bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crystal structure of a CRISPR RNA–guided surveillance complex bound to a ssDNA target
Authors: Mulepati Sabin , Héroux Annie , Bailey Scott
Published: August 2014

A foreign-DNA–destroying machine

Bacteria have an adaptive immune system, called CRISPR, that identifies invading viruses through their DNA or RNA sequences and cuts them up (see the Perspective by Zhang and Sontheimer). Jackson
et al.
and Mulepati
et al.
have determined the structure of the large protein complex, called Cascade, that targets the invading nucleic acids and does the cutting. The seahorse-shaped structure reveals how the 11 subcomponents of Cascade assemble into the final protein complex. The structure also shows how Cascade presents the short CRISPR-derived RNAs so that they can bind and target foreign DNA.

Science
, this issue p.
1473
and p.
1479
; see also p.
1452
Complete Nucleotide Sequence of pVv01, a P1-Like Plasmid Prophage of Vibrio vulnificus
Authors: Hammerl Jens A. , Klevanskaa Karina , Strauch Eckhard , Hertwig Stefan
Published: August 2014

We report here the 79,263-bp plasmid pVv01 isolated from
Vibrio vulnificus
. pVv01 is closely related to the
Vibrio
plasmid p0908 and shows some similarities to phage P1. Unlike p0908, pVv01 represents an intact prophage inducible by mitomycin C. PVv01 phage particles revealed a myoviridal morphology and lytic activity.
Integrated Metagenomics and Metatranscriptomics Analyses of Root-Associated Soil from Transgenic Switchgrass
Authors: Chauhan Archana , Smartt Abby , Wang Jun , Utturkar Sagar , Frank Ashley , Bi Meng , Liu Jiang , Williams Daniel , Xu Tingting , Eldridge Melanie , Arreaza Andres , Rogers Alexandra , Gonzalez Hector Castro , Layton Alice C. , Baxter Holly L. , Mazarei Mitra , DeBruyn Jennifer M. , Stewart C. Neal , Brown Steven D. , Hauser Loren J. , Sayler Gary S.
Published: August 2014

The benefits of using transgenic switchgrass with decreased levels of caffeic acid 3-
O
-methyltransferase (COMT) as biomass feedstock have been clearly demonstrated. However, its effect on the soil microbial community has not been assessed. Here we report metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analyses of root-associated soil from COMT switchgrass compared with nontransgenic counterparts.
Draft Genome Sequence of Nonlabens ulvanivorans, an Ulvan-Degrading Bacterium
Authors: Kopel Moran , Helbert William , Henrissat Bernard , Doniger Tirza , Banin Ehud
Published: August 2014

Here we report the draft genome sequence of the bacterium
Nonlabens ulvanivorans
, which was recently isolated. To our knowledge, this is the first published genome of a characterized ulvan-degrading bacterium. Revealing the ulvan utilization pathways may provide access to a vast marine biomass source that has yet to be exploited.
Draft Genome Sequence of Burkholderia sordidicola S170, a Potential Plant Growth Promoter Isolated from Coniferous Forest Soil in the Czech Republic
Authors: Lladó Salvador , Xu Zhuofei , Sørensen Søren J. , Baldrian Petr
Published: August 2014

Burkholderia
species are key players in the accumulation of carbon from cellulose decomposition in coniferous forest ecosystems. We report here the draft genome of
Burkholderia sordidicola
strain S170, containing features associated with known genes involved in plant growth promotion, the biological control of plant diseases, and green remediation technologies.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Haloferax
sp. Strain ATB1, Isolated from a Semi-Arid Region in the Brazilian Caatinga
Authors: Castro Wendel de Oliveira , Torres-Ballesteros Adriana Maria , Nakayama Cristina Rossi , Melo Itamar Soares , Pellizari Vivian Helena , Silva Artur , Ramos Rommel Thiago Jucá
Published: August 2014

Organisms in the
Haloferax
genus are extreme halophiles that grow in environments with pH values between 4 and 12, and temperatures between 0°C and 60°C. In the present study, a draft of the first
Haloferax
sp. strain ATB1 genome isolated from the region of Cariri (in Paraíba State, Brazil) is presented.
Benefit of statin pretreatment in prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy in different adult patient population: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Singh Nirmal , Lee Justin Z , Huang Jennifer J , Low See Wei , Howe Carol , Pandit Anil , Suryanarayana Prakash , Lee Kwan S
Published: August 2014

Objective

Previous studies have suggested that statin pretreatment prevents contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). However, single randomised trials are limited in their number of patients. This meta-analysis aims to assess the role of statin use in CIN prevention, as well as to determine patient subgroups that will benefit from statin pre-treatment.

Methodology

We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of science and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases for randomised controlled trials (RCT) comparing statin pretreatment versus placebo for preventing CIN. Our main outcome was the risk of CIN within 1–5 days after contrast administration.

Results

Data analysed from nine randomised studies with a total of 5143 patients, where 2559 received statins and 2584 received placebo, showed that statin pretreatment was associated with significant reduction in risk of CIN (MH-RR=0.47, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.64, Z=4.49, p<0.00001). This beneficial effect of statin was also seen in patients with baseline renal impairment (MH-RR=0.46, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.72, p=0.0008) and also those who were cotreated with NAC (MH-RR=0.46, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.83, p=0.01).

Conclusions

Statin pretreatment leads to significant reduction in CIN, and should be strongly considered in all patients who are planned for diagnostic and interventional procedures involving contrast-media administration.
Introgression of leaf rust and stripe rust resistance from Sharon goatgrass (Aegilops sharonensis Eig) into bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: Millet E. , Manisterski J. , Ben-Yehuda P. , Distelfeld A. , Deek J. , Wan A. , Chen X. , Steffenson B.J.
Published: August 2014

Leaf rust and stripe rust are devastating wheat diseases, causing significant yield losses in many regions of the world. The use of resistant varieties is the most efficient way to protect wheat crops from these diseases. Sharon goatgrass (Aegilops sharonensis or AES), which is a diploid wild relative of wheat, exhibits a high frequency of leaf and stripe rust resistance. We used the resistant AES accession TH548 and induced homoeologous recombination by the ph1b allele to obtain resistant wheat recombinant lines carrying AES chromosome segments in the genetic background of the spring wheat cultivar Galil. The gametocidal effect from AES was overcome by using an “anti-gametocidal” wheat mutant. These recombinant lines were found resistant to highly virulent races of the leaf and stripe rust pathogens in Israel and the United States. Molecular DArT analysis of the different recombinant lines revealed different lengths of AES segments on wheat chromosome 6B, which indicates the location of both resistance genes.
On the regularity of timelike extremal surfaces
Authors: Jerrard Robert L. , Novaga Matteo , Orlandi Giandomenico
Published: August 2014

We study a class of timelike weakly extremal surfaces in flat Minkowski space ℝ1+n, characterized by the fact that they admit a C1 parametrization (in general not an immersion) of a specific form. We prove that if the distinguished parametrization is of class Ck, then the surface is regularly immersed away from a closed singular set of Euclidean Hausdorff dimension at most 1 + 1/k, and that this bound is sharp. We also show that, generically with respect to a natural topology, the singular set of a timelike weakly extremal cylinder in ℝ1+n is one-dimensional if n = 2, and it is empty if n ≥ 4. For n = 3, timelike weakly extremal surfaces exhibit an intermediate behavior.
Liouville type theorem for nonlinear elliptic equation involving Grushin operators
Authors: Yu Xiaohui
Published: August 2014

In this paper, we study the nonexistence of positive solutions for the following elliptic equation [Formula: see text] where Lαu = Δxu + (α + 1)2|x|2αΔyu, α > 0, (x, y) ∈ ℝm× ℝk. We will prove that this problem possesses no positive solutions under some assumptions on the nonlinear term f. The main technique we use is the moving plane method in an integral form.
Scattering theory below energy space for two-dimensional nonlinear Schrödinger equation
Authors: Miao Changxing , Zheng Jiqiang
Published: August 2014

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the I-method by studying low-regularity solutions of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation in two space dimensions. By applying this method, together with the interaction Morawetz estimate, (see [J. Colliander, M. Grillakis and N. Tzirakis, Tensor products and correlation estimates with applications to nonlinear Schrödinger equations, Commun. Pure Appl. Math.62 (2009) 920–968; F. Planchon and L. Vega, Bilinear virial identities and applications, Ann. Sci. École Norm. Sup.42 (2009) 261–290]), we establish global well-posedness and scattering for low-regularity solutions of the equation iut+ Δu = λ1|u|p1u + λ2|u|p2u under certain assumptions on parameters. This is the first result of this type for an equation which is not scale-invariant. In the first step, we establish global well-posedness and scattering for low regularity solutions of the equation iut+ Δu = |u|pu, for a suitable range of the exponent p extending the result of Colliander, Grillakis and Tzirakis [Commun. Pure Appl. Math.62 (2009) 920–968].
HOW OPEN DO MNCS NEED TO BE TO EXTRACT VALUE IN OPEN INNOVATION?
Authors: WILLIAMS CHRISTOPHER , VOSSEN JAAP
Published: August 2014

We investigate the relationship between openness and value appropriation in the open innovation strategies of multinational corporations (MNCs). Previous research has suggested an inverted U-shaped relationship between external knowledge sourcing and innovative performance of firms engaged in open innovation (Laursen and Salter, 2006). Little research, however, has been conducted on the specific relationship between openness and value appropriation in the context of open innovation involving MNCs. To address this, we conduct a sequential mixed-methods study involving: (1) interviews with 31 elite key informants in large, well-known MNCs, and (2) a survey questionnaire of innovation managers in 75 MNCs. We find strong support for an inverted U-shaped relationship between openness and value appropriation in MNCs engaging in open innovation. Our interview data provides rich and substantive insight into this relationship. We discuss implications for theory and practice.
Optimal factorizations of rational numbers using factorization trees
Authors: Samuels Charles L. , Strunk Tanner J.
Published: August 2014

Let mt(α) denote the t-metric Mahler measure of the algebraic number α. Recent work of the first author established that the infimum in mt(α) is attained by a single point [Formula: see text] for all sufficiently large t. Nevertheless, no efficient method for locating [Formula: see text] is known. In this paper, we define a new tree data structure, called a factorization tree, which enables us to find [Formula: see text] when α ∈ ℚ. We establish several basic properties of factorization trees, and use these properties to locate [Formula: see text] in previously unknown cases.
Cardiovascular and thermoregulatory biomarkers of heat stroke severity in a conscious rat model
Authors: Quinn Carrie M. , Duran Rocio M. , Audet Gerald N. , Charkoudian Nisha , Leon Lisa R.
Published: August 2014

Multiorgan failure is a catastrophic consequence of heat stroke (HS) and considered the underlying etiology of mortality. Identifying novel biomarkers capable of predicting the extent of HS-induced organ damage will enhance point-of-care triage and treatment. Conscious male F344 rats ( n = 32) were radiotelemetered for continuous core temperature (Tc), heart rate, and arterial pressure measurement. Twenty-two animals were exposed to ambient temperature of 37°C to a maximum Tc of 41.9 ± 0.1°C. Rats were euthanized at 24 h of recovery for analysis of plasma biomarkers [cardiac troponin I (cTnI), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), albumin, glucose] and histology. Tc profiles observed during recovery stratified HS severity into Mild, Moderate, and Severe. Eleven (50%) animals exhibited an acute compensatory hemodynamic response to heat exposure and a monophasic Tc profile consisting of sustained hyperthermia (∼1°C). Five (23%) rats displayed hemodynamic challenge and a biphasic Tc profile with rapid return to baseline followed by rebound hyperthermia. All biomarkers were significantly altered from control values ( P < 0.05). Four (18%) animals exhibited significant hemodynamic compromise during heat and a triphasic profile characterized by rapid cooling to baseline Tc, rebound hyperthermia, and subsequent hypothermia (∼35°C) through 24 h. cTnI showed a 40-fold increase over CON ( P < 0.001) and correlated with BUN ( r = 0.912) consistent with cardiorenal failure. Hypoglycemia correlated with ALT ( r = 0.824) suggestive of liver dysfunction. Histology demonstrated myocardial infarction, renal tubular necrosis, and acute liver necrosis. Two (9%) animals succumbed during HS recovery. This study identified novel biomarkers that predict HS severity and organ damage during acute recovery that could provide clinical significance for identifying key biomarkers of HS pathogenesis.
Cardiac CaM Kinase II Genes δ and γ Contribute to Adverse Remodeling but Redundantly Inhibit Calcineurin-Induced Myocardial Hypertrophy
Authors: Kreusser Michael M. , Lehmann Lorenz H. , Keranov Stanislav , Hoting Marc-Oscar , Oehl Ulrike , Kohlhaas Michael , Reil Jan-Christian , Neumann Kay , Schneider Michael D. , Hill Joseph A. , Dobrev Dobromir , Maack Christoph , Maier Lars S. , Gröne Hermann-Josef , Katus Hugo A. , Olson Eric N. , Backs Johannes
Published: August 2014

Background—

Ca
2+
-dependent signaling through CaM Kinase II (CaMKII) and calcineurin was suggested to contribute to adverse cardiac remodeling. However, the relative importance of CaMKII versus calcineurin for adverse cardiac remodeling remained unclear.

Methods and Results—

We generated double-knockout mice (DKO) lacking the 2 cardiac CaMKII genes δ and γ specifically in cardiomyocytes. We show that both CaMKII isoforms contribute redundantly to phosphorylation not only of phospholamban, ryanodine receptor 2, and histone deacetylase 4, but also calcineurin. Under baseline conditions, DKO mice are viable and display neither abnormal Ca
2+
handling nor functional and structural changes. On pathological pressure overload and β-adrenergic stimulation, DKO mice are protected against cardiac dysfunction and interstitial fibrosis. But surprisingly and paradoxically, DKO mice develop cardiac hypertrophy driven by excessive activation of endogenous calcineurin, which is associated with a lack of phosphorylation at the auto-inhibitory calcineurin A site Ser411. Likewise, calcineurin inhibition prevents cardiac hypertrophy in DKO. On exercise performance, DKO mice show an exaggeration of cardiac hypertrophy with increased expression of the calcineurin target gene RCAN1-4 but no signs of adverse cardiac remodeling.

Conclusions—

We established a mouse model in which CaMKII’s activity is specifically and completely abolished. By the use of this model we show that CaMKII induces maladaptive cardiac remodeling while it inhibits calcineurin-dependent hypertrophy. These data suggest inhibition of CaMKII but not calcineurin as a promising approach to attenuate the progression of heart failure.
Combined Effects of Socioeconomic Position, Smoking, and Hypertension on Risk of Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke
Authors: Nordahl Helene , Osler Merete , Frederiksen Birgitte Lidegaard , Andersen Ingelise , Prescott Eva , Overvad Kim , Diderichsen Finn , Rod Naja Hulvej
Published: August 2014

Background and Purpose—

Combined effects of socioeconomic position and well-established risk factors on stroke incidence have not been formally investigated.

Methods—

In a pooled cohort study of 68 643 men and women aged 30 to 70 years in Denmark, we examined the combined effect and interaction between socioeconomic position (ie, education), smoking, and hypertension on ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke incidence by the use of the additive hazards model.

Results—

During 14 years of follow-up, 3613 ischemic strokes and 776 hemorrhagic strokes were observed. Current smoking and hypertension were more prevalent among those with low education. Low versus high education was associated with greater ischemic, but not hemorrhagic, stroke incidence. The combined effect of low education and current smoking was more than expected by the sum of their separate effects on ischemic stroke incidence, particularly among men: 134 (95% confidence interval, 49–219) extra cases per 100 000 person-years because of interaction, adjusted for age, cohort study, and birth cohort. There was no clear evidence of interaction between low education and hypertension. The combined effect of current smoking and hypertension was more than expected by the sum of their separate effects on ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke incidence. This effect was most pronounced for ischemic stroke among women: 178 (95% confidence interval, 103–253) extra cases per 100 000 person-years because of interaction, adjusted for age, cohort study, and birth cohort.

Conclusions—

Reducing smoking in those with low socioeconomic position and in those with hypertension could potentially reduce social inequality stroke incidence.
Circuit Class Therapy and 7-Day-Week Therapy Increase Physiotherapy Time, But Not Patient Activity
Authors: English Coralie , Bernhardt Julie , Hillier Susan
Published: August 2014

Background and Purpose—

The optimum model of physiotherapy service delivery for maximizing active task practice during rehabilitation after stroke is unknown. The purpose of the study was to examine the relative effectiveness of 2 alternative models of physiotherapy service delivery against a usual care control with regard to increasing patient activity.

Methods—

Substudy within a large 3-armed randomized controlled trial, which compared 3 different models of physiotherapy service delivery, was provided for 4 weeks during subacute, inpatient rehabilitation (n=283). The duration of all physiotherapy sessions was recorded. In addition, 32 participants were observed at 10-minute intervals for 1 weekday and 1 weekend day between 8:00
am
and 4:30
pm
. At each observation, we recorded physical activity, location, and people present.

Results—

Participants receiving 7-day-week and circuit class therapy received an additional 3 hours and 22 hours of physiotherapy time, respectively, when compared with usual care. Participants were standing or walking for a median of 8.2% of observations. On weekdays, circuit class therapy participants spent more time in therapy-related activity (10.2% of observations) when compared with usual care participants (6.1% of observations). On weekends, 7-day therapy participants spent more time in therapy-related activity (4.2% of observations) when compared with both usual care and circuit class therapy participants (0% of observations for both groups). Activity levels outside of therapy sessions did not differ between groups.

Conclusions—

A greater dosage of physiotherapy time did not translate into meaningful increases in physical activity across the day.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.anzctr.org.au/
. Unique identifier: ACTRN12610000096055.
First Harvestman Record for the Juan Fernández Archipelago, Chile, with Morphological Notes on Acropsopilio chilensis (Opiliones: Caddidae: Acroposopilioninae)
Authors: PÉREZ-GONZÁLEZ ABEL , RAMÍREZ MARTÍN J. , SOTO EDUARDO M. , PIZARRO-ARAYA JAIME
Published: August 2014

Acropsopilio chilensis Silvestri, 1904 (Eupnoi: Caddidae: Acropsopilioninae), is recorded for Robinson Crusoe Island, Chile. This is the first harvestman species recorded for the Juan Fernández Archipelago and also the first extra-continental record for this species. During the comparison with continental co-specific specimens, some previously unknown, remarkable morphological characteristics were discovered, among them: the absence of ovipositor seminal receptacles and tracheal system, small and probably imperforate spiracles and the presence of a subdistal spiny structure, maybe a stylus, in the major branch of the penis.
After the gold rush: Corporate Warriors and The Market for Force revisited
Authors: Ettinger Aaron
Published: August 2014

In the mid-1990s, unprecedented interventions by private companies specializing in the delivery of military muscle and know-how began altering the dynamics of local conflicts. Since then, private military and security companies have transformed the dynamics of local security delivery around the world, most prominently in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the process, the private military industry has generated plenty of profit and attention, both alarmist and analytical. Two totems of research into the burgeoning industry and its implications are Corporate Warriors by P.W. Singer and The Market for Force by Deborah Avant. Nearly a decade after their publication, these books remain among the most in-depth and sustained treatments of the industry. This essay looks back at the arguments presented in each book and their influence on subsequent research on military privatization.
Complexities and Issues to Consider in the Evaluation of Content Teachers of English Language Learners
Authors: Turkan Sultan , Buzick Heather M.
Published: August 2014

The current interest in evaluating teachers and teacher education programs provides an opportunity to consider the education of diverse learners in K-12 schools in the United States. We address teaching English language learners (ELLs), a rapidly growing population. Challenges lie in holding content teachers of ELLs accountable as they are not adequately prepared to teach ELLs. In this article, we outline complexities surrounding the definition of the quality of teaching content to ELLs, provide an overview of existing teacher evaluation instruments, and discuss the difficulties in using ELL test scores to estimate the teacher contributions to academic growth of ELLs.
Advancing Social Equity
Authors: Jos Philip H.
Published: August 2014

A commitment to social equity is often thought to require that administrators engage in explicit forms of direct policy advocacy but the inter-organizational, cross-sector networks that characterize 21st-century administration offer many opportunities to advance social equity by ensuring procedural fairness. Focusing on key aspects of collaborative governance reveals such opportunities as they emerge in the selection, recruitment, and retention of stakeholders; in facilitating the deliberations and work of collaboratives, and ensuring accountability within the network of partners.
Text messaging and retrieval techniques for a mobile health information system
Authors: Adesina Ademola O. , Agbele Kehinde K. , Abidoye Ademola P. , Nyongesa Henry O.
Published: August 2014

Mobile phones have been identified as one of the technologies that can be used to overcome the challenges of information dissemination regarding serious diseases. Short message services, a much used function of cell phones, for example, can be turned into a major tool for accessing databases. This paper focuses on the design and development of a short message services-based information access algorithm to carefully screen information on human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome within the context of a frequently asked questions system. However, automating the short message services-based information search and retrieval poses significant challenges because of the inherent noise in its communications. The developed algorithm was used to retrieve the best-ranked question–answer pair. Results were evaluated using three metrics: average precision, recall and computational time. The retrieval efficacy was measured and it was confirmed that there was a significant improvement in the results of the proposed algorithm when compared with similar retrieval algorithms.
Blood volume measurement by hemodilution: association with valve disease and re-evaluation of the Allen Formula
Authors: Hilberath JN , Thomas ME , Smith T , Jara C , Fitzgerald DJ , Wilusz K , Liu X , Muehlschlegel JD
Published: August 2014

Background:

Total blood volume (TBV) assessment is central to the management of cardiac surgical patients with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The widely accepted Allen Formula lacks accuracy in estimating TBV in these patients. Moreover, the impact of commonly encountered cardiac disease states on TBV has not been systematically investigated. The aim of this study was to determine TBV by hemodilution (TBVHD) for patients with valve disease, compare TBVHD to algorithms frequently used during cardiac surgery and to modify the Allen Formula to better fit today’s patient population.

Methods:

TBVHD was prospectively measured upon initiation of CPB. Ninety-six patients were grouped into 4 cohorts by preoperative diagnosis and compared to Allen and weight-based formulae in a univariate analysis: mitral regurgitation (MR), coronary artery disease requiring bypass surgery (CABG) and aortic stenosis (AS) ± CABG. The independent effects of height and weight on TBV were correlated to the original Allen Formula by multiple linear regression.

Results:

Patients with MR had significantly larger TBVHD compared to patients with AS, CABG or both. The smallest TBVHD was found in the patients with AS and CABG. The modified Allen Formula had an excellent model fit (R2 = 0.88 and R2 = 0.95 for males and females, respectively; p<0.001) while the classic formula overestimated TBV by 30% in males and females. For males, height impacted TBV calculations the most whereas weight was the predominant determinant in females.

Conclusion:

Blood volume assessment via the Allen Formula or bodyweight overestimated TBV in cardiac surgical patients, with potential implications on their management. The assumption that MR frequently presents with increased intravascular volume was confirmed whereas AS patients with coronary disease had a relatively smaller TBV. Lastly, a modified Allen Formula to better reflect today’s patient population was derived to reproducibly improve accuracy in mathematical estimates of TBV.
Efficacy of electrical stimulation as an adjunct to repetitive task practice therapy on skilled hand performance in hemiparetic stroke patients: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Gharib Nevein MM , Aboumousa Ahmed M , Elowishy Abeer A , Rezk-Allah Soheir S , Yousef Fatma S
Published: August 2014

Objective:

To assess the effects of additional electrical stimulation to hand muscles combined with repetitive task practice therapy on skilled hand performance in stroke patients.

Design:

A randomized controlled study.

Setting:

Neurological physical therapy outpatient clinic.

Subjects:

Forty stroke patients of both sexes (45-65 years - 16 females and 24 males).

Methods:

Participants were randomly assigned into two equal groups: experimental and control groups. All patients received repetitive task practice. Those in the experimental group received additional electrical stimulation for specific hand muscles and patients in the control group received sham electrical stimulation. Treatment was provided three times/week for two months.

Main outcome measures:

Patients received baseline and post-treatment assessments using three-dimensional motion analysis (to evaluate range of motion of fingers abduction and extension), motor assessment scale (to assess hand motor function) and time to complete Jebsen Taylor Test (to assess hand skills).

Results:

Patients in the experimental group showed a significant improvement as compared with those in the control group. Motor assessment scale score was 4.25±0.63 for the experimental group and 3.35±0.74 for the control group ( t=-3.50 and p= 0.0001). Time to complete Jebsen Taylor Test was 180.90±7.04 for the experimental group and 192.80±6.87 for the control group ( t=4.50 and p= 0.0001). There was a significant improvement in fingers abduction and extension in both groups (in favor to the experimental group).

Conclusion:

Repetitive task practice therapy combined with electrical stimulation can improve skilled hand performance in terms of hand motor function, skills and range of motion in stroke patients.
Cost-Effectiveness Analyses in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
Authors: Nwachukwu Benedict U. , Schairer William W. , Bernstein Jaime L. , Dodwell Emily R. , Marx Robert G. , Allen Answorth A.
Published: August 2014

Background:

As increasing attention is paid to the cost of health care delivered in the United States (US), cost-effectiveness analyses (CEAs) are gaining in popularity. Reviews of the CEA literature have been performed in other areas of medicine, including some subspecialties within orthopaedics. Demonstrating the value of medical procedures is of utmost importance, yet very little is known about the overall quality and findings of CEAs in sports medicine.

Purpose:

To identify and summarize CEA studies in orthopaedic sports medicine and to grade the quality of the available literature.

Study Design:

Systematic review.

Methods:

A systematic review of the literature was performed to compile findings and grade the methodological quality of US-based CEA studies in sports medicine. The Quality of Health Economic Studies (QHES) instrument and the checklist by the US Panel on Cost-effectiveness in Health and Medicine were used to assess study quality. One-sided Fisher exact testing was performed to analyze the predictors of high-quality CEAs.

Results:

Twelve studies met inclusion criteria. Five studies examined anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, 3 studies examined rotator cuff repair, 2 examined autologous chondrocyte implantation, 1 study examined hip arthroscopic surgery, and 1 study examined the operative management of shoulder dislocations. Based on study findings, operative intervention in sports medicine is highly cost-effective. The quality of published evidence is good, with a mean quality score of 81.8 (range, 70-94). There is a trend toward higher quality in more recent publications. No significant predictor of high-quality evidence was found.

Conclusion:

The CEA literature in sports medicine is good; however, there is a paucity of studies, and the available evidence is focused on a few procedures. More work needs to be conducted to quantify the cost-effectiveness of different techniques and procedures within sports medicine. The QHES tool may be useful for the evaluation of future CEAs.
Newcomer Immigrant Adolescents and Ambiguous Discrimination
Authors: Patel Sita G. , Tabb Kevin M. , Strambler Michael J. , Eltareb Fazia
Published: August 2014

Cognitive appraisal has been shown to mediate the relationship between stressors and internalizing symptoms, but not among newcomer immigrant youth facing ambiguous discrimination. Using a mixed-methods design with a sample of newcomer adolescents from African, Arab, Asian, Caribbean, European, and Latin American countries, this study measured the perceived occurrence of discrimination (attribution to discrimination) and its perceived degree of severity (cognitive appraisal) in relation to internalizing symptoms and academic achievement. Attribution to discrimination predicted greater internalizing symptoms, and appraisal mediated this relationship. The mediation effect was found for younger, but not older adolescents. Quantitative results suggest that perceiving discrimination to be threatening, not just that it occurred, relates to psychological health. Qualitative results suggest that for newcomer adolescents, discrimination is a highly prevalent and complex stressor with multiple psychosocial ramifications.
Crack prevention of biodegradable polymer coating on metal facilitated by a nano-coupled interlayer
Authors: Cho Youngjin , Vu Bach Quang , Bedair Tarek M , Park Bang Ju , Joung Yoon Ki , Han Dong Keun
Published: August 2014

Crack prevention of biodegradable polymer coatings on drug-eluting stents was investigated by introducing a nano-coupled layer at the interface between the metal surface and the polymer coating layer using surface-initiated ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone. Poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) coating on cobalt-chromium control and ricinoleic acid-poly(caprolactone)–grafted cobalt-chromium was carried out using electrospraying. The cracking of the biodegradable polymer coating on drug-eluting stents during ballooning was addressed by introducing a nano-coupled interlayer on the cobalt-chromium surface. The ricinoleic acid-poly(caprolactone) nano-coupled interlayer and poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide)-coated top layer were characterized using attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared, contact angle, ellipsometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Based on scratch tests, the nano-coupled samples had stronger interfacial adhesion compared to the control sample without the nano-coupled layer. Scanning electron microscope images indicated that the cracking on the poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) coating was addressed. Introducing a nano-coupling interlayer may be an important strategy to preventing polymer coating cracking on drug-eluting stents.
Multicomponent Training of Teachers of Students With Severe Disabilities
Authors: Brown Phillip , Stephenson Jennifer , Carter Mark
Published: August 2014

Over the last decade, the obligation of general and special educators to utilize evidence-based instructional practices has become more prominent. Research increasingly suggests the failure of didactic teacher training alone to ensure implementation with fidelity of these practices by teachers in their classrooms. Multicomponent training (MCT) strategies utilizing didactic presentations, followed by coaching with role-play and specific performance feedback, offer a useful strategy for training teachers of students with severe disabilities in the evidence-based practices of their field. This pilot study successfully demonstrated the efficiency, feasibility, and acceptability of a school-based MCT strategy in the training of four teachers of students with severe disabilities in the use of simultaneous prompting (SP). The MCT strategy utilized demonstrated the efficacy of a research-based performance feedback process. Implications for the comprehensive and rigorous training of teachers of students with severe disabilities are discussed.
Grit, Guts, and Vanilla Beans
Authors: Gerber Lynne
Published: August 2014

Ex-gay ministries, like many evangelical groups, advocate traditional gender ideologies. But their discourses and practices generate masculine ideals that are quite distinct from hegemonic ones. I argue that rather than simply reproducing hegemonic masculinity, ex-gay ministries attempt to realize godly masculinity, an ideal that differs significantly from hegemonic masculinity and is explicitly critical of it. I discuss three aspects of the godly masculine ideal—de-emphasizing heterosexual conquest, inclusive masculinity, and homo-intimacy—that work to subvert hegemonic masculinity and allow ministry members to critique it while still advocating for innate gender distinction and hierarchy. I conclude by arguing that gender theorists need to be more precise in distinguishing conservative religious masculinities from hegemonic ones.
Stress, Drugs, and Alcohol Use Among Health Care Professional Students
Authors: Bidwal Monica K. , Ip Eric J. , Shah Bijal M. , Serino Melissa J.
Published: August 2014

Objective:

To contrast the characteristics of pharmacy, medicine, and physician assistant (PA) students regarding the prevalence of drug, alcohol, and tobacco use and to identify risk factors associated with prescription stimulant use.

Participants:

Five hundred eighty nine students were recruited to complete a 50-item Web-based survey.

Main Outcome Measures:

Demographics, nonmedical prescription medication use, illicit drug and alcohol use, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition, Text Revision; DSM-IV-TR) psychiatric diagnoses, and perceived stress scale (PSS) scores.

Results:

Medicine and PA students reported greater nonmedical prescription stimulant use than pharmacy students (10.4% vs 14.0% vs 6.1%; P < .05). Medicine and PA students were more likely to report a history of an anxiety disorder (12.1% vs 18.6% vs 5.9%; P < .05), major depressive disorder (9.4% vs 8.1% vs 3.3%; P < .05), and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; 4.0% vs 9.3% vs 0.7%; P < .001) than pharmacy students. PSS scores for all 3 groups (21.9-22.3) were roughly twice as high as the general adult population.

Conclusion:

Illicit drug and prescription stimulant use, psychiatric disorders, and elevated stress levels are prevalent among health care professional students. Health care professional programs may wish to use this information to better understand their student population which may lead to a reassessment of student resources and awareness/prevention programs.
Beta-Lactam Hypersensitivity and Cross-Reactivity
Authors: Terico Adrienne T. , Gallagher Jason C.
Published: August 2014

Penicillin is the most frequently reported cause of drug allergy, and cross-reactivity of penicillins with other beta-lactam antibiotics is an area of debate. This review evaluates the available data on immunoglobulin E-mediated penicillin hypersensitivity and cross-reactivity with cephalosporin, carbapenem, and monobactam antibiotics. A MEDLINE search was conducted from 1950 to October 2013, and selected references from review articles were also evaluated. There is a wide variety in reported incidences of cross-reactivity between penicillins and cephalosporins or carbapenems, with early retrospective studies suggesting up to 41.7% and 47.4% cross-reactivity, respectively. Conversely, the use of monobactam antibiotics is frequently employed in the case of a penicillin allergy, as prescribers believe that there is no cross-reactivity between the 2 drug classes. More recent prospective studies suggest that the rates of cross-reactivity with cephalosporins and carbapenems are <5% and <1%, respectively. Similarities in penicillin and cephalosporin side chains may play a role in cross-reactivity between these classes. Cross-reactivity with monobactams is essentially negligible; however, there are some clinical data to support an interaction between ceftazidime and aztreonam, due to the similarity of their side chains. The data reviewed suggest that avoidance of other beta-lactams in patients with type 1 hypersensitivity to penicillins should be reconsidered.
Nonchemotherapy Drug-Induced Neutropenia and Agranulocytosis
Authors: Pick Amy M. , Nystrom Kelly K.
Published: August 2014

Drug-induced agranulocytosis is a severe complication that has been implicated with most classes of medications. Medications such as clozapine, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and methimazole have been more commonly associated with agranulocytosis than other agents. Although the pathogenesis isn't fully elucidated, it appears to be two-fold with a direct toxicity to the myeloid cell line and immune-mediated destruction. Patients may be asymptomatic at the time neutropenia is discovered or may present with more severe complications such as sepsis. In approximately 5% of cases drug-induced agranulocytosis may be fatal. Management of drug-induced agranulocytosis includes the immediate discontinuation of the offending medication, initiation of broad-spectrum antibiotics and consideration of the use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factors in high-risk patients.
Gaze Following Is Accelerated in Healthy Preterm Infants
Authors: Peña Marcela , Arias Diana , Dehaene-Lambertz Ghislaine
Published: August 2014

Gaze following is an essential human communication cue that orients the attention of two interacting people to the same external object. This capability is robustly observed after 7 months of age in full-term infants. Do healthy preterm infants benefit from their early exposure to face-to-face interactions with other humans to acquire this capacity sooner than full-term infants of the same chronological age, despite their immature brains? In two different experiments, we demonstrated that 7-month-old preterm infants performed like 7-month-old full-term infants (with whom they shared the same chronological age) and not like 4-month-old full-term infants (with whom they shared the same postmenstrual age). The duration of exposure to visual experience thus appears to have a greater impact on the development of early gaze following than does postmenstrual age.
Perceiving Crowd Attention
Authors: Sweeny Timothy D. , Whitney David
Published: August 2014

In nearly every interpersonal encounter, people readily gather socio-visual cues to guide their behavior. Intriguingly, social information is most effective in directing behavior when it is perceived in crowds. For example, the shared gaze of a crowd is more likely to direct attention than is a single person’s gaze. Are people equipped with mechanisms to perceive a crowd’s gaze as an ensemble? Here, we provide the first evidence that the visual system extracts a summary representation of a crowd’s attention; observers rapidly pooled information from multiple crowd members to perceive the direction of a group’s collective gaze. This pooling occurred in high-level stages of visual processing, with gaze perceived as a global-level combination of information from head and pupil rotation. These findings reveal an important and efficient mechanism for assessing crowd gaze, which could underlie the ability to perceive group intentions, orchestrate joint attention, and guide behavior.
Characterization and quantification of Holocene colluvial and alluvial sediments in the Valdaine Region (southern France)
Authors: Notebaert Bastiaan , Berger Jean-François , Brochier Jacques Léopold
Published: August 2014

This study presents a Holocene sediment budget for the Valdaine Region, located at the edge of the southern French Pre-Alps. Holocene colluvial and alluvial deposition are quantified based on existing and new field data. Average sediment thickness values were calculated for different landscape units, and available chronological data were used to make a time-differentiated sediment budget. Total Holocene colluvial deposition in the Valdaine (334 km2) amounts 167 × 106 m3, while alluvial deposition in the Roubion and Jabron catchments (in total 610 km2, including their catchment upstream the Valdaine) amounts 177 × 106 m3. Especially, colluvial deposition is high (0.75 × 106 g/m2) compared with other catchments. Three major deposition periods (8500–2000 bc, 700 bc–ad 800 and ad 1200–2000) and two periods of relative hillslope stability with local fluvial incision (2000–700 bc and ad 800–1200) set the framework for a time-differentiated sediment budget. Results show that depositional phases relate to intense land use and hillslope stability and fluvial incision to land abandonment. Catchment averaged colluvial deposition increases from 13 × 10−6 m3/m2/yr for 8500–2000 bc to 355 × 10−6 m3/m2/yr for ad 1200–2000, while alluvial deposition increases from 16 to 147 × 10−6 m3/m2/yr between the same time periods. A relationship with climatic fluctuations was not found because of the limited temporal resolution of the sediment budget. The derived sediment cascade model shows how alluvial sediments change from fine (silt and clay) to coarse (sand and gravel) after ad 1200. This went along with the establishment of a braided river pattern, indicating that the main source of sediment shifted to the mountainous headwaters. Further research including fingerprinting and modeling would be necessary to further understand the sediment budget and to more accurately quantify the different source areas and the export from the catchment.
Inkjet-printed, flexible, and photoactive thin film strain sensors
Authors: Ryu Donghyeon , Meyers Frederick N , Loh Kenneth J
Published: August 2014

In an effort to improve the resilience and reliability of infrastructure systems, many advanced sensors have been developed for structural health monitoring. However, these sensors often suffer from high energy demand, large form factors, and have difficulties conforming to complex structural surfaces. Recently, a self-sensing poly(3-hexylthiophene)–based thin film sensor was proposed, and it was shown that light illumination generates an electrical current that was also proportional to applied strains. However, its strain sensing range was limited largely due to the brittleness of the electrodes. In this study, inkjet printing was employed for printing flexible polymer electrodes that enhanced fabrication scalability and its strain sensing range. First, a commercial off-the-shelf Canon inkjet printer was customized for electrode fabrication. Second, a conductive ink solution was prepared for printing the conductive and transparent thin film electrodes. Then, the printed thin film electrodes were characterized for their electrical conductivity, optical transmittance, profile (i.e. roughness and thickness), and piezoresistivity. Finally, poly(3-hexylthiophene)–based strain sensors were fabricated using these electrodes, and strain sensing was validated to 2% tensile strains.
Glial Asthenia and Functional Paralysis
Authors: Verkhratsky Alexei , Marutle Amelia , Rodríguez-Arellano J. J. , Nordberg Agneta
Published: August 2014

Neuroglia are represented by several population of cells heterogeneous in structure and function that provide for the homeostasis of the brain and the spinal cord. Neuroglial cells are also central for neuroprotection and defence of the central nervous system against exo- and endogenous insults. At the early stages of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease neuroglial cells become asthenic and lose some of their homeostatic, neuroprotective, and defensive capabilities. Astroglial reactivity, for example, correlates with preservation of cognitive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment and prodromal Alzheimer’s disease. Here, we overview the experimental data indicating glial paralysis in neurodegeneration and argue that loss of glial function is fundamental for defining the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.
Apixaban Versus Enoxaparin in Elective Major Orthopedic Surgery
Authors: Maniscalco Pietro , Caforio Marco , Imberti Davide , Porcellini Giuseppe , Benedetti Raffaella
Published: August 2014

Despite current guidelines recommendations about anticoagulant prophylaxis, many studies have shown an high venous thromboembolism (VTE) incidence in patients undergoing total hip and knee arthroplasty. A number of anticoagulants are currently available, but they have some limitations that affect their applicability and consequently their effectiveness. Several new oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have been developed in an attempt to overcome these limitations. Apixaban is a NOAC that selectively inhibits the coagulation factor Xa; it is approved for the prevention of VTE after total hip replacement and total knee replacement surgery. This review examines the results of main trials designed to test efficacy and safety of apixaban in major elective orthopedic surgery.
Evaluation of the Green Dot Bystander Intervention to Reduce Interpersonal Violence Among College Students Across Three Campuses
Authors: Coker Ann L. , Fisher Bonnie S. , Bush Heather M. , Swan Suzanne C. , Williams Corrine M. , Clear Emily R. , DeGue Sarah
Published: August 2014

Evidence suggests that interventions to engage bystanders in violence prevention increase bystander intentions and efficacy to intervene, yet the impact of such programs on violence remains unknown. This study compared rates of violence by type among undergraduate students attending a college campus with the Green Dot bystander intervention ( n = 2,768) with students at two colleges without bystander programs ( n = 4,258). Violent victimization rates were significantly ( p < .01) lower among students attending the campus with Green Dot relative to the two comparison campuses. Violence perpetration rates were lower among males attending the intervention campus. Implications of these results for research and practice are discussed.