bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Self‐management of persistent neck pain: A randomized controlled trial of a multi‐component group intervention in primary health care
Authors: Gustavsson Catharina , Denison Eva , von Koch Lena
Published: November 2009

Studies regarding self‐management of persistent neck pain are infrequent. Objective: to compare treatment effects of (a) a multi‐component pain and stress self‐management group intervention (PASS) and (b) individually administered physical therapy (IAPT) for patients with persistent musculoskeletal tension‐type neck pain. Methods: Persons seeking physical therapy treatment due to persistent tension‐type neck pain at nine primary health care centers in Sweden were randomly assigned to either PASS or IAPT. Before treatment (baseline) and at 10‐ and 20‐weeks the participants completed a self‐assessment questionnaire comprising: the Self‐Efficacy Scale, the Neck Disability Index, the Coping Strategies Questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Fear‐Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire and questions regarding neck pain, analgesics and utilization of health care. Intention‐to‐treat analyses were performed using repeated measures analysis of variance between baseline, 10‐week and 20‐week follow‐up. Results: One hundred and fifty six participants were included (PASS n = 77, IAPT n = 79). On average participants receiving PASS attended seven treatment sessions and participants receiving IAPT 11 sessions over the 20‐week follow‐up period. Repeated measures ANCOVA showed significant time × group interaction effects for ability to control pain , self‐efficacy regarding pain‐interfering activities , disability due to neck pain (p = 0.001) and levels of catastrophic thinking in favour of PASS. Conclusion: PASS had a better effect than IAPT in the treatment of persistent musculoskeletal tension‐type neck pain regarding coping with pain, in terms of patients’ self‐reported pain control, self‐efficacy, disability and catastrophizing, over the 20‐week follow‐up.
Brush‐evoked allodynia predicts outcome of spinal cord stimulation in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome type 1
Authors: Van Eijs Frank , Smits Helwin , Geurts José W. , Kessels Alfons G.H. , Kemler Marius A. , Van Kleef Maarten , Joosten Elbert A.J. , Faber Catharina G.
Published: November 2009

Background: Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has proven to be an effective however an invasive and relatively expensive treatment of chronic Complex Regional Pain Syndrome type 1(CRPS‐1). Furthermore, in one third of CRPS‐1 patients, SCS treatment fails to give significant pain relief and 32–38% of treated patients experience complications. The aim of the current study was to develop effective prognostic factors for prediction of successful outcome of SCS.

Methods and results: The study population consisted of 36 chronic CRPS patients enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of SCS efficacy. We analyzed various prognostic factors in the group of patients treated with SCS and compared baseline values of possible predictors of outcome in the successfully treated and the not successfully treated group. Success was defined as Patient Global Perceived Impression of Change score of at least “much improved” and pain reduction of at least 2.5 on a visual‐analogue scale (VAS score 0–10). Univariate analyses showed that patient age, duration of the disease, localization of the disease, intensity of the pain, and the presence of mechanical hypoesthesia did not predict SCS success. The mean and maximum value of brush‐evoked allodynia proved to be statistically significant predictors of outcome. Using Receiver‐Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analyses of maximum allodynia values, the diagnostic sensitivity for successful SCS was 0.75 and the specificity 0.81.

Conclusion: Brush‐evoked allodynia may be a significant negative prognostic factor of SCS treatment outcome after 1 year in chronic CRPS‐1.
Nephronectin promotes osteoblast differentiation via the epidermal growth factor‐like repeats
Authors: Kahai Shireen , Lee Shao-Chen , Seth Arun , Yang Burton B.
Published: November 2009

We found that nephronectin was significantly down‐regulated by TGF‐β1. To determine the function of nephronectin in osteogenesis, we generated various constructs to produce stable MC3T3‐E1 cell lines, expressing and secreting nephronectin protein, including full‐length (Npnt), lacking EGF‐like repeats (Np‐MAM), and lacking RGD and MAM domains (Np‐EGF). We demonstrated that nephronectin promotes differentiation during osteoblast differentiation and the EGF‐like repeats were essential. Lack of these repeats resulted in inhibiting the change in morphology. Over‐expression of nephronectin results in earlier formation of bone nodules than the vector control. ERK activation is essential for nephronectin‐induced osteoblast differentiation.
Advanced glycation end products increase endothelial permeability through the RAGE/Rho signaling pathway
Authors: Hirose Akiko , Tanikawa Takahisa , Mori Hiroko , Okada Yosuke , Tanaka Yoshiya
Published: November 2009

MINT‐7301204, MINT‐7301186: RhoA (uniprotkb:P61586) physically interacts (MI:0915) with RAGE (uniprotkb:Q15109) by anti bait coimmunoprecipitation (MI:0006)
Preliminary uterine artery ligation versus pericervical mechanical tourniquet in reducing hemorrhage during abdominal myomectomy
Authors: Helal Adel Saad , Abdel‐Hady El ‐Said , Refaie Ehsan , El Shamy Maged , El Fattah Raafat Abd , Mashaly Abd El Magied
Published: November 2009

Objective

To compare the effectiveness of preliminary uterine artery ligation versus pericervical mechanical tourniquet in reducing hemorrhage during myomectomy.

Methods

A total of 103 patients undergoing myomectomy were randomly allocated to undergo preliminary uterine artery ligation (52 patients) or pericervical tourniquet (51 patients). The primary outcome measure was estimated blood loss. Secondary outcomes included duration of the operation, duration of hospital stay, postoperative hemoglobin, and the need for postoperative analgesia.

Results

Operative blood loss was significantly less with uterine artery ligation compared with tourniquet (433.80 ± 285.21 vs 823.23 ± 237.33 mL, P < 0.001). The mean duration of the operation was lower in the uterine artery ligation group compared with the tourniquet group (50.5 ± 8.7 vs 76.3 ± 9.4 minutes, P < 0.001). Postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in the uterine artery ligation group compared with the tourniquet group (4.1 ± 0.1 vs 5.1 ± 0.2 days; P < 0.001). Postoperative hemoglobin concentrations and the need for postoperative analgesia were higher in the uterine artery ligation group (P = 0.012 and P < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusion

Uterine artery ligation was more effective than pericervical tourniquet as a preliminary step in reducing blood loss during abdominal myomectomy.
A 19‐year retrospective investigation of maternal mortality at Point G National Hospital, Bamako, Mali
Authors: Teguete Ibrahima , Traore Youssouf , Dennis Nora , Mounkoro Niani , Traore Mamadou , Dolo Amadou
Published: November 2009

Objective

To determine the changes in maternal mortality rates over the 19‐year period from 1985 to 2003 at Point G National Hospital, Bamako, Mali.

Methods

Data on all pregnant women admitted from January 1, 1985 to December 31, 2003 were collected from all hospital services. Records were entered into a database, and maternal mortality rates and cause‐specific fatality rates were analyzed.

Results

Significant declines in the fatality rates due to uterine rupture (odds ratio [OR] 0.086; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.011–0.70) and postpartum infection (OR 0.22; 95% CI, 0.085–0.55) were noted when the period from 1985–1987 was compared with 2001–2003. Overall, there was a significant reduction in the odds of maternal death in the period between 1985–1987 and 2001–2003 (OR 0.529; 95% CI, 0.341–0.821), when adjustments were made for cesarean delivery, complications, and patient age.

Conclusions

Although the crude maternal mortality rate remained high, shifts in the patient population that led to more patients with complications being admitted masked improvements in the odds of death for obstetric patients.
Home administration of misoprostol for early medical abortion in India
Authors: Bracken Hillary
Published: November 2009

Objective

To assess the efficacy and acceptability of home administration of misoprostol for early medical abortion in Indian family planning clinics.

Methods

In this prospective cohort study, consenting pregnant women (n = 599) with amenorrhea of 8 weeks or less seeking termination of pregnancy received 200 mg of oral mifepristone followed 48 hours later with 400 µg of oral misoprostol, administered either at home or at the clinic.

Results

Almost all women (88.4%) chose to take misoprostol home. There was no statistical difference in success rates between home and clinic users (89.0% vs 92.4%, Pearson χ2 = 0.7; P = 0.395). Most women in both the home (90.7%) and clinic (92.3%) groups were satisfied or very satisfied with the procedure.

Conclusion

Home administration of misoprostol is safe and feasible for introduction into medical abortion services in India.
A practical guide to understanding systematic reviews and meta‐analyses
Authors: Neely J. Gail , Magit Anthony E. , Rich Jason T. , Voelker Courtney C. J. , Wang Eric W. , Paniello Randal C. , Nussenbaum Brian , Bradley Joseph P.
Published: November 2009

A systematic review is a transparent and unbiased review of available information. The published systematic review must report the details of the conduct of the review as one might report the details of a primary research project. A meta‐analysis is a powerful and rigorous statistical approach to synthesize data from multiple studies, preferably obtained from a systematic review, in order to enlarge the sample size from smaller studies to test the original hypothesis and/or to generate new ones.

The objective of this article is to serve as an easy to read practical guide to understand systematic reviews and meta‐analyses for those reading them and for those who might plan to prepare them.
Postmaneuver restrictions in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: An individual patient data meta‐analysis
Authors: Devaiah Anand K. , Andreoli Steven
Published: November 2009

Objective

Treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) with the Epley and Semont maneuvers has been used with and without postmaneuver postural restrictions. Studies examining these restrictions have yielded differing results. This study sought to examine the studies for a more uniform conclusion.

Data Sources

Controlled studies with objective identification of unilateral posterior semicircular canal BPPV and symptom resolution were analyzed. A PubMed search identified six studies totaling 523 patients meeting all inclusion criteria.

Review Methods

Cohorts treated with and without restrictions were compared. Individual patient pooled analyses in a one‐stage comparison were used for the meta‐analysis.

Results

Pooled results of all restriction types showed no advantage over no restriction. Studies including each individual restriction were examined against the pooled population to look for technique differences. No restriction was found to be statistically significant.

Conclusions

The restrictions examined in controlled trials did not differ significantly in clinical outcomes, which suggests that restrictions do not appear to significantly affect the efficacy of BPPV maneuvers.
Carbonatites in collisional settings and pseudo-carbonatites of the Early Paleozoic Ol’khon collisional system
Authors: Sklyarov E.V. , Fedorovsky V.S. , Kotov A.B. , Lavrenchuk A.V. , Mazukabzov A.M. , Levitsky V.I. , Sal’nikova E.B. , Starikova A.E. , Yakovleva S.Z. , Anisimova I.V. , Fedoseenko A.M.
Published: November 2009

Carbonatites associated with syenites and subalkalic mafic rocks (lamprophyres) occur in the Himalayan continental collision zone, and this suggests their possible existence in other Phanerozoic collisional settings. The Early Paleozoic Ol’khon collisional system in Western Cisbaikalia is considered one of the possible occurrences. Subalkalic gabbroids as well as peculiar carbonate (brucite marbles) and calc-silicate rocks were found here, within the Tazheran massif of alkalic and nepheline syenites. Alkalic syenites, nepheline syenites, and calciphyres were dated at 471 Ma, 451–464 Ma, and 466 Ma, respectively, and their ages correspond to the main collisional events in the system. A geochemical description of igneous and carbonate rocks in the massif is provided. Close mapping showed unusual syenite and brucite marble combinations and the frequent vein or pipe-like form of carbonates and calciphyres corresponding to their magmatic intrusion. But carbonatite nature of the marble mentioned above does not fit their typical crustal geochemical features. Not ruling out the possibility of total change of geochemical signatures of mantle carbonatite in the collisional medium, we offer two other possible explanations for these facts: (1) melting of carbonate masses by syenite and mafic magmas, followed by carbonate melt intrusion into the upper crust, and (2) protrusion of carbonates into syenites and gabbroids at the late stages of the contact action of a silicate magma. In this case the above-mentioned carbonate structural features result from late recrystallization, whose mechanism is yet to be explained.
Potassium alkaline lamproite-carbonatite complexes: petrology, genesis, and ore reserves
Authors: Vladykin N.V.
Published: November 2009

This paper studies the petrology of K-alkaline lamproite-carbonatite complexes, which are widespread in Siberia. They are exemplified by the Murun and Bilibino massifs in West and Central Aldan. In these massifs, the entire range of differentiates was first found, from K-ultrabasic-alkalic rocks through basic and intermediate ones to alkali granites and unique residual calc-silicate rocks (benstonite Ba-Sr carbonatites and charoite rocks). Also, intrusive equivalents of lamproites occur in these massifs, and the Murun massif was probably formed from highly differentiated lamproite magmas. In many K-alkaline complexes, silicate and silicate-carbonate magma layering takes place. Stages of magmatism are described for both massifs. Binary and ternary petrochemical diagrams exhibit the same compositional trend from early to late rocks.

In this paper, lamproites are considered from the chemical point of view; their diagnostic properties are described in terms of chemical and mineral composition. From geological, petrological, and geochemical data, formational analysis of alkaline complexes was performed, four formational types of world lamproites were first identified, and diamond content criteria were developed for them.

The carbonatite problem was studied from the petrological point of view, and four formational types of carbonatites were identified using geological, geochemical, and genetic criteria. It has been suggested that for dividing carbonatite complexes into four formational types the following criteria be used: the alkalinity type (Na or K) of alkalic rocks in the complex and the time when the carbonatite liquid separates from silicate melts in different stages of primary magma differentiation. These linked parameters influence the ore content type of carbonatite complexes.

A formation model for K-alkaline carbonatite complexes is given, and the Tomtor alkaline carbonatite massif with tuffaceous rare-metal ores is described to prove that they have ore reserves. The geochemistry of C, O, Sr, and Nd isotopes shows that K-alkaline complexes, depending on their geotectonic setting, can originate from three types of mantle sources: depleted mantle, enriched mantle 1 (EM1), and enriched mantle 2 (EM2). It is concluded that ore-bearing ultrabasic-alkaline complexes of lamproites and carbonatites can melt out of different types of mantle, whose composition only slightly influences their ore content. Apparently, the main factors are the low degree of selective mantle melting (less than 1%) and plumes supplying fluid and alkaline components, which stimulate this melting. Later on, the processes important for the accumulation of ore and trace elements are long-term magma differentiation and its layering during crystallization.
Hydrogen incorporation into forsterite in Mg2SiO4–K2Mg(CO3)2–H2O and Mg2SiO4–H2O–C at 7.5–14.0 GPa
Authors: Litasov K.D. , Shatskiy A.F. , Pal’yanov Yu.N. , Sokol A.G. , Katsura T. , Ohtani E.
Published: November 2009

Experiments on water solubility in forsterite in the systems Mg2SiO4–K2Mg(CO3)2–H2O and Mg2SiO4–H2O–C were conducted at 7.5–14.0 GPa and 1200–1600 °C. The resulting crystals contain 448 to 1480 ppm water, which is 40–70% less than in the forsterite–water system under the same conditions. This can be attributed to lower water activity in the carbonate-bearing melt. The water content of forsterite was found to vary systematically with temperature and pressure. For instance, at 14 GPa in the system forsterite–carbonate–H2O the H2O content of forsterite drops from 1140 ppm at 1200 °C to 450 ppm at 1600 °C, and at 8 GPa it remains constant or increases from 550 to 870 ppm at 1300–1600 °C. Preliminary data for D-H-bearing forsterite are reported. Considerable differences were found between IR spectra of D-H- and H-bearing forsterite. The results suggest that CO2 can significantly affect the width of the olivine-wadsleyite transition, i.e., the 410-km seismic discontinuity, which is a function of the water content of olivine and wadsleyite.
Sulfide inclusions in diamonds: not monosulfide solid solution
Authors: Taylor L.A. , Liu Y.
Published: November 2009

Sulfide inclusions in diamonds, the most common of all inclusions, contain critical evidence about the timing and physical/chemical conditions prevailing during diamond formation. Typically, sulfide inclusions are encapsulated as a monosulfide solid solution (Mss) in the Fe-Ni-S system, with a minor amount of Cu. This Mss and the enclosing diamond have sufficiently different thermal expansion properties, so that, after encapsulation, the Mss creates a series of cracks in the diamond radiating from the sulfide. On cooling, this increase in volume permits the Mss to undergo exsolution to an assemblage of pyrrhotite + pentlandite + chalcopyrite + pyrite. The kinetics of this exsolution is so rapid that practically no Mss remains in nature. Instead, in recovered diamonds, all sulfides that originally were Mss now consist of this fine-grained assemblage. Chalcopyrite prefers to form around the edges of the inclusions and also migrates into the minute cracks in the diamonds. It is the bulk composition of the Mss as encapsulated that is important for interpretation of diamond petrogenesis (P-versus E-type diamonds) and to the commonly used Re-Os dating technique. However, this bulk composition is definitely not attainable with polished sections cut through the inclusions. The assumption that the kernel of the sulfide inclusion for Re-Os age dating represents the entire original Mss may also be incorrect, depending what has been lost, mostly chalcopyrite, which has migrated into the surrounding cracks within the diamond host.
Screening and Assessing 11 Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Proteins as Potential Serodiagnostical Markers for Discriminating TB Patients from BCG Vaccinees
Authors: Zhang Guoqiang , Zhang Lingxia , Zhang Mingcheng , Pan Linlin , Wang Fengyu , Huang Jun , Li Guoli , Yu Jun , Hu Songnian
Published: November 2009

Purified protein derivative (PPD) skin tests often yield poor specificity, so that to develop new serological antigens for distinguishing between Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination is a priority, especially for developing countries like China. We predicted the antigenicity for selected open reading frames (ORFs) based on the genome sequences of M. tuberculosis H37Rv and M. bovis BCG, as well as their functions and differences of expression under different stimulus. The candidate ORFs were cloned from H37Rv sequences and expressed as recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli. We studied the serodiagnostic potential of 11 purified recombinants by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and involving a cohort composed of 58 TB patients (34 males and 24 females), 8 healthy volunteers and 50 PPD-negative individuals before and after BCG vaccination. For all the 11 antigens, the median OD values for the sera from TB patients were statistically significantly higher than those for PPD-negative individuals before or after BCG vaccination (P<0.01). They had at least 92% specificity in healthy controls and six seroantigens (Rv0251c, Rv1973, Rv2376c, Rv2537c, Rv2785c and Rv3873A) were never reported with seroantigenicities previously. Thus the approach combining comparative genomics, bioinformatics and ELISA techniques can be employed to identify new seroantigens distinguishing M. tuberculosis infection from BCG vaccination.
How Many 3D Structures Do We Need to Train a Predictor?
Authors: Bagos Pantelis G. , Tsaousis Georgios N. , Hamodrakas Stavros J.
Published: November 2009

It has been shown that the progress in the determination of membrane protein structure grows exponentially, with approximately the same growth rate as that of the water-soluble proteins. In order to investigate the effect of this, on the performance of prediction algorithms for both α-helical and β-barrel membrane proteins, we conducted a prospective study based on historical records. We trained separate hidden Markov models with different sized training sets and evaluated their performance on topology prediction for the two classes of transmembrane proteins. We show that the existing top-scoring algorithms for predicting the transmembrane segments of α-helical membrane proteins perform slightly better than that of β-barrel outer membrane proteins in all measures of accuracy. With the same rationale, a meta-analysis of the performance of the secondary structure prediction algorithms indicates that existing algorithmic techniques cannot be further improved by just adding more non-homologous sequences to the training sets. The upper limit for secondary structure prediction is estimated to be no more than 70% and 80% of correctly predicted residues for single sequence based methods and multiple sequence based ones, respectively. Therefore, we should concentrate our efforts on utilizing new techniques for the development of even better scoring predictors.
3D Genome Tuner: Compare Multiple Circular Genomes in a 3D Context
Authors: Wang Qi , Liang Qun , Zhang Xiuqing
Published: November 2009

Circular genomes, being the largest proportion of sequenced genomes, play an important role in genome analysis. However, traditional 2D circular map only provides an overview and annotations of genome but does not offer feature-based comparison. For remedying these shortcomings, we developed 3D Genome Tuner, a hybrid of circular map and comparative map tools. Its capability of viewing comparisons between multiple circular maps in a 3D space offers great benefits to the study of comparative genomics. The program is freely available (under an LGPL licence) at http://sourceforge.net/projects/dgenometuner.
Perfect complexes on Deligne-Mumford stacks and applications
Authors: Krishna Amalendu
Published: November 2009

For a tame Deligne-Mumford stackXwith the resolution property, we show that the Cartan-Eilenberg resolutions of unbounded complexes of quasicoherent sheaves areK-injective resolutions. This allows us to realize the derived category of quasi-coherent sheaves onXas a reflexive full subcategory of the derived category ofX-modules.

We then use the results of Neeman and recent results of Kresch to establish the localization theorem of Thomason-Trobaugh for theK-theory of perfect complexes on stacks of above type which have coarse moduli schemes. As a byproduct, we get a generalization of Krause's result about the stable derived categories of schemes to such stacks.

We prove Thomason's classification of thick triangulated tensor subcategories ofD(perf/X). As the final application of our localization theorem, we show that the spectrum ofD(perf/X) as defined by Balmer, is naturally isomorphic to the coarse moduli scheme ofX, answering a question of Balmer for the tensor triangulated categories arising from Deligne-Mumford stacks.
Effects of magnesium on postprandial serum lipid responses in healthy human subjects
Authors: Kishimoto Yoshimi , Tani Mariko , Uto-Kondo Harumi , Saita Emi , Iizuka Maki , Sone Hirohito , Yokota Kuninobu , Kondo Kazuo
Published: November 2009

Postprandial hyperlipidaemia has been recognised to be a risk factor for atherosclerosis development. Epidemiological and animal studies have shown that Mg intake is inversely associated with some risk factors of atherosclerosis, including lipid metabolism. The present study was performed to determine the effects of Mg supplementation on postprandial responses in serum lipid levels. We used bittern (Nigari, in Japanese), a natural MgCl2solution from sea or salt lake water, for Mg supplementation. In a two-way, randomised, crossover study, sixteen healthy male volunteers consumed 30 g butter with or without 5 ml bittern containing 500 mg of Mg. Fasting and postprandial blood samples were taken 2, 3, 4 and 6 h after ingestion. Postprandial lipid responses were evaluated by serum TAG, chylomicron TAG, apo-B48, remnant-like particle cholesterol (RLP-C) and NEFA concentrations. We found that the serum and the chylomicron TAG responses after the fat load were reduced and delayed by Mg supplementation. The concentrations of apo-B48 (P < 0·05), RLP-C (P < 0·05) and NEFA (P < 0·05) were significantly lower at 2 h after the fat-with-Mg meal compared with the fat-only meal. The present study indicated that Mg supplementation could inhibit fat absorption and improve postprandial hyperlipidaemia in healthy subjects.
IMPROVING MALARIA RECOGNITION, TREATMENT AND REFERRAL PRACTICES BY TRAINING CARETAKERS IN RURAL NIGERIA
Authors: OKEKE THEODORA A.
Published: November 2009

A caretaker training programme was carried out in Ugwuogo-Nike, a rural area in south-east Nigeria, based on formative research within the community. A training of trainers workshop was organized for 30 leaders of women groups who subsequently trained other mothers in their group. Community information activities, which lasted for a period of eight months, included the use of posters, drama group and jingles. The programme was evaluated using the quantitative and qualitative methods that were employed at baseline, which included community survey and focus group discussions (FGDs). For the community survey, households with children under five years of age were identified and provided the sampling frame, from which 300 households were chosen using the systematic sampling method. The target population for the FGDs were caretakers of children under five years. Post-intervention evaluation of the programme showed significant (p<0.05) improvements in knowledge, home management of malaria and referral practices for severe malaria. Those who correctly reported that mosquitoes were the cause of malaria rose markedly from 39.7% to 88.7%. Knowledge of symptoms of mild and severe malaria also increased significantly. Only 1.5% of caretakers were aware of the correct dose of anti-malarial before intervention, but this increased to 41.5%. The impact of intervention brought about a dramatic change in the practice of taking severely ill children, especially those with convulsion, to a traditional healer. A minority (6.7%) of caretakers took a severely ill child to a traditional healer as against 60% pre-intervention. There was also a significant increase in use of formal health facilities for the treatment of severely ill children. The study findings support the view that training of mothers to recognize, treat appropriately and refer severe cases of malaria is feasible and may lead to a reduction in the incidence of severe disease.
A systematic review of neurobiological and clinical features of mindfulness meditations
Authors: Chiesa A. , Serretti A.
Published: November 2009

Background

Mindfulness meditation (MM) practices constitute an important group of meditative practices that have received growing attention. The aim of the present paper was to systematically review current evidence on the neurobiological changes and clinical benefits related to MM practice in psychiatric disorders, in physical illnesses and in healthy subjects.

Method

A literature search was undertaken using Medline, ISI Web of Knowledge, the Cochrane collaboration database and references of retrieved articles. Controlled and cross-sectional studies with controls published in English up to November 2008 were included.

Results

Electroencephalographic (EEG) studies have revealed a significant increase in alpha and theta activity during meditation. Neuroimaging studies showed that MM practice activates the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and that long-term meditation practice is associated with an enhancement of cerebral areas related to attention. From a clinical viewpoint, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) has shown efficacy for many psychiatric and physical conditions and also for healthy subjects, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is mainly efficacious in reducing relapses of depression in patients with three or more episodes, Zen meditation significantly reduces blood pressure and Vipassana meditation shows efficacy in reducing alcohol and substance abuse in prisoners. However, given the low-quality designs of current studies it is difficult to establish whether clinical outcomes are due to specific or non-specific effects of MM.

Discussion

Despite encouraging findings, several limitations affect current studies. Suggestions are given for future research based on better designed methodology and for future directions of investigation.
On the role of vowel duration in the New Zealand English front vowel shift
Authors: Langstrof Christian
Published: November 2009

This article investigates the role of vowel duration in the front vowel system of New Zealand English (NZE), drawing on data obtained from speakers born between the 1890s and the 1930s. After providing a brief overview of the history of short vowels in NZE, a comprehensive analysis of front vowel duration in conjunction with a number of earlier results from formant frequency measurements will be presented. It will be shown that the front vowel system of NZE shows interaction between vowel duration and formant frequency. A number of implications that follow from these patterns for the front vowel system of NZE will be discussed. It will be argued that it is reasonable to divide up the class of short front vowels in NZE into a short set (consisting only of one vowel) and a “not-so-short set.” In addition, it will be concluded that phonological class membership is irrelevant to making generalizations over patterns of movements in vowel change.
The emergence of a new phoneme: Foreign (a) in Canadian English
Authors: Boberg Charles
Published: November 2009

The nativization or phonological adaptation of words transferred from other languages can have structural-phonological consequences for the recipient language. In English, nativization of words in which the stressed vowel is spelled with the letter , here called “foreign (a)” words, leads to variable outcomes, because English  represents not one but three phonemes. The most common outcomes historically have been /ey/ (as inpotato), /æ/ (tobacco), and /ah/ (spa), but vowel choice shows diachronic, social, and regional variation, including systematic differences between major national dialects. British English uses /ah/ for long vowels and /æ/ elsewhere, American English prefers /ah/ everywhere, whereas Canadian English traditionally prefers /æ/. The Canadian pattern is now changing, with younger speakers adopting American /ah/-variants. This article presents new data on foreign (a) in Canadian English, confirming the use of /ah/ among younger speakers, but finds that some outcomes cannot be classified as either /æ/ or /ah/. A third, phonetically intermediate outcome is often observed. Acoustic analysis confirms the extraphonemic status of these outcomes, which may constitute a new low-central vowel phoneme in Canadian English.
Replication, transfer, and calquing: Using variation as a tool in the study of language contact
Authors: Meyerhoff Miriam
Published: November 2009

Do the processes of replication, transfer, and calquing operate on speakers' mental organization of variables? Can the comparison of constraint rankings across languages provide evidence for (or against) the transfer of features in cases of long-term language contact? This article suggests yes to both questions. It undertakes a comparison of constraint rankings on null subjects and null objects in a corpus of Bislama and a corpus of Tamambo narratives to demonstrate the potential and limitations of such methods. It concludes that these methods: (i) allow us to particularize our definitions ofreplication,transfer, andcalquingto inherently variable domains, and (ii) strengthen connections between variationist sociolinguistics and the fields of creolistics and language contact.
New Findings concerning Cardiovascular Manifestations emerging from Long-term Follow-up of 150 patients with the Williams-Beuren-Beuren syndrome
Authors: Del Pasqua Alessia , Rinelli Gabriele , Toscano Alessandra , Iacobelli Roberta , Digilio Cristina , Marino Bruno , Saffirio Claudia , Mondillo Sergio , Pasquini Luciano , Sanders Stephen Pruett , de Zorzi Andrea
Published: November 2009

Aims

We investigated the prevalence, type, and course of congenital cardiac defects and systemic hypertension in our patients with Williams-Beuren-Beuren syndrome.

Methods and results

We reviewed the clinical records of all patients with Williams-Beuren syndrome examined between 1981 and 2006. We identified 150 patients, aged from 7 months to 45 years, with a follow-up from 6 months to 25 years, the mean being 6.4 years. A cardiac anomaly was present in 113 of the 150 patients (75%). Defects were typical in over four-fifths of the group. We found supravalvar aortic stenosis in 73 of 113 patients (64.6%), isolated in 43. Pulmonary stenosis, isolated in 18 cases, was found in 51 of 113 (45.1%), while aortic coarctation and mitral valvar prolapse were each found in 7 (6.2%), 3 of the lesions is isolation. Atypical defects were found in 19 patients, tetralogy of Fallot in 2, atrial septal defects in 4, aortic and mitral valvar insufficiencies in 1 each, bicuspid aortic valves in 2, and ventricular septal defects in 9, 4 of the last being isolated. Systemic hypertension, observed in 33 patients (22%), was poorly controlled in 10. Diagnostic and/or interventional cardiac catheterization was undertaken in 24 patients, with 30 surgical procedures performed in 26 patients. Of the group, 3 patients died.

Conclusion

Cardiac defects were present in three-quarters of our patients. Pulmonary arterial lesions generally improved, while supravalvar aortic stenosis often progressed. Atypical cardiac malformations, particularly ventricular septal defects, occurred frequently. Systemic hypertension was found in one-fifth, even in the absence of structural cardiac defects. The short-term mortality was low.
Understanding parent concerns about children’s diet, activity and weight status: an important step towards effective obesity prevention interventions
Authors: Slater Amy , Bowen Jane , Corsini Nadia , Gardner Claire , Golley Rebecca , Noakes Manny
Published: November 2009

Objective

To identify parents’ concerns and attitudes towards children’s diets, activity habits and weight status.

Design

Computer-assisted telephone interviewing administration of a 37-item survey. Data were weighted for parental education level. Descriptive results are presented, and comparisons are made by the age, gender and parental characteristics of the child.

Setting

Online research panel of Australian parents.

Subjects

A total of 1202 randomly selected parents of children aged 2–16 years, broadly representative of the Australian population.

Results

Parents were concerned about their child’s education (reported by 35 % of respondents), child’s health and well-being (25 %), and violence, drugs and alcohol (20 %). Concern about nutrition was indicated by 14 % of respondents and concern about fitness/exercise was indicated by 3 % of the sample. Factors perceived as making a healthy diet difficult to achieve for their child were child resistance (89 %), the availability of healthy food (72 %), a busy lifestyle (67 %) and the influence of food advertising (63 %). Ninety-two per cent of parents thought that it was realistic for their child to be active for at least 1 h/d, with 75 % of parents feeling that it was realistic for their child to have less than 2 h recreational screen time per d. Despite this, common barriers to achieving the activity guidelines were lack of time, weather and keeping children occupied.

Conclusions

Insights into parental concerns from the current study may be useful in guiding development of interventions to improve children’s nutrition and physical activity habits by framing messages in a way that are most likely to resonate with parents.
The three types of liquid water in the surface of present Mars
Authors: Möhlmann D.
Published: November 2009

Thermodynamics teaches that pure liquid bulk water cannot stably exist on the surface of Mars. However, it is shown by thermodynamic arguments that liquid water can exist, at least temporarily, in the upper surface of Mars, in form of: (a) undercooled liquid interfacial water (ULI water); (b) undercooled liquid water in cryo-brines; and (c) liquid bulk water (due to solid-state greenhouse subsurface melting) in the subsurface of ice areas, which are covered by a lid of solid ice only. The presence of these forms of liquid water on present Mars is discussed in detail and in view of the possible consequences for physical, chemical and eventual biological processes.
Étude sur la Convention de Genève
Authors: Moynier Gustave
Published: November 2009

Quoique depuis quelques années ont ait beaucoup écrit au sujet de la Convention de Genève, cette pierre angulaire des Sociétés de secours aux militaires blessés, cependant, tout n'a pas encore été dit sur ce précieux traité. La polémique dont il a été l'objet dans quelques journaux, les rapports sommaires faits au sein de tel ou tel comité, les rapides aperçus donnés par certains auteurs, laissent encore subsister dans la littérature qui s'y rapporte des lacunes regrettables. Les personnes intéressées ou engagées à l'observation de la Convention, chercheraient en vain des ouvrages spéciaux qui les renseignent exactement sur les droits et les devoirs qui en découlent pour elles. On sent le besoin de livres ad hoc qui, sous des formes multiples, appropriées à diverses classes de lecteurs, répandent les connaissances nécessaires pour assurer la pleine observation et l'efficacité de la Convention. Les officiers, les soldats, le personnel sanitaire, les populations voisines ou éloignées du théâtre de la guerre, forment autant de catégories de personnes auxquelles devraient s'adresser les hommes de plume, pour leur exposer, à chacune dans le langage qui lui convient, ce fonds d'idées et de sentiments humanitaires qu'il est si urgent de faire pénétrer dans les esprits et dans les cœurs.
Traité sur le transport des militaires malades ou blessés
Authors: Longmore T.
Published: November 2009

Un traité sur les moyens de transport est une nouveauté dans la littérature médicale. Jusqu'à présent on se contentait d'aborder superficiellement ce sujet, dans des ouvrages généraux ou dans des monographies destinées à préconiser telle ou telle invention. Mais il n'était venu à l'esprit de personne d'en faire une étude complète et systématique, pour en dégager des principes rationnels propres à guider dans la recherche des perfectionnements ultérieurs. L'ouvrage du Dr Longmore est donc en quelque mesure un événement dans la science.
Le Kriegerheil
Authors:   Le Comité central de la Societé prussienne de secours aux militaires blessés et malades en campagne
Published: November 2009

Nous allons, à dater du 1er Janvier 1870, apporter quelques modifications à la forme donnée jusqu'ici à notre journal, le Kriegerheil, qui s'est proposé de se rendre utile aux sociétés de secours pour les soldats blessés, ainsi qu'aux sociétés et associations existantes qui poursuivent un but analogue, en publiant des données précises sur tous les sujets relatifs à leur œuvre.
Rapport sur les excisions de la tête du fémur après les plaies par armes à feu
Authors: Dr Otis
Published: November 2009

Ce document fait partie d'une collection de mémoires scientifiques publiés, sous le titre modeste de Circulaires, par le Département de la guerre à Washington, et plus spécialement par le Conseil supérieur de santé de l'armée américaine.
Circulaire relative à la Présidence du Comité central
Authors: Due de Dalécarlie Auguste , Abenius Carl
Published: November 2009

A Messieurs les présidents et les membres des Comités centraux de secours aux militaires blessés et malades.

Stockholm, le 10 novembre 1872.

Messieurs,

Le Comité central suédois de la Société de secours aux militaires blessés et malades a l'honneur de vous faire savoir que Sa Majesté ie Roi Oscar II qui, avant son avènement au trône, a donné à notre Société dont il était le président tant de preuves de son vif intérêt et de sa grande bienveillance, daigne aujourd'hui prendre notre œuvre sous son haut patronage.
Le Congrès de Bruxelles et la révision de la Convention de Genève
Authors: Moynier G.
Published: November 2009

Il est de notoriété publique qu'une importante réunion doit se tenir à Bruxelles, le 27 juillet prochain. Il ne s'agit de rien moins que d'un congrès diplomatique, auquel le cabinet de Saint-Pétersbourg a convié tous les gouvernements, et dont le but est de conclure une convention embrassant à peu près tout le droit de la guerre.— Dans un semblable programme, les questions déjà résolues par la Convention de Genève ont naturellement leur place marquée, et l'on peut s'attendre à les voir remises en discussion dans la conférence annoncée.
Assemblée des délégués départementaux
Authors: Delaporte A.
Published: November 2009

Les Délégués des Comités départementaux avaient émis le vœu, l'an passé, que chaque année le Comité central les réunît à Paris dans des Conférences générales.
La Société suédoise en 1874
Authors: de Ron F. , Leijonhufvud A.-G.
Published: November 2009

Dix années se sont écoulées depuis que notre société est entrée dans l'association dont l'existence et l'activité furent fixées par la Convention de Genève, le 22 aoùt 1864, et qu'elle s'est imposé le devoir philanthropique que cette association a en vue, à savoir, celui de travailler à procurer des soins meilleurs aux militaires blessés et malades en temps de guerre.
Annexe no 5: Lettre adressée au président du Comité international par le chef de la Chancellerie princière du Monténégro pour les affaires extérieures
Authors: Radonitch S.
Published: November 2009

A la suite de l'adhésion formelle du Monténégro à la Convention de Genève, et d'une demande que j'ai eu l'honneur de vous adresser au nom de notre gouvernement, vous avez bien voulu mettre à la disposition de notre pays trois délégués du Comité de la Croix rouge de Genève, MM. Humbert, Ferrière et Gœtz.
Conférence internationale de la Croix rouge à Bruxelles en 1876
Authors: Sigart F. , Renard
Published: November 2009

Le Comité central belge a adressé à tous les comités centraux des autres pays, la circulaire suivante:

Ainsi que nous avons eu l'honneur de vous en informer l'année dernière, un Congrès d'hygiène et de sauvetage doit se réunir à Bruxelles, dans le courant du mois de septembre prochain.
La Société suédoise en 1875
Authors: Leijonhufvud A.-G. , von Heyne Axel
Published: November 2009

«Aujourd'hui que l'Association de secours aux militaires blessés et malades en temps de guerre se réunit en assemblée générale, le Comité central a le devoir, en vertu du paragraphe 11 des règle ments, de présenter à l'Association un exposé succinct de ses travaux pendant l'année qui vient de s'écouler.
Le Manuel de chirurgie militaire du Dr Landsberger
Authors: D'Espine H.-A.
Published: November 2009

Le livre que nous avons entre les mains est un vade-mecum du chirurgien militaire qui vient d'être couronné par le Comité central des Sociétés allemandes de secours; il remplit une lacune dans la littérature médicale en résumant en deux cents pages d'impression in-180, et dans un style clair et sobre, le traitement des blessures de guerre et les devoirs qui incombent au corps sanitaire pendant une campagne, depuis le premier coup de canon jusqu'à l'évacuation du dernier blessé.
Adhésion de la Serbie à la Convention de Genève
Authors: Welti  , Schiess
Published: November 2009

Vu la déclaration datée de Belgrade, le 24 mars 1876, par laquelle Son Excellence Monsieur le Ministre des Affaires étrangères du Gouvernement de la Principauté de Serbie, faisant usage de la faculté réservée à l'article 9 de la Convention internationale conclue à Genève le 22 août 1864 pour l'amélioration du sort des militaires blessés dans les armées en campagne, déclare que le Gouvernement de Son Altesse sérénissime le Prince Milan Obrénovitsch IV de Serbie adhère à cette Convention, déclaration dont la teneur suit:

«Une convention internationale pour l'amélioration du sort des «militaires blessés sur les champs de bataille ayant été signée à «Genève le 22 août 1864, Convention dont la teneur suit:

(Insertion)

«Le soussigné, Ministre des Affaires Etrangères de Son Altesse «Sérénissime le Prince de Serbie, Milan Obrénovitsch IV, dûment «autorisé à cet effet, déclare par les présentes que le Gouvernement «princier de Serbie accède complètement à la susdite Convention.
Fondation de la Société serbe de la Croix rouge
Authors: Michel  , St. Markovitz Milan
Published: November 2009

Au commencement de cette année, léidée de la formation d'une Société serbe de la Croix rouge a été mise en avant au sein du « Casino civil » de Belgrade et a rencontré aussitôt parmi la population la plus vive sympathie.
Statuts de la Société Centrale Serbe de la Croix Rouge Pour Secours Volontaires Aux Blessés et Malades en Temps de Guerre
Authors: Caliévitch (S.) L.
Published: November 2009

La société qui s'est constituée sous le nom de « Société centrale serbe de la Croix rouge pour secours volontaires aux blessés et malades en temps de guerre » a pour but:

10 En temps de guerre: de coopérer, à côté de l'administration sanitaire de l'armée serbe, à l'assistance des soldats blessés ou malades et à l'administration des hôpitaux militaires, tout en se conformant aux prescriptions des autorités militaires.
La guerre contre les Turcs
Authors: Dr Osman
Published: November 2009

Nous extrayons ce qui suit d'une lettre adressée par S. E. le Prince Démétrius Ghika, président de la Société roumaine de la Croix rouge, à M. Gustave Moynier, président du Comité international.

Bucharest, le 12/24 octobre 1877.

Les événements actuels sont si graves et se succèdent avec tant de précipitation, que le temps matériel m'a manqué pour vous mettre an courant des dispositions prises et des résultats obtenus par la Croix ronge de Ronmanie; permettez-moi, Monsieur le président, de réparer aujourd'hui cette omission regrettable.
Appel en faveur de la Société grecque (143me circulaire)
Authors: Ador G. , Moynier G.
Published: November 2009

Par notre 40e circulaire, datée du 6 octobre dernier, nous avons eu la satisfaction de pouvoir vous annoncer la formation d'une Société grecque de la Croix rouge; notre Bulletin, de son còté, vous en a fait connaître les statuts (T. VIII, p. 195) et les premiers travaux (T. IX, p. 66). Vous savez aussi que, quoique l'horizon politique de la Grèce fût très-sombre et les ressources de la Société hellénique fort restreintes, celle-ci n'a pas hésité à remplir ses devoirs internationaux, en envoyant, vers la fin de l'année dernière, des secours à notre Agence de Trieste (Bulletin T. IX, p. 36). Mais, depuis la publication de ces nouvelles, les événements ont marché; l'armée grecque a pénétré sur le territoire turc, et le Comité d'Athènes a dû se mettre en mesure de lui prêter son assistance.