bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Motivationally Significant Self-control: Enhanced Action Withholding Involves the Right Inferior Frontal Junction
Authors: O'Connor David A. , Upton Daniel J. , Moore Jennifer , Hester Robert
Published: August 2014

In everyday life, people use self-control to withhold actions. This ability is particularly important when the consequences of action withholding have an impact on the individual's well-being. Despite its importance, it is unclear as to how the neural nodes implicated in action withholding contribute to this real-world type of self-control. By modifying an action withholding paradigm, the go/no-go task, we examined how the brain exerts self-control during a scenario in which the implications of withholding an action are meaningful and motivationally significant. A successfully withheld response contributed to long-term monetary rewards, whereas failure to withhold a response incurred an immediate monetary punishment. Compared with neutral action withholding, participants significantly improved their performance when these contingencies were applied. Crucially, although the right IFG and pre-SMA were found to promote overall action withholding, the enhancement in behavioral performance relative to a neutral condition was only reflected by a physiological change in a region encompassing the right inferior frontal junction and precentral gyrus. We speculate that the ability to flexibly modulate attention to goal-relevant stimuli is crucial to enhanced, motivationally driven action withholding and that this ability is subserved by the right inferior frontal junction. These findings suggest that control-modulating factors, rather than action withholding processes per se, can be critical to improving motivationally significant action withholding outcomes.
State Responsibility and the Right to Personal Security in the drc: A Human Rights Law Perspective
Authors: Safari Gentil Kasongo
Published: August 2014

The right to personal security has been grossly violated in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo for nearly two decades by persistent armed conflicts. Ensuring this right through justice in such a complex context is particularly challenging but feasible. This paper examines whether the drc should be judicially held accountable for violations of the right to personal security. Drawing on case-law, international practice and literature in the field of human rights, the paper demonstrates that under the doctrine of State responsibility the drc has the duty to exercise due diligence in protecting its inhabitants through legislation, precautionary measures and prosecution. It also explains, however, that the drc’s responsibility may not be established under certain mitigating circumstances and factors, such as loss of part of territorial control, the necessity of granting amnesty to some perpetrators of human rights violations and the difficulty of judicially determining the minimum core of the right to personal security. The paper concludes that the possibility of judicially holding the drc accountable for failure to respect its international human rights obligations has been demonstrated and recommends that to be capitalised by competent jurisdictions in order to improve the situation of the right to personal security on the ground.
Uniform Application of Law in Ethiopia: Effects of Cassation Decisions of the Federal Supreme Court
Authors: Tura Hussein Ahmed
Published: August 2014

The Ethiopian legal system has transplanted substantial elements from both Continental Law and Common Law legal systems. While the legal system is characterized by its reception of substantial rules from the Continental Law Legal System, there are some concepts transplanted from the Common Law legal system particularly incorporated in the procedural laws. Moreover, under Proclamation No. 454/2005, the interpretation of laws by the Cassation Division of the Federal Supreme Court (hereinafter Cassation Division) is made to have binding authority on all lower courts at all levels in the entire country. Although the Proclamation seems to introduce the doctrine of precedent, there is a debate as to whether what is introduced under the Proclamation amounts to a precedent system or not. Moreover, it is not expressly given whether judicial organs other than regular courts such as administrative agencies or tribunals, religious and customary courts are bound by the decision of the Cassation Division. The Proclamation also does not provide for the effects of overruling and preconditions to overrule previous decisions of the Cassation Division. The purpose of this article is to critically analyze the legal effects of the binding interpretation of law given at cassation by the Federal Supreme Court in the Ethiopian legal system.
Some Syntactic Aspects of the Verse Structure in the Targum Onqelos
Authors: Tsolin Dmytro
Published: August 2014

Targum Onqelos adopts a sequential approach to rendering of biblical poetry: even the passages that have been completely paraphrased imitate the parallelism membrorum structure, and supplementary words and clauses are well-fitted into the parallel verse scheme. Only a small number of passages may be defined as quasi-poetical forms which combine poetry with prosaic elements. On the other hand, the targumic parallel verse structure differs from its biblical counterpart in some syntactic details. This type of modified verse structure is inherent in the targums only, and may be considered as a specific kind of poetry in Aramaic.
Composition of Targums after the Decline of Aramaic as a Spoken Language
Authors: Gottlieb Leeor
Published: August 2014

The eighth century is the latest many scholars feel comfortable with for the use of Aramaic as a living language, before it was supplanted by Arabic. Therefore, clearly late Targums were usually dated circa the eighth century. However, persuasive arguments have been made in the past generation for a later dating regarding some Targums. This justifies a re-evaluation of the assumption that an Aramaic speaking environment is necessary for the continued composition of Targums. This article offers a possible Sitz im Leben for Targum composition after the decline of Aramaic as a spoken language throughout most of the Jewish world.
‘Rav Yoseph Said … As We Translate’: On the Contribution of Translation to Talmudic Discourse
Authors: Smelik Willem
Published: August 2014

The role of Aramaic translations for the argument of Talmudic discourse has rarely been analysed. This essay charts the way translations are used in connection with the animal hides used to manufacture the Tabernacle’s tent cover. The examples include marked, unmarked, anonymous and ascribed quotations of translations. The use of translation is sometimes pivotal but highly subject to change. Rav Yoseph’s translation in b. Shab. 28a originally served as an objection, but has been placed in a new co-text. It still performs a more than peripheral role for the flow and turn of argument in the Talmudic discourse.
A review of Northern Peruvian glassfrogs (Centrolenidae), with the description of four new remarkable species
Authors: TWOMEY EVAN , DELIA JESSE , CASTROVIEJO-FISHER SANTIAGO
Published: August 2014

Peru is well known for amphibian diversity and endemism, yet there have been relatively few field studies of glassfrog (Centrolenidae) diversity in this country. Research in Colombia and Ecuador indicates that centrolenid diversity is higher in the northern Andes. However, part of this trend appears to be due to sampling effort. We conducted fieldwork throughout northern Peru, and based on phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences, combined with bioacoustic and morphological analyses of new and available material we now recognize 33 species from the country (versus 30 species prior to this work). Field surveys led to the discovery of four remarkable species: Centrolene charapita new species is a large, ornamented glassfrog that appears to be sister to Ce. geckoideum; Chimerella corleone new species represents the second-known member of the genus Chimerella; Cochranella guayasamini new species is the second-known member of the genus with humeral spines; and Hyalinobatrachium anachoretus new species occurs in the cloud forest of the east-Andean versant in Peru. In addition to the new species described here, we provide new country records, new localities including range extensions of up to 875 km, information on diagnostic characters and phylogenetic relationships, call and larval descriptions, and observations on natural history for several Peruvian centrolenids. Our results also revealed several taxonomic problems concerning species of the genus Rulyrana, and we conclude that R. croceopodes and R. tangarana are junior synonyms of R. saxiscandens. By implication of our phylogenetic analyses, we recognize the following new combinations: Espadarana audax new combination, Espadarana durrelorum new combination, and Espadarana fernandoi new combination.
Interannual Variations of Stratospheric Water Vapor in MLS Observations and Climate Model Simulations
Authors: Kawatani Yoshio , Lee Jae N. , Hamilton Kevin
Published: August 2014

By analyzing the almost-decade-long record of water vapor measurements from the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) instrument on the NASA Aura satellite and by detailed diagnostic analysis of the results from state-of-the art climate model simulations, this study confirmed the conceptual picture of the interannual variation in equatorial stratospheric water vapor discussed in earlier papers (e.g., Geller et al.). The interannual anomalies in water vapor are strongly related to the dynamical quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO), and this study presents the first QBO composite of the time–height structure of the equatorial water vapor anomalies. The anomalies display upward propagation below about 10 hPa in a manner analogous to the annual “tape recorder” effect, but at higher levels they show clear downward propagation. This study examined these variations in the Model for Interdisciplinary Research on Climate (MIROC)-AGCM and in four models in phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) that simulate realistic QBOs. Diagnostic budget analysis of the MIROC-AGCM data and comparisons among the CMIP5 model results demonstrate (i) the importance of temperature anomalies at the tropopause induced by the QBO for lower-stratospheric water vapor variations and (ii) that upper-stratospheric water vapor anomalies are largely driven by advection of the mean vertical gradient of water content by the QBO interannual fluctuations in the vertical wind.
An Assessment of the Impact of Antishattering Tips and Artifact Removal Techniques on Bulk Cloud Ice Microphysical and Optical Properties Measured by the 2D Cloud Probe
Authors: Jackson Robert C. , McFarquhar Greg M.
Published: August 2014

A recent study showed that the ratio of the number of distribution functions derived from 2D cloud probes (2DCs) with standard tips to those with antishatter tips used during the 2008 Indirect and Semidirect Aerosol Campaign (ISDAC) and Instrumentation Development and Education in Airborne Science 2011 (IDEAS-2011) was greater than 1 for ice crystals with maximum dimension D < 500 μm. To assess the applicability of 2DC data obtained without antishatter tips previously used in parameterization schemes for numerical models and remote sensing retrievals, the impacts of artifacts on bulk microphysical and scattering properties were examined by quantifying differences between such properties derived from 2DCs with standard and antishatter tips, and with and without the use of shatter detection algorithms using the ISDAC and IDEAS-2011 data. Using either modified tips or algorithms changed the quantities dominated by higher-order moments, such as ice water content, bulk extinction, effective radius, mass-weighted terminal velocity, median mass diameter, asymmetry parameter, and single-scatter albedo, at wavenumbers from 5 to 100 cm−1 and wavelengths of 0.5–5 μm by less than 20%. This is significantly less than the fractional changes quantities dominated by lower-order moments, such as number concentration. The results suggest that model parameterizations and remote sensing techniques based on higher-order moments of ice particle size distributions obtained in conditions similar to those sampled during IDEAS-2011 and ISDAC derived from 2DCs are not substantially biased by shattered remnants.
Increased Platelet Distribution Width Is Associated With Severity of Coronary Artery Disease in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome
Authors: Bekler Adem , Ozkan Muhammed Turgut Alper , Tenekecioglu Erhan , Gazi Emine , Yener Ali Umit , Temiz Ahmet , Altun Burak , Barutcu Ahmet , Erbag Gokhan , Binnetoglu Emine
Published: August 2014

Platelet activation plays a pivotal role in acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We investigated the relationship between platelet distribution width (PDW) and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with ACS. A total of 502 patients with ACS were enrolled. High (n = 151) and low PDW (n = 351) groups were defined as patients having values in the third tertile (>17%) and lower 2 tertiles (≤17%). There were significantly higher Gensini score (44 [10-168] vs 36 [2-132], P < .001), and neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (3.1 [0.8-12.4] vs 2.5 [0.3-13], P = .012) and baseline platelet counts were significantly lower (220 [61-623] vs 233 [79-644] 103/mm3, P = .022) in the high PDW group. The variables PDW >17%, diabetes mellitus, and myocardial infarction were found to be associated with high Gensini score (odds ratio [OR]: 1.91, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.27-2.88, P = .002; OR: 2.85, 95%CI: 1.91-4.25, P < .001; OR: 2.67, 95% CI:1.74-4.1, P < .001, respectively). An increased PDW (>17%) is associated with severity of CAD in patients with ACS.
La colonia cinese: Le rappresentazioni culturali e letterarie della Concessione italiana di Tientsin nella letteratura e nella cultura italiana del Novecento
Authors: Comberiati Daniele
Published: August 2014

Pur essendo stata breve e marginale rispetto alle altre esperienze coloniali, la Concessione italiana di Tientsin (1901–1947), unica esperienza di colonizzazione italiana in Asia, è interessante per le particolari dinamiche di decostruzione e ricostruzione dell’identità nazionale di cui è stata portatrice. Attraverso lo studio delle rappresentazioni letterarie e culturali di cui è stata oggetto (dai romanzi tardo-futuristi del collettivo marinettiano de I Dieci fino al fumetto Shanghai Devil di Gianfranco Manfredi, passando per le autobiografie degli ufficiali e per i testi degli esploratori, senza dimenticare di motivare “l’assenza” della Concessione italiana di Tientsin negli scritti sulla Cina degli scrittori degli anni Sessanta), la concessione cinese può, infatti, rappresentare una sorta di “laboratorio del colonialismo”, dove più evidenti sono le contraddizioni e i conflitti della presunta omogeneità nazionale. Nell’articolo, attraverso un’analisi diacronica e grazie all’apporto delle teorie postcoloniali e degli studi sulla razza, si passano in rassegna non solo i testi letterari su Tientsin, ma anche le dinamiche orientaliste e le rappresentazioni della razza e dell’identità italiana che essi mettono in gioco.
The assessment of general well-being using spontaneous burrowing behaviour in a short-term model of chemotherapy-induced mucositis in the rat
Authors: Whittaker A L , Lymn K A , Nicholson A , Howarth G S
Published: August 2014

Mucositis is a common and serious side-effect experienced by cancer patients during treatment with chemotherapeutic agents. Consequently, programmes of research focus on the elucidation of novel therapeutics for alleviation of mucositis symptoms, and these frequently use animal models. However, although these models are assumed to be painful and distressing to the animal, endpoints are difficult to determine. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a change in burrowing behaviour could provide an indication of disease onset and potentially be applied as a humane endpoint. Baseline burrowing behaviour was measured in healthy animals on three occasions by determining the weight of gravel displaced from a hollow tube. Mucositis was then induced in the same animals by intraperitoneal injection of 5-fluorouracil (150 mg/kg) and burrowing behaviour recorded over three consecutive days. Standard measures of disease progression, including body weight loss and clinical score, were also made. The presence of mucositis was confirmed at necropsy by findings of decreased duodenal and colon lengths, and reduced liver, spleen and thymus weights in comparison with non-treated control animals. Histological score of the jejunum and ileum was also significantly increased. Mucositis onset coincided with a decrease in mean burrowing behaviour which was progressive, however this result did not achieve statistical significance ( P = 0.66).We conclude that burrowing may be a useful indicator of inflammation in the mucositis model, although this requires further characterization. Pre-selection of animals into treatment groups based on their prior burrowing performance should be pursued in further studies.
The Effect of Audit Experience on Audit Fees and Audit Quality
Authors: Cahan Steven F. , Sun Jerry
Published: August 2014

Prior research on audit experience focuses on behavioral studies that are conducted by running experiments. Although these studies provide evidence on the role of experience in completing specific audit tasks, they do not shed light on how experience affects a complete audit engagement. We conduct an archival study to examine the effect of audit experience on audit fees and audit quality. Using unique data from China, where the signees of the audit report can be identified and linked with a government database containing personal information about certified public accountants, we find that experience is positively associated with audit fees and negatively associated with absolute discretionary accruals. Furthermore, we extend the research on personal characteristics of audit partners by considering the incremental effects of gender, education, engagement tenure, industry specialization, and client importance after controlling for overall audit experience. Overall, our results suggest that the auditors’ personal characteristics may serve as a signal of the level of care that will be exercised during the audit process. Our results also have implications for China’s recently announced regulation that would require localization of Big 4 offices in China.
Nonlesions, Misdiagnoses, Missed Diagnoses, and Other Interpretive Challenges in Fish Histopathology Studies
Authors: Wolf Jeffrey C. , Baumgartner Wes A. , Blazer Vicki S. , Camus Alvin C. , Engelhardt Jeffery A. , Fournie John W. , Frasca Salvatore , Groman David B. , Kent Michael L. , Khoo Lester H. , Law Jerry M. , Lombardini Eric D. , Ruehl-Fehlert Christine , Segner Helmut E. , Smith Stephen A. , Spitsbergen Jan M. , Weber Klaus , Wolfe Marilyn J.
Published: August 2014

Differentiating salient histopathologic changes from normal anatomic features or tissue artifacts can be decidedly challenging, especially for the novice fish pathologist. As a consequence, findings of questionable accuracy may be reported inadvertently, and the potential negative impacts of publishing inaccurate histopathologic interpretations are not always fully appreciated. The objectives of this article are to illustrate a number of specific morphologic findings in commonly examined fish tissues (e.g., gills, liver, kidney, and gonads) that are frequently either misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed, and to address related issues involving the interpretation of histopathologic data. To enhance the utility of this article as a guide, photomicrographs of normal and abnormal specimens are presented. General recommendations for generating and publishing results from histopathology studies are additionally provided. It is hoped that the furnished information will be a useful resource for manuscript generation, by helping authors, reviewers, and readers to critically assess fish histopathologic data.
Dexamethasone's Effect in the Retrocochlear Auditory Centers of a Noise‐Induced Hearing Loss Mouse Model
Authors: Chen Leon , Dean Clare , Gandolfi Michele , Nahm Edmund , Mattiace Linda , Kim Ana H.
Published: August 2014

Objective

Examine prophylactic effects of dexamethasone (Dex) in retrocochlear auditory centers in a noise‐induced hearing loss (NIHL) mouse model.

Study Design

Prospective animal study.

Setting

Academic research center.

Subjects and Methods

Thirty‐two mice were divided into control, untreated, saline (2 and 10 µL), and Dex (2 and 10 µL) groups. Dex was applied intratympanically (IT) prior to 110 to 120 dB noise over 6 hours. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) were performed at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 2 months. Retrocochlear neuronal cells were labeled with FluoroGold and counted. Hair cells of the organ of Corti were labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate‐conjugated phalloidin and counted.

Results

Auditory brainstem response thresholds of untreated NIHL, 2 and 10 µL IT saline, and 2 and 10 µL IT Dex were 21.7 ± 2.9 dB, 20 ± 0 dB, 20 ± 5 dB, 18.3 ± 2.9 dB, and 18.3 ± 2.9 dB, respectively. At 1‐day post NIHL, all groups demonstrated profound hearing loss. At 2 weeks, 2 and 10 µL Dex thresholds improved to 47.5 ± 3.5 dB and 48.8 ± 18.9 dB, respectively, whereas the untreated and saline groups remained unchanged. Mean cell counts in the cochlear nucleus (CN), superior olivary complex (SOC), and lateral lemniscus (LL) of control mice were 1483 ± 190, 2807 ± 67, and 112 ± 20, respectively. After acoustic trauma, the untreated, saline, and 2 µL Dex groups yielded decreased neuronal counts in the SOC. In contrast, the 10 µL Dex group had 1883 ± 186 (CN), 2774 ± 182 (SOC), and 166 ± 18 (LL). There was sporadic hair cell loss for all traumatized groups.

Conclusion

Our NIHL mouse model demonstrated dose‐dependent Dex pretreatment otoprotection against NIHL with preservation of retrocochlear auditory neurons.
Is serotonin a valuable parameter in peripheral arterial disease?
Authors: Senol Sefa , Es Mehmet Ugur
Published: August 2014

Objective

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship of serum serotonin levels, which are supposed to affect vascular function, to peripheral arterial disease.

Methods

This prospective study was performed in 70 patients (57 males, 13 females; mean age 67 ± 13 years) with peripheral arterial disease scheduled for surgery and 70 controls (52 males, 18 females; mean age 58 ± 12 years).

Results

The rates of diabetes mellitus and hypertension and the fasting glucose levels were significantly higher in the peripheral arterial disease group ( p = 0.001). Total, low-density, and high-density cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, and creatinine levels, and the smoking rate were similar in both groups ( p > 0.05). The serotonin levels were significantly higher in patients with peripheral vascular disease scheduled for surgery compared to the control group ( p = 0.024).

Conclusion

The plasma serotonin level is an important parameter in peripheral arterial disease.
Is it safe to leave an ECMO circuit primed?
Authors: Weinberg A , Miko B , Beck J , Bacchetta M , Mongero L
Published: August 2014

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a means of life support for failing patients who require extreme life-saving measures due to failure of their heart, lungs or both organs. In a patient suffering cardiac arrest, the faster circulation via cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can be instituted the better the outcome is. If an ECMO circuit needs to be built and primed it may add significant minutes to the response time. The purpose of this study is to test for any growth in primed ECMO circuits at given time intervals to prove the safety of leaving an ECMO circuit primed. This, in turn, may lead to decreased response time, with an arrest and the placement of the arresting patient on ECMO. Five ECMO circuits were set up, primed and sampled for bacterial growth at 0, 24, 48 and 72 hours and then at one-week intervals, with an end point of four weeks. No bacterial growth was found at any point during the sampling process.
The Birth of Group Analysis from the Spirit of Theatre
Authors: Martin Roth Wolfgang
Published: August 2014

Foulkes had maintained that besides Trigant Burrow, plays by Gorki: At the Bottom (1902) and Pirandello: Six Characters in Search of an Author (1921), had inspired him to group analysis 15 years before his first group in Exeter. An analysis of the plays under dramatic and group analytic perspectives tries to investigate the possible influential factors that might have inspired Foulkes. By expanding the neuroscientific and psychosocial ontological dimension of group analysis into the ontology of art, it is suggested that such an intuitive approach can be fruitful in understanding group processes, as is shown by a vignette of an adolescent group, opening up new dimensions for interrelational thinking and intersubjetivity.
Combination of material flow analysis and substance flow analysis: A powerful approach for decision support in waste management
Authors: Stanisavljevic Nemanja , Brunner Paul H
Published: August 2014

The novelty of this paper is the demonstration of the effectiveness of combining material flow analysis (MFA) with substance flow analysis (SFA) for decision making in waste management. Both MFA and SFA are based on the mass balance principle. While MFA alone has been applied often for analysing material flows quantitatively and hence to determine the capacities of waste treatment processes, SFA is more demanding but instrumental in evaluating the performance of a waste management system regarding the goals “resource conservation” and “environmental protection”. SFA focuses on the transformations of wastes during waste treatment: valuable as well as hazardous substances and their transformations are followed through the entire waste management system. A substance-based approach is required because the economic and environmental properties of the products of waste management – recycling goods, residues and emissions – are primarily determined by the content of specific precious or harmful substances. To support the case that MFA and SFA should be combined, a case study of waste management scenarios is presented. For three scenarios, total material flows are quantified by MFA, and the mass flows of six indicator substances (C, N, Cl, Cd, Pb, Hg) are determined by SFA. The combined results are compared to the status quo in view of fulfilling the goals of waste management. They clearly point out specific differences between the chosen scenarios, demonstrating potentials for improvement and the value of the combination of MFA/SFA for decision making in waste management.
In vitro and in vivo evaluation of a novel collagen/cellulose nanocrystals scaffold for achieving the sustained release of basic fibroblast growth factor
Authors: Li Weichang , Lan Yong , Guo Rui , Zhang Yi , Xue Wei , Zhang Yuanming
Published: August 2014

Tissue-engineered dermis is thought to be the best treatment for skin defects; however, slow vascularization of these biomaterial scaffolds limits their clinical application. Exogenous administration of angiogenic growth factors is highly desirable for tissue regeneration. In this study, biodegradable gelatin microspheres (GMs) containing basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were fabricated and incorporated into a porous collagen/cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) scaffold, as a platform for long-term release and consequent angiogenic boosting. The physicochemical properties of these scaffolds were examined and the in vitro release pattern of bFGF from scaffolds was measured by ELISA. Collagen/CNCs scaffolds with and without bFGF-GMs were incubated with human umbilical vein endothelial cells for 1 week, results showed that the scaffolds with bFGF-GMs significantly augmented cell proliferation. Then, four different groups of scaffolds were implanted subcutaneously into Sprague–Dawley rats to study angiogenesis in vivo via macroscopic observation, and hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemical staining. The results suggested that the collagen/CNCs/bFGF-GMs scaffolds had a significantly higher number of newly formed and mature blood vessels, and the fastest degradation rate. This study demonstrated that collagen/CNCs/bFGF-GMs scaffolds have great potential in skin tissue engineering.
Evaluation of Treatment Courses When Vancomycin Is Given Every 8 Hours in Adult Patients
Authors: Brumer Erica , Dubrovskaya Yanina , Scipione Marco R. , Aberle Caitlin , Rahimian Joseph , Papadopoulos John
Published: August 2014

Background:

Several nomograms include recommendations to give intravenous (IV) vancomycin at 8-hour dosing intervals (Q8H). However, there is a lack of detailed data regarding this dosing recommendation.

Methods:

A retrospective chart review of 100 patients who received 107 treatment courses of vancomycin Q8H for at least 5 days was performed. Distribution of vancomycin trough levels and rate of nephrotoxicity were evaluated.

Results:

Median patient age was 38 years (interquartile range [IQR] 27-50 years), median weight was 67 kg (IQR 55-79 kg), and median creatinine clearance was 124 mL/min (IQR 101-147 mL/min). Median duration of Q8H dosing was 9 days (IQR 7-12 days). Within the initial 96 hours, only 7% (7 of 104) of maximum trough concentrations were >20 mg/L (median dose 15 mg/kg [IQR 15-18 mg/kg]). After 96 hours of Q8H dosing, 34% (30 of 89) of maximum troughs were >20 mg/L (median dose 17 mg/kg [IQR 15-20 mg/kg]), P = .0005. The rate of nephrotoxicity was 4%.

Conclusion:

We observed an increase in the percentage of trough levels >20 mg/L later during treatment courses of vancomycin IV Q8H with a relatively small corresponding increase in vancomycin dose. Close monitoring of trough levels (eg, every 3 days) with prolonged courses of vancomycin IV Q8H is warranted.
The relationship between water and air temperature in chironomid-based paleoclimate reconstructions: Records from boreal and subarctic Finland
Authors: Luoto Tomi P , Kaukolehto Marjut , Nevalainen Liisa
Published: August 2014

Fossil remains of larval chironomids are one of the most useful paleolimnological proxies to reconstruct Holocene paleoclimate. We investigate the within-lake distribution of chironomids in relation to water temperature and test the usability of intralake calibration in chironomid-based temperature reconstructions. We compare our findings against the traditional multilake calibration technique in Holocene sediment cores from Finland. The results show that intralake water temperature optima of common taxa correspond closely with mean July air temperature optima in a regional multilake dataset, with exception of a few vegetation-associated taxa. A calibration model based on intralake water temperatures shows performance statistics that correspond to the general performance statistics level of multilake calibration models. However, the intralake model has somewhat increased prediction error. Despite the fact that the intralake model is sensitive to poor modern analogues, it shows correlation with the results using the multilake calibration approach in the Holocene reconstructions. Our results confirm that the within-lake distribution of chironomids along a water depth gradient is closely linked with water temperature gradient. This provides evidence for the close relationship between chironomids and temperature in general and suggests that, in addition to the regional scale, water temperature is a key variable in determining chironomid distribution at the site-specific scale. However, long-term changes in intralake gradients in other depth-related factors, such as hypolimnetic oxygen conditions, extent of photic zone and habitat distribution, may hamper the quantitative accuracy of chironomid-based temperature reconstructions, though the results also suggest that these changes are likely to have little general impact on the trends of chironomid-based air temperature reconstructions.
Ethical concerns of visiting nurses caring for older people in the community
Authors: Choe Kwisoon , Kim Kisook , Lee Kyoung-Sook
Published: August 2014

Background:

An understanding of the ethical concerns encountered by visiting nurses in the community is needed. Yet, there is a lack of research on this topic.

Objectives:

The purpose of this study was to explore the ethical concerns that visiting nurses experience when caring for vulnerable older people living in a community.

Design and sample:

A qualitative thematic analysis was used to explore the nature of the ethical issues experienced by visiting nurses (N = 13) who care for vulnerable older people, over 65 years of age, in a South Korean community.

Methods:

In-depth interviews were conducted with visiting nurses. Qualitative thematic analysis was used to explore the main themes of the phenomenon.

Ethical considerations:

This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Chung-Ang University Bioethics Committee in South Korea.

Results:

Four ethical themes emerged from the qualitative data: (a) quantitative performance rather than quality care, (b) clients being invisible, (c) tuning the level of the relationship with clients, and (d) facing the visiting nurses’ own limitations.

Conclusion:

This study provides a theoretical basis to understand the ethical aspects of visiting nurses’ interactions with clients, which should facilitate the development of ethical guidelines for visiting nurses to use in making ethical decisions in their practice.
Antinomies of flexibilization and atypical employment in Mediterranean Europe: Greek, Italian and Spanish regions during the crisis
Authors: Gialis Stelios , Leontidou Lila
Published: August 2014

Until recently, Mediterranean countries were called on by European Union officials to provide for a “less-rigid” regulatory framework, in order to enhance “flexicurity”. This paper critically examines post-2008 flexibilization trends by focusing on Spanish, Italian and Greek regions. Starting from a contextualization of atypical employment and security, it then moves in a twofold direction; firstly, it presents the Flexible Contractual Arrangements and Active Labour Market Policies composite indicators, calculated for the NUTS-II regions of 12 member states for 2008 and 2011. These indicators reveal the changing ranking, especially of the Greek regions, towards higher labour market flexibility and relatively low levels of employability security; secondly, it focuses on the changing forms of atypical labour in the six regions that host the capital and the most important port city of Greece, Italy and Spain, respectively, by offering data on the expansion of flexible arrangements therein. The uneven flexibilization trends found in the study regions are seen as an outcome of the interaction between the general devaluation trends, different backgrounds and regionally specific patterns of labour market adjustment, while employment is found to be neither “rigid” nor “flexicure”. The paper concludes with some remarks on the relation between post-2008 dismantling of local labour regimes, restructuring and flexicurity.
Writing Process After Reading Bakhtin
Authors: Helin Jenny
Published: August 2014

This article focuses on the process of writing where the purpose is to explore how it is possible to write a research account that is inviting and “alive” so that, in reading, novelty unfolds. The account includes an illustration of how I struggled with writing and eventually found a way forward in reading Bakhtin’s work on the polyphonic novel. Inspiration from this genre opened up a kind of “listening writing”: an embodied and prospective form of writing that questions the traditional role of plot, because it calls for a letting go of predesigned structures. Instead, it suggests a writing driven by the interplay of voices, curiosity, and openness to the next possible word. The article contributes to the discussion on how writing matters and, in particular, how “unfinalizable” writing practices, in which the author tries not to be the final mediator of meaning, can enrich organization studies.
Linking Mother and Youth Parenting Attitudes
Authors: Thompson Richard , Jones Deborah J. , Litrownik Alan J. , English Diana J. , Kotch Jonathan B. , Lewis Terri , Dubowitz Howard
Published: August 2014

Evidence suggests that parenting attitudes are transmitted within families. However, limited research has examined this prospectively. The current prospective study examined direct effects of early maternal attitudes toward parenting (as measured at child age 4 by the Adult-Adolescent Parenting Inventory [AAPI]) on later youth parenting attitudes (as measured by the AAPI at youth age 18). Indirect effects via child maltreatment (physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and emotional maltreatment), parent involvement, and youth functioning (internalizing and externalizing problems) were also assessed. Analyses were conducted on data from 412 families enrolled in the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN). There were significant direct effects for three of the four classes of mother parenting attitudes (appropriate developmental expectations of children, empathy toward children, and appropriate family roles) on youth attitudes but not for rejection of punishment. In addition, the following indirect effects were obtained: Mother expectations influenced youth expectations via neglect; mother empathy influenced youth empathy via both parental involvement and youth externalizing problems; and mother rejection of punishment influenced youth rejection of punishment via youth internalizing problems. None of the child or family process variables, however, affected the link between mother and youth attitudes about roles.
Physical and chemical stability of proflavine contrast agent solutions for early detection of oral cancer
Authors: Kawedia Jitesh D , Zhang Yan-Ping , Myers Alan L , Richards-Kortum Rebecca R , Kramer Mark A , Gillenwater Ann M , Culotta Kirk S
Published: August 2014

Background and purpose

Proflavine hemisulfate solution is a fluorescence contrast agent to visualize cell nuclei using high-resolution optical imaging devices such as the high-resolution microendoscope. These devices provide real-time imaging to distinguish between normal versus neoplastic tissue. These images could be helpful for early screening of oral cancer and its precursors and to determine accurate margins of malignant tissue for ablative surgery. Extemporaneous preparation of proflavine solution for these diagnostic procedures requires preparation in batches and long-term storage to improve compounding efficiency in the pharmacy. However, there is a paucity of long-term stability data for proflavine contrast solutions.

Methods

The physical and chemical stability of 0.01% (10 mg/100 ml) proflavine hemisulfate solutions prepared in sterile water was determined following storage at refrigeration (4–8℃) and room temperature (23℃). Concentrations of proflavine were measured at predetermined time points up to 12 months using a validated stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatography method.

Results

Proflavine solutions stored under refrigeration were physically and chemically stable for at least 12 months with concentrations ranging from 95% to 105% compared to initial concentration. However, in solutions stored at room temperature increased turbidity and particulates were observed in some of the tested vials at 9 months and 12 months with peak particle count reaching 17-fold increase compared to baseline. Solutions stored at room temperature were chemically stable up to six months (94–105%).

Conclusion

Proflavine solutions at concentration of 0.01% were chemically and physically stable for at least 12 months under refrigeration. The solution was chemically stable for six months when stored at room temperature. We recommend long-term storage of proflavine solutions under refrigeration prior to diagnostic procedure.
On compressible versions of the incompressible neo-Hookean material
Authors: Pence Thomas J , Gou Kun
Published: August 2014

We consider three different compressible versions of the conventional incompressible neo-Hookean material model. The different versions are not new and have been used in various model studies. They each give neo-Hookean behavior in an appropriate incompressible limit. The three versions each show some basic differences with respect to each other as regards the qualitative nature of the approach to the neo-Hookean limit. The purpose of this study is to exhibit these differences.
On the derivation of angiogenesis tissue models: From the micro-scale to the macro-scale
Authors: Bellomo Nicola , Bellouquid Abdelghani
Published: August 2014

This paper deals with the derivation of mathematical models at the macroscale of biological tissues corresponding to angiogenesis phenomena. The derivation is obtained by mathematical description delivered at the microscale of cells using a kinetic theory approach. A classical Chapman–Enskog expansion properly truncated is used to obtain the desired result. It is shown that the approach is general enough to describe a broad variety of different angiogenesis models corresponding to well-defined assumptions on interactions at the cellular scale.
Factors associated with clinically significant increased walking time in multiple sclerosis: Results of a survival analysis of short-term follow-up data from a clinical database
Authors: Miller Deborah M , Thompson Nicolas R , Cohen Jeffrey A , Fox Robert J , Hartman Jen , Schwetz Kathleen , Conway Devon S , Rudick Richard A
Published: August 2014

Background:

Because multiple sclerosis (MS) is variable and unpredictable, if symptom worsening could be predicted, patients may feel better prepared to manage changes in function.

Objective:

The objective of this paper is to study the prediction of walking impairment in MS.

Methods:

We retrieved data for all MS patients at our center (2008–2009), including baseline and follow-up timed 25-foot walk (T25FW) times. We assessed the incidence of ≥20% worsening in T25FW by developing two survival models: (1) disease course and (2) Multiple Sclerosis Performance Scales (MSPS) score. The outcome was days until ≥20% worsening in T25FW. Covariates were disease subtype, years since diagnosis, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) score, and demographics. Data were interval censored; missing data were handled with multiple imputation.

Results:

Of 1544 patients, 309 (20%) experienced ≥20% worsening T25FW. For disease course, time to worsening was significantly shorter for secondary progressive vs. relapsing–remitting disease ( p < 0.001). For MSPS, patients with lower baseline MSPS scores progressed more slowly ( p = 0.001). In both models, sex, baseline T25W, and time since diagnosis were significantly associated with worsening. In the disease course model, PHQ 9 score may be related to worsening ( p = 0.07).

Conclusion:

These findings suggest factors associated with worsening in T25FW and a potential approach to establishing indicators associated with clinically significant change.
A case of community-based fall prevention: Survey of organization and content of minor home help services in Swedish municipalities
Authors: Bernfort Lars , Eckard Nathalie , Husberg Magnus , Alwin Jenny
Published: August 2014

Background: The aim of this study was to survey minor home help services provided by Swedish municipalities with the main purpose to prevent fall injuries. Methods: If minor home help services were presented on the homepage of a municipality, an initial telephone contact was taken. Thereafter a questionnaire was administered, including questions about target groups, aim with the services, tasks included, costs and restrictions for users, budget, and experienced gains with the services. Municipalities not providing minor home help services were asked about the reason therefore and if the municipality had previously provided the services Results: The questionnaire response rate was 92%. In 191 of Sweden’s 290 municipalities services were provided by, or in cooperation with, the municipality. Reasons for not providing the services were mainly financial and lack of demand. Services were more often provided in larger cities and in municipalities located in populous regions. In some municipalities services were performed by persons with functional disabilities or unemployed persons. Conclusions: Both providers and users expressed satisfaction with the services. Aspects expressed were that services lead to greater sense of safety and social gains. The effect of the services in terms of fall prevention is yet to be proved. With only a small fall-preventive effect services are probably cost-effective. Improved quality of life, sense of safety, and being able to offer meaningful work to otherwise unemployed persons are important aspects that might in themselves motivate the provision of minor home help services.
The association between erectile dysfunction, depressive symptoms and testosterone levels among middle-aged men
Authors: Suija Kadri , Kerkelä Marja , Rajala Ulla , Jokelainen Jari , Laakso Mauri , Härkönen Pirjo , Keinänen-Kiukaanniemi Sirkka , Timonen Markku
Published: August 2014

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between erectile dysfunction and depressive symptoms and testosterone levels among middle-aged men at the community level. Methods: The study population consisted of 614 men born in 1945 and living in the city of Oulu, Finland. Erectile dysfunction was assessed by the erectile function domain of the International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire and depressive symptoms by the Beck Depression Inventory. Blood samples were collected to measure testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin level. Results: After adjusting for confounders, erectile dysfunction was statistically significantly associated with depressive symptoms (risk ratio (RR) 1.66, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.29–2.15), as well as with obesity (RR 1.72, 95% CI 1.12–2.62). Neither total nor free testosterone level was associated with erectile dysfunction among our study group. Conclusions: Depressive symptoms rather than testosterone levels should be taken into consideration while treating middle-aged men with erectile problems at the community level.
Back to the future: Examining type 2 diabetic vasculature using the gestational diabetic placenta
Authors: Samuel Rekha , Ramanathan Kavitha , Mathews Jiji E , Seshadri Mandalam S
Published: August 2014

Understanding the association between the intrauterine hyperglycemic milieu and the development of adult diabetic vasculopathy is of particular relevance in India, where diabetes and vascular disease are prevalent. The gestational diabetes mellitus placenta is a valuable tool to examine blood vessels that have been exposed to hyperglycemic cues.

We report an interesting observation in a cohort of gestational diabetes mellitus foetal placental vasculature from South India. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated pericyte detachment and pericyte ghost cells reminiscent of adult type 2 diabetic retinopathy, in gestational diabetes mellitus foetal placental blood vessels that were not observed in non-gestational diabetes mellitus placentas ( p ≤0.001). Endothelial cell irregularity was observed in 76% gestational diabetes mellitus foetal blood vessels as compared with 10.4% non-gestational diabetes mellitus placental vasculature ( p ≤0.001). Other abnormalities noted in gestational diabetes mellitus placenta included mitochondrial abnormalities, increased micro vessel density and thickening of basement membranes. These results suggest that adult type 2 diabetic vasculopathy has developmental origins in utero.