bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical Usefulness of Fracture Site In Situ Block on Lumbar Spine Transverse Process Fracture
Authors: Park Jun‐Mo , Kwak Kyung‐Hwa
Published: April 2014

Lumbar spine transverse process fractures (LSTPFs) are uncommon and frequently overlooked on plain film radiographs. Even when recognized, they are often regarded as trivial and minimally painful injuries compared with combined serious major abdominal, pelvic, and spinal injuries. Conservative treatments are usually offered to patients with LSTPFs. This report presents 4 cases of LSTPFs where symptoms did not improve after more than 1 week of conservative management. Local anesthetics and steroids were injected directly into the fracture site under computed tomography guidance, referred to as a fracture site in situ block, in an attempt to accelerate the return to daily lives and professional activities. Three of the 4 patients returned to their daily lives almost immediately after completing the procedure. Although the procedure was appropriately performed at L4, 1 patient still complained of pain. This patient's all films were meticulously re‐examined, and it was determined that a transverse process fracture was present at not only L4 but also L1. This report introduces a method of active treatment to help patients with LSTPFs quickly return to their daily lives and professional activities. The positive results in these cases suggest that fracture site in situ block might be a useful option for treating patients with LSTPFs.
Measuring Outcomes: Pain and Quality of Life 48 Months After Acute Postoperative Total Knee Prosthetic Joint Infection
Authors: Núñez Montserrat , Vilchez Cavazos Felix , Núñez Juarez Esther , Martinez‐Pastor Juan Carlos , Maculé Beneyto Francisco , Suso Santiago , Soriano Viladomiu Alex
Published: April 2014

Background

Measuring HRQOL is simple, inexpensive, permits the health status to be measured over time, and is useful to compare or initiate treatments and evaluate results, facilitating homogenization in patient inclusion.

Objectives

To evaluate disease‐specific and generic HRQOL and influence of associated factors in patients undergoing open debridement for acute postsurgical knee prosthetic joint infection after TKR at 12 and 48 months after completing antibiotic treatment and considered cured of infection.

Methods

Health‐related quality‐of‐life measures were administered at baseline (WOMAC) and 12 and 48 months (WOMAC and SF‐36) in patients with prosthesis retention, no symptoms of infection, and CRP (≤ 1 mg/dL).

Results

Thirty patients were included, and 24 were evaluated at 48 months. WOMAC scores improved significantly (P < 0.01) at 12 and 48 months. The effect size was 0.72 for stiffness, 2.01 for pain, and 2.15 for function. At 48 months, improvements were greater (P < 0.02) except for stiffness. The most frequently isolated microorganisms were Staphylococcus aureus (14 patients) and coagulase‐negative staphylococci (9 patients). SF‐36 physical role, bodily pain, emotional role, and mental health dimension scores at 12 and 48 months were significantly worse in patients with isolates of Staphylococcus aureus (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Health‐related quality‐of‐life measures detected significant differences in outcomes in patients infected by S. aureus compared with patients infected by other microorganisms. HRQOL measures may provide useful complementary information on outcomes after acute postoperative infection.
High Prevalence of Neuropathic Pain Features in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Cross‐Sectional Study
Authors: Oteo‐Álvaro Ángel , Ruiz‐Ibán Miguel A. , Miguens Xoan , Stern Andrés , Villoria Jesús , Sánchez‐Magro Isabel
Published: April 2014

Objective

The present epidemiological research evaluated the prevalence of neuropathic pain characteristics in patients with painful knee osteoarthritis (OA) and the plausibility that such neuropathic features were specific of OA.

Methods

Outpatients with chronic pain associated with knee OA who attended orthopedic surgery or rehabilitation clinics were systematically screened for neuropathic pain with the Douleur Neuropathique in 4 questions (DN4) questionnaire. Data from medical files and those obtained during a single structured clinical interview were correlated with the DN4 scores. Information on potential confounders of neuropathic‐like qualities of knee pain was collected to evaluate as much as possible only the symptoms attributable to OA.

Results

Of 2,776 patients recruited, 2,167 patients provided valid data from 2,992 knees. The DN4 was scored positively (≥ 4) in 1,125 patients (51.9%) and 1,459 knees (48.8%). When patients with potential confounders were excluded, the respective prevalences were 33.3% and 29.4%. Patients who scored positively in the DN4 had more severe pain, greater structural damage, and more potential confounders of neuropathic pain. Three potential confounders conveyed much of the variability explained by regression analyses. However, latent class analyses revealed that the concourse of other factors is required to explain the neuropathic pain qualities.

Conclusions

A relevant proportion of patients with chronic pain associated with knee OA featured neuropathic pain qualities that were not explained by other conditions. The present research has provided reasonable epidemiological grounds to attempt their definite diagnosis and classification.
Resistance to Cephus cinctus Norton, the wheat stem sawfly, in a recombinant inbred line population of wheat derived from two resistance sources
Authors: Talbert Luther E. , Sherman Jamie D. , Hofland Megan L. , Lanning Susan P. , Blake Nancy K. , Grabbe Reagan , Lamb Peggy F. , Martin John M. , Weaver David K.
Published: April 2014

Several species of wheat stem sawflies (WSS) are pests of wheat, including Cephus cinctus Norton in North America. Larvae feed inside the stems and cut the stem near plant maturity. The primary means of control is resistance due to solid stems, largely controlled by a locus on chromosome 3B (Qss.msub‐3BL). Cultivars that differed for WSS resistance, but with similar stem solidness, were crossed to determine the genetic basis for the differences. The cultivar ‘Scholar’ is susceptible, while ‘Conan’ shows resistance. Scholar and Conan possessed different alleles at Qss.msub‐3BL. Both alleles conferred solidness, yet the Conan allele conferred higher WSS resistance. An allele from Conan on chromosome 4A also decreased infestation and stem cutting. The 3B and 4A alleles from Conan acted in an additive fashion to provide increased WSS resistance without increasing stem solidness. Stem solidness has long been used by breeders as a proxy for WSS resistance because of its simplicity. Our results suggest that other resistance mechanisms may complement solid stems.
Little peaks with big effects: establishing the role of minor plant volatiles in plant–insect interactions
Authors: CLAVIJO MCCORMICK ANDREA , GERSHENZON JONATHAN , UNSICKER SYBILLE B.
Published: April 2014

Plants emit complex mixtures of volatile organic compounds from floral and vegetative tissue, especially after herbivore damage, so it is difficult to associate individual compounds with activity towards pollinators, herbivores or herbivore enemies. Attention has usually focused upon the biological activity of the most abundant compounds; but here, we detail a number of reports implicating minor volatiles in attractant or deterrent roles. This is not surprising given the exquisite sensitivity of insect olfactory systems for certain substances. In this context, it is worth reconsidering the methods involved in sampling volatile compounds from plants, measuring their abundance and determining their biological activity to ensure that minor compounds are not overlooked. Here, we describe various experimental approaches and chemical and statistical methods that should increase the chance of detecting minor compounds with major biological activities.
Decreased granulomatous reaction by polyurethane‐coated stent in the trachea
Authors: Matsui Hikoro , Hiroma Takehiko , Hasegawa Hisaya , Ogiso Yoshifumi
Published: April 2014

Background

Reducing granulomatous reaction for stent implantation is important for the treatment of tracheobronchomalacia because formation of granuloma leads to refractory complication causing further respiratory distress. The purpose of this study was to clarify granulomatous reaction of newly innovated coated stents compared to non‐coated metal stents.

Methods

Materials and animal experiments were performed using the newly invented metallic stent (laser‐cut stainless steel with a coating of polyurethane). In the materials experiment, the correlation between the holding force and deformity was tested by a compressor. In the animal examination, coated stents were orally implanted into the trachea in five rabbits, while non‐coated stents were implanted in another five rabbits. After 3 weeks' observation, the inner diameter was measured by 3‐D computed tomography, and the number of granulation tissues was counted by bronchofiberscope. Histological investigation followed in both groups.

Results

In the materials experiment, new stents demonstrated a holding force similar to stainless steel stents. In the animal experiment, no difference was found in the inner diameter of the coated and non‐coated stent groups (5.70 ± 0.17 vs 5.60 ± 0.27, P = 0.07). However, the number of granulation tissues was higher in non‐coated stents than in coated stents (1.60 ± 0.55 vs 0.40 ± 0.55, P < 0.01). Histological investigation showed direct attachment of metal to the tracheal wall around the non‐coated stents where epithelial structure was destroyed, while tracheal epithelia were preserved in the group of coated stents.

Conclusions

The new polyurethane‐coated metallic stent maintains enough holding force, and reduces histobiological reaction to foreign bodies in this experiment.
Early aggressive nutrition enhances language development in very low‐birthweight infants
Authors: Shim So‐Yeon , Ahn Hye Mi , Cho Su Jin , Park Eun Ae
Published: April 2014

Background

Inadequate nutrition in very‐low‐birthweight (VLBW) infants is known to be associated with growth failure and poor neurological outcomes. We aimed to investigate the association of early aggressive protein and energy intakes with weight gain and 18‐month neurodevelopmental outcomes in VLBW infants.

Methods

A total of 90 infants among 129 infants who survived to discharge were included and divided into two groups (early aggressive nutrition [n = 52] vs conventional nutrition [n = 38]). Clinical findings were compared between the two groups and daily protein and energy intakes were collected for the first 4 weeks of life. Multiple regression analyses tested the association between weekly protein or energy intakes and the result of each category of the Denver Developmental Screening Test II at 18 months' corrected age or weight gain.

Results

The early aggressive nutrition group had higher rates of normal language development and lower rates of growth failure (<10th percentile) at both 40 weeks' and 18 months' corrected age compared to the conventional nutrition group. After controlling for the confounding variables, higher first week protein and energy intakes each independently contributed to normal language development (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]; 9.4 [1.8–49.6] per 1 g/kg of protein increase and 1.7 [1.1–2.8] per 10 kcal/kg of energy increase). Higher first‐week protein intake was associated with a higher weight at 40 weeks' corrected age (r = 0.41, P = 0.005).

Conclusions

This study demonstrates the importance of the protein and energy intakes in VLBW infants in the first week of life not only for growth but also for better language development.
Wittgenstein and Friendship
Authors: Savickey Beth
Published: April 2014

In his article “It's a Wonderful Life,” Ronald Hall connects Wittgenstein's last words with Frank Capra's 1946 film. His analysis focuses on the concept of wonder, but he misses one of the most important aspects of both the film and Wittgenstein's last words: the significance of friendship. This is philosophically (and biographically) important because it raises questions about aspect‐seeing, friendship and everyday life. Wittgenstein's final words provide a striking example of the philosophical complexity of his life and work.
Aortic squamous metaplasia in a patient with aortoesophageal fistula secondary to thoracic aortic aneurysm: An autopsy case
Authors: Matsuda Yoko , Yoshimura Hisashi , Fukuda Yuh , Murai Koji , Honma Hiroshi , Ohashi Ryuji , Naito Zenya , Ishiwata Toshiyuki
Published: April 2014

Aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) is highly lethal. A 74‐year‐old man presented with hematemesis and consciousness loss. He had a long‐term history of hypertension and gout. Computed tomography revealed an aneurysm of the distal descending thoracic aorta, which was treated by insertion of an aortic stent graft. After 24 days of stenting, endoscopic examination revealed an AEF. After 6 months of stenting, he died owing to mediastinitis. On autopsy, macroscopically, we found a 4 × 2.5‐cm, oval, well‐circumscribed AEF. We identified squamous epithelium in the area surrounding the AEF that covered the thoracic aorta inner cavity. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the squamous epithelium in the thoracic aorta was positive for p63 and 34βE12. In conclusion, we encountered a long‐term AEF case with aortic squamous metaplasia. To the best of our knowledge, human aortic metaplasia has never been reported. In the present case, aortic squamous metaplasia retained continuity with the esophageal squamous epithelium; therefore, the migration of the squamous epithelium through the AEF may have been induced by aortic erosion.
Prognostic significance of single isolated cells with decreased E‐cadherin expression in pseudomyxoma peritonei
Authors: Koh Young Wha , Jun Sun‐Young , Kim Kyu‐Rae
Published: April 2014

Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) cases can be classified into the prognosis‐related subtypes of disseminated peritoneal adenomucinosis (DPAM) and peritoneal mucinous carcinomatosis (PMCA). To investigate the mechanisms of mucinous invasion and the differing prognoses of these two subtypes, we examined the expression levels of proteins involved in cellular adhesion and invasion, including E‐cadherin, vimentin, β‐catenin, and S100A4, in single isolated tumor cells (SICs) and cohesive cellular strips within mucin pools isolated from DPAM (n = 31) and PMCA (n = 21) patients. In both PMCA and DPAM cases, SICs showed a complete loss of E‐cadherin expression, whereas cells in cohesive cellular clusters retained E‐cadherin expression. The frequency of high numbers of SICs (>8) in PMCA cases was significantly greater than that in DPAM cases (86% and 26%, respectively) and was correlated with poor progression‐free survival (P = 0.019) in a univariate analysis. In both PMP subtypes, strong vimentin expression was identified in most of the SICs but not the cohesive cellular strips. The relatively slow progression of DPAM may be attributable to the smaller number of SICs that lack E‐cadherin expression and have increased vimentin expression, whereas the rapid progression of PMCA may be due to larger numbers of these SICs.
Systemic inflammation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Zhang Xiao Lei , Chi Yong Hui , Wang Le Feng , Wang Hong Shi , Lin Xiang Min
Published: April 2014

Background and objective

Systemic inflammation plays an important role in both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and coronary artery disease (CAD). The purpose of the present study was to assess the association of high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP), a biomarker of systemic inflammation, with in‐hospital outcomes in patients with COPD undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods

A total of 378 patients with COPD who were treated with PCI from January 2007 through January 2012, were divided into two groups according to hs‐CRP level at admission. Demographics, clinical, angiographic data and in‐hospital outcomes were compared.

Results

Patients with elevated hs‐CRP (≥3 mg/L) were more likely to be female and current smokers, had more severe airflow limitation, more hypertension, diabetes and cardiac dysfunction and had increased incidence of three‐vessel disease and more type C lesions. Subjects with elevated hs‐CRP were also less likely to have been prescribed with statins and B‐blockers, perhaps. Rate of in‐hospital composite major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) was higher (15.5% vs 8.2%, P = 0.041) and hospital stay was longer (8.2 ± 2.0 vs 7.5 ± 1.7 days, P < 0. 001) in patients with elevated hs‐CRP. A combined analysis of MACE on the basis of airflow limitation and hs‐CRP showed an exaggerated hazard ratio in the presence of both severe airflow limitation and elevated hs‐CRP. In a multivariate analysis, elevated periprocedural hs‐CRP was independently related with MACEs and hospital stay.

Conclusions

Elevated periprocedural hs‐CRP is independently and additively related with increased incidence of in‐hospital adverse outcomes in COPD patients undergoing PCI.
Histological diagnosis of interstitial lung diseases by cryo‐transbronchial biopsy
Authors: Fruchter Oren , Fridel Ludmila , El Raouf Bayya Abed , Abdel‐Rahman Nader , Rosengarten Dror , Kramer Mordechai R.
Published: April 2014

Background and objective

The gold standard for the histological diagnosis of interstitial lung diseases (ILD) is an open lung biopsy (OLB). Tissue samples obtained by forceps transbronchial lung biopsies (TBB) are usually too small. We aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of cryo‐TBB for the diagnosis of ILD and to explore its role as substitute for OLB.

Methods

Seventy‐five patients (mean age 56.2 years) with clinical and radiological features suggestive of ILD underwent cryo‐TBB under moderate sedation. The diagnostic contribution on the work‐up of suspected ILD was assessed.

Results

No major complications occurred during cryo‐TBB procedures. The mean cross‐sectional area of the biopsy specimen obtained was 9 mm2 with an average of 70% alveolated tissue. The most common pathological diagnoses were idiopathic nonspecific interstitial pneumonitis (n = 22), cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (n = 11) and usual interstitial pneumonitis (n = 7). There were three patients of pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis and one patient of pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis. A definite and probable clinicopathological consensus diagnosis was possible in 70% and 28% of patients, respectively. In only 2% of patients' diagnosis could not be established.

Conclusions

Cryo‐TBB is a safe and effective minimally invasive modality for the diagnosis of ILD. No OLB is needed in the majority of patients.
SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF REZONING APPROVAL DECISIONS
Authors: Cho Seong‐Hoon , Roberts Roland K. , Kim Ji Young , Kim Taeyoung
Published: April 2014

This research examines how compatibility with a land use plan affects rezoning approval decisions and the consequences of such decisions on a community's spatial pattern of development. Compatibility with the land use plan is hypothesized to affect rezoning approvals from undevelopable land classifications to developable land classifications. An empirical model of binary decisions for rezoning approvals at the parcel scale is developed to test this hypothesis. The results show that the predicted approval rates for rezoning for development drop under hypothetical land use scenarios with expanded areas zoned for agricultural‐rural residential use compared with the status quo land use plan. The decreases in predicted approval rates result from decreases in the approval rates in the expanded areas designated for agricultural‐rural residential use. These results indicate that redrawing the area designated for agricultural‐rural residential use can restrict the expansion of residential sprawl and commercial development.
Patients' strategies to deal with their situation at an emergency department
Authors: Elmqvist Carina , Frank Catharina
Published: April 2014

Introduction

The care in the emergency department (ED) is often characterised by high standards of efficiency and rapid treatment and the encounter between patient and staff can be described as both short and fragmented. Research within this field has mostly been performed with quantitative measurements and patients are both satisfied and vulnerable in their care at an ED. There is a lack of qualitative studies about patient's strategies to deal with their situation.

Aim

The aim was to describe patient's strategies for dealing with their situation at an ED.

Methods

Secondary analysis has been made of 13 qualitative interviews grounded in a lifeworld perspective. The interviews were analysed by qualitative content analysis.

Results

The results showed that patients' strategies to deal with the situation at the ED are passive or active. The passive strategy is being patient and the active strategies varied in terms of having hidden tactics, using visible tactics and using families as support.

Conclusion

These findings increase the importance of gaining knowledge about these strategies so that the staff at the ED can support the patients so they do not have to use them.
Motor impulsivity in Parkinson disease: Associations with COMT and DRD2 polymorphisms
Authors: Ziegler David A. , Ashourian Paymon , Wonderlick Julien S. , Sarokhan Alison K. , Prelec Drazen , Scherzer Clemens R. , Corkin Suzanne
Published: April 2014

Parkinson disease (PD) is an age‐related degenerative disease of the brain, characterized by motor, cognitive, and psychiatric symptoms. Neurologists and neuroscientists now understand that several symptoms of the disease, including hallucinations and impulse control behaviors, stem from the dopaminergic medications used to control the motor aspects of PD. Converging evidence from animals and humans suggests that individual differences in the genes that affect the dopamine system influence the response of PD patients to dopaminergic medication. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that patients taking dopamine replacement therapy who carry candidate alleles that increase dopamine signaling, exhibit greater amounts of motor impulsivity. We examined the relation between inhibitory ability (measured by the Stop Signal Task) and polymorphisms of COMT Val158Met and DRD2 C957T in patients with idiopathic PD. On the Stop Signal Task, carriers of COMT Val/Met and Met/Met genotypes were more impulsive than Val/Val carriers, but we did not find a link between DRD2 polymorphisms and inhibitory ability. These results support the hypothesis that the Met allele of COMT confers an increased risk for behavioral impulsivity in PD patients, whereas DRD2 polymorphisms appear to be less important in determining whether PD patients exhibit a dopamine overdose in the form of motor impulsivity.
Classification Error of the Thresholded Independence Rule
Authors: Bak Britta Anker , Jensen Jens Ledet , Fenger‐Grøn Morten
Published: April 2014

We consider classification in the situation of two groups with normally distributed data in the ‘largepsmalln’ framework. To counterbalance the high number of variables, we consider the thresholded independence rule. An upper bound on the classification error is established that is taylored to a mean value of interest in biological applications.
Beyond the Time Crunch: New Directions in the Sociology of Time and Work
Authors: van den Scott Lisa‐Jo K.
Published: April 2014

The sociology of work is particularly poised to study the meaning of time within institutions and organizations at its most sociological manifestation – the point where groups of people come together to accomplish joint goals. Previous work has offered useful concepts to help us understand temporality and tempography, home and work balance, temporal practices and mindsets towards time. Most of this work, however, which directly or peripherally treats time in the workplace, has focussed on the work–life balance. The actual temporal experiences of workers, however, are relatively absent in this literature. In this review article, I outline previous contributions from sociologists of work and offer ways in which work from the broader literature on the sociology of time can enhance this field. I address how future research should focus on how “time work” is accomplished in workplaces and on issues of class and gender.
Sociological Social Psychology and Intersectionality: A Synergistic Relationship
Authors: Lancianese Donna A.
Published: April 2014

Sociological social psychology developed out of interdisciplinary knowledge growth. Despite this positive progress, critics have argued that sociological social psychologists need to “step up their game”. In this paper, I review the three “faces” of sociological social psychology and propose a potential avenue to address this critique by incorporating ideas from intersectionality research into sociological social psychology's paradigms. To accomplish this integration, I also discuss the background and current debates of intersectionality research. Intersectionality scholarship originated in the gender studies area and has always been multidisciplinary. However, notions from intersectionality have not spread widely within the field of sociological social psychology. I propose a true synergy between sociological social psychology and intersectionality with the hope of advancing both fields.
American Indian Policy in the States
Authors: Witmer Richard C. , Johnson Joshua , Boehmke Frederick J.
Published: April 2014

Objectives

We investigate whether American Indian legislation is prevalent in state legislative agendas.

Methods

We examine proposed and passed legislation in states for the years 1998–2007.

Results

Our findings suggest that states with legislative and executive institutions that address Native issues, as well as larger American Indian constituencies, are more likely to initiate and pass American Indian legislation. We also find that states with larger legislative agendas propose and pass more Native legislations, although the amount of Native legislation has been dropping in recent years.

Conclusion

Native legislation is on the state policy agenda and both Indian Nations and state governments influence the size of the Native policy agenda.
Teaching and Salaries in Social Science: A Research Note
Authors: Stack Steven
Published: April 2014

Objectives

Research on the relationship between teaching productivity and base salary is sparse, but tends to find no association. However, the research is based largely on student evaluations (student evaluation of teaching (SET)). No study uses peer review of teaching, which may capture qualities of excellence in teaching missed by SETs. The present study addresses this gap.

Methods

Data refer to all 70 faculty in the social sciences at a Carnegie research‐extensive university. Measures of teaching include peer‐review scores, student evaluations, and teaching awards. Controls are incorporated for other predictors of base salary, including research productivity, years of experience, service, and demographics.

Results

Controlling for the other variables, peer review of teaching was unrelated to base salary. However, each year of experience enhanced salary by $905, each book was associated with $2,309 in salary, and membership in the economics department enhanced salary by $23,076. The full model explained 84 percent of the variation in base salaries.

Conclusion

Peer review of teaching was no better a predictor of salary than SETs. While excellence in teaching is often believed to affect base salary, the present analysis finds no evidence that this is the case. Future work is needed to assess the association in other organizational contexts.
Does Radical Partisan Politics Affect National Income Distributions? Congressional Polarization and Income Inequality in the United States, 1913–2008*
Authors: Kwon Roy
Published: April 2014

Objective

Recent research indicates that political polarization in Congress and income inequality share a closely linked positive association. But virtually no studies examine the direction of influence between these variables as it is assumed that income inequality causes political polarization. The major purpose of this investigation is to examine the temporal causal ordering of these variables.Methods. This study constructs a time series national‐level data set with information for the years 1913 to 2008. Vector autoregression and granger causality tests are utilized to explore the temporal causal ordering of congressional polarization and the income share of the top 0.1, 1.0, 5.0, and 10.0 percent of earners in the United States. Autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity regressions are also employed to assess the strength of the association between congressional polarization and top incomes net of relevant control variables.Results. The findings indicate that the past values of congressional polarization are better predictors of top income shares than vice versa. The results also demonstrate that polarization in the House of Representatives produces a more consistent and robust connection with top incomes than polarization in the Senate. Lastly, congressional polarization only produces robust associations with the income share of the top 0.1 and 1.0 percent of earners but not for the top 5.0 and 10.0 percent.Conclusion. While the Senate possesses more powerful negative agenda control procedures to stifle the legislative processes vis‐à‐vis the House, it is polarization in the latter that returns the more robust associations with income inequality.
The Spatial and Demographic Determinants of Racial Threat
Authors: Zingher Joshua N. , Steen Thomas M.
Published: April 2014

Objective

Although scholars have cast doubt on Key's () racial threat hypothesis, race continues to play a central role in American politics. But does living in a racially diverse context lead to liberalization or a white backlash? We aim to test the validity of the racial threat hypothesis in the modern‐day Deep South.

Methods

The data used for this analysis span multiple federal elections from the state of Louisiana, from 2000, 2004, and 2008, in addition to census data from 2000 and 2010. We utilize ArcGIS mapping software to construct a detailed depiction of voters’ racial environments.

Results

We find that whites who live in racially diverse precincts exhibit lower rates of turnout than whites in homogenous precincts; however, segregation within the precinct mitigates the liberalizing effects of precinct‐level diversity among whites.

Conclusion

The results of our analysis provide help to clarify the previously mixed empirical findings regarding the geographic distribution of minorities and white racial conservatism.
Diarrhea caused by viruses in transplant recipients
Authors: Lee L.Y. , Ison M.G.
Published: April 2014

Diarrhea is a common complication after solid organ transplantation, and viruses are emerging as important but underestimated causative agents. Viral infections in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients can result in severe and prolonged diarrhea with significant patient morbidity and graft complications. Cytomegalovirus remains the most common of the viruses to cause diarrhea, but other viruses are being increasingly recognized, including norovirus, rotavirus, and adenovirus. This article reviews the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, management, and outcomes of these viral causes of diarrhea in SOT patients.
Candida arteritis occurring in a liver transplant recipient
Authors: Lladó L. , Solé C. , Bodro M. , Baliellas C. , Sabé N. , Petit A. , Ramos E. , Carratalà J. , Fabregat J.
Published: April 2014

We report the first case, to our knowledge, of Candida arteritis in a liver transplant recipient. The patient presented with hemorrhagic shock requiring emergency arterial repair. As Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Candida glabrata were growing in the arterial tissue, the patient received antifungal therapy for 5 months, but died because of chronic graft dysfunction. No evidence of fungal infection was found in the tissue on postmortem examination.
Mapping the fine specificity of ABO monoclonal reagents with A and B type‐specific function‐spacer‐lipid constructs in kodecytes and inkjet printed on paper
Authors: Barr Katie , Korchagina Elena , Ryzhov Ivan , Bovin Nicolai , Henry Stephen
Published: April 2014

Background

Monoclonal (MoAb) reagents are routinely used and are usually very reliable for the serologic determination of ABO blood types. However, the fine specificity and cross‐reactivity of these reagents are often unknown, particularly against synthetic antigens used in some diagnostic assays. If nonserologic assays or very sensitive techniques other than those specifically prescribed by the manufacturer are used, then there is a risk of incorrect interpretation of results.

Study Design and Methods

Forty‐seven MoAbs and two polyclonal ABO reagents were tested against red blood cell (RBC) kodecytes prepared with A trisaccharide, A Type 1, A Type 2, A Type 3, A Type 4, B trisaccharide, B Type 1, B Type 2, acquired B trisaccharide, and Lea trisaccharide function‐spacer‐lipid (FSL) constructs. Natural RBCs were tested in parallel. In addition these FSL constructs were printed onto paper with a desktop inkjet printer and used in a novel immunoassay that identifies reactivity through the appearance of alphanumeric characters.

Results

Mapping of MoAbs with kodecytes and printed FSL constructs revealed a series of broad recognition patterns. All ABO MoAbs tested were reactive with the RBC dominant Type 2 ABO antigens. Unexpectedly some anti‐A reagents were reactive against the B Type 1 antigen, while others were poorly reactive with trisaccharide antigens.

Conclusions

All ABO MoAbs detect the RBC dominant Type 2 ABO antigens; however, some reagents may show minor reactivity with inappropriate blood group antigens, which needs to be considered when using these reagents in alternative or highly sensitive analytic systems.
Growing Lemons or Cherries? Pre and Post‐acquisition Performance of Foreign‐Acquired Firms in New EU Member States
Authors: Damijan Jože , Kostevc Črt , Rojec Matija
Published: April 2014

Foreign acquisitions are an increasingly important mode of FDI in the new EU member states (NMS). Using firm‐level data and a common estimation framework for seven NMS, we study pre‐ and post‐acquisition performance of acquired firms. This paper, to the best of our knowledge, represents the first comprehensive study of the pre‐ and post‐acquisition performance of foreign‐acquired firms in NMS. Distinguishing between the impact of target selection and post‐acquisition improvements on performance, we find that, on average, foreign investors are targeting ‘lemons’ with growth potential rather than ‘picking cherries’. Regardless of targeting ‘cherries’ or ‘lemons’, performance of acquired firms improved after the acquisition, whereby the boost in productivity is not achieved by reducing employment but mostly by increased efficiency in the use of production factors especially labour.
Seasonality of immune‐mediated hemolytic anemia in dogs from southern California
Authors: Kidd Linda , Rasmussen Rachel , Chaplow Emilie , Richter Keith , Hill Steve , Slusser Peter G.
Published: April 2014

Objective

To determine if there is seasonal variation in the incidence of canine idiopathic immune‐mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) at 2 specialty hospitals in southern California.

Design

Retrospective study. To determine seasonality, cases of idiopathic IMHA presenting between June 2006 and June 2012 were identified by searching medical record databases of 2 large specialty hospitals. The presence of anemia with autoagglutination, spherocytosis or a positive Coomb's test and no identifiable underlying cause were required for inclusion. Dogs with a history of recent travel (within 1 year) were excluded. One hundred and twenty‐six dogs, 57 from a practice in San Diego, and 69 from a practice in Los Angeles, met the criteria.

Results

The pattern of seasonality differed with practice location (P= 0.02). More cases of idiopathic IMHA presented during spring and summer (n= 39) than winter and fall (n= 18) for the San Diego practice (P= 0.008) but not the Los Angeles practice (n= 32 and 37, respectively,P= 0.63).

Conclusions

The incidence of idiopathic IMHA in dogs presenting to specialty hospitals located in 2 different climates of southern California was different, suggesting environmental triggers may be involved. Larger, prospective studies are needed to determine whether environmental parameters or undetected infectious disease account for some cases of idiopathic IMHA in dogs.
Urban Prevalence of Listeria spp. and Listeria monocytogenes in Public Lavatories and on Shoe Soles of Facility Patrons in the European Capital City Vienna
Authors: Schoder D. , Schmalwieser A. , Szakmary‐Brändle K. , Stessl B. , Wagner M.
Published: April 2014

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Listeria spp. and Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) in urban public lavatories and on shoe soles of facility patrons in a European capital city. More than 91% of all municipal public lavatories in Vienna close to public hubs were included in this study. Overall, 373 swab samples of public lavatories and shoes of facility patrons were enriched, according to ISO 11290‐1. Listeria monocytogenes isolates were subtyped using pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis. A total of 24 samples were positive for Listeria spp., yielding an overall prevalence of 6.4% (24/373). Listeria monocytogenes was found in 2.1% (8/373) of all samples. Swabs from lavatories in parks, container lavatories and lavatories at markets had the highest prevalences of 20.7% (6/29), 20% (2/10) and 12.5% (1/8) Listeria spp., respectively. These detection rates were statistically significantly higher than those associated with lavatories in shopping centres (P = 0.003, P = 0.002, P = 0.02) and at public transport locations (P = 0.0004, P = 0.005, P = 0.02). Shoes sampled at Christmas markets showed the highest Listeria spp. and L. monocytogenes prevalences of 80% (4/5) and 40% (2/5), respectively. With regard to shoe type, Listeria spp. detection rates were 14.3% (3/21; winter boots), 13.3% (2/15; hiking boots), sport shoes (5.9%; 2/34) and brogues (5.1%; 4/79). No Listeria spp. were found on shoe soles that had smooth treads (0/76), while Listeria spp. were detected on 19.5% (8/41) of medium depth tread shoe types and on 9.4% (3/32) of deep tread shoes. These data suggest that soil environment is still one of the most important reservoirs for the foodborne pathogen L. monocytogenes.
Recovery and Adaptation From Repeated Intermittent-Sprint Exercise
Authors: Leeder Jonathan D.C. , van Someren Ken A. , Gaze David , Jewell Andrew , Deshmukh Nawed I.K. , Shah Iltaf , Barker James , Howatson Glyn
Published: April 2014

Purpose:

This investigation aimed to ascertain a detailed physiological profile of recovery from intermittentsprint exercise of athletes familiar with the exercise and to investigate if athletes receive a protective effect on markers of exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD), inflammation, and oxidative stress after a repeated exposure to an identical bout of intermittent-sprint exercise.

Methods:

Eight well-trained male team-sport athletes of National League or English University Premier Division standard (mean ± SD age 23 ± 3 y, VO2max 54.8 ± 4.6 mL · kg−1 · min−1) completed the Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test (LIST) on 2 occasions, separated by 14 d. Maximal isometric voluntary contraction (MIVC), countermovement jump (CMJ), creatine kinase (CK), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), F2-isoprostanes, and muscle soreness (DOMS) were measured before and up to 72 h after the initial and repeated LISTs.

Results:

MIVC, CMJ, CK, IL-6, and DOMS all showed main effects for time (P < .05) after the LIST, indicating that EIMD was present. DOMS peaked at 24 h after LIST 1 (110 ± 53 mm), was attenuated after LIST 2 (56 ± 39 mm), and was the only dependent variable to demonstrate a reduction in the second bout (P = .008). All other markers indicated that EIMD did not differ between bouts.

Conclusion:

Well-trained games players experienced EIMD after exposure to both exercise tests, despite being accustomed to the exercise type. This suggests that well-trained athletes receive a very limited protective effect from the first bout.
New Genetic Model for Predicting Phenotype Traits in Sports
Authors: Massidda Myosotis , Scorcu Marco , Calò Carla M.
Published: April 2014

Purpose:

The aim of the current study was to construct a genetic model with a new algorithm for predicting athletic-performance variability based on genetic variations.

Methods:

The influence of 6 polymorphisms (ACE, ACTN-3, BDKRB2, VDR-ApaI, VDR-BsmI, and VDR-FokI) on vertical jump was studied in top-level male Italian soccer players (n = 90). First, the authors calculated the traditional total genotype score and then determined the total weighting genotype score (TWGS), which accounts for the proportion of significant phenotypic variance predicted by the polymorphisms. Genomic DNA was extracted from saliva samples using a standard protocol. Genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results:

The results obtained from the new genetic model (TWGS) showed that only 3 polymorphisms entered the regression equation (ACTN-3, ACE, and BDKRB2), and these polymorphisms explained 17.68–24.24% of the verticaljump variance. With the weighting given to each polymorphism, it may be possible to identify a polygenic profile that more accurately explains, at least in part, the individual variance of athletic-performance traits.

Conclusions:

This model may be used to create individualized training programs based on a player’s genetic predispositions, as well as to identify athletes who need an adapted training routine to account for individual susceptibility to injury.
Integrating the Internal and External Training Loads in Soccer
Authors: Akubat Ibrahim , Barrett Steve , Abt Grant
Published: April 2014

Purpose:

This study aimed to assess the relationships of fitness in soccer players with a novel integration of internal and external training load (TL).

Design:

Ten amateur soccer players performed a lactate threshold (LT) test followed by a soccer simulation (Ball-Sport Endurance and Sprint Test [BEAST90mod]).

Methods:

The results from the LT test were used to determine velocity at lactate threshold (vLT), velocity at onset of blood lactate accumulation (vOBLA), maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), and the heart rate–blood lactate profile for calculation of internal TL (individualized training impulse, or iTRIMP). The total distance (TD) and high intensity distance (HID) covered during the BEAST90mod were measured using GPS technology that allowed measurement of performance and external TL. The internal TL was divided by the external TL to form TD:iTRIMP and HID:iTRIMP ratios. Correlation analyses assessed the relationships between fitness measures and the ratios to performance in the BEAST90mod.

Results:

vLT, vOBLA, and VO2max showed no significant relationship to TD or HID. HID:iTRIMP significantly correlated with vOBLA (r = .65, P = .04; large), and TD:iTRIMP showed a significant correlation with vLT (r = .69, P = .03; large).

Conclusions:

The results suggest that the integrated use of ratios may help in the assessment of fitness, as performance alone showed no significant relationships with fitness.
Lower Running Performance and Exacerbated Fatigue in Soccer Played at 1600 m
Authors: Garvican Laura A. , Hammond Kristal , Varley Matthew C. , Gore Christopher J. , Billaut Francois , Aughey Robert J.
Published: April 2014

Purpose:

This study investigated the decrement in running performance of elite soccer players competing at low altitude and time course for abatement of these decrements.

Methods:

Twenty elite youth soccer players had their activity profile, in a sea-level (SL) and 2 altitude (Alt, 1600 m, d 4, and d 6) matches, measured with a global positioning system. Measures expressed in meters per minute of match time were total distance, low- and high-velocity running (LoVR, 0.01–4.16 m/s; HiVR, 4.17–10.0 m/s), and frequency of maximal accelerations (>2.78 m/s2). The peak and subsequent stanza for each measure were identified and a transient fatigue index calculated. Mean heart rate (HR) during the final minute of a submaximal running task (5 min, 11 km/h) was recorded at SL and for 10 d at Alt. Differences were determined between SL and Alt using percentage change and effect-size (ES) statistic with 90% confidence intervals.

Results:

Mean HR almost certainly increased on d 1 (5.4%, ES 1.01 ± 0.35) and remained probably elevated on both d 2 (ES 0.42 ± 0.31) and d3 (ES 0.30 ± 0.25), returning to baseline at d 5. Total distance was almost certainly lower than SL (ES –0.76 ± 0.37) at d 4 and remained probably reduced on d 6 (ES –0.42 ± 0.36). HiVR probably decreased at d 4 vs SL (–0.47 ± 0.59), with no clear effect of altitude at d 6 (–0.08 ± 0.41). Transient fatigue in matches was evident at SL and Alt, with a possibly greater decrement at Alt.

Conclusion:

Despite some physiological adaptation, match running performance of youth soccer players is compromised for at least 6 d at low altitude.
Coaches’ and Players’ Perceptions of Training Dose: Not a Perfect Match
Authors: Brink Michel S. , Frencken Wouter G.P. , Jordet Geir , Lemmink Koen A.P.M.
Published: April 2014

Purpose:

The aim of the current study was to investigate and compare coaches’ and players’ perceptions of training dose for a full competitive season.

Methods:

Session rating of perceived exertion (RPE), duration, and training load (session RPE × duration) of 33 professional soccer players (height 178.2 ± 6.6 cm, weight 70.5 ± 6.4 kg, percentage body fat 12.2 ± 1.6) from an under-19 and under-17 (U17) squad were compared with the planned periodization of their professional coaches. Before training, coaches filled in the session rating of intended exertion (RIE) and duration (min) for each player. Players rated session RPE and training duration after each training session.

Results:

Players perceived their intensity and training load (2446 sessions in total) as significantly harder than what was intended by their coaches (P < .0001). The correlations between coaches’ and players’ intensity (r = .24), duration (r = .49), and load (r = .41) were weak (P < .0001). Furthermore, for coach-intended easy and intermediate training days, players reported higher intensity and training load (P < .0001). For hard days as intended by the coach, players reported lower intensity, duration, and training load (P < .0001). Finally, first-year players from the U17 squad perceived training sessions as harder than second-year players (P < .0001).

Conclusion:

The results indicate that young elite soccer players perceive training as harder than what was intended by the coach. These differences could lead to maladaptation to training. Monitoring of the planned and perceived training load of coaches and players may optimize performance and prevent players from overtraining.