bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association between Serum Vitamin D Status and Functional Mobility in Memory Clinic Patients Aged 65 Years and Older
Authors: Gschwind Yves J. , Bischoff-Ferrari Heike A. , Bridenbaugh Stephanie A. , Härdi Irene , Kressig Reto W.
Published: December 2013

Background: Recent studies have shown that vitamin D status may be relevant for physical and cognitive performance in the older population. This association may be of particular interest to older people at risk for cognitive impairment and functional decline. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] status and functional mobility in seniors assessed in a memory clinic. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of outpatients (n = 404) in a memory clinic. Functional mobility was assessed with three endpoints: normal and fast walking speed and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. Adjusted multivariate analyses in all patients and two pre-planned subgroup analyses in vulnerable seniors (previous fall and MMSE score of ≥26 or no previous fall and MMSE score of <26) versus less vulnerable seniors (no previous fall and MMSE score of ≥26) were performed to assess the association of 25(OH)D and functional mobility. Results: Overall, mean 25(OH)D serum levels were 63.2 ± 33.9 nmol/l, and 41.3% were vitamin D deficient (<50 nmol/l). Seniors in the lowest 25(OH)D quartile (<39 nmol/l) had significantly worse functional mobility compared to the highest 25(OH)D quartile (>81 nmol/l); adjusted for all covariates, seniors in the highest quartile performed 9.4% better in normal (p = 0.02) and 9.2% better in fast (p = 0.004) walking speed, and 4.4% better in the TUG test (p = 0.24). The association between 25(OH)D status and functional mobility was most pronounced in less vulnerable seniors (p for trend significant for all three mobility tests). Seniors with a higher 25(OH)D status also had better cognitive function (MMSE score; p = 0.006). Conclusions: Lower serum 25(OH)D status is associated with poorer functional mobility and cognitive function, therefore supporting 25(OH)D assessment in this population at risk for both functional and cognitive decline.
PAX2 and PAX8: Useful Markers for Metastatic Effusions
Authors: Waters Lindsay , Crumley Suzanne , Truong Luan , Mody Dina , Coffey Donna
Published: December 2013

Objective: It was the aim of this study to determine the utility of PAX2 and PAX8 in cytology effusions with metastatic tumor. Study Design: PAX2 and PAX8 immunohistochemical staining was performed on cell blocks of 89 pleural, pericardial and peritoneal effusions with benign diagnoses (18 cases), or secondary to renal cell carcinoma (RCC; 9 cases), müllerian carcinoma (21 cases) or non-müllerian carcinoma (41 cases). Results: PAX2 stained 0% (0/18) of controls, 100% (8/8) of RCCs, 35% (7/20) of müllerian carcinomas, and 2% (1/41) of non-müllerian carcinomas. PAX8 stained 6% (1/18) of control cases, 100% (9/9) of RCC cases, 100% (20/20) of müllerian carcinomas, and 5% (2/41) of non-müllerian carcinomas. PAX2 was 35% sensitive and 95% specific for müllerian carcinoma and 100% sensitive and 95% specific for RCC. PAX8 was 100% sensitive and 95% specific for müllerian carcinoma and 100% sensitive and 95% specific for RCC. Conclusions: PAX8 is more sensitive than PAX2 for metastatic effusions from müllerian carcinomas (100 vs. 35%), while also having a higher intensity of staining than PAX2. However, PAX2 and PAX8 are both highly sensitive and specific for RCCs. PAX2 and PAX8 are valuable diagnostic markers for metastatic müllerian carcinomas and RCCs in effusion cytology. PAX8 is superior for carcinomas of müllerian origin.
Approximate, Computationally Efficient Online Learning in Bayesian Spiking Neurons
Authors: Kuhlmann Levin , Hauser-Raspe Michael , Manton Jonathan H. , Grayden David B. , Tapson Jonathan , van Schaik André
Published: December 2013

Bayesian spiking neurons (BSNs) provide a probabilistic interpretation of how neurons perform inference and learning. Online learning in BSNs typically involves parameter estimation based on maximum-likelihood expectation-maximization (ML-EM) which is computationally slow and limits the potential of studying networks of BSNs. An online learning algorithm, fast learning (FL), is presented that is more computationally efficient than the benchmark ML-EM for a fixed number of time steps as the number of inputs to a BSN increases (e.g., 16.5 times faster run times for 20 inputs). Although ML-EM appears to converge 2.0 to 3.6 times faster than FL, the computational cost of ML-EM means that ML-EM takes longer to simulate to convergence than FL. FL also provides reasonable convergence performance that is robust to initialization of parameter estimates that are far from the true parameter values. However, parameter estimation depends on the range of true parameter values. Nevertheless, for a physiologically meaningful range of parameter values, FL gives very good average estimation accuracy, despite its approximate nature. The FL algorithm therefore provides an efficient tool, complementary to ML-EM, for exploring BSN networks in more detail in order to better understand their biological relevance. Moreover, the simplicity of the FL algorithm means it can be easily implemented in neuromorphic VLSI such that one can take advantage of the energy-efficient spike coding of BSNs.
Accommodation and Resistance: Missionary Encounters with the Satnamis of Narnaul
Authors: Singh Abha
Published: December 2013

The present article draws attention towards the fluid identities of sectarian communities during the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries with special reference to the Satnamis of Narnaul. It raises the issue whether sectarian fluidity helped missionaries to make inroads. The Missionaries mistook the plural outlook of the Satnamis, particularly their ‘openness’ towards the new faith as fertile ground for conversion. However, the study suggests that ‘fluidity’ co-existed with ‘rigid’ core. ‘Openness’ does not reflect ‘predisposition’ for conversion. Instead it was more of ‘inquisitiveness’ coalescing with the innate desire to learn—how other communities perceived the ‘Almighty’ and the complexities of the ‘Universe’. However, yearnings for social status, economic gains and a keen desire to grab the opportunity to get access to education, which so far was a Brahmin preserve, were equally important. Curiously, both the Christian Missionary Society, London and the American Presbyterians met with negligible successes. The article addresses why and how an extremely ‘naïve’ group remained cohesive against the highly organized missionary endeavours in spite of initial positive vibes. The Satnami voices are extremely limited. My data is largely derived from Missionary chronicles and field trips.
‘Foul unhallow’d fires’1: Officiating Sati and the Colonial Hindu Widow in the United Provinces
Authors: Atwal Jyoti
Published: December 2013

This article, in addition to the textual debates on sati, reviews the relevance of sensationalism around and governance of the sati cases by the nineteenth-century colonial state in the United Provinces (then known as the North-Western Provinces). While this article contains plenty of evidence to show the colonial engagement with shastras (more appropriately the vyavasthas), yet the question that has been posed is that the six volumes of Parliamentary Papers published on sati need to be read as a source material for writing women’s ethno-psychological history. Numerous cases of women burning themselves cannot be reduced to a question of mere shastric concern. As will become evident from the cases cited here—Hindu widows across caste had imbibed a deep sense of what a dutiful wife/widow should do. These notions of duty and faith accumulated over the ages, not only in a specific time and space. This article also argues that the historical process through which the colonial state and the Hindu reformers engaged with the position of the Hindu widow, produced two dominant ideas on the reform of the Hindu widows—one that the Hindu widows burnt themselves with their husband’s dead bodies by ‘volition’; the other that the colonial state (like its predecessors) possessed (or at least claimed to possess) a ‘moral–ethical’ status to scrutinize whether the custom of widow immolation was ‘involuntary’ or ‘voluntary’. These two processes complemented each other in a colonial context; the idea of a ‘voluntary’ widowhood germinated within official circles in the late nineteenth century and the idea of a living sati was extended to the public sphere by the Hindu reformist discourse. This nineteenth-century officio-reformist debate and discussion was marked by profound creativity for discourses and representations of the body and identity of a Hindu widow. It is this distinct ‘colonial’ Hindu widow whose image was later incorporated into nationalist and post-Independence discourses on nation and development.
Book Review: The Mughals, the Portuguese and the Indian Ocean: Changing Imageries of Maritime India
Authors: Aquil Raziuddin
Published: December 2013

Pius Malekandathil, The Mughals, the Portuguese and the Indian Ocean: Changing Imageries of Maritime India,Primus Books, New Delhi, 2013, pp. viii + 234,₹850. ISBN: 9789380607337.
Exploring the experiences of ex-offender mentors
Authors: Kavanagh Laura , Borrill Jo
Published: December 2013

Research suggests that mentoring may facilitate offender rehabilitation. Less is known about the impact on mentors, especially those who are ex-offenders. This study uses in-depth interviews with eight ex-offender mentors to explore the processes through which such schemes can be effective. Four key categories emerged: self-satisfaction; mutual benefit; mechanisms underlying success; and negative aspects of mentoring. Mentoring was experienced as a rewarding and mutually beneficial career which may reduce the social stigma of being an ex-offender. Challenges for mentors included dealing with failure or frustration and managing risk. Findings suggest that participation in mentoring schemes should be voluntary rather than compulsory and future schemes should consider employing ex-offenders as mentors and role models, to benefit from their lived experience, despite the barriers and challenges involved.
Some personal observations on the debate on the link between financial reporting quality and the cost of equity capital
Authors: Shevlin Terry
Published: December 2013

Within the last decade there has been much written about the possible link between the quality of a firm’s external financial reporting and its cost of equity capital. In this paper I provide my personal observations about the literature. I make the following points. I find the Francis et al. (2005) paper interesting and innovative. This paper documents a positive association between portfolio returns formed on the basis of accrual quality and firms’ realized returns after controlling for the Fama-French three factors. Francis et al. conclude that accrual quality is a priced risk factor. Second, while this conclusion might be too strong based on their results, I think the Core et al. (2008) critique of the Francis et al. claim is also too strong and does not lead me to reject accrual quality as a priced risk factor. Third, the evidence of an association between financial reporting quality and implied cost of capital estimates is robust. However several papers question the construct validity of these measures which are based on analyst earnings forecasts. I discuss these papers and conclude that the implied cost of capital does have empirical validity. Finally, various papers model the relation between financial reporting quality and cost of capital and, while interesting, mostly restrict themselves to a single factor asset pricing model. However, restricting the model to a single factor model by assumption rules out the possibility of information quality being a separately priced risk factor and further restricts the role information quality to informing about a firm’s covariances (or estimation error in the CAPM beta) because it is assumed that information quality is diversifiable. I think whether something is diversifiable is an empirical question that cannot be resolved by assumption within a theoretical model.
Disclosure quality, diversification and the cost of capital
Authors: Clinch Greg
Published: December 2013

Based on a stylized infinite-period and multi-asset model of a securities market, I discuss several aspects of the link between disclosure quality and cost of capital, with a particular focus on how diversification influences this link. I first show that because investors have finite horizons and thus face price risk, disclosure plays a role in determining ex ante cost of capital in such a setting, contrary to the result of Christensen et al. ((2010) Information and the cost of capital: An ex ante perspective. Accounting Review 83: 817–848). With respect to diversification, I highlight the role of three aspects of a ‘large economy’ that influence how disclosure quality affects cost of capital: (1) the number of firms across which risk is distributed; (2) the number of investors among whom this risk is shared; and (3) the number of information signals (disclosures) available to investors from which to extract information. Finally, I extend the model to include the effects of non-rational traders who follow a simple trading heuristic and show that this results in an additional disclosure-contingent factor in equilibrium price that does not diversify away under fairly general conditions.
The politics of accounting standard-setting: A review of empirical research
Authors: Gipper Brandon , Lombardi Brett J , Skinner Douglas J
Published: December 2013

We provide an overview of the empirical literature on the politics of accounting standard-setting, focusing on the US Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). Although it is clear from casual observation that politics sometimes plays a first-order role in the determination of accounting standards, we argue that more can be done to improve our understanding of this important topic. Based on our review, we outline what we see to be a number of potentially fruitful directions for future research.
A framework for value investing
Authors: Chee Seungmin , Sloan Richard , Uysal Aydin
Published: December 2013

This paper provides a framework for defining, formulating and evaluating value investment strategies. We define the relative value of an investment in terms of the prospective yield implied by the investment’s current price and expected future cash flows. We develop an intuitive and parsimonious approach for estimating the prospective yield by aggregating cum-dividend expected earnings over a suitable forecast horizon. We also adapt this approach to construct a realized yield metric that can be used as a more direct alternative to realized security returns in evaluating value strategies. We illustrate how our framework can be used to evaluate existing measures of value, construct improved measures of value, and attribute the returns to an investment strategy to value versus other sources.
National digital content policies
Authors: Abboud Ramy
Published: December 2013

The paper highlights a comparative analysis of the national policies pertaining to digital content within 10 countries, in addition to the European Union (EU), that were divided into two groups: Arab and non-Arab (Global Group). A prototype model of Policy Assessment Criteria (PAC) was developed to help enhance the quality of the national digital content policies that are mainly under construction. Based on 56 variables included in the PAC, a prototype model of a statistical indicator called Policies Quality Indicator (PQI) was also developed in order to measure the quality of the policies themselves, or, in other words, to identify the quality level of the conceptual framework of digital content policies that may be used on a global scale. In addition to developing both the PQI and the PAC, this paper sheds light on the global strategic planning trends in the field of Digital Content, especially through the comparison of a number of Arab policies to those of a set of developing and developed countries around the world.
Book Review: Poverty amid Plenty in the New India
Authors: Ghosh Sujay
Published: December 2013

Kohli, Atul. 2012: Poverty amid Plenty in the New India. Cambridge, NY: New York. 249 pp. $99.00 (Hardback)/ $28.99 (Paperback). ISBN: 9780521513876 (Hardback)/ 97-1-84813-466-9 (Paperback).
The Sir Jimmy Savile scandal: Child sexual abuse and institutional denial at the BBC
Authors: Greer Chris , McLaughlin Eugene
Published: December 2013

This study advances research on scandal through an empirical examination of one of the most extraordinary UK institutional child sexual abuse (CSA) scandals in the post-war period. Sir Jimmy Savile (1926–2011) was a BBC celebrity, showbiz friend of the establishment and philanthropist. In October 2012, one year after his death, an ITV documentary alleged that Savile was also a prolific sexual predator who for decades had exploited his BBC status to abuse teenage girls. As we demonstrate, this incendiary documentary triggered a news media feeding frenzy that in less than one week destroyed Savile’s reputation and thrust the BBC – the institution that made him a star – into a multi-faceted, globally reported CSA scandal. This study has four purposes. First, we propose a model of institutional CSA scandals that can account for critical transitions between key phases in the scandal process. Second, we apply this model to analyse the transition between the ‘latent’ and ‘activated’ phases of the Savile scandal. This transition corresponded with a dramatic transformation in the inferential structuring of Savile from ‘national treasure’, who had devoted decades to working with children, to ‘prolific sexual predator’, who spent decades abusing them. Third, we demonstrate how the BBC’s denial of responsibility for Savile’s sexual offending and its subsequent institutional cover-up triggered a ‘trial by media’ which in turn initiated the next phase in the scandal’s development – ‘amplification’. Finally, we consider the significance of our analysis of the Sir Jimmy Savile scandal for understanding the activation and development of scandals more generally.
IgG4 Related disease – a retrospective descriptive study highlighting Canadian experiences in diagnosis and management
Authors: Patel Harshna , Khalili Korosh , Kyoung Kim Tae , Yazdi Leyla , Lee Eric , May Gary , Kortan Paul , Coltescu Catalina , Hirschfield Gideon M
Published: December 2013

Background

Appreciating the utility of published diagnostic criteria for autoimmune pancreatitis, when compared to the characteristics of patients clinically managed as having disease, informs and refines ongoing clinical practice.

Methods

Comparative retrospective descriptive evaluation of patients with autoimmune pancreatitis including dedicated radiology review.

Results

66 subjects with radiographic OR clinical features of autoimmune pancreatitis were initially identifiable (Male: n = 50), with 55 confirmed for evaluation. The most common presentation included pain (67%), weight loss (65%), and jaundice (62%). Diffuse enlargement of the pancreas was evident in 38%, whilst multifocal, focal, or atrophic changes were seen in 7%, 33% and 9% respectively. 13% had no pancreatic parenchymal involvement. Peripheral rim enhancement was seen in 23 patients (42%). Where discernible, disease was a) Sclerosing pancreatitis and cholangitis, n = 21; b) Sclerosing cholangitis, n = 9; c) Sclerosing pancreatitis, n = 4; d) Sclerosing pancreatitis and cholangitis with pancreatic pseudotumour, n = 7; e) Sclerosing cholangitis with hepatic pseudotumour, n = 3; f) Sclerosing pancreatitis with pancreatic pseudotumour, n = 1. 56% of the patients had systemic manifestations and the median serum IgG4 at diagnosis was 5.12 g/L. The Korean criteria identified most patients (82%) compared to HISORt (55%) or the Japan Pancreas Society (56%). The majority (HISORt 60%; Japan Pancreas Society 55%; Korean 58%) met diagnostic criterion by radiological findings and elevated serum IgG4. Treatment and response did not differ when stratified by diagnostic criteria.

Conclusion

Our descriptive and retrospective dataset confirms that in non-expert practice settings, autoimmune pancreatitis scoring systems with a focus on radiology and serology capture most patients who are clinically felt to have disease.
Contributions of major smoking-related diseases to reduction in life expectancy associated with smoking in Chinese adults: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Han Wei , Jiang Jingmei , Li Junyao , Zeng Xianjia , Zou Xiaonong , Wu Yanping , Chen Yuanli , Zhao Ping , Hou Lei , Pang Haiyu , Liu Boqi
Published: December 2013

Background

Cigarette smoking is a prominent risk factor for a wide range of diseases. The current study aimed to evaluate the impact of smoking on deaths from major smoking-related diseases (neoplasms, vascular diseases and respiratory diseases) in Chinese adults by estimating the potential gains in life expectancy (LE) that would accrue from eliminating deaths from these diseases, and to determine the contribution of each disease to the reduction in LE associated with smoking.

Methods

Two cohorts of Chinese smokers and non-smokers were constructed from a retrospective national mortality survey that had been conducted in 1989–1991 and included one million all-cause deaths among adults during 1986–1988 in 103 geographical regions. For each cohort, potential gains in LE by eliminating deaths from each major smoking-related disease were estimated. The contributions of each disease to smoking-associated reduction in LE were assessed using the LE decomposition approach.

Results

Among the major smoking-related diseases, it was estimated that elimination of vascular diseases would provide the greatest potential gain in LE (years), regardless of smoking status. The gains for smokers versus non-smokers in populations of urban men, urban women, rural men and rural women aged 35 years were 3.5 vs. 4.3, 3.8 vs. 4.1, 2.4 vs. 3.0, and 2.6 vs. 2.9 years, respectively. Respiratory diseases contributed most to smoking-associated LE reductions in urban women, rural men and rural women of 43.6%, 46.4%, and 62.9%, respectively. In urban men, neoplasms contributed most to smoking-associated LE reduction, their contribution being estimated as 45.8%.

Conclusions

Respiratory disease has the greatest influence on the LE reduction associated with smoking. Thus, smoking prevention could significantly reduce deaths from respiratory disease and improve LE.
A multicentre clinical study on the injection of ceftriaxone/sulbactam compared with cefoperazone/sulbactam in the treatment of respiratory and urinary tract infections
Authors: Xin Xiaojuan , Jian Li , Xia Xiaoying , Jia Bei , Huang Wenxiang , Li Chongzhi , Wang Changzheng , Zhou Lixin , Sun Xiuzhen , Tang Xinghuo , Huang Yijiang , Zhu Yunkui , Zhang Weili
Published: December 2013

Objective

This clinical study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this therapy in the treatment of respiratory and urinary infections caused by ceftriaxone-resistant bacteria in comparison with the effect of cefoperazone/sulbactam on cefoperazone-resistant bacteria.

Methods

A total of 285 patients aged from 18 to 65 years old, with a respiratory or urinary tract bacterial infection, were enrolled into this multicentre, open-label, controlled clinical study, and bacteria that were either ceftriaxone-resistant or cefoperazone-resistant were isolated from the patients, whose condition had not improved after three days of treatment with ceftriaxone or cefoperazone. To be selected for the study, bacterial cultures obtained from the patients had to be positive before enrolment, and all of the isolates were required to be β-lactamase-positive. Of these patients, 253 completed the trial, and 263 were enrolled into the intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis. All of the 285 patients were included in the safety analysis.

Results

The cure and effective rates were 39.55% and 85.07% in the ceftriaxone/sulbactam group and 36.43% and 79.84% in the cefoperazone/sulbactam group; the bacterial eradication rates were 83.58% and 83.72%; and the adverse-event rates were 7.48% and 7.80%, respectively. There were no significant differences between the two groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Ceftriaxone/sulbactam is as effective and well-tolerated as cefoperazone/sulbactam for the treatment of intermediate and severe bacterial infections caused by resistant strains.
Three-dimensional anatomy of equine incisors: tooth length, enamel cover and age related changes
Authors: Schrock Patricia , Lüpke Matthias , Seifert Hermann , Staszyk Carsten
Published: December 2013

Background

Equine incisors are subjected to continuous occlusal wear causing multiple, age related changes of the extragingival crown. It is assumed that the occlusal wear is compensated by continued tooth elongation at the apical ends of the teeth. In this study, μCT-datasets offered the opportunity to analyze the three-dimensional appearance of the extra- and intraalveolar parts of the enamel containing dental crown as well as of the enamel-free dental root. Multiple morphometric measurements elucidated age related, morphological changes within the intraalveolar part of the incisors.

Results

Equine incisors possess a unique enamel cover displaying large indentations on the mesial and distal sides. After eruption tooth elongation at the apical end outbalances occlusal wear for two to four years resulting in increasing incisor length in this period of time. Remarkably, this maximum length is maintained for about ten years, up to a tooth age of 13 to 15 years post eruption. Variances in the total length of individual teeth are related to different Triadan positions (central-, middle- and corner incisors) as well as to the upper and lower arcades.

Conclusion

Equine incisors are able to fully compensate occlusal wear for a limited period of time. However, after this ability ceases, it is expected that a diminished intraalveolar tooth length will cause massive changes in periodontal biomechanics. The time point of these morphodynamic and biomechanical changes (13 to 15 years post eruption) occurs in coincidence with the onset of a recently described destructive disease of equine incisor (equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis) in aged horses. However, further biomechanical, cell biological and microbiological investigations are needed to elucidate a correlation between age related changes of incisor morphology and this disease.
Unraveling the characteristics of microRNA regulation in the developmental and aging process of the human brain
Authors: Li Weiguo , Chen Lina , Li Wan , Qu Xiaoli , He Weiming , He Yuehan , Feng Chenchen , Jia Xu , Zhou Yanyan , Lv Junjie , Liang Binhua , Chen Binbin , Jiang Jing
Published: December 2013

Background

Structure and function of the human brain are subjected to dramatic changes during its development and aging. Studies have demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in the regulation of brain development and have a significant impact on brain aging and neurodegeneration. However, the underling molecular mechanisms are not well understood. In general, development and aging are conventionally studied separately, which may not completely address the physiological mechanism over the entire lifespan. Thus, we study the regulatory effect between miRNAs and mRNAs in the developmental and aging process of the human brain by integrating miRNA and mRNA expression profiles throughout the lifetime.

Methods

In this study, we integrated miRNA and mRNA expression profiles in the human brain across lifespan from the network perspective. First, we chose the age-related miRNAs by polynomial regression models. Second, we constructed the bipartite miRNA-mRNA regulatory network by pair-wise correlation coefficient analysis between miRNA and mRNA expression profiles. At last, we constructed the miRNA-miRNA synergistic network from the miRNA-mRNA network, considering not only the enrichment of target genes but also GO function enrichment of co-regulated target genes.

Results

We found that the average degree of age-related miRNAs was significantly higher than that of non age-related miRNAs in the miRNA-mRNA regulatory network. The topological features between age-related and non age-related miRNAs were significantly different, and 34 reliable age-related miRNA synergistic modules were identified using Cfinder in the miRNA-miRNA synergistic network. The synergistic regulations of module genes were verified by reviewing miRNA target databases and previous studies.

Conclusions

Age-related miRNAs play a more important role than non age-related mrRNAs in the developmental and aging process of the human brain. The age-related miRNAs have synergism, which tend to work together as small modules. These results may provide a new insight into the regulation of miRNAs in the developmental and aging process of the human brain.
The role of intestinal mucosa injury induced by intra-abdominal hypertension in the development of abdominal compartment syndrome and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome
Authors: Cheng Juntao , Wei Zhiyi , Liu Xia , Li Ximei , Yuan Zhiqiang , Zheng Jiang , Chen Xiaodong , Xiao Guangxia , Li Xiaoyi
Published: December 2013

Introduction

Abdominal distension is common in critical illness. There is a growing recognition that intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) may complicate nonsurgical critical illness as well as after abdominal surgery. However, the pathophysiological basis of the injury to the intestinal mucosal barrier and its influence on the onset of abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) and multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS) remain unclear. We measured intestinal microcirculatory blood flow (MBF) during periods of raised intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) and examined how this influenced intestinal permeability, systemic endotoxin release, and histopathological changes.

Methods

To test different grades of IAH to the injury of intestinal mucosa, 96 New Zealand white rabbits aged 5 to 6 months were exposed to increased IAP under nitrogen pneumoperitoneum of 15 mmHg or 25 mmHg for 2, 4 or 6 hours. MBF was measured using a laser Doppler probe placed against the jejunal mucosa through a small laparotomy. Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated dextran was administered by gavage. Intestinal injury and permeability were measured using assays for serum FITC-dextran and endotoxin, respectively, after each increase in IAP. Structural injury to the intestinal mucosa at different levels of IAH was confirmed by light and transmission electron microscopy.

Results

MBF reduced from baseline by 40% when IAP was 15 mmHg for 2 hours. This doubled to 81% when IAP was 25 mmHg for 6 hours. Each indicator of intestinal injury increased significantly, proportionately with IAP elevation and exposure time. Baseline serum FITC-dextran was 9.30 (± SD 6.00) μg/ml, rising to 46.89 (±13.43) μg/ml after 15 mmHg IAP for 4 hours (P <0.01), and 284.59 (± 45.18) μg/ml after 25 mmHg IAP for 6 hours (P <0.01). Endotoxin levels showed the same pattern. After prolonged exposure to increased IAP, microscopy showed erosion and necrosis of jejunal villi, mitochondria swelling and discontinuous intracellular tight junctions.

Conclusions

Intra-abdominal hypertension can significantly reduce MBF in the intestinal mucosa, increase intestinal permeability, result in endotoxemia, and lead to irreversible damage to the mitochondria and necrosis of the gut mucosa. The dysfunction of the intestinal mucosal barrier may be one of the important initial factors responsible for the onset of ACS and MODS.
Dysfunction of alveolar macrophages after cardiac surgery and postoperative pneumonia? - an observational study
Authors: Chalk Katharina , Meisel Christian , Spies Claudia , Volk Thomas , Thuenemann Karin , Linneweber Jörg , Wernecke Klaus-Dieter , Sander Michael
Published: December 2013

Introduction

Patients undergoing cardiac surgery have an increased risk of postoperative pneumonia. Pulmonary immune dysfunction might be a contributing factor. We therefore determined changes of the surface molecules on alveolar macrophages (AMs). To characterize modulation in patients with pneumonia we correlated these changes to the development of postoperative pneumonia.

Methods

After ethical approval and written informed consent, 33 patients undergoing elective coronary bypass grafting surgery were included in this observational study. Peripheral blood cells and alveolar lavage fluid were collected directly after induction of anesthesia and two hours after separation from cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Human leukocyte antigen-DR (HLA-DR) and toll-like receptors (TLR) 2/4 expression on monocytes and AM were assessed by flow cytometry. A total of three patients developed postoperative pneumonia determined according to the criteria of the Center of Disease Control. Statistical analysis was performed with the Mann–Whitney-U test and Wilcoxon test.

Results

We found significant changes of phenotypic and functional immune markers on AMs after cardiac surgery. HLA-DR expression on peripheral blood monocytes and AMs was significantly reduced compared to baseline in all patients (each approximately 30%). After surgery patients who developed postoperative pneumonia revealed a trend of stronger reduction of HLA-DR expression (83.7% versus 27.1%) and TLR4 expression on AMs (46.1% versus 9.9%) compared to patients without pneumonia. Already before surgery, the baseline of TLR2 expression on AM was significantly lower (27.7%) in patients who developed postoperative pneumonia.

Conclusions

As far as we know this is the first study that shows an early impairment of lung cellular immune response after cardiac surgery. These findings can help to understand the role of cell-mediated immunosuppression and its association to the development of postoperative pneumonia.
ΠΑΡΟΥΣΙΑΣΗ ΝΕΩΝ ΒΙΒΛΙΩΝ
Authors: ΜΕΝΤΖΟΥ-ΜΕΪΜΑΡΗ ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΑ
Published: December 2013

Review of the book "Δημήτριου Κυδώνη Μετάφραση του Ψευδο-αυγουστινείου Soliloquia (Ti αν ε'ίποι ψυχή μόνη προς μόνον τον Θεόν).Είσαγωγή-Κείμενο-Εύρετήρια [Corpus Philosophorum medii aevi PhilosophiByzantini, άρ. 11]" written by Anna Koltsiou-Nikita. The book is reviewed by 

Konstantina Mentzoy-Meimari
.
Η ΣΥΝΤΕΧΝΙΑ ΤΩΝ ΥΠΟΔΗΜΑΤΟΠΟΙΩΝ ΣΤΗ ΒΕΝΕΤΟΚΡΑΤΟΥΜΕΝΗ ΚΕΡΚΥΡΑ
Authors: ΚΑΡΛΑΦΤΗ-ΜΟΥΡΑΤΙΔΗ ΦΩΤΕΙΝΗ
Published: December 2013

This study refers to one of the most important crafts of the seventeenthcentury: the craft (Arte) of the shoemakers. Specifically, it attempts toinvestigate and review the factors affecting the process of conducting electionsfor the appointment of the trade union dignitaries, these being: place, time, right to vote and be voted for, problems resulting from the insubordination tolaws and also the adjournment or delay of these elections.

Furthermore, the paper examines the areas of competence of the tradeunion and other dignitaries. It discusses their duties, which include themanagement of the craft's internal affairs so as to ensure its proper and harmonious functioning. In addition to these duties, the union dignitaries alsorepresented their fellow craftsmen in the Regimento, thus assuming a politicalrole, and recommended the principal officials of the craft's auditing procedure.

In conclusion and supplementary to the above, the rights and obligationsof the simple members of the trade union are mentioned, along with themanner in which the profession was conducted.
ΑΝΤΙ ΠΡΟΛΟΓΟΥ: ΟΙ ΚΟΙΝΟΤΗΤΕΣ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗΣ ΧΕΡΣΟΝΗΣΟΥ ΚΑΤΑ ΤΗΝ ΤΟΥΡΚΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ. ΜΙΑ ΑΠΟΠΕΙΡΑ ΣΧΗΜΑΤΙΚΗΣ ΚΑΤΑΤΑΞΗΣ ΣΤΟΝ ΧΩΡΟ, ΚΑΤΑ ΤΗΝ ΕΣΩΤΕΡΙΚΗ ΟΙΚΟΝΟΜΙΚΗ ΚΑΙ ΠΟΛΙΤΙΚΗ ΤΟΥΣ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑ
Authors: ΕΥΘΥΜΙΟΥ ΜΑΡΙΑ
Published: December 2013

During the centuries of Ottoman Rule the local communities of the GreekPeninsula had to fulfill basic duties towards the Ottoman State. This madethem create a local political life more or less rich and complicated, dependingon their geographical position and local circumstances. Some of the biggercommunities of the zone northern than the Volos - Farsala - Arta line,presented -mostly due to their proximity with the dense net of the CentralBalkan roads and ports of commerce- a vivid political life, in whichparticipated the local merchants and artisans with their guilds as well as thelocal religious and administrative clerks and leaders. On the contrary, to thesouth of the above mentioned zone (in Central Greece, in Peloponnesus andin most of the small islands of the Aegean) the local communal political lifewas less complicated, and in the hands of persons or institutions whose localpower was more connected to the land than to handicraft and commerce.
ΤΟ ΣΤΑΔΙΟ ΤΗΣ ΕΡΕΥΝΑΣ ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΜΕ ΤΗΝ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΕΜΠΟΡΙΚΗ ΔΙΑΣΠΟΡΑ ΣΤΟΝ ΡΟΥΜΑΝΙΚΟ ΧΩΡΟ (ΤΟΝ 17ο - 18ο ΑΙΩΝΑ)
Authors: CICANCI OLGA
Published: December 2013

This paper offers an overview of the state of research on the Greek tradediaspora in Romania. The preoccupation of the Romanian historiographywith the Greek trade diaspora in Romania dates back to early 40's. The commercialactivity and the institutional organization of the Greek tradecompanies of Sibiu and Braçov was the topic which initially attracted theattention of Romanian historians. Since the 80's multiplied the number ofpublications and research projects concerning the history of Greek merchanthouses in the Transylvanian towns, while the economic role of Greeks hasbeen accentuated by scholars of the Romanian economic history of the 18thcentury. Recently, the research interest has been expanded to the study of theGreek commercial activity in the Romanian port-cities during the 19thcentury.

The paper includes information about archival data, unpublisheddocuments and doctoral theses, as well as a list of the more recentpublications concerning the history of the Greek trade diaspora in Romania.
Case Report: Resolution of submacular haemorrhage secondary to exudative age-related macular degeneration after a single intravitreal dobesilate injection
Authors: Cuevas Pedro , Outeiriño Luis Antonio , Azanza Carlos , Angulo Javier , Giménez-Gallego Guillermo
Published: December 2013

Introduction: Submacular haemorrhage is not an unusual cause of acute central vision loss, particularly in older people. It may be caused by a number of conditions, most common of which is exudative age-related madular degeneration. In patients affected by this type of macular degeneration, choroidal neovascularization extends into the subretinal space, producing substantial bleeding in approximately 17% of cases, resulting in large haemorrhages in the subretinal space that detach the neurosensory retina from the supporting retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) layer. This leads to substantial vision loss because of a relatively fast process of extensive photoreceptor atrophy in the overlying neuroretina and formation of macular scars

Case presentation: We describe a patient with submacular haemorrhage secondary to exudative age-related macular degeneration, treated with intravitreal injection of dobesilate. Two months later, visual acuity in the treated eye reached 0.50 with a significant improvement of the distortion and an anatomical resolution of the haemorrhage, as confirmed by optical coherence tomography.

Conclusions: Submacular haemorrhage secondary to exudative age-related macular degeneration can be successfully treated with intravitreal dobesilate. To our knowledge, this is the first case reporting a resolution of submacular haemorrhage after a single dobesilate injection.
Development of information universal learning actions by primary schoolchildren
Authors: Хиленко  , Khilenko T.
Published: December 2013

The paper describes the special features of

development of universal learning actions as a base of the

primary schoolchildren’s informational competence. The

author emphasizes reflexive-assessment component of

informational competence and the levels of its development

by the school-leavers.
Locally extra-optimal regularizing algorithms
Authors: Leonov Alexander S.
Published: December 2013

So-called local a posteriori accuracy estimates for approximate
solutions of ill-posed inverse problems are under
investigation. We present an approach to local a posteriori
estimation along with the numerical algorithm for calculating
the estimators. We analyze the local optimality in order of
obtained a posteriori accuracy estimates and introduce a new
important notion of locally extra-optimal regularizing
algorithm as a method for the solution of ill-posed problems
having optimal in order local a posteriori accuracy estimates.
Finally, we demonstrate the results of numerical experiments on
applications of locally extra-optimal regularizing methods,
constructed on the base of Tikhonov regularization, for
calculating local a posteriori accuracy estimates.
Multimodality’s challenge to marketing theory: A Discussion
Authors: White Paul
Published: December 2013

This discussion challenges conventional marketing theory regarding posters and billboards in the twenty first century. It argues against the prevailing dogmatic statement that a poster or billboard must communicate its message in mere seconds (Drewniarny and Jewler 2011). It also points out that convergence of traditional media with new communication technologies is challenging the notion that posters and billboards are still

In contrast, it proposes that assessing how people interact with billboards and posters from a mediated and multimodal discourse perspective is more useful. This involves looking at posters and billboards when they are actually in use rather than considering them only as they are present in the environment. The modal density foreground-background continuum (Norris 2004), the concept of a site of attention (Jones 2005) and the idea of the communicative space (White 2012) are multimodal discourse methodology tools that prove particularly illuminating in this context. While no empirical data is analysed as part of this discussion, mediated and multimodal discourse analysis of two specific examples from previous studies serves to illustrate the points made here.
Autopoiesis in multimedia news messages: A discussion
Authors: Stevens Meghan
Published: December 2013

Autopoietic theory can be applied to a multimedia news story to assist in understanding the topology of the multimedia and how the multimedia message is created from the relationships between the media. In addition, when a news story is created using autopoietic principles, it helps to create a news story that is clear and coherent, and where the intended message is communicated to the target audience. Therefore autopoietic theory can be used in two ways: as a framework to analyse an existing multimedia text and as a model when creating multimedia so that the target audience interprets the message as intended.
Actionary pertinence: Space to place in kitesurfing
Authors: Geenen Jarret
Published: December 2013

Contemporary research investigating the phenomena of lifestyle sport has highlighted the centrality of space, spatiality and spatial appropriation. Lifestyle sports tend to manifest in liminal and/or unbounded spaces with practitioners drawing upon the affordances of the natural environment in new and unique ways. Simultaneously, practitioners employ continuously evolving technical tools (equipment) in the undertaking of these activities. This article articulates the ways in which the specialised equipment employed as mediational means affect the perception, interpretation and valuation of physical components of the natural and man-made environment.

In this article, I introduce the notion of actionary pertinence and concept of locational element through the analysis of the ways in which general geographic areas (spaces) become actual kitesurfing locations (places) for specific social actors through mediated action and in direct connection to the mediational means through which action occurs. Drawing upon data generated through a year-long video ethnography, I argue that components of the physical environment become locational elements for specific social actors in and through mediated action. This explicitly extends theorisation regarding how mediational means affect and structure the nature of the action they mediate (Vygotsky 1978, 1987; Wertsch 1991, 1998), and extends this argument by exemplifying how mediational means also affect and structure the perception and interpretation of physical components of the environment which have a bearing on mediated action. Furthermore, I articulate the ways in which these locational elements are considered, read, re-read and interpreted in terms of their actionary pertinence. Thus, the materiality of locational elements manifests as salient and/or relevant through the bearing an element has on specific mediated actions and practices.
Effects of low intensity laser irradiation during healing of infected skin wounds in the rat
Authors: Nussbaum Ethne L. , Heras Facundo Las , Pritzker Kenneth P.H. , Mazzulli Tony , Lilge Lothar
Published: December 2013

Low intensity laser irradiation remains a controversial treatment for non-healing wounds. This study examines the effect of low intensity light on healing of infected skin wounds in the rat.

Wounds on the rat dorsum were inoculated with

Wounds that were irradiated using a wavelength of 635 nm (1 and 20 J/cm

Red light improved healing of wounds. Only one 808-nm light protocol enhanced healing; lack of benefit using the remaining 808-nm light protocols may have been due to stimulatory effects of the light on
Simulation and experimental validation of gaps and bridging in the automated fiber placement process
Authors: Lichtinger Roland , Lacalle Javier , Hinterhölzl Roland , Beier Uwe , Drechsler Klaus
Published: December 2013

With the increasing demand for carbon fiber-reinforced parts in the aerospace industry, automated manufacturing methods such as automated fiber placement (AFP) are being established. To utilize AFP’s strong potential on multiple-curved surfaces such as chamfered sandwich structures, it is important to analyze and control emerging effects like gaps, bridging, and steering. An analytical relationship between path generation and effects of the AFP manufacture of chamfered sandwich structures have been found with good agreement to experimental tests. The deformation behavior of an industrially used compaction roller has been analyzed numerically and experimentally. The results show a nonuniform deformation behavior on flat and curved surfaces and the limited deformability of the compaction roller.
Attendance of the fourth (2008–2009) screening round of the Hungarian organized, nationwide breast cancer screening program
Authors: Boncz Imre , Döbrőssy Lajos , Péntek Zoltán , Kovács Attila , Budai András , Imre László , Vajda Réka , Sebestyén Andor
Published: December 2013

Introduction: Organised, nationwide screening for breast cancer with mammography in the age group between 45 and 65 years with 2 years screening interval started in Hungary in January 2002. Aim: The aim of this study is to analyze the attendance rate of nationwide breast screening programme for the 2008–2009 years. Method: The data derive from the database of the National Health Insurance Fund Administration. The ratio of women in the age group 45–65 years was calculated having either a screening mammography or a diagnostic mammography in the 4th screening round of the programme. Results: In the years 2000–2001, 7.6% of the women had an opportunistic screening mammography while in 2008–2009 31.2% of the target population had screening mammography within the organized programme. During the same periods 20.2% (2000–2001) and 20.4% (2008–2009) of women had a diagnostic mammography. Thus the total (screening and diagnostic) coverage of mammography increased from 26.6% (2000–2001) to 50.1% (2008–2009). The attendance rate failed to change between 2002 and 2009. Conclusions: In order to decrease the mortality due to breast cancer, the attendance rate of mammography screening programme should be increased. Orv. Hetil., 154(50), 1975–1983.