bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Epileptiform Discharges in Psychiatric Patients: A Controversy in Need of Resurrection
Authors: Boutros Nash
Published: September 2014

The current view of the psychiatric significance of inter-ictal spike discharges (IIS) in nonepileptic, psychiatric patients is that the discharges are “incidental” and are of no clinical significance. Hence, despite a voluminous literature suggestive that such discharges may have clinical relevance, electroencephalograms are hardly ever recorded in nonepileptic psychiatric patients. This literature is briefly summarized, and one detailed example of a disorder (i.e., autistic spectrum disorders) where such discharges are particularly common is provided. The argument is made that this is an area of psychiatry that is under-investigated and that research devoted to elucidating the mechanisms of development of IIS, their possible clinical relevance, and the role of anticonvulsants in managing such patients, could be very profitable.
Advances in Spike Localization with EEG Dipole Modeling
Authors: Rose Sandra , Ebersole John S.
Published: September 2014

EEG interpretation by visual inspection of waveforms, using the assumption that activity at a given electrode is a representation of only the activity of the cortex immediately beneath it, has been the traditional form of EEG analysis since its inception. The relatively recent advent of digital EEG has allowed more advanced analysis of EEG data and has shown that the simple visual inspection described above is a simplistic form of analysis. This is especially true when one is attempting to localize an epileptogenic focus using EEG spikes or seizure onset data. Spatio-temporal analysis of scalp voltage fields has allowed for improved localization of likely cerebral origins of such waveforms. Equivalent dipole source modeling is one such technique and, although not perfect, provides improved characterization of spike and seizure sources as compared to previous methods when properly interpreted. The use of other modern techniques, such as 3D MRI reconstructions and realistic head models, can further improve accuracy of dipole localization and allow for the synthesis of EEG and imaging data, which may be invaluable, especially in cases of pre-surgical epilepsy evaluation.
A software tool for prediction of prosthesis failure at the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb
Authors: Tandara A. A. , Capeller L. J. , Jarczok M. N. , Mayrhofer P. , Jung M. , Daecke W.
Published: September 2014

Early recognition of prosthesis failure is difficult. A tool that helps to identify faulty prosthesis – a cause of early implant loosening – is needed. The aim of this study was to detect early implant loosening by applying a software program EBRA (Ein-Bild-Röntgen-Analyse). EBRA was applied to the radiographs of a series of 76 patients, with a total of 102 thumb carpometacarpal joint de la Caffinière prostheses, with an average follow-up of 14.5 months (range 0.5–24). The data were used to draw graphs of cup migration and inclination over time. Corresponding regression lines of migration and inclination in relation to time were made up to the point of loosening. The gradient of regression was calculated for all implants. The gradient of regression on the x and y axes differed significantly between stable and loose implants. Loose and stable implants showed significantly different cup migration on the x and y axes over time. EBRA proved to be a reliable tool to visualize cup migration in the trapeziometacarpal joint and to predict implant failure.
Intermittent dosing with vemurafenib in BRAF V600E-mutant melanoma: review of a case series
Authors: Dooley Andrew J. , Gupta Avinash , Bhattacharyya Madhumita , Middleton Mark R.
Published: September 2014

The selective BRAF inhibitors, vemurafenib and dabrafenib, yield high response rates and improved overall survival in patients with BRAF V600E-mutant metastatic melanoma. Acquired drug resistance and drug toxicity are key challenges when using these drugs. We investigated whether vemurafenib toxicity could successfully be managed with intermittent dosing, and if its therapeutic efficacy could be maintained on intermittent dosing. Six patients with BRAF V600E-mutated metastatic melanoma were treated with an intermittent dosing regimen of vemurafenib. In three patients, toxicities were successfully managed with an intermittent dosing regimen. In the other three patients, intolerable toxicities continued on intermittent dosing. Our experience shows that intermittent dosing can successfully manage vemurafenib toxicities where continuous dosing at a reduced dose does not. Intermittent treatment improves drug tolerability and can achieve or maintain melanoma shrinkage. We recommend that in clinical practice, intermittent dosing should be considered as an alternative to dose reduction/termination in the management of vemurafenib toxicity.
James J. Gallagher
Authors: Jolly Jennifer L. , Robinson Ann
Published: September 2014

In classic Western movies, the good guy could be frequently identified by his trademark white Stetson hat, whereas the bad guy always wore black. James J. Gallagher wore many hats during his career that spanned over six decades; he too would be known as the “man in the white hat,”—trusted to do the right thing. From 1967 to 1970, chiefly during the Nixon Administration, Gallagher wore the hat of public servant in Washington, D.C. He served as the first chief of the Bureau for the Education of the Handicapped (BEH) and then as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Planning, Research, and Evaluation—Both the positions were within the United States Office of Education (USOE) and under the larger umbrella of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. This article outlines his federal contributions and their enduring impact on the fields of both special education and gifted education.
Continuous Glucose Monitoring Analysis as Predictor of Islet Yield and Insulin Requirements in Autologous Islet Transplantation After Complete Pancreatectomy
Authors: Beltrán del Río Manuel , Georgiev George Ivanov , Cercone Renee , Tiwari Mukesh , Rilo Horacio L. R.
Published: September 2014

We analyzed the pretransplant continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data of 45 patients that underwent total pancreatectomy followed by autologous islet transplantation (AIT) at the University of Arizona Medical Center. Traditional and novel metrics of CGM time series were correlated to the total islet count (TIC), islet equivalents (IEQs), and weight-normalized IEQs (IEQ/kg). In a subset cohort (n = 26) we analyzed the relationship among the infused number of islets, the CGM indicators, and the first recorded insulin requirement after the procedure. We conclude that receiving a high islet yield is sufficient yet not necessary to achieve low or null insulin requirements within the first 50 days after surgery. Furthermore, CGM inertia and CGM length of curve (2 novel CGM indicators) are shown to be correlated to islet yield, and the CGMs normalized area ( Ao) and time ratio above hyperglycemic level ( To) are strongly correlated to insulin requirement. A screening test based on To is shown to have 100% sensitivity and 88% specificity discriminating insulin independence upon discharge.
Neurocysticercosis
Authors: Brutto Oscar H. Del
Published: September 2014

Neurocysticercosis, the most common helminthic infection of the nervous system, is a major cause of acquired epilepsy worldwide. The disease occurs when humans become intermediate hosts of the tapeworm Taenia solium after ingesting its eggs by contagion from an asymptomatic Taenia carrier. Within the nervous system, parasites may locate in brain parenchyma, subarachnoid space, ventricular system, or spinal cord, causing several pathological changes that are responsible for the clinical pleomorphism of the disease. Seizures are the most common clinical manifestation, but a sizable proportion of patients develop focal deficits, intracranial hypertension, or cognitive decline. Preoperative diagnosis of neurocysticercosis is possible after proper integration of data from neuroimaging studies and immunological tests. Cysticidal drugs (albendazole and praziquantel) have changed the prognosis of most patients with neurocysticercosis. The use of these drugs has shown to reduce the parasite load within the central nervous system and to improve the clinical prognosis of the disease in many cases. Future studies should focus on disease eradication through the implementation of control programs against all the interrelated steps in the life cycle of T solium, including human carriers of the adult tapeworm, infected pigs, and eggs in the environment.
The effects of omega-3 plus vitamin E and zinc plus vitamin C supplementation on cardiovascular risk markers in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Mahmoodi Mohammad Reza , Kimiagar Masoud , Mehrabi Yadollah
Published: September 2014

Background:

We investigate the effects of omega-3 plus vitamin E and vitamin C plus zinc supplementations on cardiovascular risk markers in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes.

Methods:

In this double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial, 75 postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to one of three groups to take, daily, for 12 weeks: (1) 1.8 g omega-3 fatty acids plus 400 mg vitamin E; (2) 5 mg zinc plus 300 mg vitamin C; or (3) a placebo.

Results:

Although the cardiovascular risk markers variations decreased at the end of intervention, we did not find any significant differences in cardiovascular risk markers between therapeutic groups and the control group. Results of repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) of markers showed that total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, Apo A1 and Apo B100 in two time periods were significant ( p = 0.001). The level of total and LDL cholesterol decreased significantly ( p = 0.05) in patients diagnosed with diabetes equal or less than 7 years in the group receiving omega-3 plus vitamin E. However, decreased LDL cholesterol ( p = 0.003) and increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ( p = 0.03) were predominant in patients who had been diagnosed with diabetes equal or less than 7 years in the group receiving zinc plus vitamin C.

Conclusion:

The effectiveness of nutraceutical supplementation was varied on biochemical biomarkers based on the kind of supplement or supplement pharmacogenomics, duration of diabetes affected and other pathophysiologic status in studied groups.
Profit Sharing in the German Metalworking and Electrical Engineering Industries
Authors: Haipeter Thomas , Slomka Christine
Published: September 2014

Profit sharing is an increasingly important component of pay in Germany and is the main reason for the intensification of wage drift that has been observed in recent years. However, little is known about how widespread it is, how it is collectively regulated, the regulatory practices that accompany it and the effects those practices have on works councils and unions. These questions are analysed with respect to the development of profit sharing in the German metalworking industry, where it is relatively widespread.

Our analysis shows that profit sharing is characterized by ambiguities and contradictions. On the one hand, it is contributing to the ongoing process of wage modernization; on the other hand, however, profit sharing is fuelling trends towards the fragmentation and financialization of pay. Moreover, although driving up actual wages, profit sharing is also a manifestation of an increasing redistribution of income between capital and labour, between firms and between different categories of employee.
Micro-Political Risk Factors for Strategic Alliances: Why Machiavelli's Animal Spirits Matter
Authors: Marshall Alasdair , Ojiako Udechukwu , Chipulu Max
Published: September 2014

Sociological perspectives on strategic alliances between firms are heavily influenced by economic theory. As such, they regard alliance entry, maintenance and exit decisions as following calculative rationalities concerned with the consequences for access to resources and transaction costs. Our theoretical article offers a contrasting sociological perspective whereby ‘animal spirits’ trump these calculative rationalities as factors in alliance decision making. Using Machiavelli's well-known psychological realism, we explain how ‘vulpine’ and ‘leonine’ animal spirits can shape psychological and cultural contexts for the micro-political aspects of alliance decision making.

This enables us to specify micro-political risk factors related to very common psycho-cultural differences, which we think all firms that forge alliances across cultural distance should consider.
Genome sequencing and analysis of Mangalica, a fatty local pig of Hungary
Authors: Molnár János , Nagy Tibor , Stéger Viktor , Tóth Gábor , Marincs Ferenc , Barta Endre
Published: September 2014

Background

Mangalicas are fatty type local/rare pig breeds with an increasing presence in the niche pork market in Hungary and in other countries. To explore their genetic resources, we have analysed data from next-generation sequencing of an individual male from each of three Mangalica breeds along with a local male Duroc pig. Structural variations, such as SNPs, INDELs and CNVs, were identified and particular genes with SNP variations were analysed with special emphasis on functions related to fat metabolism in pigs.

Results

More than 60 Gb of sequence data were generated for each of the sequenced individuals, resulting in 11× to 19× autosomal median coverage. After stringent filtering, around six million SNPs, of which approximately 10% are novel compared to the dbSNP138 database, were identified in each animal. Several hundred thousands of INDELs and about 1,000 CNV gains were also identified. The functional annotation of genes with exonic, non-synonymous SNPs, which are common in all three Mangalicas but are absent in either the reference genome or the sequenced Duroc of this study, highlighted 52 genes in lipid metabolism processes. Further analysis revealed that 41 of these genes are associated with lipid metabolic or regulatory pathways, 49 are in fat-metabolism and fatness-phenotype QTLs and, with the exception of ACACA, ANKRD23, GM2A, KIT, MOGAT2, MTTP, FASN, SGMS1, SLC27A6 and RETSAT, have not previously been associated with fat-related phenotypes.

Conclusions

Genome analysis of Mangalica breeds revealed that local/rare breeds could be a rich source of sequence variations not present in cosmopolitan/industrial breeds. The identified Mangalica variations may, therefore, be a very useful resource for future studies of agronomically important traits in pigs.
Applications of order-clustered fixed point theorems to generalized saddle point problems and preordered variational inequalities
Authors: Xie Linsen , Li Jinlu , Yang Wenshan
Published: September 2014

In this paper, we introduce the concepts of preordered Banach spaces, generalized saddle points and preordered variational inequalities. Then we apply the order-clustered fixed point theorems to prove the existence of solutions to these problems.

MSC:06A06, 47B48, 47B60, 49J40.
The potential of anti-malarial compounds derived from African medicinal plants, part III: an in silico evaluation of drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics profiling
Authors: Onguéné Pascal Amoa , Ntie-Kang Fidele , Mbah James Ajeck , Lifongo Lydia Likowo , Ndom Jean Claude , Sippl Wolfgang , Mbaze Luc Meva′a
Published: September 2014

Background

Malaria is an endemic disease affecting many countries in Tropical regions. In the search for compound hits for the design and/or development of new drugs against the disease, many research teams have resorted to African medicinal plants in order to identify lead compounds. Three-dimensional molecular models were generated for anti-malarial compounds of African origin (from 'weakly' active to 'highly' active), which were identified from literature sources. Selected computed molecular descriptors related to absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADMET) of the phytochemicals have been analysed and compared with those of known drugs in order to access the 'drug-likeness' of these compounds.

Results

In the present study, more than 500 anti-malarial compounds identified from 131 distinct medicinal plant species belonging to 44 plant families from the African flora have been considered. On the basis of Lipinski's 'Rule of Five', about 70% of the compounds were predicted to be orally bioavailable, while on the basis of Jorgensen's 'Rule of Three', a corresponding >80% were compliant. An overall drug-likeness parameter indicated that approximately 55% of the compounds could be potential leads for the development of drugs.

Conclusions

From the above analyses, it could be estimated that >50% of the compounds exhibiting anti-plasmodial/anti-malarial activities, derived from the African flora, could be starting points for drug discovery against malaria. The 3D models of the compounds have been included as an accompanying file and could be employed in virtual screening.
Theorizing written feedback as a mediation tool within the Sydney School’s genre pedagogy: a focus on ZPD and scaffolding
Authors: Devrim Devo Y
Published: September 2014

Despite the abundance of research on feedback in second language development, there is little agreement on what type of feedback is the most effective. Four perspectives emerge from the literature that investigates feedback, specifically: Second Language Acquisition (SLA), Second Language Writing (L2W), Sociocultural Theory (SCT) and the Sydney School’s genre pedagogy. The SLA and L2W approaches investigate the effectiveness of corrective feedback, the SCT and the Sydney School perspectives explore feedback as a supportive mediation tool. However, both corrective and supportive types of feedback gain importance in L2 literacy development. Therefore, this paper aims to categorise written feedback as a corrective and supportive tool drawing on the Sydney School’s genre pedagogy. An analysis of the feedback instances indicates that written feedback is more effective when it is cast in relation to students’ ZPD. The categorization presented in this paper offers a rich framework for L2 writing instructors, as it situates written feedback as a mediation tool based on the related notions of ZPD and scaffolding.
Uniqueness and Decay Properties of Markov Branching Processes with Disasters
Authors: Chen Anyue , Ng Kai Wang , Zhang Hanjun
Published: September 2014

In this paper we discuss the decay properties of Markov branching processes with disasters, including the decay parameter, invariant measures, and quasistationary distributions. After showing that the corresponding q-matrix Q is always regular and, thus, that the Feller minimal Q-process is honest, we obtain the exact value of the decay parameter λC. We show that the decay parameter can be easily expressed explicitly. We further show that the Markov branching process with disaster is always λC-positive. The invariant vectors, the invariant measures, and the quasidistributions are given explicitly.
Coupling Limit Order Books and Branching Random Walks
Authors: Simatos Florian
Published: September 2014

We consider a model for a one-sided limit order book proposed by Lakner, Reed and Stoikov (2013). We show that it can be coupled with a branching random walk and use this coupling to answer a nontrivial question about the long-term behavior of the price. The coupling relies on a classical idea of enriching the state space by artificially creating a filiation, in this context between orders of the book, which we believe has the potential of being useful for a broader class of models.
Automated State-Dependent Importance Sampling for Markov Jump Processes via Sampling from the Zero-Variance Distribution
Authors: Grace Adam W. , Kroese Dirk P. , Sandmann Werner
Published: September 2014

Many complex systems can be modeled via Markov jump processes. Applications include chemical reactions, population dynamics, and telecommunication networks. Rare-event estimation for such models can be difficult and is often computationally expensive, because typically many (or very long) paths of the Markov jump process need to be simulated in order to observe the rare event. We present a state-dependent importance sampling approach to this problem that is adaptive and uses Markov chain Monte Carlo to sample from the zero-variance importance sampling distribution. The method is applicable to a wide range of Markov jump processes and achieves high accuracy, while requiring only a small sample to obtain the importance parameters. We demonstrate its efficiency through benchmark examples in queueing theory and stochastic chemical kinetics.
On Stationary Distributions of Stochastic Neural Networks
Authors: Borovkov K. , Decrouez G. , Gilson M.
Published: September 2014

The paper deals with nonlinear Poisson neuron network models with bounded memory dynamics, which can include both Hebbian learning mechanisms and refractory periods. The state of the network is described by the times elapsed since its neurons fired within the post-synaptic transfer kernel memory span, and the current strengths of synaptic connections, the state spaces of our models being hierarchies of finite-dimensional components. We prove the ergodicity of the stochastic processes describing the behaviour of the networks, establish the existence of continuously differentiable stationary distribution densities (with respect to the Lebesgue measures of corresponding dimensionality) on the components of the state space, and find upper bounds for them. For the density components, we derive a system of differential equations that can be solved in a few simplest cases only. Approaches to approximate computation of the stationary density are discussed. One approach is to reduce the dimensionality of the problem by modifying the network so that each neuron cannot fire if the number of spikes it emitted within the post-synaptic transfer kernel memory span reaches a given threshold. We show that the stationary distribution of this ‘truncated’ network converges to that of the unrestricted network as the threshold increases, and that the convergence is at a superexponential rate. A complementary approach uses discrete Markov chain approximations to the network process.
Asymptotic Behaviour of the Time-Fractional Telegraph Equation
Authors: Vergara Vicente
Published: September 2014

We obtain the long-time behaviour to the variance of the distribution process associated with the solution of the telegraph equation. To this end, we use a version of the Karamata-Feller Tauberian theorem.
Kinematics of swimming and thrust production during powerstroking bouts of the swim frenzy in green turtle hatchlings
Authors: Booth David T.
Published: September 2014

Hatchling sea turtles emerge from nests, crawl down the beach and enter the sea where they typically enter a stereotypical hyperactive swimming frenzy. During this swim the front flippers are moved up and down in a flapping motion and are the primary source of thrust production. I used high-speed video linked with simultaneous measurement of thrust production in tethered hatchlings, along with high-speed video of free swimming hatchlings swimming at different water speeds in a swim flume to investigate the links between kinematics of front flipper movement, thrust production and swimming speed. In particular I tested the hypotheses that (1) increased swimming speed is achieved through an increased stroke rate; (2) force produced per stroke is proportional to stroke amplitude, (3) that forward thrust is produced during both the down and up phases of stroking; and (4) that peak thrust is produced towards the end of the downstroke cycle. Front flipper stroke rate was independent of water speed refuting the hypothesis that swimming speed is increased by increasing stroke rate. Instead differences in swimming speed were caused by a combination of varying flipper amplitude and the proportion of time spent powerstroking. Peak thrust produced per stroke varied within and between bouts of powerstroking, and these peaks in thrust were correlated with both flipper amplitude and flipper angular momentum during the downstroke supporting the hypothesis that stroke force is a function of stroke amplitude. Two distinct thrust production patterns were identified, monophasic in which a single peak in thrust was recorded during the later stages of the downstroke, and biphasic in which a small peak in thrust was recorded at the very end of the upstroke and this followed by a large peak in thrust during the later stages of the downstroke. The biphasic cycle occurs in ∼20% of hatchlings when they first started swimming, but disappeared after one to two hours of swimming. The hypothesis that forward thrust is produced during both the up and down stroke was only supported relatively rarely in hatchlings that exhibited the diphasic cycle, the majority of time forward thrust was only produced during the downstroke phase. The hypothesis that peak forward thrust is produced during the end of the downstroke was supported in both the monophasic and biphasic thrust producing stroke cycles.
HPS6 interacts with dynactin p150Glued to mediate retrograde trafficking and maturation of lysosomes
Authors: Li Ke , Yang Lin , Zhang Cheng , Niu Yang , Li Wei , Liu Jia-Jia
Published: September 2014

HPS6 was originally identified as a subunit of the BLOC-2 protein complex which is involved in the biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles (LRO). Here, we demonstrate that HPS6 directly interacts with the p150Glued subunit of the dynein–dynactin motor complex and acts as cargo adaptor for the retrograde motor to mediate transport of lysosomes from the cell periphery to the perinuclear region. Small interference RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown of HPS6 in HeLa cells not only partially blocks centripetal movement of lysosomes but also causes delay in lysosome-mediated protein degradation. Moreover, lysosomal acidification and degradative capacity as well as fusion between LE/MVB and lysosome are also impaired when HPS6 is depleted, suggesting that dynein–dynactin-mediated perinuclear positioning is required for lysosome maturation and activity. Our results have uncovered a novel specific role for HPS6 in the spatial distribution of the lysosomal compartment.
GRAF1a is a brain-specific protein promoting lipid droplet clustering and growth and enriched at lipid droplet junctions
Authors: Lucken-Ardjomande Häsler Safa , Vallis Yvonne , Jolin Helen E. , McKenzie Andrew N. , McMahon Harvey T.
Published: September 2014

Lipid droplets are found in all cell types. Normally present at low levels in the brain, they accumulate in tumours and are associated with neurodegenerative diseases. However, little is known about the mechanisms controlling their homeostasis in the brain. We have found that the longest GRAF1 isoform, GRAF1a, is enriched in the brains of neonates. Endogenous GRAF1a is found on lipid droplets in oleic-acid fed primary glial cells. Exclusive localization requires a GRAF1a-specific hydrophobic segment and two membrane-binding regions, a BAR and a PH domain. Overexpression of GRAF1a promotes lipid droplet clustering, inhibits droplet mobility and severely perturbs lipolysis following the chase of fatty acid-overloaded cells. Under these conditions, GRAF1a concentrates at the interface between lipid droplets. Although GRAF1 knockout mice do not show any gross abnormal phenotype, the total lipid droplet volume that accumulates in GRAF1−/− primary glia upon incubation with fatty acids is reduced compared to GRAF1+/+ cells. These results provide additional insights into the mechanisms contributing to lipid droplet growth in non-adipocyte cells, and suggest that proteins with membrane sculpting BAR domains play a role in droplet homeostasis.
Drosophila Yemanuclein is a cohesin and synaptonemal complex associated protein
Authors: Meyer Régis E. , Algazeery Ahmed , Capri Michèle , Brazier Hélène , Ferry Christine , Aït-Ahmed Ounissa
Published: September 2014

Meiosis is characterized by two chromosome segregation rounds (Meiosis I and II), which follow a single round of DNA replication, resulting in haploid genome formation. Chromosome reduction occurs at meiosis I. It relies on key structures, such as chiasma, which is formed by repair between homologous chromatids of a double-strand break (DSB) in one of them; to function for segregation of homologues chiasma in turn relies on maintenance of sister chromatid cohesion. In most species, chiasma formation requires the prior synapsis of homologous chromosome axes, which is signaled by the Synaptonemal Complex (SC), a tripartite proteinaceous structure specific to prophase I of meiosis. Yemanuclein (YEM) is a maternal factor that is crucial for sexual reproduction. It is required in the zygote for chromatin assembly of the male pronucleus as a histone H3.3 chaperone in complex with HIRA. We report here YEM association to the SC and the cohesin complex. A genetic interaction between yem1 (V478E) and the Spo11 homologue mei-W68, added to a yem1 dominant effect on crossover distribution suggest an early role in meiotic recombination. This is further supported by the impact of yem mutations on DSB kinetics. Hira mutant showed a similar effect presumably through disruption of HIRA-YEM complex.
Among- and within-individual correlations between basal and maximal metabolic rates in birds
Authors: Careau Vincent , Hoye Bethany , O'Dwyer Terry , Buttemer Bill
Published: September 2014

The aerobic capacity model proposes that endothermy is a by-product of selection favouring high maximal metabolic rates (MMR) and its mechanistic coupling with basal metabolic rate (BMR). Attempts to validate this model in birds are equivocal and restricted to phenotypic correlations (rP), thus failing to distinguish among- from within-individual correlations (rind and re). We examined 300 paired measurements of BMR and MMR from 60 house sparrows before and after two levels of experimental manipulation - testosterone implants and immune challenge. Overall, repeatability was significant in both BMR (R=0.25±0.06) and MMR (R=0.52±0.06). Only the testosterone treatment altered the rP between BMR and MMR, which resulted from contrasting effects on rind and re. While rind was high and significant (0.62±0.22) in sham-implanted birds, re was negative and marginally non-significant (-0.15±0.09) in testosterone-treated birds. Thus, the expected mechanistic link between BMR and MMR was apparent, but only in birds with low testosterone levels.
Incorporation of Heteropolyacids into Layered Silicate HUS-2 Grafted with 3-(Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane
Authors: Tsunoji Nao , Takahashi Keita , Sadakane Masahiro , Sano Tsuneji
Published: August 2014

A novel heterogeneous acid catalyst was prepared by the incorporation of Keggin (H3[PW12O40]) and Preyssler (H14[NaP5W30O110]) type heteropolyacids into the interlayer of a layered silicate Hiroshima University Silicate (HUS)-2 that was grafted with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane. Calcination of the Keggin-type heteropolyacid-incorporated HUS-2 at 400 °C for 6 h removed interlayer aminopropyl groups and considerably increased the BET surface area and the micropore volume to 206 m2 g−1 and 0.08 cm3 g−1, respectively. The Preyssler-type heteropolyacid-incorporated HUS-2 had a BET surface area of 216 m2 g−1 and a micropore volume of 0.09 cm3 g−1. The Keggin-type heteropolyacid-incorporated HUS-2 was found to be active for catalysis of the selective dehydration of ethanol to ethene.
Theoretical Basics for Building Economical and Effective Systems of Human Resources Management in Organizations (Lecture Two)
Authors: Кибанов  , Kibanov Ardalon
Published: September 2014

We go on with publishing lectures on the new discipline of “Economics Of Human Resources Management”. The paper discusses theoretical basics for building economical and effective systems designed to manage human resources of an organization, namely, goal-setting and principles of establishing organizational goals and goals for human resources management system, identifying functions of the said systems, classification of systems for human resources management using as an example of one of subsystems of human resources management system.
The Kondratieff Cycles and Technological Modes in the Economies of Russia and Developed Countries
Authors: Басовский  , Basovskiy Leonid
Published: September 2014

The paper presents research program for studying the Kondratieff cycles and

technological modes in the Russian and foreign countries economies. It is proposed

to identify Kondratieff (long) cycles through the use of spectral analysis

and econometric models of economic dynamics, and further, based on findings

on Kondratieff cycles, to design models of economic dynamics that reflect the

productivity of different technological modes. It is further proposed to build

technological modes based on V. Maevsky’s proposals. To evaluate how production

factors affect the process of technological modes development the

author proposes to build econometric models in the form of Cobb-Douglas

functions. To feed the models cross-sectional data provided by the Russian

Federal State Statistics Service should be used with the breakdown by regions.

Through the above-mentioned techniques the author has succeeded in identifying

Kondratieff cycles for a number of developed economies. Using the econometric

models with piecewise linear functions of technological modes impact

the author evaluates of modern technological modes efficiency in the developed

economies. Also the development of the fifth and the sixth technological modes

in the Russian economy is assessed. The author also forecasts the pace of

transiting to new technological modes in the RF and the foreign countries

for the period until 2030. It is evidenced that if current trends are in play,

the percentage of new technological modes in Russia will reach 30 per cent,

while in the developed economies the percentage of new technological modes

will get close to 100 per cent.
Comparison of chronic wound culture techniques: swab versus curetted tissue for microbial recovery
Authors: Smith Maria Elisa , Robinowitz Natanya , Chaulk Patrick , Johnson Kristine
Published: September 2014

Health-care professionals are increasingly relying on wound cultures as part of their clinical assessment. Tissue viability nurses in the UK use wound swabbing as the standard specimen-taking technique, but others are used globally and there is no worldwide standard. This study compares two wound culture techniques in uninfected chronic wounds of active and former injection drug users seeking care through a civic needle exchange mobile wound clinic. For each wound, two sampling approaches were applied during the same visit: swab culture and curetted tissue culture. A total of 12 chronic wounds were assessed among 9 patients, including 19 swab cultures and 19 tissue cultures. These 38 cultures grew a total of 157 individually identified bacterial organisms, including 27 anaerobic organisms (17.2%), 63 Gram-positive species (40.1%), and 67 Gram-negative species (42.7%). The swab technique yielded a greater percentage recovery rate of anaerobic (55.6%), Gram-positive (52.4%), and all species (51.6%) compared to tissue culture (P>0.05). Recovery of common wound species, such as methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the same using either method (50.0%). Swab and curetted tissue cultures yielded similar recovery rates for common wound bacteria. Therefore, swabs (including a vacuum transport container) may offer an advantage in the recovery of anaerobes. Based upon this analysis, the swabbased culture method for chronic wounds currently used in the UK is reasonable.
An evaluation of 3M Tegaderm Superabsorber dressing using an exudate management algorithm
Authors: Kerr Andrew J , Arrowsmith Martin
Published: September 2014

Exudate plays a vital role in wound healing by providing the wound with nutrients and creating an essential moist wound healing environment. However, high levels of exudate can become problematic and, in some wounds, increased levels of exudate can then become detrimental to wound healing and the surrounding tissue. This increase in exudate can be influenced by a variety of factors and its cause is not always taken into account within a management plan. This article presents the outcomes of a 10-patient case series selected for treatment with Tegaderm Superabsorber (3M) dressing using an exudate management/dressing selection algorithm. Overall, 9 of the 10 patients showed improvements in wound-related assessment parameters when their treatment was changed to include the superabsorbent dressing. One patient was withdrawn. Previous treatments had not included superabsorbent products. This case series of highly exudating wounds has demonstrated effective clinical outcomes using the Tegaderm Superabsorber dressing and reports the positive progress of wound symptoms and patient factors associated with better management of high levels of exudate.
1: Improving wellbeing of those living with a wound
Authors: Milne Jeanette
Published: September 2014

This article will explore how the physical effects of living with a wound—for example, pain, strikethrough, reduced mobility, stigma, malodour, visibility of the dressing, a risk the dressing will not stay in place, social isolation and low mood—can affect wellbeing.

Current wound-care strategies often focus solely on the management of the wound itself. Clinicians are often unprepared to help patients cope with the psychological effects, including the potential impact of the wound on their reported quality of life in domains such as loss of control, low mood, frustration, guilt, feeling unclean etc and their impact on the individual's ability to face the future.

Living with a wound has also been reported to reduce patient interaction with loved ones, friends and colleagues. Nurses commonly coordinate the care of patients with wounds; as such, they should be encouraged to adopt techniques that enable them to perform a holistic assessment of the effect of the wound on the patient's wellbeing. In order to do so, clinicians need access to education and tools and to perfect the communication skills needed to truly engage with patients. It is essential that any tools used offer a practical approach, as nurses already have busy clinical schedules, with lots of conflicting demands.
TLS-BasicADL: development and reliability of a new assessment scale to measure basic mobility and self-care
Authors: Asplin Gillian , Kjellby-Wendt Gunilla , Fagevik-Olsen Monika
Published: September 2014

Aims:

To describe the development and test reliability of a new assessment scale for measuring basic mobility and self-care: the Traffic Light System-BasicADL (TLS-BasicADL).

Subjects:

Eighteen occupational and physiotherapists took part in inter-rater, and 25 in intra-rater, reliability testing. Thirty inpatients admitted to an acute geriatric/orthopaedic unit, aged ≥70 years participated in inter-rater testing, 5 of whom were included in intra-rater testing.

Methods:

TLS-BasicADL was constructed by members of the interdisciplinary team at a geriatric unit. Items were generated from existing instruments, pilot testing and consensus meetings. Inter-rater testing was performed by two therapists simultaneously. Intra-rater reliability was examined using video-taped films of 5 patients. Therapists viewed and assessed 5 patients, then retested 4 weeks later. For inter-rater testing percentage agreement (PA) and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) were used, and for intra-rater reliability, PA.

Results:

Analysis of reliability showed high inter-rater (PA=86%; ICC=0.90) and fair intra-rater reliability (PA=≥72%) for mobility items.

Conclusion:

The new interdisciplinary assessment, TLS-BasicADL for measuring function in older persons in the acute hospital setting is shown to have high inter-rater and fair intra-rater reliability.
Healing outcomes of MRSA-infected wounds with a protocol combining Oakin dressing with elements of de-escalation theory
Authors: Graham G.S.
Published: September 2014

Objective:

This paper presents a novel wound healing protocol for the treatment of MRSA-infected lower extremity wounds of various etiologies, and describes the healing rate at 30, 60 and 90 days.

Method:

A total of 40 participants with singular wounds were enrolled and treated with a specially designed protocol, which involves elements of the de-escalation theory together with a wound dress containing Oakin, in a private practice setting or a wound care center. The primary endpoint was the number of participants who achieved wound closure at 90 days. Data analysed and collected included wound etiology, wound size, gender, healing time by setting, and days to heal overall. Due to the anticipated small cohort of wound types, several statistical calculations were considered, including one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and Levene's test.

Results:

All wounds were classified by etiology: 58% (n=23), diabetic neuropathic ulcers (DNU), 25% (n=10) venous insufficiency ulcers (VU), and 17% (n=7) pressure ulcers (PU). Overall, 35% (n=14) healed within 30 days (22.14 ± 4.47), 60% (n=24) healed in 60 days (31.76 ± 13.02), and 78% (n=31) healed in 90 days (40.81 ± 22.23). After 90 days, the remaining 23% (n=9) of participants were no longer followed.

Conclusion:

This clinical evaluation demonstrated the overall effectiveness of this treatment protocol by attaining nearly 80% wound closure within 90 days. This protocol is intended to provide a roadmap for clinicians to follow and adapt to their wound care practice should a high prevalence of MRSA-infected wounds be present.

Declaration of interest:

The author has disclosed that he has worked doing clinical case studies for Amerx Health Care Corp. and is on their speaker bureau. The author has also disclosed that he has no financial relationship or vested interest with Amerx Health Care Corp. No funding was provided by the NIH, Wellcome Trust, HHMI, or others.
Attainment of Developmental Tasks by Adolescents With Hearing Loss Attending Special Schools
Authors: Pinquart Martin , Pfeiffer Jens P.
Published: August 2014

T he investigators compared the perceived attainment of developmental tasks by 181 German adolescents with hearing loss and 254 peers without hearing loss. The adolescents with hearing loss were attending special schools for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. On average, the two groups perceived similar levels of success across the assessed developmental tasks. Nonetheless, the adolescents with hearing loss had fewer friends and were less likely to be peer-group leaders. While the adolescents who were deaf or hard of hearing perceived similar levels of attainment of their developmental tasks, those with congenital hearing loss reported less success in gaining access to a peer group than those with acquired hearing loss. However, the reverse was found for perceived attainment of occupational skills. The results indicate that students with hearing loss attending special schools tend to be successful at solving age-typical developmental tasks.
Virtual Environments as a Tool for Improving Sequence Ability of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children
Authors: Eden Sigal , Ingber Sara
Published: August 2014

T he study examined the efficacy of an early intervention program to improve children’s sequential time perception through virtual versus pictorial training in arranging episodes of temporal scripts. The researchers examined 65 deaf and hard of hearing children ages 4–7 years who were divided into two groups: (a) virtual environments technological intervention and (b) pictorial nontechnological intervention. Participants completed pretest and posttest measures. Both groups demonstrated significant improvement in sequential time achievement following intervention. However, the improvement was much more significant in the technological group.
Croesus, Xerxes, and the Denial of Death (Herodotus 1.29–34; 7.44–53)
Authors: Turpin William N.
Published: August 2014

Herodotus portrays both Croesus and Xerxes as resolutely unaware of their own mortality, despite conversations about the life span of an ordinary human (Croesus), and the mortality of his massive army (Xerxes). Part of what makes Croesus and Xerxes hubristic, for Herodotus, is their obliviousness to this salient aspect of their humanity.
Imperial Geographies in Tibullan Elegy
Authors: Keith Alison
Published: August 2014

This paper explores the extent and significance of “imperial geographies” in Tibullan elegy. I document the contemporary currency of the toponyms of Mediterranean geography in Tibullus’ elegies 1.3, 1.7, 2.2, and 2.3 and argue that Tibullus’ invocation of these sites is intimately correlated with both Roman imperialism and the poet’s own Callimachean commitments. By incorporating non-Latin vocabulary into its artistic matrix, Tibullus’ poetry participates, in its very linguistic texture, in the larger imperial projects of Augustan Rome while simultaneously illustrating its aesthetic engagement with Alexandrian poetics.
Managerialism as the “New” Discursive Masculinity in the University
Authors: Alemán Ana M. Martínez
Published: August 2014

Through its increasing corporatization in the last two decades, the university in the United States has implemented an organizational ideology that has created a climate unfavorable for women faculty. By overvaluing and intensifying managerial principles, the university in the United States has strengthened discursive masculinity and has worsened women faculty’s likelihood of professional advancement. Consequently, the adoption and implementation of managerialism in higher education in the United States is a question of gender equity for the academic profession. Feminist educational scholars have been relatively quiet on the growth of managerialism in the university and its impact on gender equity. In particular, feminist scrutiny of managerialism’s discursive masculinity and its effects on gender equity in the university has been lacking. This conceptual article presents a feminist analysis of managerialism and its implications for women faculty in the United States; it examines how managerial culture and practices adopted by universities have revived, reinforced, and deepened the discourse of masculinity.
Domestic Work, Affective Labor, and Social Reproduction in South Asian America: A Tribute to Laxmi Soni
Authors: Vora Neha
Published: August 2014

Like my parents, many post-1965 professional Indian migrants to the United States brought with them live-in domestic workers who were formative in the raising of second-generation South Asian diasporics like myself, often referred to in the literature as ABCDs, or "American-Born Confused Desis." Yet, both in explorations of second-generation South Asian diasporic identity and in more recent work that implicates class in the formation of NRI (Non-Resident Indian) subjects, this population has received little to no attention. Weaving together autoethnography with scholarly literature on both diaspora and domestic work, this article explores the role of domestic work and affective labor in the social reproduction of the Indian American diaspora through the story of Laxmi Soni (via my recollections), who worked as a nanny in my family for over eighteen years. I suggest academic approaches to nannies and other care workers that complicate the class- and race-based analyses that currently exist within the literature on globalization, the feminization of labor, and the so-called "chain of care."