bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Harm Reduction and NFL Drug Policy
Authors: Bennett Dylan
Published: September 2012

This article examines the National Football League’s (NFL) policy on illicit psychoactive drugs from a harm reduction perspective. The NFL’s policy reinforces the punitive tradition in U.S. drug policy. The policy features drug testing and requires abstinence from illegal drugs. The NFL punishes players with suspensions from employment and loss of pay. The harm reduction tradition does not require abstinence and counts lost employment as a form of harm to workers. The article analyzes three cases of player suspensions from a harm reduction perspective. An introductory proposal to reform the NFL’s policy emphasizes intensive communication by the league with the community of stakeholders, including advertisers and the public. The article addresses both the league’s need for public approval and the goal of reducing harm to its workers.
“Attitudes Towards Languages” (AToL) Scale
Authors: Schoel Christiane , Roessel Janin , Eck Jennifer , Janssen Jana , Petrovic Branislava , Rothe Astrid , Rudert Selma Carolin , Stahlberg Dagmar
Published: September 2012

Language attitudes may be differentiated into attitudes towards speakers and attitudes towards languages. However, to date, no systematic and differentiated instrument exists that measures attitudes towards language. Accordingly, we developed, validated, and applied the Attitudes Towards Languages (AToL) scale in four studies. In Study 1, we selected 15 items for the AToL scale, which represented the three dimensions of value, sound, and structure. The following studies replicated and validated the three-factor structure and differential mean profiles along the three dimensions for different languages (a) in a more diverse German sample (Study 2), (b) in different countries (Study 3), and (c) when participants based their evaluations on speech samples (Study 4). Moreover, we investigated the relation between the AToL dimensions and stereotypic speaker evaluations. Results confirm the reliability, validity, and generalizability of the AToL scale and its incremental value to mere speaker evaluations.
Fiber-optic intra-aortic balloon therapy and its role within cardiac surgery
Authors: Yarham G , Clements A , Morris C , Cumberland T , Bryan M , Oliver M , Burrows H , Mulholland J
Published: September 2012

Introduction:

The patient population has changed and the cardiothoracic team are now operating on patients with more co-morbidity. One of the significant aspects of this increased co-morbidity, which affects both short- and long-term outcomes, is compromised left ventricular function. Intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) technology offers these patients and the cardiac team an easily accessible, cost-effective, mechanical assist device.

Arterial pressure monitoring for IABP therapy:

Fluid-filled transducers used to measure the aortic waveform can be unreliable and inconsistent. Fiber-optic manometers located in the very tip of the IAB catheters provide accurate and fast, high quality measurements. This, in turn, presents the opportunity for the hardware and algorithm to measure key markers on the arterial waveform and optimise left ventricular support. It also provides the potential for automatic in vivo calibration, further increasing the accuracy and quality of the IAB support.

The effect of fiber-optic IABP therapy on clinical management:

A dual centre prospective audit comparing fluid-filled versus fiber-optic arterial pressure monitoring showed a 96% reduction in IAB-related perfusion on-site call-outs (17 vs. 1, respectively) and a 94% reduction in sub-optimal timing (55/98 vs. 2/94, respectively).

Conclusion:

The improved timing algorithms utilise the pressure information received 50 msecs faster than with fluid-filled transducers, measuring key markers on the pressure waveform and adjusting inflation and deflation accurately on a beat per beat basis. Fiber-optic IAB technology and, specifically, these improved algorithms provide better beat per beat mechanical support. Given our evolving patient population, this technology will not only play an increased role, but will have a significant impact on cardiac surgery.
Short-Term General Recidivism Risk of Juvenile Sex Offenders
Authors: van der Put C. E. , van Vugt E. S. , Stams G. J. J. M. , Deković M. , van der Laan P. H.
Published: September 2012

It is important to examine whether general risk-assessment instruments developed for nonsex offenders can also be applied to sex offenders, because juvenile sex offenders are much more likely to reoffend with a nonsexual offense than a sexual offense. This study examined to what extent the Washington State Juvenile Court Prescreen Assessment (WSJCPA) can be used to assess the risk for general recidivism among different types of juvenile sex offenders. The predictive validity of the WSJCPA was examined separately for the following subgroups: boys convicted for a misdemeanor sexual offense against a peer ( n = 381), boys convicted for a felony sexual offense against a peer ( n = 282), boys convicted for a sexual offense against a younger child ( n = 521), and girls convicted for a sexual offense ( n = 71) and two comparison groups of male ( n = 15,155) and female ( n = 5,811) juvenile nonsex offenders. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve scores for general recidivism ranged between .64 and .73. The WSJCPA proved to be at least equally predictive of general offending among juvenile sex and nonsex offenders groups.
Sharps injuries and exposure to blood and bloodstained body fluids involving medical waste handlers
Authors: Shiferaw Yitayal , Abebe Tamrat , Mihret Adane
Published: September 2012

Exposure to healthcare waste can result in disease or injury. Though much attention is paid to the safety of healthcare professionals and their protection from sharps injury and exposure to blood and bloodstained body fluids (BBFs), the welfare and safety of non-healthcare professionals who are collecting, transporting and disposing waste has received very little attention. The objective of this study was to understand the incidence of sharps injury and occupational BBF exposure of mucous membranes involving medical waste handlers (MWHs). A cross-sectional study was carried out using a self-administered questionnaire, observation and interview. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 16. The χ2 value was calculated and P <0.05 was considered statistically significant. One or more incidents of sharps injuries and BBF exposures to mucous membranes occurred among 42.1% and 67.5% of MWHs respectively. None of the respondents was immunized with hepatitis B vaccine owing to the high cost of immunization and absence of free universal availability of the vaccine for the adult population. Less than 50% of MWHs wore either gloves or boots while performing their activities. Even though all knew about HIV, most of the respondents demonstrated a lack of knowledge regarding viral hepatitis. The risk of sharps injury and BBF exposure appeared high in MWHs. The establishment of safe waste-management techniques and the appropriate use of personnel protective equipment among MWHs in Addis Ababa is urgently required.
Status Hierarchies and the Organization of Collective Action
Authors: Simpson Brent , Willer Robb , Ridgeway Cecilia L.
Published: September 2012

Most work on collective action assumes that group members are undifferentiated by status, or standing, in the group. Yet such undifferentiated groups are rare, if they exist at all. Here we extend an existing sociological research program to address how extant status hierarchies help organize collective actions by coordinating how much and when group members should contribute to group efforts. We outline three theoretically derived predictions of how status hierarchies organize patterns of behavior to produce larger public goods. We review existing evidence relevant to two of the three hypotheses and present results from a preliminary experimental test of the third. Findings are consistent with the model. The tendency of these dynamics to lead status-differentiated groups to produce larger public goods may help explain the ubiquity of hierarchy in groups, despite the often negative effects of status inequalities for many group members.
Cerebellar Pathway Changes Following Cerebral Hemispherectomy
Authors: Govindan Rajkumar Munian , Brescoll Jennifer , Chugani Harry T.
Published: September 2012

Following unilateral cerebral injury, several patterns of cerebellar metabolism have been noted on positron emission tomography (PET); these changes have been attributed both to the distant diaschisis as well as to reorganizational changes within the cerebellum. We used diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to study 14 children who had undergone cerebral hemispherectomy because of intractable epilepsy and compared them with those from 17 controls. In 10 children who had preoperative and postoperative scans, a paired comparison was performed. Our findings showed significantly higher fractional anisotropy values in corticopontocerebellar pathways postoperatively compared to preoperatively. When compared to controls, we found a higher rate of age-related fractional anisotropy changes of corticopontocerebellar pathways in the postoperative scans. Our results indicate reorganizational changes in the contralateral (intact) corticopontocerebellar pathway and the cerebellar white matter. These changes likely contribute to the far better motor outcomes seen in children compared to adults sustaining such cortical injuries.
Dendritic, Axonal, and Spinal Pathology of the Purkinje Cells and the Neurons of the Dentate Nucleus After Long-Term Phenytoin Administration
Authors: Mavroudis Ioannis A. , Manani Marina G. , Petrides Foivos , Kiourexidou Matina , Njau Samuel Ndugu , Costa Vasiliki G. , Baloyannis Stavros J.
Published: September 2012

Phenytoin is a commonly prescribed anticonvulsant drug; however, there is evidence that long-term administration is related to cerebellar ataxia, cerebellar atrophy, loss of Purkinje cells, and hyperplasia of Bergman glia cells. The aim of the present study was to detect and describe any possible alterations of the Purkinje cells, and neurons of the dentate nucleus, as those can be seen with the use of silver impregnation techniques, such as Golgi and Nauta method. The study was performed on a 7-year-old boy who was under phenytoin treatment for more than 3.5 years and had clinical manifestations of cerebellar ataxia. Golgi silver impregnation technique revealed substantial loss of dendritic spines and tertiary dendritic branches, both on the Purkinje cells and the neurons of the dentate nucleus, whereas the Nauta method demonstrated swollen and degenerated axons of Purkinje cells.
Basal Ganglia Injury With Extrapyramidal Presentation
Authors: Scott Ori , Hasal Simona , Goez Helly R.
Published: September 2012

Basal ganglia injury, accompanied by extrapyramidal signs, has been described in the setting of chronic tuberculous meningitis; however, such injury rarely occurs in acute bacterial meningitis and has never been reported with meningococcal meningitis. We report the case of a boy who developed tongue bradykinesia and dysarthria 1 week following presentation with meningococcal meningitis. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed bilateral basal ganglia lesions, suspected to result from cytotoxic edema secondary to infection. The patient subsequently developed general bradykinesia, choreoathetosis, and ataxia, which had improved but not completely subsided by the time of discharge, 8 weeks following initial presentation. The purpose of this report is to present basal ganglia injury with extrapyramidal signs as a possible complication of meningococcal meningitis. Furthermore, we emphasize the importance of suspecting parkinsonian signs as early indicators of basal ganglia involvement in the setting of meningitis, which may later develop into a full-blown movement disorder.
Infant Feeding Attitudes of Women in the United Kingdom during Pregnancy and after Birth
Authors: Wilkins Carol , Ryan Kath , Green Josephine , Thomas Peter
Published: September 2012

Background:

To address the recognized low rates of breastfeeding in the United Kingdom (UK), a change in fundamental attitudes toward infant feeding might be required. This paper reports an exploration of women’s attitudes toward breastfeeding at different time points in the perinatal period, undertaken as part of a larger breastfeeding evaluation study.

Objectives:

To measure women’s infant feeding attitudes at 3 stages during the perinatal period to see whether, on average, they differed over time.

Methods:

Using the 17-item Iowa Infant Feeding Attitudes Scale (IIFAS), this cross-sectional study measured the infant feeding attitudes of 866 UK women at 3 perinatal stages (20 and 35 weeks antenatally and 6 weeks postpartum).

Results:

Mean IIFAS scores were very similar, which shows that discrete groups of women at different time points in pregnancy and postpartum appear to have the same attitudes toward infant feeding. The predominance of scores lay in the mid-range at each of the time points, which may indicate women’s indecision or ambivalent feelings about infant feeding during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Conclusions:

Action must be undertaken to target the majority of women with mid-range scores whose ambivalence may respond positively to intervention programs. The challenge is to understand what would be appropriate and acceptable to this vulnerable group of women.
Examining the Forces Shaping Cybercrime Markets Online
Authors: Holt Thomas J.
Published: September 2012

Malicious software is increasingly used by hackers and attackers in order to acquire sensitive information and compromise various systems. The sophistication of these tools has increased to such a point that individuals now sell various programs and services through electronic markets where data can be bought and sold. There is, however, minimal research examining the social dynamics that structure the relationships between buyers and sellers and the nature of the market dynamics overall. This study addresses this gap in the literature through a qualitative investigation of a sample of threads from 10 publicly accessible Russian web forums that facilitate the distribution of malware and attack tools. The findings indicate that price, customer service, and trust influence the relationships between actors in this market and influence the nature of exchanges in these forums.
Mode Effects in Free-list Elicitation
Authors: Gravlee Clarence C. , Bernard H. Russell , Maxwell Chad R. , Jacobsohn Aryeh
Published: September 2012

The growth of the Internet opens new possibilities for web-based data collection in cognitive anthropology. This study examines whether free-list data collected online are comparable to those collected with face to face interviews or with self-administered paper questionnaires. We collected free lists for two cultural domains in the United States: one diffuse ( things that mothers do) and one relatively well defined ( racial and ethnic groups). We selected a purposive sample of 318 university students and randomly assigned participants to provide free lists for one of these domains using a web-based survey, a face to face interview, or a self-administered paper questionnaire. All three modes identified the same set of salient concepts in each domain. Median list length per respondent varied across modes in response to a standard free-list question and to supplementary probes. For the well-defined domain of “racial and ethnic groups,” supplementary probes widened differences among modes; for the more diffuse domain of “things that mothers do,” probes erased evidence of mode effects. Collecting free lists online is viable but may yield different results depending on the study population and attributes of the cultural domains.
Knowing hydrogen and loving it too? Information provision, cultural predispositions, and support for hydrogen technology among the Dutch
Authors: Achterberg Peter
Published: September 2012

This research note studies experimentally how the public translates information about hydrogen technology into evaluations of the latter. It does so by means of a nationally representative factorial survey in the Netherlands ( n = 1,012), in which respondents have been given seven randomly selected pieces of (negative, positive and/or neutral) information about this technology. Findings are consistent with framing theory. For those with high trust in science and technology, positive information increases support, while negative information detracts from it. For those with low trust in science and technology, however, information provision has no effect at all on the evaluation of hydrogen technology. Precisely among the most likely targets of science communication, i.e., those without much trust in science and technology, providing positive information fails to evoke a more favorable evaluation from the latter.
Exploring the Function of Criminal Law in the Policing of Foreigners
Authors: Aliverti Ana
Published: September 2012

This paper looks at the decision-making process in cases involving immigration-related crimes. Based on interviews with practitioners and immigration staff and the analysis of court-files, it disentangles the criteria guiding both enforcement officers and prosecutors in the decision to criminally proceed against suspected immigration offenders. The reasons behind the policy and practice of prosecuting immigration crimes show that criminal law is but one means to enforce immigration rules. The role that criminal law is called to play in this context is purely instrumental as the main consideration for pursuing a case is the impact that it may have on immigration enforcement. Criminal law is emptied of any condemnatory function and, as such, its primary function of censuring wrongs is disrupted. The examination of the decision-making process in these cases reveals how problematic it is to reconcile retribution and punishment with immigration imperatives.
Talking about suicide
Authors: Gibson Susanne , Benson Outi , Brand Sarah L
Published: September 2012

While it is acknowledged that there is a need for more qualitative research on suicide, it is also clear that the ethics of undertaking such research need to be addressed. This article uses the case study of the authors’ experience of gaining ethics approval for a research project that asks people what it is like to feel suicidal to (a) analyse the limits of confidentiality and anonymity and (b) consider the ways in which the process of ethics review can shape and constrain suicide research. This leads to a discussion of the ways in which ethics committees assess and monitor qualitative research more generally and some preliminary suggestions for how this might be improved.
Hepatocellular carcinomas in Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs (Sus scrofa)
Authors: Haddad Jamie L. , Habecker Perry L.
Published: September 2012

Various neoplasms have been reported in Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs ( Sus scrofa) with few reports of hepatocellular tumors. Twenty-two pot-bellied pigs diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma at necropsy over a 3-year period at one institution are described, representing 29% of the total pot-bellied pigs necropsied. The average age of affected pigs was 16.6 years with 15 males and 7 females. The most common clinical signs were decreased appetite (16/22) and weight loss (7/22). Grossly, the majority were massive tumors (13/22) with fewer nodular tumors (8/22) and 1 diffuse tumor. Massive tumors were typically multilobulated, very large, and encompassing 1 or more adjacent liver lobes, and were soft to firm and tan-yellow to orange-brown. Nodular tumors had multiple, 1–15 cm in diameter, discrete nodules in multiple liver lobes. Gross evidence of abscesses, necrosis, hemorrhage, or cysts associated with the tumor was occasionally described. Half of the cases had possible intrahepatic metastasis, and extrahepatic metastasis was identified in 3 cases, including to the hepatic lymph node (1/3), lung (2/3), spleen (1/3), and kidney (1/3). Histologically, all tumors had a trabecular or solid pattern, or a combination. An adenoid pattern was only identified in small regions of a few tumors. The neoplastic cells were relatively well-differentiated with moderate pleomorphism and a low mitotic index. Other histologic features within the tumors included intracellular glycogen or lipid accumulation, extramedullary hematopoiesis, foci of coagulative necrosis, and bile stasis. Aged pot-bellied pigs can be predisposed to hepatocellular carcinomas, which are locally aggressive and can metastasize within the liver and to other organs.
Design of a safety escape device based on magnetorheological fluid and permanent magnet
Authors: Yang Bintang , Chen Tianxiang , Meng Guang , Feng Zhiqiang , Jiang Jie , Zhang Shuo , Zhou Qi
Published: September 2012

In this research, a novel safety escape device based on magnetorheological fluid and permanent magnet is designed, manufactured, and tested. The safety escape device with magnetorheological fluid and permanent magnet can provide an increasing braking torque for a falling object by increasing the magnetic field intensity at the magnetorheological fluid. Such increase is realized by mechanically altering the magnetic circuit of the device when the object is falling. As a result, the falling object accelerates first and then decelerates to stop in the end. Finite element analysis is used to determine some of the specifications of the safety escape device for larger braking torque and smaller size. Finite element analysis results are also used for theoretical study and establishment of the dynamic model of the safety escape device. A prototype is realized and tested finally. The experimental test results show that the operation of the prototype conforms to the prediction by the dynamic model and validates the feasible application of magnetorheological fluids in developing falling devices.
Clinical Recovery of Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction With Cisapride in a Complex Pediatric Patient
Authors: Cameron Jean-Christy F. , Vaillancourt Régis , Major-Cook Nathalie , Boland Margaret , Zucker Marc , Lariviere Doris
Published: September 2012

Cisapride is a gastrointestinal prokinetic that facilitates or restores motility along the entire gastrointestinal tract. It has been used successfully to treat acute and chronic intestinal pseudo-obstructions (CIPs) in adults, but there is a paucity of literature surrounding the treatment of CIP in pediatric patients and therapies for CIP are limited and their impact is often unsatisfactory. This case report presents the use of cisapride in the management of pseudo-obstruction. Treatment with cisapride substantially improved the patient’s symptoms and improved feeding tolerance. It improved his prognosis remarkably and prevented the need for end-of-life care. He experienced no adverse effects throughout the course of therapy. The treatment regimen is discussed in this case report.
Nebulized Lidocaine in the Treatment of Intractable Cough
Authors: Truesdale Kelly , Jurdi Adham
Published: September 2012

Cough is one of the most common symptoms prompting patients to be seen by health care providers in the United States. Persistent cough can disrupt daily activities such as conversation, eating, breathing, and sleeping, and it can become extremely debilitating both physically and mentally. Pharmacological treatments include dextramethorphan, opioid cough suppressants, benzonatate, inhaled ipratropium, and guaifenesin. Successful cough suppression has also been demonstrated in several studies with the use of nebulized lidocaine. Nebulized lidocaine also appears to be well tolerated by patients with minimal side effects including dysphonia, oropharyngeal numbness, and bitter taste. Studies conducted thus far have been small, so larger randomized control trials comparing nebulized lidocaine to placebo need to be conducted in the future.
Optimal design of a new vibration absorber setup for randomly forced systems
Authors: Issa Jimmy S
Published: September 2012

In this work, vibration reduction in randomly forced systems is considered using a new vibration absorber setup. In the new setup, the absorber consists of a mass spring and damper, and is attached such that it separates the primary system from the fixed support. White noise excitation is assumed and the objective function is the mean square value of the primary system response function. For given damping and mass ratios of the system, the optimal stiffness and damping ratios of the absorber are determined. The optimal parameters are obtained in an analytical closed form when the primary system is undamped, and calculated numerically for damped primary systems. It is shown that an optimal mass ratio exists, unlike the case of classical absorbers where performance increases with increasing absorber mass. The optimal parameters associated with the optimal mass ratio are calculated and tabulated for a range of primary system damping ratios. The efficiency of the proposed absorber is discussed and compared to that of the classical absorber.
Taonga Moriori: Recording and revival
Authors: Solomon Maui , Thorpe Susan
Published: September 2012

Moriori culture is one of the most researched in the Pacific, and yet perhaps one of the least well understood. Until the last 30 or so years, history had consigned the Moriori people of the Chatham Islands near New Zealand to being defined as extinct and almost landless. Today Moriori are in a spirit of revival and reconnection with their identity and culture. Through the gift of the Traditional Knowledge Revival Pathways (TKRP) software system, laser scanning of rākau momori (tree carvings), and involvement in the Intellectual Property Issues in Cultural Heritage (IPinCH) Project, Moriori are developing an extensive database of cultural landscapes, elder stories, traditional practices and digital records of taonga. The next stage of this research will involve development of an intranet guide to taonga Moriori (ancestral artefacts) in overseas collections. Here we explore the methods and technology that Moriori have been using to assist in the process of preserving taonga for present and future generations to enjoy.
Old objects, new media: Historical collections, digitization and affect
Authors: Newell Jenny
Published: September 2012

Digital resources mobilized by museums, archives and other cultural heritage institutions are opening up collections and vistas onto the past from an increasing variety of perspectives. Digitization is enabling the juxtaposition of material from far-flung repositories and creating new ways of presenting historical insights as well as new types of historical engagements. New media can allow the assemblage of a multiplicity of voices, accounts, songs, and artworks, among other things – layers of meaning that are hard to capture and present in other formats, and which can be especially helpful in uncovering and accommodating non-Western perspectives. At the same time, the relationship of digital objects to ‘actual artefacts’ requires further consideration. This article investigates the implications of digitizing objects in cultural institutions, and the advantages and disadvantages of this process for those with differing interests in such objects. What are the effects for historical researchers, museum visitors or clan members with special ties to a museum artefact of viewing it on a screen rather than being in the object’s presence, holding, seeing, smelling and hearing it, and connecting with the ancestors or relationships it embodies? Case studies from the UK, Australia and the Pacific are explored to address aspects of the impact of digitization initiatives on museum practice and on people’s engagements with the past, with a focus on the affective qualities of digital objects.
CD40–CD40L: Linking pancreatic, adipose tissue and vascular inflammation in type 2 diabetes and its complications
Authors: Seijkens Tom , Kusters Pascal , Engel David , Lutgens Esther
Published: September 2012

Numerous epidemiological studies have consistently demonstrated the strong association between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and an increased risk to develop cardiovascular disease. The pathogenesis of T2DM and its complications are characterized by pancreatic, adipose tissue and vascular inflammation. CD40 and CD40L, members of the tumour necrosis factor (receptor) TNF(R) family, are well known for their role in immunity and inflammation. Here we give an overview on the role of CD40–CD40L interactions in the pathogenesis of T2DM with a special focus on pancreatic, adipose tissue and vascular inflammation. In addition, we explore the role of soluble CD40L (sCD40L) as a potential biomarker for the development of cardiovascular disease in T2DM subjects. Finally, the therapeutic potential of CD40–CD40L inhibition in T2DM is highlighted.
Greater Acceptance of Routine HIV Testing (Opt-Out) by Patients Attending an Infectious Disease Unit in Spain
Authors: Jover-Diaz Francisco , Cuadrado Jose-Maria , Matarranz Mariano , Calabuig Elena
Published: September 2012

Objective:

Our objective was to determine attitudes and opinions of patients seen in our ID Unit on conducting HIV testing universally.

Methods:

The survey was conducted in patients between 18 and 65 years without known HIV infection. Requested information about the test was previous embodiment, reasons for rejection, opinion on the universal realization, benefits and/or drawbacks, possible test performance, and availability of results “test negative stigma.”

Results:

We surveyed 91 patients (54.9% males). Surprisingly, up to 18.7% of patients mistakenly believed that HIV testing is routinely performed without consent. A great majority (98.9%) felt that universal performance on the test would benefit mainly in early diagnosing and/or preventing transmission. Patients younger than 42 years were significantly more prone to doing the test as a routine procedure. Only 4 (4.4%) patients did not participate because they believed they were “not infected.” A vast majority (80.5%) of respondents would prefer to have results within the first 24 hours. In addition, 20.7% would have a problem with confidentiality if HIV serology testing was done.

Conclusions:

In summary, the vast majority (95.6%) of the surveyed patients had a fair opinion about universal HIV testing. Only 4 patients (4.4%) would not consent to HIV testing (because of low-risk perception). Availability of rapid HIV tests can facilitate fast result delivery, facilitating linkage to care. Considering favorable patients' opinion, recent opt-out screening recommendations, highest HIV prevalence in admitted patients, and cost-effectiveness, studies favor universal HIV testing.
Intradetrusor Injection of Botulinum Toxin for the Management of Refractory Overactive Bladder Syndrome
Authors: Al-Shaiji Tariq F.
Published: September 2012

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a common syndrome that has a negative impact on daily activities and quality of life. The first-line treatment to manage this condition includes behavioral modifications, physical treatment, and oral pharmacotherapy with antimuscarinics. Botulinum toxin has emerged as an alternative and second-line treatment option for patients with OAB who are refractory to first-line treatment modalities when injected into the detrusor muscle. Although its application in the management of OAB remains off label, studies have shown its efficacy both subjectively and objectively. It is considered as a minimally invasive and reversible alternative. Adequate dosage of the toxin, number of injection sites, and reinjection rates are yet to be determined. This review attempts to provide an update on the current position of botulinum toxin in managing refractory OAB addressing contemporary data on the mechanism of action, technique, safety, complications, and clinical results.
Interobeserver and Intraobserver Reproducibility of Hallux Valgus Angular Measurements and the Study of a Linear Measurement
Authors: Sanhudo Jose Veiga , Gomes Joao Ellera , Rabello Marcelo Costa , Delucca Giuseppe
Published: September 2012

Background. The intermetatarsal angle (IMA), the hallux valgus angle (HVA), and the lateral sesamoid malalignment in relation to the first metatarsal are among the most commonly employed parameters to estimate the severity of the deformity. The aim of this study was to compare HV angular measurements and a linear measurement among 4 observers to determine its intraobserver and interobserver reliability, to find out whether this linear measurement technique is more reproducible than those already-described angular measurements. Methods. The IMA, the HVA, and the distance between the lateral cortex of the first metatarsal and the lateral cortex of the lateral sesamoid bone were measured from 50 standing, nonoperated hallux valgus feet. Radiographs were shuffled and reforwarded to the observers at a minimum interval of 30 days for a new measurement. Results. When considering 2° of difference as significant, IMA and HVA measurements were not precise, showing low reproducibility for both intraobserver and interobserver assessment. Regarding the distance between the first metatarsal lateral cortex and the lateral sesamoid lateral cortex, when considering differences greater than 2 mm as significant, we observed higher precision and higher reproducibility. Conclusions. Angular measurements of hallux valgus deformity in anteroposterior standing radiographs that are manually performed with a goniometer are not precise and have low reproducibility. The linear measurement of the distance between the lateral cortices of the first metatarsal head and the lateral sesamoid demonstrated higher precision and higher reproducibility, and may be a cheap form to assess the correct indication of a distal osteotomy.

Levels of Evidence: Diagnostic, Level II
Experiencing a Forced Relocation at Different Life Stages
Authors: Xi Juan , Hwang Sean-Shong , Drentea Patricia
Published: September 2012

Guided by the life course perspective and the stress severity perspective, this study aims to evaluate the question: Does the Three Gorges Project–induced relocation affect people of different ages differently? Using a quasi-experimental design, we collected pre- and post-relocation data from a sample ( n = 1,056) that consists of both relocatees and nonmovers from the Three Gorges region in China. We found that relocatees of all age groups have experienced a similar level of elevation of depressive symptoms due to the relocation. No age group was exempted from the detrimental effects of the Three Gorges Project–induced relocation. Although it is usually much easier for young adults to relocate, as compared to older adults, a forced relocation is such an extraordinary stressor that its strong effects have overridden other forces that normally shape our life experiences at different life stages.
Knowledge discovery for friction stir welding via data driven approaches
Authors: Zhang Q , Mahfouf M , Panoutsos G , Beamish K , Norris I
Published: September 2012

For a comprehensive understanding towards friction stir welding (FSW) which would lead to a unified approach that embodies materials other than aluminium, such as titanium and steel, it is crucial to identify the intricate correlations between the controllable process conditions, the observable internal process variables, and the characterisations of the post-weld materials. In Part 1 of this paper, multiple correlation analyses techniques have been developed to detect new and previously unknown correlations between the internal process variables and weld quality of aluminium alloy AA 5083. Furthermore, a new exploitable weld quality indicator has, for the first time, been successfully extracted, which can provide an accurate and reliable indication of the as welded defects. All results relating to this work have been validated using real data obtained from a series of welding trials that utilised a new revolutionary sensory platform called ARTEMIS developed by TWI Ltd, the original inventors of the FSW process.
Detection of fractal characteristics based on acoustic emission
Authors: Wang H J , Lin Z
Published: September 2012

Fractal characteristics of cracking solids are studied using acoustic emission (AE). The plastic zone size (PZS) for model I fracture has been further redefined according to fractal theory. The relationships between the stress ratio and dimensionless PZS with the fractal dimension are investigated. The results show that the increase in the fractal dimension, the dimensionless PZS constant, will substantially decrease the stress ratio. The semiempirical relationship between fractal AE count and the stress intensity factor (SIF) is studied. The results show that the fractal AE count varied with SIF in the same manner as the Paris law for crack propagation in fatigue. The exponent is a function of the fractal dimension Df. Results by proposed method are compared with the experimental results, and fairly good agreements are observed.
Study of microstrain in rapidly solidified structures of hypercooled Co80Pd20 alloys
Authors: Xu X L , Chen Y Z , Liu F
Published: September 2012

Applying fluxing method, hypercooling was achieved in Co80Pd20 alloys. The rapidly solidified microstructures and substructures of hypercooled Co80Pd20 alloys, subjected to rapid quenching and natural cooling after recalescence, have been studied. Transmission electron microscopy was used to investigate the substructures such as dislocations in the as solidified microstructures. X-ray diffraction line profile analysis was used for illuminating and determining the microstrain due to rapid solidification in the as solidified microstructures. In the undercooling range studied, the microstrain in the rapidly solidified structures increases with increasing undercooling. Quenching immediately after rapid solidification is helpful to preserving the microstrain in the microstructures.
t(X;14)(p11;q32) in MALT lymphoma involving GPR34 reveals a role for GPR34 in tumor cell growth
Authors: Ansell Stephen M. , Akasaka Takashi , McPhail Ellen , Manske Michelle , Braggio Esteban , Price-Troska Tammy , Ziesmer Steven , Secreto Frank , Fonseca Rafael , Gupta Mamta , Law Mark , Witzig Thomas E. , Dyer Martin J. S. , Dogan Ahmet , Cerhan James R. , Novak Anne J.
Published: September 2012

Genetic aberrations, including trisomies 3 and 18, and well-defined IGH translocations, have been described in marginal zone lymphomas (MZLs); however, these known genetic events are present in only a subset of cases. Here, we report the cloning of an IGH translocation partner on chromosome X, t(X;14)(p11.4;q32) that deregulates expression of an poorly characterized orphan G-protein–coupled receptor, GPR34. Elevated GPR34 gene expression was detected independent of the translocation in multiple subtypes of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and distinguished a unique molecular subtype of MZL. Increased expression of GPR34 was also detected in tissue from brain tumors and surface expression of GPR34 was detected on human MZL tumor cells and normal immune cells. Overexpression of GPR34 in lymphoma and HeLa cells resulted in phosphorylation of ERK, PKC, and CREB; induced CRE, AP1, and NF-κB–mediated gene transcription; and increased cell proliferation. In summary, these results are the first to identify a role for a GPR34 in lymphoma cell growth, provide insight into GPR34-mediated signaling, identify a genetically unique subset of MZLs that express high levels of GPR34, and suggest that MEK inhibitors may be useful for treatment of GPR34-expressing tumors.
Mesenchymal stem cells are injured by complement after their contact with serum
Authors: Li Yan , Lin Feng
Published: September 2012

Despite the potent immunosuppressive activity that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) display in vitro, recent clinical trial results are disappointing, suggesting that MSC viability and/or function are greatly reduced after infusion. In this report, we demonstrated that human MSCs activated complement of the innate immunity after their contact with serum. Although all 3 known intrinsic cell-surface complement regulators were present on MSCs, activated complement overwhelmed the protection of these regulators and resulted in MSCs cytotoxicity and dysfunction. In addition, autologous MSCs suffered less cellular injury than allogeneic MSCs after contacting serum. All 3 complement activation pathways were involved in generating the membrane attack complex to directly injure MSCs. Supplementing an exogenous complement inhibitor, or up-regulating MSC expression levels of CD55, one of the cell-surface complement regulators, helped to reduce the serum-induced MSC cytotoxicity. Finally, adoptively transferred MSCs in complement deficient mice or complement-depleted mice showed reduced cellular injury in vivo compared with those in wild type mice. These results indicate that complement is integrally involved in recognizing and injuring MSCs after their infusion, suggesting that autologous MSCs may have ad-vantages over allogeneic MSCs, and that inhibiting complement activation could be a novel strategy to improve existing MSC-based therapies.
VEGF-A recruits a proangiogenic MMP-9–delivering neutrophil subset that induces angiogenesis in transplanted hypoxic tissue
Authors: Christoffersson Gustaf , Vågesjö Evelina , Vandooren Jennifer , Lidén Majken , Massena Sara , Reinert Rachel B. , Brissova Marcela , Powers Alvin C. , Opdenakker Ghislain , Phillipson Mia
Published: September 2012

Recruitment and retention of leukocytes at a site of blood vessel growth are crucial for proper angiogenesis and subsequent tissue perfusion. Although critical for many aspects of regenerative medicine, the mechanisms of leukocyte recruitment to and actions at sites of angiogenesis are not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the signals attracting leukocytes to avascular transplanted pancreatic islets and leukocyte actions at the engraftment site. Expression of the angiogenic stimulus VEGF-A by mouse pancreatic islets was elevated shortly after syngeneic transplantation to muscle. High levels of leukocytes, predominantly CD11b+/Gr-1+/CXCR4hi neutrophils, were observed at the site of engraftment, whereas VEGF-A–deficient islets recruited only half of the amount of leukocytes when transplanted. Acute VEGF-A exposure of muscle increased leukocyte extravasation but not the levels of SDF-1α. VEGF-A–recruited neutrophils expressed 10 times higher amounts of MMP-9 than neutrophils recruited to an inflammatory stimulus. Revascularization of islets transplanted to MMP-9–deficient mice was impaired because blood vessels initially failed to penetrate grafts, and after 2 weeks vascularity was still disturbed. This study demonstrates that VEGF-A recruits a proangiogenic circulating subset of CD11b+/Gr-1+ neutrophils that are CXCR4hi and deliver large amounts of the effector protein MMP-9, required for islet revascularization and functional integration after transplantation.
Antigen and substrate withdrawal in the management of autoimmune thrombotic disorders
Authors: Cines Douglas B. , McCrae Keith R. , Zheng X. Long , Sachais Bruce S. , Luning Prak Eline T. , Siegel Don L.
Published: September 2012

Prevailing approaches to manage autoimmune thrombotic disorders, such as heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, antiphospholipid syndrome and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, include immunosuppression and systemic anticoagulation, though neither provides optimal outcome for many patients. A different approach is suggested by the concurrence of autoantibodies and their antigenic targets in the absence of clinical disease, such as platelet factor 4 in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and β2-glycoprotein-I (β2GPI) in antiphospholipid syndrome. The presence of autoantibodies in the absence of disease suggests that conformational changes or other alterations in endogenous protein autoantigens are required for recognition by pathogenic autoantibodies. In thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, the clinical impact of ADAMTS13 deficiency caused by autoantibodies likely depends on the balance between residual antigen, that is, enzyme activity, and demand imposed by local genesis of ultralarge multimers of von Willebrand factor. A corollary of these concepts is that disrupting platelet factor 4 and β2GPI conformation (or ultralarge multimer of von Willebrand factor oligomerization or function) might provide a disease-targeted approach to prevent thrombosis without systemic anticoagulation or immunosuppression. Validation of this approach requires a deeper understanding of how seemingly normal host proteins become antigenic or undergo changes that increase antibody avidity, and how they can be altered to retain adaptive functions while shedding epitopes prone to elicit harmful autoimmunity.
Platelets increase the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells
Authors: Cho Min Soon , Bottsford-Miller Justin , Vasquez Hernan G. , Stone Rebecca , Zand Behrouz , Kroll Michael H. , Sood Anil K. , Afshar-Kharghan Vahid
Published: September 2012

Platelets promote metastasis and angiogenesis, but their effect on tumor cell growth is uncertain. Here we report a direct proliferative effect of platelets on cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. Incubation of platelets with ovarian cancer cells from murine (ID8 and 2C6) or human (SKOV3 and OVCAR5) origin increased cell proliferation. The proliferative effect of platelets was not dependent on direct contact with cancer cells, and preincubation of platelets with blocking antibodies against platelet adhesion molecules did not alter their effect on cancer cells. The proliferative effect of platelets was reduced by fixing platelets with paraformaldehyde, preincubating platelets with a TGF-β1–blocking antibody, or reducing expression of TGF-βR1 receptor on cancer cells with siRNA. Infusing platelets into mice with orthotopic ovarian tumors significantly increased the proliferation indices in these tumors. Ovarian cancer patients with thrombocytosis had higher tumor proliferation indices compared with patients with normal platelet counts.
Network enrichment analysis: extension of gene-set enrichment analysis to gene networks
Authors: Alexeyenko Andrey , Lee Woojoo , Pernemalm Maria , Guegan Justin , Dessen Philippe , Lazar Vladimir , Lehtiö Janne , Pawitan Yudi
Published: September 2012

Background

Gene-set enrichment analyses (GEA or GSEA) are commonly used for biological characterization of an experimental gene-set. This is done by finding known functional categories, such as pathways or Gene Ontology terms, that are over-represented in the experimental set; the assessment is based on an overlap statistic. Rich biological information in terms of gene interaction network is now widely available, but this topological information is not used by GEA, so there is a need for methods that exploit this type of information in high-throughput data analysis.

Results

We developed a method of network enrichment analysis (NEA) that extends the overlap statistic in GEA to network links between genes in the experimental set and those in the functional categories. For the crucial step in statistical inference, we developed a fast network randomization algorithm in order to obtain the distribution of any network statistic under the null hypothesis of no association between an experimental gene-set and a functional category. We illustrate the NEA method using gene and protein expression data from a lung cancer study.

Conclusions

The results indicate that the NEA method is more powerful than the traditional GEA, primarily because the relationships between gene sets were more strongly captured by network connectivity rather than by simple overlaps.