bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reproducibility of the water drinking test in treated glaucomatous patients
Authors: Babic Mirko , De Moraes C Gustavo , Hatanaka Marcelo , Ju Guilherme , Susanna Remo
Published: September 2014

Background

To evaluate the reproducibility of intraocular pressure peaks and fluctuation elicited during the water drinking test in treated glaucomatous patients with a long follow‐up interval.

Design

Retrospective cohort study in a tertiary care practice.

Participants

Thirty‐four treated primary open‐angle glaucoma patients.

Methods

All patients underwent the water drinking test performed in two consecutive visits without any change in the therapeutic regimen. The mean interval between tests was 4.85 (range: 3–6) months. Reproducibility of peak and fluctuation during the water drinking test was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients. Bland–Altman analysis was used to assess the agreement of intraocular pressure peaks and fluctuation measured between two consecutive tests.

Main Outcome Measures

Intraclass correlation and agreement of intraocular pressure peaks and fluctuation between visits.

Results

There were no significant differences in baseline intraocular pressure values (mean ± standard deviation, 11.73 ± 2.36 and 11.61 ± 2.71 mmHg; P = 0.72) and peaks (14.55 ± 3.41 and 15.02 ± 3.66 mmHg, respectively; P = 0.163) detected during the water drinking test between the first and second visits. There was also no significant difference between the average intraocular pressure fluctuation values (2.82 ± 1.99 and 3.41 ± 2.54 mmHg, respectively; P = 0.135). Intraocular pressure peaks and fluctuation presented intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.85 (P < 0.001) and 0.50 (P < 0.001), respectively.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate excellent reproducibility of intraocular pressure peaks during the water drinking test. Intraocular pressure fluctuation did not reveal good reproducibility, though. These results emphasize the applicability of this test to assess treatment efficacy in daily practice and interventional studies.
Changes in Metabolites after Treatment with Memantine in Fibromyalgia. A Double‐Blind Randomized Controlled Trial with Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy with a 6‐month Follow‐up
Authors: Fayed Nicolás , Olivan‐Blázquez Bárbara , Herrera‐Mercadal Paola , Puebla‐Guedea Marta , Pérez‐Yus Mari‐Cruz , Andrés Eva , López del Hoyo Yolanda , Magallon Rosa , Viguera Laura , Garcia‐Campayo Javier
Published: September 2014

Aim

To evaluate the efficacy of memantine on metabolite levels in different areas of the brain and to determine whether changes in metabolite levels correlate with clinical variables in Fibromyalgia (FM) patients.

Methods

Doubled‐blind parallel randomized controlled trial. Twenty‐five patients diagnosed with FM were enrolled in the study. Patients were administered questionnaires on pain, anxiety, depression, quality of life, and cognitive impairment, and single‐voxel MRS of the brain was performed. All assessments were performed at baseline and after 6 months of treatment with memantine or placebo.

Results

Patients treated with memantine exhibited a significant increase in the glutamate (P = 0.010), glutamate/creatine ratio (P = 0.013), combined glutamate + glutamine (P = 0.016) and total N‐acetyl‐aspartate (NAA+NAAG) (P = 0.034) in the posterior cingulate cortex compared with those on placebo. Furthermore, the memantine group exhibited increases in creatine (P = 0.013) and choline (Cho) (P = 0.025) in the right posterior insula and also a correlation between choline and the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) in the posterior insula (P = 0.050) was observed.

Conclusion

Memantine treatment resulted in an increase in cerebral metabolism in FM patients, suggesting its utility for the treatment of the illness.
Cross‐reactivity between citral and geraniol – can it be attributed to oxidized geraniol?
Authors: Hagvall Lina , Bråred Christensson Johanna
Published: September 2014

Background

The fragrance compound geraniol is susceptible to autoxidation when in contact with air, and to cutaneous metabolism. In both processes, the isomeric aldehydes geranial and neral are formed. Citral consists of geranial and neral. Among patients with positive reactions to citral, we have previously detected concomitant reactions to geraniol in 85% of cases and to oxidized geraniol in 73% of cases.

Objective

To study the pattern of concomitant reactions to geraniol and citral and its isomers geranial and neral, and to determine whether these isomers are important sensitizers in contact allergy to geraniol and oxidized geraniol.

Patients and methods

The irritancy of geranial and citral was studied. Six hundred and fifty‐five patients were patch tested with geranial, neral and citral at 3.5% pet., pure geraniol at 6.0% and 11.0% pet., and oxidized geraniol at 6.0% pet.

Results

Twenty‐six per cent of citral‐positive patients reacted to oxidized geraniol, and 10.5% reacted to pure geraniol. Citral and/or its isomers gave positive reactions in 25% of the patients who reacted to pure geraniol.

Conclusions

There is little cross‐reactivity between pure geraniol and citral; however, concomitant reactions to citral and oxidized geraniol were common, owing to geranial. Geranial was also the main sensitizer in the mixture citral.
Field validation shows bias‐corrected pseudo‐absence selection is the best method for predictive species‐distribution modelling
Authors: Hertzog Lionel R. , Besnard Aurélien , Jay‐Robert Pierre
Published: September 2014

Aim

To determine the performance of different pseudo‐absence selection strategies on the prediction of species‐distribution models after 30 years of regional climatic and land use changes.

Location

Continental France and the Iberian Peninsula.

Methods

In this study, we used a large database of Coprophagous Scarabaeidae beetle records collected between 1970 and 1980 in continental France and the Iberian Peninsula to assess the relative performance of different modelling methods in predicting species distributions using current climate and land use information. We usedmaxentwith standard settings and boosted regression trees with three different approaches to generate pseudo‐absences. We used historical data to model species distribution and then projected the models into the present. Each method's performance was then assessed by specific field sampling conducted at 20 different sites.

Results

Field validation demonstrated that model predictions were more accurate when pseudo‐absence data were selected from a sampling bias grid and that model evaluations based on test datasets can lead to false conclusions if not correctly calibrated. The study also demonstrated that the method in which pseudo‐absences are dealt with has a major impact on ecological conclusions.

Main conclusion

Correcting for spatial bias in collections datasets is of great importance for predicting future trends in species distributions. Uncorrected models showed a strong bias in their predicted species richness patterns.
New method of direct percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy tube placement using balloon‐assisted enteroscopy with fluoroscopy
Authors: Velázquez‐Aviña Jacobo , Beyer Ryan , Díaz‐Tobar Claudia P. , Peter Shajan , Kyanam Kabir Baig Kondal R. , Wilcox C. Mel , Mönkemüller Klaus
Published: September 2014

Background and Aim

Direct percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy (DPEJ) is a useful method to provide nutrition to patients with a variety of gastrointestinal (GI) problems. The present study describes a new method of DPEJ using balloon‐assisted‐enteroscopy.

Methods

This observational, retrospective, single‐arm case study conducted at a tertiary care hospital during a 15‐month period included 25 patients (12 females, 13 males, mean age 54 years, age range 31–79 years) with necrotizing pancreatitis, n = 7; complex upper GI surgery, n = 6; complex fistula, n = 6; impossibility to place a gastrostomy tube, n = 5; and bowel obstruction, n = 1. The new DPEJ technique focused on three key components: (i) use of balloon‐assisted overtube; (ii) use of fluoroscopy; (iii) leaving the overtube in place during the entire procedure (and also for DPEJ removal).

Results

Technical success was 96%. Mean time of the procedure was 30.5 min (range 24 to 45 min). Clinical success was 100% (24/24); all DPEJ could be used for their intended purpose.

Conclusions

This new method of inserting a DPEJ using balloon enteroscopy and fluoroscopy was safe and successful. Future comparative studies are now warranted.
Current status of capsule endoscopy through a whole digestive tract
Authors: Hosoe Naoki , Naganuma Makoto , Ogata Haruhiko
Published: September 2014

More than a decade has passed since small‐bowel capsule endoscopy (CE) was first reported. Small‐bowel CE is a non‐invasive tool that allows visualization of the entire small‐intestinal mucosa and facilitates detection of small‐intestinal abnormalities. Several studies have shown benefit of small‐bowel CE for certain disorders. Because it is non‐invasive, CE has been applied to other organs including the esophagus, stomach, and colon. The main indications for esophageal CE (ECE) are screening for gastroesophageal reflux disease/Barrett's esophagus, and esophageal varices. However, the clinical benefit of ECE is unconfirmed. Magnetically guided CE (MGCE) was developed to visualize the gastric mucosa. MGCE is a new concept with room for improvement of capsule navigation and the preparation protocol. Recently, two new small‐bowel CE tools were released. First‐generation colon CE (CCE‐1) has moderate sensitivity and specificity compared with colonoscopy for colorectal neoplasia surveillance. To obtain higher accuracy, a second‐generation CCE (CCE‐2) was developed with a high sensitivity for detecting clinically relevant polypoid lesions. A possible application of CCE is for inflammatory bowel disease. In the near future, CE may include diagnostic and therapeutic functions such as magnifying endoscopy systems, targeted biopsy forceps, and drug delivery systems.
Implications of ongoing neural development for the measurement of the error‐related negativity in childhood
Authors: DuPuis David , Ram Nilam , Willner Cynthia J. , Karalunas Sarah , Segalowitz Sidney J. , Gatzke‐Kopp Lisa M.
Published: September 2014

Event‐related potentials (ERPs) have been proposed as biomarkers capable of reflecting individual differences in neural processing not necessarily detectable at the behavioral level. However, the role of ERPs in developmental research could be hampered by current methodological approaches to quantification. ERPs are extracted as an average waveform over many trials; however, actual amplitudes would be misrepresented by an average if there was high trial‐to‐trial variability in signal latency. Low signal temporal consistency is thought to be a characteristic of immature neural systems, although consistency is not routinely measured in ERP research. The present study examined the differential contributions of signal strength and temporal consistency across trials in the error‐related negativity (ERN) in 6‐year‐old children, as well as the developmental changes that occur in these measures. The 234 children were assessed annually in kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade. At all assessments signal strength and temporal consistency were highly correlated with the average ERN amplitude, and were not correlated with each other. Consistent with previous findings, ERN deflections in the averaged waveform increased with age. This was found to be a function of developmental increases in signal temporal consistency, whereas signal strength showed a significant decline across this time period. In addition, average ERN amplitudes showed low‐to‐moderate stability across the three assessments whereas signal strength was highly stable. In contrast, signal temporal consistency did not evidence rank‐order stability across these ages. Signal strength appears to reflect a stable individual trait whereas developmental changes in temporal consistency may be experientially influenced.
A Serendipitous Identification of a Lead Extraction Complication
Authors: Madden George , Farrukh Omar , Stavrakis Stavros , Sivaram C. A.
Published: September 2014

A 57‐year‐old male with a dual chamber pacemaker and symptomatic, persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) accompanying a febrile illness presented for elective transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)‐guided cardioversion. The patient was found to have a large 2.5 cm × 2.3 cm, mobile mass attached to the right atrial lead. Following device and lead extraction, he developed progressive shortness of breath which was attributed to his underlying arrhythmia. One month later, AF ablation was pursued and preablation TEE revealed a dilated main pulmonary artery with a 1.8 cm × 1.6 cm mass in the distal left pulmonary artery, which was corroborated by a 1.4 cm × 2.5 cm filling defect in the descending left pulmonary artery on magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). To our knowledge, this is the first case report to document the distal migration of vegetation material into the pulmonary artery with serial TEE and highlights the risk of pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients with large endocardial lead vegetations undergoing transvenous lead extraction.
Assessment of sensorimotor gating following selective lesions of cholinergic pedunculopontine neurons
Authors: MacLaren Duncan A. A. , Markovic Tamara , Clark Stewart D.
Published: September 2014

Sensorimotor gating is the state‐dependent transfer of sensory information into a motor system. When this occurs at an early stage of the processing stream it enables stimuli to be filtered out or partially ignored, thereby reducing the demands placed on advanced systems. Prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle reflex (ASR) is the standard measure of sensorimotor gating. A brainstem–midbrain circuitry is widely viewed as mediating both PPI and ASR. In this circuitry, the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg) integrates sensory input and cortico‐basal ganglia output and, via presumed cholinergic signaling, inhibits ASR‐generating neurons within the reticular formation. Non‐selective damage to all neuronal types within PPTg reduces PPI. We assessed whether this effect originates in the loss of cholinergic signaling by examining ASR and PPI in rats bearing non‐selective (excitotoxic) or selective cholinergic (Dtx‐UII) lesions of PPTg. Excitotoxic lesions had no effect on ASR but reduced PPI at all prepulse levels tested. In contrast, selective depletion of cholinergic neurons reduced ASR to the extent that PPI was not measurable with standard (10–20 s) inter‐trial intervals. Subsequent testing revealed appreciable ASRs could be generated when the inter‐trial interval was increased (180 s). Under these conditions, PPI was assessed and no deficits were found after lesions of cholinergic PPTg neurons. These results show that cholinergic output from PPTg is essential for rapidly regenerating the ASR, but has no influence on PPI. Results are discussed in terms of sensorimotor integration circuitry and psychiatric disorders that feature disrupted ASR and PPI.
Birth outcomes after prenatal exposure to antiepileptic drugs—A population‐based study
Authors: Kilic Demet , Pedersen Henrik , Kjaersgaard Maiken Ina Siegismund , Parner Erik Thorlund , Vestergaard Mogens , Sørensen Merete Juul , Olsen Jørn , Bech Bodil Hammer , Christensen Jakob , Pedersen Lars Henning
Published: September 2014

Objective

We studied the potential impact of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) on fetal growth and gestational age at birth.

Methods

In the Danish Medical Birth Registry, we identified all pregnancies with birth outcomes from 1997 to 2008 and linked with data from the Danish National Prescription Register. We used binomial regression to study preterm birth (<37 weeks), low birth weight (<2,500 g), and small for gestational age (SGA), adjusted for potential confounding factors including maternal age, smoking, substance abuse, cohabitation, income, education, and parity.

Results

We identified 679,762 singletons, and 2,928 (0.4%) of these had been exposed to AEDs. Exposure to AEDs was associated with a risk of preterm birth (adjusted risk ratio (aRR) 1.32; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16–1.50) when compared to unexposed children. However, when stratifying on maternal epilepsy, there was no association between AED exposure and preterm birth in offspring of women with epilepsy (aRR 1.00; 95% CI 0.82–1.21), whereas there was a risk associated with AED exposure in offspring of women without epilepsy (aRR 1.56; 95% CI 1.27–1.92). AED exposure was associated with a risk of being born with low birth weight (aRR 1.40; 95% CI 1.22–1.60) both for children born of women with epilepsy (aRR 1.32; 95% CI 1.06–1.63) and children born of women without epilepsy (aRR 1.61; 95% CI 1.28–2.02). The risk of being born SGA associated with AED exposure (aRR 1.21; 95% CI 1.10–1.34) was found both in offspring of women with epilepsy (aRR 1.19; 95% CI 1.02–1.37) and without epilepsy (aRR 1.21; 95% CI 1.01–1.45).

Significance

Prenatal AED exposure was associated with low birth weight and risk of being born SGA, but only with preterm birth among women without epilepsy.
Quantitative molecular viral loads in 7 horses with naturally occurring equine herpesvirus‐1 infection
Authors: Estell K. E. , Dawson D. R. , Magdesian K. G. , Swain E. , Laing S. T. , Siso S. , Mapes S. , Pusterla N.
Published: September 2014

Reasons for performing study

Data associating quantitative viral load with severity, clinical signs and survival in equine herpesvirus‐1 myeloencephalopathy (EHM) have not been reported.

Objectives

To report the clinical signs, treatment, and temporal progression of viral loads in 7 horses with naturally occurring EHM and to examine the association of these factors with survival.

Study design

Retrospective case series.

Methods

The population included 7 horses with EHM presented to the University of California, Davis William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital from May to September 2011. Horses were graded using a neurological grading scale. Daily quantitative PCR was performed on nasal secretions and whole blood. Treatment, survival, outcome and histopathology were reported.

Results

At presentation, one horse was neurological grade 5/5, 3 were grade 4/5 and 3 were grade 3/5. All were treated with anti‐inflammatory drugs, valacyclovir and management in a sling if necessary. All were infected with equine herpesvirus‐1 of DNA polymerase D752 genotype. Peak viral load in nasal secretions and blood of 5 survivors ranged from 6.9 × 103 to 2.81 × 105 (median 5.11 × 104) and from 143 to 4340 gB gene copies/million eukaryotic cells (median 3146), respectively. The 2 nonsurvivors presented with grade 3/5 neurological signs and progressed to encephalopathy. Peak viral load was higher in nonsurvivors, with levels in nasal secretions of 1.9 × 109 and 2.2 × 109 and in blood of 2.05 × 104 and 1.02 × 105 gB gene copies/million eukaryotic cells. Case fatality was 2/7.

Conclusions

Nonsurvivors had viral loads 1000‐fold higher in nasal secretions and 10‐fold higher in blood than survivors. There was no relationship between severity of clinical signs at presentation and survival. Thus, encephalopathy and high viral load were negatively associated with survival in this population. Further research should be performed to determine whether high viral loads are associated with encephalopathy and poor prognosis.

The Summary is available in Chinese – see Supporting information.
Processing of CXCL12 impedes the recruitment of endothelial progenitor cells in diabetic wound healing
Authors: Feng Guang , Hao Daifeng , Chai Jiake
Published: September 2014

High blood sugar levels result in defective wound healing processes in diabetic patients. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play an important role in vasculogenesis, and thereby contribute to reconstitution of the microcirculation and healing. This study aimed to determine the possible mechanism by which the numbers of circulating EPCs are regulated in response to tissue wounding. In the streptozotocin‐induced diabetic mouse model, we found that phagocytes activated by local inflammatory cytokines in the wound interfere with the mobilization and recruitment of EPCs to the lesion area. Specifically, the activated macrophages inactivate CXCL12, the major chemokine for EPC recruitment, via matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and thereby prevent local chemotaxis and subsequent homing of EPCs to the wound. The wound healing process is delayed by local administration of inflammatory cytokines, and its rate is increased by MMP inhibitors. This study indicates that local inhibition of MMPs is beneficial for regeneration of damaged vessels, and may explain poor wound healing in diabetic patients, thus demonstrating its potential utility as a local treatment therapy to promote diabetic wound healing.
Carbon accumulation in a permafrost polygon peatland: steady long‐term rates in spite of shifts between dry and wet conditions
Authors: Gao Yang , Couwenberg John
Published: September 2014

Ice‐wedge polygon peatlands contain a substantial part of the carbon stored in permafrost soils. However, little is known about their long‐term carbon accumulation rates (CAR) in relation to shifts in vegetation and climate. We collected four peat profiles from one single polygon in NE Yakutia and cut them into contiguous 0.5 cm slices. Pollen density interpolation between AMS 14C dated levels provided the time span contained in each of the sample slices, which – in combination with the volumetric carbon content – allowed for the reconstruction of CAR over decadal and centennial timescales. Vegetation representing dry palaeo‐ridges and wet depressions was reconstructed with detailed micro‐ and macrofossil analysis. We found repeated shifts between wet and dry conditions during the past millennium. Dry ridges with associated permafrost growth originated during phases of (relatively) warm summer temperature and collapsed during relatively cold phases, illustrating the important role of vegetation and peat as intermediaries between ambient air temperature and the permafrost. The average long‐term CAR across the four profiles was 10.6 ± 5.5 g C m−2 yr−1. Time‐weighted mean CAR did not differ significantly between wet depression and dry ridge/hummock phases (10.6 ± 5.2 g C m−2 yr−1 and 10.3 ± 5.7 g C m−2 yr−1, respectively). Although we observed increased CAR in relation to warm shifts, we also found changes in the opposite direction and the highest CAR actually occurred during the Little Ice Age. In fact, CAR rather seems to be governed by strong internal feedback mechanisms and has roughly remained stable on centennial time scales. The absence of significant differences in CAR between dry ridge and wet depression phases suggests that recent warming and associated expansion of shrubs will not affect long‐term rates of carbon burial in ice‐wedge polygon peatlands.
Questioning the use of an amphibian colour morph as an indicator of climate change
Authors: Moore Jean‐David , Ouellet Martin
Published: September 2014

The effects of recent climate changes on earth ecosystems are likely among the most important ecological concerns in human history. Good bioindicators are essential to properly assess the magnitude of these changes. In the last decades, studies have suggested that the morph proportion of the eastern red‐backed salamander (Plethodon cinereus), one of the most widely distributed and abundant vertebrate species in forests of eastern North America, could be used as a proxy for monitoring climate changes. Based on new discoveries in the northern areas of the species' range and on one of the largest compilation ever made for a vertebrate in North America (236 109 observations compiled from 1880 to 2013 in 1148 localities), we demonstrate however that climatic and geographic variables do not influence the colour morph proportions in P. cinereus populations. Consequently, we show that the use of colour morph proportions of this species do not perform as an indicator of climate change. Our findings indicate that bioindicator paradigms can be significantly challenged by new ecological research and more representative databases.
Testing for Spatial Independence Using Similarity Relations
Authors: Farber Steven , Marin Manuel Ruiz , Páez Antonio
Published: September 2014

In this article, we construct new, simple, and nonparametric tests for spatial independence using symbolic analysis. An important aspect is that the tests are free of a priori assumptions about the functional form of dependence, making them especially suitable in situations where the dependence is nonlinear. We define the concept of a similarity relation, which is used to keep track of similarity between neighboring observations. This similarity count is used to construct new statistical tests based on both random permutation simulations and derived asymptotic distributions. We include a Monte Carlo study to better illustrate the properties and the behavior of the new tests under several synthetically generated processes. Apart from being competitive compared with other nonparametric and parametric tests, results underline the outstanding power of the new tests for nonlinear‐dependent spatial processes.
Analyzing Hotspots of Crime Using aBayesian Spatiotemporal Modeling Approach: A Case Study of Violent Crime in theGreaterTorontoArea
Authors: Law Jane , Quick Matthew , Chan Ping W.
Published: September 2014

Conventional methods used to identify crime hotspots at the small‐area scale are frequentist and employ data for one time period. Methodologically, these approaches are limited by an inability to overcome the small number problem, which occurs in spatiotemporal analysis at the small‐area level when crime and population counts for areas are low. The small number problem may lead to unstable risk estimates and unreliable results. Also, conventional approaches use only one data observation per area, providing limited information about the temporal processes influencing hotspots and how law enforcement resources should be allocated to manage crime change. Examining violent crime in theRegionalMunicipality ofYork,Ontario, for 2006 and 2007, this research illustrates aBayesian spatiotemporal modeling approach that analyzes crime trend and identifies hotspots while addressing the small number problem and overcoming limitations of conventional frequentist methods. Specifically, this research tests for an overall trend of violent crime for the study region, determines area‐specific violent crime trends for small‐area units, and identifies hotspots based on crime trend from 2006 to 2007. Overall violent crime trend was found to be insignificant despite increasing area‐specific trends in the north and decreasing area‐specific trends in the southeast. Posterior probabilities of area‐specific trends greater than zero were mapped to identify hotspots, highlighting hotspots in the north of the study region. We discuss the conceptual differences between thisBayesian spatiotemporal method and conventional frequentist approaches as well as the effectiveness of thisBayesian spatiotemporal approach for identifying hotspots from a law enforcement perspective.
The Evolution and Complexity of Urban Street Networks
Authors: Mohajeri Nahid , Gudmundsson Agust
Published: September 2014

Street networks are one of the very few types of complex networks where the history of the network can be traced over long periods of time. Here, we introduce methods for quantifying the geometric characteristics of street networks and analyze the details of the evolution of the networks of Sheffield (U.K.), Khorramabad (Iran), and Kerman (Iran) over tens to hundreds of years. The results suggest that the spatial distribution of streets, in particular their lengths and orientations and associated entropies, is strongly affected by the surrounding landscapes but in different ways. The length entropies are mostly controlled by the space available for network growth, whereas the orientation entropies are mostly controlled by the shapes of the constraining landscape features. Thus, the network of Khorramabad, located in a narrow crescent‐shaped valley, shows the smallest increase in length entropy (space constraints) and the largest in orientation entropy (shape constraints) over time. By contrast, the network of Kerman, in a flat desert area with essentially no space or shape constraints, has the largest increase in length entropy and the smallest increase in orientation entropy over time. The network of Sheffield, a city subject to moderate landscape constraints of hills and valleys, has length and orientation entropies that fall between these extremes.
Unraveling the Spatial Patterns of Everyday Life in Chinese Cities – A Comparative Study Between Beijing and Tianjin
Authors: Sheng Qiang
Published: September 2014

This paper presents a spatial research on the relationship between street pattern and the vitality of everyday life in the city center of Beijing and Tianjin. It illustrates how traditional street pattern as a hierarchical and introverted spatial structure is transformed by modern development and how this change can affect the use of local places. A detailed mapping of local shops inside 179 urban blocks in Beijing and 114 urban blocks in Tianjin was conducted. The space syntax software was utilized to measure the external and internal spatial conditions involved in the emergence and clustering of these shops. The findings suggest that even in the imported regular grid structure, local Chinese inhabitants still appropriate these extroverted spaces in an introverted way.
Understanding the Role of Communication in Promoting Active and Activist Citizenship
Authors: Hammett Daniel
Published: September 2014

State and nation‐building practices are central to governments around the world. The definition of citizenship – of who does and does not belong, and the rights, obligations and practices associated with being a citizen – is at the crux of these concerns. This article considers what is meant by citizenship and explores the ways in which government ideals of the ‘active’ citizen are negotiated and translated by citizens in everyday life, often resulting in the emergence of the ‘activist’ citizen. Particular attention is paid to the ways in which the idea(l)s of citizenship are communicated and contested, not only by governments through citizenship education and citizenship tests but also by civil society and citizens who draw upon multiple influences to contest and makes claims to citizenship in ways that disrupt government ideas of ‘good citizenship’. Of growing concern to these negotiations are the ways in which multiple stakeholders use new technologies and social media to in engage in, and mobilise around, debates about values, meanings and practices of citizenship.
Environmental Governance at the Core of Statecraft: Unresolved Questions and Inbuilt Tensions
Authors: Ioris Antonio Augusto Rossotto
Published: September 2014

The state is not only a main environmental player, but its involvement in environmental regulation has major consequences for the dynamics of statecraft. Environmental governance is the expression that better summarises the ongoing transformations of state interventions and the search for more flexible, adaptive approaches. A growing body of scholarly work has tried to establish the connections between the failures of environmental governance and the wider commitments of the state. What is largely missing in those studies is the synergy between environmental governance and the statecraft model put forward by Hegel in the early period of the industrial, liberal capitalism. Recent environmental policies have been particularly influenced by the Hegelian constitutional theory, especially considering the pursuit of legitimacy and flexibility. Consequently, the central challenge for geographers and other scholars of environmental governance is still to identify the changes in the rationale and configuration of the state apparatus and relate them to the wider political ecology of state action.
The Economic Geographies of Aquaculture
Authors: Lim Guanie , Neo Harvey
Published: September 2014

Fish protein is projected to make up increasing proportions of our protein intake in the years to come with increasing supply coming from aquaculture. Despite its fast increasing economic importance, there is a relative paucity of research on aquaculture from the standpoint of economic geography. This paper contributes to this literature by first reviewing the socio‐economics of certification of fish and the role of aquaculture in economic development – two of the more pervasive research strands in aquaculture. Following that, we show how global commodity chain perspectives can augment geographical research on aquaculture. We argue that despite some shortcomings, the global commodity chain approach is a viable approach to examine the aquaculture industry because of its ability to elucidate the uneven and contested nature of commodity and other resource flows between the production, distribution, and consumption nodes and its potential to analyze the impacts of the wider regulatory and institutional environment on the industry.
Incorporating Super‐Diffusion due to Sub‐Grid Heterogeneity to Capture Non‐Fickian Transport
Authors: Baeumer Boris , Zhang Yong , Schumer Rina
Published: September 2014

Numerical transport models based on the advection‐dispersion equation (ADE) are built on the assumption that sub‐grid cell transport is Fickian such that dispersive spreading around the average velocity is symmetric and without significant tailing on the front edge of a solute plume. However, anomalous diffusion in the form of super‐diffusion due to preferential pathways in an aquifer has been observed in field data, challenging the assumption of Fickian dispersion at the local scale. This study develops a fully Lagrangian method to simulate sub‐grid super‐diffusion in a multidimensional regional‐scale transport model by using a recent mathematical model allowing super‐diffusion along the flow direction given by the regional model. Here, the time randomizing procedure known as subordination is applied to flow field output from MODFLOW simulations. Numerical tests check the applicability of the novel method in mapping regional‐scale super‐diffusive transport conditioned on local properties of multidimensional heterogeneous media.
The role of health information kiosks in diverse settings: a systematic review
Authors: Joshi Ashish , Trout Kate
Published: September 2014

Background

Public access computing through computer kiosks placed in clinical and community settings may help bridge the digital health information divide.

Objective

The objective was to examine the current utilisation of computer based health information kiosks in diverse settings. Further, the objective was to examine the locations for health kiosks, kiosk features, application of theoretical framework in the design and development of health kiosks and the outcomes assessed.

Methods

A search was conducted using Pubmed and CINAHL with articles published from January 2005 to January 2012. The articles that focused on the use of computer based health information kiosks in community and clinical settings.

Results

The majority of the 31 articles included in this study were conducted in urban settings (90%; n = 28), clinical settings (58%; n = 18) and focused on child safety (19%; n = 6). Computer‐based tailoring was utilised in majority of the studies (77%; n = 24). However, limited studies described the theoretical frameworks to facilitate this tailoring (42%; n = 13).

Conclusions

The results suggest that health information kiosks are a feasible medium to disseminate health information among various users in clinical and community settings, with high acceptance and satisfaction by users. Theoretical driven interventions are needed to examine long term impacts of health information kiosks especially in rural and underserved populations.
Effect of Electrodeposition Parameters on the Microstructure and Corrosion Behavior of ‎DCPD Coatings on Biodegradable Mg–Ca–Zn Alloy
Authors: Bakhsheshi‐Rad Hamid Reza , Hamzah Esah , Saud Safaa N. , Medraj Mamoun
Published: September 2014

In this study, DCPD (Brushite, CaHPO4.2H2O) coatings were prepared on the surface of a Mg–Ca–Zn alloy using different current density (0.15–1.2 mA/cm2) and deposition time (5–90 min). The results revealed that DCPD with needle‐like morphology was observed for the current density between 0.15 and 0.4 mA/cm2‎, whereas ‎plate‐like morphology was obtained at current density above 0.8 mA/cm2. The results showed that surface roughness increased with increasing current density. The lowest corrosion rate of 0.14 mm/year was obtained for the dense and uniform DCPD coating ‎at 0.4 mA/cm2, while further increase has deleterious effect on the corrosion resistance.
Code‐switching for newcomers and veterans: a mutually‐constructed discourse strategy for workplace socialization and identification
Authors: Chui Hin Leung , Liu Yiqi , Mak Bernie Chun Nam
Published: September 2014

Socialization into the workplace is a challenge faced by new foreign workers in multilingual societies. One underexplored factor in the process is code‐switching. We presented a case study of how a Filipino migrant integrated into herHongKong workplace where the local veterans used code‐switching at work. Conceptualizing the workplace asCommunities of Practice (Wenger 1998), we employedGee's (2011) model of discourse analysis to examine empirical workplace discourse. Our analysis suggests that for a newcomer, code‐switching indicates desire of socialization, negotiation of membership, linguistic competence, and professional abilities, and that for a veteran, code‐switching reveals situated identities, instantaneous relationships, openness to newcomers, and encouragement to them. We argue that code‐switching is performed by foreign newcomers and local veterans for workplace socialization and mutual identification.
Pustular secondary syphilis: report of three cases and review of the literature
Authors: Kazlouskaya Viktoryia , Wittmann Christa , Tsikhanouskaya Iryna
Published: September 2014

Background

Pustular syphilis is an extremely rare manifestation of secondary syphilis. Failure to recognize the disease can have devastating consequences.

Methods

We present three patients with pustular syphilis as the primary manifestation of secondary syphilis.

Results

Patient 1 was initially diagnosed by Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test (titers 1 : 32) and confirmed by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for Treponema pallidum. Patient 2 was screened for syphilis by VDRL (titers 1 : 64), yielding a positive result, and tested negative for HIV. Secondary syphilis was confirmed by EIA. In Patient 3, a diagnosis of secondary syphilis was established by VDRL (titers 1 : 128) and EIA. Treponema pallidum was detected by dark field microscopy in three patients. Testing for HIV infection was negative in all patients.

Conclusions

Diagnosis in secondary syphilis remains challenging because of the diversity of clinical presentations. The most commonly observed cutaneous presentation is a generalized, non‐pruritic, papulosquamous eruption varying from pink to violaceous to brown, with mucous membrane involvement. The diagnostic methods used to identify secondary syphilis are the same as those used to diagnose other stages of syphilitic infection. The persistence of syphilis in both developed and underdeveloped regions highlights the importance of considering syphilitic infection in the setting of a cutaneous pustular eruption, especially one that fails to respond to standard therapy. Testing for other sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, should be performed in all patients diagnosed with syphilis.
Dermatologic manifestations of tularemia: a study of 151 cases in the mid‐Anatolian region ofTurkey
Authors: Şenel Engin , Satılmış Özgür , Acar Bilal
Published: September 2014

Background

Tularemia is a serious and potentially life‐threatening zoonosis caused byFrancisella tularensis, a highly infective, gram‐negative coccobacillus. Although there are plenty of case reports and studies of tularemia outbreaks, the literature is lacking in reports on dermatologic manifestations of the disease.

Objectives

This study aimed to identify skin manifestations in clinical forms of tularemia.

Methods

A total of 151 patients diagnosed with tularemia atÇankırıStateHospital,Çankırı,Turkey, were retrospectively examined. Dermatologic data for these patients were assessed.

Results

The most frequent clinical manifestation of tularemia was the glandular form (49.7%), followed by the oropharyngeal, ulceroglandular, and oculoglandular forms (39.1, 6.0, and 5.3%, respectively). Physical manifestations were observed in 64.5% of females and 56.9% of males. Lymphadenopathy and tonsillitis were the most frequent physical findings and were noted in 57.6 and 25.2% of patients, respectively. Erythema multiforme was found in 17 patients (11.3%), most of whom presented with the oropharyngeal and glandular forms, and was followed by ulcer (6.0%), urticaria (3.3%), erythema nodosum (2.6%), and cellulitis (0.7%). However, it should be noted that this study was retrospective and that its patient sample demonstrated four of the six clinical forms of tularemia.

Conclusions

Patients with the oropharyngeal form of tularemia had statistically significantly more physical findings than those with other clinical forms of the disease (P < 0.001). There were statistically more skin findings in the ulceroglandular form (P < 0.001). There was no statistical correlation between serum antibody titers and cutaneous findings (P = 0.585). Although the literature reports that skin lesions are observed more frequently in women than in men, we did not find any statistically significant difference between the sexes in any type of skin lesion.
Oral Chinese herbal medicine combined with pharmacotherapy for psoriasis vulgaris: a systematic review
Authors: Zhang Claire Shuiqing , Yu Jason Jingjie , Parker Shefton , Zhang Anthony Lin , May Brian , Lu Chuanjian , Xue Charlie Changli
Published: September 2014

Clinically, oral Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is widely used in the treatment of psoriasis. This review evaluates the effects of oral CHM in combination with pharmacotherapy for psoriasis vulgaris. The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, CNKI, and CQVIP were searched from their inceptions to November 2012. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating CHM plus pharmacotherapy compared to pharmacotherapy were included. Data were analyzed using Review Manager 5.1.0. Seventeen RCTs were included, conducted in China, and employed a diversity of both herbal medicines and pharmacotherapies. When the meta‐analyses were restricted to studies that used a well‐known pharmacotherapy as the comparator with 60% or greater clinical improvement in psoriasis as the outcome, five studies used oral acitretin, one used topical calcipotriol, and one used topical clobetasol propionate as control interventions. At the end of treatment, there was a benefit for the pooled result of the five studies that compared CHM plus acitretin with acitretin alone and no serious adverse events were reported. However, none of these studies was blind, so there is considerable risk of bias in this result. In addition, there was inadequate reporting of longer‐term results, so it remains unclear whether the reported effect could be maintained or whether the prolonged use of the CHM in conjunction with acitretin would be safe. The main plants used in these studies, Rehmannia glutinosa root, Salvia miltiorrhiza root, and Lithospermum erythrorhizon root, have shown anti‐inflammatory and/or antiproliferative effects in experimental studies. These actions may at least partially explain the observed results.
Reconstruction of large rectangular infraorbital and malar skin defects in elderly patients with a modified “reading man flap” using local tumescent anesthesia
Authors: Pichler Maria , Deluca Jenny , Tappeiner Lukas , Eisendle Klaus
Published: September 2014

Background

The classical “reading man flap” is a recently described flap named after its appearance and mainly used for reconstruction of circular malar or infraorbital skin defects. It avoids surgical complications such as lower lid retraction and ectropion but is limited to circular skin defects. Local tumescent anesthesia uses a diluted local anesthetic together with diluted epinephrine to anesthetize large skin areas without the need for general anesthesia.

Objectives

To assess the esthetic outcome, pain control, and complications of a modified “reading man flap” under local tumescent anesthesia in elderly patients with rectangular malar or periorbital skin defects.

Methods

Two flaps are used to close the surgical defect, the first rectangular flap is transposed to the defect area, then approximately half to two‐thirds of the flap's donor site are closed directly as done with transposition flaps, whereas a second smaller triangular flap is advanced for the closure of the last third of the remaining now triangular donor site, where the greatest tension would occur if closed directly.

Results

The median age of patients was 83 years (range 64–92 years) of the total 12 patients, 10 (83%) were women, and two were men. The mean defect size was 9.2 cm2 (5.5–22.1 cm2). The defect closure was possible in all patients, no lasting postoperative complications occurred, and cosmetic results were satisfactory. Twenty to 70 ml of local tumescent anesthesia were used, and a larger volume (≥40 ml) was associated with better pain control (P = 0.03).

Conclusions

The modified “reading man flap” is a good option for the closure of larger rectangular facial skin defects especially in elderly patients, and the use of at least 40 ml of tumescent solution is suggested to achieve optimal pain control.
Significance of early prostate‐specific antigen values after salvage radiotherapy in recurrent prostate cancer patients treated with surgery
Authors: Chang Ji Hyun , Park Won , Park Jun Su , Pyo Hongryull , Huh Seung Jae , Choi Han Yong , Lee Hyun Moo , Jeon Seong Soo , Seo Seong Il
Published: September 2014

Objectives

To assess the use of post‐salvage radiotherapy prostate‐specific antigen for early prediction of biochemical failure or clinical recurrence after salvage radiotherapy in recurrent prostate cancer patients after prostatectomy.

Methods

From 2000 to 2011, 164 patients were treated with salvage radiotherapy alone for recurrent prostate cancer. Patients who received androgen deprivation therapy before or within 1 month of the termination of salvage radiotherapy were excluded. Survival analysis was carried out with: (i) a selected prostate‐specific antigen reference value (0.2 ng/mL) at the second follow‐up period (4 months) after salvage radiotherapy (prostate‐specific antigen value over 0.2 ng/mL at post‐salvage radiotherapy 4 months); and (ii) prostate‐specific antigen percent decline (post‐salvage radiotherapy 4 months prostate‐specific antigen/pre‐salvage radiotherapy prostate‐specific antigen).

Results

The median follow‐up time was 53.4 months (range 8.5–134.1 months). The 5‐year clinical recurrence‐free survival was 87.9%. Prostate‐specific antigen percent decline of 0.45 was set as the cut‐off value for clinical recurrence‐free survival based on the receiver operating characteristics curve. In the multivariate analysis, a prostate‐specific antigen value over 0.2 ng/mL at post‐salvage radiotherapy 4 months (P = 0.013) and prostate‐specific antigen percent decline ≥ 0.45 (P = 0.002) were both significant parameters predicting clinical recurrence‐free survival. Otherwise, prostate‐specific antigen percent decline ≥ 0.45 was the only statistically significant predictor of biochemical failure‐free survival (biochemical failure‐free survival after salvage radiotherapy).

Conclusions

A prostate‐specific antigen value over 0.2 ng/mL at post‐salvage radiotherapy 4 months and prostate‐specific antigen percent decline ≥ 0.45 are negative predictors of clinical recurrence‐free survival after salvage radiotherapy. Prostate‐specific antigen percent decline ≥ 0.45 is also associated with worse biochemical failure‐free survival after salvage radiotherapy. Patients with delayed prostate‐specific antigen decrease should be carefully observed for clinical recurrence.