bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The “Home Advantage” in Athletic Competitions
Authors: Allen Mark S. , Jones Marc V.
Published: February 2014

Game location has a powerful influence on performance outcomes in sport. We reviewed recent research on three conceptual models that outline (a) the various game-location factors that can alter athletes’ psychological states, (b) the natural protective response to territorial incursion in humans, and (c) the increased probability of involuntary attentional shifts in the presence of a supportive audience. Investigators recently have accumulated support for each of these models and linked variations in game location to psychological, hormonal, and behavioral states of athletes, coaches, and officials. We considered how an integrative approach might benefit the study of the home-advantage phenomenon and described an assortment of research questions to support the development of an integrative framework. By studying how audience support contributes to physiological reactivity, attention, stress responses, and decision making (among athletes and officials), researchers can achieve a better understanding of the processes through which a home environment can benefit (and occasionally harm) athletes and teams.
Knowledge Sharing in Teams
Authors: Hu Lingyan , Randel Amy E.
Published: February 2014

Sharing knowledge among team members is critical to accomplishing innovation. However, there are motivation and communication barriers to sharing knowledge in teams. In this study of 219 work teams, two mechanisms that have potential for encouraging knowledge sharing (social capital and extrinsic incentives) are examined as they relate to tacit knowledge sharing, explicit knowledge sharing, and team innovation. Tacit knowledge sharing mediated the relationships between cognitive social capital and team innovation as well as between explicit knowledge sharing and team innovation. Explicit knowledge sharing mediated the relationship between relational social capital and team innovation, while both forms of knowledge sharing mediated the relationship between extrinsic incentives for knowledge sharing and team innovation.
Vitamin D Receptor Genetics on Extracellular Matrix Biomarkers and Hemodynamics in Systolic Heart Failure
Authors: Dorsch Michael P. , Nemerovski Carrie W. , Ellingrod Vicki L. , Cowger Jennifer A. , Dyke D. Bradley , Koelling Todd M. , Wu Audrey H. , Aaronson Keith D. , Simpson Robert U. , Bleske Barry E.
Published: February 2014

Introduction:

Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with the development of myocardial hypertrophy and inflammation. These findings suggest that vitamin D status and vitamin D receptor (VDR) genomics may play a role in myocardial fibrosis. The aim of this pilot study was to determine the association between vitamin D levels, VDR polymorphisms, and biomarkers of left ventricular remodeling and hemodynamics.

Methods:

In a cross-sectional pilot study, patients with ejection fraction (EF) <40% (and New York Heart Association ≥ II) undergoing right heart catheterization were included in the study. Blood was collected for determination of 25-hydroxyvitamin D level (antibody competitive immunoassay), VDR genotypes ( BsmI, ApaI, TaqI, and FokI), and biomarkers (N-terminal propeptide of collagen type III [PIIINP], matrix metalloproteinase 2, and galectin 3). The vitamin D genotypes were determined through the use of pyrosequencing.

Results:

A total of 30 patients with a mean EF of 17% ± 8% were enrolled. There was a significant association between the BsmI C allele, ApaI G allele, and TaqI A allele, which formed a haplotype block (CGA) for analysis. There were no differences in baseline parameters between patients with the VDR haplotype block (n = 20) and those without (n = 10). Individual genotypes were not associated with any biomarker or hemodynamics. Patients with the CGA haplotype demonstrated significantly higher log PIIINP values (1.74 ± 0.32 mcg/mL vs 1.36 ± 0.31 mcg/mL, P = .0041). When evaluating vitamin D levels below and above the median level (19 ng/mL), there was no significant difference between these 2 groups in regard to biomarker levels for left ventricular remodeling.

Conclusion:

This study has shown that a biomarker for collagen type III synthesis, PIIINP, was associated with the CGA haplotype of BsmI, ApaI, and TaqI single nucleotide polymorphisms on the VDR. These findings suggest that VDR genetics may play a role in myocardial fibrosis in patients with systolic heart failure.
Thinking Outside the Heart
Authors: Sarvazyan Narine
Published: February 2014

This article considers the use of autologous stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes as a novel means to aid venous return. The approach consists of creating external cuffs of engineered heart tissue around vein segments with incompetent or poorly competent valves. The engineered heart tissue cuff prevents distention of the impaired vein segments and aids unidirectional flow by its rhythmic contractions. There appear to be no fundamental limitations to this approach as feasibility of all of the individual components has already been shown. Here, we underline the clinical need for novel ways to treat chronic deep venous insufficiency, review previous research that enabled this approach, consider potential designs of engineered heart tissue cuffs, and outline its advantages and future challenges.
Baseline SYNTAX Score and Long-Term Outcome in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Authors: Akgun Taylan , Oduncu Vecih , Bitigen Atila , Karabay Can Yucel , Erkol Ayhan , Kocabay Gonenc , Ozveren Olcay , Yildiz Abdulmelik , Cimen Arif Oguzhan , Kirma Cevat
Published: February 2014

Objectives:

The SYNTAX score (SXscore) has emerged as a reproducible angiographic tool to quantify the extent of coronary artery disease based on the location and complexity of each lesion. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the SXscore is an independent predictor of long-term cardiovascular outcomes in patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods:

A total of 2993 patients with acute STEMI who underwent primary PCI were stratified into the 4 groups according to the SXscore quartiles; quartile 1(Q1, SXscore ≤ 9, n = 819), Q2 (9 < SXscore < 16, n = 715), Q3 (16 ≤ SXscore < 20, n = 710), and Q4 (SXscore ≥ 20, n = 749).

Results:

There were significant differences among the quartiles with respect to age, basal creatinine and glucose levels, and the incidences of diabetes mellitus, Killip ≥2, and anemia. From Q1 to Q4, there were increasing rates of culprit left anterior descending lesion ( P < .001), multivessel disease ( P < .001), chronic total occlusion ( P < .001), and proximal lesion localization ( P < .001). At long-term follow-up, all-cause mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke, rehospitalization due to heart failure, and the need of revascularization were significantly more frequent among the patients in the highest SXscore quartile. In multivariate analysis, after including the SXscore as a numerical variable into the model, every point of increase was determined as an independent predictor for long-term mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.05, P = .008) and for overall major adverse cardiac events (MACEs; HR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01-1.04, P < .001).

Conclusion:

The SXscore is an independent predictor of both in-hospital and long-term mortality and MACE in patients with acute STEMI undergoing primary PCI.
Evaluation and implementation of chemotherapy regimen validation in an electronic health record
Authors: Diaz Amber H , Bubalo Joseph S
Published: February 2014

Introduction:

Computerized provider order entry of chemotherapy regimens is quickly becoming the standard for prescribing chemotherapy in both inpatient and ambulatory settings. One of the difficulties with implementation of chemotherapy regimen computerized provider order entry lies in verifying the accuracy and completeness of all regimens built in the system library. Our goal was to develop, implement, and evaluate a process for validating chemotherapy regimens in an electronic health record.

Methods:

We describe our experience developing and implementing a process for validating chemotherapy regimens in the setting of a standard, commercially available computerized provider order entry system. The pilot project focused on validating chemotherapy regimens in the adult inpatient oncology setting and adult ambulatory hematologic malignancy setting.

Results:

A chemotherapy regimen validation process was defined as a result of the pilot project. Over a 27-week pilot period, 32 chemotherapy regimens were validated using the process we developed. Results of the study suggest that by validating chemotherapy regimens, the amount of time spent by pharmacists in daily chemotherapy review was decreased. In addition, the number of pharmacist modifications required to make regimens complete and accurate were decreased. Both physician and pharmacy disciplines showed improved satisfaction and confidence levels with chemotherapy regimens after implementation of the validation system.

Conclusion:

Chemotherapy regimen validation required a considerable amount of planning and time but resulted in increased pharmacist efficiency and improved provider confidence and satisfaction.
Endpoints of Resuscitation
Authors: Tseng George S. , Wall Michael H.
Published: February 2014

Hemodynamic optimization of surgical patients during and after surgery in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit is meant to improve outcomes. These outcomes have been measured by Length Of Stay (LOS), rate of infection, days on ventilator, etc. Unfortunately, the adaptation of modern technology to accomplish this has been slow in coming. Ever since Shoemaker described in 1988 using a pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) to guide fluid and inotropic administration to deliver supranormal tissue oxygenation, many authors have written about different techniques to achieve this “hemodynamic optimization”. Since the PAC and CVC have both gone out of favor for utilization to monitor and improve hemodynamics, many clinicians have resorted using the easy to use static measurements of blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and urine output. In this paper, the authors will review why these static measurements are no longer adequate and review some of the newer technology that have been studied and proven useful. This review of newer technologies combined with laboratory measurements that have also proven to help guide the clinician, may provide the impetus to adopt new strategies in the operating rooms (OR) and SICU.
Gender and autoimmune comorbidity in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Magyari Melinda , Koch-Henriksen Nils , Pfleger Claudia C , Sørensen Per Soelberg
Published: February 2014

Background:

The female preponderance in incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) calls for investigations into sex differences in comorbidity with other autoimmune diseases (ADs).

Objectives:

To determine whether male and female patients with MS have a higher frequency of autoimmune comorbidity than controls, and to describe the type and frequency of ADs that are associated with MS.

Methods:

Our database was established by linkage of the Danish MS Registry to The Danish National Patient Register and consisted of 1403 patients of both sexes with clinical onset of MS between 2000 and 2004, and 25 matched controls for every case.

Results:

None of the ADs occurred more frequently in female cases than in controls. Male cases were more likely to have Type I diabetes mellitus (odds ratio (OR) = 3.34; 95% CI 1.40 – 7.02; p < 0.008), Crohn’s disease (OR = 5.03; 95% CI 1.18 – 16.10; p = 0.03) and systemic lupus erythematosus (OR = 12.55; 95% CI 1.62 – 69.95; p = 0.02) than male controls.

Conclusions:

Autoimmune disorders are rare, but some of them tend to occur together with MS at a higher rate than in controls. Although women are generally more prone to ADs than men, significantly increased occurrence of other ADs were only found in male MS patients.
The interface as discourse: The production of norms through web design
Authors: Stanfill Mel
Published: February 2014

This article elaborates a theoretical case for considering new media as productive power, viewing web interfaces as both reflecting and reinforcing social logics. It then details an analytic method for websites – discursive interface analysis – which examines functionalities, menu options, and page layouts for the structures at work within them. The piece concludes with a short, illustrative examination of several official media company websites, articulating the productive constraints of their interfaces and the norms that they construct. Ultimately, the essay offers a tool for the new media research kit to improve our understanding of how norms for technologies and their users are produced and with what implications.
“And all of a sudden my life was gone…”: A biographical analysis of highly engaged adult gamers
Authors: Domahidi Emese , Quandt Thorsten
Published: February 2014

Highly engaged gaming and its potentially adverse effects have been the subject of ongoing debate in media and science, most commonly in relation to problematic playing behaviours among adolescents. Although adult gamers are also known to be vulnerable to addictive playing behaviours, this aspect of highly engaged gaming among adults has rarely been investigated. To address this issue, biographical interviews were conducted with 35 adult gamers to explore their interaction with the game, integration of gaming into everyday life, and social interaction in real and virtual life. Participants were also asked about their reasons for becoming involved in highly engaged gaming, and for ending that involvement. The findings indicate that highly engaged adult gamers are a heterogeneous group. Three general types of gamer emerged from the interviews. One of these types showed no signs of problematic behaviour; however, the other two types tended to neglect aspects of everyday life and the real-life social environment in their playing behaviours.
Innovation strategies: The implementation of creativity principles in Egyptian hotels
Authors: Kattara Hanan S , El-Said Osman A
Published: February 2014

The concept of employee creativity enhancement is an important factor that impacts hotel position. Therefore, this study aims at studying the implementation of creativity and idea generation principles in upscale hotels in Egypt. It tries, as well, to identify the internal barriers that hinder the greatest implementation of creativity principles in hotels. The study is the first outcome of a series of research examining innovation strategies in hotels.

Results of the study revealed that means of scores, regarding the agreement of hotel managers that creativity principles are implemented in their hotels, are high. The results proved that creativity was well valued in hotels and the general work climate and culture promoted creativity. Results reveal that managers face several internal barriers which slow down the proper implementation of creativity principles and make it complicated to grasp the perspective of employees in this context. Moreover, international hotel chains were found to be more innovative than independent hotels, and no significant differences were detected between managers of different educational and experience levels. The study ended up with valuable recommendations and implications of the results.
Taking the pulse of the B & B industry: An assessment of current marketing practices
Authors: Crawford Alleah , Deale Cynthia S , Merritt Ryan
Published: February 2014

The purpose of this study is to examine and identify the effective and useful marketing channels for B & B establishments. An updated assessment that focuses on varied marketing channels is needed as the recent research related to B & Bs and marketing has strictly focused on the use of web-based tactics. The study used an electronic survey to gather information from B & B owners/operators regarding marketing channels used. Additionally semi-structured interviews were conducted. Best practices were also identified in the study. Although there is a high degree of use and effectiveness of web-based marketing activities, the sample identified non web-based activities as well. Word-of-mouth marketing is still considered the most frequently used and highly effective marketing activity among B & B owner/operators. This research provides an understanding of current marketing channels and best practices utilized by B & B owners/operators.
Marking differences, consuming identities: Race, sexuality, disease and “global Turkishness” in the United Condoms of Benetton campaign
Authors: Kaptan Yesim
Published: February 2014

This article analyses two related phenomena, the transformation of Turkish nationalism and the articulation of a modern Turkish national identity through global processes. To understand these, the paper critically examines the cultural politics of an advertising campaign for Benetton Condoms that came out in 2000. Relying on interviews conducted with the employees of an advertising agency and basing my conclusion on a textual analysis of the outcomes of this campaign, it is argued that during this critical period of Turkey’s rapid expansion to become a player in the global marketplace, such a campaign articulated global consumerism and Turkish nationalism. The result was the construction of a new Turkish identity; “global Turkishness”. In the cultural imagination of advertisers, concepts such as race, sexuality and disease become constituent elements of this global national identity. These concepts also articulate a popular consumerist Turkishness through the Benetton advertising campaign.
Making resilience: everyday affect and global affiliation in Australian Slow Cities
Authors: Pink Sarah , Lewis Tania
Published: February 2014

Resilience is becoming a key representational concept across academic, policy and planning literatures, creating a need to explore fully how experienced forms of resilience emerge. In this article we respond to this by analyzing how locality-based resilience is made, in the example of the emergent Slow City movement in Australia. Through their activities and narratives Australian Slow City leaders expressed their relationship to the (broadly sustainability-oriented) goals of the movement’s framework in relation to the maintaining and making of local specialness and recovery. To understand this we go beyond the binarisms connoted by a concept of resistance through contestation or reterritorialization, to suggest such resilience is made through the relationality of things, narratives, flows and processes that traverse the local-global in between.
Young children’s ‘working theories’: Building and connecting understandings
Authors: Hedges Helen
Published: February 2014

Young children are keenly motivated to inquire into and make meaning about their worlds. This article discusses working theories, one of two indicative learning outcomes of the New Zealand early childhood curriculum, Te Whāriki. Working theories occur as children attempt to find connections between their experiences and understandings to make sense of their worlds. The article proffers several sociocultural theoretical bases for understanding and developing this under-explored construct. Specifically, the concept of working theories is proposed as a way children connect, edit, extend and deal with new or discrepant pieces of knowledge in endeavours to build their understandings. To substantiate this argument, examples of children’s working theories from a qualitative study of young children’s interests and inquiries are provided. A spiral of knowing provides a concept to further theorise processes of children’s knowledge connections and meaning making. Implications for early childhood teachers’ knowledge and practice and future research are described.
Does Performance Consistency Pay Off Financially for Players? Evidence From the Bundesliga
Authors: Deutscher Christian , Büschemann Arne
Published: February 2014

The purpose of the current study is to investigate how consistency of professional soccer players’ performance affects salaries in the German Bundesliga. Using game-level data for five consecutive seasons ( n = 34,413 player–match day observations), we find empirical evidence for a salary premium to players showing volatility in performance. Applying ordinary least squares, fixed-effects as well as quantile regression analyses, this effect remains robust.
The analysis of in-air reverberation patterns from medical ultrasound transducers
Authors: Quinn T , Verma PK
Published: February 2014

National guidelines for routine ultrasound quality assurance include the measurement of transducer sensitivity using the in-air reverberation pattern generated from a transducer operating in air. The in-air reverberation method has been compared with other well-known measures of transducer sensitivity, such as the Sonora FirstCall probe tester (Sonora Medical Systems Inc, Longmont, CO, USA) and phantom-based images. There is good agreement between the in-air reverberation images and the Sonora FirstCall probe data for individual crystal sensitivity. However, the in-air reverberation approach is cheaper and easier to implement for linear and curvilinear transducers. The methods used for measuring the in-air reverberation pattern and the influence of scanner parameters such as gain and output power have been investigated. In general, reliance on a visual assessment of reverberation depth can lead to inconsistencies in the measurement of reverberation depth, when taken over a period of several months. The value of scanner parameters, in particular scanner gain, is also important when trying to measure changes in reverberation depth due to changes in transducer performance. A more accurate assessment of changes in transducer sensitivity, using the in-air reverberation method, is found by measuring the peak pixel grey scale values within a chosen reverberation band in the image. This quantitative approach can be taken a step further by assessing changes within the whole in-air reverberation pattern, by applying a two-dimensional cross correlation between two reverberation images to assess changes in transducer performance.
Medical student syndrome: fact or fiction? A cross-sectional study
Authors: Waterman Lauren Z , Weinman John A
Published: February 2014

Objectives

It is often reported by medical practitioners that medical students develop hypochondriacal concerns and symptoms relating to diseases they are studying, a phenomenon labelled ‘medical student syndrome’. However, the evidence that this syndrome exists and particularly that it contributes to an increased number of consultations (as typical hypochondriasis does) is weak. The present study investigates this phenomenon in terms of differences between medical and non-medical students in help-seeking behaviour.

Design

Cross-sectional survey.

Setting

Three universities in London.

Participants

Medical students ( n = 103), non-medical science student controls ( n = 107) and law student controls ( n = 78), all third-year undergraduates, were recruited from within their universities.

Main outcome measures

Help-seeking behaviour was measured using the ‘Health Anxiety Questionnaire’ reassurance-seeking behaviour subscale; the overall number of doctors’ visits made for new health complaints since beginning university; a new ‘Hypochondriacal and Help-Seeking Behaviour’ scoring-system, which asked questions pertaining to not just the number but the nature of consultations, identifying participants who had experienced health concerns that were disproportionate to the diseases diagnosed.

Results

No significant differences were found between medical students and either control group in any of the main outcome variables.

Conclusions

These findings fail to support the notion that medical students, more so than other students, seek medical advice for hypochondriacal health concerns. They are pertinent to clinicians due to the potentially negative consequences of incorrectly assuming medical students to behave in this way, including cursory evaluations and disintegration of the doctor–patient relationship.
A retrospective review of the assessment of current perioperative management of diabetes in patients undergoing knee replacement surgery
Authors: Howieson Alan J , Brunswicker Annmarie , Dhatariya Ketan
Published: February 2014

Objectives

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is increasing. Previous work has shown that suboptimal glycaemic control is associated with poor perioperative outcomes with increased rates of postoperative morbidity and mortality in several surgical specialities. Recently published UK guidelines have laid out the standards of perioperative care for patients with diabetes. Because an increasing number of patients with diabetes undergo surgery, it is important that these nationally agreed standards of care are adhered to.

Design

A retrospective review of the standard of care of patients against existing audit standards laid down in national guidelines, and a comparison of outcomes with people without diabetes.

Setting

A single major orthopaedic department.

Participants

Fifty consecutive patients undergoing knee arthroplasty between July 2010 and June 2011.

Main outcome measures

Postoperative complications; pre, peri and postoperative glucose control; hospital length of stay.

Results

Although there were no serious postoperative complications, the pre, peri and postoperative management was found to be suboptimal, particularly with reference to optimization of blood glucose control, both in terms of HbA1c preoperatively and blood glucose monitoring perioperatively. The average length of hospital stay was not different between groups; however, 36 patients with diabetes had at least one documented hyperglycaemic episode and four at least one hypoglycaemic episode.

Conclusions

Perioperative care of diabetes in patients undergoing knee arthroplasty could be improved. Several changes have been made since this audit was carried out, in particular adoption of the comprehensive Joint British Diabetes Societies Guideline on the perioperative management of adult patients with diabetes.
A questionnaire-based survey investigating the current use of tranexamic acid in traumatic haemorrhage and elective hip and knee arthroplasty
Authors: Young Ben , Moondi Parvez
Published: February 2014

Objectives

To record the current use of tranexamic acid during traumatic haemorrhage and elective arthroplasty of the hip and knee.

Design

A questionnaire-based postal survey.

Setting

The questionnaire was sent to the ‘anaesthetic lead’ at all acute trusts in England, excluding centres for children, women’s health, cancer and cardiac care.

Participants

Ninety-nine (66%) centres replied to the questionnaire.

Main outcome measures

Is tranexamic acid used as part of routine standardized treatment for traumatic haemorrhage and for elective hip and knee arthroplasty, and if so what dosage regime was administered?

Results

Few trusts (31%) use tranexamic acid during traumatic haemorrhage, with various dosages used. Its use in hip and knee arthroplasty was also low (38%) with a diverse range of doses prescribed.

Conclusions

Despite many trials showing its efficacy and low risk of side effect, it is clear that its use is not part of standard practice in most centres. Further studies could clarify these concerns and provide a definitive dosing schedule improving patient care and saving lives.
Caloric and nutrient intake in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder treated with extended-release methylphenidate: analysis of a cross-sectional nutrition survey
Authors: Durá-Travé Teodoro , Gallinas-Victoriano Fidel
Published: February 2014

Objectives

To study calorie and nutrients intake in a group of patients diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) under treatment with extended-release methylphenidate (MPH-ER), and to analyse the need to design nutrition intervention strategies.

Design

Observational (case-control).

Setting

Navarra Hospital Complex, Pamplona, Spain.

Participants

A total of 100 patients diagnosed with ADHD under treatment with MPH-ER and 100 healthy children (control group).

Main outcome measures

A nutrition survey was carried out (food intake registration of 3 consecutive school days). Calorie and nutrient intake, as well as nutrition status, were evaluated and compared in both groups.

Results

Nutritional status in ADHD group was significantly lower ( p < 0.05) than in control group. Calorie intake in mid-morning snack, lunch and afternoon snack was significantly higher ( p < 0.05) in the control group. Calorie intake in supper was significantly higher ( p < 0.05) in the ADHD group. There were no significant differences in breakfast. Total calorie intake, as well as protein, carbohydrates, fat, fibre, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, selenium and phosphorous, thiamine, niacin, vitamin B6 and folate intake, in control group was significantly higher than in ADHD group.

Conclusions

The daily calorie and nutrients intake in patients under treatment with MPH-ER is, generally, lower than in healthy population of similar age. The need to impart programmes of nutrition education simultaneously with multimodal treatment in order to avoid the nutrition consequences of treatment with MPH should be considered.
Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome in a patient with self-neglect associated with severe depression
Authors: Cocksedge Karen A , Flynn Adrian
Published: February 2014

Lesson

Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome is a neuropsychiatric disorder resulting from thiamine deficiency and commonly associated with chronic alcoholism, but we describe the first case report resulting from self-neglect associated with depression.
Preservice Music Teachers’ Social Skills
Authors: Johnson Vicky V.
Published: February 2014

The purpose of this article is to consider the impact of social skills on the potential success of future music educators. Studies indicate that effective social skills directly affect success in the classroom and in the social context of educational environments. Ineffectual social skills can contribute to feelings of isolation, burnout, attrition, and migration. The ability to successfully interact with various groups in the context of the school environment and associated community can considerably affect the success of the music program and potential career satisfaction. Music teacher education programs may need to consider these factors toward adequate preparation of future music educators. Possible solutions are discussed toward this end.
Determination of high temperature mechanical properties of thermal barrier coatings by nanoindentation
Authors: Shang F. L. , Zhang X. , Guo X. C. , Zhao P. F. , Chang Y.
Published: February 2014

A nanoindentation method is employed to measure the high temperature mechanical properties, including hardness H, Young's modulus E and fracture toughness Kc, of 8YSZ (ZrO2+8 wt-%Y2O3) thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) under as sprayed condition and after subjecting them to thermal oxidation. The tests are conducted on the surfaces of YSZ coatings at temperatures of 250 and 450°C. The expressions for indentation H and E are deduced analytically, and the influence of testing temperature and thermal oxidation on them is discussed. An expression for estimating the fracture toughness of the coatings is also derived. The estimated fracture toughness values for the as sprayed YSZ coatings in terms of stress intensity factor at 250 and 450°C are determined to be 1·58 and 0·84 MPa m1/2 respectively. For the oxidised YSZ coatings, these values are 1·35 and 1·10 MPa m1/2 respectively. This study proves that nanoindentation tests can be performed at elevated temperatures for YSZ based TBCs.
Detonation gun sprayed Al2O3–13TiO2 coatings for biomedical applications
Authors: Geetha M. , Sathish S. , Chava K. , Joshi S. V.
Published: February 2014

The present work deals with the investigation of the corrosion and sliding wear behaviour of detonation gun sprayed (DG) conventional and nanostructured Al2O3–13TiO2 coatings deposited on a biomedical grade Ti–13Nb–13Zr alloy. The microstructure and phase composition of the coatings were characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Hardness measurements were carried out using a Vickers hardness testing machine. The experimental results suggested that the nano structured Al2O3–13TiO2 coating exhibited 43 and 33% increase respectively in corrosion and wear resistances compared to the conventional Al2O3–13TiO2 coating. This improvement in the above properties of nanostructured Al2O3–13TiO2 coating is due to the presence of larger volume fraction of nanosized particles and lower porosity attained by spraying using DG.
Heterologous Embryo Transfer: Magisterial Answers and Metaphysical Questions
Authors: Accad Michel
Published: February 2014

The debate regarding the morality of heterologous embryo transfer (HET) as a solution for the fate of cryopreserved embryos remains active. This paper endeavors to show that the magisterial instructions on bioethical issues can only lead to the conclusion that HET is always morally illicit. I begin by showing that the text of Dignitas personae recognizes HET as a procedure accomplishing a procreative function, and I indicate that it is through gestation that this procreative function occurs. I further show that the previous Instruction, Donum vitae, implicitly points to an ontological or spiritual consideration at play during gestation. This consideration is likely related to the procreative function identified in Dignitas personae. Finally, I place these two textual arguments in the context of the debate concerning HET and conclude that metaphysical questions must be clarified in order for the immorality of HET to be understood from a suitable anthropological perspective and gain more widespread acceptance.
Mechanisms of asthma development in elite athletes
Authors: Carlsen Kai-Håkon
Published: February 2014

Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction is caused by heat loss and water loss through respiration during exercise, leading to mediator release in the airways and to increased parasympathetic nervous activity in the airways, thereby causing constriction of bronchial smooth muscle and increased bronchial secretions as well as vasodilation in the bronchial vessels. Development of asthma and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in the competing elite athlete is presently considered to be caused by the frequently repeated increased ventilation occurring during training and competitions. Usually, the endurance athlete is at risk; and the risk is increased by repeated exposure to environmental factors such as cold air (cross-country skiers and other winter athletes), organic chlorine compounds (swimmers and other water athletes), pollution (long-distance runners and cyclists) to name a few.

Aims

The pathogenic mechanisms, including epithelial damage and increased airways inflammation, causing asthmatic symptoms and bronchial hyperresponsiveness are discussed.

The factors associated with different sports are discussed.
Exercise-induced anaphylaxis: an update
Authors: Del Giacco Stefano R.
Published: February 2014

Exercise-induced anaphylaxis (EIAn) is a rare and potentially fatal syndrome associated with exercise. It is the most serious and potentially life-threatening hypersensitivity phenomenon for athletes of all sports. Food-dependent EIAn (FDEIAn) shares the same symptoms, but ingestion of foods 2–3 h prior to exercise is crucial for its presentation. Attacks may seldom occur also if food ingestion is made 2–3 hours after exercise. Concomitant use of drugs, particularly aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, can worsen the clinical presentation. Clinical manifestations cover a wide range of symptoms, from pruritus to dyspnoea to vascular collapse. Differential diagnoses must be investigated when symptoms are unusual. Several pathogenetic theories have been formulated but the rarity of EIAn has not facilitated the efforts of scientists to find pathophysiological and immunological mechanisms that may account for these conditions. Diagnosis is mainly clinical and can be difficult. Validated protocols including skin prick testing together with food–exercise challenges, laboratory investigations looking for specific immunoglobulin E or through allergy molecular diagnostics are often required. Preventative measures are of fundamental importance, in particular regarding education of patients, family/carers, trainers and teammates. Use of adrenaline autoinjectors is also fundamental and their correct use must be taught to patients, doctors and nurses. Pharmacological preventative measures are not supported by sufficiently powered studies. Further research will be needed to investigate deeper the complexities of EIAn.
Tuberculosis burden in China: a high prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis in household contacts with and without symptoms
Authors: Jia Zhongwei , Cheng Shiming , Ma Yan , Zhang Tianhao , Bai Liqiong , Xu Weiguo , He Xiaoxin , Zhang Peiru , Zhao Jinkou , Christiani David C
Published: February 2014

Background

In the context of decreasing tuberculosis prevalence in China, we examined the effectiveness of screening household contacts of tuberculosis patients.

Methods

A tuberculosis survey was conducted in 2008. All 3,355 household contacts of notified tuberculosis cases were examined with a questionnaire interview, chest X-ray and three sputum smear tests. The effectiveness was examined by comparing the prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis in household contacts with or without presenting clinical symptoms against the respective notification rates. Regression models were used to evaluate the factors associated with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Results

Of the 3,355 household contacts, 92 members (2.7%) had pulmonary tuberculosis, among which 46 cases were asymptomatic. The prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis and smear positive cases in household contacts without symptoms were 20 and 7 times higher than the notification rates in 2008, while those in household contacts with symptoms were 247 and 108 times higher than notification rates, respectively. The patients detected were mainly Index Cases’ spouses, sisters/brothers and those who were in contact with female Index Cases.

Conclusions

The present study provides convincing evidence that household contacts of notified tuberculosis cases are at higher risk of developing tuberculosis. Routine screening for household contacts without any symptoms is recommended for sustained tuberculosis control in China as well as in the world.
Antioxidant activities of ethanol extracts and fractions of Crescentia cujete leaves and stem bark and the involvement of phenolic compounds
Authors: Das Nandita , Islam Md Ekramul , Jahan Nusrat , Islam Mohammad Saiful , Khan Alam , Islam Md Rafikul , Parvin Mst Shahnaj
Published: February 2014

Background

Antioxidant compounds like phenols and flavonoids scavenge free radicals and thus inhibit the oxidative mechanisms that lead to control degenerative and other diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant activity in vitro, total phenolic and flavonoid contents in ethanol extracts and fractions of Crescentia cujete leaves and stem bark.

Methods

Crescentia cujete leaves and bark crude ethanol extract (CEE) and their partitionates petroleum ether (PEF), chloroform (CHF), ethyl acetate (EAF) and aqueous (AQF) were firstly prepared. Different established testing methods, such as 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical, ferric reducing power (FRP), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) assays were used to detect the antioxidant activity. Further, the total yield, total phenolic (TPC) and total flavonoid contents (TFC) of CEE and all the fractions were determined. Ethanol extracts of both leaves and stem bark were also subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening to detect the presence of secondary metabolites, using standard phytochemical methods (Thin layer chromatography and spray reagents).

Results

Phytochemical screening of crude ethanol extract of both leaves and stem bark revealed the presence of steroids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, glycosides and terpenoids. All the fractions and CEE of leaves and bark exhibited antioxidant activities, however, EAF of leaves showing the highest antioxidant activity based on the results of DPPH, FRP and TAC assay tests. The above fraction has shown the significant DPPH scavenging activity (IC50 = 8.78 μg/ml) when compared with standard ascorbic acid (IC50 =7.68 μg/ml). The TAC and FRP activities increased with increasing crude extract/fractions content. The TPC (371.23 ± 15.77 mg GAE/g extract) and TFC (144.64 ± 5.82 mg QE/g extract) of EAF of leaves were found significantly higher as compared to other solvent fractions for both leaves and bark. TPC were highly correlated with the antioxidant activity (R2 = 0.9268 and 0.8515 in DPPH test for leaves and bark, respectively).

Conclusion

The results of the study show that leaves of C. cujete possesses significant free radical scavenging properties compared with stem bark and a clear correlation exists between the antioxidant activity and phenolic content.
Sensitization of U937 leukemia cells to doxorubicin by the MG132 proteasome inhibitor induces an increase in apoptosis by suppressing NF-kappa B and mitochondrial membrane potential loss
Authors: Ortiz-Lazareno Pablo César , Bravo-Cuellar Alejandro , Lerma-Díaz José Manuel , Jave-Suárez Luis Felipe , Aguilar-Lemarroy Adriana , Domínguez-Rodríguez Jorge Ramiro , González-Ramella Oscar , De Célis Ruth , Gómez-Lomelí Paulina , Hernández-Flores Georgina
Published: February 2014

Background

The resistance of cancerous cells to chemotherapy remains the main limitation for cancer treatment at present. Doxorubicin (DOX) is a potent antitumor drug that activates the ubiquitin-proteasome system, but unfortunately it also activates the Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-кB) pathway leading to the promotion of tumor cell survival. MG132 is a drug that inhibits I kappa B degradation by the proteasome-avoiding activation of NF-кB. In this work, we studied the sensitizing effect of the MG132 proteasome inhibitor on the antitumor activity of DOX.

Methods

U937 human leukemia cells were treated with MG132, DOX, or both drugs. We evaluated proliferation, viability, apoptosis, caspase-3, -8, and −9 activity and cleavage, cytochrome c release, mitochondrial membrane potential, the Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL antiapoptotic proteins, senescence, p65 phosphorylation, and pro- and antiapoptotic genes.

Results

The greatest apoptosis percentage in U937 cells was obtained with a combination of MG132 + DOX. Likewise, employing both drugs, we observed a decrease in tumor cell proliferation and important caspase-3 activation, as well as mitochondrial membrane potential loss. Therefore, MG132 decreases senescence, p65 phosphorylation, and the DOX-induced Bcl-2 antiapoptotic protein. The MG132 + DOX treatment induced upregulation of proapoptotic genes BAX, DIABLO, NOXA, DR4, and FAS. It also induced downregulation of the antiapoptotic genes BCL-XL and SURVIVIN.

Conclusion

MG132 sensitizes U937 leukemia cells to DOX-induced apoptosis, increasing its anti-leukemic effectiveness.
Dovitinib synergizes with oxaliplatin in suppressing cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells regardless of RAS-RAF mutation status
Authors: Gaur Shikha , Chen Linling , Ann Vincent , Lin Wei-Chen , Wang Yafan , Chang Vincent HS , Hsu Nan Yong , Shia Her-Shuyong , Yen Yun
Published: February 2014

Background

Cancer is the result of a multistep process of genomic alterations, including mutations in key regulatory proteins that result in loss of balanced gene expression and subsequent malignant transformation. Throughout the various stages of colorectal carcinoma (CRC), complex genetic alterations occur, of which over-expression of growth factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor, fibroblast growth factor and platelet-derive growth factor and their corresponding receptor tyrosine kinases, have been shown to correlate with invasiveness, tumor angiogenesis, metastasis, recurrence, and poor prognosis of colorectal cancer. To evaluate the therapeutic effect, we combined Dovitinib, an orally bioavailable, potent inhibitor of class III-V receptor tyrosine kinases with chemotherapeutic drug, oxaliplatin in preclinical models of colon cancer.

Methods

Human colon cancer cells with different RAS-RAF mutation status (HCT-116, HT-29, SW-480, CaCO2 and LS174T) were treated with a combination of Dovitinib and Oxaliplatin at low dosage followed by assays to investigate the effect of the combination on cell proliferation, cell migration, cell apoptosis and signaling pathways involved in molecular mechanism of drug(s). The antitumor effects of either of the drugs were compared to the combination using human colon carcinoma cell line HT-29 xenograft model. Treated vs untreated tumor sections were also compared for proliferation and angiogenesis markers by immunohistochemistry.

Results

The combination of dovitinib and oxaliplatin showed higherin vitrocytotoxicity in colon cell lines irrespective of their RAS-RAF status as compared to either of the drugs alone. Simultaneous inhibition of MAP kinase and AKT pathways and induction of apoptosis via activation of caspases 9/caspases 3 contributed to the synergistic effect of this combination therapy. In the xenograft model, the combination showed a significantly higher antitumor activity. Immunohistochemistry of post treatment tumors showed a significant decrease in proliferation and angiogenesis as compared to either of the treatments alone.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates the synergistic antitumor activity of combination of dovitinib and oxaliplatin against colon cancer with different RAS-RAF status. The combination also showed its antitumor efficacy in a multidrug resistant phenotype xenograft model. This provides a basis for further investigation for its potential in clinical setting for colorectal cancer.
Highly selective colorimetric detection and preconcentration of Bi(III) ions by dithizone complexes anchored onto mesoporous TiO2
Authors: Faisal Mohd , Ismail Adel A , Harraz Farid A , Bouzid Houcine , Al-Sayari Saleh A , Al-Hajry Ali
Published: February 2014

We successfully developed a single-step detection and removal unit for Bi(III) ions based on dithizone (DZ) anchored on mesoporous TiO2 with rapid colorometric response and high selectivity for the first time. [(DZ)3-Bi] complex is easily separated and collected by mesoporous TiO2 as adsorbent and preconcentrator without any color change of the produced complex onto the surface of mesoporous TiO2 (TiO2-[(DZ)3-Bi]) at different Bi(III) concentrations. This is because highly potent mesoporous TiO2 architecture provides proficient channeling or movement of Bi(III) ions for efficient binding of metal ion, and the simultaneous excellent adsorbing nature of mesoporous TiO2 provides an extra plane for the removal of metal ions.
Boundary value problems for fractional q-difference equations with nonlocal conditions
Authors: Li Xinhui , Han Zhenlai , Sun Shurong , Lu Hongling
Published: February 2014

In this paper, we study the boundary value problem of a fractional q-difference equation with nonlocal conditions involving the fractional q-derivative of the Caputo type, and the nonlinear term contains a fractional q-derivative of Caputo type. By means of Bananch’s contraction mapping principle and Schaefer’s fixed-point theorem, some existence results for the solutions are obtained. Finally, examples are presented to illustrate our main results.

MSC:39A13, 34B18, 34A08.