bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nursing students' perceptions of their clinical learning environment in placements outside traditional hospital settings
Authors: Bjørk Ida T , Berntsen Karin , Brynildsen Grethe , Hestetun Margrete
Published: January 2014

Aims and objectives

To explore students' opinions of the learning environment during clinical placement in settings outside traditional hospital settings.

Background

Clinical placement experiences may influence positively on nursing students attitudes towards the clinical setting in question. Most studies exploring the quality of clinical placements have targeted students' experience in hospital settings. The number of studies exploring students' experiences of the learning environment in healthcare settings outside of the hospital venue does not match the growing importance of such settings in the delivery of health care, nor the growing number of nurses needed in these venues.

Design

A survey design was used.

Method

The Clinical Learning Environment Inventory was administered to two cohorts of undergraduate nursing students (n = 184) after clinical placement in mental health care, home care and nursing home care.

Results

Nursing students' overall contentment with the learning environment was quite similar across all three placement areas. Students in mental health care had significantly higher scores on the subscale individualisation, and older students had significantly higher scores on the total scale. Compared with other studies where the Clinical Learning Environment Inventory has been used, the students' total scores in this study are similar or higher than scores in studies including students from hospital settings.

Conclusion

Results from this study negate the negative views on clinical placements outside the hospital setting, especially those related to placements in nursing homes and mental healthcare settings.

Relevance to clinical practice

Students' experience of the learning environment during placements in mental health care, home care and nursing homes indicates the relevance of clinical education in settings outside the hospital setting.
Autologous Peripheral Blood Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in Dogs with T‐Cell Lymphoma
Authors: Warry E.E. , Willcox J.L. , Suter S.E.
Published: January 2014

Background

Peripheral blood hematopoietic cell transplantation (PBHCT) is a feasible treatment option for dogs with B‐cell lymphoma.

Objective

To examine apheresis andPBHCToutcomes in dogs diagnosed with T‐cell lymphoma (TCL).

Animals

Fifteen client‐owned dogs diagnosed with high‐gradeTCL.

Methods

After high‐dose cyclophosphamide and rhG‐colony‐stimulating (rhG‐CSF) factor treatment, peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected using cell separators. The harvested cells then were infused after varying doses of total body irradiation (TBI). Postirradiation adverse effects were managed symptomatically and dogs were discharged upon evidence of hematopoietic engraftment.

Results

More than 2 × 106CD34+ cells/kg were harvested from 15/15 dogs. Thirteen of 15 (87%) dogs engrafted appropriately, whereas 2 (13%) of the dogs died in the hospital. One dog developed cutaneous B‐cell lymphoma 120 days post‐PBHCT. The median disease‐free interval and overall survival (OS) of the 13 dogs transplanted in first remission from the time ofPBHCTwere 184 and 240 days, respectively. Stage and substage of disease at diagnosis had no effect onOS. Two of 13 (15%) dogs were alive 741 and 772 days post‐PBHCT.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

PBHCTmay be considered as a treatment option for dogs withTCL.
Severe childhood asthma and allergy to furry animals: Refined assessment using molecular‐based allergy diagnostics
Authors: Konradsen Jon R. , Nordlund Björn , Onell Annica , Borres Magnus P. , Grönlund Hans , Hedlin Gunilla
Published: January 2014

Background

Allergy to cats and dogs and polysensitization towards these animals are associated with severe childhood asthma. Molecular‐based allergy diagnostics offers new opportunities for improved characterization and has been suggested to be particularly useful in patients with polysensitization and/or severe asthma. The aim was to use extract‐ and molecular‐based allergy diagnostics to compare patterns of IgE sensitization towards aeroallergens in children with problematic severe and controlled asthma.

Methods

Children with a positive ImmunoCAP towards any furry animal (cat, dog or horse) were recruited from a Nationwide Swedish study on severe childhood asthma. Severe (n = 37, age 13 years) and controlled (n = 28, age 14 years) asthmatics underwent assessment of allergic sensitization by ImmunoCap (kUA/l) and immunosolid‐phase allergen chip (ISAC). In addition, Asthma Control Test, spirometry and a methacholine challenge were performed.

Results

Children with severe asthma had lower asthma control (p < 0.001) and FEV1 (p = 0.001) and more bronchial hyper‐responsiveness (p = 0.008) in spite of high doses of inhaled steroids (≥800 μg budesonide). Children with severe asthma displayed higher levels of IgE antibodies towards cat (17 vs. 3.9, p = 0.027), dog (3.8 vs. 1.2, p = 0.012) and horse (7.4 vs. 0.7, p = 0.014). Sensitization towards Can f 2 (22% vs. 0%, p = 0.009) and Equ c 1 (51% vs. 25%, p = 0.03) was more common in severe asthma. IgE levels towards Equ c 1 correlated with asthma control (r = −0.41, p = 0.04).

Conclusion

Children with severe allergic asthma had higher sIgE levels to cat, dog and horse. Molecular‐based allergy diagnostics revealed a more complex molecular spreading of allergen components in children with the most severe disease.
Presidents as Agents of Change
Authors: Galvin Daniel J.
Published: January 2014

Presidents have long been seen as operating within a political environment that is intractable and highly resistant to change. Recent historical‐institutional research, however, has revealed presidents to be powerful agents of structural change. Building on this emergent literature, this article endeavors to demonstrate that Terry Moe's tripartite analytical framework—of structures, incentives, and resources—remains a helpful starting point for historically oriented scholars seeking to examine the relationship between presidential behavior and institutional change. It offers methodological suggestions for conducting historical research along these lines and illustrates the potential gains by reconsidering some recent research into the relationship between presidential action and party development. Each illustration shows that presidents, through their instrumental efforts to bring inherited party structures into closer alignment with their incentives, contributed to long‐term party developments. Rather than leave their structural environment undisturbed, as leading theories might predict, their actions reconfigured party arrangements and altered their trajectories, influencing the choices made by subsequent presidents and other political actors.
The iteration deficit in responsive regulation: Are regulatory ambassadors an answer?
Authors: Braithwaite John , Hong Seung‐Hun
Published: January 2014

One reason that regulation is difficult is that repeated encounters between regulator and regulatee are rare. We suggest diplomacy as a model for reconfiguring regulatory institutions in response. Ambassadors for Regulatory Affairs who would be agents for all state regulatory agencies could be based in most large firms and small and medium enterprises that pose unusual regulatory risks. In rural towns, police would be trained as regulatory ambassadors. Just as aUSSecretary of State can launch a “diplomatic surge” inMyanmar from 2009, so regulatory surges are possible in market sectors of high risk or high opportunity. We propose strategies of indirect reciprocity as a way in which reciprocity that is only episodic in these strategic ways can promote more general responsiveness. Indirect reciprocity is reciprocity that we do not personally experience, but learn from the experience of a culture. This means that so long as we sustain regulation as a relational as opposed to a purely technocratic process, indirect reciprocity might civilize regulatory compliance in an historical process informed by the theories ofElias andPutnam.
A Tiered Framework for Risk‐Relevant Characterization and Ranking of Chemical Exposures: Applications to the National Children's Study (NCS)
Authors: Georgopoulos Panos G. , Brinkerhoff Christopher J. , Isukapalli Sastry , Dellarco Michael , Landrigan Philip J. , Lioy Paul J.
Published: January 2014

A challenge for large‐scale environmental health investigations such as the National Children's Study (NCS), is characterizing exposures to multiple, co‐occurring chemical agents with varying spatiotemporal concentrations and consequences modulated by biochemical, physiological, behavioral, socioeconomic, and environmental factors. Such investigations can benefit from systematic retrieval, analysis, and integration of diverse extant information on both contaminant patterns and exposure‐relevant factors. This requires development, evaluation, and deployment of informatics methods that support flexible access and analysis of multiattribute data across multiple spatiotemporal scales. A new “Tiered Exposure Ranking” (TiER) framework, developed to support various aspects of risk‐relevant exposure characterization, is described here, with examples demonstrating its application to the NCS. TiER utilizes advances in informatics computational methods, extant database content and availability, and integrative environmental/exposure/biological modeling to support both “discovery‐driven” and “hypothesis‐driven” analyses. “Tier 1” applications focus on “exposomic” pattern recognition for extracting information from multidimensional data sets, whereas second and higher tier applications utilize mechanistic models to develop risk‐relevant exposure metrics for populations and individuals. In this article, “tier 1” applications of TiER explore identification of potentially causative associations among risk factors, for prioritizing further studies, by considering publicly available demographic/socioeconomic, behavioral, and environmental data in relation to two health endpoints (preterm birth and low birth weight). A “tier 2” application develops estimates of pollutant mixture inhalation exposure indices for NCS counties, formulated to support risk characterization for these endpoints. Applications of TiER demonstrate the feasibility of developing risk‐relevant exposure characterizations for pollutants using extant environmental and demographic/socioeconomic data.
Group G streptococcal sepsis, septic arthritis and myositis in a patient with severe oral ulcerations
Authors: Deng Wu , Farricielli Laurie
Published: January 2014

Lancefield group G streptococci (GGS) are a relatively less common cause of streptococcal infections but the incidence of which has been reported to increase in the recent years. Similar to group A streptococci, GGS produce localised and invasive infections. Streptococcal myositis is a very rare but highly fatal infection of muscles generally caused by group A streptococci. We report a case of sepsis, migrating septic arthritis and diffuse myositis caused by β-haemolytic GGS. It is an unusual case of diffuse β-haemolytic GGS myositis involving multiple muscle groups in a patient who demonstrated no skin lesions or sign of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. The patient responded well to intravenous antibiotics without surgical intervention and experienced full recovery.
FIRST-PRINCIPLES INVESTIGATION OF THE ELECTRONIC, ELASTIC AND THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES OF SUPERCONDUCTINGMgB2
Authors: LU HONGYING , LONG JIANPING , YANG LIJUN , HUANG WEN
Published: January 2014

The electronic structure, elastic properties, Debye temperature and thermal conductivity of MgB2are investigated by using the first-principles density function theory within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The calculated elastic constants indicate that the MgB2is mechanically stable. The shear modulus, Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, σ, the ratio B/G and universal anisotropy index are also calculated. Finally, the averaged sound velocity, longitudinal sound velocity, transverse sound velocity, Debye temperature and thermal conductivity are obtained.
UPWARD JUMP OF A BIPED
Authors: AOUSTIN YANNICK , FORMALSKII ALEXANDER
Published: January 2014

This paper explores the vertical upward jumping of a planar biped. There are two stance phases and one flight phase in the jump. One stance phase takes place before the flight phase, another one after the flight phase. The stance phase before the flight phase is decomposed into several parts: A crouching, a thrust at the knees, a rotation of both feet (massless) around their toes. The second stance phase (after the flight phase) starts with a touchdown of the toes. It consists of a feet rotation, a touchdown of the whole soles and finally of a straightening up movement of the biped. A mathematical model for this kind of jump is developed. Torques are applied at the hip, knee and ankle joints. The control algorithm is designed to ensure the jump of the biped. The synthesis of the jumping process is supported by simulation, which gives consistent results with human data from biomechanical literature. The stick diagram of the jump derived from simulation results seems natural for the human jumping.
Modeling Large Deformation and Failure of Expanded Polystyrene Crushable Foam Using LS-DYNA
Authors: Shah Qasim H. , Topa A.
Published: January 2014

In the initial phase of the research work, quasistatic compression tests were conducted on the expanded polystyrene (EPS) crushable foam for material characterisation at low strain rates (8.3×10-3~8.3×10-2 s−1) to obtain the stress strain curves. The resulting stress strain curves are compared well with the ones found in the literature. Numerical analysis of compression tests was carried out to validate them against experimental results. Additionally gravity-driven drop tests were carried out using a long rod projectile with semispherical end that penetrated into the EPS foam block. Long rod projectile drop tests were simulated in LS-DYNA by using suggested parameter enhancements that were able to compute the material damage and failure response precisely. The material parameters adjustment for successful modelling has been reported.
Two Legendre-Dual-Petrov-Galerkin Algorithms for Solving the Integrated Forms of High Odd-Order Boundary Value Problems
Authors: Abd-Elhameed Waleed M. , Doha Eid H. , Bassuony Mahmoud A.
Published: January 2014

Two numerical algorithms based on dual-Petrov-Galerkin method are developed for solving the integrated forms of high odd-order boundary value problems (BVPs) governed by homogeneous and nonhomogeneous boundary conditions. Two different choices of trial functions and test functions which satisfy the underlying boundary conditions of the differential equations and the dual boundary conditions are used for this purpose. These choices lead to linear systems with specially structured matrices that can be efficiently inverted, hence greatly reducing the cost. The various matrix systems resulting from these discretizations are carefully investigated, especially their complexities and their condition numbers. Numerical results are given to illustrate the efficiency of the proposed algorithms, and some comparisons with some other methods are made.
Development and Characterization of Nanoparticles for the Delivery of Gemcitabine Hydrochloride
Authors: Khaira Rekha , Sharma Jyoti , Saini Vinay
Published: January 2014

Gemcitabine (2,2-difluorodeoxycytidine) is a deoxycytidine analog, currently being used as a first-choice drug in pancreatic metastatic cancer. Gemcitabine is administered weekly as 30-minute infusion with starting dose ranging from 800 to 1250 mg/m2. The aim of the present work was to develop starch nanoparticles (NPs) for the delivery of gemcitabine hydrochloride that could reduce its dose related side effects and may prolong its retention time (24 hrs) for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Nanoparticles were prepared by emulsification diffusion method with slight modifications. Size and morphology of nanoparticles were investigated. Particles were spherical in shape with slightly rough surfaces. Particle size and polydispersity index were 231.4 nm and 1.0, respectively while zeta potential of blank NPs and drug loaded NPs were found to be −11.8 mV and −9.55 mV, respectively. Percent entrapment efficiency of different formulations was around∼54% to 65%.In vitrorelease profile studies showed that around 70%–83% of drug was released from different formulations. Anticancerous cell line studies were also performed in human pancreatic cell lines (MIA-PA-CA-2).
Evaluation of the Pseudostatic Analyses of Earth Dams Using FE Simulation and Observed Earthquake-Induced Deformations: Case Studies of Upper San Fernando and Kitayama Dams
Authors: Akhlaghi Tohid , Nikkar Ali
Published: January 2014

Evaluation of the accuracy of the pseudostatic approach is governed by the accuracy with which the simple pseudostatic inertial forces represent the complex dynamic inertial forces that actually exist in an earthquake. In this study, the Upper San Fernando and Kitayama earth dams, which have been designed using the pseudostatic approach and damaged during the 1971 San Fernando and 1995 Kobe earthquakes, were investigated and analyzed. The finite element models of the dams were prepared based on the detailed available data and results of in situ and laboratory material tests. Dynamic analyses were conducted to simulate the earthquake-induced deformations of the dams using the computer program Plaxis code. Then the pseudostatic seismic coefficient used in the design and analyses of the dams were compared with the seismic coefficients obtained from dynamic analyses of the simulated model as well as the other available proposed pseudostatic correlations. Based on the comparisons made, the accuracy and reliability of the pseudostatic seismic coefficients are evaluated and discussed.
Activation of J77A.1 Macrophages by Three Phospholipases A2Isolated fromBothrops atroxSnake Venom
Authors: Furtado Juliana L. , Oliveira George A. , Pontes Adriana S. , Setúbal Sulamita da S. , Xavier Caroline V. , Lacouth-Silva Fabianne , Lima Beatriz F. , Zaqueo Kayena D. , Kayano Anderson M. , Calderon Leonardo A. , Stábeli Rodrigo G. , Soares Andreimar M. , Zuliani Juliana P.
Published: January 2014

In the present study, we investigated thein vitroeffects of two basic myotoxic phospholipases A2(PLA2), BaTX-I, a catalytically inactive Lys-49 variant, and BaTX-II, a catalytically active Asp-49, and of one acidic myotoxic PLA2, BaPLA2, a catalytically active Asp-49, isolated fromBothrops atroxsnake venom, on the activation of J774A.1 macrophages. At noncytotoxic concentrations, the toxins did not affect the adhesion of the macrophages, nor their ability to detach. The data obtained showed that only BaTX-I stimulated complement receptor-mediated phagocytosis. However, BaTX-I, BaTX-II, and BaPLA2induced the release of the superoxide anion by J774A.1 macrophages. Additionally, only BaTX-I raised the lysosomal volume of macrophages after 15 min of incubation. After 30 min, all the phospholipases increased this parameter, which was not observed within 60 min. Moreover, BaTX-I, BaTX-II, and BaPLA2increased the number of lipid bodies on macrophages submitted to phagocytosis and not submitted to phagocytosis. However, BaTX-II and BaPLA2induced the release of TNF-αby J774A.1 macrophages. Taken together, the data show that, despite differences in enzymatic activity, the three toxins induced inflammatory events and whether the enzyme is acidic or basic does not seem to contribute to these effects.
Transcripts of Anthocyanidin Reductase and Leucoanthocyanidin Reductase and Measurement of Catechin and Epicatechin in Tartary Buckwheat
Authors: Kim Yeon Bok , Thwe Aye Aye , Kim YeJi , Li Xiaohua , Cho Jin Woong , Park Phun Bum , Valan Arasu Mariadhas , Abdullah Al-Dhabi Naif , Kim Sun-Ju , Suzuki Tastsuro , Hyun Jho Kwang , Park Sang Un
Published: January 2014

Anthocyanidin reductase (ANR) and leucoanthocyanidin reductase (LAR) play an important role in the monomeric units biosynthesis of proanthocyanidins (PAs) such as catechin and epicatechin in several plants. The aim of this study was to clone ANR and LAR genes involved in PAs biosynthesis and examine the expression of these two genes in different organs under different growth conditions in two tartary buckwheat cultivars, Hokkai T8 and T10. Gene expression was carried out by quantitative real-time RT-PCR, and catechin and epicatechin content was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. The expression pattern of ANR and LAR did not match the accumulation pattern of PAs in different organs of two cultivars. Epicatechin content was the highest in the flowers of both cultivars and it was affected by light in only Hokkai T8 sprouts. ANR and LAR levels in tartary buckwheat might be regulated by different mechanisms for catechin and epicatechin biosynthesis under light and dark conditions.
Effectiveness of Saikokaryukotsuboreito (Herbal Medicine) for Antipsychotic-Induced Sexual Dysfunction in Male Patients with Schizophrenia: A Description of Two Cases
Authors: Takashi Tsuboi , Uchida Hiroyuki , Suzuki Takefumi , Mimura Masaru
Published: January 2014

Antipsychotics sometimes cause sexual dysfunction in people with schizophrenia. The authors report the effectiveness of Saikokaryukotsuboreito (Japanese traditional herbal medicine, Chai-Hu-Jia-Long-Gu-Mu-Li-Tang in Chinese) for antipsychotic-induced sexual dysfunction in two male patients with schizophrenia. The first patient was a 28-year-old man with schizophrenia who suffered erectile dysfunction induced by olanzapine 10 mg/day; the erectile dysfunction significantly improved following the treatment of Saikokaryukotsuboreito 7.5 g/day. The other case was a 43-year-old man with schizophrenia who was receiving fluphenazine decanoate at 50 mg/month and had difficulties in ejaculation; add-on of Saikokaryukotsuboreito 7.5 g/day recovered his ejaculatory function. There has been no report on the effectiveness of Japanese herbal medicine formulations for antipsychotic-induced sexual dysfunction. Although the effectiveness of Saikokaryukotsuboreito needs to be tested in systematic clinical trials, this herbal medicine may be a treatment option to consider for this annoying side effect.
End-to-End Message Exchange in a Deployable Marine Environment Hierarchical Wireless Sensor Network
Authors: Ortega-Corral César , Palafox Luis E. , García-Macías J. Antonio , Sánchez-García Jaime , Aguilar Leocundo
Published: January 2014

We present a pragmatic view of different approaches used to guarantee data delivery in a deployable marine habitat monitoring system, composed of a two-tier dual frequency (2.4 GHz/900 MHz) hierarchical wireless sensor network (WSN). We cover end-to-end application layer aspects. At the lower tier, we preconfigured endpoint (EP) transceivers for automatic data acquisition and wireless transfer using their native Application Program Interface (API) framework. These endpoints communicate with a more powerful intermediate cluster-head (CLH) system. At the upper tier, we deployed a modified low level 8-bit “Lighter” version of the well-known web application protocol called JavaScript Object Notation (JSON, or in our case LJSON) for back and forth CLH to BS validated message exchange. These LJSON messages are converted by the BS to 16-bit JSON and vice versa, for remote Internet interaction. And finally, the BS software establishes Internet Protocol (IP) client socket connections with a remote custom JSON service, in charge of marine habitat sensor data reception, verification, and nonvolatile database storage.
Seasonal Changes of Fish Assemblages in a Subtropical Lagoon in the SE Gulf of California
Authors: Amezcua F. , Amezcua-Linares F.
Published: January 2014

The composition and seasonal changes of the fish assemblage in a coastal lagoon system in southeastern Gulf of California were assessed from December 2001 to July 2005. A total of 20,877 organisms belonging to 191 species and 47 families were analyzed. We determined that almost all the species inhabiting the system were found; however some rare species were not captured in our study. The majority of the species found were demersal but in every season at least one pelagic or benthopelagic species showed high abundances. The moonfish,Selene peruviana, was the most abundant species, whilst the puffer,Sphoeroides annulatus, was the main species in terms of biomass. The species composition changed seasonally; results from the Simpson diversity index and the cumulative species curve show that seasonally almost all the species in the system for a given season were found. These changes were also reflected in the multivariate results. The seasonal variations could be attributed to the migration of species out of the system as they grow and the arrival of new ones, which could also be related to temperature patterns since this environmental factor changes considerably through the year.
Panax notoginseng Saponins Improve Erectile Function through Attenuation of Oxidative Stress, Restoration of Akt Activity and Protection of Endothelial and Smooth Muscle Cells in Diabetic Rats with Erectile Dysfunction
Authors: Li Huan , He Wei-Yang , Lin Fan , Gou Xin
Published: January 2014

Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS), which have an antioxidant property, are a widely used traditional Chinese medicine. In this study we investigated whether PNS can improve erectile function in rats with erectile dysfunction and the underlying mechanism by using a rat diabetic erectile dysfunction model. The rats were randomly divided into four groups: three PNS-treated groups (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg) and one saline-treated control group. Four weeks post treatment, electrostimulation was applied to the cavernous nerve and intracavernous pressure was measured to assess erectile function. Malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase and glutathione were detected in the penises of all rats. Ultrastructural changes in the penises were examined by electron microscopy. Expression of Akt was detected by immunohistochemistry. The results showed that intracavernous pressure was increased in PNS-treated groups (100 and 150 mg/kg) compared to the control group. The levels of superoxide dismutase, glutathione and Akt were increased (p < 0.05) while that of malondialdehyde was decreased in the PNS groups. Ruptured endothelium, impaired smooth muscle cells and thrombus in the penises were detected by electron microscopy in the control group, but not in the PNS groups (10 and 150 mg/kg). The results suggest that PNS improves erectile function in diabetic rats. This improvement was associated with increased Akt expression, suppressed oxidative stress and restored functions of endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells in the penis.
Cognitive Profile of CADASIL Patients with R544C Notch3 Mutation
Authors: Song Jung-Kook , Noh Young Ook , Lee Jung Seok
Published: January 2014

Background: Cerebral autosomal-dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is an inherited microangiopathy caused by mutations in the Notch3 gene. In the present study, we aimed to analyze cognitive and neuroimaging profiles of CADASIL patients with R544C mutation. Methods: Fifty-eight consecutive patients with R544C mutation and 26 normal controls were investigated. The patients were divided into two groups depending on the presence (CADASIL with dementia: CADASIL-D) or absence of dementia (CADASIL no dementia: CADASIL-ND). We applied the same neuropsychological test to the three groups. Brain magnetic resonance images were obtained from 58 patients with R544C mutation. Linear regression models were used to assess the impact of lacunes and white matter hyperintensities on cognitive function in the CADASIL-ND group. Results: Compared to controls, the CADASIL-ND group demonstrated significant difficulties concerning measures of attention, executive function, and motor control. The CADASIL-D group was impaired in all cognitive domains that were assessed, except the language domain. After correction for age and educational level, the number of lacunes was associated with lower scores in the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale cognitive subtest and Stroop color test in the CADASIL-ND group. Conclusions: Non-Caucasian CADASIL patients with R544C mutation and Caucasian CADASIL patients show similar patterns of cognitive impairment.
Perinatal Asphyxia in Monochorionic versus Dichorionic Twins: Incidence, Risk Factors and Outcome
Authors: van Steenis A. , Kromhout H.E. , Steggerda S.J. , Sueters M. , Rijken M. , Oepkes D. , Lopriore E.
Published: January 2014

Objective: To estimate the incidence, risk factors, severity and outcome after perinatal asphyxia in monochorionic (MC) versus dichorionic (DC) twins. Methods: We included all consecutive near-term MC and DC twins with perinatal asphyxia admitted to our neonatal ward between 2004 and 2013 and compared the perinatal characteristics and neonatal outcome between both groups. Results: The incidence of perinatal asphyxia in MC and DC twin infants was 4.0 (11/272) and 4.0% (8/200; p = 1.00). In contrast to DC twins, asphyxia in MC twins was strongly associated with acute exsanguination and anemia at birth; 64% (7/11) in MC twins and 0% (0/8) in DC twins (p < 0.01). Median hemoglobin level at birth in the MC and DC groups was 11.5 and 18.6 g/dl, respectively (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Perinatal asphyxia in MC twins is often associated with severe anemia at birth due to acute hemorrhage through the placental vascular anastomoses.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Breath-Hold Divers with Cerebral Decompression Sickness
Authors: Matsuo Ryu , Kamouchi Masahiro , Arakawa Shuji , Furuta Yoshihiko , Kanazawa Yuka , Kitazono Takanari
Published: January 2014

The mechanism of cerebral decompression sickness (DCS) is still unclear. We report 2 cases of breath-hold divers with cerebral DCS in whom magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated distinctive characteristics. One case presented right hemiparesthesia, diplopia, and gait disturbance after breath-hold diving into the sea at a depth of 20 m. Brain MRI with fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequence revealed multiple hyperintense lesions in the right frontal lobe, bilateral thalamus, pons, and right cerebellar hemisphere. The second case presented visual and gait disturbance after repetitive breath-hold diving into the sea. FLAIR imaging showed hyperintense areas in the bilateral occipito-parietal lobes. In both cases, diffusion-weighted imaging and apparent diffusion coefficient mapping revealed hyperintense areas in the lesions identified by FLAIR. Moreover, follow-up MRI showed attenuation of the FLAIR signal abnormalities. These findings are suggestive of transient hyperpermeability in the microvasculature as a possible cause of cerebral DCS.
A Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich Syndrome Variant with Ipsilateral Renal Absence and a Contralateral Duplex Collecting System in a 26-Year-Old Female
Authors: Zhou Yong , Fu Xiujuan , Qian Honglang , Lin Kaiqing , Wang Jinhua , Zhou Shuyang , Hu Xian , Jin Hangmei
Published: January 2014

Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich syndrome (HWWS) is a müllerian duct anomaly typically associated with a uterus didelphys with two cervices and two vaginas, one of which is obstructed. A remarkable case of HWWS with contralateral duplex kidneys and duplication of ureters is described, which, to our knowledge, is a rarely reported variant to date. For this congenital anomaly, a strong suspicion and knowledge of HWWS are essential for a precise diagnosis.
Open Fetal Surgery for Central Bronchial Atresia
Authors: Peranteau William H. , Moldenhauer Julie S. , Khalek Nahla , Martinez-Poyer Juan L. , Howell Lori J. , Johnson Mark P. , Flake Alan W. , Adzick N. Scott , Hedrick Holly L.
Published: January 2014

Mainstem or lobar bronchial atresia is associated with massive pulmonary hyperplasia, contralateral pulmonary hypoplasia, non-immune hydrops and a fatal fetal prognosis. Open fetal surgery currently provides a potential therapeutic option for management of a fetus with this diagnosis. We present 2 cases of open fetal surgery for bronchial atresia at the level of the mainstem and lobar bronchus. The first case involved a left pneumonectomy performed at 26 weeks' gestation. After successful intraoperative resuscitation for fetal cardiac arrest, the fetus survived until 32 weeks' gestation when preterm premature rupture of membranes prompted delivery. The neonate expired on day of life (DOL)1. The second case involved a left upper lobectomy performed at 243/7 weeks' gestation. The fetus was delivered at 343/7 weeks' gestation and, after a prolonged NICU course including a completion pneumonectomy and tracheostomy, was discharged home at 8 months of life. This second case is the first report of survival following open fetal surgery for central bronchial atresia. This report highlights the potential benefit of fetal lung resection for central bronchial atresia while describing the many challenges to achieve the successful management of a fetus with this condition.
Pregnancy Outcome in Hyperthyroidism: A Case Control Study
Authors: Aggarawal Neelam , Suri Vanita , Singla Rimpi , Chopra Seema , Sikka Pooja , Shah Viral N. , Bhansali Anil
Published: January 2014

Background: Data comparing pregnancy outcome in hyperthyroid women with euthyroid women are scarce. Hence, this study was carried out to assess the maternal and fetal outcome in pregnant women with hyperthyroidism to ascertain the effect of disease on pregnancy. Methodology: This retrospective study was conducted over a period of 28 years. We compared the maternal and fetal outcomes of 208 hyperthyroid women with 403 healthy controls, between women with well-controlled and uncontrolled disease and amongst women diagnosed with hyperthyroidism before and during pregnancy. Results: Maternal outcome: women with hyperthyroidism were at increased risk for preeclampsia (OR = 3.94), intrauterine growth restriction (OR = 2.16), spontaneous preterm labor (OR = 1.73), preterm birth (OR = 1.7), gestational diabetes mellitus (OR = 1.8), and cesarean delivery (OR = 1.47). Hyperthyroid women required induction of labor more frequently (OR = 3.61). Fetal outcome: newborns of hyperthyroid mothers had lower birth weight than normal ones (p = 0.0001). Women with uncontrolled disease had higher odds for still birth (OR = 8.42; 95% CI: 2.01-35.2) and lower birth weight (p = 0.0001). Conclusions: Obstetrical complications were higher in women with hyperthyroidism than normal women. Outcome was worsened by uncontrolled disease. Women with pregestational hyperthyroidism had better outcomes than those diagnosed with it during pregnancy.
An approach to assessing ‘accountability’ in implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: Implications for School Psychology
Authors: Garbarino James , Briggs Alissa
Published: January 2014

Together, the UN Convention on Rights of the Child and the USA’s National Association of School Psychologists’ (NASP) Principles for Professional Ethics (2010a) serve as aspirational documents that place a child’s right to healthy development as the ultimate priority, regardless of the child’s circumstances. This article outlines how school psychologists can assess and support progress towards the aspiration that children have equitable access to services that promote healthy development regardless of parental limitations.
Organizational Commitment as a Measure of Managerial Motivation
Authors: Sharma Baldev R. , Mohapatra Mamta , Rai Snigdha
Published: January 2014

The study on which this article is based was carried out in a multinational manufacturing organization operating in India. The study was aimed at ascertaining the level of motivation of the managerial employees as well as to identify the predictors thereof. Organizational commitment was used as a proxy measure of managerial motivation. Guided by the review of literature, certain personal attributes of the employees, a measure of job characteristics and several dimensions of organizational climate were used as the potential predictors of organizational commitment. The study obtains the data from 507 managers working in a multinational manufacturing organization. Data was collected online with the help of structured questionnaire. The study has found that ( a) the level of managerial motivation is quite high, ( b) the employees are endowed with a positive work ethic and governed by internal locus of control, but ( c) there is considerable variation in the ratings given to various dimensions of organizational climate. The result of step-wise regression analysis has revealed six factors as the critical predictors of organizational commitment.
Leader Motives, Impression Management, and Charisma
Authors: Shah Tanvi , Mulla Zubin R.
Published: January 2014

Charisma is an essential part of transformational leadership; however, there are hardly any reliable ways of predicting leader charisma in an organizational context. Using a qualitative-descriptive study of two leaders—Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, we compare their charisma and impression management styles. Through a content analysis of their public speeches, we determine their motives. We find evidence to validate our proposition that a high power motive and acquisitive impression management techniques are related to charisma. Specifically we characterize Steve Jobs as a personal-power manager and Bill Gates as an achievement oriented manager. Implications for practice are discussed.
Gender differences of cognitive function in migraine patients: evidence from event-related potentials using the oddball paradigm
Authors: Wang Rongfei , Dong Zhao , Chen Xiaoyan , Zhang Mingjie , Yang Fan , Zhang Xiaolan , Jia Weiquan , Yu Shengyuan
Published: January 2014

Background

Migraine shows gender-specific incidence and has a higher prevalence in females. Gender plays an important role in the prevalence of migraine, but few studies have investigated the effect of gender on the cognitive functions of migraine patients. This study investigated gender differences in the cognitive function of migraine patients without aura.

Methods

We recruited 29 migraine patients (15 females; mean age 25.4 y) during the interictal period and 28 healthy age-matched participants (14 females; mean age 24.8 y). We used an auditory oddball paradigm to analyze target processing using event-related potentials.

Results

We investigated the N2 and P3 components. The P3 amplitude was decreased in patients compared with the control, and this reduction was not modulated by gender. These results of the P3 provided a new evidence for the dysfunction of cognitive function in migraine patients. The N2 amplitude was larger for male than female migraine patients, and this gender effect was not found in the control group.

Conclusions

These results of the P3 provided a new evidence for the dysfunction of cognitive function in migraine patients. And those of N2 may explain that male patients have the super-sensitivity of cerebral function relevant to the early target-selection and response preparation. Our findings emphasize the importance of considering gender when researching the cognitive function of migraine patients.
Inferring the relation between transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation from expression compendia
Authors: Ishchukov Ivan , Wu Yan , Van Puyvelde Sandra , Vanderleyden Jos , Marchal Kathleen
Published: January 2014

Background

Publicly available expression compendia that measure both mRNAs and sRNAs provide a promising resource to simultaneously infer the transcriptional and the posttranscriptional network. To maximally exploit the information contained in such compendia, we propose an analysis flow that combines publicly available expression compendia and sequence-based predictions to infer novel sRNA-target interactions and to reconstruct the relation between the sRNA and the transcriptional network.

Results

We relied on module inference to construct modules of coexpressed genes (sRNAs). TFs and sRNAs were assigned to these modules using the state-of-the-art inference techniques LeMoNe and Context Likelihood of Relatedness (CLR). Combining these expressions with sequence-based sRNA-target interactions allowed us to predict 30 novel sRNA-target interactions comprising 14 sRNAs. Our results highlight the role of the posttranscriptional network in finetuning the transcriptional regulation, e.g. by intra-operonic regulation.

Conclusion

In this work we show how strategies that combine expression information with sequence-based predictions can help unveiling the intricate interaction between the transcriptional and the posttranscriptional network in prokaryotic model systems.
Interaction between forest biodiversity and people’s use of forest resources in Roviana, Solomon Islands: implications for biocultural conservation under socioeconomic changes
Authors: Furusawa Takuro , Sirikolo Myknee Qusa , Sasaoka Masatoshi , Ohtsuka Ryutaro
Published: January 2014

Background

In Solomon Islands, forests have provided people with ecological services while being affected by human use and protection. This study used a quantitative ethnobotanical analysis to explore the society–forest interaction and its transformation in Roviana, Solomon Islands. We compared local plant and land uses between a rural village and urbanized village. Special attention was paid to how local people depend on biodiversity and how traditional human modifications of forest contribute to biodiversity conservation.

Methods

After defining locally recognized land-use classes, vegetation surveys were conducted in seven forest classes. For detailed observations of daily plant uses, 15 and 17 households were randomly selected in the rural and urban villages, respectively. We quantitatively documented the plant species that were used as food, medicine, building materials, and tools.

Results

The vegetation survey revealed that each local forest class represented a different vegetative community with relatively low similarity between communities. Although commercial logging operations and agriculture were both prohibited in the customary nature reserve, local people were allowed to cut down trees for their personal use and to take several types of non-timber forest products. Useful trees were found at high frequencies in the barrier island’s primary forest (68.4%) and the main island’s reserve (68.3%). Various useful tree species were found only in the reserve forest and seldom available in the urban village. In the rural village, customary governance and control over the use of forest resources by the local people still functioned.

Conclusions

Human modifications of the forest created unique vegetation communities, thus increasing biodiversity overall. Each type of forest had different species that varied in their levels of importance to the local subsistence lifestyle, and the villagers’ behaviors, such as respect for forest reserves and the semidomestication of some species, contributed to conserving diversity. Urbanization threatened this human–forest interaction. Although the status of biodiversity in human-modified landscapes is not fully understood, this study suggested that traditional human modifications can positively affect biodiversity and that conservation programs should incorporate traditional uses of landscapes to be successful.
An ethnobiological study in Kala Chitta hills of Pothwar region, Pakistan: multinomial logit specification
Authors: Arshad Muhammad , Ahmad Mushtaq , Ahmed Ejaz , Saboor Abdul , Abbas Azhar , Sadiq Shumaila
Published: January 2014

Background

This paper constitutes an important ethnobiological survey in the context of utilizing biological resources by residents of Kala Chitta hills of Pothwar region, Pakistan. The fundamental aim of this research endeavour was to catalogue and analyse the indigenous knowledge of native community about plants and animals. The study is distinctive in the sense to explore both ethnobotanical and ethnozoological aspects of indigenous culture, and exhibits novelty, being based on empirical approach of Multinomial Logit Specifications (MLS) for examining ethnobotanical and ethnozoological uses of specific plants and animals.

Methods

To document the ethnobiological knowledge, the survey was conducted during 2011–12 by employing a semi-structured questionnaire and thus 54 informants were interviewed. Plant and animal specimens were collected, photographed and properly identified. Distribution of plants and animals were explored by descriptive and graphical examination. MLS were further incorporated to identify the probability of occurrence of diversified utilization of plants and animals in multipurpose domains.

Results

Traditional uses of 91 plant and 65 animal species were reported. Data analysis revealed more medicinal use of plants and animals than all other use categories. MLS findings are also in line with these proportional configurations. They reveal that medicinal and food consumption of underground and perennial plants was more as compared to aerial and annual categories of plants. Likewise, medicinal utilization of wild animals and domestic animals were more commonly observed as food items. However, invertebrates are more in the domain of medicinal and food utilization. Also carnivores are fairly common in the use of medicine while herbivores are in the category of food consumption.

Conclusion

This study empirically scans a good chunk of ethnobiological knowledge and depicts its strong connection with indigenous traditions. It is important to make local residents beware of conservation status of species and authentication of this knowledge needs to be done in near future. Moreover, Statistically significant findings impart novelty in the existing literature in the field of ethnobiology. Future conservation, phytochemical and pharmacological studies are recommended on these identified plants and animals in order to use them in a more sustainable and effective way.
A sheeppox outbreak in Morocco: isolation and identification of virus responsible for the new clinical form of disease
Authors: Zro Khalil , Zakham Fathiah , Melloul Marouane , El Fahime Elmostafa , Ennaji Moulay Mustapha
Published: January 2014

Background

Sheeppoxvirus (SPPV) is a member of the Capripoxvirus genus of the Poxviridae family, which causes significant economic losses in Morocco. The resurgence of the sheeppox disease during 2010 was characterized by an emergence of a classical nodular form for the first time in Morocco. However, little is known about the virus strain responsible for nodular form. In this study, thirty three sheep, from the eastern region of Morocco, clinically infected were examined and dead animals were autopsied.

A rapid diagnostic assay for SPPV using different type of clinical samples would be useful for outbreak management. The aim of this work was to isolate the virus strain responsible for nodular form and we identified and compared by phylogenetic analysis the field strain with Moroccan vaccine strain targeting the thymidine kinase (TK) gene and the chemokine analogue receptor of interleukin (IL8) gene. Further, it was important to investigate and validate a real-time PCR using different clinical and post-mortem samples to manage epidemic sheeppox disease.

Results

The nodular form of sheeppox disease observed in Morocco was clinically characterized by fever, depression, lacrimation, diarrhea in lambs and nodule. At necropsy, the most affected organ was the lung. The etiological strain was successfully isolated from lung nodule in a dead lamb and was identified by using real-time PCR that has been tested and validated on different types of clinical and post mortem samples from naturally infected animals. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis of TK and IL8 gene showed that there was a very close relationship between field and vaccine strain. They were clustered within other SPPV strains.

Conclusion

In the current study, we show for the first time the nodular form of sheeppox in Morocco. We demonstrate a robust real-time PCR-based diagnostic assay to detect the sheeppox virus in multiple sample that can be implemented to efficiently manage the disease outbreak. Our study also offers the prospect for future molecular studies to understand the clinical forms.