , Buchner Axel
Published: December 2012

Evolutionary psychology posits that the human mind comprises highly specialized cognitive modules, including a module that is thought to facilitate social cooperation by allowing for the detection of cheaters. Consistent with assumptions implied by models of reciprocal altruism, our research has revealed enhanced source memory for faces of cheaters (i.e., memory for the context in which the faces of cheaters were encountered). However, this finding should not be uncritically interpreted as evidence of a specialized cheater-detection mechanism. Here, we review evidence suggesting that human memory may be better characterized by more general mechanisms. A preference to attend to, and remember, threatening and unusual information may ensure that processing resources are focused on relevant information in a wide variety of situations, and may therefore constitute a more adaptive mechanism for remembering social information than focusing exclusively on cheating would.
Replication-Extension Studies
Authors: Bonett Douglas G.
Published: December 2012

Replication-extension studies combine results from prior studies with results from a new study specifically designed to replicate and extend the results of the prior studies. Replication-extension studies have many advantages over the traditional single-study designs used in psychology: Formal assessments of replication can be obtained, effect sizes can be estimated with greater precision and generalizability, misleading findings from prior studies can be exposed, and moderator effects can be assessed.
As Time Goes By
Authors: Barrouillet Pierre , Camos Valérie
Published: December 2012

Working memory is the system devoted to the simultaneous processing and storage of information needed to perform many cognitive tasks. We present a theory that assumes that time constraints constitute the main limitation of working memory. According to our theory, processing and storage compete for attention, which constitutes a limited resource. As soon as attention is switched away, memory traces suffer from temporal decay, but they can be refreshed by bringing them back into the focus of attention. Because a central bottleneck constrains controlled cognitive activities that require attention so that they must take place one at a time, memory traces decline when the central bottleneck is occupied by processing activities. This results in a sequential functioning of working memory that alternates between processing and maintenance, leading to a trade-off between these two activities. We review empirical evidence of this trade-off and discuss its implications for the increase in working memory capacity over the course of development.
The hybrid steepest descent method for solving variational inequality over triple hierarchical problems
Authors: Wairojjana Nopparat , Jitpeera Thanyarat , Kumam Poom
Published: December 2012

An explicit algorithm is introduced to solve the monotone variational inequality over a triple hierarchical problem. The strong convergence for the proposed algorithm to the solution is guaranteed under some assumptions. Our results extend those of Iiduka (Nonlinear Anal. 71:e1292-e1297, 2009), Marino and Xu (J. Optim. Theory Appl. 149(1):61-78, 2011), Yao et al. (Fixed Point Theory Appl. 2011:794203, 2011) and other authors.

MSC:46C05, 47H06, 47H09, 47H10, 47J20, 47J25, 65J15.
The serum vaspin levels are reduced in Japanese chronic hemodialysis patients
Authors: Inoue Junko , Wada Jun , Teshigawara Sanae , Hida Kazuyuki , Nakatsuka Atsuko , Takatori Yuji , Kojo Shoichirou , Akagi Shigeru , Nakao Kazushi , Miyatake Nobuyuki , McDonald John F , Makino Hirofumi
Published: December 2012

Background

Visceral adipose tissue-derived serine proteinase inhibitor (vaspin) is an adipokine identified in genetically obese rats that correlates with insulin resistance and obesity in humans. Recently, we found that 7% of the Japanese population with the minor allele sequence (A) of rs77060950 exhibit higher levels of serum vaspin. We therefore evaluated the serum vaspin levels in Japanese chronic hemodialysis patients.

Methods

Healthy Japanese control volunteers (control; n = 95, 49.9±6.91 years) and Japanese patients undergoing hemodialysis therapy (HD; n = 138, 51.4±10.5 years) were enrolled in this study, and serum samples were subjected to the human vaspin RIA system.

Results

The measurement of the serum vaspin levels demonstrated that a fraction of control subjects (n = 5) and HD patients (n = 11) exhibited much higher levels (> 10 ng/ml; VaspinHighgroup), while the rest of the population exhibited lower levels (< 3 ng/ml; VaspinLowgroup). By comparing the patients in the VaspinLowgroup, the serum vaspin levels were found to be significantly higher in the control subjects (0.87±0.24 ng/ml) than in the HD patients (0.32±0.15 ng/ml) (p < 0.0001). In the stepwise regression analyses, the serum creatinine and triglyceride levels were found to be independently and significantly associated with the vaspin concentrations in all subjects.

Conclusions

The creatinine levels are negatively correlated with the serum vaspin levels and were significantly reduced in the Japanese HD patients in the VaspinLowgroup.
Efficacy of once-daily indacaterol 75 μg relative to alternative bronchodilators in COPD: A study level and a patient level network meta-analysis
Authors: Cope Shannon , Zhang Jie , Williams James , Jansen Jeroen P
Published: December 2012

Background

The objective of this study was to evaluate the comparative efficacy of indacaterol 75 μg once daily (OD), tiotropium 18 μg OD, salmeterol 50 μg twice daily (BID), formoterol 12 μg BID, and placebo for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) based on individual patient data (IPD) from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from the indacaterol trial program and aggregate data (AD) identified from a systematic review of RCTs.

Methods

22 RCTs were included in the AD analysis that evaluated: indacaterol 75 μg (n = 2 studies), indacaterol 150 μg n = 5 (i.e. salmeterol 50 μg) (n = 5), indacaterol 300 μg (n = 2), tiotropium 18 μg (n = 10), salmeterol 50 μg (n = 7), and formoterol 12 μg (n = 4). All of the studies except for one head-to-head comparison (tiotropium vs. salmeterol) were placebo controlled. Outcomes of interest were trough forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) total score at week 12. The AD from all trials was analysed simultaneously using a Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA) and relative treatment effects between all regimens were obtained. In a separate analysis, the IPD available from the 6 indacaterol RCTs was analysed in a NMA. Treatment-by-covariate interactions were included in both analyses to improve similarity of the trials.

Results

All interventions compared were more efficacious than placebo regarding FEV1at 12 weeks. Indacaterol 75 μg is expected to result in a comparable FEV1at 12 weeks to tiotropium and salmeterol based on both IPD and AD analyses. In comparison to formoterol, the IPD and AD results indicate indacaterol 75 μg is more efficacious (IPD = 0.07 L difference; 95%Credible Interval (CrI) 0.02 to 0.11; AD = 0.05 L difference; 95%CrI 0.01; 0.09). In terms of SGRQ total score at 12 weeks, indacaterol 75 μg and formoterol were more efficacious than placebo, whereas for tiotropium and salmeterol the credible intervals included zero for the AD results only (tiotropium: -2.99 points improvement versus placebo; 95%CrI −6.48 to 0.43; salmeterol:-2.52; 95%CrI: -5.34; 0.44). Both IPD and AD results suggest that indacaterol 75 μg is expected to be comparable to all active treatments.

Conclusions

Based on a synthesis of currently available AD RCT evidence as well as an IPD network meta-analysis of six RCTs, indacaterol 75 μg is expected to be at least as efficacious as formoterol and comparable to tiotropium and salmeterol regarding FEV1. Furthermore, indacaterol 75 μg shows comparable level of improvement in health-related quality of life to tiotropium, salmeterol, and formoterol, as measured by the SGRQ.
Artificial biosynthesis of phenylpropanoic acids in a tyrosine overproducing Escherichia coli strain
Authors: Kang Sun-Young , Choi Oksik , Lee Jae Kyung , Hwang Bang Yeon , Uhm Tai-Boong , Hong Young-Soo
Published: December 2012

Background

The phenylpropanoid metabolites are an extremely diverse group of natural products biosynthesized by plants, fungi, and bacteria. Although these compounds are widely used in human health care and nutrition services, their availability is limited by regional variations, and isolation of single compounds from plants is often difficult. Recent advances in synthetic biology and metabolic engineering have enabled artificial production of plant secondary metabolites in microorganisms.

Results

We develop an Escherichia coli system containing an artificial biosynthetic pathway that yields phenylpropanoic acids, such as 4-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, and ferulic acid, from simple carbon sources. These artificial biosynthetic pathways contained a codon-optimized tal gene that improved the productivity of 4-coumaric acid and ferulic acid, but not caffeic acid in a minimal salt medium. These heterologous pathways extended in E. coli that had biosynthesis machinery overproducing tyrosine. Finally, the titers of 4-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, and ferulic acid reached 974 mg/L, 150 mg/L, and 196 mg/L, respectively, in shake flasks after 36-hour cultivation.

Conclusions

We achieved one gram per liter scale production of 4-coumaric acid. In addition, maximum titers of 150 mg/L of caffeic acid and 196 mg/L of ferulic acid were achieved. Phenylpropanoic acids, such as 4-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, and ferulic acid, have a great potential for pharmaceutical applications and food ingredients. This work forms a basis for further improvement in production and opens the possibility of microbial synthesis of more complex plant secondary metabolites derived from phenylpropanoic acids.
Junction investigation of graphene/silicon Schottky diodes
Authors: Mohammed Muatez , Li Zhongrui , Cui Jingbiao , Chen Tar-pin
Published: December 2012

Here we present a facile technique for the large-scale production of few-layer graphene flakes. The as-sonicated, supernatant, and sediment of the graphene product were respectively sprayed onto different types of silicon wafers. It was found that all devices exhibited current rectification properties, and the supernatant graphene devices have the best performance. Schottky junctions formed between graphene flakes and silicon n-type substrates exhibit good photovoltaic conversion efficiency while graphene/p-Si devices have poor light harvesting capability.
Modulation of cough response by sensory inputs from the nose - role of trigeminal TRPA1 versus TRPM8 channels
Authors: Buday Tomas , Brozmanova Mariana , Biringerova Zuzana , Gavliakova Silvia , Poliacek Ivan , Calkovsky Vladimir , Shetthalli Manjunath V , Plevkova Jana
Published: December 2012

Background

Cough, the most important airways defensive mechanism is modulated by many afferent inputs either from respiratory tussigenic areas, but also by afferent drive from other organs. In animal models, modulation of cough by nasal afferent inputs can either facilitate or inhibit the cough response, depending on the type of trigeminal afferents stimulated.

Methods

In this study we addressed the question of possible bidirectional modulation of cough response in human healthy volunteers by nasal challenges with TRPA1 and TRPM8 agonists respectively. After nasal challenges with isocyanate (AITC), cinnamaldehyde, (−) menthol and (+) menthol (all 10-3 M) nasal symptom score, cough threshold (C2), urge to cough (Cu) and cumulative cough response were measured).

Results

Nasal challenges with TRPA1 relevant agonists induced considerable nasal symptoms, significantly enhanced urge to cough (p<0.05) but no statistically significant modulation of the C2 and cumulative cough response. In contrast, both TRPM8 agonists administered to the nose significantly modulated all parameters including C2 (p<0.05), Cu (p<0.01) and cumulative cough response (p <0.01) documenting strong anti irritating potential of menthol isomers.

Conclusions

In addition to trigeminal afferents expressing TRP channels, olfactory nerve endings, trigemino – olfactoric relationships, the smell perception process and other supramedullar influences should be considered as potential modulators of the cough response in humans.
Usual interstitial pneumonia coexisted with nonspecific interstitial pneumonia, What’s the diagnosis?
Authors: Fang Xia , Luo Benfang , Yi Xianghua , Zeng Yu , Liu Fang , Li Huiping , Gu Pan , Zhu Xuyou , Zhang Suxia , Jiang Gelin
Published: December 2012

The differential diagnosis between idiopathic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia(INSIP) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF)/usual interstitial pneumonia(UIP)is tough in both clinicians and pathologists. In this study, we analyzed the lesions of right lung removed from a 58-year-old patient by gross and microscopy. The results showed that the pathological appearance of nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) and UIP coexisted in his upper lobe. Besides, because of severe fibrosis in middle and lower lobes, it was hard to distinguish the lesions of NSIP fibrotic pattern (NSIP-F) or UIP. Based on clinic-radiologic-pathological data, the diagnosis of INSIP-F was made for this patient finally. Our study suggests that UIP is not always an accurate diagnosis when the NSIP and UIP coexist, and NSIP can have regions of UIP.

Virtual slide

The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/2573531681608730
Impact of catheter antimicrobial coating on species-specific risk of catheter colonization: a meta-analysis
Authors: Novikov Aleksey , Lam Manuel Y , Mermel Leonard A , Casey Anna L , Elliott Tom S , Nightingale Peter
Published: December 2012

Background

Antimicrobial catheters have been utilized to reduce risk of catheter colonization and infection. We aimed to determine if there is a greater than expected risk of microorganism-specific colonization associated with the use of antimicrobial central venous catheters (CVCs).

Methods

We performed a meta-analysis of 21 randomized, controlled trials comparing the incidence of specific bacterial and fungal species colonizing antimicrobial CVCs and standard CVCs in hospitalized patients.

Results

The proportion of all colonized minocycline-rifampin CVCs found to harbor Candida species was greater than the proportion of all colonized standard CVCs found to have Candida. In comparison, the proportion of colonized chlorhexidine-silver sulfadiazine CVCs specifically colonized with Acinetobacter species or diphtheroids was less than the proportion of similarly colonized standard CVCs. No such differences were found with CVCs colonized with staphylococci.

Conclusion

Commercially-available antimicrobial CVCs in clinical use may become colonized with distinct microbial flora probably related to their antimicrobial spectrum of activity. Some of these antimicrobial CVCs may therefore have limited additional benefit or more obvious advantages compared to standard CVCs for specific microbial pathogens. The choice of an antimicrobial CVC may be influenced by a number of clinical factors, including a previous history of colonization or infection with Acinetobacter, diphtheroids, or Candida species.
Factors associated with suicidal thoughts in a large community study of older adults
Authors: Almeida Osvaldo P. , Draper Brian , Snowdon John , Lautenschlager Nicola T. , Pirkis Jane , Byrne Gerard , Sim Moira , Stocks Nigel , Flicker Leon , Pfaff Jon J.
Published: December 2012

Background

Thoughts about death and self-harm in old age have been commonly associated with the presence of depression, but other risk factors may also be important.

Aims

To determine the independent association between suicidal ideation in later life and demographic, lifestyle, socioeconomic, psychiatric and medical factors.

Method

A cross-sectional study was conducted of a community-derived sample of 21290 adults aged 60-101 years enrolled from Australian primary care practices. We considered that participants endorsing any of the four items of the Depressive Symptom Inventory - Suicidality Subscale were experiencing suicidal thoughts. We used standard procedures to collect demographic, lifestyle, psychosocial and clinical data. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.

Results

The 2-week prevalence of suicidal ideation was 4.8%. Male gender, higher education, current smoking, living alone, poor social support, no religious practice, financial strain, childhood physical abuse, history of suicide in the family, past depression, current anxiety, depression or comorbid anxiety and depression, past suicide attempt, pain, poor self-perceived health and current use of antidepressants were independently associated with suicidal ideation. Poor social support was associated with a population attributable fraction of 38.0%, followed by history of depression (23.6%), concurrent anxiety and depression (19.7%), prevalent anxiety (15.1%), pain (13.7%) and no religious practice (11.4%).

Conclusions

Prevalent and past mood disorders seem to be valid targets for indicated interventions designed to reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviour. However, our data indicate that social disconnectedness and stress account for a larger proportion of cases than mood disorders. Should these associations prove to be causal, then interventions that succeeded in addressing these issues would contribute the most to reducing suicidal ideation and, possibly, suicidal behaviour in later life.
Remembering the self in schizophrenia
Authors: Watson Andrew , Barker Vicky , Hall Jeremy , Lawrie Stephen M.
Published: December 2012

Autobiographical memories are a key component of our identity. Here, in the light of Cuervo-Lombard and colleagues' paper in this issue, we review impairments in autobiographical memory in schizophrenia and the association between autobiographical memory and outcome in the disorder. We also discuss whether these deficits are specific to schizophrenia and a possible link with traumatic events.
Clinician hesitation prior to clozapine initiation: is it justifiable?
Authors: Patel Maxine X.
Published: December 2012

Clozapine has been endorsed by national clinical guidelines for 10 years and yet underutilisation and delay to initiation remain rife. Although there will be good clinical reasons for clozapine not being initiated for some patients, it is hypothesised here that for others, clinicians' attitudes and preferences are the most likely predictive factors.
No scope for complacency: time to improve healthcare for older people
Authors: Hilton Claire
Published: December 2012

The Equality Act 2010 should prevent age discrimination in the provision of healthcare and other services in the UK. The Royal College of Psychiatrists' Faculty of the Psychiatry of Old Age and General & Community Psychiatry Faculty have offered constructive guidance to help achieve this. However, there are pitfalls. First, legislation does not guarantee enforcement. Second, discrimination in the form of persisting negative attitudes of society towards older people and their ability to benefit from health interventions is associated with a deficit in funding old age services that has accumulated gradually during the 60 years of the National Health Service. These difficulties will need to be overcome to achieve effective implementation of the Act.
Reflective assignments by students completing an undergraduate psychiatry attachment
Authors: O'Brien Aileen , Mudunkotuwe Jeremy
Published: December 2012

Aims and method

Students at St George's, University of London, complete a long case with a reflective component as part of their psychiatry attachment. This consists of a case history and reflection about how meeting the patient has affected them and how it will change their practice. This study aimed to analyse the reflection content, to better understand the student psychiatry experience. A hundred consecutive assignments underwent content analysis to establish the main themes.

Results

Six main themes were elicited: stigma, social and cultural aspects of psychiatry, fear of mental illness in the students themselves, fear of conducting the interview and criticism of the care the patient received.

Clinical implications

Negative attitudes towards psychiatry are common among medical students, although many showed mature reflection. Anxiety about interviewing patients with mental illness should be acknowledged by educators.
‘We've got another one for you!’ Liaison psychiatry's experience of stigma towards patients with mental illness and mental health professionals
Authors: Bolton Jim
Published: December 2012

Aims and method

To assess stigmatising attitudes towards mental illness and psychiatric professionals experienced by UK liaison psychiatry staff. A questionnaire asked about the impact of these events on patient care and for suggestions for tackling stigma in the general hospital.

Results

Out of 72 multidisciplinary respondents, over three-quarters had experienced stigmatising attitudes towards mental illness by general hospital colleagues at least monthly. Two-thirds reported instances where stigmatisation had an adverse impact on patient care, and over a quarter reported stigmatising attitudes towards mental health professionals. Suggestions for combating stigma included educational initiatives, clear clinical communication, and the provision of high-quality liaison services.

Clinical implications

Liaison psychiatry is well placed to both recognise and combat stigma in the general hospital. This can help to ensure that patient care is comprehensive, safe and respectful.
Standard of medical tribunal reports in a high secure setting
Authors: Murphy Paula Marie , Basu Amlan
Published: December 2012

Aims and method

To investigate whether medical tribunal reports were meeting acceptable standards as set out in the practice direction issued by the Tribunal Service in 2010. We looked at 50 medical reports and compared the content of the reports with a 13-item checklist that was derived from the recommendations set out in the practice direction.

Results

The results show a number of areas where the reports are not meeting acceptable standards. For 5 of 13 items in our checklist, less than 80% of reports evaluated included the required information.

Clinical implications

The results have important clinical governance implications. As clinicians we need to improve our report writing, not least because it is our professional and statutory duty but also to avoid potential repercussions from the tribunal in terms of their legal power to order remedies, sanctions and costs. Improvements might be achieved through robust performance management of individual clinicians and consideration being given to including this in revalidation procedures.
Drug-related problems in the elderly
Authors: Bor Andrea , Matuz Mária , Doró Péter , Viola Réka , Soós Gyöngyvér
Published: December 2012

The aging population in developed countries is a growing problem nowadays. The burden on healthcare is particularly high, since the prevalence of the diseases, especially chronic diseases increases with age. Prevalence of polypharmacy is common among elderly patients. While comorbidities require usage of several active agents with evidence based indication, polypharmacy increases the likelihood of interactions and adverse drug reactions, reduces patient compliance, affects quality of life and puts a significant financial burden on the patient and society. In order to reduce drug-related problems among the elderly, different lists of potentially inappropriate drugs and doses were created. One of the earliest known lists is the “Beers criteria”. The use of listed drugs is risky and not recommended for elderly patients. Following foreign examples, a list was compiled and adapted to the Hungarian drug spectrum based on the main concerns and alternative therapeutic suggestions. Orv. Hetil., 2012, 153, 1926–1936.
Importance of secondary conditions in rehabilitation medicine
Authors: Kullmann Lajos
Published: December 2012

The author interprets disability on the basis of the “International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)”. In this review the applied method is a purpose oriented, restricted survey of continuously increasing articles published during the last two decades. Definition and interpretation of secondary conditions are based on the cited international classification. It is noted that secondary conditions frequently develop during acute care and usually require rehabilitation. Significance of secondary conditions in rehabilitation is highlighted by selected examples of traumatic spinal cord injury, stroke, lower limb amputation and intellectual disabilities. The author states that there is an insufficiency of presently available knowledge and raises the need for the use of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health as foundation of future research. Orv. Hetil., 2012, 153, 1937–1947.
Terahertz-wave generation using graphene
Authors: Otsuji Taiichi , Tombet Stephane Boubanga , Satou Akira , Ryzhii Maxim , Ryzhii Victor
Published: December 2012

In this paper recent advances in terahertz-wave generation in graphene are reviewed. First, fundamental basis of the optoelectronic properties of graphene is introduced. Second, nonequilibrium carrier relaxation and recombination dynamics in optically or electrically pumped graphene is described to introduce a possibility of negative dynamic conductivity in a wide terahertz range. Third, recent theoretical advances toward the creation of current-injection graphene terahertz lasers are described. Fourth, unique terahertz dynamics of the two-dimensional plasmons in graphene are described. Finally, the advantages of graphene materials and devices for terahertz-wave generation are summarized.
Nanodiamond-Triggered Organization in Fibers of PANI Nanocomposites Produced by Chemical and Electrochemical Routes: Structural Features and Functional characterizations
Authors: Tamburri Emanuela , Guglielmotti Valeria , Orlanducci Silvia , Terranova Maria Letizia , Passeri Daniele , Rossi Marco , Sordi Daniela
Published: December 2012

We present some recent results of a systematic study regarding polyaniline-based nanocomposites with detonation nanodiamond as guest component. The peculiar properties of such crystalline nanomaterial not only help in improving the mechanical and thermal properties of the host polymeric matrix, but also influence polymerization mechanism, modifying the morphological features of the polymers. Induced by the nanodiamond presence, the final nanocomposites show a prominent arrangement of polymer segments into tubular forms and a subsequent structural organization suitable for many technological applications.