bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hypoxia-mediated carbohydrate metabolism and transport promote early-stage murine follicle growth and survival
Authors: Makanji Yogeshwar , Tagler David , Pahnke Jennifer , Shea Lonnie D. , Woodruff Teresa K.
Published: February 2014

Oxygen tension is critical for follicle growth and metabolism, especially for early-stage follicles, where vascularity is limited. Its role and underlying mechanism in the in vitro activation and maturation of immature to ovulatory follicles is largely unknown. In this study, early secondary (110 μm) murine follicles were isolated and encapsulated in alginate hydrogels to replicate the in vivo environment of the growing/maturing follicle. Encapsulated follicles were cultured for 8 days at either 2.5 or 20% O2. Survival (2.6-fold) and growth (1.2-fold) were significantly higher for follicles cultured at 2.5% compared with 20% O2. Using a mouse hypoxia-signaling pathway qRT-PCR array and GeneGo Metacore analysis, we found that direct target genes of the hypoxia-activated HIF1-complex were significantly upregulated in follicles cultured for 8 days at 2.5% compared with 20% O2, including the carbohydrate transport and metabolism genes Slc2a3, Vegfa, Slc2a1, Edn1, Pgk1, Ldha, and Hmox1. Other upregulated genes included carbohydrate transporters ( Slc2a1, Slc2a3, and Slc16a3) and enzymes essential for glycolysis ( Pgk1, Hmox1, Hk2, Gpi1, Pfkl, Pfkp, Aldoa, Gapdh, Pgam1, Eno1, Pkm2, and Ldha). For follicles cultured at 2.5% O2, a 7.2-fold upregulation of Vegfa correlated to an 18-fold increase in VEGFA levels, and a 3.2-fold upregulation of Ldha correlated to a 4.8-fold increase in lactate levels. Both VEGFA and lactate levels were significantly higher in follicles cultured at 2.5% compared with 20% O2. Therefore, enhanced hypoxia-mediated glycolysis is essential for growth and survival of early secondary follicles and provides vital insights into improving in vitro culture conditions.
Free Vibration Analysis of DWCNTs Using CDM and Rayleigh-Schmidt Based on Nonlocal Euler-Bernoulli Beam Theory
Authors: De Rosa Maria Anna , Lippiello Maria
Published: February 2014

The free vibration response of double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) is investigated. The DWCNTs are modelled as two beams, interacting between them through the van der Waals forces, and the nonlocal Euler-Bernoulli beam theory is used. The governing equations of motion are derived using a variational approach and the free frequencies of vibrations are obtained employing two different approaches. In the first method, the two double-walled carbon nanotubes are discretized by means of the so-called “cell discretization method” (CDM) in which each nanotube is reduced to a set of rigid bars linked together by elastic cells. The resulting discrete system takes into account nonlocal effects, constraint elasticities, and the van der Waals forces. The second proposed approach, belonging to the semianalytical methods, is an optimized version of the classical Rayleigh quotient, as proposed originally by Schmidt. The resulting conditions are solved numerically. Numerical examples end the paper, in which the two approaches give lower-upper bounds to the true values, and some comparisons with existing results are offered. Comparisons of the present numerical results with those from the open literature show an excellent agreement.
In Vitro Flower Induction from Shoots Regenerated from Cultured Axillary Buds of Endangered Medicinal Herb Swertia chirayita H. Karst.
Authors: Sharma Vikas , Kamal Barkha , Srivastava Nidhi , Dobriyal Anoop Kumar , Jadon Vikash Singh
Published: February 2014

In vitro flowering and effective micropropagation protocol were studied in Swertia chirayita, an important medicinal plant using axillary bud explants. The Murashige and Skoog's medium (MS) supplemented with benzyl amino purine (BAP) 1.0 mg L-1 and adenine sulfate 70.0 mg L-1 was found optimum for production of multiple shoots. In the present study, incubation of flowering cultures on BAP supplemented medium (during shoot multiplication) was found necessary for flowering (6 weeks). However, concentrations of auxins-like IBA (0–2.0 mg/L) were ineffective to form reproductive buds. Subculture duration, photoperiod, and carbon source type do have influence on the in vitro flowering. The mature purple flowers were observed when the cultures were maintained in the same medium. This is the very first report that describes in vitro flowering system to overcome problems associated with flower growth and development as well as lay foundation for fruit and seed production in vitro in Swertia chirayita.
A Low-Noise Delta-Sigma Phase Modulator for Polar Transmitters
Authors: Zhou Bo
Published: February 2014

A low-noise phase modulator, using finite-impulse-response (FIR) filtering embedded delta-sigma (ΔΣ) fractional-N phase-locked loop (PLL), is fabricated in 0.18 μm CMOS for GSM/EDGE polar transmitters. A simplified digital compensation filter with inverse-FIR and -PLL features is proposed to trade off the transmitter noise and linearity. Experimental results show that the presented architecture performs RF phase modulation well with 20 mW power dissipation from 1.6 V supply and achieves the root-mean-square (rms) and peak phase errors of 4° and 8.5°, respectively. The measured and simulated phase noises of −104 dBc/Hz and −120 dBc/Hz at 400-kHz offset from 1.8-GHz carrier frequency are observed, respectively.
Iodine Intake Increases IP-10 Expression in the Serum and Thyroids of Rats with Experimental Autoimmune Thyroiditis
Authors: Cui Si-lu , Yu Jun , Shoujun Liu
Published: February 2014

Here, we sought to establish an experimental autoimmune thyroiditis rat model induced by bovine thyroglobulin (bTg) injection and to investigate pathological changes and variations in serum interferon-γ-inducible protein of 10 kDa (IP-10) in thyroid tissue following iodine treatment. Four-week-old female Lewis rats(n=135)were randomly divided into normal (NC), thyroglobulin (TG), HI, HI+TG, HII, and HII+TG groups; rats in the NC and TG groups drank only distilled water (iodine concentration: 10 μg/L), rats in the HI and HI+TG groups were given water containing 25.7 mg/L iodine, and rats in the HII and HII+TG groups were given water containing 423.3 mg/L iodine. Rats in the TG, HI+TG, and HII+TG groups were immunized with 0.1 mL bTg (8 mg/mL) in incomplete Freund’s adjuvant once every 2 weeks for 6 weeks. Compared with the NC group, the TG, HI+TG, and HII+TG groups exhibited higher iodine intake and increased thyroid weights with increasing iodine doses(P<0.05). The high iodine intake in the TG group was associated with increased CD4+T cells and serum IP-10. Thus, high iodine consumption aggravated the inflammatory reaction in the thyroid and mild high iodine consumption increased serum IP-10 levels after induction with bTg.
Mini-Laparoscopy Is Superior in Detecting Liver Cirrhosis and Metastases in Liver Cancer: An Over 10-Year Experience in 1,788 Cases
Authors: Hilgard Philip , Dechene Alexander , Canbay Ali , Herzer Kerstin , Schlaak Jörg F. , Treichel Ulrich , Gassel Andrea M. , Baba Hideo , Zoepf Thomas
Published: February 2014

Background/Aims: Mini-laparoscopy has, since its first description in 1998, proven to be a valuable diagnostic method in liver diseases. We re-evaluated the significance of mini-laparoscopy for diagnosis and staging of liver disease and primary liver and bile duct cancer. Patients and Methods: 1,788 consecutive patients who received a diagnostic mini-laparoscopy between 10/1998 and 06/2011 were included in this retrospective cohort study. Results: In chronic liver disease, cirrhosis was detected by mini-laparoscopy in 27% of cases. A comparison of microscopic versus macroscopic diagnosis of cirrhosis revealed a sampling error for histology alone of 21%. Macroscopic inspection of the liver surface contributed to the diagnosis of unknown liver diseases in approximately 38%. In patients with bile duct or liver cancer, mini-laparoscopy led to upstaging of the disease in 33 and 23%, respectively. Major complications (bowel perforation and delayed bleeding) occurred in 0.39% of cases. Conclusions: Mini-laparoscopy is a valuable procedure with significant diagnostic impact in known and unknown inflammatory and malignant liver diseases. It can be safely performed even in patients with acute liver failure and severe coagulopathy and the diagnostic value does not differ from diagnostic laparoscopy performed with standard instruments.
Cutaneous Actinomycosis Associated with Anti-TNF-Alpha Therapy: Report of Two Cases
Authors: Breton A.L. , Lamblin G. , Pariset C. , Jullien D.
Published: February 2014

Increased susceptibility to infections is among the main safety concerns raised by anti-TNF-α agents. We describe two cases of cutaneous actinomycosis in patients undergoing anti-TNF-α therapy: a 49-year-old female treated with etanercept for rheumatoid arthritis and a 57-year-old female treated with infliximab for psoriasis. Both patients had discharge with the intermittent presence of sulfur granules occurring at the site of previous surgical wounds. Bacteriological culture demonstrated Actinomyces. Since in both cases laboratory findings and medical imaging ruled out visceral actinomycosis, oral antibiotics were introduced without discontinuing anti-TNF-α. The first patient did not relapse after 2 years. The second one did and received a second course of antibiotics combined with transient interruption of the anti-TNF-α therapy. The risk of developing actinomycosis is reported to be similar in immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients, however cases of cutaneous actinomycosis occurring during anti-TNF-α therapy need to be recognized and may be under-reported.
Adhesion Molecules Involved in Neutrophil Recruitment during Sepsis-Induced Acute Kidney Injury
Authors: Herter Jan M. , Rossaint Jan , Spieker Tilmann , Zarbock Alexander
Published: February 2014

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in critically ill patients and is associated with high mortality. Recruitment of neutrophils is a hallmark in the pathogenesis of AKI. Although ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a frequently used research model of AKI, the clinical relevance of IRI-induced AKI is limited. Epidemiologically, sepsis is the prevailing cause of kidney injury. However, it is still unknown whether these distinct entities of AKI share the same pathophysiological mechanisms. This study was initiated to investigate the molecular mechanisms of neutrophil recruitment into the kidney in a murine model of sepsis-induced AKI. By using a flow cytometry-based method, we show that the two β2-integrins Mac-1 and LFA-1 as well as E-selectin and P-selectin are involved in neutrophil recruitment into the kidney after induction of sepsis. The molecular mechanisms of neutrophil recruitment were further investigated using intravital microscopy, demonstrating that blocking one of these four molecules reduces the number of adherent leukocytes. This was accompanied by a renal upregulation of E-selectin, P-selectin and ICAM-1 (the counter-receptor of β2-integrins on endothelial cells) after sepsis induction. We conclude that blocking P-selectin, E-selectin, Mac-1 or LFA-1 protects mice from sepsis-induced AKI.
Removal Characteristics and Total Dialysate Content of Glutamine and Other Amino Acids in Critically Ill Patients with Acute Kidney Injury Undergoing Extended Dialysis
Authors: Schmidt Julius J. , Hafer Carsten , Spielmann Julia , Hadem Johannes , Schönenberger Eva , Schmidt Bernhard M.W. , Kielstein Jan T.
Published: February 2014

Background: Acute kidney injury in critically ill patients is associated with the activation of protein catabolism and a negative nitrogen balance. Renal replacement therapy (RRT) aggravates this problem by eliminating a substantial amount of amino acids. However, there is scarce data on the removal characteristics of modern dialysis membranes in extended dialysis. Methods: This is a prospective study in 10 extended dialysis sessions using a 1.8-m2 polysulfone membrane (EMiC2 dialyzer or AV 1000S; FMC, Germany). Blood samples for 19 amino acids were drawn before, during, and after 10 h of extended dialysis (blood/dialysate flow 150 ml/min). In addition, samples for the calculation of dialyzer clearance and samples from the total spent dialysate were measured using a Biochrom 30 amino acid analyzer. Results: Despite no significant difference in pre- and postdialysis plasma amino acid levels, we found an impressive amount of amino acids in collected spent dialysate, i.e. 10.5 g/10 h of treatment. The dialyzer clearance ranged from 67.6 ml/min for phenylalanine to 140.0 ml/min for valine. The total eliminated masses of the measured amino acids had equal values for both membranes. There was a significant difference between the dialyzer clearance of the investigated membranes for glutamine (AV 1000S: 83.3 ml/min vs. EMiC2: 92.0 ml/min, p = 0.02) and serine (88.8 ml/min vs. 91.8 ml/min, p = 0.005). Discussion: Our data indicate that the modern forms of RRT eliminate amino acids to an extent that has not been met by our nutritional support standards. Especially the removal of glutamine, important for immune function and cell regeneration, might have detrimental effects on the recovery of critically ill patients.
Is Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Less Frequent among Women with Prader-Willi Syndrome?
Authors: Bedogni Giorgio , Grugni Graziano , Nobili Valerio , Agosti Fiorenza , Saezza Antonella , Sartorio Alessandro
Published: February 2014

Objective: Patients with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) have been hypothesized to be at lower risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) because of higher insulin sensitivity. However, PWS patients have a peculiar body composition, i.e. higher fat mass and lower fat-free mass, which may confound such associations. We evaluated whether NAFLD is less frequent in PWS than in non-PWS women matched on percent body fat (PBF). Methods: PBF was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Liver fat was assessed by ultrasonography. Insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function were evaluated by oral glucose tolerance testing. Coarsened exact matching (CEM) was used to match PWS and non-PWS women on PBF. General and generalized linear models taking CEM into account were used to perform comparisons between PWS and non-PWS women. Results: 20 women with PWS were matched to 27 women without PWS on the basis of PBF (mean 53 vs. 54%, p = 0.6). Insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function were similar in the two groups. However, the prevalence of NAFLD was 25% in PWS versus 59% in non-PWS women (p = 0.04). Conclusion: NAFLD is less frequent in PWS than in non-PWS women but this finding is not associated with higher insulin sensitivity.
Novel Methodology to Evaluate Renal Cysts in Polycystic Kidney Disease
Authors: Bae Kyongtae T. , Sun Hongliang , Lee June Goo , Bae Kyungsoo , Wang Jinhong , Tao Cheng , Chapman Arlene B. , Torres Vicente E. , Grantham Jared J. , Mrug Michal , Bennett William M. , Flessner Michael F. , Landsittel Doug P. ,   for the Consortium for Radiologic Imaging Studies of Polycystic Kidney Disease
Published: February 2014

Aim: To develop and assess a semiautomated method for segmenting and counting individual renal cysts from mid-slice MR images in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Methods: A semiautomated method was developed to segment and count individual renal cysts from mid-slice MR images in 241 subjects with ADPKD from the Consortium for Radiologic Imaging Studies of Polycystic Kidney Disease. For each subject, a mid-slice MR image was selected from each set of coronal T2-weighted MR images covering the entire kidney. The selected mid-slice image was processed with the semiautomated method to segment and count individual renal cysts. The number of cysts from the mid-slice image of each kidney was also measured by manual counting. The level of agreement between the semiautomated and manual cyst counts was compared using intraclass correlation (ICC) and a Bland-Altman plot. Results: Individual renal cysts were successfully segmented using the semiautomated method in all 241 cases. The number of cysts in each kidney measured with the semiautomated and manual counting methods correlated well (ICC = 0.96 for the right or left kidney), with a small average difference (-0.52, with higher semiautomated counts, for the right kidney, and 0.13, with higher manual counts, for the left kidney) in the semiautomated method. However, there was substantial variation in a small number of subjects; 6 of 241 participants (2.5%) had a difference in the total cyst count of more than 15. Conclusion: We have developed a semiautomated method to segment individual renal cysts from mid-slice MR images in ADPKD kidneys as a quantitative indicator of characterization and disease progression of ADPKD.
Depression as a Risk Factor for Poor Prognosis Among Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome: Systematic Review and Recommendations
Authors: Lichtman Judith H. , Froelicher Erika S. , Blumenthal James A. , Carney Robert M. , Doering Lynn V. , Frasure-Smith Nancy , Freedland Kenneth E. , Jaffe Allan S. , Leifheit-Limson Erica C. , Sheps David S. , Vaccarino Viola , Wulsin Lawson
Published: February 2014

Background—

Although prospective studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses have documented an association between depression and increased morbidity and mortality in a variety of cardiac populations, depression has not yet achieved formal recognition as a risk factor for poor prognosis in patients with acute coronary syndrome by the American Heart Association and other health organizations. The purpose of this scientific statement is to review available evidence and recommend whether depression should be elevated to the status of a risk factor for patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Methods and Results—

Writing group members were approved by the American Heart Association’s Scientific Statement and Manuscript Oversight Committees. A systematic literature review on depression and adverse medical outcomes after acute coronary syndrome was conducted that included all-cause mortality, cardiac mortality, and composite outcomes for mortality and nonfatal events. The review assessed the strength, consistency, independence, and generalizability of the published studies. A total of 53 individual studies (32 reported on associations with all-cause mortality, 12 on cardiac mortality, and 22 on composite outcomes) and 4 meta-analyses met inclusion criteria. There was heterogeneity across studies in terms of the demographic composition of study samples, definition and measurement of depression, length of follow-up, and covariates included in the multivariable models. Despite limitations in some individual studies, our review identified generally consistent associations between depression and adverse outcomes.

Conclusions—

Despite the heterogeneity of published studies included in this review, the preponderance of evidence supports the recommendation that the American Heart Association should elevate depression to the status of a risk factor for adverse medical outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome.
Muʿtazilī Theology in Levi ben Yefet’s Kitāb al-Niʿma
Authors: Madelung Wilferd
Published: February 2014

‭The Kitāb al-Niʿma of Levi ben Yefet (late 10th to early 11th c.) is the earliest known Karaite compendium of Muʿtazilī thought. It was written at the request of his father Yefet ben Eli as a defense of Judaism on the basis of Muʿtazilī rational theology. Yefet ben Eli, a prominent Karaite legal scholar, disapproved of Muʿtazilī theology and in his Commentary on Daniel polemically denounced Islam in general and the Fāṭimid caliphate in particular. In adopting Muʿtazilī rational theology, Levi ben Yefet implicitly recognized Muḥammad as a friend of God endowed with prophethood, in rank below Moses, the prophet of Israel. He also adopted the Shīʿī concept of hereditary imāma, applying it to the Jewish belief in the hereditary kingship among the descendants of David. His views were in concord with the majority of Jews under Fāṭimid rule who strongly supported the Fāṭimid regime against Sunnī polemic and military attack. Levi ben Yefet’s Muslim teacher may have been the Imāmī Shīʿī scholar Abū l-Fatḥ al-Karājikī (d. 449/1067).‬
Short Communication: A Newly Discovered Fragment of al-Sharīf al-Murtaḍā’s K. al-Mulakhkhaṣ fī uṣūl al-dīn in Hebrew Script
Authors: Schwarb Gregor
Published: February 2014

‭A newly discovered fragment of al-Sharīf al-Murtaḍā’s K. al-Mulakhkhaṣ in Hebrew script further substantiates that the works of this pre-eminent Imāmī scholar were of paramount importance to the circle of scholars associated with the Qaraite Dār al-ʿilm in 11th century Jerusalem.‬
The Muʿtazila in al-Andalus: The Footprints of a Phantom
Authors: Stroumsa Sarah
Published: February 2014

‭This paper briefly reviews the evidence regarding Muʿtazilite presence in al-Andalus, and the evolvement of contemporary scholarship on this topic. It argues that the actual penetration of the Muʿtazila to al-Andalus was very limited, and that at no point did it amount to a significant presence among Muslims in al-Andalus. It also argues that a broader view of Andalusī intellectual history, a view which takes into account the Andalusī Jewish minority in general and the Karaites in particular, may explain the continuous significance of the Muʿtazila in the intellectual life of al-Andalus.‬
The Jewish and Muslim Reception of ʿAbd al-Jabbār’s Kitāb al-Jumal wa-l-ʿuqūd: A Survey of Relevant Sources
Authors: Thiele Jan
Published: February 2014

‭The Muʿtazila was not an exclusively Muslim phenomenon, since their teachings were also adopted by medieval Jewish savants. In recent years, a number of Muʿtazilī works were rediscovered or substantially completed by adopting a comparative methodology, which was based on both Muslim and Jewish sources. This article deals with a lost work composed by qāḍī ʿAbd al-Jabbār, entitled al-Jumal wa-l-ʿuqūd. I will give an overview of the sources in Zaydī and Karaite collections that provide us with a more detailed picture of the dissemination of the text. On the basis of quotations by later theologians, I will propose a hypothesis on the content of al-Jumal wa-l-ʿuqūd. I will then discuss a possible relationship between ʿAbd al-Jabbār’s text and a manuscript from the Firkovitch collection in the National Library of Russia, which has recently been identified as a work entitled Taʿlīq al-Jumal wa-l-ʿuqūd.‬
Ibn Kammūna’s and Ibn al-ʿIbrī’s Responses to Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī’s Proofs of Muḥammad’s Prophethood
Authors: Roggema Barbara
Published: February 2014

‭Two non-Muslim intellectuals who were active in Iraq in the seventh/thirteenth century, the Syrian-Orthodox Christian Abū l-Faraj ibn al-ʿIbrī, better known as Barhebraeus (d. 685/1286) and the Jewish philosopher Saʿd ibn Manṣūr ibn Kammūna (d. 683/1284), were almost exact contemporaries. They enjoyed the heyday of their careers in the period following the Mongol conquest when the Mongols had not yet converted to Islam. This article explores some of the similarities in scholarly interests and activities of the two thinkers and takes into account the possibility that they knew each other’s work. Both scholars wrote apologetic works partly devoted to disproving the Muslim claim that Islam superseded all earlier religions. In their responses to the Islamic proofs of Muhammad’s prophethood, they focused on the work of Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī, in particular, and there are clear similarities in the argumentation of the two thinkers against al-Rāzī’s arguments, which are pointed out in this article, leading to the question of a possible dependency of the one work on the other.‬
Christian Engagement with Islamic kalām in Late 14th-Century Egypt: The Case of al-Ḥāwī by al-Makīn Jirjis Ibn al-ʿAmīd ‘the Younger’
Authors: Swanson Mark N.
Published: February 2014

‭Towards the end of the 14th century ce, a Coptic government-bureaucrat-turned-monk called al-Makīn Jirjis ibn al-ʿAmīd produced a theological/ecclesiastical encyclopedia known sometimes as Mukhtaṣar al-bayān fī taḥqīq al-īmān, and sometimes as al-Ḥāwī al-mustafād min badīhat al-ijtihād, or simply as al-Ḥāwī. Book I, Chapter 1, Part 3 of this work is an essay on al-qaḍāʾ wa-l-qadar, which is described in the present essay. In making his case for humanity’s capacity for freely willed action, Ibn al-ʿAmīd presents arguments from the Old Testament and the New; a story from the Kitāb al-Siyāsa fī tadbīr al-riʾāsa (better known as Sirr al-asrār or Secretum secretorum), purportedly a book written by Aristotle for Alexander the Great (which is interesting as a witness to the use of Alexander-material by the Copts); and a typology in which the Muslim mutakallimūn Abū Isḥāq al-Isfarāʾīnī, al-Bāqillānī, al-Ashʿarī, Abū l-Ḥusayn al-Baṣrī, and the Muʿtazila in general serve as convenient labels for the positions described—and which turns out to be an epitome of a passage from masʾala 22 of Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī’s Kitāb al-Arbaʿīn. While the reproduction of al-Rāzī’s typology hardly amounts to a serious engagement with him or with the list of thinkers just mentioned, it is perhaps not insignificant that, in a time of sharp inter-communal tensions, Ibn al-ʿAmīd should claim the Muʿtazila as allies in his discourse on human freedom.‬
Six new species of the spider family Ochyroceratidae Fage 1912 (Arachnida: Araneae) from Southeast Asia
Authors: LI FENGYUAN , LI Shuqiang , JÄGER PETER
Published: February 2014

Five new Althepus species and one new Psiloderces species of the family Ochyroceratidae are described from Southeast Asia: Althepus erectus spec. nov. (male) and A. nophaseudi spec. nov. (male, female) from Laos, A. flabellaris spec. nov. (male, female) from Thailand, A. reduncus spec. nov. (male) from Myanmar, A. spiralis spec. nov. (male) from Malaysia, and Psiloderces dicellocerus spec. nov. (male) from Indonesia. Primary types are deposited in the Senckenberg Research Institute in Frankfurt, Germany (SMF).
New taxa of the family Syringophilidae (Acari: Prostigmata) from African barbets and woodpeckers (Piciformes: Lybiidae, Picidae)
Authors: SKORACK MACIEJ , KLIMOVIČOVÁ MIROSLAVA , MUCHAI MUCHANE , HROMADA MARTIN
Published: February 2014

New taxa of quill mites (Acari: Syringophilidae) are described from African barbets and woodpeckers in the Ethiopian region. A new monotypic genus Picineoaulonastus gen. nov. is established for a new species Picineoaulonastus pogoniulus sp. nov., parasitising 2 lybiid species, Pogoniulus bilineatus (Sundevall) (type host) in Kenya and Tanzania and P. pusillus (Dumont) (Piciformes: Lybiidae) in Ethiopia. Additionally, 2 more new syringophilid species are described: Neosyringophilopsis lybidus sp. nov. from P. bilineatus in Kenya, and Syringophiloidus picidus sp. nov. from Dendropicos fuscescens (Vieillot) (Piciformes: Picidae) in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Describing the Shape of Raindrop Size Distributions Using Uncorrelated Raindrop Mass Spectrum Parameters
Authors: Williams Christopher R. , Bringi V. N. , Carey Lawrence D. , Chandrasekar V. , Gatlin Patrick N. , Haddad Ziad S. , Meneghini Robert , Joseph Munchak S. , Nesbitt Stephen W. , Petersen Walter A. , Tanelli Simone , Tokay Ali , Wilson Anna , Wolff David B.
Published: February 2014

Rainfall retrieval algorithms often assume a gamma-shaped raindrop size distribution (DSD) with three mathematical parameters Nw, Dm, and μ. If only two independent measurements are available, as with the dual-frequency precipitation radar on the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission core satellite, then retrieval algorithms are underconstrained and require assumptions about DSD parameters. To reduce the number of free parameters, algorithms can assume that μ is either a constant or a function of Dm. Previous studies have suggested μ–Λ constraints [where Λ = (4 + μ)/Dm], but controversies exist over whether μ–Λ constraints result from physical processes or mathematical artifacts due to high correlations between gamma DSD parameters. This study avoids mathematical artifacts by developing joint probability distribution functions (joint PDFs) of statistically independent DSD attributes derived from the raindrop mass spectrum. These joint PDFs are then mapped into gamma-shaped DSD parameter joint PDFs that can be used in probabilistic rainfall retrieval algorithms as proposed for the GPM satellite program. Surface disdrometer data show a high correlation coefficient between the mass spectrum mean diameter Dm and mass spectrum standard deviation σm. To remove correlations between DSD attributes, a normalized mass spectrum standard deviation is constructed to be statistically independent of Dm, with representing the most likely value and std representing its dispersion. Joint PDFs of Dm and μ are created from Dm and . A simple algorithm shows that rain-rate estimates had smaller biases when assuming the DSD breadth of than when assuming a constant μ.
The cultural brokerage work of occupational therapists in providing culturally sensitive care
Authors: Lindsay Sally , Tétrault Sylvie , Desmaris Chantal , King Gillian A. , Piérart Gènevive
Published: February 2014

Background.

The important place of culture within occupational therapy is widely recognized, and there is increasing emphasis on addressing the diversity of clients.

Purpose.

This study explores how occupational therapists perform cultural brokerage when providing culturally sensitive care to immigrant families.

Method.

A descriptive qualitative methodology was used for this study. A purposive sample of 17 occupational therapists from two Canadian paediatric rehabilitation centres were interviewed.

Findings.

Participants encountered several cultural and structural constraints in providing culturally sensitive care. To overcome these constraints, clinicians used four strategies: (a) translating between health systems for clients, (b) bridging different meanings of occupational therapy to make it relevant for clients, (c) establishing long-term relationships by building trust and rapport, and (d) working with clients’ relational networks to help them navigate the health system.

Implications.

Occupational therapists should advocate for both the individual needs of immigrant families and for institutional level resources to better meet the needs of diverse clients.
Mapping the Terrain
Authors: LaFrance Jason A. , Beck Dennis
Published: February 2014

Opportunities for K-12 students to choose virtual and blended learning experiences continue to grow. All 50 states including Washington, D.C., now offer some virtual experience in K-12 education. Of these, 40 states have state virtual schools or state-led online learning initiatives. In addition, federal and state support for this type of learning continues to expand. Field experiences are beginning to be available for virtual school teachers; however, little information is available on field experiences for pre-service administrators in virtual K-12 settings. This study provides a status report on the state of school administrator preparation for K-12 online and blended learning programs in the United States. This research was conducted by surveying initial certification Educational Leadership programs regarding the extent that pre-service administrators are exposed to K-12 online learning environments. Results indicate that very few Educational Leadership programs provide any administrator preparation for leading a K-12 virtual school or teachers of online courses. Important ramifications exist for Educational Leadership programs preparing educators to lead fully online and blended learning programs.
Abdominal and scrotal wall emphysema in a patient with severe ulcerative colitis
Authors: Sharma Manik , Thandassery Ragesh Babu , Hilli Shatha Al , Kaabi Saad Al
Published: February 2014

Severe ulcerative colitis can be associated with bowel perforation. Bowel perforation rarely leads on to abdominal wall and scrotal wall emphysema. Bowel perforation in such cases can be spontaneous or iatrogenic (colonoscopy-related). We report a rare scenario where a patient presented with abdominal wall and scrotal emphysema after topical corticosteroid enema-induced traumatic rectal perforation. Topical corticosteroids were stopped immediately after identification of rectal perforation. The patient was managed conservatively with intravenous antibiotics. With this report we intend to sensitise clinicians and topical enema manufacturers regarding this rare complication.
Family Relations, Social Connections, and Mental Health Among Latino and Asian Older Adults
Authors: Guo Man , Li Shijian , Liu Jinyu , Sun Fei
Published: February 2014

Using a nationally representative sample, we compared Latino and Asian older adults in terms of lifetime and 12-month prevalence of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, anxiety and mood disorders. Given the strong family norms and collectivist cultures shared by the two groups, we also examined whether 12-month prevalence rates were associated with various family relation and social connection variables. The findings showed that older Latinos were almost twice as likely as older Asians to have any anxiety or mood disorders in their lifetime (34.5% vs. 17.7%) and in the past year (14.3% vs. 7.4%). Logistic regressions revealed different predictors of anxiety and mood disorders in the two groups: Family cultural conflict was associated with a higher prevalence of anxiety disorders, whereas family cohesion was associated with a lower prevalence of mood disorders. We argue that more research is needed on negative family interactions and their implications for the mental health of older ethnic minorities.
How is Sustainability Structured? The Discursive Life of Environmentalism
Authors: Humphreys Ashlee
Published: February 2014

Promoting products and companies as both socially and environmentally sustainable is a core component in many contemporary marketing strategies and increasingly the concern of many consumers. While the effects of corporate social responsibility on consumer perception and firm performance have been widely investigated, research has yet to explore how and why these expectations themselves change over time. In this study, I use institutional theory and the theory of structuration from sociology to evaluate the shift in norms regarding environmental responsibility in the United States over a thirty-year period. A qualitative and quantitative content analysis of newspaper articles shows that environmental discourse has shifted from an emphasis on protection of the environment against toxic, modern encroachments, to a set of frames that emphasize the efficiency of technology and efficient use, if not improvement of, the environment. The stakeholders held responsible for protecting the environment have also changed from government actors to company and consumer stakeholders. These findings help to reveal the discursive underpinnings of CSR perceptions at a societal level and have implications for conceptualizing the legitimation of environmental corporate practice.
Ectopic expression of Sonic Hedgehog in a cryptorchid man with azoospermia: A case report
Authors: Zou Shasha , Wang Yanan , Chen Tingting , Song Pingping , Xin Daiying , Ping Ping , Huang Yiran , Li Zheng , Hu Hongliang
Published: February 2014

A 30-year-old man presented with a left undescended testis, right testicular deficiency and azoospermia. Testicular biopsy revealed an absence of spermatocytes and increased numbers of Leydig cells in the undescended testis. Additional comparative analyses were undertaken to explore Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) immunostaining in the testis of juvenile and adult mice, in the testis of the patient with cryptorchidism, and in archival testicular tissue from a patient with obstructive azoospermia and a patient with prostate cancer. Shh immunostaining was demonstrated in spermatocytes in juvenile and adult mouse testis and in the patients with obstructive azoospermia and prostate cancer, suggesting that Shh signalling is involved in normal spermatogenesis. In the patient with cryptorchidism, Shh immunostaining was localized to the Leydig cells, which suggests that Shh might be involved in the abnormal expansion of the Leydig cell population in the testis. These preliminary data on the appearance of Shh protein during normal spermatogenesis might provide the basis for further investigations to clarify the role of Shh signalling in spermatogenesis during normal and pathogenic testis development.
Cellular Sources of Tenascin-C in Canine Mammary Carcinomas
Authors: Yoshimura H. , Michishita M. , Ohkusu-Tsukada K. , Matsuda Y. , Ishiwata T. , Naito Z. , Takahashi K.
Published: February 2014

Tenascin-C (Tn-C) is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein implicated in the progression of several human cancers. In canine mammary carcinomas, accumulation of Tn-C has been recognized in 3 different areas: regions of proliferating myoepithelial cells in complex carcinoma, basement membrane zone in low-grade simple carcinoma, and reactive stroma in high-grade simple carcinoma. To identify the Tn-C synthesizing cells in these areas, we utilized double-labeling immunohistochemistry, branched DNA in situ hybridization, and in situ hybridization–immunohistochemistry double-labeling techniques. In complex carcinomas, Tn-C was generated by proliferating myoepithelial cells. Tn-C in low-grade simple carcinomas was also derived from myoepithelial cells existing as a basal monolayer. However, stromal Tn-C in high-grade carcinomas was mainly synthesized by fibroblasts/myofibroblasts, similar to human breast cancer. Thus, the origin of Tn-C in canine mammary carcinomas differs between low- and high-grade malignancies. The role of myoepithelial cell-generated Tn-C is not yet understood.
Unity in Diversity: The Literary Function of the Formula of Retaliation in Leviticus 24.15-22
Authors: Lee Bernon
Published: February 2014

This article offers two novel explanations for the staggered expression of the formula of retaliation (‘X for X’) in Lev. 24.15-22. First, ‘life for life’ in Lev. 24.18, in standing apart from other members of the formula in Lev. 24.20, points to Exod. 21.33–36 with reference to the conception of restitution as a bilateral exchange. This feature of Lev. 24.18 joins others in Lev. 24.15-22 in alluding to the laws of Exodus 21. Secondly, the removal of ‘life for life’ from the rest of the formula creates an aesthetic quality in the passage that promotes the perception of the principle of equitable restitution as foundational to the laws of Lev. 24.15-22. In a word, the design of the passage sustains connections within Lev. 24.15-22 and beyond to Exodus 21. Judicial equity emerges as the common ethos.
The Flying Scroll That Will Not Acquit the Guilty: Exodus 34.7 in Zechariah 5.3
Authors: Petterson Anthony R.
Published: February 2014

Many scholars have noted the way that elements of the character creed of Exod. 34.6-7 recur throughout the book of the Twelve. This article proposes that a passage that is overlooked in relation to this theme in the Twelve is Zech. 5.1-4. This association seems to go unnoticed because of the tendency to mistranslate niqqâ in Zech. 5.3. It should have its usual sense of ‘to be acquitted’ or ‘to go unpunished’, which is in keeping with its meaning elsewhere and in Exod. 34.7. The associations of the flying scroll and the ‘Law of Moses’ in the vision of Zech. 5.1-4 strengthen the case for seeing an allusion to the character creed of Exodus 34. This article shows how a connection back to the theophany of glory in Exodus suits the unfolding of Zechariah's night visions. With God's return to Jerusalem, and the removal of the guilt of the land (Zech. 3.9), this sixth vision declares that God will continue to act according to his name and glory and ‘will by no means acquit the guilty’.
Ophthalmoplegic migraine: From questions to answers
Authors: Ambrosetto Paolo , Nicolini Francesca , Zoli Matteo , Cirillo Luigi , Feraco Paola , Bacci Antonella
Published: February 2014

Introduction

The International Classification of Headache Disorders classifies ophthalmoplegic migraine (OM) under “cranial neuralgias and central causes of facial pain.” OM is diagnosed when all the following criteria are satisfied: At least two attacks fulfilling criterion B. Migraine-like headache accompanied or followed within four days of its onset by paresis of one or more of the III, IV and/or VI cranial nerves. Parasellar orbital fissure and posterior fossa lesions ruled out by appropriate investigations. In children the syndrome is rare and magnetic resonance (MR) shows strongly enhancing thickened nerve at the root entry zone (REZ).

Method

The authors review the literature focusing on pathogenesis theories.

Results

The authors suggest that ischemic reversible breakdown of the blood-nerve barrier is the most probable cause of OM and to include MR findings in the hallmarks of the disease.

Conclusion

OM is the same disease in adulthood and childhood, even if in adults the MR imaging findings are negative. In the authors’ opinion, OM should be classified as migraine.
Subclinical cerebellar dysfunction in patients with migraine: Evidence from eyeblink conditioning
Authors: Gerwig Marcus , Rauschen Lisa , Gaul Charly , Katsarava Zaza , Timmann Dagmar
Published: February 2014

Background

Clinical findings suggest cerebellar dysfunction in patients with migraine. Eyeblink classical conditioning (EBCC) is a simple form of associative learning which depends on the integrity of the cerebellum. The aim of this study was to assess whether EBCC is disturbed in patients with migraine.

Methods

A delay conditioning paradigm was used in the headache-free interval in 32 female patients with migraine, in 24 of them without (MwoA) and eight with aura (MwA), and in 32 age-matched female controls. As primary outcome measure acquisition and as secondary outcome measures timing and extinction of conditioned eyeblink responses (CR) were assessed.

Results

CR acquisition was significantly reduced in all migraine patients (mean total CR incidence 35.2 ± 22.1%) compared to controls (54.7 ± 21.3%; p < 0.001; Bonferroni-corrected p level < 0.025) and in MwA patients (19.9 ± 20.2%) compared to matched controls (58.2 ± 27.0%; p = 0.006) but not in MwoA patients (40.3 ± 20.6%) compared to matched controls (53.6 ± 19.7%; p = 0.028; Bonferroni-corrected p level < 0.0166). Decrease of CR incidences in MwA patients was not significantly different compared to MwoA patients ( p = 0.021; Bonferroni-corrected p level < 0.0166). CR timing and extinction was not affected in migraine patients.

Conclusions

Reduced acquisition of CRs in the cohort of female patients studied here supports findings of a cerebellar dysfunction in migraine.
Higher Incidence of Bone Stress Injuries With Increasing Female Athlete Triad–Related Risk Factors
Authors: Barrack Michelle T. , Gibbs Jenna C. , De Souza Mary Jane , Williams Nancy I. , Nichols Jeanne F. , Rauh Mitchell J. , Nattiv Aurelia
Published: February 2014

Background:

Identifying the risk factors associated with a bone stress injury (BSI), including stress reactions and stress fractures, may aid in targeting those at increased risk and in formulating prevention guidelines for exercising girls and women.

Purpose:

To evaluate the effect of single or combined risk factors as defined by the female athlete triad—a syndrome involving 3 interrelated spectrums consisting of energy availability, menstrual function, and bone mass—with the incidence of BSIs in a multicenter prospective sample of 4 cohorts of physically active girls and women.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

At baseline, participants’ (N = 259; mean age, 18.1 ± 0.3 years) anthropometric characteristics, eating attitudes and behaviors, menstrual function, sports participation or exercise activity, and pathological weight control behaviors were assessed. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measured the bone mass of the whole body, total hip, femoral neck, lumbar spine, and body composition. Participants were followed prospectively for the occurrence of injuries; those injuries confirmed by a physician were recorded.

Results:

Twenty-eight participants (10.8%) incurred a BSI. Forty-six percent of those who had ≥12 h/wk of purposeful exercise, a bone mineral density (BMD) Z score <–1.0, and who exhibited 3 to 4 of the following: BMI <21.0 kg/m2, oligo- or amenorrhea, elevated dietary restraint, and/or participation in a leanness sport exercise/activity at baseline, incurred a BSI during the prospective study period. Single factors significantly ( P < .05) associated with the development of a BSI included ≥12 h/wk of purposeful exercise (14.7%), BMI <21.0 kg/m2 (15.3%), and low bone mass (BMD Z score <–1.0; 21.0%). The strongest 2- and 3-variable combined risk factors were low BMD ( Z score <–1.0) + ≥12 h/wk of exercise, with 29.7% incurring a BSI (odds ratio [OR], 5.1; 95% CI, 2.2-12.1), and ≥12 h/wk of exercise + leanness sport/activity + dietary restraint, with 46.2% incurring a BSI (OR, 8.7; 95% CI, 2.7-28.3).

Conclusion:

In the sample, which included female adolescents and young adults participating in competitive or recreational exercise activities, the risk of BSIs increased from approximately 15% to 20% for significant single risk factors to 30% to 50% for significant combined female athlete triad–related risk factor variables. These data support the notion that the cumulative risk for BSIs increases as the number of Triad-related risk factors accumulates.
Pediatric Sports Injuries
Authors: Stracciolini Andrea , Casciano Rebecca , Levey Friedman Hilary , Stein Cynthia J. , Meehan William P. , Micheli Lyle J.
Published: February 2014

Background:

There is still much that we do not know about differences in sports injuries between young male and female athletes and the factors that may increase the risk for injuries in this regard.

Purpose:

To describe and compare differences between males and females in pediatric sports-related injuries.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

A retrospective chart review was performed using a 5% random sampling (N = 2133) of medical records of children aged 5 to 17 years seen over 10 years in a sports medicine clinic at a large academic pediatric hospital. Information was collected and analyzed on age, sex, height, weight, injury type (overuse vs acute/traumatic), location of injury, and sports involvement.

Results:

Overall, female athletes had a higher percentage of overuse injuries (62.5%) compared with traumatic injuries (37.5%); the opposite was seen in male athletes (41.9% vs 58.2%, respectively; P < .001). Looking at specific areas of injury, female athletes sustained more injuries to the lower extremity (65.8%) and spine (11.3%) as compared with male athletes (53.7% and 8.2%, respectively). Male patients had a greater percentage of injuries to the upper extremity (29.8%) as compared with female patients (15.1%). The type of hip/pelvis injuries differed greatly by sex, with females sustaining more overuse (90.9%) and soft tissue injuries (75.3%) versus males, who suffered injuries that tended to be traumatic (58.3%) and bony (55.6%) in nature. Males were more likely than females to participate in team and contact/collision sports. The percentage of females with patellofemoral knee pain was approximately 3 times greater than that of males (14.3% vs 4.0%, respectively; P < .001). Males were twice as likely as females to be diagnosed with osteochondritis dissecans (8.6% vs 4.3%, respectively; P < .001) and fractures (19.5% vs 8.2%, respectively; P < .001). The percentage of males and females who sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury was almost equal (10.0% and 8.9%, respectively; P = .369).

Conclusion:

Sports injuries in young males and females differed by injury type, diagnosis, and body area. These results may be related to the referral patterns unique to the division of the hospital, including a high number of female dancers. Further investigation is required to better understand the injury risk in pediatric male and female athletes.