bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Accounting for United States Household Income Inequality Trends: The Changing Importance of Household Structure and Male and Female Labor Earnings Inequality
Authors: Larrimore Jeff
Published: April 2013

Using a shift‐share analysis on March CPS data, this paper estimates the degree to which changes in labor earnings, employment, and marriage patterns account for household income inequality growth in the United States since 1979. The factors contributing to the rapid rise in income inequality in the 1980s differ substantially from those contributing to its slower increase since that time. Unlike findings for the 1980s when changes in the correlation of spouses' earnings accounted for income inequality growth, this factor is no longer a major contributor toward its continued increase. Additionally, the 2000s business cycle is the first full business cycle in at least 30 years where changes in earnings of male household heads accounted for declines in income inequality. Instead, the continued growth in income inequality in the 2000s was accounted for primarily by increases in female earnings inequality and declines in both male and female employment.
Inhibitory effect of zinc on glucose‐stimulated zinc/insulin secretion in an insulin‐secreting β‐cell line
Authors: Slepchenko Kira G. , James Calvin B. L. , Li Yang V.
Published: April 2013

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

The main aim of the present study was to determine glucose‐stimulated zinc secretion and the effect of zinc on glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion in pancreatic β‐cells.

What is the main finding and its importance?

Using a newly developed approach, we demonstrated a robust glucose‐stimulated zinc secretion. Importantly, the application of zinc inhibited glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion. Our findings provide evidence that zinc, after being secreted, can regulate the insulin secretion of β‐cells by a negative feedback mechanism.

Diminished or inappropriate secretion of insulin is associated with type II diabetes. The cellular/molecular mechanism coupled with the regulation of insulin secretion is still under intense investigation. Divalent ion zinc (Zn2+) is co‐packaged and co‐secreted with insulin and is intimately involved in the process of insulin biosynthesis and the maturation of insulin secretory granules. The study reported here investigated glucose‐stimulated zinc secretion (GSZS) and the effect of zinc on glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in the HIT‐T15 pancreatic β‐cell line. Zinc secretion was measured using a newly developed fluorescent zinc imaging approach, and the insulin secretion was measured using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. There was apparent granular‐like zinc staining in β‐cells. The application of glucose induced detectable zinc secretion or GSZS. Like GSIS, GSZS was dependent on the glucose concentration (5–20 mm) and the presence of extracellular calcium. The application of a zinc chelator enhanced GSZS. When brief paired‐pulse glucose stimulations, which involve the initial glucose stimulation followed by a second round of glucose stimulation, were applied, zinc secretion or GSZS that followed the first pulse was inhibited. This inhibition was reversed by zinc chelation, suggesting a feedback mechanism on GSZS by zinc secreted from β‐cells. Finally, the application of zinc (50 μm) strongly inhibited GSIS as measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. The present study suggests that insulin secretion is regulated by co‐secreted zinc that may act as an autocrine inhibitory modulator.
Novel role for thioredoxin reductase‐2 in mitochondrial redox adaptations to obesogenic diet and exercise in heart and skeletal muscle
Authors: Fisher‐Wellman Kelsey H. , Mattox Taylor A. , Thayne Kathleen , Katunga Lalage A. , La Favor Justin D. , Neufer P. Darrell , Hickner Robert C. , Wingard Christopher J. , Anderson Ethan J.
Published: April 2013

Key points

For reasons not completely understood, obesogenic high‐fat, high‐sucrose (HFHS) diets and exercise training both increase free fatty acid utilization and chronic oxidative stress, yet the former is deleterious to cardiovascular/metabolic health, whereas the latter is beneficial.

Here, we report that the heart shows decreased mitochondrial H2O2 (mH2O2) generation following HFHS diet, while skeletal muscle shows increased mH2O2, and uncover a novel role for thioredoxin reductase‐2 (TxnRd2) underlying these differences.

We also show that TxnRd2 is critical to controlling mH2O2 levels during mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, especially following exercise training in skeletal muscle.

These findings are important in that they illustrate how the heart and skeletal muscle have contrasting adaptations in antioxidant capacity in response to HFHS diet, and uncover a new role for TxnRd2 in the overall control of mH2O2 in these organs with HFHS diet and exercise training.

Abstract  Increased fatty acid availability and oxidative stress are physiological consequences of exercise (Ex) and a high‐fat, high‐sugar (HFHS) diet. Despite these similarities, the global effects of Ex are beneficial, whereas HFHS diets are largely deleterious to the cardiovascular system. The reasons for this disparity are multifactorial and incompletely understood. We hypothesized that differences in redox adaptations following HFHS diet in comparison to exercise may underlie this disparity, particularly in mitochondria. Our objective in this study was to determine mechanisms by which heart and skeletal muscle (red gastrocnemius, RG) mitochondria experience differential redox adaptations to 12 weeks of HFHS diet and/or exercise training (Ex) in rats. Surprisingly, both HFHS feeding and Ex led to contrasting effects in heart and RG, in that mitochondrial H2O2 decreased in heart but increased in RG following both HFHS diet and Ex, in comparison to sedentary animals fed a control diet. These differences were determined to be due largely to increased antioxidant/anti‐inflammatory enzymes in the heart following the HFHS diet, which did not occur in RG. Specifically, upregulation of mitochondrial thioredoxin reductase‐2 occurred with both HFHS and Ex in the heart, but only with Ex in RG, and systematic evaluation of this enzyme revealed that it is critical for suppressing mitochondrial H2O2 during fatty acid oxidation. These findings are novel and important in that they illustrate the unique ability of the heart to adapt to oxidative stress imposed by HFHS diet, in part through upregulation of thioredoxin reductase‐2. Furthermore, upregulation of thioredoxin reductase‐2 plays a critical role in preserving the mitochondrial redox status in the heart and skeletal muscle with exercise.
A Formal Representation of Function Structure Graphs for Physics-Based Reasoning
Authors: Sen Chiradeep , Summers Joshua D. , Mocko Gregory M.
Published: April 2013

The paper presents a formal representation for modeling function structure graphs in a consistent, grammatically controlled manner, and for performing conservation-based formal reasoning on those models. The representation consists of a hierarchical vocabulary of entities, relations, and attributes, and 33 local grammar rules that permit or prohibit modeling constructs thereby ensuring model consistency. Internal representational consistency is verified by committing the representation to a Protégé web ontology language (OWL) ontology and examining it with the Pellet consistency checker. External representational validity is established by implementing the representation in a Computer Aided Design (CAD) tool and using it to demonstrate that the grammar rules prohibit inconsistent constructs and that the models support physics-based reasoning based on the balance laws of transport phenomena. This representation, including the controlled grammar, can serve, in the future, as a basis for additional reasoning extensions.
Using Generalized Dimensional Analysis to Obtain Reduced Effective Model Equations for Condensation in Slender Tubes With Rotational Symmetry
Authors: Dziubek Andrea
Published: April 2013

In this paper, we study the continuum physics model equations for condensation (two phase flow problems) in vertical tubes with small diameter and obtain reduced model equations. We found that generalization of dimensional analysis to multiple spatial dimensions is an excellent tool for that purpose, so that a review of this method is also part of the paper. We obtain the nondimensional numbers of the problem and derive reduced bulk and interface equations. The problem is characterized by three length scales, tube radius R, tube length L, and initial film thickness H. For small ratio ɛ=H/L, we derive a single ordinary differential equation for the condensate film thickness as function of axial position with tube radius as parameter, which agrees well with commonly used (parametric) models from literature. Our model is based on the physical dimensions of the problem which gives a greater geometrical flexibility and a wider range of applicability. We also discuss the effect of surface tension and the limit of the model.
Handy-Potter: Rapid Exploration of Rotationally Symmetric Shapes
Through Natural Hand Motions
Authors: Vinayak  , Murugappan Sundar , Piya Cecil , Ramani Karthik
Published: April 2013

We present a paradigm for natural and exploratory shape modeling by introducing novel 3D interactions for creating, modifying, and manipulating 3D shapes using arms and hands. Though current design tools provide complex modeling functionalities, they remain nonintuitive for novice users. Significant training is required to use these tools since they segregate 3D shapes into hierarchical 2D inputs, binding the user to stringent procedural steps and making modifications cumbersome. On the other hand, the use of computer-aided design (CAD) systems is typically involved during the final phases of design. This leaves a void in the early design phase wherein the creative exploration is critical. We present a shape creation paradigm as an exploration of creative imagination and externalization of shapes, particularly in the early phases of design. We integrate the capability of humans to express 3D shapes via hand-arm motions with traditional sweep surface representation to demonstrate rapid exploration of a rich variety of 3D shapes. We track the skeleton of users using the depth data provided by low-cost depth sensing camera (Kinect). Our modeling tool is configurable to provide a variety of implicit constraints for shape symmetry and resolution based on the position, orientation, and speed of the arms. An intuitive strategy for shape modifications is also proposed. Our main goal is to help the user to communicate the design intent to the computer with minimal effort. To this end, we conclusively demonstrate the creation of a wide variety of product concepts and show an average modeling time of a only few seconds while retaining the intuitiveness of the design process.
Natural Convection Flow in a Strong Cross Magnetic Field With Radiation
Authors: Siddiqa S. , Hossain M. A. , Saha Suvash C.
Published: April 2013

The problem of magnetohydrodynamic natural convection boundary layer flow of an electrically conducting and optically dense gray viscous fluid along a heated vertical plate is analyzed in the presence of strong cross magnetic field with radiative heat transfer. In the analysis radiative heat flux is considered by adopting optically thick radiation limit. Attempt is made to obtain the solutions valid for liquid metals by taking Pr ≪1. Boundary layer equations are transformed in to a convenient dimensionless form by using stream function formulation (SFF) and primitive variable formulation (PVF). Nonsimilar equations obtained from SFF are then simulated by implicit finite difference (Keller-box) method whereas parabolic partial differential equations obtained from PVF are integrated numerically by hiring direct finite difference method over the entire range of local Hartmann parameter, ξ. Further, asymptotic solutions are also obtained for large and small values of local Hartmann parameter ξ. A favorable agreement is found between the results for small, large and all values of ξ. Numerical results are also demonstrated graphically by showing the effect of various physical parameters on shear stress, rate of heat transfer, velocity, and temperature.
Comparison of Models of Post-Hyperthermia Cell Survival
Authors: Wright Neil T.
Published: April 2013

Several existing mathematical models of the survival of mammalian cells in culture following heating are compared. These models describe the fraction of cells that survive in a normal culture environment following a relatively brief period of heating between approximately 43 °C and 60 °C. The models have been developed either from rate process or mechanistic arguments. Little quantitative comparison between such models has been made using the same sets of data. The models are compared using the Akaike Information Criterion (AICc) after the model parameters have been estimated for two sets of existing data: human prostate cancer cells and Chinese hamster ovary cells. Most of the models capture the cell survival response. Scaled sensitivity coefficients show that some of the models have parameters that are difficult to estimate reliably. Relatively small variations in the AICc suggest that more measurements are needed before ranking the models.
Experimental Induction of Puberty in the Infantile Female Rhesus Monkey
Authors: Wildt L. , Marshall G. , Knobil E.
Published: April 2013

Normal ovulatory menstrual cycles were initiated in prepubertal female rhesus monkeys by the infusion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone for 6 minutes once every hour. When this regimen was discontinued, the animals promptly reverted to an immature state. These findings permit the conclusion that neither adenohypophysial nor ovarian competence is limiting in the initiation of puberty and suggest that this process depends on the maturation of the neuroendocrine control system that directs the pulsatile secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone from the hypothalamus.
Virulence Profiling of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli O111:NM Isolates from Cattle
Authors: Karama Musafiri , Gyles Carlton L.
Published: April 2013

Shiga toxin-producing
Escherichia coli
(STEC) O111:NM is an important serotype that has been incriminated in disease outbreaks in the United States. This study characterized cattle STEC O111:NM for virulence factors and markers by PCR. Major conclusions are that STEC O111:NM characterized in this study lacks
stx
2
and the full spectrum of
nle
gene markers, and it has an incomplete OI-122.
Dynamics of Cathode-Associated Microbial Communities and Metabolite Profiles in a Glycerol-Fed Bioelectrochemical System
Authors: Dennis Paul G. , Harnisch Falk , Yeoh Yun Kit , Tyson Gene W. , Rabaey Korneel
Published: April 2013

Electrical current can be used to supply reducing power to microbial metabolism. This phenomenon is typically studied in pure cultures with added redox mediators to transfer charge. Here, we investigate the development of a current-fed mixed microbial community fermenting glycerol at the cathode of a bioelectrochemical system in the absence of added mediators and identify correlations between microbial diversity and the respective product outcomes. Within 1 week of inoculation, a
Citrobacter
population represented 95 to 99% of the community and the metabolite profiles were dominated by 1,3-propanediol and ethanol. Over time, the
Citrobacter
population decreased in abundance while that of a
Pectinatus
population and the formation of propionate increased. After 6 weeks, several
Clostridium
populations and the production of valerate increased, which suggests that chain elongation was being performed. Current supply was stopped after 9 weeks and was associated with a decrease in glycerol degradation and alcohol formation. This decrease was reversed by resuming current supply; however, when hydrogen gas was bubbled through the reactor during open-circuit operation (open-circuit potential) as an alternative source of reducing power, glycerol degradation and metabolite production were unaffected. Cyclic voltammetry revealed that the community appeared to catalyze the hydrogen evolution reaction, leading to a +400-mV shift in its onset potential. Our results clearly demonstrate that current supply can alter fermentation profiles; however, further work is needed to determine the mechanisms behind this effect. In addition, operational conditions must be refined to gain greater control over community composition and metabolic outcomes.
Close Genetic Relationship between Legionella pneumophila Serogroup 1 Isolates from Sputum Specimens and Puddles on Roads, as Determined by Sequence-Based Typing
Authors: Kanatani Jun-ichi , Isobe Junko , Kimata Keiko , Shima Tomoko , Shimizu Miwako , Kura Fumiaki , Sata Tetsutaro , Watahiki Masanori
Published: April 2013

We investigated the prevalence ofLegionellaspecies isolated from puddles on asphalt roads. In addition, we carried out sequence-based typing (SBT) analysis on the genetic relationship betweenL. pneumophilaserogroup 1 (SG 1) isolates from puddles and from stock strains previously obtained from sputum specimens and public baths. Sixty-nine water samples were collected from puddles on roads at 6 fixed locations.Legionellaspecies were detected in 33 samples (47.8%) regardless of season. Among the 325 isolates from puddles, strains ofL. pneumophilaSG 1, a major causative agent of Legionnaires' disease, were the most frequently isolated (n= 62, 19.1%). Sixty-two isolates ofL. pneumophilaSG 1 from puddles were classified into 36 sequence types (STs) by SBT. ST120 and ST48 were identified as major STs. Environmental ST120 strains from puddles were found for the first time in this study. Among the 14 STs of the clinical isolates (n= 19), 4 STs (n= 6, 31.6%), including ST120, were also detected in isolates from puddles on roads, and the sources of infection in these cases remained unclear. Thelag-1gene, a tentative marker for clinical isolates, was prevalent in puddle isolates (61.3%). Our findings suggest that puddles on asphalt roads serve as potential reservoirs forL. pneumophilain the environment.
A Novel Muconic Acid Biosynthesis Approach by Shunting Tryptophan Biosynthesis via Anthranilate
Authors: Sun Xinxiao , Lin Yuheng , Huang Qin , Yuan Qipeng , Yan Yajun
Published: April 2013

Muconic acid is the synthetic precursor of adipic acid, and the latter is an important platform chemical that can be used for the production of nylon-6,6 and polyurethane. Currently, the production of adipic acid relies mainly on chemical processes utilizing petrochemicals, such as benzene, which are generally considered environmentally unfriendly and nonrenewable, as starting materials. Microbial synthesis from renewable carbon sources provides a promising alternative under the circumstance of petroleum depletion and environment deterioration. Here we devised a novel artificial pathway in
Escherichia coli
for the biosynthesis of muconic acid, in which anthranilate, the first intermediate in the tryptophan biosynthetic branch, was converted to catechol and muconic acid by anthranilate 1,2-dioxygenase (ADO) and catechol 1,2-dioxygenase (CDO), sequentially and respectively. First, screening for efficient ADO and CDO from different microbial species enabled the production of gram-per-liter level muconic acid from supplemented anthranilate in 5 h. To further achieve the biosynthesis of muconic acid from simple carbon sources, anthranilate overproducers were constructed by overexpressing the key enzymes in the shikimate pathway and blocking tryptophan biosynthesis. In addition, we found that introduction of a strengthened glutamine regeneration system by overexpressing glutamine synthase significantly improved anthranilate production. Finally, the engineered
E. coli
strain carrying the full pathway produced 389.96 ± 12.46 mg/liter muconic acid from simple carbon sources in shake flask experiments, a result which demonstrates scale-up potential for microbial production of muconic acid.
Mobile Elements in a Single-Filament Orange Guaymas Basin Beggiatoa (“Candidatus Maribeggiatoa”) sp. Draft Genome: Evidence for Genetic Exchange with Cyanobacteria
Authors: MacGregor Barbara J. , Biddle Jennifer F. , Teske Andreas
Published: April 2013

The draft genome sequence of a single orange
Beggiatoa
(“
Candidatus
Maribeggiatoa”) filament collected from a microbial mat at a hydrothermal site in Guaymas Basin (Gulf of California, Mexico) shows evidence of extensive genetic exchange with cyanobacteria, in particular for sensory and signal transduction genes. A putative homing endonuclease gene and group I intron within the 23S rRNA gene; several group II catalytic introns; GyrB and DnaE inteins, also encoding homing endonucleases; multiple copies of sequences similar to the
fdxN
excision elements XisH and XisI (required for heterocyst differentiation in some cyanobacteria); and multiple sequences related to an open reading frame (ORF) (00024_0693) of unknown function all have close non-
Beggiatoaceae
matches with cyanobacterial sequences. Sequences similar to the uncharacterized ORF and Xis elements are found in other
Beggiatoaceae
genomes, a variety of cyanobacteria, and a few phylogenetically dispersed pleiomorphic or filamentous bacteria. We speculate that elements shared among filamentous bacterial species may have been exchanged in microbial mats and that some of them may be involved in cell differentiation.
Transcriptional Regulation and Characteristics of a Novel
N
-Acetylmuramoyl-
l
-Alanine Amidase Gene Involved in Bacillus thuringiensis Mother Cell Lysis
Authors: Yang Jingni , Peng Qi , Chen Zhen , Deng Chao , Shu Changlong , Zhang Jie , Huang Dafang , Song Fuping
Published: April 2013

In
Bacillus thuringiensis
, a novel
N
-acetylmuramoyl-
l
-alanine amidase gene (named
cwlB
) was detected, and the CwlB protein was purified and characterized. Reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) results indicated that
cwlB
and an upstream gene (named
cwlA
) formed one transcriptional unit. 5′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends (5′-RACE)-PCR and transcriptional fusions with the
lacZ
gene indicated that transcription of the operon was directed by a promoter, P

cwlA

, which is located upstream from the
cwlA
gene and that the transcription start site is a single 5′-end nucleotide residue T located 25 nucleotides (bp) upstream from the
cwlA
translational start codon. Moreover, the activity of P

cwlA

was controlled by σ
K
. Morphological analysis suggested that the mutation of
cwlB
could delay spore release compared to the timing of spore release in the wild-type strain. Western blot assay demonstrated that purified CwlB bound to the
B. thuringiensis
cell wall. Observations with laser confocal microscopy and a green fluorescent protein-based reporter system demonstrated that the CwlB protein localizes to the cell envelope. All results suggest that the CwlB protein is involved in mother cell lysis in
B. thuringiensis
.
Activation and Products of the Cryptic Secondary Metabolite Biosynthetic Gene Clusters by Rifampin Resistance (
rpoB
) Mutations in Actinomycetes
Authors: Tanaka Yukinori , Kasahara Ken , Hirose Yutaka , Murakami Kiriko , Kugimiya Rie , Ochi Kozo
Published: April 2013

A subset of rifampin resistance (
rpoB
) mutations result in the overproduction of antibiotics in various actinomycetes, including
Streptomyces
,
Saccharopolyspora
, and
Amycolatopsis
, with H437Y and H437R
rpoB
mutations effective most frequently. Moreover, the
rpoB
mutations markedly activate (up to 70-fold at the transcriptional level) the cryptic/silent secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters of these actinomycetes, which are not activated under general stressful conditions, with the exception of treatment with rare earth elements. Analysis of the metabolite profile demonstrated that the
rpoB
mutants produced many metabolites, which were not detected in the wild-type strains. This approach utilizing rifampin resistance mutations is characterized by its feasibility and potential scalability to high-throughput studies and would be useful to activate and to enhance the yields of metabolites for discovery and biochemical characterization.
Extreme hyperleucocytosis of the premature
Authors: Jansen Esther , Emmen Judith , Mohns Thilo , Donker Albertine
Published: April 2013

Physiological leucocytosis is common in neonates. Leukemoid reaction is defined as a variable degree of leucocytosis with immature precursors, similar to that occurring in leukaemia but because of other causes. Leukemoid reactions are well-recognised in the neonatal intensive care unit population and are associated with antenatal corticosteroids, Down's syndrome, chorioamnionitis, funisitis and perinatal infections. However, extreme hyperleucocytosis, exceeding a white blood cell count of 100×109/l is rare. In the 7-year period from 2005 to 2012 three premature infants in our hospital presented with extreme hyperleucocytosis. Since there were no signs of neonatal leukaemia, transient myeloid disorder or leucocyte adhesion defect, a leukemoid reaction owing to antenatal corticosteroids, chorioamnionitis and funisitis was diagnosed. No obvious complications of hyperleucocytosis were observed. Therapy was not necessary and the leucocytes normalised spontaneously. In our small case series, extreme hyperleucocytosis in prematures occurred in the absence of leukaemia and had a mild course.
Paediatric abdominal wall hernia following handlebar injury: should we diagnose more and operate less?
Authors: Upasani Anand , Bouhadiba Nordeen
Published: April 2013

Traumatic abdominal wall hernia following handlebar injury can be easily missed and is thus underreported. A 12-year-old boy presented with handlebar injury to the left upper quadrant of his abdomen. Except for a localised swelling, thought to be related to a haematoma, he was haemodynamically stable. CT revealed an abdominal wall defect with herniating fat that was not evident clinically and was also missed on immediate ultrasound examination. As there were no associated injuries and the abdominal wall defect was small without any herniating bowel loops, masterly inactivity was observed. After 6 weeks, the swelling has disappeared completely and there is progressive reduction in the size of the defect.
Challenges in orthopaedic management of Parkes-Weber syndrome
Authors: Ferreira Mara Silva , Francisco Telma , Tavares Delfin
Published: April 2013

A 16-year-old boy with a diagnosis of Parkes-Weber syndrome presented with a lower leg discrepancy of 3 cm for orthopaedic management. He had the triad of red skin lesion, lymphoedema and overgrowth of the right leg and multiple arteriovenous fistulae confirmed by angiography. Considering the risk of aggravating the vascular lesion, we decided conservative management of unequal limb lengths as long as this is well tolerated.
Bluish discolouration of stomach in dextropropoxyphene poisoning: an unusual finding at autopsy and discussion of differential diagnosis
Authors: Swain Rajanikanta , Mallick Saumyaranjan , Behera C , Murty O P
Published: April 2013

Many times at autopsy, on the basis of colour change of the stomach and intestinal mucosa, the forensic pathologist is able to suspect a particular nature of poisoning which leads to conclusive investigation of the case. An intense bluish discolouration of the gastric mucosa owing to capsule shell instead of the content is rarely encountered at autopsy. We report a case of fatal dextropropoxyphene poisoning, where gastric and small intestinal mucosa showed bluish discolouration owing to the gelatine capsule of the drug. Other causes of bluish discolouration of gastrointestinal tract mucosa at autopsy are also discussed.
Acute cervicitis and vulvovaginitis may be associated with Cytomegalovirus
Authors: Abou Magali , Dällenbach Patrick
Published: April 2013

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in immunocompetent hosts is generally asymptomatic or may present as a mononucleosic syndrome. Its association with acute cervicitis and vulvovaginitis has rarely been reported.

A 24-year-old woman presented with pelvic pain, vulvodynia, abnormal vaginal discharge, burning with urination, fatigue, fever, vomiting and diarrhoea. The vulva and cervix were red with vesicular lesions on the cervix. Genital herpes simplex infection (HSV) was suspected and valacyclovir was given orally. However, serial viral cultures performed 7 weeks apart did not isolate HSV as suspected, but CMV was confirmed by immunofluorescence and early antigen research. Blood tests confirmed an acute CMV infection. Typical inclusions were found at histology. Symptoms resolved slowly with persistence of cervical lesions at 7 weeks from diagnosis.

The frequency of CMV genital infection is probably underestimated. The infection is not always asymptomatic and might be confused with genital HSV infection. The clinical course is longer.
Disseminated cerebral and spinal tuberculomas: rare cause of triparesis
Authors: Verma Rajesh , Bhandari Aveg
Published: April 2013

Tuberculosis continues to remain a significant public health problem in developing nations, causing substantial morbidity and mortality. Central nervous system (CNS) tuberculosis is frequently observed in endemic zones of tuberculosis including India. The emergence of infections like HIV and malnutrition ruined the public health measures to restrain tuberculosis in developing countries. The incidence of intraspinal tuberculomas is reported to be 0.2–5% among CNS tuberculomas. To date, only a few cases have been reported of mixed intraspinal and intracranial tuberculomas. The clinical outcome in CNS disseminated tuberculomas is not well described in the literature. With this view, we report a case of a 25-year-old woman who presented with neck pain, triparesis and bladder incontinence, which finally proved to be a case of multiple cerebral and spinal tuberculomas. The antitubercular treatment with steroids and other supportive measures resulted in good recovery.
The experience of breast pain (mastalgia) in female runners of the 2012 London Marathon and its effect on exercise behaviour
Authors: Brown Nicola , White Jennifer , Brasher Amanda , Scurr Joanna
Published: April 2013

Background

For female marathon runners, breast pain (mastalgia) may be an important issue which has yet to be considered. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and severity of mastalgia in female marathon runners, identify factors that increase mastalgia and methods used to overcome mastalgia, and explore the impact that mastalgia may have on marathon training.

Methods

1397 female marathon runners were surveyed at the 2012 London Marathon Registration. All participants who completed the four-part, 30-question survey in its entirety have been included in the analysis (n=1285).

Results

32% of participants experienced mastalgia. This was significantly related to cup size and was greater during vigorous compared with moderate physical activity. Exercise-related factors were the primary factors reported to increase mastalgia participation. Seventeen per cent of symptomatic participants reported that mastalgia affected their exercise behaviour. Methods reportedly used to overcome mastalgia included pain medication and firm breast support; however, 44% of participants took no measures to relieve symptoms despite over half describing their mastalgia as discomforting.

Conclusions

Mastalgia was experienced by a third of marathon runners and was found to be related to breast size which has previously been unreported. The link between exercise and mastalgia has yet to be established; however, this study identified that exercise was the most prevalent factor in mastalgia occurrence which may have implications for its management. The number of participants who took no measures to relieve their mastalgia, or resorted to pain medication, highlights the importance and significance of research into exercise-related mastalgia.
The cost-effectiveness of total laparoscopic hysterectomy compared to total abdominal hysterectomy for the treatment of early stage endometrial cancer
Authors: Graves Nicholas , Janda Monika , Merollini Katharina , Gebski Val , Obermair Andreas ,   for the LACE trial committee
Published: April 2013

Objective

To summarise how costs and health benefits will change with the adoption of total laparoscopic hysterectomy compared to total abdominal hysterectomy for the treatment of early stage endometrial cancer.

Design

Cost-effectiveness modelling using the information from a randomised controlled trial.

Participants

Two hypothetical modelled cohorts of 1000 individuals undergoing total laparoscopic hysterectomy and total abdominal hysterectomy.

Outcome measures

Surgery costs; hospital bed days used; total healthcare costs; quality-adjusted life years; and net monetary benefits.

Results

For 1000 individuals receiving total laparoscopic hysterectomy surgery, the costs were $509 575 higher, 3548 hospital fewer bed days were used and total health services costs were reduced by $3 746 221. There were 39.13 more quality-adjusted life years for a 5 year period following surgery.

Conclusions

The adoption of total laparoscopic hysterectomy is almost certainly a good decision for health services policy makers. There is 100% probability that it will be cost saving to health services, a 86.8% probability that it will increase health benefits and a 99.5% chance that it returns net monetary benefits greater than zero.
Concerning the timing of antibiotic administration in women undergoing caesarean section: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Heesen Michael , Klöhr Sven , Rossaint Rolf , Allegeaert Karel , Deprest Jan , Van de Velde Marc , Straube Sebastian
Published: April 2013

Objective

To assess the effects on maternal infectious morbidity and neonatal outcomes of the timing of antibiotic prophylaxis in women undergoing caesarean section. A recent National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guideline reported that antibiotic administration before skin incision reduces the risk of maternal infection; this recommendation was based on a meta-analysis, however one including trials that were not double blind and not including a trial published recently.

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data sources

Searches of PubMed and EMBASE and reference lists of the retrieved articles.

Inclusion criteria

Randomised double-blind controlled trials comparing the administration of antibiotics before skin incision with administration after cord clamping.

Data extraction and analysis

Data on maternal total infectious morbidity, endometritis and wound infection, as well as neonatal intensive care unit admission, neonatal infection and neonatal sepsis were extracted and combined using random effects meta-analysis.

Results

Five studies reporting on 1777 parturients were included in our systematic review. The relative risk (RR) for maternal total infectious morbidity for antibiotic administration before incision compared with antibiotic administration after cord clamping was 0.64 (95% CI 0.36 to 1.15). Likewise, there was no difference in the risk of wound infection (RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.41 to 1.27). Parturients receiving the antibiotic preoperatively had a significantly reduced risk of endometritis (RR 0.48, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.87; number needed to treat 41, 95% CI 23 to 165). Analyses of the neonatal outcome parameters revealed no differences between the regimens of antibiotic administration, but were based on few studies.

Conclusions

In contrast to a recent NICE guideline, we did not find a reduction in total infectious morbidity with antibiotic administration before skin incision; we confirmed a reduction in the risk of endometritis and a lack of effect on the risk for wound infection.
Consumption of analgesics before a marathon and the incidence of cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and renal problems: a cohort study
Authors: Küster Michael , Renner Bertold , Oppel Pascal , Niederweis Ursula , Brune Kay
Published: April 2013

Objectives

To prevent pain inhibiting their performance, many athletes ingest over-the-counter (OTC) analgesics before competing. We aimed at defining the use of analgesics and the relation between OTC analgesic use/dose and adverse events (AEs) during and after the race, a relation that has not been investigated to date.

Design

Prospective (non-interventional) cohort study, using an online questionnaire.

Setting

The Bonn marathon 2010.

Participants

3913 of 7048 participants in the Bonn marathon 2010 returned their questionnaires.

Primary and secondary outcomes

Intensity of analgesic consumption before sports; incidence of AEs in the cohort of analgesic users as compared to non-users.

Results

There was no significant difference between the premature race withdrawal rate in the analgesics cohort and the cohort who did not take analgesics (‘controls’). However, race withdrawal because of gastrointestinal AEs was significantly more frequent in the analgesics cohort than in the control. Conversely, withdrawal because of muscle cramps was rare, but it was significantly more frequent in controls. The analgesics cohort had an almost 5 times higher incidence of AEs (overall risk difference of 13%). This incidence increased significantly with increasing analgesic dose. Nine respondents reported temporary hospital admittance: three for temporary kidney failure (post-ibuprofen ingestion), four with bleeds (post-aspirin ingestion) and two cardiac infarctions (post-aspirin ingestion). None of the control reported hospital admittance.

Conclusions

The use of analgesics before participating in endurance sports may cause many potentially serious, unwanted AEs that increase with increasing analgesic dose. Analgesic use before endurance sports appears to pose an unrecognised medical problem as yet. If verifiable in other endurance sports, it requires the attention of physicians and regulatory authorities.
Cardiovascular mortality in bipolar disorder: a population-based cohort study in Sweden
Authors: Westman Jeanette , Hällgren Jonas , Wahlbeck Kristian , Erlinge David , Alfredsson Lars , Ösby Urban
Published: April 2013

Objective

To estimate the cardiovascular mortality among persons with bipolar disorder in Sweden compared to the general population.

Design

Population register-based cohort study with a 20-year follow-up.

Setting

Sweden.

Participants

The entire population of Sweden (n=10.6 million) of whom 17 101 persons were diagnosed with bipolar disorder between 1987 and 2006.

Main outcome measures

Mortality rate ratios (MRR), excess mortality (excess deaths), cardiovascular disorder (CVD) and specifically cerebrovascular disease, coronary heart disease, acute myocardial infarction, sudden cardiac deaths and hospital admission rate ratio (ARR).

Results

Persons with bipolar disorder died of CVD approximately 10 years earlier than the general population. One third (38%) of all deaths in persons with bipolar disorder were caused by CVD and almost half (44%) by other somatic diseases, whereas suicide and other external causes accounted for less than a fifth of all deaths (18%). Excess mortality of both CVD (n=824) and other somatic diseases (n=988) was higher than that of suicide and other external causes (n=675 deaths). MRRs for cerebrovascular disease, coronary heart disease and acute myocardial infarction were twice as high in persons with bipolar disorder compared to the general population. Despite the increased mortality of CVD, hospital admissions (ARR) for CVD treatment were only slightly increased in persons with bipolar disorder when compared to the general population.

Conclusions

The increased cardiovascular mortality in persons with bipolar disorder calls for renewed efforts to prevent and treat somatic diseases in this group. Specifically, our findings further imply that it would be critical to ensure that persons with bipolar disorder receive the same quality care for CVD as persons without bipolar disorder.
An analysis of knowledge and attitudes of hospice staff towards organ and tissue donation
Authors: Wale J , Arthur A , Faull C
Published: April 2013

Background

Only a minority of hospice patients eligible to donate tissue and organs choose to do so. Hospice care staff play a key role in discussions about donation, but their willingness to engage in these discussions and their understanding of issues around tissue and organ donation is poorly understood.

Aims

To (i) identify factors associated with the wish of hospice doctors, nurses and healthcare assistants to donate their own organs after death; (ii) survey the experience of discussing the subject with patients; (iii) determine staff members’ knowledge of organ and tissue donation and (iv) identify factors associated with knowledge of organ and tissue donation.

Design

Cross-sectional questionnaire survey of hospice care staff.

Setting/participants

76 of the 94 care staff of one large UK hospice completed and returned the questionnaire.

Results

Staff wishing to donate their organs after death (43/76 56.6%) were more likely to be doctors or nurses than healthcare assistants (p=0.011) and more likely to have discussed organ or tissue donation with their family (p<0.001). Staff reporting ever having discussed donation with patients had more years’ experience (p=0.045) and had similarly discussed donation with their own family (p=0.039). Those with greater knowledge were more likely to have discussed organ or tissue donation with a patient (p=0.042).

Conclusions

A reluctance to instigate discussions about organ and tissue donation may prevent palliative patients and their families being allowed the opportunity to donate. Suboptimal knowledge among hospice staff suggests the need for greater liaison between hospice staff, and the organ and tissue donation teams.
The neuter status of cats at four and six months of age is strongly associated with the owners' intended age of neutering
Authors: Welsh C. P. , Gruffydd‐Jones T. J. , Murray J. K.
Published: April 2013

The recommended neutering age of client‐owned cats reduced recently from six to four months of age. This study assessed the proportion of cats neutered at these ages. Data were obtained from owner‐completed questionnaires at recruitment (8–16‐week‐old kittens) and 6.5–7 months of age. Demographic and lifestyle factors were assessed for potential association with neuter status using univariable and multivariable logistic regression models. Of 751 study cats, 14.1 per cent and 73.5 per cent had been neutered at (or before) four and six months of age, respectively. Multivariable analysis showed that being neutered at four months was significantly more likely for cats whose owners intended to have their cat neutered by this age, cats with a microchip, and from households in deprived regions. The likelihood of being neutered at six months of age was significantly increased for cats that were insured, obtained from an animal welfare organisation, given their second vaccination, from a household with an annual income of ≥£10 000, and owned by people intending to have their cat neutered by this age. This study suggests that while neutering rates were high at six months of age, they were low at four months of age, and that further work is required to disseminate the recommended neutering age of four months.
A DFT study on electronic structure and local reactivity descriptors of pristine and carbon-substituted AlN nanotubes
Authors: Esrafili Mehdi D.
Published: April 2013

A density functional theory study was carried out to investigate the structural and electronic structure properties of pristine and carbon-substituted (6,0) aluminum nitride nanotubes (AlNNTs). We examine the usefulness of local reactivity descriptors to predict the reactivity of AlN atomic sites on the external surface of the tubes. The properties determined include the Fukui function f(k) and local softness s(k) on the surfaces of the investigated tubes. According to the values of f(k) and s(k) for the pristine AlNNT, the aluminum atoms are highly preferred sites for nucleophile addition. More especially, the aluminum atoms in middle portion show different reactivity pattern from those at the edge or cap regions of the nanotube. Our results indicate that the nitrogen atoms adjacent to the substituted carbon atoms are less reactive toward atomic hydrogen chemisorption than those in the pristine one. There is an acceptable correlation between chemisorption energies and reactivity indexes, indicating that f(k) and s(k) provide an effective means for rapidly and economically assessing the relative reactivities of finite-sized AlNNTs.
A 0.8 V 48 μW 82 dB SNDR 10-kHz BANDWIDTH ΣΔ MODULATOR IN 0.13-μM CMOS
Authors: LANG WEI , WAN PEIYUAN , LIN PINGFEN
Published: April 2013

This paper presents a low-power low-voltage chopper stabilized discrete-time second-order feed-forward ΣΔ modulator with an asynchronous 4-bit successive-approximation-register (SAR) quantizer. The feed-forward topology will reduce the internal signal swing, relaxing the linearity and slew rate requirements for an operational amplifier (op-amp). The analog weighted summation of feed-forward paths is merged with the sampling capacitor array of a SAR quantizer to minimize the distortion and associated hardware overhead. To achieve low power consumption, a partially switched op-amp bias in weak inversion is used for the first integrator. The energy efficiency is further improved by the asynchronous SAR 4-bit quantizer. Moreover, the asynchronous scheme will reduce loop delay caused by the summation block, the quantizer and the data weighted averaging (DWA) circuit, improving circuit stability and lowering power consumption. A 0.13-μm CMOS experimental prototype achieves 84 dB dynamic range, 84 dB peak SNR and 82 dB peak SNDR over an input signal bandwidth of 10-kHz. The total power consumption of the modulator is 48 μW from a 0.8 V supply at an 800-kHz sampling rate.
LOW POWER CONSUMPTION SECURITY PLATFORM FOR INDUSTRIAL COMMUNICATIONS USING AN MPSOC
Authors: GRANADO-CRIADO JOSE M. , VEGA-RODRÍGUEZ MIGUEL A. , CHAVES-GONZALEZ JOSE M. , SANCHEZ-PEREZ JUAN M. , GOMEZ-PULIDO JUAN A.
Published: April 2013

This work presents a novel security platform for industrial communications using a nine-MicroBlaze MPSoC. This platform has low power consumption and cost, therefore, it is very appropriate for embedded systems, where restrictions on cost and power consumption have to be fulfilled. This system uses the RSA asymmetric algorithm combined with the AES symmetric algorithm, which was developed using two encryption modes, ECB and CBC. In this way, the platform makes possible to combine different algorithms and modes in function of the necessities of speed and security required. Furthermore, due to the implementation of standard algorithms (AES and RSA) and modes (ECB and CBC), this platform can be connected to the Internet, and can even use secure protocols as SSL.
HARDWARE IMPLEMENTATION OF DECISION TREE ENSEMBLES
Authors: STRUHARIK RASTISLAV J. R. , NOVAK LADISLAV A.
Published: April 2013

In this paper, several hardware architectures for the realization of ensembles of axis-parallel, oblique and nonlinear decision trees (DTs) are presented. Hardware architectures for the implementation of a number of ensemble combination rules are also presented. These architectures are universal and can be used to combine predictions from any type of classifiers, such as decision trees, artificial neural networks (ANNs) and support vector machines (SVMs). Proposed architectures are suitable for the implementation using Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) and Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC). Experiment results obtained using 29 datasets from the standard UCI Machine Learning Repository database suggest that the FPGA implementations offer significant improvement in the classification time in comparison with the traditional software implementations. Greatest improvement can be achieved using the SP2-P architecture implemented on the FPGA achieving 416.53 times faster classification speed on average, compared with the software implementation. This result has been achieved on the FPGA working at 135.51 MHz on average, which is 33.21 times slower than the operating frequency of the general purpose computer on which the software implementation has been executed.