bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Macro-Level Determinants of Local Government Interaction
Authors: Hendrick Rebecca , Shi Yu
Published: April 2014

Empirical and theoretical research on government competition and collaboration identifies several important macro-level characteristics that can affect these forms of interaction between local governments within the same large jurisdiction. These characteristics are fragmentation of governments, fiscal dispersion of governments, sorting of population by governments, and decentralized fiscal responsibility between state and local governments. This study presents indices to measure these characteristics and examines how metropolitan regions in the United States with populations greater than one million are distributed on these indices. The study also examines how these regions compare on conditions that are likely to motivate sales tax competition between municipal governments.
Evaluation of Generalized Performance Across Materials When Using Video Technology by Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Moderate Intellectual Disability
Authors: Mechling Linda C. , Ayres Kevin M. , Foster Ashley L. , Bryant Kathryn J.
Published: April 2014

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of four high school–aged students with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and moderate intellectual disability to generalize performance of skills when using materials different from those presented through video models. An adapted alternating treatments design was used to evaluate student performance when using materials depicted directly in the custom-made video programs compared with materials different from those depicted in the custom-made video programs. Results indicated that overall, students committed more errors and required more sessions to reach criteria when using the generalized materials; however, three of the four students completed tasks under Comparisons 1 and 2 with 100% accuracy when using materials that differed from those in the video model.
The Demand for Municipal Infrastructure Projects
Authors: Bates Laurie J. , Santerre Rexford E.
Published: April 2014

Many studies have investigated the determinants of current local public expenditures whereas only a few have studied the factors explaining the capital decision-making process at the local government level. This study uses a panel data set of Connecticut town and cities over the 2000 to 2010 period to estimate the local public demand for various types of capital infrastructure projects. The multiple regression analysis reveals a number of insights regarding the capital-investment decision of local communities. First, unlike the demand for current expenditures, the demand for capital-investment projects is elastic with respect to tax price. Second, unlike the demand for current expenditures, the demand for capital projects is not directly related to changes in income. Finally, intergovernmental grants are shown to be an important determinant of capital investment spending although the specific aid doesn’t always seem to stick where it initially hits.
Do State-funded Property Tax Exemptions Actually Provide Tax Relief? Georgia’s HTRG Program
Authors: Brien Spencer T. , Sjoquist David L.
Published: April 2014

We examine the effect of a state-funded property tax homestead exemptions on the burden of property taxes. This class of exemptions is characterized by a grant from the state to local governments that is intended to replace the reduction in property tax revenue due to the exemption. The median voter model predicts that part of the homestead exemption will be used to increase expenditures. In addition, fiscal illusion could reduce the effectiveness of this type of grant in lowering the tax burden. We test these predictions for the Georgia’s Homeowner’s Tax Relief Grant program by separately using panels of county-level data and school system data. We find that over one-third of funds transferred to counties through this program are used to increase revenues rather than provide tax relief. We find evidence of possible fiscal illusion for school systems.
Repositioning sovereignty? Sovereign encounters with organized crime and money laundering in the realm of accountants
Authors: Hörnqvist Magnus
Published: April 2014

This article repositions sovereignty on the basis of a study of recent regulatory approaches to organized crime and money laundering. The spread of techniques across administrative domains is traced through organizational documents and interviews with practitioners, and related to an observed trend toward integration between policing research and regulation research. The same trend, however, assigns sovereignty to the periphery. A richer notion of sovereignty is recovered through a reading of the classical theorists, and used to tease out the articulation of sovereignty in current state strategies. Theorizing ‘sovereignty at the center’ as opposed to ‘sovereignty at the periphery’ challenges basic assumptions about the relationship between the state and economic activity, and in particular about the utility-oriented character of state violence.
Hygiene, dirt and the shaping of a new man among the early Zionist halutzim
Authors: Hirsch Dafna
Published: April 2014

Personal hygiene has pride of place in two of the most important scholarly conceptualizations of the modern body: that of Norbert Elias and that of Michel Foucault. This article analyzes hygienic practices among early Zionist ideological workers – halutzim (lit. ‘pioneers’). Contrary to the image of the healthy and vigorous manual worker, physicians lamented the disregard for hygiene among the halutzim – a behavior which they attributed to the latter’s ignorance and indifference to matters of health. The halutzim, on their part, construed their hygienic misbehavior as signifying proletarization. However, a close examination of the practices of halutzim, and the meanings they attached to them, reveals a complex and contextual repertoire. As I argue through the case study of the halutzim, rather than a mere instance of discipline (Foucualt) or self-control (Elias), hygiene was a cultural repertoire which was open for appropriation and re-signification in various ways and for various purposes.
Analysis of patient satisfaction and donor-site morbidity after different types of breast reconstruction
Authors: Benditte-Klepetko H. C. , Lutgendorff F. , Kästenbauer T. , Deutinger M. , van der Horst C. M. A. M.
Published: April 2014

Background and Aims:

Breast reconstruction has been shown to improve quality of life. However, factors involved in long-term patient satisfaction are largely unknown. Our aim was to evaluate patient satisfaction and donor-site morbidity in five types of breast reconstruction.

Material and Methods:

A prospectively collected database of all breast surgery patients at Hospital Rudolfstiftung, Vienna, Austria, was searched for five types of breast reconstruction (2000–2006): implant, latissimus dorsi-flap, latissimus dorsi-flap with implant, free transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous-flap, and deep inferior epigastric perforator-flap. Patients were sent a study-specific questionnaire to assess satisfaction. Short-form 36-item health survey was used to analyze (quality of life), and complication data were retrieved from the database and assessed during a follow-up visit.

Results:

There were 257 patients identified, of whom, 126 responded to the survey (17 implant, 5 latissimus dorsi + implant, 64 latissimus dorsi, 22 transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous, and 18 deep inferior epigastric perforator reconstructions). No statistical differences were found in complication or reoperation rates. Deep inferior epigastric perforator–flap patients were significantly more satisfied compared to patients from the implant group ( p = 0.007). However, there was no significant difference regarding quality of life scores among the groups. After logistic regression analysis, only “impairment on daily life” showed to be independently correlated with patient satisfaction. This contrary to both operation type and complication rate which did not correlate with patient satisfaction.

Conclusions:

Our results indicate that operation type, complication rate, and revision rate did not independently correlate with patient satisfaction. Therefore, to further improve patient satisfaction, future research should be focused on other pro-operative factors, for example, patient education, expectations, and personality characteristics.
Controversies in Initial Management of Open Fractures
Authors: Ryan S. P. , Pugliano V.
Published: April 2014

Background:

Treatment of open fractures continues to be a challenge for orthopedic and trauma surgeons, and early treatment recommendations, which persist in the literature for decades, often do not have supporting data.

Methods:

This is a critical review of the literature surrounding controversies in the initial management of open fractures. It also focuses on the utility of negative pressure dressings in the care of associated complex wounds. Studies were selected based on their relevance to the treatment of open fractures.

Results:

A total of 40 studies were included. The following topics were critically discussed: timing of initial debridement, antibiotic coverage, utility of obtaining cultures, and timing of wound closure.

Conclusion:

The majority of open fractures require urgent, not emergent, irrigation and debridement. Antibiotics are essential in preventing infection in open fractures. Timely wound closure after all necrotic tissue has been debrided decreases complications in open fractures. Finally, negative pressure wound therapy has dramatically changed the care of associated complex wounds.
Factors predicting the development of early osteoarthritis following lateral tibial plateau fractures: mid-term clinical and radiographic outcomes of 73 operatively treated patients
Authors: Parkkinen M. , Madanat R. , Mustonen A. , Koskinen S. K. , Paavola M. , Lindahl J.
Published: April 2014

Background and Aims:

The indications for operative treatment of lateral tibial plateau fractures are still controversial. The objective of this study was to determine whether residual articular surface depression and valgus malalignment of plated lateral tibial plateau fractures at medium-term follow-up affect the clinical and radiographic outcomes.

Material and Methods:

A chart review of patients with operatively treated (AO type B3.1) tibial plateau fractures that were admitted to our level I trauma center between 2002 and 2008 was performed. Out of 123 patients, 73 were available to participate in a clinical and radiographic follow-up examination. The mean follow-up time was 54 months. Patients were clinically assessed and completed the Lysholm knee score and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index. Maximal articular surface depression, radiological mechanical axis, and degree of posttraumatic osteoarthritis were evaluated from standing radiographs.

Results:

Patients with valgus malalignment of 5° or greater at follow-up developed more advanced osteoarthritis (Kellgren–Lawrence grade 3–4) than patients with a normal mechanical axis (p = 0.006). Similarly, patients with articular depression greater than 2 mm at follow-up also developed more advanced osteoarthritis compared to patients with a depression of 2 mm or less (p = 0.001). The degree of valgus malalignment or articular depression had no effect on the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index or Lysholm scores.

Conclusions:

The postoperative articular congruity and normal mechanical axis of the lower leg after plate fixation in lateral tibial plateau fractures seem to have a role in prevention of posttraumatic osteoarthritis but does not appear to predict clinical outcome at medium-term follow-up. The role of initial dislocation and associated cartilage damage in the development of osteoarthritis following these fractures is still unknown.
Through the 10-mm Looking Glass: Advances in Minimally Invasive Surgery in Trauma
Authors: Grushka J. , Ginzburg E.
Published: April 2014

Background:

Minimally invasive surgery is increasingly being used in trauma surgery as both a diagnostic and a therapeutic tool. However, significant debate regarding the accuracy, safety, and indications for minimally invasive surgery in trauma continues to impede widespread acceptance of these techniques among trauma surgeons.

Method:

Herein, we report a contemporary review of the current role of both laparoscopy and thoracoscopy in modern trauma surgery. Literature search was performed using PubMed database and the following keywords: “Trauma,” “Minimally Invasive Surgery,” “Laparoscopy,” and “Thoracoscopy.”

Results:

Current recommendations advocate for the use of laparoscopy as a diagnostic tool in penetrating trauma for the diagnosis of diaphragm injuries and peritoneal violation. A significant body of research demonstrates that laparoscopy in select hemodynamically normal patients can significantly decrease nontherapeutic laparotomy rates and hospital costs and is highly sensitive and specific with very low missed injury rates, including small bowel injuries. Laparoscopic repairs to a wide breadth of abdominal and thoracic injuries have been reported with impressive results. Adherence to a standardized laparoscopic examination system and routine use of laparoscopy in elective or acute care practice strongly influence positive results with minimally invasive surgery in trauma. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is most commonly used for evaluation of diaphragm, evacuation of retained hemothorax, and management of ongoing bleeding post-trauma.

Conclusion:

Minimally invasive surgery does offer several advantages compared to traditional open surgery and should be considered as an additional tool in the trauma surgeon’s armamentarium in the care of select injured patients.
The diagnostic value of a panel of serological markers in acute appendicitis
Authors: Farooqui W. , Pommergaard H-C. , Burcharth J. , Eriksen J. R.
Published: April 2014

Background:

Appendicitis is a frequent reason for hospital admissions. Elevated C-reactive protein, white blood cell count, and serum bilirubin have been suggested as individual markers for appendicitis and appendiceal perforation. The aim of this study was to analyze if a combination of serologic markers could increase the prognostic accuracy of diagnosing non-perforated and perforated appendicitis.

Material and Methods:

Demographic data, histological findings, blood tests, and clinical symptoms were collected on all patients who underwent a diagnostic laparoscopy, a laparoscopic appendectomy, or conventional (open) appendectomy between May 2009 and May 2012 from a surgical department. The patients were grouped into those with either perforated appendicitis, non-perforated appendicitis, or differential diagnosis. Univariate and multivariate models were used to identify which markers were useful in predicting acute and perforated appendicitis, and receiving operating characteristics curves were used to find the specificity, sensitivity, and the negative and positive predictive values.

Results:

A total of 1008 patients were operated under suspicion of appendicitis. From these, 700 patients had a pathologically verified inflamed appendix and 190 had a perforated appendix. Patients with acute appendicitis had significantly higher blood levels of white blood cell, bilirubin, C-reactive protein, and alanine transaminase than patients without appendicitis. Patients with perforated appendicitis had significantly higher levels of white blood cell, bilirubin, and C-reactive protein than patients with non-perforated appendicitis. The highest positive predictive value to discriminate between acute appendicitis and non-appendicitis was of a linear regression model combining white blood cell count, bilirubin, and alanine transaminase. C-reactive protein levels and a linear regression model, including white blood cell count, bilirubin, and C-reactive protein levels as variables, had the highest negative predictive values when discriminating between perforated and non-perforated appendicitis.

Conclusion:

Combining blood markers was useful in predicting appendicitis and perforated appendicitis. In addition to C-reactive protein and white cell count, blood levels of bilirubin, and alanine transaminase may be useful.
Deliberative and non-deliberative persuasion: Mechanisms of opinion formation in EuroPolis
Authors: Gerber Marlène , Bächtiger André , Fiket Irena , Steenbergen Marco , Steiner Jürg
Published: April 2014

From a normative vantage point, post-deliberative opinions should be linked to the quality of arguments presented during discussion. Yet, there is a dearth of research testing this claim. Our study makes a first attempt to overcome this deficiency. By analyzing a European deliberative poll on third country migration, we explore whether statements backed by reason affect opinions, which we term deliberative persuasion. We contrast deliberative persuasion to non-deliberative persuasion, whereby we explore whether the most frequently repeated position influences opinions. We find that with regard to regularization of irregular immigrants, deliberative persuasion took place. In the context of European involvement in immigration affairs, however, opinions are driven by the most frequently repeated position rather than by the quality of argumentation.
Aliskiren and losartan trial in non-diabetic chronic kidney disease
Authors: Woo Keng-Thye , Choong Hui-Lin , Wong Kok-Seng , Tan Han-Kim , Foo Marjorie , Fook-Chong Stephanie , Lee Evan JC , Anantharaman Vathsala , Lee Grace SL , Chan Choong-Meng
Published: April 2014

Introduction:

This is a report of a clinical trial on the therapeutic efficacy and safety of combined aliskiren and losartan (an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB)) versus aliskiren alone and ARB alone in non-diabetic chronic kidney disease (CKD) over a 3-year period.

Materials and methods:

This was a randomised trial in 155 patients with non-diabetic CKD comparing aliskiren (150 mg/day) ( n=52) versus losartan (100 mg/day) ( n=52) and the third group aliskiren (150 mg/day) combined with losartan (100 mg/day) ( n=51). The trial utilised primary renal end points of eGFR <15 ml/min or end-stage renal failure.

Results:

All three groups had significant reduction of proteinuria ( p<0.001 for all). The changes in eGFR, total urinary protein from baseline to each year were not significantly different between the three therapeutic groups.

Conclusion:

This study in non-diabetic CKD patients showed that combination therapy with aliskiren and ARB was as efficacious as aliskiren alone and ARB alone. There was one patient who developed a non-fatal stroke in the combined aliskiren and ARB group while the other two groups had none.
An outsider’s ethnographic thoughts about design
Authors: Agar Michael
Published: April 2014

This article gives Michael Agar’s email responses to two questions put by Gavin Melles: ‘What are your thoughts on the advantages and dangers of developments in applied anthropology for ethnographic and anthropology practice?’ and ‘What are your impressions of the potential and actual use of ethnography in design?’ The responses open further questions regarding the assumptions involved in the methodology and application of design research, and the scope of ‘design’ as a dynamic category extending beyond the production of objects for end-users to making change in social and environmental systems.
Improving Contraceptive Choice
Authors: Garbers Samantha , Flandrick Kathleen , Bermudez Dayana , Meserve Allison , Chiasson Mary Ann
Published: April 2014

Interventions to reduce unintended pregnancy through improved contraceptive use are a public health priority. A comprehensive process evaluation of a contraceptive assessment module intervention with demonstrated efficacy was undertaken. The 12-month process evaluation goal was to describe the extent to which the intervention was implemented as intended over time, and to identify programmatic adjustments to improve implementation fidelity. Quantitative and qualitative methods included staff surveys, electronic health record data, usage monitoring, and observations. Fidelity of implementation was low overall (<10% of eligible patients completed the entire module [dose received]). Although a midcourse correction making the module available in clinical areas led to increased dose delivered (23% vs. 30%, chi-square test p = .006), dose received did not increase significantly after this adjustment. Contextual factors including competing organizational and staff priorities and staff buy-in limited the level of implementation and precluded adoption of some strategies such as adjusting patient flow. Using a process evaluation framework enabled the research team to identify and address complexities inherent in effectiveness studies and facilitated the alignment of program and context.
Making Mobile Browser Surveys Smarter
Authors: Buskirk Trent D. , Andrus Charles H.
Published: April 2014

With nearly 50% of U.S. mobile phone subscribers using smartphones, survey researchers are beginning to explore their use as a data collection tool. The Got Healthy Apps Study (GHAS) conducted a randomized experiment to compare mode effects for a survey completed via iPhone mobile browser and online via desktop/laptop computer web browser. Mode effects were assessed for three types of outcomes: randomization/recruitment, survey process/completion, and survey items. In short, the distribution of survey completion times and the distribution of the number of apps owned were significantly different across survey mode after accounting for block group. Other key mode effects outcomes (including open-ended items, slider bar questions, and missing item rates) showed no significant differences across survey mode. Some interesting qualitative findings suggest that iPhone respondents enter more characters and omit fewer items than originally thought.
Minding the Terrazzo Gap between Athletes and Nonathletes
Authors: Payne Brian C. , Bredthauer Jeffery S. , Martin John A. , Merrell Jeffrey C.
Published: April 2014

The tension between focusing on collegiate athletic or academic performance has persisted for decades. A recent study finds that recruited athletes in college athletic programs underperform academically, earning lower grades than predicted. It postulates that increased representativeness and integration efforts will enhance the academic value of college athletes’ experience. The U.S. Air Force Academy system presents a natural experiment of whether such efforts can affect student-athlete academic performance. In this setting, we find that student-athletes perform comparably to nonathletes after controlling for predicted academic performance.
Microscale technologies for regulating human stem cell differentiation
Authors: Cimetta Elisa , Vunjak-Novakovic Gordana
Published: April 2014

During development and regeneration, tissues emerge from coordinated sequences of stem cell renewal, specialization, and assembly that are orchestrated by cascades of regulatory factors. This complex in vivo milieu, while necessary to fully recapitulate biology and to properly engineer progenitor cells, is difficult to replicate in vitro. We are just starting to fully realize the importance of the entire context of cell microenvironment—the other cells, three-dimensional matrix, molecular and physical signals. Bioengineered environments that combine tissue-specific transport and signaling are critical to study cellular responses at biologically relevant scales and in settings predictive of human condition. We therefore developed microbioreactors that couple the application of fast dynamic changes in environmental signals with versatile, high-throughput operation and imaging capability. Our base device is a microfluidic platform with an array of microwells containing cells or tissue constructs that are exposed to stable concentration gradients. Mathematical modeling of flow and mass transport can predict the shape of these gradients and the kinetic changes in local concentrations. A single platform, the size of a microscope slide, contains up to 120 biological samples. As an example of application, we describe studies of cell fate specification and mesodermal lineage commitment in human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells. The embryoid bodies formed from these cells were subjected to single and multiple concentration gradients of Wnt3a, Activin A, bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4), and their inhibitors, and the gene expression profiles were correlated to the concentration gradients of morphogens to identify the exact conditions for mesodermal differentiation.
Dental Practice Scenario in a Government Homeopathic Hospital in West Bengal, India
Authors: Ghosh Shubhamoy , Panja Shamik , Ghosh Tarak Nath , Sharma Pawan , Sarkar Piyali , Koley Munmun , Saha Subhranil
Published: April 2014

This pilot investigation initiated a research-targeted systematic dental homeopathy data collection in the dental outpatient section in a government homeopathic hospital in West Bengal, India. One conventionally trained dentist and 3 homeopathic doctors collected data from 949 appointments of 411 patients over 3 months. A specifically designed Excel spreadsheet enabled recording of consecutive dental appointments that was subjected to data synthesis and analysis in the end. A total of 87.3% conditions were chronic, and chronic periodontitis was most frequent (27.5%). Positive outcome was observed in 72.3% appointments. Strongly positive outcomes (scores of +2 or +3) were achieved most notably in toothache (84.6%). Single medicines were prescribed in 83.5% encounters, and mostly in tincture form (29.9%). Arnica montana constituted of 17.8% prescriptions. Considerable insight was gained into the homeopathic dental practice scenario in West Bengal, India. Positive findings suggest that dental homeopathy is a promising area for research in near future.
Is Unsolicited Support Protective or Destructive in Collectivistic Culture? Receipt of Unsolicited Job Leads and Depression in Urban China
Authors: Song Lijun
Published: April 2014

Is receipt of unsolicited support—aid that is passively obtained without asking—protective or destructive in collectivistic culture? This study focuses on receipt of unsolicited job leads and examines competing hypotheses on its direct and indirect effects (through financial dissatisfaction) on depression using unique nationally representative data of working-age urban adults in China. Its direct effect should be negative from the distress-reducing perspective but positive from the distress-inducing perspective. Its indirect effect should be negative based on the stress prevention model but positive predicted by comparative reference group theory. Also, the reinforced collectivistic norm explanation expects the distress-reducing perspective and the stress prevention model to have stronger explanatory power in China. Results from path analysis support the distress-inducing perspective and comparative reference group theory. Receipt of unsolicited job leads is positively associated with depression partially through financial dissatisfaction in urban China.
Lower risk for serious adverse events and no increased risk for cancer after PBSC vs BM donation
Authors: Pulsipher Michael A. , Chitphakdithai Pintip , Logan Brent R. , Navarro Willis H. , Levine John E. , Miller John P. , Shaw Bronwen E. , O’Donnell Paul V. , Majhail Navneet S. , Confer Dennis L.
Published: April 2014

Key Points

BM donors have a threefold higher risk for life-threatening, serious unexpected, or chronic adverse events vs PBSC donors (0.99% vs 0.31%). Donors receiving granulocyte colony-stimulating factor for PBSC collection had no evidence of increased risk for cancer, autoimmune illness, and stroke.
A haemodynamic study of pulmonary hypertension in chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis
Authors: Oliveira Rudolf K.F. , Pereira Carlos A.C. , Ramos Roberta P. , Ferreira Eloara V.M. , Messina Carolina M.S. , Kuranishi Lilian T. , Gimenez Andrea , Campos Orlando , Silva Célia M.C. , Ota-Arakaki Jaquelina S.
Published: April 2014

Chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis is a common fibrotic interstitial lung disease. The prevalence of pulmonary hypertension diagnosed by right heart catheterisation and its cardiopulmonary function findings in patients with chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis are unknown.

Consecutive symptomatic patients with chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis were prospectively evaluated. All patients were submitted to right heart catheterisation, pulmonary function testing, a 6-min walk test, echocardiography, blood gas determination and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide analyses. Nonhypoxaemic patients also underwent incremental cardiopulmonary exercise testing.

50 patients underwent right heart catheterisation; 25 (50%) of these had pulmonary hypertension and 22 (44%) had a pre-capillary haemodynamic pattern. The patients with pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension had lower forced vital capacity (mean±sd50±17%versus69±22% predicted, p<0.01), carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (37±12%versus47±14% predicted, p<0.01), arterial oxygen tension (median (interquartile range) 59.0 (47.8–69.3)versus73.0 (62.2–78.5) mmHg, p<0.01) and saturation after the 6-min walk test (78±8%versus86±7%, p<0.01). In pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension, oxygen uptake was also lower at the anaerobic threshold (41±11%versus50±8% predicted, p=0.04) and at peak exercise (12.8±1.6versus15.0±2.5 mL·kg−1·min−1, p=0.02).

Pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension is common in symptomatic chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis and is related to interstitial lung disease severity. Additionally, pulmonary hypertension is more prevalent in hypoxaemic patients with impaired lung function and exercise capacity.
A missed opportunity – consequences of unknown levetiracepam pharmacokinetics in a peritoneal dialysis patient
Authors: Bahte Svenja K , Hiss Marcus , Lichtinghagen Ralf , Kielstein Jan T
Published: April 2014

Background

Levetiracetam is a frequently used drug in the therapy of partial onset, myoclonic and generalized tonic-clonic seizures. The main route of elimination is via the kidneys, which eliminate 66% of the unchanged drug as well as 24% as inactive metabolite that stems from enzymatic hydrolysis. Therefore dose adjustments are needed in patients with chronic kidney disease stage 5 D, i.e. patients undergoing dialysis treatment. In this patient population a dose reduction by 50% is recommended, so that patients receive 250–750 mg every 12 hours. However “dialysis” can be performed in using different modalities and treatment intensities. For most of the drugs pharmacokinetic data and dosing recommendations for patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis are not available. This is the first report on levetiracetam pharmacokinetics in a peritoneal dialysis patient.

Case presentation

A 73-y-old Caucasian male (height: 160 cm, weight 93 kg, BMI 36.3 kg/m2) was admitted with a Glasgow Coma Scale of 10. Due to diabetic and hypertensive nephropathy he was undergoing peritoneal dialysis for two years. Eight weeks prior he was put on levetiracetam 500 mg twice daily for suspected partial seizures with secondary generalization. According to the patient’s wife, levetiracetam lead to fatigue and somnolence leading to trauma with fracture of the metatarsal bone. Indeed, even 24 hours after discontinuation of levetiracetam blood level was still 29.8 mg/l (therapeutic range: 12 – 46 mg/l). Fatigue and stupor had disappeared five days after discontinuation of the levetiracepam. A single dose pharamockinetic after re-exposure showed an increased half life of 18.4 hours (normal half life 7 hours) and levetiracetam content in the peritoneal dialysate. Both half-life and dialysate content might help to guide dosing in this patient population.

Conclusion

If levetiracetam is used in peritoneal dialysis patients it should be regularly monitored to avoid supratherapeutic levels that could lead to severe sequelae.
The effect of topically applied tissue expanders on radial forearm skin pliability: A prospective self-controlled study
Authors: Chung Jeffson , Bonaparte James P , Odell Michael , Corsten Martin
Published: April 2014

Background

The use of pre-operatively applied topical tissue expansion tapes have previously demonstrated increased rates of primary closure of radial forearm free flap donor sites. This is associated with a reduced cost of care as well as improved cosmetic appearance of the donor site. Unfortunately, little is known about the biomechanical changes these tapes cause in the forearm skin. This study tested the hypothesis that the use of topically applied tissue expansion tapes will result in an increase in forearm skin pliability in patients undergoing radial forearm free flap surgery.

Methods

Twenty-four patients scheduled for head and neck surgery requiring a radial forearm free flap were enrolled in this prospective self-controlled observational study. DynaClose tissue expansion tapes (registered Canica Design Inc, Almonte, Canada) were applied across the forearm one week pre-operatively. Immediately prior to surgery, the skin pliability of the dorsal and volar forearm sites were measured with the Cutometer MPA 580 (registered Courage-Khazaka Electronic GmbH, Cologne, Germany) on both the treatment and contralateral (control) arms. Paired t-tests were used to compare treatment to control at both sites, with p < 0.025 defined as statistically significant.

Results

There was a statistically significant increase in pliability by a mean of 0.05 mm (SD = 0.09 mm) between treatment and control arms on the dorsal site (95% CI [0.01, 0.08], p = 0.018). This corresponded to an 8% increase in pliability. In contrast, the volar site did not show a statistically significant difference between treatment and control (mean difference = 0.04 mm, SD = 0.20 mm, 95% CI [−0.04, 0.12], p = 0.30).

Conclusions

This result provides evidence that the pre-operative application of topical tissue expansion tapes produces measurable changes in skin biomechanical properties. The location of this change on the dorsal forearm is consistent with the method of tape application. While this increase in skin pliability may account for the improved rate of primary donor site closure reported using this technique, the results did not reach our definition of clinical significance.
Do Tetranychus urticae males avoid mating with familiar females?
Authors: Yoshioka Tsubasa , Yano Shuichi
Published: April 2014

The two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae usually lives in kin groups under common webs. Since only the first mating results in fertilisation in female T. urticae, adult males guard quiescent deutonymph females, those at the stage immediately before maturation, to ensure paternity. Therefore, the cost of precopulatory guarding time seems considerable for males. Moreover, the fitness indices of daughters from intra-population crosses were significantly lower than those of daughters from inter-population crosses, indicating that inbreeding depression exists in T. urticae. Therefore, we hypothesised that T. urticae males should be choosy in guarding familiar females to avoid inbreeding depression. Furthermore, webs should be a key element of the environment shared by familiar individuals. In this study, we demonstrated the inbreeding avoidance mechanism of T. urticae males in relation to webs produced by familiar females (known webs) or unfamiliar females (unknown webs). Regardless of surrounding webs (known or unknown), males preferred unfamiliar to familiar females. We further examined whether males detect unfamiliar females by their webs. When males had experienced a female's web without encountering that female, they subsequently preferred females that did not produce the surrounding webs in which the choice experiment was conducted. Results suggest that putative kin recognition for inbreeding avoidance in T. urticae males is based on the relationship between webs and females, and not on the discrimination of webs in shared environments.
Osmoregulation in the Hawaiian anchialine shrimpHalocaridina rubra(Crustacea: Atyidae): expression of ion transporters, mitochondria-rich cell proliferation, and hemolymph osmolality during salinity transfers
Authors: Havird Justin C. , Santos Scott R. , Henry Raymond P.
Published: April 2014

Studies of euryhaline crustaceans have identified conserved osmoregulatory adaptions allowing hyper-osmoregulation in dilute waters. However, previous studies have mainly examined decapod brachyurans with marine ancestries inhabiting estuaries or tidal creeks on a seasonal basis. Here, we describe osmoregulation in the atyid Halocaridina rubra, an endemic Hawaiian shrimp of freshwater ancestry from the islands' anchialine ecosystem (coastal ponds with subsurface fresh water and seawater connections) that encounters near-continuous spatial and temporal salinity changes. Given this, survival and osmoregulatory responses were examined over a wide salinity range. In the laboratory, H. rubra tolerated salinities of ~0-56‰, acting as both a hyper- and hypo-osmoregulator and maintaining a maximum osmotic gradient of ~868 mOsm/kg H2O in freshwater. Furthermore, hemolymph osmolality was more stable during salinity transfers relative to other crustaceans. Silver nitrate and vital mitochondria-rich cell staining suggest all gills are osmoregulatory, with a large proportion of each individual gill functioning in ion transport (including when H. rubra acts as an osmoconformer in seawater). Additionally, expression of ion transporters and supporting enzymes that typically undergo up-regulation during salinity transfer in osmoregulatory gills (i.e., Na+/K+-ATPase, carbonic anhydrase, Na+/K+/2Cl- cotransporter, V-type H+-ATPase, and arginine kinase) were generally unaltered in H. rubra during similar transfers. These results suggest H. rubra (and possibly other anchialine species) maintains high, constitutive levels of gene expression and ion transport capability in the gills as a means of potentially coping with the fluctuating salinities that are encountered in anchialine habitats. Thus, anchialine taxa represent an interesting avenue for future physiological research.
Control of moth flight posture is mediated by wing mechanosensory feedback
Authors: Dickerson Bradley H. , Aldworth Zane N. , Daniel Tom L.
Published: April 2014

Flying insects rapidly stabilize after perturbations using both visual and mechanosensory inputs for active control. Insect halteres are mechanosensory organs that encode inertial forces to aid rapid course correction during flight but serve no aerodynamic role and are specific to two orders of insects (Diptera and Strepsiptera). Aside from the literature on halteres and recent work on the antennae of the hawkmoth Manduca sexta, it is unclear how other flying insects use mechanosensory information to control body dynamics. The mechanosensory structures found on the halteres, campaniform sensilla, are also present on wings, suggesting that the wings can encode information about flight dynamics. We show that the neurons innervating these sensilla on the forewings of Manduca exhibit spike-timing precision comparable to that seen in previous reports of campaniform sensilla, including haltere neurons. In addition, by attaching magnets to the wings of moths, and subjecting these animals to a simulated pitch stimulus via a rotating magnetic field during tethered flight, we elicited the same vertical abdominal flexion reflex these animals exhibit in response to visual or inertial pitch stimuli. Our results indicate that, in addition to their role as actuators during locomotion, insect wings serve as sensors that initiate reflexes that control body dynamics.
Thermoresponsive Self-assembly and Conformational Changes of Amphiphilic Monodisperse Short Poly(ethylene glycol)s in Water
Authors: Sadhukhan Nabanita , Muraoka Takahiro , Abe Daisuke , Sasanuma Yuji , Subekti Dwiky Rendra Graha , Kinbara Kazushi
Published: April 2014

Physicochemical and supramolecular properties of monodisperse amphiphilic short poly(ethylene glycol)s (PEGs) bearing a phenyl group at the one end are studied to investigate the effects of substitution and length of the PEG unit on these properties. It was found that the aromatic substitution encourages these molecules to adopt gauche conformation at the neighboring ethylene units of PEGs and that the octaethylene glycol derivative revealed more PEG-like thermal response of aggregation than the tetraethylene glycol derivative.
Synthesis and Photoluminescence Properties of Mn4+-doped BaMg6Ti6O19 Phosphor
Authors: Sasaki Takuya , Fukushima Jun , Hayashi Yamato , Takizawa Hirotsugu
Published: April 2014

A Mn4+-doped BaMg6Ti6O19 red phosphor was synthesized by a solid-state reaction. This phosphor showed red emission with a peak at 660 nm because of the 2E → 4A2 transition of Mn4+ upon excitation in the region from near ultraviolet to blue. The specimen doped with 0.1% Mn and synthesized at 1250 °C exhibited the maximum emission intensity. BaMg6Ti6O19:Mn4+ is a novel red phosphor of titanate, which is the host material.
The Anthropogenic Impact on Surface Water Resources in Azerbaijan
Authors: Aliyev Fagan G. , Khalilova H. Kh.
Published: April 2014

The development of oil-gas, chemical and petrochemical industries is associated with the discharge of large amount of toxic substances into the environment. The present paper discusses the impact of anthropogenic discharges on surface water resources in case of four water basins in the Absheron industrial region - Boyuk-Shore, Hoja-Hasan, Bulbula and Girmizy lakes. Water samples collected from different parts of these lakes were analyzed for temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), salinity, electrical conductivity, petroleum compounds, phenols, heavy metals, biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), surface active agents (SAA), suspended particulates as well as nitrite, nitrate, ammonium and chloride contents. In addition, bottom sediments of the lakes were analyzed for petroleum compounds, heavy metals, nitrates and sulfates. The results show that long-term anthropogenic impact has led to the destruction of important water basins in the Absheron Peninsula.
Calculations of in-cylinder flow of a controlled auto-ignition (CAI) engine
Authors: Beauquel J. , Ibrahim S. , Chen R.
Published: April 2014

After validation of the numerical model against published laser doppler anemometry (LDA) experimental data (Pitcher et al., 2003), numerical calculations have been carried out to investigate the in-cylinder transient flow structure of a controlled auto-ignition (CAI) engine running at speeds of 1,500 rpm and 2,000 rpm. The geometry configuration of the engine is imported into the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code used in this study. The simulations take into account the movement of the inlet, exhaust valves and the piston. To simulate an engine in controlled auto-ignition (CAI) mode, the same valve timing that allows 36% gas residuals was applied to the model. The evolution of the flow pattern inside the cylinder at the symmetrical cross section is described. Also, the turbulence intensity (TI), the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) and turbulent dissipation rate (TDR) are described for a better understanding of the effect of engine speed on the turbulences generated. The effects of engine speed on fresh charge velocity are also revealed.
Color difference formulae evaluation by method of adjustment
Authors: Abbasi A. , Vik M. , Vikova M.
Published: April 2014

This experiment was carried out to test color difference formulae by method of adjustment. 6 different color centers (Red, Yellow, Green, Blue-Green, Blue and Violet) were chosen for this psychophysical experiment. 336 virtual sample pairs were prepared. The mean color difference was three CIELAB units. Each pair was assessed by a panel of 15 observers using psychophysical methods called Method of Adjustment. These visual data were used to test color-difference formulae: CIELAB, CMC, CIE94, DIN99d and CIE2000 with the help of simple statistical measures i.e., PF/3 and Stress. It was found that the visual results obtained from psychophysical method of adjustment show that CIE94 as well as DIN99d still perform well for small color differences.
RNA secondary structure modeling at consistent high accuracy using differential SHAPE
Authors: Rice Greggory M. , Leonard Christopher W. , Weeks Kevin M.
Published: April 2014

RNA secondary structure modeling is a challenging problem, and recent successes have raised the standards for accuracy, consistency, and tractability. Large increases in accuracy have been achieved by including data on reactivity toward chemical probes: Incorporation of 1M7 SHAPE reactivity data into an mfold-class algorithm results in median accuracies for base pair prediction that exceed 90%. However, a few RNA structures are modeled with significantly lower accuracy. Here, we show that incorporating differential reactivities from the NMIA and 1M6 reagents—which detect noncanonical and tertiary interactions—into prediction algorithms results in highly accurate secondary structure models for RNAs that were previously shown to be difficult to model. For these RNAs, 93% of accepted canonical base pairs were recovered in SHAPE-directed models. Discrepancies between accepted and modeled structures were small and appear to reflect genuine structural differences. Three-reagent SHAPE-directed modeling scales concisely to structurally complex RNAs to resolve the in-solution secondary structure analysis problem for many classes of RNA.
Paclitaxel and Trastuzumab for Breast Cancer
Authors: Lehmann Thomas , Solimando Dominic A. , Waddell J. Aubrey
Published: April 2014

The complexity of cancer chemotherapy requires pharmacists be familiar with the complicated regimens and highly toxic agents used. This column reviews various issues related to preparation, dispensing, and administration of antineoplastic therapy, and the agents, both commercially available and investigational, used to treat malignant diseases.
Medication Safety and Pharmacovigilance Resources for the Ambulatory Care Setting: Enhancing Patient Safety
Authors: Gershman Jennifer A. , Fass Andrea D.
Published: April 2014

Reputable medication safety resources are fundamental to assist in reducing medication errors and educating consumers. The purpose of this article is to describe medication safety and pharmacovigilance electronic and mobile resources that are available to pharmacists to enhance patient safety in the ambulatory care setting at the national level through the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), American Medicine Chest Challenge, and Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP). Information concerning drug disposal methods is available through the FDA, DEA, and the American Medicine Chest Challenge Rx Drop app. The ISMP provides a variety of tools for reporting and preventing medication errors including Assess-ERR and ConsumerMedSafety.org . Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) were created as a requirement of the FDA Amendments Act of 2007 to ensure that the drug's benefits outweigh the risks. Health care professionals are encouraged to report adverse drug events through the FDA's MedWatch reporting system. Pharmacists have a variety of useful resources for their medication safety and pharmacovigilance toolbox. Studies should evaluate the use of these resources by pharmacists and consumers.