bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mobile computing : isn't there an app for that?
Authors: Baddeley Robert
Published: January 2014

Mobile computing can be a useful tool for vets who work outside the practice. Robert Baddeley looks at some of the mobile solutions available for vets on the go, and the extent to which reality matches the hype.
Creating compliance in a non‐compliant world
Authors: Wilson Vanessa
Published: January 2014

Client compliance remains an elusive goal for many vets in everyday practice. Vanessa Wilson shared some strategies to help improve it while simultaneously improving patient health and practice profits.
Dealing with dark desires
Authors: Knight Andrew
Published: January 2014

THIS series gives readers the opportunity to consider and contribute to discussion of some of the ethical dilemmas that can arise in veterinary practice. Each month, a case scenario is presented, followed by discussion of some of the issues involved.

In addition, a possible way forward is suggested; however, there is rarely a cut‐and‐dried answer in such cases, and readers may wish to suggest an alternative approach. This month's dilemma, ‘Dealing with dark desires’, was submitted and is discussed by Andrew Knight. Readers with comments to contribute are invited to send them as soon as possible, so that they can be considered for publication in the next issue. Discussion of the dilemma ‘Pest or patient?’, which was published in the November/December issue of In Practice, appears on page 55.

The series is being coordinated by Siobhan Mullan, of the University of Bristol. It is hoped it will provide a framework that will help practices find solutions when facing similar dilemmas.
Nutrition research in the military
Authors: Hill Neil E , Fallowfield J L , Delves S K , Wilson D R
Published: January 2014

Military research performed in an operational environment involves mission-specific considerations. The Institute of Naval Medicine was tasked in 2008 by the Surgeon General to investigate the nutritional status of deployed British military personnel, and how this might affect body composition, physical fitness and operational capability. This paper briefly describes the logistic and technical issues specific to military research that were encountered by the study team, how these issues were overcome and how this research has influenced military practice.
End-stage heart failure non-pharmacological therapy: recent advances in pacemakers, pressure monitors, pumps and other devices
Authors: Warriner David R , Sheridan Paul J
Published: January 2014

Heart failure is a common, expensive and fatal condition and yet, until recently, there was a paucity of treatment options for patients with end-stage heart failure (ESHF), other than pharmacotherapy or heart transplant. Recent advances mean there is now an array of non-pharmacological therapies available for such patients; two such examples are cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), which improve pump function, symptoms, exercise capacity or reduce the risk of arrhythmic death, respectively. Furthermore, prior to transplant or if they are deemed unsuitable, patients now have the option of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) or total artificial heart (TAH), where available, before heart transplant needs to be considered. The concept of remote monitoring is increasingly popular, and while recording parameters such as blood pressure and weight are not new, what is new is how implantable remote monitoring devices are now able to detect clinical decompensation before even the patient is symptomatic and relay this information onto the clinician. Other more novel therapies for ESHF include nerve stimulators to reduce sympathetic tone, the risk of arrhythmia and augment reverse cardiac remodelling and, perhaps the most novel of all, cardiac contractility modulation, stimulating the heart paradoxically during the absolute refractory period that serves to improve cardiac contractility.
Cell differentiation along multiple pathways accompanied by changes in histone acetylation status
Authors: Legartová Soňa , Kozubek Stanislav , Franek Michal , Zdráhal Zbyněk , Lochmanová Gabriela , Martinet Nadine , Bártová Eva
Published: January 2014

Post-translational modification of histones is fundamental to the regulation of basic nuclear processes and subsequent cellular events, including differentiation. In this study, we analyzed acetylated forms of histones H2A, H2B, and H4 during induced differentiation in mouse (mESCs) and human (hESCs) embryonic stem cells and during induced enterocytic differentiation of colon cancer cells in vitro. Endoderm-like differentiation of mESCs induced by retinoic acid and enterocytic differentiation induced by histone deacetylase inhibitor sodium butyrate were accompanied by increased mono-, di-, and tri-acetylation of histone H2B and a pronounced increase in di- and tri-acetylation of histone H4. In enterocytes, mono-acetylation of histone H2A also increased and tetra-acetylation of histone H4 appeared only after induction of this differentiation pathway. During differentiation of hESCs, we observed increased mono-acetylation and decreased tri-acetylation of H2B. Mono-, di-, and tri-acetylation of H4 were reduced, manifested by a significant increase in nonacetylated H4 histones. Levels of acetylated histones increased during induced differentiation in mESCs and during histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor-induced enterocytic differentiation, whereas differentiation of human ESCs was associated with reduced acetylation of histones H2B and H4.
Dispersion and Attenuation for an Acoustic Wave Equation Consistent with Viscoelasticity
Authors: Hanyga A.
Published: January 2014

An acoustic wave equation for pressure accounting for viscoelastic attenuation is derived from viscoelastic equations of motion. It is assumed that the relaxation moduli are completely monotonic (CM). The acoustic equation differs significantly from the equations proposed by Szabo (1994) and in several other papers. Integral representations of dispersion and attenuation are derived. General properties and asymptotic behavior of attenuation and dispersion in the low and high-frequency range are studied. The results are compatible with experiments. The relation between the asymptotic properties of attenuation and wavefront singularities is examined. The theory is applied to some classes of viscoelastic models and to the quasi-linear attenuation reported in seismology.
ALGORITHMS ON SUBGRAPH OVERLAP GRAPHS
Authors: GAVRIL FANICA
Published: January 2014

Consider a graph D and a family FI of connected edge subgraphs of D. Let GI(V, F) be the intersection graph of FI and G the overlap graph of FI. We describe polynomial time algorithms for subgraph overlap graphs G when their intersection graphs GI have specific hereditary properties. The algorithms are to find maximum induced complete bipartite subgraphs, maximum weight holes of a given parity, minimum dominating holes, antiholes of a given parity and some others. In addition, we define the family of subgraph filament graphs based on D, FI and GI, and prove it to be the same as the family of subgraph overlap graphs.
Asymmetry of Single Cells and Where That Leads
Authors: Bretscher Mark S.
Published: January 2014

Most single animal cells have an internal vector that determines where recycling membrane is added to the cell's surface. Because of the specific molecular composition of this added membrane, a dynamic asymmetry is formed on the surface of the cell. The consequences of this dynamic asymmetry are discussed, together with what they imply for how cells move. The polarity of a single-celled embryo, such as that of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, is explored in a similar framework.
Justice Policy Reform for High-Risk Juveniles: Using Science to Achieve Large-Scale Crime Reduction
Authors: Skeem Jennifer L. , Scott Elizabeth , Mulvey Edward P.
Published: January 2014

After a distinctly punitive era, a period of remarkable reform in juvenile crime regulation has begun. Practical urgency has fueled interest in both crime reduction and research on the prediction and malleability of criminal behavior. In this rapidly changing context, high-risk juveniles—the small proportion of the population where crime becomes concentrated—present a conundrum. Research indicates that these are precisely the individuals to treat intensively to maximize crime reduction, but there are both real and imagined barriers to doing so. Mitigation principles (during early adolescence, ages 10–13) and institutional placement or criminal court processing (during mid-late adolescence, ages 14–18) can prevent these juveniles from receiving interventions that would best protect public safety. In this review, we synthesize relevant research to help resolve this challenge in a manner that is consistent with the law's core principles. In our view, early adolescence offers unique opportunities for risk reduction that could (with modifications) be realized in the juvenile justice system in cooperation with other social institutions.
The Contribution of Cultural Competence to Evidence-Based Care for Ethnically Diverse Populations
Authors: Huey Stanley J. , Tilley Jacqueline Lee , Jones Eduardo O. , Smith Caitlin A.
Published: January 2014

Despite compelling arguments for the dissemination of evidence-based treatments (EBTs), questions regarding their relevance to ethnically diverse populations remain. This review summarizes what is known about psychotherapy effects with ethnic minorities, with a particular focus on the role of cultural competence when implementing EBTs. Specifically, we address three questions: (a) does psychotherapy work with ethnic minorities, (b) do psychotherapy effects differ by ethnicity, and (c) does cultural tailoring enhance treatment effects? The evidence suggests that psychotherapy is generally effective with ethnic minorities, and treatment effects are fairly robust across cultural groups and problem areas. However, evidence for cultural competence is mixed. Ethnic minority-focused treatments frequently incorporate culturally tailored strategies, and these tailored treatments are mostly efficacious; yet support for cultural competence as a useful supplement to standard treatment remains equivocal at best. We also discuss research limitations, areas for future research, and clinical implications.
The Diversity of Large Earthquakes and Its Implications for Hazard Mitigation
Authors: Kanamori Hiroo
Published: January 2014

With the advent of broadband seismology and GPS, significant diversity in the source radiation spectra of large earthquakes has been clearly demonstrated. This diversity requires different approaches to mitigate hazards. In certain tectonic environments, seismologists can forecast the future occurrence of large earthquakes within a solid scientific framework using the results from seismology and GPS. Such forecasts are critically important for long-term hazard mitigation practices, but because stochastic fracture processes are complex, the forecasts are inevitably subject to large uncertainty, and unexpected events will continue to surprise seismologists. Recent developments in real-time seismology will help seismologists to cope with and prepare for tsunamis and earthquakes. Combining a better understanding of earthquake diversity with modern technology is the key to effective and comprehensive hazard mitigation practices.
New Developments on the Role of Intramuscular Connective Tissue in Meat Toughness
Authors: Purslow Peter P.
Published: January 2014

Intramuscular connective tissue (IMCT) forms a series of continuous networks integrating muscle fibers and fascicles into a whole organ. The contributions of IMCT to cooked meat toughness have long been recognized. This review concentrates on (a) the potential to manipulate IMCT in the growing animal, (b) postmortem effects on structure and properties of IMCT, and (c) developments in techniques to quantify IMCT in meat. A new hypothesis can explain why IMCT is enzymatically degraded in postmortem aging; however, after cooking, no differences are seen in the IMCT contribution to toughness. This hypothesis proposes that heat-insoluble collagen occurs in a weak pool and a strong pool, where the weak pool is most easily degraded by both proteolysis and heat. Far from being a constant background feature, the IMCT contribution to cooked meat toughness can be varied and deserves fresh research on how to achieve this.
Immunology of Relapse and Remission in Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Steinman Lawrence
Published: January 2014

Eighty percent of individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) initially develop a clinical pattern with periodic relapses followed by remissions, called relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). This period of fluctuating disease may last for a decade or more. Clinical relapses reflect acute inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS), composed of the brain and spinal cord. Often, different anatomic areas in the CNS are involved each time a relapse occurs, resulting in varied clinical manifestations in each instance. Relapses are nearly always followed by some degree of remission, though recovery to baseline status before the flare is often incomplete. There are nine approved drugs for treatment of RRMS. The most potent drug for inhibiting relapses, the humanized anti-α4 integrin antibody known as Natalizumab, blocks homing of mononuclear cells to the CNS. The mechanisms of action of the approved drugs for RRMS provide a strong foundation for understanding the pathobiology of the relapse. Despite substantial progress in controlling relapses with the current armamentarium of medications, there is much to learn and ever more effective and safe therapies to develop.
Emotional Intelligence in Organizations
Authors: Côté Stéphane
Published: January 2014

Emotional intelligence (EI) is a set of abilities that pertain to emotions and emotional information. EI has attracted considerable attention among organizational scholars, and research has clarified the definition of EI and illuminated its role in organizations. Here, I define EI and describe the abilities that constitute it. I evaluate two approaches to measuring EI: the performance-based and self-report approaches. I review the findings about how EI is associated with work criteria, organizing the findings according to three overarching models: the validity generalization, situation-specific, and moderator models. The support for the latter two models suggests that the organizational context and employee dispositions should be considered in order to fully explain how EI relates to criteria. I identify controversies in this area, describe how findings address some controversies, and propose future research to address those that remain. I conclude by listing best practices for future research on the role of EI in organizations.
Rapid upregulation and clearance of distinct circulating microRNAs after prolonged aerobic exercise
Authors: Baggish Aaron L. , Park Joseph , Min Pil-Ki , Isaacs Stephanie , Parker Beth A. , Thompson Paul D. , Troyanos Chris , D'Hemecourt Pierre , Dyer Sophia , Thiel Marissa , Hale Andrew , Chan Stephen Y.
Published: January 2014

Short nonprotein coding RNA molecules, known as microRNAs (miRNAs), are intracellular mediators of adaptive processes, including muscle hypertrophy, contractile force generation, and inflammation. During basal conditions and tissue injury, miRNAs are released into the bloodstream as “circulating” miRNAs (c-miRNAs). To date, the impact of extended-duration, submaximal aerobic exercise on plasma concentrations of c-miRNAs remains incompletely characterized. We hypothesized that specific c-miRNAs are differentially upregulated following prolonged aerobic exercise. To test this hypothesis, we measured concentrations of c-miRNAs enriched in muscle (miR-1, miR-133a, miR-499–5p), cardiac tissue (miR-208a), and the vascular endothelium (miR-126), as well as those important in inflammation (miR-146a) in healthy male marathon runners ( N = 21) at rest, immediately after a marathon (42-km foot race), and 24 h after the race. In addition, we compared c-miRNA profiles to those of conventional protein biomarkers reflective of skeletal muscle damage, cardiac stress and necrosis, and systemic inflammation. Candidate c-miRNAs increased immediately after the marathon and declined to prerace levels or lower after 24 h of race completion. However, the magnitude of change for each c-miRNA differed, even when originating from the same tissue type. In contrast, traditional biomarkers increased after exercise but remained elevated 24 h postexercise. Thus c-miRNAs respond differentially to prolonged exercise, suggesting the existence of specific mechanisms of c-miRNA release and clearance not fully explained by generalized cellular injury. Furthermore, c-miRNA expression patterns differ in a temporal fashion from corollary conventional tissue-specific biomarkers, emphasizing the potential of c-miRNAs as unique, real-time markers of exercise-induced tissue adaptation.
Transcriptome-wide RNA sequencing analysis of rat skeletal muscle feed arteries. I. Impact of obesity
Authors: Jenkins Nathan T. , Padilla Jaume , Thorne Pamela K. , Martin Jeffrey S. , Rector R. Scott , Davis J. Wade , Laughlin M. Harold
Published: January 2014

We employed next-generation RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) technology to determine the influence of obesity on global gene expression in skeletal muscle feed arteries. Transcriptional profiles of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscle feed arteries (GFA and SFA, respectively) and aortic endothelial cell-enriched samples from obese Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) and lean Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rats were examined. Obesity produced 282 upregulated and 133 downregulated genes in SFA and 163 upregulated and 77 downregulated genes in GFA [false discovery rate (FDR) < 10%] with an overlap of 93 genes between the arteries. In LETO rats, there were 89 upregulated and 114 downregulated genes in the GFA compared with the SFA. There were 244 upregulated and 275 downregulated genes in OLETF rats (FDR < 10%) in the GFA compared with the SFA, with an overlap of 76 differentially expressed genes common to both LETO and OLETF rats in both the GFA and SFA. A total of 396 transcripts were found to be differentially expressed between LETO and OLETF in aortic endothelial cell-enriched samples. Overall, we found 1) the existence of heterogeneity in the transcriptional profile of the SFA and GFA within healthy LETO rats, 2) that this between-vessel heterogeneity was markedly exacerbated in the hyperphagic, obese OLETF rat, and 3) a greater number of genes whose expression was altered by obesity in the SFA compared with the GFA. Also, results indicate that in OLETF rats the GFA takes on a relatively more proatherogenic phenotype compared with the SFA.
Targeting STAT5 in Hematologic Malignancies through Inhibition of the Bromodomain and Extra-Terminal (BET) Bromodomain Protein BRD2
Authors: Liu Suhu , Walker Sarah R. , Nelson Erik A. , Cerulli Robert , Xiang Michael , Toniolo Patricia A. , Qi Jun , Stone Richard M. , Wadleigh Martha , Bradner James E. , Frank David A.
Published: January 2014

The transcription factor signal STAT5 is constitutively activated in a wide range of leukemias and lymphomas, and drives the expression of genes necessary for proliferation, survival, and self-renewal. Thus, targeting STAT5 is an appealing therapeutic strategy for hematologic malignancies. Given the importance of bromodomain-containing proteins in transcriptional regulation, we considered the hypothesis that a pharmacologic bromodomain inhibitor could inhibit STAT5-dependent gene expression. We found that the small-molecule bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) bromodomain inhibitor JQ1 decreases STAT5-dependent (but not STAT3-dependent) transcription of both heterologous reporter genes and endogenous STAT5 target genes. JQ1 reduces STAT5 function in leukemia and lymphoma cells with constitutive STAT5 activation, or inducibly activated by cytokine stimulation. Among the BET bromodomain subfamily of proteins, it seems that BRD2 is the critical mediator for STAT5 activity. In experimental models of acute T-cell lymphoblastic leukemias, where activated STAT5 contributes to leukemia cell survival, Brd2 knockdown or JQ1 treatment shows strong synergy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) in inducing apoptosis in leukemia cells. In contrast, mononuclear cells isolated form umbilical cord blood, which is enriched in normal hematopoietic precursor cells, were unaffected by these combinations. These findings indicate a unique functional association between BRD2 and STAT5, and suggest that combinations of JQ1 and TKIs may be an important rational strategy for treating leukemias and lymphomas driven by constitutive STAT5 activation. Mol Cancer Ther; 13(5); 1194–205. ©2014 AACR.
Comprehensive Genomic Analysis of Rhabdomyosarcoma Reveals a Landscape of Alterations Affecting a Common Genetic Axis in Fusion-Positive and Fusion-Negative Tumors
Authors: Shern Jack F. , Chen Li , Chmielecki Juliann , Wei Jun S. , Patidar Rajesh , Rosenberg Mara , Ambrogio Lauren , Auclair Daniel , Wang Jianjun , Song Young K. , Tolman Catherine , Hurd Laura , Liao Hongling , Zhang Shile , Bogen Dominik , Brohl Andrew S. , Sindiri Sivasish , Catchpoole Daniel , Badgett Thomas , Getz Gad , Mora Jaume , Anderson James R. , Skapek Stephen X. , Barr Frederic G. , Meyerson Matthew , Hawkins Douglas S. , Khan Javed
Published: January 2014

Despite gains in survival, outcomes for patients with metastatic or recurrent rhabdomyosarcoma remain dismal. In a collaboration between the National Cancer Institute, Children's Oncology Group, and Broad Institute, we performed whole-genome, whole-exome, and transcriptome sequencing to characterize the landscape of somatic alterations in 147 tumor/normal pairs. Two genotypes are evident in rhabdomyosarcoma tumors: those characterized by the PAX3 or PAX7 fusion and those that lack these fusions but harbor mutations in key signaling pathways. The overall burden of somatic mutations in rhabdomyosarcoma is relatively low, especially in tumors that harbor a PAX3/7 gene fusion. In addition to previously reported mutations in NRAS, KRAS, HRAS, FGFR4, PIK3CA, and CTNNB1, we found novel recurrent mutations in FBXW7 and BCOR, providing potential new avenues for therapeutic intervention. Furthermore, alteration of the receptor tyrosine kinase/RAS/PIK3CA axis affects 93% of cases, providing a framework for genomics-directed therapies that might improve outcomes for patients with rhabdomyosarcoma.

Significance: This is the most comprehensive genomic analysis of rhabdomyosarcoma to date. Despite a relatively low mutation rate, multiple genes were recurrently altered, including NRAS, KRAS, HRAS, FGFR4, PIK3CA, CTNNB1, FBXW7, and BCOR. In addition, a majority of rhabdomyosarcoma tumors alter the receptor tyrosine kinase/RAS/PIK3CA axis, providing an opportunity for genomics-guided intervention. Cancer Discov; 4(2); 216–31. ©2014 AACR.

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 131
Vascular Risk Factors, Cardiovascular Disease and Functional Impairment in Community-Dwelling Adults
Authors: Canavan Michelle , Glynn Liam G. , Smyth Andrew , Mulkerrin Eamon C. , Murphy Andrew W. , Mulqueen Joan , McGrath Emer R. , O'Donnell Martin J.
Published: January 2014

Background: Older adults report preservation of functional independence as one of the most important constructs of successful ageing. Vascular risk factors may increase the risk of functional impairment due to clinical and subclinical vascular disease. Objective: To describe the association between vascular risk factors and impaired ability to perform daily living activities, independent of established cardiovascular disease. Methods: We conducted an analysis of the Clarity Cohort, which is a cross-sectional study of 9,816 community-dwelling Irish adults. Of the total cohort, 3,499 completed standardized self-reported health questionnaires, which included questions on activities of daily living. Functional impairment was defined as self-reported impairment in self-care, mobility or household tasks. Using logistic regression analyses, we determined the association between vascular risk factors and functional impairment, independent of demographics, prior coronary artery disease, stroke, congestive heart failure, and peripheral vascular disease. Results: Functional impairment was reported in 40.4% (n = 1,413) of the cohort overall and in 23% of those with established cardiovascular disease. The mean age was 66.2 ± 10.3 years, 52% of the cohort were aged over 65 and 45.6% were male. Some difficulty with instrumental activities of daily living was reported by 35.4% (n = 1,240) while 29.4% (n = 1,029) reported some difficulty with basic activities of daily living. On multivariable analysis, older age [OR 1.03 (1.02, 1.04) per year], current smoking [OR 1.43 (1.08, 1.89)], atrial fibrillation [OR 1.68 (1.07, 2.65)], former alcohol use [OR 1.87 (1.36, 2.57)] and prior stroke [OR 1.91 (1.24, 2.93)] were associated with an increased risk of functional impairment. Older age leaving education [OR 0.96 (0.94, 0.99)], non-use of alcohol [OR 0.76 (0.61, 0.93)] and increased high-density lipoprotein levels [OR 0.70 (0.56, 0.88)] were associated with reduced risk of functional impairment. Conclusions: Independent of established cardiovascular disease, some vascular risk factors are associated with functional impairment. Modification of these risk factors is expected to have a large impact on preservation of functional independence through prevention of overt and covert vascular disease.
The Inversion of the Fall: On Identity Construction in Anorexia Nervosa
Authors: Sollberger Daniel , Sollberger Daniel
Published: January 2014

Anorexia nervosa can be comprehended as an illness in the broader context of Western culture. The myth of the Fall, narrating a forbidden act of eating, provides a symbolic background of a philosophical-anthropological comprehension of the identity of man, which frames a clinically relevant point of view of anorexia nervosa. The formation of identity in its broader anthropological sense and particularly with people suffering from anorexia nervosa is subjected to a philosophical and psychological analysis consulting the relevant philosophical, sociological and psychodynamic literature. The order of eating in terms of interdiction and disobedience anthropologically constitutes the identity of men: by ignoring the divine taboo, men can reach consciousness and culture. Philosophy and psychoanalytical theory have focused on this process regarding an emerging capacity to symbolize and on its relation to emancipation and the pursuit of autonomy. Under postmodern conditions with a decline of stable cultural value systems and traditional structures the process of an emancipatory identity construction becomes critical. Surrogates replace missing values; thus, injunctions such as to enjoy substitute interdictions. This paper sheds light on the impact of these cultural conditions and their postmodern changes on the identity construction of anorexia nervosa. Moreover, implications for psychotherapeutic treatment are outlined. Besides the medico-scientific models, a multifaceted understanding of anorexia nervosa has to consider cultural contexts and symbolic processes that matter in the disorder in order to provide a broader background for the treatment approach of the anorectic patient.
Paricalcitol Treatment of Secondary Hyperparathyroidism in Hemodialysis Patients: A German-Austrian, Single-Arm, Open-Label, Prospective, Noninterventional, Observational Study
Authors: Biggar Patrick , Kovarik Josef , Klauser-Braun Renate , Graf Helmut , Müller Hans-Walter , Veres Andras , Seidinger Susanne , Ketteler Markus
Published: January 2014

Background: Safety and efficacy of paricalcitol in hemodialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (sHPT) was investigated under routine clinical practice in German and Austrian dialysis centers. Methods: Hemodialysis patients with sHPT initiating intravenous paricalcitol were enrolled in this noninterventional study regardless of concomitant sHPT treatment. Prior active vitamin D therapy was discontinued. Clinical laboratory values, including intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), total serum calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), Ca × P product, and alkaline phosphatase (AP), were recorded for 6 months following initiation of paricalcitol treatment. Results: 1,313 patients (Austria, n = 280; Germany, n = 1,033) from 169 dialysis centers were enrolled. Most patients (n = 932; 79.1%) had received dialysis for ≥1 year. Median iPTH fell from 518.9 pg/ml [55.0 pmol/l] at baseline to 264.0 pg/ml [28.0 pmol/l] after 6 months (p < 0.0001). After 6 months of treatment, ≥30 and ≥60% reductions in iPTH were observed in 63.0 and 35.9% of patients, respectively. At 6 months, 27.2% of patients achieved iPTH levels between 150 and <300 pg/ml [15.9 and <31.8 pmol/l] compared with 9.7% at baseline. Ca, P, and Ca × P levels remained stable in the majority of patients. AP levels declined from a median of 98 U/l at baseline to 83 U/l (p < 0.0001) at 6 months. Monitoring of adverse events and clinical laboratory assessments identified no unexpected safety signals for paricalcitol. Conclusions: Paricalcitol is an effective and well-tolerated treatment option for the control of iPTH levels in hemodialysis patients with sHPT. The results of this study support the results of previous trials under real-time clinical practice conditions in Austria and Germany.
Prediction of Consensus Tropical Cyclone Intensity Forecast Error
Authors: Goerss James S. , Sampson Charles R.
Published: January 2014

The extent to which the tropical cyclone (TC) intensity forecast error of IVCN and S5YY, consensus models routinely used by forecasters at the National Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, respectively, can be predicted is determined. A number of predictors of consensus intensity forecast error, which must be quantities that are available prior to the official forecast deadline, were examined for the Atlantic and eastern North Pacific basins for 2008–11 and the western North Pacific basin for 2012. Leading predictors were found to be forecast TC intensity and intensity change, initial intensity and latitude of the TC, and consensus model spread, defined to be the average of the absolute intensity differences between the member forecasts and the consensus forecast. Using stepwise linear regression and the full pool of predictors, regression models were found for each forecast length to predict the IVCN and S5YY TC intensity forecast errors. Using the regression models, intervals were determined centered on the IVCN and S5YY forecasts that contained the verifying TC intensity about 67% of the time. Based on the size of these intervals, a forecaster can determine the confidence that can be placed upon the IVCN or S5YY forecasts. Independent data testing yielded results only slightly degraded from those of dependent data testing, highlighting the capability of these methods in practical forecasting applications.
Application of Object-Based Time-Domain Diagnostics for Tracking Precipitation Systems in Convection-Allowing Models
Authors: Clark Adam J. , Bullock Randy G. , Jensen Tara L. , Xue Ming , Kong Fanyou
Published: January 2014

Meaningful verification and evaluation of convection-allowing models requires approaches that do not rely on point-to-point matches of forecast and observed fields. In this study, one such approach—a beta version of the Method for Object-Based Diagnostic Evaluation (MODE) that incorporates the time dimension [known as MODE time-domain (MODE-TD)]—was applied to 30-h precipitation forecasts from four 4-km grid-spacing members of the 2010 Storm-Scale Ensemble Forecast system with different microphysics parameterizations. Including time in MODE-TD provides information on rainfall system evolution like lifetime, timing of initiation and dissipation, and translation.

The simulations depicted the spatial distribution of time-domain precipitation objects across the United States quite well. However, all simulations overpredicted the number of objects, with the Thompson microphysics scheme overpredicting the most and the Morrison method the least. For the smallest smoothing radius and rainfall threshold used to define objects [8 km and 0.10 in. (1 in. = 2.54 cm), respectively], the most common object duration was 3 h in both models and observations. With an increased smoothing radius and rainfall threshold, the most common duration became shorter. The simulations depicted the diurnal cycle of object frequencies well, but overpredicted object frequencies uniformly across all forecast hours. The simulations had spurious maxima in initiating objects at the beginning of the forecast and a corresponding spurious maximum in dissipating objects slightly later. Examining average object velocities, a slow bias was found in the simulations, which was most pronounced in the Thompson member. These findings should aid users and developers of convection-allowing models and motivate future work utilizing time-domain methods for verifying high-resolution forecasts.
Longitudinal Associations of Cultural Distance With Psychological Well-Being Among Australian Immigrants From 49 Countries
Authors: Kashima Emiko S. , Abu-Rayya Hisham M.
Published: January 2014

Data of 5,033 immigrants from 49 countries/regions to Australia, derived from Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Australia (LSIA), were analyzed to test a widely held assumption that greater cultural distance (CD) between immigrants’ culture of origin and their destination culture is associated with more adjustment difficulties and thus lower psychological well-being (the CD Hypothesis). Objective measures of CD were constructed from Hofstede’s four value dimensions, Schwartz’s seven dimensions, and Smith et al.’s two dimensions. The hypothesis was tested using multilevel hierarchical regression analyses which controlled for individual-level variations in age, gender, marital status, English language skills, and income. Results revealed limited support for the hypothesis. Whereas the global index of CD based on Smith et al.’s values provided support for the hypothesis, the specific indices of CD, comprised of separate value dimensions, showed a mixed pattern of relationships. Finally, most of the observed CD-well-being links were limited to the earlier phases of settlement and were diminished within 3.5 years after arrival.
Novel PAX9 Mutations Cause Non-syndromic Tooth Agenesis
Authors: Mitsui S.N. , Yasue A. , Masuda K. , Watanabe K. , Horiuchi S. , Imoto I. , Tanaka E.
Published: January 2014

PAX9 is a transcription factor expressed in the tooth mesenchyme during tooth morphogenesis. In Pax9-null mice, tooth development is arrested at the bud stage. In humans, heterozygous mutations in PAX9 have been associated with non-syndromic tooth agenesis, predominantly in the molars. Here, we report 2 novel mutations in the paired domain of PAX9, a three-nucleotide deletion (73-75 delATC) and a missense mutation (C146T), in two unrelated Japanese patients with non-syndromic tooth agenesis. The individual with the 73-75del ATC mutation was missing all maxillary molars and mandibular second and third molars. The individual with the C146T mutation was missing the mandibular central incisors, maxillary second premolars, and first molars, along with all second and third molars. Both mutations affected amino acids that are highly conserved among different species and are critical for DNA binding. When both mutants were transfected to COS7 cells, nuclear localization of PAX9 proteins was not affected. However, reduced expression of the mutant proteins and almost no transcriptional activity of the target BMP4 gene were observed, suggesting haploinsufficiency of PAX9 as the cause of non-syndromic tooth agenesis.
A national survey of attitudes to research in Scottish General Surgery Trainees
Authors: Roxburgh CS , Richards CH , O’Neill S , Ramsay G , Velineni R , Robson AJ , Watt DG , Mittapalli D , Milburn JA , Robertson AG , Jamieson NB
Published: January 2014

Introduction

Given the importance placed on awareness and participation in research by Speciality and Training organisations, we sought to survey Scottish trainee attitudes to exposure to research practice during training and research in or out of programme.

Methods

An online survey was distributed to core and specialist trainees in general surgery in Scotland.

Results

Over a 4-month period, 108 trainees (75 ST/SPRs and 33 CTs) completed the survey. In their current post, most were aware of ongoing research projects (77%) and 55% were aware of trial recruitment. Only 47% attend regular journal clubs. Most believe that they are expected to present (89%) and publish (82%) during training. Most (59%) thought that participation in research is well supported. 57% were advised to undertake time out of programme research, mostly by consultants (48%) and training committee (36%). Of the 57 with time out of programme research experience, most did so in early training (37%) or between ST3-5 (47%). 28 out of the 36 (78%) without a national training number secured one after starting research. Most undertook research in a local academic unit (80%) funded by small grants (47%) or internally (33%). Most research (69%) was clinically orientated (13/55 clinical, 25/55 translational). 56% of those completing time out of programme research obtained an MD or PhD. About 91% thought that research was relevant to a surgical career.

Conclusions

Most trainees believe that research is an important part of training. Generally, most trainees are exposed to research practices including trial recruitment. However, <50% attend regular journal clubs, a pertinent point, given the current ‘exit exam’ includes the assessment of critical appraisal skills.
The efficacy of antifungal azole and antiprotozoal compounds in protection of wool from keratin-digesting insect larvae
Authors: Sunderland Matthew Richard , Cruickshank Robert Hamish , Leighs Samuel James
Published: January 2014

The seven azole compounds, econazole nitrate, sulconazole nitrate, miconazole nitrate, thiabendazole, epoxiconazole, propiconazole, and tebuconazole, were applied to wool fabrics at 3.0% on mass of wool and the protection from wool-digesting Tineola bisselliella (common clothes moth) larvae was assessed in bioassays. Econazole nitrate gave the greatest protection according to Wools of New Zealand Test Method 25, easily passing the bioassay. Other good results with sulconazole and epoxiconazole led to further bioassays being performed with Australian carpet beetle larvae Anthrenocerus australis. Propiconazole provided the most effective protection of wool from this species, with a concentration of approximately 0.4% on mass of wool predicted to give adequate insect resistance. A combination of propiconazole and isoniazid was trialed against Anthrenocerus australis, without any synergistic effect. The antiprotozoal compound pentamidine isethionate had no measurable effect on Anthrenocerus australis larvae, but provided a moderate anti-feeding effect on Tineola bisselliella. Antimicrobial compounds could affect the digestive process of wool-digesting insects either directly or by their effects on any gut flora and/or fauna. Azoles are antifungal compounds, and are likely to disrupt the insect utilisation of cholesterol by inhibiting the cytochrome P450 enzymes. Propiconazole was trialed as a dyebath-applied insect-proofing agent on piece-dyed carpet, showing inefficient uptake onto wool, but good fastness to carpet shampooing and light exposure.
Flame retardant polyamide 6/nanoclay/intumescent nanocomposite fibers through electrospinning
Authors: Wu Hao , Krifa Mourad , Koo Joseph H
Published: January 2014

Flame retardant polyamide 6 (nylon 6) nanocomposite nanofibers containing montmorillonite clay (MMT) platelets and intumescent non-halogenated flame retardant (FR) additives were processed by electrospinning. Different methods of mixing nano fillers before electrospinning were explored and compared. It was found that high loadings of nanoclay particles affected the electrospinnability of the nanocomposite material. Good dispersion and exfoliation of nanoclay platelets within individual nanofibers was verified by transmission electron microscopy. The degradation temperature of nanocomposite samples was lower than pristine nylon 6 samples. However the degradation of all nanocomposite formulations was overall slower. Moreover, the difference in residual char weight after decomposition was significant. Microscale combustion calorimeter results show that FR particles played a major role in reducing flammability of the material in both solution- and melt-compounded samples, while MMT nanoclay was effective in improving char residue and in reducing flammability in high-shear melt premixed samples.
Optimization of energy usage in the hydroentanglement process
Authors: Moyo Doice , Patnaik Asis , Anandjiwala Rajesh D
Published: January 2014

The hydroentanglement process is highly energy intensive compared to other methods of manufacturing nonwoven fabrics. This paper presents an exploratory study on optimizing the usage of hydroentanglement energy so as to lower the processing cost. The experiments were based on a Box–Behnken experimental design (BBD) and multivariate linear regression analysis to model the tensile strength as response to variables. Three variables were selected, namely fabric area weight (150–400 g/m2), machine speed (5–15 m/min) and waterjet pressure (40–200 bars). These parameters were employed in two sets of experiments to achieve maximum tensile strength of viscose nonwoven fabrics. The first experiment was conducted using higher waterjet pressures of 100, 150 and 200 bars, which were proved to have exceeded the optimum levels. The second experiment was conducted at relatively lower waterjet pressures of 40, 60 and 80 bars. The results on tensile strength were analyzed using the SYSTAT 10 software package and response surface plots were prepared. The linear, quadratic and interactive effects of the main variables were shown to be significant. Interactions amongst the variables were found to have either a synergistic (positive) or offsetting (negative) relationship with the fabric tensile strength. The interactions involving machine speed were predominantly offsetting. The 400 g/m2 area weight fabric produced at 80 bars of waterjet pressure achieved a fabric tensile strength of 222 cN, which compared favorably with that of 232 cN obtained at 200 bars of waterjet pressure. In this exploratory study using BBD, linear, quadratic and interactive effects were observed to be significant and the usage of hydroentanglement energy was successfully optimized. This indicates the possibility of achieving high fabric strength but at lower waterjet pressures; in other words, by employing low hydroentanglement energy and thereby minimizing the processing cost.
Transnational Indigenous Communities
Authors: Rivera-Salgado Gaspar
Published: January 2014

Mixtecs are indigenous peoples from the southern Mexican states of the western portion of Oaxaca and small adjacent parts of Puebla and Guerrero. Mixtecs have been coming to the United States since the late 1970s as migrant workers. Michael Kearney became for the Mixtec migrant community in diaspora and in Oaxaca a solid ally and a critical thinker who contributed with his intellect and sometimes plain hard physical labor to the efforts of the Mixtec community to promote the fundamental human rights of all indigenous Mexicans. He played an important role in advancing the struggle of indigenous migrants by forging innovative theoretical concepts that indigenous activists appropriated to focus and advance their struggle, among them transnational indigenous community, Oaxacalifornia, and Mixtec political consciousness. In the late 1980s and early 1990s these concepts appeared strange and abstract to indigenous activists, but eventually they became cornerstones of the discourse of many activists and indigenous organizers both in the United States and Mexico and are now common coin.
Breaking the Spiral of Violence
Authors: París Pombo María Dolores
Published: January 2014

The political culture of the Copala Triqui region has been characterized by factionalism and armed confrontation among leaders, neighborhoods, and political organizations. The political violence has led to the emigration of more than half of the population. Many families have settled in colonies close to the agricultural regions of northwestern Mexico. While migration has allowed the Triqui to overcome factionalism and armed conflict, another violence—almost invisible, unrecognized, or even considered part of everyday life, normalized—brings hunger, disease, despair, and humiliation.

En la región triqui de Copala, la cultura política se ha caracterizado por el faccionalismo y la confrontación armada entre líderes, barrios y organizaciones políticas. La situación de violencia política ha provocado la emigración de más de la mitad de la población. Muchas familias se han asentado en colonias cercanas a las regiones agrícolas del noroeste de México. Si bien la migración al noroeste de México ha permitido al pueblo triqui superar el faccionalismo, eludir los enfrentamientos armados y los asesinatos políticos, otra violencia—casi invisible, no reconocida o incluso admitida como parte de la cotidianidad, normalizada—provoca el hambre, la enfermedad, la desesperación y la humillación.
Narcoaesthetics in Colombia, Mexico, and the United States
Authors: Rojas-Sotelo Miguel L.
Published: January 2014

The production of the visual artists Juan Obando (Colombia), José Ignacio García (United States–Mexico), and the Narcochingadazo collective (United States–Mexico–Colombia) under the umbrella of what they call “narcoaesthetics” is linked to contemporary democratic processes in Colombia and Mexico and the implementation of branding techniques aimed at offsetting these countries’ bad image due to the drug issue. From a decolonizing reading of their work a definition of “narcoculture” emerges that, along with other cultural forms, complements an understanding of the ways in which the narco phenomenon is reshaping the region after the consolidation of the late phase of modernity.

La obra de los artistas visuales Juan Obando (Colombia), José Ignacio García (México–Estados Unidos) y la colectiva Narcochingadazo (Estados Unidos–México–Colombia) pertenece a la categoría de lo que ellos llaman la “narcoestética” y está vinculada a procesos democráticos contemporáneos en Colombia y México, al igual que a la aplicación de técnicas destinadas a contrarrestar la mala imagen de estos países en el tema de las drogas. Una perspectiva decolonizadora nos brinda una definición de “narcocultura” que, junto con otras formas culturales, ayuda a entender las maneras en que el fenómeno del narco está remodelando a la región después de la consolidación de la última fase de la modernidad.
Adam Citings before the Intrusion of Satan: Recontextualizing Paul's Theology of Sin and Death
Authors: Kelly Henry Ansgar
Published: January 2014

The article surveys early references to the story of Adam and Eve, which are surprisingly few in number, beginning only around 200 bce, with the Book of Tobit. The common notion that Adam was punished by death for his sin is verified neither in Genesis 2–3 itself (and the surrounding chapters) nor in any pre-Pauline texts. Paul's focus on Adam's sin was out of the ordinary, and his conclusion that he was punished by some kind of death does not resemble interpretations in any other contemporary source, including Philo. The equally common idea that the Devil was assumed to participate in causing Adam's sin does not occur in early texts (for instance, Wisdom or the books of the New Testament), being first found in Justin Martyr. Therefore, assessments of biblical theology that depend on these concepts should be emended.