bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
3-D Technology Used to Accurately Understand Equine Ileocolonic Aganglionosis
Authors: Muniz Eliane , Lobo Ladd Aliny A.B. , Lobo Ladd Fernando V. , da Silva Andrea A.P. , Kmit Fernanda V. , Borges Alexandre S. , Teixeira Raffaella , da Mota Lígia S.L.S. , Belli Carla B. , de Zoppa André L.V. , da Silva Luis C.L.C. , de Melo Mariana P. , Coppi Antonio A.
Published: July 2013

Ileocolonic aganglionosis (ICA) is the congenital and hereditary absence of neurons that constitute the enteric nervous system and has been described in various species including humans - Hirschsprung's disease - and horses - overo lethal white syndrome (OLWS). Hirschsprung's disease affects circa 1 in 5,000 live births. At best, this disease means an inability to absorb nutrients from food (humans). At worse, in horses, it always means death. Despite our general understanding of the functional mechanisms underlying ICA, there is a paucity of reliable quantitative information about the structure of myenteric and submucosal neurons in healthy horses and there are no studies on horses with ICA. In light of these uncertainties, we have used design-based stereology to describe the 3-D structure - total number and true size - of myenteric and submucosal neurons in the ileum of ICA horses. Our study has shown that ICA affects all submucosal neurons and 99% of myenteric neurons. The remaining myenteric neurons (0.56%) atrophy immensely, i.e. 63.8%. We believe this study forms the basis for further research, assessing which subpopulation of myenteric neurons are affected by ileocolonic aganglionosis, and we would like to propose a new nomenclature to distinguish between a complete absence of neurons - aganglionosis - and a weaker form of the disease which we suggest naming ‘hypoganglionosis'. Our results are a step forward in understanding this disease structurally.
Family History: Impact on Coronary Heart Disease Risk Assessment beyond Guideline-Defined Factors
Authors: Hasanaj Q. , Wilson B.J. , Little J. , Montazeri Z. , Carroll J.C. ,   On behalf of the CIHR Emerging Team in Genomics in Screening
Published: July 2013

Objective: Family history (FH) provides insights into the effects of shared genomic susceptibilities, environments and behaviors, making it a potentially valuable risk assessment tool for chronic diseases. We assessed whether coronary heart disease (CHD) risk assessment is improved when FH information is added to other clinical information recommended in guidelines. Methods: We applied logistic regression analyses to cross-sectional data originally obtained from a UK study of women who delivered a live-born infant between 1951 and 1970. We developed 3 models: Model 1 included only the covariates in a guideline applicable to the population, Model 2 added FH to Model 1, and Model 3 included a fuller range of risk factors. For each model, its ability to discriminate between study subjects with and those without CHD was evaluated and its impact on risk classification examined using the net reclassification index. Results: FH was an independent risk factor for CHD (odds ratio = 1.7, 95% confidence interval = 1.26-2.47) and improved discrimination beyond guideline-defined clinical factors (p < 0.0006). However, the difference in the area under the curve of 2.8% and the extent of patient reclassification resulting from the inclusion of FH were small (p = 0.11). Conclusion: While FH were a significant independent risk factor for CHD, it added little to risk factors typically included in guidelines.
Adenosine Effects on Renal Function in the Rat: Role of Sodium Intake and Cytochrome P450
Authors: Kuczeriszka Marta , Dobrowolski Leszek , Walkowska Agnieszka , Sadowski Janusz , Kompanowska-Jezierska Elżbieta
Published: July 2013

Background/Aims: Adenosine (ADO) causes vasodilation in most tissues. In the kidney it can induce vasoconstriction or vasodilation, depending on the prevailing stimulation of A1 or A2 receptors (A1R, A2R). ADO-induced alterations of renal excretion may be secondary to haemodynamic changes, or reflect a direct influence on tubular transport. This whole-kidney study explored renal excretory responses to ADO receptor stimulation as related to renal haemodynamics sodium intake and cytochrome P450 (CYP-450) activity. Methods: The effects of ADO or an A2aR agonist (DPMA) on urine flow (V), sodium excretion (UNaV) and total solute excretion were examined in anaesthetized Wistar rats on a low-sodium or high-sodium (HS) diet. Total renal blood flow (RBF; renal artery probe), and outer- and inner-medullary blood flows (OM-BF, IM-BF; laser-Doppler fluxes) were also determined. Results: Consistent opposed effects of ADO and DPMA were only observed with the HS diet. ADO increased V (150%) and UNaV (100%); there were also significant increases in RBF, OM-BF and IM-BF. These changes were prevented by 1-aminobenzotriazol, a CYP-450 inhibitor. In HS rats, DPMA significantly decreased arterial blood pressure and renal excretion. Conclusions: Post-ADO diuresis/natriuresis was in part secondary to renal hyperperfusion; the response was probably mediated by CYP-450-dependent active agents. Selective A2aR stimulation induced systemic vasodilation, major hypotension, and a secondary decrease in renal excretion.
Characterization of Anatomic Ventricular Tachycardia Isthmus Pathology After Surgical Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot
Authors: Moore Jeremy P. , Seki Atsuko , Shannon Kevin M. , Mandapati Ravi , Tung Roderick , Fishbein Michael C.
Published: July 2013

Background—

Although catheter ablation has been used to target the critical isthmuses for re-entrant monomorphic ventricular tachycardia in tetralogy of Fallot, the anatomy and histology of these regions have not been fully characterized. Autopsy hearts with tetralogy of Fallot were evaluated to clarify the pathological substrate.

Methods and Results—

Twenty-seven hearts with the diagnosis of tetralogy of Fallot were examined. Anatomically defined isthmuses included (1A) ventriculotomy-to-tricuspid annulus, (1B) ventriculotomy-to-ventricular septal defect patch, (2) ventriculotomy-to-pulmonary annulus, (3) pulmonary annulus-to-ventricular septal defect patch, and (4) ventricular septal defect patch-to-tricuspid annulus. Length and wall thickness were measured for all specimens, and light microscopy was performed for those surviving surgery. For subjects ≥5 years at death, isthmuses 1A and 1B were present in 88%, isthmus 2 in 25%, isthmus 3 in 94%, and isthmus 4 in 13%. Isthmus 1A had the greatest dimensions (mean length, 3.9±1.08; thickness, 1.5±0.3 cm), isthmus 1B intermediate dimensions (mean length, 2.4±0.8; thickness, 1.1±0.4 cm), and isthmuses 2, 3, and 4 the smallest dimensions (mean length, 1.5±0.5, 1.4±0.8, and 0.6±0.4 cm; thickness, 0.5±0.2, 0.6±0.2, and 0.3±0.04 cm, respectively). Histological examination (n=7) revealed increased fibrosis in anatomic isthmuses relative to nonisthmus controls.

Conclusions—

Consistencies in isthmus dimensions and histology are found among patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot. Isthmus 1A is associated with the largest morphological dimensions, whereas the nearby newly described isthmus 1B is significantly smaller. Of isthmuses with the smallest dimensions, isthmus 3 is the most common.
Diffuse Ventricular Fibrosis Is a Late Outcome of Tachycardia-Mediated Cardiomyopathy After Successful Ablation
Authors: Ling Liang-han , Kalman Jonathan M. , Ellims Andris H. , Iles Leah M. , Medi Caroline , Sherratt Craig , Kaye David M. , Hare James L. , Kistler Peter M. , Taylor Andrew J.
Published: July 2013

Background—

Successful arrhythmia ablation normalizes ejection fraction (EF) in tachycardia-mediated cardiomyopathy, but recurrent heart failure and late sudden death have been reported. The aim of this study was to characterize the left ventricle (LV) of tachycardia-mediated cardiomyopathy patients long after definitive arrhythmia cure.

Methods and Results—

Thirty-three patients with a history of successfully ablated incessant focal atrial tachycardia 64±36 months prior, and 20 healthy controls were recruited. At ablation, 18 patients had EF<50% (AT-low EF) that recovered within 3 months from 37±12 to 56±4% (
P
<0.001), whereas 15 patients had EF>55% (AT-normal EF). No subjects had EF of 50% to 55%. Subjects underwent echocardiography with speckle tracking and contrast-enhanced cardiac MRI with ventricular T
1
mapping as an index of diffuse fibrosis. Contrast-enhanced cardiac MRI was performed using a clinical 1.5-T scanner and 0.2 mmol/kg gadolinium-diethylene triamine penta-acetic acid for contrast. Subject characteristics were similar across the 3 groups. Compared with AT-normal EF patients and controls, AT-low EF patients had lower EF (60±6 versus 64±4 and 65±4%;
P
<0.05), greater indexed LV end-diastolic volume (102±34 versus 84±14 and 85±16 mL/m
2
;
P
<0.05), and greater indexed LV end-systolic volume (41±11 versus 31±7 and 30±8 mL/m
2
;
P
<0.01) on contrast-enhanced cardiac MRI. Compared with controls, AT-low EF patients had reduced global LV corrected T
1
time (442±53 versus 529±61;
P
<0.05) consistent with diffuse fibrosis.

Conclusions—

Tachycardia-mediated cardiomyopathy patients exhibit differences in LV structure and function including diffuse fibrosis long after arrhythmia cure, indicating that recovery is incomplete.
AMG145, a Monoclonal Antibody Against Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin Kexin Type 9, Significantly Reduces Lipoprotein(a) in Hypercholesterolemic Patients Receiving Statin Therapy
Authors: Desai Nihar R. , Kohli Payal , Giugliano Robert P. , O’Donoghue Michelle L. , Somaratne Ransi , Zhou Jing , Hoffman Elaine B. , Huang Fannie , Rogers William J. , Wasserman Scott M. , Scott Robert , Sabatine Marc S.
Published: July 2013

Background—

Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is an emerging risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Currently, there are few available therapies to lower Lp(a). We sought to evaluate the impact of AMG145, a monoclonal antibody against proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9), on Lp(a).

Methods and Results—

As part of the LDL-C Assessment With PCSK9 Monoclonal Antibody Inhibition Combined With Statin Therapy (LAPLACE)–Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) 57 trial, 631 patients with hypercholesterolemia receiving statin therapy were randomized to receive AMG145 at 1 of 3 different doses every 2 weeks or 1 of 3 different doses every 4 weeks versus placebo. Lp(a) and other lipid parameters were measured at baseline and at week 12. Compared with placebo, AMG145 70 mg, 105 mg, and 140 mg every 2 weeks reduced Lp(a) at 12 weeks by 18%, 32%, and 32%, respectively (
P
<0.001 for each dose versus placebo). Likewise, AMG145 280 mg, 350 mg, and 420 mg every 4 weeks reduced Lp(a) by 18%, 23%, and 23%, respectively (
P
<0.001 for each dose versus placebo). The reduction in Lp(a) correlated with the reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (ρ=0.33,
P
<0.001). The effect of AMG145 on Lp(a) was consistent regardless of age, sex, race, history of diabetes mellitus, and background statin regimen. Patients with higher levels of Lp(a) at baseline had larger absolute reductions but comparatively smaller percent reductions in Lp(a) with AMG145 compared with those with lower baseline Lp(a) values.

Conclusions—

AMG145 significantly reduces Lp(a), by up to 32%, among subjects with hypercholesterolemia receiving statin therapy, offering an additional, complementary benefit beyond robust low-density lipoprotein cholesterol reduction with regard to a patient’s atherogenic lipid profile.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT01380730.
Review of the leafhopper genus Oniella Matsumura (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), with description of a new species from China
Authors: MIN GAO , ZHANG YALIN
Published: July 2013

The genus Oniella Matsumura 1912 is reviewed and seven species from China are recognized, including a new species, O. shaanxiana sp. nov., a new synonym, O. flavomarginata, syn. nov. and a new combination, O. albula (Cai & Shen, 1998) n. comb. transferred from Sophonia. O. excelsa (Melichar) is removed from this genus. The seven species are described and illustrated in detail, and a key to all species of the genus is provided.
Two new species of Polydrusus (Polydrusus) from Turkey, Iran and Greece (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae: Polydrusini)
Authors: BOROVEC ROMAN , GERMANN CHRISTOPH
Published: July 2013

Polydrusus (Polydrusus) kadleci sp. n. from northeastern Turkey and western Iran and P. (Polydrusus) wymanni sp. n. from Samos Island (Greece) are described. Both species show characteristic raised setae on the pronotum and elytra, the length of which is apparently sexually dimorphic. The lectotype of P. (Polydrusus) mecedanus Reitter, 1908 is designated. New faunistic data of other species near P. (Polydrusus) reitteri Stierlin, 1884 are presented.
The Lacconectus Motschulsky of Hainan, China, with description of a new species (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Copelatinae)
Authors: HÁJEK JIŘÍ , ZHAO SHUANG , JIA FENGLONG
Published: July 2013

Lacconectus brancuccii sp. nov. from Hainan Island, China, is described and illustrated. The new species belongs to the L. fulvescens species group and can be recognised based on the broader, poorly delimited pale basal markings on the elytra, but predominantly based on the characteristic shape of the median lobe of the aedeagus, which in lateral view is slightly narrowed subapically, then broadened to a rounded apex. Previous records from Hainan attributed to L. formosanus (Kamiya, 1938) are found to refer to L. maoyangensis Brancucci, 2003. Additional records of two further species endemic to Hainan, L. hainanensis Hendrich, 1998 and L. maoyangensis, are presented and their habitus are figured.
Use of NWP for Nowcasting Convective Precipitation: Recent Progress and Challenges
Authors: Sun Juanzhen , Xue Ming , Wilson James W. , Zawadzki Isztar , Ballard Sue P. , Onvlee-Hooimeyer Jeanette , Joe Paul , Barker Dale M. , Li Ping-Wah , Golding Brian , Xu Mei , Pinto James
Published: July 2013

Traditionally, the nowcasting of precipitation was conducted to a large extent by means of extrapolation of observations, especially of radar ref lectivity. In recent years, the blending of traditional extrapolation-based techniques with high-resolution numerical weather prediction (NWP) is gaining popularity in the nowcasting community. The increased need of NWP products in nowcasting applications poses great challenges to the NWP community because the nowcasting application of high-resolution NWP has higher requirements on the quality and content of the initial conditions compared to longer-range NWP. Considerable progress has been made in the use of NWP for nowcasting thanks to the increase in computational resources, advancement of high-resolution data assimilation techniques, and improvement of convective-permitting numerical modeling. This paper summarizes the recent progress and discusses some of the challenges for future advancement.
Northern Hemisphere Winter Atmospheric Transient Eddy Heat Fluxes and the Gulf Stream and Kuroshio–Oyashio Extension Variability
Authors: Kwon Young-Oh , Joyce Terrence M.
Published: July 2013

Spatial and temporal covariability between the atmospheric transient eddy heat fluxes (i.e., 〈υ′T′〉 and 〈υ′q′〉) in the Northern Hemisphere winter (January–March) and the paths of the Gulf Stream (GS), Kuroshio Extension (KE), and Oyashio Extension (OE) are examined based on an atmospheric reanalyses and ocean observations for 1979–2009.

For the climatological winter mean, the northward heat fluxes by the synoptic (2–8 days) transient eddies exhibit canonical storm tracks with their maxima collocated with the GS and KE/OE. The intraseasonal (8 days–3 months) counterpart, while having overall similar amplitude, shows a spatial pattern with more localized maxima near the major orography and blocking regions. Lateral heat flux divergence by transient eddies as the sum of the two frequency bands exhibits very close coupling with the exact locations of the ocean fronts.

Linear regression is used to examine the lead–lag relationship between interannual changes in the northward heat fluxes by the transient eddies and the meridional changes in the paths of the GS, KE, and OE, respectively. One to three years prior to the northward shifts of each ocean front, the atmospheric storm tracks shift northward and intensify, which is consistent with wind-driven changes of the ocean. Following the northward shifts of the ocean fronts, the synoptic storm tracks weaken in all three cases. The zonally integrated northward heat transport by the synoptic transient eddies increases by ~5% of its maximum mean value prior to the northward shift of each ocean front and decreases to a similar amplitude afterward.
If Anthropogenic CO2 Emissions Cease, Will Atmospheric CO2 Concentration Continue to Increase?
Authors: MacDougall Andrew H. , Eby Michael , Weaver Andrew J.
Published: July 2013

If anthropogenic CO2 emissions were to suddenly cease, the evolution of the atmospheric CO2 concentration would depend on the magnitude and sign of natural carbon sources and sinks. Experiments using Earth system models indicate that the overall carbon sinks dominate, such that upon the cessation of anthropogenic emissions, atmospheric CO2 levels decrease over time. However, these models have typically neglected the permafrost carbon pool, which has the potential to introduce an additional terrestrial source of carbon to the atmosphere. Here, the authors use the University of Victoria Earth System Climate Model (UVic ESCM), which has recently been expanded to include permafrost carbon stocks and exchanges with the atmosphere. In a scenario of zeroed CO2 and sulfate aerosol emissions, whether the warming induced by specified constant concentrations of non-CO2 greenhouse gases could slow the CO2 decline following zero emissions or even reverse this trend and cause CO2 to increase over time is assessed. It is found that a radiative forcing from non-CO2 gases of approximately 0.6 W m−2 results in a near balance of CO2 emissions from the terrestrial biosphere and uptake of CO2 by the oceans, resulting in near-constant atmospheric CO2 concentrations for at least a century after emissions are eliminated. At higher values of non-CO2 radiative forcing, CO2 concentrations increase over time, regardless of when emissions cease during the twenty-first century. Given that the present-day radiative forcing from non-CO2 greenhouse gases is about 0.95 W m−2, the results suggest that if all CO2 and aerosols emissions were eliminated without also decreasing non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions CO2 levels would increase over time, resulting in a small increase in climate warming associated with this positive permafrost–carbon feedback.
Evaluation of Spatial Errors of Precipitation Rates and Types from TRMM Spaceborne Radar over the Southern CONUS
Authors: Chen S. , Kirstetter P. E. , Hong Y. , Gourley J. J. , Tian Y. D. , Qi Y. C. , Cao Q. , Zhang J. , Howard K. , Hu J. J. , Xue X. W.
Published: July 2013

In this paper, the authors estimate the uncertainty of the rainfall products from NASA and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's (JAXA) Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM) Precipitation Radar (PR) so that they may be used in a quantitative manner for applications like hydrologic modeling or merging with other rainfall products. The spatial error structure of TRMM PR surface rain rates and types was systematically studied by comparing them with NOAA/National Severe Storms Laboratory's (NSSL) next generation, high-resolution (1 km/5 min) National Mosaic and Multi-Sensor Quantitative Precipitation Estimation (QPE; NMQ/Q2) over the TRMM-covered continental United States (CONUS). Data pairs are first matched at the PR footprint scale (5 km/instantaneous) and then grouped into 0.25° grid cells to yield spatially distributed error maps and statistics using data from December 2009 through November 2010. Careful quality control steps (including bias correction with rain gauges and quality filtering) are applied to the ground radar measurements prior to considering them as reference data. The results show that PR captures well the spatial pattern of total rainfall amounts with a high correlation coefficient (CC; 0.91) with Q2, but this decreases to 0.56 for instantaneous rain rates. In terms of precipitation types, Q2 and PR convective echoes are spatially correlated with a CC of 0.63. Despite this correlation, PR's total annual precipitation from convection is 48.82% less than that by Q2, which points to potential issues in the PR algorithm's attenuation correction, nonuniform beam filling, and/or reflectivity-to-rainfall relation. Finally, the spatial analysis identifies regime-dependent errors, in particular in the mountainous west. It is likely that the surface reference technique is triggered over complex terrain, resulting in high-amplitude biases.
The Influence of Surface Forcings on Prediction of the North Atlantic Oscillation Regime of Winter 2010/11
Authors: Maidens Anna , Arribas Alberto , Scaife Adam A. , MacLachlan Craig , Peterson Drew , Knight Jeff
Published: July 2013

December 2010 was unusual both in the strength of the negative North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) intense atmospheric blocking and the associated record-breaking low temperatures over much of northern Europe. The negative North Atlantic Oscillation for November–January was predicted in October by 8 out of 11 World Meteorological Organization Global Producing Centres (WMO GPCs) of long-range forecasts. This paper examines whether the unusual strength of the NAO and temperature anomaly signals in early winter 2010 are attributable to slowly varying boundary conditions [El Niño–Southern Oscillation state, North Atlantic sea surface temperature (SST) tripole, Arctic sea ice extent, autumn Eurasian snow cover], and whether these were modeled in the Met Office Global Seasonal Forecasting System version 4 (GloSea4). Results from the real-time forecasts showed that a very robust signal was evident in both the surface pressure fields and temperature fields by the beginning of November. The historical reforecast set (hindcasts), used to calibrate and bias correct the real-time forecast, showed that the seasonal forecast model reproduces at least some of the observed physical mechanisms that drive the NAO. A series of ensembles of atmosphere-only experiments was constructed, using forecast SSTs and ice concentrations from November 2010. Each potential mechanism in turn was systematically isolated and removed, leading to the conclusion that the main mechanism responsible for the successful forecast of December 2010 was anomalous ocean heat content and associated SST anomalies in the North Atlantic.
Distributive Politics in a Multiparty System
Authors: Aytaç S. Erdem
Published: July 2013

What are the dynamics of distributive politics in a setting of multiparty competition? Existing studies on the allocation of resources across multiple electoral districts focus primarily on a setting of two-party competition and consider only the core versus swing district hypotheses. This framework does not correspond to the actual electoral setting in many countries and ignores valuable information furnished by a context of multiparty competition. Compared with two-party elections, multiparty elections provide more information about the underlying distribution of the ideological preferences of voters in a district; this information could be utilized by the incumbent party to maximize electoral returns. In this article, I argue that a setting of multiparty competition presents incentives to the incumbent party to channel disproportionately more resources to districts with an ideologically close challenger. Systematic evidence from the Conditional Cash Transfer program spending in 878 districts of Turkey from 2005 to 2008 supports this hypothesis.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells from iPS Cells Facilitate Periodontal Regeneration
Authors: Hynes K. , Menicanin D. , Han J. , Marino V. , Mrozik K. , Gronthos S. , Bartold P.M.
Published: July 2013

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have been considered as a potential therapy for the treatment of periodontal defects arising from periodontitis. However, issues surrounding their accessibility and proliferation in culture significantly limit their ability to be used as a mainstream treatment approach. It is therefore important that alternative, easily accessible, and safe populations of stem cells be identified. Controlled induction of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) into MSC-like cells is emerging as an attractive source for obtaining large populations of stem cells for regenerative medicine. We have successfully induced iPSC to differentiate into MSC-like cells. The MSC-like cells generated satisfied the International Society of Cellular Therapy’s minimal criteria for defining multipotent MSC, since they had plastic adherent properties, expressed key MSC-associated markers, and had the capacity to undergo tri-lineage differentiation. Importantly, the resulting iPSC-MSC-like cells also had the capacity, when implanted into periodontal defects, to significantly increase the amount of regeneration and newly formed mineralized tissue present. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that MSC derived from iPSC have the capacity to aid periodontal regeneration and are a promising source of readily accessible stem cells for use in the clinical treatment of periodontitis.
The Collective Fallacy
Authors: Hedahl Marcus
Published: July 2013

The common assumption is that if a group comprising moral agents can act intentionally, as a group, then the group itself can also be properly regarded as a moral agent with respect to that action. I argue, however, that this common assumption is the result of a problematic line of reasoning I refer to as “the collective fallacy.” Recognizing the collective fallacy as a fallacy allows us to see that if there are, in fact, irreducibly joint actors, then some of them will lack the full-fledged moral agency of their members. The descriptivist question of whether a group can perform irreducibly joint intentional action need not rise and fall with the normative question of whether a group can be a moral agent.
Neoliberalism and Women’s Struggle for Food Security in Tlaucingo
Authors: Palacios Luna Adriana Paola
Published: July 2013

The women of Tlaucingo, a small community in the Mexican state of Puebla, have organized to pursue food security in response to the proletarianization produced by neoliberalism. Interviews with women members of the organization reveal that their participation has brought them not only better diets, health, education, and housing but also benefits in terms of women’s rights.

Las mujeres de Tlaucingo, una pequeña comunidad en el estado mexicano de Puebla, se han organizado para buscar la seguridad alimenticia como respuesta a la proletarización producida por el neoliberalismo. Por medio de entrevistas con las mujeres socias de la organización se revela que la participación no solo brinda mejor dieta, salud, educación y vivienda, sino que también beneficia en el ámbito de derechos de la mujer.
Osteopontin Does Not Mitigate Cisplatin Ototoxicity or Nephrotoxicity in Adult Mice
Authors: Schmitt Nicole C. , Rubel Edwin W
Published: July 2013

Objective

The goal of this study was to determine whether osteopontin, a molecule with a variety of biologic effects including cell death inhibition, plays an important role in protection of the inner ear and kidney from the toxic effects of the chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin.

Study Design

In vivo study using a model system of cisplatin toxicity in adult mice.

Setting

Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center, University of Washington.

Subjects and Methods

Osteopontin+/+ and Osteopontin−/− adult mice were treated with intraperitoneal cisplatin (20 mg/kg) or saline (control). Osteopontin levels were investigated by immunohistochemistry. Auditory brainstem response thresholds and cochlear histology were used to assess ototoxicity, while serum creatinine and renal histology were used to assess nephrotoxicity. For quantitative experiments, 8 to 18 animals were included in each treatment group.

Results

At 72 hours after cisplatin treatment, there was a slight increase in osteopontin levels within the kidney but not in the inner ear. There was no difference in auditory brainstem response threshold shifts, outer hair cell death, or serum creatinine between Osteopontin+/+ and Osteopontin−/− mice. Cochlear and renal histologic damage following cisplatin appeared to be similar in Osteopontin+/+ and Osteopontin−/− mice.

Conclusion

Osteopontin is not required for development of normal auditory or renal function. Osteopontin is unlikely to play a role in protection of the inner ear or kidney from acute cisplatin toxicity. Slight increases in renal osteopontin 72 hours after cisplatin injury may be important for regeneration of proximal tubule cells.
The size, burden and cost of disorders of the brain in the UK
Authors: Fineberg Naomi A , Haddad Peter M , Carpenter Lewis , Gannon Brenda , Sharpe Rachel , Young Allan H , Joyce Eileen , Rowe James , Wellsted David , Nutt David J , Sahakian Barbara J
Published: July 2013

Aim:

The aim of this paper is to increase awareness of the prevalence and cost of psychiatric and neurological disorders (brain disorders) in the UK.

Method:

UK data for 18 brain disorders were extracted from a systematic review of European epidemiological data and prevalence rates and the costs of each disorder were summarized (2010 values).

Results:

There were approximately 45 million cases of brain disorders in the UK, with a cost of €134 billion per annum. The most prevalent were headache, anxiety disorders, sleep disorders, mood disorders and somatoform disorders. However, the five most costly disorders (€ million) were: dementia: €22,164; psychotic disorders: €16,717; mood disorders: €19,238; addiction: €11,719; anxiety disorders: €11,687. Apart from psychosis, these five disorders ranked amongst those with the lowest direct medical expenditure per subject (<€3000). The approximate breakdown of costs was: 50% indirect costs, 25% direct non-medical and 25% direct healthcare costs.

Discussion:

The prevalence and cost of UK brain disorders is likely to increase given the ageing population. Translational neurosciences research has the potential to develop more effective treatments but is underfunded. Addressing the clinical and economic challenges posed by brain disorders requires a coordinated effort at an EU and national level to transform the current scientific, healthcare and educational agenda.
The clinical and CT imaging features of metanephric adenoma
Authors: Zhu Qingqiang , Zhu Wenrong , Wu Jingtao , Chen Wenxin , Wang Shouan
Published: July 2013

Background

Patients with metanephric adenoma have a good prognosis after undergoing total nephrectomy or local resection with kidney preservation. Accurate diagnosing is important for guiding clinical treatment. Only few previous case reports have been found focusing on the imaging findings of metanephric adenoma.

Purpose

To evaluate the multislice computed tomography (MSCT) imaging characteristics of metanephric adenoma.

Material and Methods

The imaging findings in eight patients with metanephric adenoma were studied retrospectively. MSCT was undertaken to investigate tumor location, size, attenuation, cystic or solid appearance, calciﬁcation, capsule sign, and enhancement pattern.

Results

Tumors (mean diameter, 3.3 ± 1.0 cm) were solitary (8/8), solid (7/8) with cystic components (2/8), no calcifications (7/8), had a poorly-deﬁned margin (8/8), were centered in the renal medulla (7/8), compressed the renal pelvis (3/8), and none had retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis. The attenuation of metanephric adenoma tumors was less or equal compared to the renal cortex or medulla on unenhanced CT (30.6 ± 2.6 vs. 36.3 ± 4.6 vs. 33.2 ± 3.9, P > 0.05), while tumor enhancement after administration of an contrast agent was lower than that of normal renal cortex and medulla during all phases ( P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Metanephric adenoma tends to be a solitary, poorly defined margin, isodense or hypodense mass arising from the renal medulla with enhancement less than the cortex and medulla during all phases.
Domestic Violence in a Developing Context
Authors: Allen Mary , Raghallaigh Muireann Ní
Published: July 2013

The World Health Organization’s multicountry study of the prevalence rates of intimate partner violence found extremely high rates of violence against women in Ethiopia. This article seeks to enhance our understanding of this violence. By drawing on focus group research conducted with women in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, it explores the types of domestic violence experienced by these women, the impact of this violence, the reasons for it, and the multiple resistance strategies used by the women. The findings suggest a potentially important role for professional social work practice in the Ethiopian context.
Influence of addition of liquid crystalline copolymer of poly(aryl ether ketone) on the properties of basalt fiber/poly(ether ether ketone) composites
Authors: Fan Yue , Zhang Shu Ling , Jiang Zhen Hua , Wang Gui Bin
Published: July 2013

Improving the processability of basalt fiber/poly(ether ether ketone) (BF/PEEK) composites without influencing their mechanical and thermal properties is imperative. A novel liquid-crystalline copolymer of poly(aryl ether ketone) containing fluorine and biphenyl structure (FPEDEKKLCP) was used to decrease the melt viscosity of BF/PEEK composites. The BF/PEEK/FPEDEKKLCP samples were characterized by screw torque measurements, tensile/flexural property evaluation, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The results showed that even a small amount of FPEDEKKLCP could decrease the melt viscosity of the composites during processing, improve the dispersion uniformity and orientation of BF in the PEEK matrix, and increase the flexural modulus, tensile strength, and flexural strength of the BF/PEEK composites. However, the thermal stability of the BF/PEEK composites was almost unaffected by the addition of FPEDEKKLCP.
Indigenous men’s groups and social and emotional well-being: an indigenous doctor’s perspective
Authors: McDonald Josef , Haswell Melissa
Published: July 2013

Objectives:

Traditional indigenous society promoted the social and emotional well-being of indigenous men through the meeting of men in daily life and during ceremonial times. There is an increasing recognition that men’s groups use similar mechanisms to enhance the social and emotional well-being of participants and their communities. This paper seeks to increase understanding of the processes and impacts of contemporary indigenous men’s groups from an indigenous doctor’s perspective.

Method:

Review of published and unpublished literature and reflections on the primary author’s experiences within several indigenous men’s groups using a participatory action research model were used to examine how participation within these groups can improve social and emotional well-being.

Results:

There is a scarcity of published data on the distribution, activities and outcomes of indigenous men’s groups. Published qualitative and experiential observations suggest that they contribute to improved social and emotional well-being for participants, their families and communities.

Conclusions:

Men’s groups may be a good adjunct to the outpatient care of indigenous patients. As the published literature is entirely qualitative, mixed methods evaluation using appropriate and sensitive measures would assist in systematically capturing the impacts and outcomes of men’s groups. Such evaluations could enhance programme longevity and encourage the referral of patients by mainstream mental health practitioners.
The Interplay of Gender and Ethics in Corporate Offending Decision-Making
Authors: Piquero Nicole Leeper , Vieraitis Lynne M. , Piquero Alex R. , Tibbetts Stephen G. , Blankenship (deceased) Michael
Published: July 2013

There is a growing knowledge base on the factors associated with white-collar and corporate offending decisions. Limitations to this line of research include the lack of attention paid to moral and ethical considerations in decision-making and the need to better understand potential gender differences in the processes and outcomes of corporate offending. This paper uses data from a sample of adult MBA students to explore the interplay between ethics, gender, and corporate offending decisions. Results show that women are more likely to believe that corporations need regulation (i.e., women are more ethical) and that they are less likely to report affirmative offending intentions. Additionally, women are over two times more likely than men to report lower offending intentions and higher ethics. Implications for theoretical work on gender and organizations generally as well as within corporate crime contexts in particular are outlined.
What Do You Know about the National Common Core Arts Standards and Other Professional Development?
Authors: Hayes Christine Cozzens
Published: July 2013

The National Common Core Arts Standards have been in the formation and writing process since 2011. At the time of this publication, portions of the new standards in draft form will be posted on a web-based platform and cornerstone assessment tasks will be in pilot mode. The new standards are based on the Understanding by Design framework. Updated information and valuable resources for the standards are posted on http://nccas.wikispaces.com . Other professional development opportunities for general music educators are sited in this article.
A Mixed Methodology Retrospective Analysis of the Learning Experience of Final Year Medical Students Attached to a 1-Week Intensive Palliative Care Course Based at an Australian University
Authors: Tai Vicki , Cameron-Taylor Erica , Clark Katherine
Published: July 2013

Aims:

To assess the experiences in an established 1-week palliative care placement for final year medical students attending the University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.

Design:

A retrospective, mixed methodology, consecutive cohort. Student data collected included satisfaction feedback scores, open-ended questions and palliative medicine multiple-choice results before and after their 1-week placement.

Results:

Although there were high satisfaction ratings and objective improvements ( P < .001) seen in multiple-choice quiz scores, a subset did not improve. Practical issues such as prescribing, opioid use, and conversions were particularly valued by students. More teaching time and practical experience were requested.

Discussion:

Given the importance of palliative care teaching within a medical degree, the results suggest continued development and review of palliative medical education are essential.
The Parents’, Hospitalized Child’s, and Health Care Providers’ Perceptions and Experiences of Family Centered Care Within a Pediatric Critical Care Setting
Authors: Foster Mandie Jane , Whitehead Lisa , Maybee Patricia , Cullens Victoria
Published: July 2013

The delivery of family centered care (FCC) occurs within varied pediatric care settings with a belief that this model of care meets the psychosocial, emotional, and physical needs of the hospitalized child and family. The aim of this review was to explore the attitudes, experiences, and implementation of FCC from many studies and to facilitate a wider and more thorough understanding of this practice from a diverse sample of parents, hospitalized children, and their health care providers within a pediatric critical care setting. A metasynthesis is an integration of qualitative research findings based on a systematic review of the literature. Thirty original research articles focusing on family-centered care experiences from the hospitalized child’s, parents’, and health care providers’ perception published between 1998 and 2011 met the criteria for the review. Nine syntheses from 17 themes emerged from the synthesis of the literature: Prehospital, Entry into the Hospital, Journeying Through Unknown Waters, Information, Relationships, The hospital Environment, The Possibility of Death, Religion and Spirituality, and The Journey Home. The individual cultures of the critical care units helped create and reinforce the context of parental needs where satisfaction with communication, information, and relationships were interconnecting factors that helped maintain the positive or negative experiences for the parent, hospitalized child, and/or health care providers.
Adaptive control design for a supercavitating vehicle model based on fin force parameter estimation
Authors: Mao Xiaofeng , Wang Qian
Published: July 2013

In this paper, an adaptive control using the backstepping technique is applied for a supercavitating vehicle model to account for the unknown slope of the fin force with respect to fin angle of attack in the vehicle model. In the supercavitating-vehicle benchmark model, the fin force was modeled as a linear function with respect to the fin angle of attack, and the corresponding slope was considered to be a known constant for a fixed cavitation number. However, more realistic modeling for the fin force shows that the fin force slope is a function of the fin deflection angle, fin sweepback angle and fin immersion. In addition, noting that the cavity shape at the transom region determines immersion of the fins, the fin immersion and thus the slope of the fin force is also impacted by the so-called memory effect due to cavity–vehicle interaction. In this paper, we consider the fin effectiveness parameter relative to the cavitator, which is used to compute the slope of the fin force in the aforementioned benchmark model, to be an unknown parameter. Then a parameter estimation law is designed for this fin effectiveness parameter and an adaptive backstepping controller is designed for the supercavitating vehicle model. We prove the boundedness of all variables (and convergence of the vehicle state variables under certain conditions) via Lyapunov stability theory. In addition, if the bound of the fin effectiveness parameter is known, a projection of the parameter adaptive law can be used and the resulting modified controller will maintain the same properties. Evaluation results through simulation on both initial response and tracking performance of the closed-loop system show the effectiveness of the developed algorithm.
Cloprostenol treatment of feline open-cervix pyometra
Authors: García Mitacek María C , Stornelli María C , Tittarelli Claudia M , Nuñez Favre Romina , de la Sota Rodolfo L , Stornelli María A
Published: July 2013

Treatment with cloprostenol, a prostaglandin synthetic analogue, was evaluated in five queens with open-cervix pyometra. Cloprostenol was administered (5 μg/kg body weight SC) on 3 consecutive days and amoxicillin (20 mg/kg body weight IM) on 7 consecutive days. Transient post-injection reactions caused by cloprostenol administration included diarrhea, vomiting and vocalizations. Reactions began as quickly as 10 mins after cloprostenol administration and lasted as long as 30 mins. All queens improved clinically after cloprostenol treatment and remained healthy until the end of the study, 1 year after treatment. All queens resumed normal estrous cycles without further treatment and two (40%) delivered a normal litter. In conclusion, use of cloprostenol is an acceptable treatment for open-cervix pyometra in queens.
Historicizing the ‘New Wars’: The case of Jihad in the early years of Islam
Authors: Latham Andrew A. , Christenson James
Published: July 2013

Despite the transformative potential of the ‘New Wars’ paradigm, what might be labeled the ‘first generation’ of scholarship has been subject to a range of cross-disciplinary conceptual and empirical challenges that have called into question many of its key findings. While there is much that is valid in these critiques of the New Wars thesis, ultimately it is premature to conclude that they have fatally undermined the New Wars paradigm as a heuristically useful framework for inquiring into the (changing) character of violent political conflict. All of this suggests that what is needed now is not the abandonment of the New Wars paradigm, but a longer-term historical perspective that can help us avoid many of the conceptual errors that plague the extant literature.
Policing and the surveillance of the marginal: Everyday contexts of social control
Authors: O’Neill Megan , Loftus Bethan
Published: July 2013

While the surveillance practices of the private security industry have become a central preoccupation of scholarship, the surveillance power of the state has been greatly enhanced through multiple procedures of information gathering to support practices of control and management. In this article, we draw upon two different research projects to examine the surveillance work of the police and other public sector groups working in partnership, as well as the activities of police officers operating covertly. In so doing, we expose the often unintended, but nevertheless invasive and comprehensive power of state agencies to gather details of individuals in the residual working class, within mundane and innocuous policing practices. Our central argument is that these developments have occurred alongside a displacement of social policy through crime control, and represent both an acceleration and intensification of existing state approaches to the surveillance of the problematic individual. This extensive project of targeted surveillance, we contend, also calls into question current claims that the state is moving towards a system of managing deviant populations.
A tabulated diffusion flame model applied to diesel engine simulations
Authors: Michel Jean-Baptiste , Colin Olivier
Published: July 2013

The tabulated diffusion flamelet model approximated diffusion flame-presumed conditional moment is here adapted to the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes simulation of diesel engines. The first model modification concerns the effects of variable pressure, which are necessary to retrieve the chemical species concentrations during the expansion stroke. They are accounted for following an approach similar to the variable volume tabulated homogeneous chemistry approach. The second model modification concerns the local fresh gases temperature stratification modeling that needs to be included due to the liquid injection and is based on the transport equation for the fresh gases enthalpy conditioned in the air. The resulting model is called engine approximated diffusion flames and is able to account for the auto-ignition of the diffusion flame, the local mixture fraction heterogeneity through a presumed probability density function, complex chemistry effects, variable pressure, and temperature stratification. As a first validation, an ideal homogeneous adiabatic engine is computed and successfully compared with the reference solution of the same case obtained with a kinetic solver. Then, six diesel engine operating points at various loads, engine speeds, and dilutions are simulated and compared with experimental measurements. It is shown that the proposed model correctly reproduces the mean pressure evolution and gives a correct estimation of the CO mass fraction. Furthermore, coupled to the NO relaxation approach model, relatively accurate NO predictions are obtained. Finally, different simplified formulations of engine approximated diffusion flames are evaluated, showing that all model components are necessary to correctly estimate the pressure evolutions and pollutant emissions.