bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Origin Narratives and the Making of Dynastic History in al‐Dīnawarī's Akhbār
Authors: Tayyara Abed el‐Rahman
Published: April 2014

This article takes the reader on a journey into the historical writing of the ninth century Muslim historian al‐Dīnawarī (d. 895) and examines the motives behind composing his al‐Akhbār al‐ṭiwāl. The themes and narrative arrangements of this work give insight into al‐Dīnawarī's historical agenda that demonstrates his interest in royal histories that exemplify the rise and fall of nations, dynasties, and powerful rulers. Al‐Dīnawarī's emphasis on specific episodes and events demonstrates that only certain ethnic groups whose political legitimacy derives from a respectable and prominent origin can bring about political and social stability. By dealing with these sociopolitical concerns, this article also sheds new light on the intellectual discourses and political crises that dominated Islamic society during the eighth and ninth centuries and the way al‐Dīnawarī reacted to these challenges.
Regional Branching Reconsidered: Emergence of the Fuel Cell Industry in European Regions
Authors: Tanner Anne Nygaard
Published: April 2014

The literature on economic geography suffers from a lack of attention to the emergence of new industries. Recent literature on “regional branching” proposes that new industries emerge in regions where preexisting economic activities are technologically related to the emerging industry. This article provides a more grounded basis for the emerging literature on regional branching by confronting the regional branching thesis with the realities of an emerging industry, namely, the fuel cell industry. The analysis is based on patent data and qualitative interviews conducted in a selection of European NUTS2 (nomenclature of territorial units for statistics) regions. The findings can be summarized as follows. First, the analysis reveals that in the case of the emerging fuel cell industry, regional diversification is dominated by firm diversification, which complements previous studies' findings that entrepreneurial spin‐offs dominate regional diversification. Second, the study corroborates the assumption that the process of regional branching relies on knowledge generated by nonindustrial actors such as universities and research institutes. Third, the findings suggest that care should be taken in ascribing the underlying logic of regional branching to the principle of technological relatedness alone. The article shows how some regional diversification processes occur in regions where preexisting economic activities are not technologically related to the emerging industry, for instance, when user industries apply new technologies to their product portfolio. The importance of further investigating and disentangling different dimensions of relatedness and their impact on regional branching is stressed.
Cultural Correlates of Gender Integration in Science
Authors: Cain Cindy L. , Leahey Erin
Published: April 2014

Gender integration within science has been uneven: some fields have integrated women to almost equitable levels, while others remain male‐dominated. Explanations for this variation abound, but few are able to assess empirically the relevance of disciplinary cultures in a systematic way. We take up this challenge by analysing accounts of scientific success in fields that integrated women to a large degree (Psychology and the Life Sciences) and fields that did not (Engineering and Physics). We qualitatively assess how the salience of relationships changed over time in these fields. We find that scientists from disciplines that have crossed the threshold whereby women are no longer tokens culturally value informal relationships more than those in which women remain a small numerical minority.
Iranian mothers' perceptions of the impact of the environment on psychological birth trauma: A qualitative study
Authors: Taghizadeh Ziba , Arbabi Mohammad , Kazemnejad Anoshirvan , Irajpour Alireza , Lopez Violeta
Published: April 2014

Childbirth is a unique experience in women's life. Various factors including human and non‐human environment are involved in shaping the experience of childbirth.This study investigated the role of the environment on the psychological birth trauma from the perceptions of Iranian mothers. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted from September 2011 to February 2012, using audiotaped interviews with 23 Iranian women recruited from Tehran and Isfahan. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using the content analysis. Two themes were extracted from the data: human and non‐human environment; and several categories also emerged from the data, which are communication with mother, awareness of mother's needs, support for mother, medical clinical competence, professional responsibility, hospital's physical structure, hospital's equipment, routine care in hospital and rules governing the hospital's environment, respectively. Considering the significant role of environment in psychological birth trauma of the mother, an appropriate intervention must be developed to enhance both human and non‐human environment in order to reduce the psychological birth trauma.
Accuracy of self‐reported and measured anthropometric data in the inpatient population
Authors: Babiarczyk Beata , Sternal Danuta
Published: April 2014

Self‐reported body mass index (BMI) is commonly used to assess nutritional status. The aim of the study was to assess the accuracy of self‐reported and measured data obtained from the inpatient population. A total of 296 individuals admitted to five hospital wards were included in the study. Patients provided details of their height and weight, and measurements of height and weight were subsequently taken. BMI measurements were calculated from both the self‐reported and the measured data. In general, the study participants overestimated their height and underestimated their weight. Older people and women were significantly more likely to overestimate their height, whereas better educated people were more likely to underestimate their weight. Inaccurate height and weight reporting led to BMI values being underestimated. The findings of this study support previously published research questioning the accuracy of self‐reported height and weight measurements.
Item‐level Frame‐of‐reference Effects in Personality Testing: An investigation of incremental validity in an organizational setting
Authors: Bing Mark N. , Davison H. Kristl , Smothers Jack
Published: April 2014

A recent line of research has investigated the frame‐of‐reference effect on personality scale scores, in which self‐report personality items are contextualized to the specific performance setting (e.g., work, school) within which the performance criterion is gathered. Contextualization has been shown to increase both the reliability and the criterion‐related validity of the personality scale scores by facilitating the self‐presentation of respondents, and by more closely measuring the personality construct relevant to the performance domain. The current research extends this area of personality research in two ways. First, this study tests the generalizability of the effectiveness of item‐level contextualization within an organizational setting. Second, this study also provides the necessary test of the incremental validity of this contextualized approach to personality measurement above and beyond the traditional, noncontextualized approach. The results confirm that a work‐specific personality measure, contextualized at the item level, adds to the prediction of job performance above and beyond that obtained by a noncontextual measure of the same personality traits. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed.
Social Networking Web Sites in Job Search and Employee Recruitment
Authors: Nikolaou Ioannis
Published: April 2014

The use of professionally and nonprofessionally oriented social networking Web sites (SNWs), such as LinkedIn and Facebook, has become widespread from both sides of the Atlantic. The current paper presents and discusses the results of two surveys conducted in Greece exploring the role of SNWs among employees–job seekers and recruiters–human resource professionals. The first study explores how SNWs are used during job search activities and the second how recruiters use them in the attraction recruitment and screening process. Special note is given in the relationship between SNWs and the more established Internet job boards. Our results showed that job seekers still seem to use job boards more extensively than SNWs. It is interesting to note that the association between LinkedIn usage and its effectiveness, on the one hand, and time spent on SNWs and LinkedIn effectiveness, on the other, is stronger for ‘passive’ candidates, demonstrating the important role of SNWs for attracting ‘passive’ candidates. HR professionals are more engaged in LinkedIn than Facebook and were considering the former as more effective than the latter in the recruitment process. The current study sheds more light in the use of SNWs, being one of the first studies conducted in a non‐English speaking country.
Predicting Performance with Contextualized Inventories, No Frame‐of‐reference Effect?
Authors: Holtrop Djurre , Born Marise Ph. , de Vries Reinout E.
Published: April 2014

A recent meta‐analysis showed that contextualized personality inventories have incremental predictive validity over generic personality inventories when predicting job performance. This study aimed to investigate the differences between two types of contextualization of items: Adding an ‘at work’ tag versus completely modifying items. One hundred thirty‐nine pharmacy assistants from 29 pharmacies filled out a generic, a tagged, and a completely modified personality inventory. The assistants also provided participant reactions for each of the personality inventories. Performance ratings were collected from the supervising pharmacists. We expected to find incremental criterion validity for both the tagged inventory and the completely modified inventory for predicting job performance. However, the results showed an unexpected decrease in predictive validity for the contextualized inventories. Contextualized inventories were liked less than the generic inventory, but were considered somewhat more face valid and predictive by the participants.
A relax‐and‐price heuristic for the inventory‐location‐routing problem
Authors: Guerrero W. J. , Prodhon C. , Velasco N. , Amaya C. A.
Published: April 2014

This paper considers the problem of designing a supply chain assuming routing decisions. The objective is to select a subset of depots to open from a set of candidates, the inventory policies for a two‐echelon system, and the set of routes to perform distribution from the upper echelon to the next by a homogeneous fleet of vehicles over a finite planning horizon considering deterministic demand. To solve the problem, a partition is proposed using a Dantzig–Wolfe formulation on the routing variables. A hybridization between column generation, Lagrangian relaxation, and local search is presented within a heuristic procedure. Results demonstrate the capability of the algorithm to compute high quality solutions and empirically estimate the improvement in the cost function of the proposed model at up to 9% compared to the sequential approach. Furthermore, the suggested pricing problem is a new variant of the shortest path problem with applications in urban transportation and telecommunications.
Repeated Radiofrequency Ablation of Atrial Tachycardia in Restrictive Cardiomyopathy Secondary to Myofibrillar Myopathy
Authors: STÖLLBERGER CLAUDIA , GATTERER EDMUND , FINSTERER JOSEF , KUCK KARL‐HEINZ , TILZ ROLAND RICHARD
Published: April 2014

Radiofrequency Ablation in Restrictive Cardiomyopathy

Myofibrillar myopathy is characterized by nonhyaline and hyaline lesions due to mutations in nuclear genes encoding for extra‐myofibrillar or myofibrillar proteins. Cardiac involvement in myofibrillar myopathy may be phenotypically expressed as dilated, hypertrophic, or restrictive cardiomyopathy. Radiofrequency ablation of atrial fibrillation and flutter has so far not been reported in myofibrillar myopathy. We report the case of a young female with myofibrillar myopathy and deteriorating heart failure due to restrictive cardiomyopathy and recurrent atrial fibrillation and atrial tachycardias intolerant to pharmacotherapy. Cardiac arrhythmias were successfully treated with repeat radiofrequency ablations and resulted in regression of heart failure, thus postponing the necessity for cardiac transplantation.
Renal Dysfunction and Clinical Outcomes of Patients Undergoing ICD and CRTD Implantation: Data from the Israeli ICD Registry
Authors: EISEN ALON , SULEIMAN MAHMOUD , STRASBERG BORIS , SELA RON , ROSENHECK SHIMON , FREEDBERG NAHUM A. , GEIST MICHAEL , BEN‐ZVI SHLOMIT , GOLDENBERG ILAN , GLIKSON MICHAEL , HAIM MOTI ,   On behalf of the Israeli working group of pacing and electrophysiology of the Israel Heart Society
Published: April 2014

Renal Function and Outcomes After Defibrillator Implantation

Background

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) reduce mortality in patients with heart failure (HF) and left ventricular dysfunction. However, their efficacy in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is controversial.

Objective

We examined the association between renal dysfunction and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing ICD and CRT defibrillator (CRTD) implantation.

Methods

Data were collected from the Israeli ICD registry. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at implantation was assessed using the modification of diet in renal disease formula. Primary outcome was all‐cause mortality. Secondary outcomes included the composite endpoints of death or HF and death or ventricular arrhythmias (ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation [VT/VF]); any hospitalizations; first appropriate and inappropriate ICD therapy.

Results

During the study period (July 2010–November 2012), 2,811 patients were implanted with ICD or CRTD. One‐year follow‐up data were available for 730 ICD patients and 453 CRTD patients. Patients with eGFR < 30 mL/minute/1.73 m2 (n = 54, 4.6%) were older, had a higher prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, or ischemic heart disease. eGFR <30 mL/minute/1.73 m2 was associated with increased mortality risk in ICD (HR 5.4; 95% CI 1.5–19.2), but not in CRTD patients (HR 0.9; 95% CI 0.1–7.5). Renal dysfunction was associated with the composite endpoints of death or HF and death or VT/VF in ICD, but not in CRTD patients. Mean eGFR during follow‐up decreased by 8.0 ± 4.3 mL/minute/1.73 m2 in ICD patients (P = 0.06) and by 1.8 ± 1.3 mL/minute/1.73 m2 in patients with CRTD (P = 0.2).

Conclusion

Based on this retrospective analysis, CKD is associated with adverse prognosis after ICD implantation, but not after CRTD implantation. GFR decreased in patients with ICD, but not in CRTD patients.
Regional Difference of Optimal Contact Force to Prevent Acute Pulmonary Vein Reconnection During Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: SOTOMI YOHEI , KIKKAWA TAKAYUKI , INOUE KOICHI , TANAKA KOJI , TOYOSHIMA YUKO , OKA TAKAFUMI , TANAKA NOBUAKI , NOZATO YOICHI , ORIHARA YOSHIYUKI , IWAKURA KATSUOMI , SAKATA YASUSHI , FUJII KENSHI
Published: April 2014

Optimal Contact Force for AF Ablation

Background

Regional differences in optimal contact force (CF) to prevent acute pulmonary vein reconnection (APVR) during catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) remain unclear.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to evaluate regional difference in optimal CF during AF ablation.

Methods

This single‐center observational study evaluated data from 57 consecutive drug‐refractory AF patients (mean age, 62 ± 11 years; 43 males) who underwent initial pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using the THERMOCOOL® SMARTTOUCH™ (Biosense Webster, Diamond Bar, CA, USA) catheter from June to August 2013. APVR was defined as the time‐dependent reconnection >20 minutes after initial PVI and/or reconnection evoked by intravenous adenosine administration (20 mg). Point‐by‐point relationships between the reconnected points and their CF values were evaluated.

Results

Total 72 gaps causing APVR were observed. Of a total of 4,421 ablation points, 285 (6.4%) were associated with APVR. The average CF value of the points with APVR was significantly lower than that of those without (APVR vs. no APVR; 7.5 ± 6.7 g vs. 9.9 ± 8.4 g; P < 0.0001). The areas under the curve and optimal CF values differed between segments (range 0.593–0.761 and 10–22 g, respectively). The optimal CF value was highest in bottom of the right PV and posterosuperior right PV segments (22 g) and lowest in posteroinferior right PV segment (10 g).

Conclusions

There was a regional difference in optimal CF values to prevent APVR, and the optimal CF value to prevent APVR with >95% probability was 10–22 g, depending on the individual peri‐PV segments.
Does type of disability make a difference in affiliate stigma among family caregivers of individuals with autism, intellectual disability or physical disability?
Authors: Werner S. , Shulman C.
Published: April 2014

Background

Studies have shown that beyond public and self stigma, stigma can also impact family members. Only scant research has examined the internalised aspects of stigma, known as affiliate stigma, among family caregivers of individuals with disabilities. This study examined affiliate stigma among family caregivers of individuals with developmental disabilities via a comparison between caregivers of individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID), autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and physical disabilities (PD) in Israel.

Methods

Family caregivers (n = 171) of individuals with developmental disabilities, mainly ID (22.4%), ASD (32.9%) and PD (27.1%), completed a self‐report structured questionnaire including the Affiliate Stigma Scale and background variables.

Results

Results supported a one‐factor structure for the Affiliate Stigma Scale. Overall, affiliate stigma was relatively low in this sample, but was found to be higher among caregivers of individuals with ASD when compared with caregivers of individuals with ID or PD.

Conclusion

Findings from this study point to the importance of supporting caregivers of individuals with ASD to decrease their feelings of stigma. It is also important to further develop scales measuring affiliate stigma in order to capture the multi‐dimensional nature of the concept.
Vaginal Breech Birth: Can We Move Beyond the Term Breech Trial?
Authors: Hunter Linda A.
Published: April 2014

Since the publication of the Term Breech Trial in 2000, planned cesarean has become the preferred mode of birth for women whose fetus is in a breech presentation. Over the past 20 years, however, subsequent evidence has not shown conclusively that cesarean birth is safer than vaginal birth for a fetus in a breech presentation when certain criteria are met. Many obstetric organizations support the option of planned vaginal birth for women with a breech presentation under strict prelabor selection criteria and intrapartum management guidelines. The growing trend toward cesarean unfortunately has left midwives and other intrapartum care providers in training with dwindling opportunities to competently master skills for vaginal breech birth. Although simulation training offers opportunities to practice infrequently encountered skills such as vaginal breech birth, it is unknown if this alternative will provide sufficient experience for future generations of clinicians. As a result, women with a breech presentation at term who desire a trial of labor often have limited choices. This article reviews the controversies surrounding the ideal mode of birth created by the Term Breech Trial. Criteria for vaginal breech birth are summarized and the role of simulation explored. Implications for midwifery practice when a breech presentation is diagnosed are also included.
Effect of Cinnamomum cassia Methanol Extract and Sildenafil on Arginase and Sexual Function of Young Male Wistar Rats
Authors: Goswami Sumanta K. , Inamdar Mohammed N. , Jamwal Rohitash , Dethe Shekhar
Published: April 2014

Introduction

Herbs have been used as an aphrodisiac since ages. Cinnamomum cassia is an important ingredient of many Ayurvedic formulations to treat male sexual disorder including erectile dysfunction (ED).

Aim

The objective of the present study was to evaluate erectogenic and aphrodisiac activity of methanol extract of C. cassia bark in young male rats.

Methods

Methanol extract of C. cassia was screened in vitro for arginase inhibition potential and IC50 was determined. Effect of the extract was observed in vitro on phenylephrine pre-contracted isolated rat corpus cavernosum smooth muscle (CCSM) at 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 μg/mL. Young male Wistar rats were dosed with extract at 100 mg/kg body weight for 28 days and its effects on sexual behavior and penile smooth muscle : collagen level were observed.

Main Outcome Measure

Effect of C. cassia was studied on arginase activity in vitro and sexual behavior of young male rats.

Results

C. cassia inhibited arginase activity in vitro with an IC50 of 61.72 ± 2.20 μg/mL. The extract relaxed phenylephrine pre-contracted isolated rat CCSM up to 43% and significantly increased (P < 0.05) sexual function of young male rats. Treatment with the extract also increased smooth muscle level and decreased collagen level in rat penile tissue.

Conclusion

The study proves usefulness of methanol extract of C. cassia bark for increasing sexual function.
Basel III: Long‐term Impact on Economic Performance and Fluctuations
Authors: Angelini Paolo , Clerc Laurent , Cúrdia Vasco , Gambacorta Leonardo , Gerali Andrea , Locarno Alberto , Motto Roberto , Roeger Werner , Van den Heuvel Skander , Vlček Jan
Published: April 2014

Using a wide range of macroeconomic and econometric models we assess the long‐term economic impact of the Basel III reform. Our main results are the following. (1) The economic costs of the new regulatory standards for bank capital and liquidity are considerably below existing estimates of the benefits that the reform should have by reducing the probability of banking crises (Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (2010) ‘An Assessment of the Long‐term Impact of Stronger Capital and Liquidity Requirements’, Basel). (2) The reform dampens output volatility modestly, although there is some heterogeneity across models. (3) The adoption of countercyclical capital buffers can substantially amplify the dampening effect on output volatility.
Constitutive salicylic acid accumulation in pi4kIIIβ1β2 Arabidopsis plants stunts rosette but not root growth
Authors: Šašek Vladimír , Janda Martin , Delage Elise , Puyaubert Juliette , Guivarc'h Anne , López Maseda Encarnación , Dobrev Petre I. , Caius José , Bóka Károly , Valentová Olga , Burketová Lenka , Zachowski Alain , Ruelland Eric
Published: April 2014

Phospholipids have recently been found to be integral elements of hormone signalling pathways. An Arabidopsis thaliana double mutant in two type III phosphatidylinositol‐4‐kinases (PI4Ks), pi4kIIIβ1β2, displays a stunted rosette growth. The causal link between PI4K activity and growth is unknown.

Using microarray analysis, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR) and multiple phytohormone analysis by LC‐MS we investigated the mechanism responsible for the pi4kIIIβ1β2 phenotype.

The pi4kIIIβ1β2 mutant accumulated a high concentration of salicylic acid (SA), constitutively expressed SA marker genes including PR‐1, and was more resistant to Pseudomonas syringae. pi4kIIIβ1β2 was crossed with SA signalling mutants eds1 and npr1 and SA biosynthesis mutant sid2 and NahG. The dwarf phenotype of pi4kIIIβ1β2 rosettes was suppressed in all four triple mutants. Whereas eds1 pi4kIIIβ1β2, sid2 pi4kIIIβ1β2 and NahG pi4kIIIβ1β2 had similar amounts of SA as the wild‐type (WT), npr1pi4kIIIβ1β2 had more SA than pi4kIIIβ1β2 despite being less dwarfed. This indicates that PI4KIIIβ1 and PI4KIIIβ2 are genetically upstream of EDS1 and need functional SA biosynthesis and perception through NPR1 to express the dwarf phenotype. The slow root growth phenotype of pi4kIIIβ1β2 was not suppressed in any of the triple mutants.

The pi4kIIIβ1β2 mutations together cause constitutive activation of SA signalling that is responsible for the dwarf rosette phenotype but not for the short root phenotype.
Neurobiological model of obsessive–compulsive disorder: Evidence from recent neuropsychological and neuroimaging findings
Authors: Nakao Tomohiro , Okada Kayo , Kanba Shigenobu
Published: April 2014

Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) was previously considered refractory to most types of therapeutic intervention. There is now, however, ample evidence that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and behavior therapy are highly effective methods for treatment of OCD. Furthermore, recent neurobiological studies of OCD have found a close correlation between clinical symptoms, cognitive function, and brain function. A large number of previous neuroimaging studies using positron emission tomography, single‐photon emission computed tomography or functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have identified abnormally high activities throughout the frontal cortex and subcortical structures in patients with OCD. Most studies reported excessive activation of these areas during symptom provocation. Furthermore, these hyperactivities were decreased after successful treatment using either selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or behavioral therapy. Based on these findings, an orbitofronto‐striatal model has been postulated as an abnormal neural circuit that mediates symptomatic expression of OCD. On the other hand, previous neuropsychological studies of OCD have reported cognitive dysfunction in executive function, attention, nonverbal memory, and visuospatial skills. Moreover, recent fMRI studies have revealed a correlation between neuropsychological dysfunction and clinical symptoms in OCD by using neuropsychological tasks during fMRI. The evidence from fMRI studies suggests that broader regions, including dorsolateral prefrontal and posterior regions, might be involved in the pathophysiology of OCD. Further, we should consider that OCD is heterogeneous and might have several different neural systems related to clinical factors, such as symptom dimensions. This review outlines recent neuropsychological and neuroimaging studies of OCD. We will also describe several neurobiological models that have been developed recently. Advanced findings in these fields will update the conventional biological model of OCD.
Mycobacterium abscessus Hand‐and‐Foot Disease in Children: Rare or Emerging Disease?
Authors: Sinagra Jo Linda M. , Kanitz Elisabeth E. , Cerocchi Carlo , Cota Carlo , Fantetti Ottavia , Prignano Grazia , Donati Pietro , Tortoli Enrico M. , D'Ancona Francesco P. , Capitanio Bruno
Published: April 2014

Mycobacterium abscessus is emerging as an important cause of cutaneous infections in sporadic cases and outbreak settings. Although immunosuppressed or elderly patients are most commonly affected, in 2006 an outbreak of clinically distinct cutaneous lesions on the hands and feet caused by M. abscessus in a population of healthy children using a public swimming pool was reported. This article describes an outbreak of skin infection in a population of healthy Italian children attending the same school and using the same swimming pool. In January 2010 we identified three children with multiple, painful nodules on the palms and soles. M. abscessus was isolated from one child's lesions. A public health investigation was conducted and a team of dermatologists and public health officers visited all of the children; 514 children were screened and 29 cases were identified overall. All of the affected children had used the school's swimming pool. These children were treated with oral clarithromycin for 4 to 8 weeks. Because of the long period of time between the presentation and diagnosis of the first cases, the possibility that the number of cases may have been underestimated cannot be excluded. To our knowledge, this is the second largest reported cluster of M. abscessus skin infection suspected to be related to swimming pool exposure in a population of otherwise healthy children. It is unclear whether this disease is rare or should be considered as an emerging clinical entity.
Lipofibromatosis: An Institutional and Literature Review of an Uncommon Entity
Authors: Boos Markus D. , Chikwava Kudakwashe R. , Dormans John P. , Chauvin Nancy A. , Jen Melinda
Published: April 2014

We report six new cases of lipofibromatosis, an uncommon pediatric soft tissue neoplasm. This is the only series of patients to be described since the initial case series of 45 patients that characterized this entity in 2000. The purpose of this study was to characterize the presentation of lipofibromatosis to further define the clinical phenotype of this rare entity. Six patients were diagnosed with lipofibromatosis at our institution from 2000 to 2012. Patient age, sex, and ethnicity were recorded, along with tumor site and size, management, and recurrence data. Half of our patients were younger than 2 years old at presentation and the other half were school age. Boys and girls were affected with equal frequency. In five of six patients, lipofibromatosis presented in its “classic” form as a mass on the distal extremities. These tumors typically measured 1 to 2 cm in diameter, in contrast to case reports in the medical literature highlighting the occurrence of lipofibromatosis of greater size and at varied anatomic sites. The tumors in our series were managed using excision, with recurrence noted in 33%. Lipofibromatosis is an uncommon tumor typically found on the distal extremities of infants, although it can appear in various sizes and locations. It should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pediatric soft tissue neoplasms.
Assessment of lower urinary tract function in children with Down syndrome
Authors: Kitamura Atsuko , Kondoh Tatsuro , Noguchi Mitsuru , Hatada Teppei , Tohbu Shohei , Mori Ken‐ichi , Matsuo Manabu , Kunitsugu Ichiro , Kanetake Hiroshi , Moriuchi Hiroyuki
Published: April 2014

Background

Despite the fact that functional lower urinary tract symptoms are common among people with Down syndrome (DS), their voiding function has not been studied precisely. Our goal was to assess the lower urinary tract functions in DS.

Methods

Fifty‐five DS children aged 5–15 years old and 35 age‐matched control children were evaluated by ultrasonography and uroflowmetry.

Results

Eleven (20%) DS children had no uresiesthesia, 21 (38%) were urinated under guidance, nine (16%) urinated fewer than three times a day, two (4%) urinated more than 10 times a day, three (5%) used diapers, and 26 (47%) had urinary incontinence. Seven (13%), 15 (27%), and 10 (18%) DS children had weak, prolonged and intermittent urination, respectively, and seven (13%) had urination with straining. In contrast, none of the control subjects had urinary problems. In the uroflowmetrical analysis, 10 (18%), 20 (37%), 11 (20%) and five (9%) DS children showed “bell‐shaped,” “plateau,” “staccato” and “interrupted” patterns, respectively; the remaining nine (16%) could not be analyzed. In contrast, 21 (60%), one (3%), four (11%), three (9%) and two (6%) control subjects showed bell‐shaped, tower‐shaped, plateau, staccato and interrupted patterns, respectively; the remaining four (11%) could not be analyzed. Residual urine was demonstrated in four (7%) DS children and one (3%) control child.

Conclusions

Lower urinary tract symptoms and abnormal uroflowmetry findings, which can lead to further progressive renal and urinary disorders, are common in DS children. Therefore, lower urinary tract functions should be assessed at the life‐long regular medical check‐ups for subjects with DS.
Talk‐in‐interaction and neuropsychological processes
Authors: Finset Arnstein
Published: April 2014

Talk‐in‐interaction is characterized by a pattern of turn‐taking between conversational partners and rapid shifts from turn to turn without pauses between turns. During talk‐in‐interaction speakers constantly adjust to one another's terminology, repeat expressions from turn to turn and imitate each other's verbal as well as nonverbal behavior, a phenomenon characterized by automatic processing referred to as interactive alignment. Recent studies have shown how interactive alignment is subserved by neural coupling of brain activity of speakers and listeners, integrating comprehension and language production across many brain areas. Verbal behavior during talk‐in‐interaction is also dependent on the ability to draw inferences from verbally ambiguous expressions, to a large extent subserved by right hemisphere (RH) functioning, but the nature of the RH contribution to the activation and selection of inferences is under discussion in the research literature. There is emerging evidence of synchrony in neural activity and psychophysiological processing reflecting the interactive alignment observed on the behavioral level during talk‐in‐interaction. An understanding of neuropsychological aspects of talk‐in‐interaction may have potential implications for our understanding of doctor‐patient dialogue.
A bicycle crash inspires an inquiry‐based learning activity
Authors: Evans Diane , Evans Elizabeth , Silva Mary Rose
Published: April 2014

This article introduces a fun, hands‐on activity for comparing hand water displacements.
Immunohistochemical expression of p63, Ki67 and β‐catenin in canine transitional cell carcinoma and polypoid cystitis of the urinary bladder
Authors: Hanazono K. , Nishimori T. , Fukumoto S. , Kawamura Y. , Endo Y. , Kadosawa T. , Uchide T.
Published: April 2014

Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is a urinary bladder tumour associated with high mortality in dogs. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of using p63, Ki67 or β‐catenin as a clinical marker for predicting biological behaviour and prognosis in canine TCC. Expression levels of these proteins in TCC (n = 25), polypoid cystitis (n = 5) and normal urinary bladder (n = 5) were scored after immunohistochemical staining. The staining scores for p63 (P < 0.01) and β‐catenin (P < 0.05) in TCC were significantly lower than those in normal urinary bladder and polypoid cystitis. In contrast, Ki67 (P < 0.01) staining scores in TCC were significantly higher than those in normal urinary bladder and polypoid cystitis. In TCC, low p63 expression was significantly related to the presence of vessel invasion (P < 0.05) and metastasis (P < 0.01) as well as short survival time (P < 0.05). These findings show that p63 could be a reliable marker for predicting prognosis in canine TCC.
Endoscopy and cohomology growth on
Authors: Marshall Simon
Published: April 2014

We apply the endoscopic classification of automorphic forms on $U(3)$ to study the growth of the first Betti number of congruence covers of a Picard modular surface. As a consequence, we establish a case of a conjecture of Sarnak and Xue on cohomology growth.
Laurent polynomials, GKZ-hypergeometric systems and mixed Hodge modules
Authors: Reichelt Thomas
Published: April 2014

We endow certain GKZ-hypergeometric systems with a natural structure of a mixed Hodge module, which is compatible with the mixed Hodge module structure on the Gauß–Manin system of an associated family of Laurent polynomials. As an application we show that the underlying perverse sheaf of a GKZ-system with rational parameter has quasi-unipotent local monodromy.
Motor Skills and Calibrated Autism Severity in Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: MacDonald Megan , Lord Catherine , Ulrich Dale A.
Published: April 2014

In addition to the core characteristics of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), motor skill deficits are present, persistent, and pervasive across age. Although motor skill deficits have been indicated in young children with autism, they have not been included in the primary discussion of early intervention content. One hundred fifty-nine young children with a confirmed diagnosis of ASD (n = 110), PDD-NOS (n = 26), and non-ASD (n = 23) between the ages of 14–33 months participated in this study.1 The univariate general linear model tested the relationship of fine and gross motor skills and social communicative skills (using calibrated autism severity scores). Fine motor and gross motor skills significantly predicted calibrated autism severity (p < .05). Children with weaker motor skills have greater social communicative skill deficits. Future directions and the role of motor skills in early intervention are discussed.
The Effects of Beta-Alanine Supplementation on Performance: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: Quesnele Jairus J. , Laframboise Michelle A. , Wong Jessica J. , Kim Peter , Wells Greg D.
Published: April 2014

Purpose:

To critically review the methodological quality and synthesize information from systematic reviews and high quality studies on the effects of beta alanine (BA) on exercise and athletic performance.

Methods:

A search strategy was developed in accordance with the standards for the reporting of scientific literature via systematic reviews. Five databases were thoroughly searched from inception to November 2012. Inclusion criteria were English language, human studies, used BA to increase exercise or athletic performance, systematic reviews or randomized controlled trials and were published in a peer-reviewed journal. Included studies were systematically graded for their methodological quality by rotating pairs of reviewers and the results were qualitatively synthesized.

Results:

One systematic review and 19 randomized trials were included in this review. There is one systematic review with several methodological weaknesses that limit the confidence in its results. There are moderate to high quality studies that appear to support that BA may increase power output and working capacity, decrease the feeling of fatigue and exhaustion, and have of positive effect on body composition and carnosine content. The reporting of side effects from BA supplementation in the athletic population was generally under-reported.

Conclusions:

There appears to be some evidence from this review that supplementation with BA may increase athletic performance. However, there is insufficient evidence examining the safety of BA supplementation and its side effects. It is therefore recommended to err on the side of caution in using BA as an ergogenic aid until there is sufficient evidence confirming its safety.
Dietary Intake at Competition in Elite Olympic Combat Sports
Authors: Pettersson Stefan , Berg Christina M.
Published: April 2014

The purpose of the current study was to investigate elite female (n = 21) and male (n = 47) combat sports athletes’ (n = 68; mean age (± SD) 21.3 ± 3.8 years; mean height 177 ± 10.2 cm) dietary intake between weigh-in and the first bout in Olympic combat sports. The data were collected at 6 separate tournaments and measurements included estimated food records, time for recovery, and body weight (BW) at weigh-in and first match. In total, 33 athletes participated in wrestling and taekwondo, sports with extended recovery times, and 35 athletes in judo and boxing, sports with limited recovery time. The results displayed that despite a mean consumption of food and drinks corresponding to 4.2 kg, the athletes only regained an average of 1.9 kg BW during recovery. Water accounted for 86% of the total intake. For each liter of water consumed, athletes gained 0.57 kg BW, when excluding heavy weight athletes (n = 5). Carbohydrate consumption was 5.5 g/kg BW, compared with the recommended 8–10 g/kg BW. In total, one-quarter of the consumed water originated from carbohydrate-rich drinks. Given the average recovery time of 18 (wrestling, taekwondo) versus 8 hr (judo, boxing), the former group consumed twice the amount of water, carbohydrates, protein, and fat as the latter group. In conclusion, a large proportion of the participants did not meet the recovery nutrition guidelines for carbohydrates. In addition, the discrepancy between nutrient intake and weight gain points to the physiological barriers to retaining fluids during a limited recovery time after engaging in weight making practices.
The Effect of a Caffeinated Mouth-Rinse on Endurance Cycling Time-Trial Performance
Authors: Doering Thomas M. , Fell James W. , Leveritt Michael D. , Desbrow Ben , Shing Cecilia M.
Published: April 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate if acute caffeine exposure via mouth-rinse improved endurance cycling time-trial performance in well-trained cyclists. It was hypothesized that caffeine exposure at the mouth would enhance endurance cycling time-trial performance. Ten well-trained male cyclists (mean± SD: 32.9 ± 7.5 years, 74.7 ± 5.3kg, 176.8 ± 5.1cm, VO2peak = 59.8 ± 3.5ml·kg–1·min–1) completed two experimental timetrials following 24 hr of dietary and exercise standardization. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over design was employed whereby cyclists completed a time-trial in the fastest time possible, which was equivalent work to cycling at 75% of peak aerobic power output for 60 min. Cyclists were administered 25ml mouth-rinses for 10 s containing either placebo or 35mg of anhydrous caffeine eight times throughout the time-trial. Perceptual and physiological variables were recorded throughout. No significant improvement in time-trial performance was observed with caffeine (3918 ± 243s) compared with placebo mouth-rinse (3940 ± 227s). No elevation in plasma caffeine was detected due to the mouth-rinse conditions. Caffeine mouth-rinse had no significant effect on rating of perceived exertion, heart rate, rate of oxygen consumption or blood lactate concentration. Eight exposures of a 35 mg dose of caffeine at the buccal cavity for 10s does not significantly enhance endurance cycling time-trial performance, nor does it elevate plasma caffeine concentration.
Sex-Specific Associations between Screen Time and Lipoprotein Subfractions
Authors: Frazier-Wood Alexis C. , Borecki Ingrid B. , Feitosa Mary F. , Hopkins Paul N. , Smith Caren E. , Arnett Donna K.
Published: April 2014

Background:

Time spent in sedentary activities (such as watching television) has previously been associated with several risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) such as increased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Little is known about associations with lipoprotein subfractions. Using television and computer screen time in hours per day as a measure of sedentary time, we examined the association of screen time with lipoprotein subfractions.

Methods:

Data were used from men and women forming the Genetics of Lipid Lowering Drugs and Diet Network (GOLDN) study population. Mixed linear models specified lipoprotein measures as the outcome, and screen time as the predictor for fourteen lipoprotein subfraction measures, and included age, smoking status, pedigree, and fat, carbohydrate daily alcohol and energy intake as covariates. Analyses were run separately for men (n = 623) and women (n = 671). A step-down Bonferroni correction was applied to results. The analysis was repeated for significant results (p < .05), additionally controlling for body mass index (BMI) and moderate and vigorous physical activity.

Results:

Linear models indicated that screen time was associated with five lipoprotein parameters in women: the concentration of large VLDL particles (p = .01), LDL particle number (p = .01), concentration of small LDL particles (p = .04), the concentration of large HDL particles (p = .04), and HDL diameter (p = .02). All associations remained after controlling for moderate or vigorous physical activity and BMI.

Conclusions:

We show that sedentary time is associated with lipoprotein measures, markers of cardiometabolic disease, independently of physical activity and BMI, in women but not men.
Physical Activity–Related and Weather-Related Practices of Child Care Centers From 2 States
Authors: Ball Sarah C. , Gillman Matthew W. , Mayhew Meghan , Brouwer Rebecca J. Namenek , Neelon Sara E. Benjamin
Published: April 2014

Background:

Young children’s physical activity (PA) is influenced by their child care environment. This study assessed PA practices in centers from Massachusetts (MA) and Rhode Island (RI), compared them to best practice recommendations, and assessed differences between states and center profit status. We also assessed weather-related practices.

Methods:

Sixty percent of MA and 54% of RI directors returned a survey, for a total of 254. Recommendations were 1) daily outdoor play, 2) providing outdoor play area, 3) limiting fixed play structures, 4) variety of portable play equipment, and 5) providing indoor play area. We fit multivariable linear regression models to examine adjusted associations between state, profit status, PA, and weather-related practices.

Results:

MA did not differ from RI in meeting PA recommendations (β = 0.03; 0.15, 0.21; P = .72), but MA centers scored higher on weather-related practices (β = 0.47; 0.16, 0.79; P = .004). For-profit centers had lower PA scores compared with nonprofits (β = −0.20; 95% CI: −0.38, −0.02; P = .03), but they did not differ for weather (β = 0.12; −0.19, 0.44; P = .44).

Conclusions:

More MA centers allowed children outside in light rain or snow. For-profit centers had more equipment—both fixed and portable. Results from this study may help inform interventions to increase PA in children.
Cracking Brazil's Forest Code
Authors: Soares-Filho Britaldo , Rajão Raoni , Macedo Marcia , Carneiro Arnaldo , Costa William , Coe Michael , Rodrigues Hermann , Alencar Ane
Published: April 2014

Brazil's controversial new Forest Code grants amnesty to illegal deforesters, but creates new mechanisms for forest conservation.
High-Resolution Genomic Analysis of Human Mitochondrial RNA Sequence Variation
Authors: Hodgkinson Alan , Idaghdour Youssef , Gbeha Elias , Grenier Jean-Christophe , Hip-Ki Elodie , Bruat Vanessa , Goulet Jean-Philippe , de Malliard Thibault , Awadalla Philip
Published: April 2014

RNA Heteroplasmy

Like nuclear DNA, the mitochondrial genome has to be posttranscriptionally modified to function properly; however, among individuals, mitochondrial RNA (mtRNA) transcripts vary in ways that are poorly understood.

Hodgkinson
et al.

(p.
413
) looked at mtRNA editing events and posttranscriptional methylation in more than 700 individuals. Interestingly, variation at the ninth position within transfer RNAs showed a high frequency of variation that, in some cases, is genetically attributable.
To Best Rule the Net

The Global War for Internet Governance
by Laura DeNardis

Yale University Press, New Haven, CT, 2014. 296 pp. $38, £25. ISBN 9780300181357.
Authors: Weitzner Daniel J.
Published: April 2014

Examining technologies and policies, DeNardis considers the politics behind Internet protocols and the many groups vying to influence them.
A Dual-Catalysis Approach to Enantioselective [2 + 2] Photocycloadditions Using Visible Light
Authors: Du Juana , Skubi Kazimer L. , Schultz Danielle M. , Yoon Tehshik P.
Published: April 2014

A Dual Approach to 2 + 2

Asymmetric catalysis generally accelerates the pathway to one specific product geometry that can be manipulated by reducing the temperature to slow down competing reactions. It is more difficult to be selective in photochemical reactions, but in the [2 + 2] coupling of olefins to make four-membered rings,

Du
et al.

(p.
392
; see the Perspective by

Neier

) used a ruthenium catalyst that absorbs visible light to activate the substrates below the frequency threshold where they absorb intrinsically. Then a second—a chiral Lewis acid—catalyst directs the product stereochemistry. A major advantage of the dual reactions is that each catalyst can be tuned independently.