bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Expanding Phenotypic Spectrum of Familial Comedones
Authors: Rerknimitr Pawinee , Korkij Wiwat , Wititsuwannakul Jade , Panmontha Wipa , Suphapeetiporn Kanya , Shotelersuk Vorasuk
Published: May 2014

Familial comedones is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by thousands of comedones developing in teens. Some pits or inflammatory lesions may coexist. Only 32 patients from three families have previously been reported. We report herein 12 cases in two unrelated families with familial comedones. Clinical manifestations among members in the same family vastly vary from scattered comedones on the face, trunk, upper and lower extremities to generalized thousands of open comedones, a large number of skin pits and acneiform inflammatory lesions over the entire body. Additionally, multiple severe purulent nodules and abscesses that leave unsightly scars similar to those of hidradenitis suppurativa are observed. Lesions of long-standing inflammation in two patients had developed into squamous cell carcinoma with a poor prognosis. The phenotypic spectrum of familial comedones varies to a large degree. Most importantly, there is potential for some long-standing inflammatory lesions to develop into squamous cell carcinoma. Extra vigilance in surveillance and prompt treatment for such lesions are recommended.
A new species of predaceous mite of the genus Neoseiulus Hughes (Acari, Phytoseiidae), with redescriptions of N. magnanalis (Thor) and N. ellesmerei (Chant & Hansell), from Svalbard, High Arctic
Authors: KOLODOCHKA LEONID A. , GWIAZDOWICZ DARIUSZ J.
Published: May 2014

A new species of phytoseiid mite of the genus Neoseiulus (Acari, Phytoseiidae) found in Svalbard is described and illustrated. Redescriptions, drawings, measurements, and diagnosis of two related species, N. magnanalis (Thor) and N. ellesmerei (Chant & Hansell) are given. A neotype is designated for N. magnanalis.
Gobduntaulepis, a new generic name for Acantholepis Pianovskij, 1989 (Conodonta) non Krøyer, 1846 (Actinopterygii)
Authors: DOWELD ALEXANDER B.
Published: May 2014

The fossil genus Acantholepis (type species A. bispinatus Pianovskij, 1989, by original designation) was established by Pianovskij (in Pianovskij, Pianovskaja & Aleksandrova, 1989: 69) for a presumable fossil conodont from the Ordovician of Southern Tien Shan (Gobduntau mountains, Nuratau ridge, Southern Tien Shan, Uzbekistan). However, several years earlier, the identical generic names Acantholepis Krøyer, 1846: 98 for a living fish in current use (Actinopterygii: Osmeriformes: Argentinidae), Acantholepis Mayr, 1861: 26 for a genus of living ants (Formicidae) and Acantholepis Newberry, 1875: 38 for a distinctive fossil fish genus, both latter replaced since then by new generic names, all preceded the recently published conodont generic name, which is therefore preoccupied, having three senior homonyms.
Predictability and Forecast Skill in NMME
Authors: Becker Emily , den Dool Huug van , Zhang Qin
Published: May 2014

Forecast skill and potential predictability of 2-m temperature, precipitation rate, and sea surface temperature are assessed using 29 yr of hindcast data from models included in phase 1 of the North American Multimodel Ensemble (NMME) project. Forecast skill is examined using the anomaly correlation (AC); skill of the bias-corrected ensemble means (EMs) of the individual models and of the NMME 7-model EM are verified against the observed value. Forecast skill is also assessed using the root-mean-square error. The models’ representation of the size of forecast anomalies is also studied. Predictability was considered from two angles: homogeneous, where one model is verified against a single member from its own ensemble, and heterogeneous, where a model’s EM is compared to a single member from another model. This study provides insight both into the physical predictability of the three fields and into the NMME and its contributing models.

Most of the models in the NMME have fairly realistic spread, as represented by the interannual variability. The NMME 7-model forecast skill, verified against observations, is equal to or higher than the individual models’ forecast ACs. Two-meter temperature (T2m) skill matches the highest single-model skill, while precipitation rate and sea surface temperature NMME EM skill is higher than for any single model. Homogeneous predictability is higher than reported skill in all fields, suggesting there may be room for some improvement in model prediction, although there are many regional and seasonal variations. The estimate of potential predictability is not overly sensitive to the choice of model. In general, models with higher homogeneous predictability show higher forecast skill.
The Seven Secrets of Successful Urban School Students
Authors: Hampton Frederick M.
Published: May 2014

This article identifies seven specific attitudes, behaviors, and skills among academically successful urban Black students and explores the relationship to their achievement. This study examines the academic achievement of 157 Black students and finds that when specific Successful Learner Characteristics are present, above-average academic achievement is likely to result. This research further determines that when urban Black students demonstrate these characteristics they also share in greater responsibility for their own learning. Finally, this study concludes that there may be less of an “achievement gap” than there is a gap in attitudes, behaviors, and skills that lead to academic achievement.
The autonomy of government agencies in Germany and Norway: explaining variation in management autonomy across countries and agencies
Authors: Bach Tobias
Published: May 2014

This article reports the results of a comparative analysis of the human resources management (HRM) autonomy of government agencies in Germany and Norway. Whereas the academic literature largely focuses on ministry–agency relations in countries where agencies have been only recently established, these two countries have a long tradition of delegation to agencies outside ministerial departments. However, although sharing a broadly similar administrative tradition, each country differs with regard to the management reform trajectory. This allows an empirical test to be carried out of the effects of management reforms on HRM autonomy, drawing on survey data. The article also discusses the literature on how task characteristics and formal agency structure supposedly affect agency autonomy and puts these claims to an empirical test. The empirical analysis reveals cross-country differences, a somewhat limited effect of task characteristics, and a clear effect of formal structure on de facto HRM autonomy, especially in the German context.

Points for practitioners

The article shows that administrative traditions do not determine trajectories and effects of administrative reforms. Although both countries have a public sector dominated by public law and the principle of legality, the article shows that agency managers in Norway report more extensive autonomy for managing their staff. Thus extensive delegation of management autonomy to agencies is possible even in a ‘Rechtsstaat’ context. Moreover, the article shows that granting agencies extended formal autonomy and the possibility to generate additional income will also contribute to extended management autonomy. Thus, decision-makers may deliberately influence de facto agency autonomy by using different elements of institutional design.
Branded: International education and 21st-century Canadian immigration, education policy, and the welfare state
Authors: Johnstone Marjorie , Lee Eunjung
Published: May 2014

Over the past two decades there has been a shift in Canadian education policy from a focus on education as a public good to education as a commodity, with policy language increasingly infused with the strategies of business. Branded ‘Education au/in Canada’, complementary immigration and education policies accommodate seamless entry, renewal, employment opportunities and finally citizenship for the best and the brightest of students abroad. Using a theoretical lens of neo-liberalism and post-colonialism, this article analyses the close intersectionality between immigration and education policy in Canada, illustrates how Canada actively recruits and maintains international students for its nation-building, and discusses the impact on the Canadian welfare state.
Internationalizing professional practices: The place of social work in the international arena
Authors: Dominelli Lena
Published: May 2014

Internationalizing practices are seldom explicitly considered in social work theory, practice and education. This article examines internationalizing practices, using both historical materials and empirical data recently obtained through a project involving humanitarian aid in a disaster to demonstrate that when people want help in such situations, they prefer locality-specific, culturally-relevant forms of interventions under their own control. Responding to their wishes means that social work educators and practitioners from overseas have to interrogate their internationalism to ensure that they do not damage the people they aim to help further, but work with them in local empowering partnerships that they control.
Managing Collaborative Paradox
Authors: Sedgwick Donna
Published: May 2014

This article examines collaboration between Head Start and the Virginia Preschool Initiative to see how collaborative challenges vary given the degree of collaborative activity between programs. Limited collaborative management research addresses how challenges can change with varying degrees of collaborative activity; this research addresses the gap. Collaborative challenges are discussed through a series of three paradoxes, with evidence of three degrees of collaborative activity: cooperation, coordination, and collaboration. Drawing on qualitative interviews, the author reports that challenges differ with varying degrees of collaborative activity and that coordination between programs produces the most challenges.
Vivid Imagery in Galatians 3:1—Roman Rhetoric, Street Announcing, Graffiti, and Crucifixions
Authors: Muir Steven
Published: May 2014

In Galatians 3:1, Paul makes a striking statement: “It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly exhibited as crucified.” The meaning of Paul's assertion is debated, since it is unlikely that any of his Galatian audience had been eyewitnesses to Jesus’ crucifixion. A number of elements need to be brought together to shed light on Paul's statement. Issues from the Roman world (rhetoric, street announcing, graffiti, and how crucifixions were conducted) shed light on other statements of Paul. Paul saw his preaching on Christ's crucifixion as more than a message—he wanted it to be an experience, a re-presentation of the event. The thesis is that Paul intended his audience to witness or experience Christ's crucifixion as he vividly portrayed it to them, so that it would be memorable for them and they would stay committed to Paul's teachings.
Reconciling the Clinical Practice Guidelines on Bell's Palsy from the AAO‐HNSF and the AAN
Authors: Schwartz Seth R. , Jones Stephanie L. , Getchius Thomas S. D. , Gronseth Gary S.
Published: May 2014

Bell's palsy, named after the Scottish anatomist, Sir Charles Bell, is the most common acute mononeuropathy, or disorder affecting a single nerve, and is the most common diagnosis associated with facial nerve weakness/paralysis. In the past 2 years, both the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO‐HNSF) have published clinical practice guidelines aimed to improve the quality of care and outcomes for patients diagnosed with Bell's palsy. This commentary aims to address the similarities and differences in the scope and final recommendations made by each guideline development group.
Evidence that the attentional set shifting test in rats can be applied in repeated testing paradigms
Authors: Wallace J , Marston H M , McQuade R , Gartside S E
Published: May 2014

The attentional set shifting task (ASST) can be used to assess aspects of executive function, including reversal learning and set shifting. It has frequently been employed in between-subjects experimental designs: however, the clear advantages of within-subjects designs (reduction in variance, animal numbers, and cost) mean that investigation of the suitability of the ASST for within subjects designs is warranted. Rats were tested three times: test 1 (24 h after training), test 2 (24 h later), and test 3 (seven days later). On all three test days, animals showed the expected pattern of performance across the seven task stages with evidence of normal reversal learning (significant increase in trials to criterion when the rule was reversed) and intact set formation (significantly more trials to criterion for an extradimensional shift than for an intradimensional shift). There was a small decrease in total trials required to complete the task between test 1 and test 3 but this was not specific to any stage of the task. Latency to dig decreased on repeated testing suggesting some facilitation of associative learning. In conclusion, the rodent ASST is suitable for within-subject design longitudinal studies, increasing the utility and the translational value of this test and reducing numbers of animals needed in studies.
The Australian tsunami database
Authors: Goff James , Chagué-Goff Catherine
Published: May 2014

There has been a significant increase in the number of peer-reviewed publications, critical reviews and searchable web-based databases, since the first substantial tsunami database for Australia was published in 2007. This review represents a complete reorganization and restructuring of previous work coupled with the addition of new data that takes the number of events from 57 (including 2 erroneous events) to 145. Several significant errors have been corrected including mistaken run-up heights for the event of 19 August 1977, Sumba Island, Indonesia, that suggested it was the largest tsunami in Australia’s history. The largest historical event in the database is now the 17 July 2006, Java, Indonesia, tsunami that had a run-up height of 7.90 m at Steep Point, Western Australia. Although estimated wave heights of 40 ft (∼13 m) were noted for the 8 April 1911 event at Warrnambool, Victoria, no run-up data were provided. One of the more interesting findings has been the occurrence of at least 11 deaths, albeit for events that are generally poorly defined. Data gathered during the construction of this database were rigorously reviewed and as such several previous palaeotsunami entries have been removed and other potentially new ones discarded. The reasons for inclusion or exclusion of data are discussed, and it is acknowledged that while there has been an almost three-fold increase in the number of entries the database is still incomplete. With this in mind the database architecture has been brought in line with others in the region with the ultimate goal of merging them all in order to provide a larger, interrogatable and updatable data set. In essence, the goal is to enhance our understanding of the national and regional tsunami hazard (and risk) and to move towards an open-source database.
Expression Patterns of Micro-RNAs 146a, 181a, and 155 in Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis
Authors: Yiş Uluç , Tüfekçi Uğur Kemal , Genç Şermin , Çarman Kürşat Bora , Bayram Erhan , Topçu Yasemin , Kurul Semra Hız
Published: May 2014

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis is caused by persistent brain infection of mutated virus, showing inflammation, neurodegeneration, and demyelination. Although many factors are emphasized in the pathogenesis of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, the exact mechanism of neurodegeneration remains unknown. Micro-RNAs are small, noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional levels. Micro-RNAs are essential for normal immune system development; besides they are also implicated in the pathogenesis of many chronic inflammatory disorders. The aim of this study is to investigate the expression patterns of micro-RNAs 146a, 181a, and 155 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. We enrolled 39 patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis and 41 healthy controls. Quantitative analysis of micro-RNAs 146a, 181a, and 155 were performed using specific stem-loop primers followed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. All of 3 micro-RNAs were upregulated in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis patients. In addition, the level of micro-RNA 155 expression was higher in stage 3 patients. But, micro-RNA 146a and 181a expression levels showed no association or correlation with clinically relevant data. Alteration of peripheral blood mononuclear cell micro-RNAs in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis may shed new light on the pathogenesis of disease and may contribute to the aberrant systemic rise in mRNA levels in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.
Electrical and mechanical properties of manganese dioxide–magnetite-filled acrylonitrile butadiene rubber blends
Authors: El-Nemr KF , Balboul MR , Ali MA
Published: May 2014

Different concentrations of fillers such as manganese dioxide (MnO2) and magnetite (Fe3O4) were incorporated into acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR)-interlinked composites. The prepared composite systems were irradiated by electrons at a constant dose of 50 kGy to induce radiation cross-linking under atmospheric conditions. The effect of different contents of fillers and temperature variations on direct current (DC) electrical conductivity, σDC, in NBR/MnO2 and NBR/Fe3O4 mixture systems was investigated. The calculated activation energy, Δ EDC, from σDC was found to be highly affected by both the type and concentration of the fillers, while the dielectric properties namely dielectric constant, dielectric loss, and the alternating current (AC) electrical conductivity ( σAC), were measured as functions of frequency and temperature and for different filler concentrations of MnO2 and Fe3O4. The σAC value was calculated from dielectric measurements and by employing a simple relationship. The analysis of the σAC results shows that the conductivity increases up to a temperature of about 330 K. Further increase of temperature reduces the conductivity of Fe3O4 samples, while the conductivity of MnO2 samples tends to show almost constant values after this temperature. Mechanical properties, tensile strength (TS), tensile modulus at 100% elongation, and hardness were established as a function of different concentrations of fillers MnO2 and Fe3O4. It was found that filler incorporation into the NBR matrix is one of the major factors that enhance the TS as well as hardness resistance, while the elongation at break shows an adverse behavior by increasing the content of MnO2 and Fe3O4 fillers.
Neural Predictors of Giving in to Temptation in Daily Life
Authors: Lopez Richard B. , Hofmann Wilhelm , Wagner Dylan D. , Kelley William M. , Heatherton Todd F.
Published: May 2014

The ability to control desires, whether for food, sex, or drugs, enables people to function successfully within society. Yet, in tempting situations, strong impulses often result in self-control failure. Although many triggers of self-control failure have been identified, the question remains as to why some individuals are more likely than others to give in to temptation. In this study, we combined functional neuroimaging and experience sampling to determine if there are brain markers that predict whether people act on their food desires in daily life. We examined food-cue-related activity in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), as well as activity associated with response inhibition in the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG). Greater NAcc activity was associated with greater likelihood of self-control failures, whereas IFG activity supported successful resistance to temptations. These findings demonstrate an important role for the neural mechanisms underlying desire and self-control in people’s real-world experiences of temptations.
Tree-ring reconstruction of the level of Great Salt Lake, USA
Authors: DeRose R Justin , Wang Shih-Yu , Buckley Brendan M , Bekker Matthew F
Published: May 2014

Utah’s Great Salt Lake (GSL) is a closed-basin remnant of the larger Pleistocene-age Lake Bonneville. The modern instrumental record of the GSL-level (i.e. elevation) change is strongly modulated by Pacific Ocean coupled ocean/atmospheric oscillations at low frequency, and therefore reflects the decadal-scale wet/dry cycles that characterize the region. A within-basin network of seven tree-ring chronologies was developed to reconstruct the GSL water year (September–August) level, based upon the instrumental record of GSL level from 1876 to 2005. The result was a 576-year reconstruction of the GSL level that extends from 1429 to 2005; all calibration-verification tests commonly used in dendroclimatology were passed. The reconstruction explains 48% of the variance in the instrumental GSL level and exhibits significant periodicity at sub-decadal scales over the past six centuries. Meanwhile, predominance of multi-decadal periodicity in the early half of the record shifted to quasi-decadal dominance in the latter half, and this is consistent with that of proxy reconstructions of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation. The GSL-level reconstruction is a crucial component to improving our insight into the possible controls of coupled ocean-atmosphere interactions on precipitation delivery.
Serum free light chains, interferon-alpha, and interleukins in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Jolly M , Francis S , Aggarwal R , Mikolaitis RA , Niewold TB , Chubinskaya S , Block JA , Scanzello C , Sequeira W
Published: May 2014

Objective

Interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), interferon-alpha (IFN-α), and free light chains (FLCs: lambda, kappa) have all been noted to be of importance in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Herein, we quantified and explored the relationship between these inflammatory mediators and disease activity in SLE; and stratified by their current anti-dsDNA antibody status.

Methods

Seventy-seven SLE patients underwent assessment of disease activity using the SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI). Serum FLC (lambda, kappa, and total), IL-6, IL-10, and IFN-α were quantified. Demographics of disease characteristics were determined by chart reviews. Statistical analyses included Mann–Whitney test, chi square, and linear regression analyses.

Results

Mean (SD) age of the patients was 44.9 ± 12.7 years; SLEDAI (mean ± SD) was 3.4 ± 4.0. Serum lambda FLC levels had a moderate correlation ( r = 0.46 with physician global assessment, 0.44 with SLEDAI) and the strongest correlation with disease activity as compared with other inflammatory mediators including current dsDNA antibody status. After adjusting for prednisone use, the correlation of lambda FLC with PGA ( r = 0.48) and SLEDAI ( r = 0.52) was better than of current dsDNA antibody status with PGA ( r = 0.33) and adjusted SLEDAI ( r = 0.24), respectively. IL-10 and IFN-α activity did not correlate with disease activity. Serum FLC and IL-6 levels could differentiate between active and inactive SLE patients. Serum lambda FLC and IL-6 levels differed significantly among patients with and without current dsDNA antibodies. Serum lambda FLC levels accounted for 31% of variance in SLEDAI scores.

Conclusion

Serum FLC and IL-6 are potentially useful biomarkers of disease activity in SLE. Further studies, with larger study sample and longitudinal design, are indicated.
Use of tissue swabbing as an alternative to tissue dissection and lysis prior to nucleic acid extraction and real-time polymerase chain reaction detection of Bovine viral diarrhea virus and Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus
Authors: Errington Jane , Jones Rebecca M. , Sawyer Jason
Published: May 2014

The use of swabbing to sample tissue samples, prior to nucleic acid extraction and performance of a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, was investigated for the detection of the viral pathogens Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) and Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). The tissue swabbing method involved swabbing recently cut tissues, eluting the swabbed material, and extracting nucleic acid from the eluate prior to PCR amplification. Parallel testing of this method with traditional nucleic acid extraction from tissues, where small pieces of tissue are dissected and digested (typically overnight) in lysis buffer prior to nucleic acid extraction, was carried out for 50 samples for each virus. The results demonstrated that equivalent PCR results were obtained with both methods. It was also shown on a smaller number of samples that equivalent PCR results were also obtained when the lysis step of the swabbing method was reduced to only 2 hr. The ability to remove the overnight step typically associated with processing tissue samples for PCR analysis offers the potential for same-day testing of tissue. Although the current study is preliminary in nature and further validation will be required before adoption for routine use, the results show that tissue swabbing is a promising approach. It offers a convenient, simpler, and less time-consuming alternative to tissue dissection and lysis and has potential advantages for routine laboratory operation and outbreak testing, including easier pooling and sampling of large areas of tissue and carcasses.
Nonlinear vibration energy harvesting device integrating mechanical stoppers used as synchronous mechanical switches
Authors: Wu Yipeng , Badel Adrien , Formosa Fabien , Liu Weiqun , Agbossou Amen
Published: May 2014

Nonlinear energy extraction techniques for piezoelectric vibration energy harvesting usually require synchronized electronic switches in their electronic interface circuits. But the difficulty to self-power their complex switching control strategies limits their performances, especially in the presence of wideband ambient excitations. This technical note presents a nonlinear energy extraction interface achieved by synchronous mechanical switches. The complex switching control strategy is dodged by taking advantage of mechanical stoppers and the moving part of the piezoelectric oscillator, which is driven by the vibration itself. As a result, the added mechanical stoppers and the self-synchronized nonlinear energy extraction circuit also make the energy harvesting device system be particularly suited to wideband ambient vibrations.
Performance of piezo-stacks for a piezoelectric hybrid actuator by experiments
Authors: Xuan Zhefeng , Jin Tailie , Ha Ngoc San , Goo Nam Seo , Kim Tae Heun , Bae Byung Woon , Ko Han Seo , Yoon Ki Won
Published: May 2014

Piezoelectric-hydraulic actuator is a hybrid device that consists of a hydraulic pump driven by piezoelectric stacks coupled with a conventional hydraulic cylinder and a set of fast-acting valves. Nowadays, such hybrid actuators are being researched and developed actively in many developed countries by requirement of high performance and compact flight system. In this research, operation principle and performance testing of the hybrid actuator were introduced. Two types of piezo-stacks are selected for experimental performance testing to identify the factors of piezo-stack which affect the performance of the hybrid actuator. The performance of piezo-stacks due to electrical power supply and self-heating was considered. Output no-load velocities and blocked force were measured on performance testing. The results showed that the maximum blocked force was 346 N and no-load velocity was 101 mm/s, resulting in maximum output power of 8.74 W at 1000 V applied voltage and 250 Hz pumping frequency.
Rapid Management of Trigeminal Neuralgia and Comorbid Major Depressive Disorder With Duloxetine
Authors: Hsu Chung-Chih , Chang Chun-Wei , Peng Chia-Ho , Liang Chih-Sung
Published: May 2014

Objective: To describe a case of a patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder whose trigeminal neuralgia was unexpectedly but rapidly and efficiently responsive to duloxetine. Case Summary: A 37-year-old woman was diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia, and the initial treatment with carbamazepine 800 mg/d did not improve her pain. In the following 3 years, she was poorly responsive to the combination therapy with several medications, including carbamazepine, valproate, baclofen, diclofenac, and acetaminophen. The repeated gamma knife radiosurgery still did not relieve her symptoms. She developed clinically significant depressive symptoms, and a diagnosis of major depressive disorder was made. Duloxetine 30 mg/d was initiated for the management of depression, with the dose gradually increased to 60 mg/d. Unexpectedly, at the dose of 60 mg/d, the patient reported remarkable relief in her trigeminal neuralgia within the first week. Her depressed mood gradually improved in the following 3 weeks. At the 4-year follow-up, she was gradually tapered off her medications, and her depression and trigeminal neuralgia were well managed on duloxetine 60 mg/d and carbamazepine 600 mg/d. Discussion: The mechanisms may be related to duloxetine’s ability to modulate norepinephrine and serotonin and antagonize N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. The ignition hypothesis is a proposed etiology of trigeminal neuralgia, in that any individual hyperexcitable neuron can spread its discharge quickly to activate the entire population of neurons. We suggest that duloxetine exerts desynchronizing effects through its NMDA antagonism, modulating the hyperexcitable state of the trigeminal afferents. Conclusions: Duloxetine may be an adjuvant in treatment-resistant trigeminal neuralgia.
Gastric Adenocarcinoma in Common Variable Immunodeficiency
Authors: De Petris Giovanni , Dhungel Bal M. , Chen Longwen , Chang Yu-Hui H.
Published: May 2014

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer. The aim of the study was to determine the morphological features of CVID-associated gastric adenocarcinoma (CAGA) and of the background gastritis. The population of gastric cancer patients with CVID of Mayo Clinic in the period 2000-2010 was studied; 6 cases of CVID (2 males, 4 females, average age 47 years, age range 26-71 years) were found in 5793 patients with gastric cancer in the study period. Each patient underwent gastric resection for which histology slides were reviewed. Chronic gastritis variables, CVID-related findings, and features of the adenocarcinoma were recorded. CAGA was of intestinal type, with high number of intratumoral lymphocytes (ITLs). Cancer was diagnosed in younger patients than in the overall population of gastric cancer. Severe atrophic metaplastic pangastritis with extensive dysplasia was present in the background in 4 cases, with features of lymphocytic gastritis in 2 cases. Features of CVID (plasma cells paucity in 4 of 6 cases, lymphoid nodules prominent in four cases) could be detected. In summary, gastric adenocarcinoma at young age with ITLs, accompanied by atrophic metaplastic pangastritis, should alert the pathologist of the possibility of CAGA. It follows that, in presence of those characteristics, the search of CVID-associated abnormalities should be undertaken in the nonneoplastic tissues.
Effectiveness of the Surviving the Teens® Suicide Prevention and Depression Awareness Program
Authors: Strunk Catherine M. , King Keith A. , Vidourek Rebecca A. , Sorter Michael T.
Published: May 2014

Youth suicide is a serious public health issue in the United States. It is currently the third leading cause of death for youth aged 10 to 19. School-based prevention programs may be an effective method of educating youth and enhancing their help-seeking. Most school-based suicide prevention programs have not been rigorously evaluated for their effectiveness. This evaluation employs a comparison group to measure whether program group participants differed significantly from comparison group participants on pretest–posttest measures while assessing the immediate impact of the Surviving the Teens® Suicide Prevention and Depression Awareness Program. Findings indicate several positive outcomes in program group students’ suicide and depression knowledge, attitudes, confidence, and behavioral intentions compared with the comparison group. Suicide prevention specialists and prevention planners may benefit from study findings.
Incidence of Recreational Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding Injuries: six years experience in the largest ski resort in Finland
Authors: Stenroos A. , Handolin L.
Published: May 2014

Background and Aims:

The aim of this study was to provide information on incidences and severity of recreational alpine skiing and snowboarding injuries in Northern Finland and to discuss possible preventive measures to reduce the number and severity of injuries in the future.

Materials and Methods:

This retrospective study consists of all injured skiers and snowboarders in the Levi Ski Resort during the 2006–2012 winter seasons. The Levi Ski Resort has a SKIDATA® system which records automatically every ski-lift run taking place. The emergency system of the resort registers the data (conditions during the injury, patient characteristics, and observed and/or suspected injuries) of all injured persons they meet. The severity of injury is defined by the needed level of care: Grade 1 (treated by the emergency system with no need for further referral), Grade 2 (referral to the local primacy care clinic), Grade 3 (transfer to hospital by ambulance), and Grade 4 (transfer to tertiary care by helicopter).

Results:

During the 6-year study period, there were 29,576.132 lift runs and 2911 injuries were met by the emergency system, resulting in the average injury incidence of 0.98 injuries per 10,000 lift runs. Vice versa, the average number of the ski-lift rides needed to generate one injury was 10,160. The knee injuries of the skiers constituted almost one-third of all cases, whereas snowboarders sustained more injuries to the upper limb and axial areas.

Conclusion:

Skiing and snowboarding are related to a relatively high risk of injury. The most common injuries affect the knee in skiers and the upper extremity, especially the wrist, in snowboarders. A continuous and systematic review of injuries is needed to monitor the effects of changes made in terms of the safety.
Greed and Fear
Authors: Steiner Hillel
Published: May 2014

This essay argues that the proffered grounds for Cohen's rejection of market relations – that they are sustained by the base motives of greed and fear – are unsound and also unnecessary to explain the maximising behaviour induced by those relations.
Measuring hope among families impacted by cognitive impairment
Authors: Hunsaker Amanda E , Terhorst Lauren , Gentry Amanda , Lingler Jennifer H
Published: May 2014

The current exploratory investigation aims to establish the reliability and validity of a hope measure, the Herth Hope Index, among families impacted by early cognitive impairment ( N = 96). Exploratory factor analysis was used to examine the dimensionality of the measure. Bivariate analyses were used to examine construct validity. The sample had moderately high hope scores. A two-factor structure emerged from the factor analysis, explaining 51.44% of the variance. Both factors exhibited strong internal consistency (Cronbach’s alphas ranged from .83 to .86). Satisfaction with social support was positively associated with hope, supporting convergent validity. Neurocognitive status, illness insight, and depression were not associated with hope, indicating discriminant validity. Families impacted by cognitive impairment may maintain hope in the face of a potentially progressive illness, regardless of cognitive status. The Herth Hope Index can be utilized as a reliable and valid measure of hope by practitioners providing support to families impacted by cognitive impairment.
Rethinking the Decline in Social Capital
Authors: Clark April K.
Published: May 2014

This study investigates trends in social capital in the United States since the 1970s. The literature suggests that variations in social capital are associated with both individual attributes and macro-level economic conditions. Yet, others argue that after controlling for these features, large-scale changes in social capital are evident across birth cohorts and over time. While previous studies have identified a number of individual and societal factors that influence social capital, I note that the common modeling approach used is inappropriate for examining the interaction between national and individual-level data as well as the simultaneous influence of period- and cohort-based effects. I therefore utilize a multilevel model to reassess the different theories of the origins and determinants of social capital. The evidence presented casts doubt on past studies that see a general erosion in social capital as well as those that view the decline as stemming from generational replacement.
The results of 479 thumb carpometacarpal joint replacements reported in the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register
Authors: Krukhaug Y. , Lie S. A. , Havelin L. I. , Furnes O. , Hove L. M. , Hallan G.
Published: May 2014

In this study we report the results of thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint replacements in the Norwegian population over a 17-year period. In total, 479 primary replacements performed from 1994 to 2011 were identified in the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register. Implant survival and risk of revision were analyzed using Cox regression analyses. Four different implant designs were compared and time trends were analyzed. The overall 5 and 10 year survivals were 91% and 90%, respectively. The newer metal total arthroplasties did not outperform the older silicone and mono-block implants. At 5 years, the implant survival ranged from 90% to 94% for the different implant brands. Gender, age, and diagnosis did not influence the risk of revision. The incidence of thumb CMC joint replacement did not change during the study period. Despite relatively satisfactory implant survivorship in our register study, current evidence does not support widespread implementation of thumb CMC replacements.
A Clinical Evaluation of Routine Blood Sampling Practices in Patients With Diabetes
Authors: Grady Mike , Pineau Mitchel , Pynes Mary Kate , Katz Laurence B. , Ginsberg Barry
Published: May 2014

Background:

There is a perception that patients with diabetes struggle to produce sufficient blood to fill glucose test strips, including strips with 1-µL fill requirements. The purpose of this study was to determine the volume of blood expressed when these patients perform routine fingersticks using their own lancing device and sampling technique and to evaluate the relationship between blood volume and pain.

Methods:

Sixty-four patients (type 1 or type 2 diabetes) performed 8 fingersticks using their own lancing device and preferred depth setting and lancing technique. Eight different commercially available lancing systems were used (8 patients/system). Blood volume and perceived pain were recorded after each fingerstick.

Results:

The mean blood volume across all patients was 3.1 µL (512 fingersticks), with 97% of patients expressing a mean of ≥1.0 µL of blood. There was no correlation between pain response and the volume of blood expressed. Nearly all patients agreed that they could easily and comfortably obtain a 1-µL blood sample, and most patients actually preferred a larger drop size to ease sampling and avoid wasting strips.

Conclusion:

These results provide evidence across 8 lancing systems that challenge the current perceptions that patients with diabetes struggle to produce sufficient blood samples to fill most test strips, including those with 1-µL fill requirements, and that obtaining larger volumes of blood is more painful. These results are consistent with the previous literature suggesting that patients derive no real benefits from very low strip volumes and generally prefer a blood drop size that enables them to confidently fill their test strip.
The Implications of Worker Behavior for Staffing Decisions
Authors: Tan Fangyun (Tom) , Netessine Serguei
Published: May 2014

Restaurant employees adjust their sales efforts and service speed as more tables are filled and the workload increases. A study of five casual-dining restaurants finds that when the overall workload is low, as guest traffic begins to pick up and the restaurant becomes busy, the servers step up their game by redoubling their sales efforts through suggestive selling and upselling. Once the workload hits a certain level, however, the servers dial back on selling, take steps to shorten meal duration, and focus primarily on service speed. This inverted-U relationship between employee workload and performance holds both in terms of the number of tables and diners that a server concurrently handles. One implication of this analysis is that restaurants may be overstaffed because the employees’ extra effort meant their workload threshold was not reached in the restaurants being studied. Because of the phenomenon of increased employee effort, this chain could reduce its staffing level on average of one worker per shift while still achieving higher sales. An estimated 3 percent increase in sales would result from servers’ increased sales efforts, which occur until the trigger point is reached and employees focus only on speedy service. This article is based on a paper presented at the 2013 Quality in Service Conference (QUIS).
Culture and the Remembering of Trauma
Authors: Jobson Laura , Moradi Ali Reza , Rahimi-Movaghar Vafa , Conway Martin A. , Dalgleish Tim
Published: May 2014

This research investigated the influence of culture and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on global autobiographical remembering (Study 1a) and on the phenomenological properties (Study 1b) and memory-content variables (Study 1c) of trauma-specific autobiographical remembering. Australian, British, and Iranian trauma survivors with and without PTSD completed the Autobiographical Memory Test, Self-Defining Memory Task, and Autobiographical Memory Questionnaire and provided trauma- and negative-memory narratives. We found that there were pan-cultural deficits and distortions in the global autobiographical remembering of participants with PTSD (Study 1a). In addition, the presence of PTSD moderated the usual effect of culture on the phenomenological properties of the trauma memory (Study 1b). Finally, participants with PTSD, regardless of cultural background, had significantly fewer expressions of autonomy and self-determination in their autobiographical remembering than did those without PTSD (Study 1c). The findings suggest that pan-culturally, individuals with PTSD have similar disruptions and distortions in their autobiographical remembering.
Effect of heat treatment on the cellulose-calcium silicate nanocomposites synthesis from waste wood, clam shell, and glass
Authors: Kim S. T. , Park H. J. , Yoon M. Y. , Lee J. S. , Lim Y. S. , Hwang H. J.
Published: May 2014

Cellulose-calcium silicate (CCS) nanocomposites were fabricated through an environment-friendly process from waste wood, glass, and clam shells. Effect of heat-treatment on synthesis of CCS nanocomposites was investigated in terms of the precursor ratio and firing temperature. The optimization of cellulose, silicon, and calcium ratio resulted in the low temperature synthesis and also reducing input energy and the production of toxic by-products. The synthesized CCS nanocomposites were examined for its versatility, especially regarding its ability to replace plastics. The resulting biodegradable material has the potential for use in a variety of applications, including reducing CO2 emissions.
Acquired mutations in BCL2 family proteins conferring resistance to the BH3 mimetic ABT-199 in lymphoma
Authors: Fresquet Vicente , Rieger Melissa , Carolis Carlo , García-Barchino Maria J. , Martinez-Climent Jose A.
Published: May 2014

Key Points

Acquired selective mutations in Bcl2 and BAX conferred resistance to ABT-199 in experimental models of lymphoma. Monitoring the potential development of such mutations in patients treated with ABT-199 is advised.
Deep mRNA sequencing reveals stage-specific transcriptome alterations during microsclerotia development in the smoke tree vascular wilt pathogen, Verticillium dahliae
Authors: Xiong Dianguang , Wang Yonglin , Ma Jie , Klosterman Steven J , Xiao Shuxiao , Tian Chengming
Published: May 2014

Background

Verticillium dahliae is a soil-borne fungus that causes vascular wilt diseases in a wide range of plant hosts. V. dahliae produces multicelled, melanized resting bodies, also known as microsclerotia (MS) that can survive for years in the soil. The MS are the primary source of infection of the Verticillium disease cycle. Thus, MS formation marks an important event in the disease cycle of V. dahliae.

Results

In this study, next generation sequencing technology of RNA-Seq was employed to investigate the global transcriptomic dynamics of MS development to identify differential gene expression at several stages of MS formation in strain XS11 of V. dahliae, isolated from smoke tree. We observed large-scale changes in gene expression during MS formation, such as increased expression of genes involved in protein metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism. Genes involved in glycolytic pathway and melanin biosynthesis were dramatically up-regulated in MS. Cluster analyses revealed increased expression of genes encoding products involved in primary metabolism and stress responses throughout MS development. Differential expression of ubiquitin-dependent protein catabolism and cell death-associated genes during MS development were revealed. Homologs of genes located in the lineage-specific (LS) regions of V. dahliae strain VdLs.17, were either not expressed or showed low expression. Furthermore, alternative splicing (AS) events were analyzed, revealing that over 95.0% AS events involve retention of introns (RI).

Conclusions

These data reveal the dynamics of transcriptional regulation during MS formation and were used to construct a comprehensive high-resolution gene expression map. This map provides a key resource for understanding the biology and molecular basis of MS development of V. dahliae.
Chemiluminescence behavior of CdTe-hydrogen peroxide enhanced by sodium hypochlorite and sensitized sensing of estrogens
Authors: Ling Bo , Bi Jianhong , Pi Zongxin , Dong Huaze , Dong Ling
Published: May 2014

It has been found that sodium hypochlorite enhanced the chemiluminescence (CL) of the CdTe nanocrystal (NC)-hydrogen peroxide system and that estrogens inhibited these CL signals in alkaline solution. CL spectra were used to investigate the mechanism of the CL enhancement. On the basis of the inhibition, a flow-injection CL method has been established for determination of three natural estrogens.
Energy-saving centric uplink scheduling scheme for broadband wireless access networks
Authors: Chen Yen-Wen , Chu Yen-Yin , Peng I-Hsuan
Published: May 2014

This study proposes an energy-saving centric uplink scheduling (ESC-US) scheme to support efficient energy usage and satisfy the quality of service (QoS) requirements of Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax) networks. The uplink resource allocation is different from that of the downlink resource allocation scheme because the uplink traffic is queued at the mobile station (MS) and the base station (BS) has no information regarding it without using a polling procedure. The considered resource scheduling schemes maximize the sleep efficiency and consider the QoS requirements of individual MSs. The proposed scheduling scheme in this study considers the delay budget of MSs with real-time connections and the required minimum reserved traffic rate (MRTR) of MSs with non-real time connections when maximizing sleep efficiency. Both scheduling schemes for the traffic of real-time polling services (rtPS) and non-real-time polling services (nrtPS) apply the ‘just enough QoS’ and ‘sleep before transmission’ (SbT) concepts to achieve this energy-saving centric objective. Exhaustive simulations were conducted to examine the performance of the proposed schemes. The simulation results show that both schemes guarantee the desired QoS and achieve superior energy-savings efficiencies compared to the conventional scheme.