bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Hamiltonian System Method for the Stress Analysis in Axisymmetric Problems of Viscoelastic Solids
Authors: Zhang W. X. , Bai Y. , Yuan F.
Published: October 2012

With the use of the Laplace integral transformation and state space formalism, the classical axial symmetric quasistatic problem of viscoelastic solids is discussed. By employing the method of separation of variables, the governing equations under Hamiltonian system are established, and hence, general solutions including the zero eigensolutions and nonzero eigensolutions are obtained analytically. Due to the completeness property of the general solutions, their linear combinations can describe various boundary conditions. Simply by applying the adjoint relationships of the symplectic orthogonality, the eigensolution expansion method for boundary condition problems is given. In the numerical examples, stress distributions of a circular cylinder under the end and lateral boundary conditions are obtained. The results exhibit that stress concentrations appear due to the displacement constraints, and that the effects are seriously confined near the constraints, decreasing rapidly with the distance from the boundary.
Enhanced Adipose Afferent Reflex Contributes to Sympathetic Activation in Diet-Induced Obesity Hypertension
Authors: Xiong Xiao-Qing , Chen Wei-Wei , Han Ying , Zhou Ye-Bo , Zhang Feng , Gao Xing-Ya , Zhu Guo-Qing
Published: October 2012

We recently found that adipose afferent reflex (AAR) induced by chemical stimulation of white adipose tissue (WAT) increased sympathetic outflow and blood pressure in normal rats. The study was designed to test the hypothesis that AAR contributes to sympathetic activation in obesity hypertension. Male rats were fed with a control diet (12% kcal as fat) or high-fat diet (42% kcal as fat) for 12 weeks to induce obesity hypertension. Stimulation of WAT with capsaicin increased renal sympathetic nerve activity and mean arterial pressure. Both AAR and WAT afferent activity were enhanced in obesity hypertension (OH) compared with obesity nonhypertension (ON) and in ON compared with obesity-resistant or control diet rats. WAT sensory denervation induced by resiniferatoxin caused greater decreases in renal sympathetic nerve activity and mean arterial pressure in OH than ON and in ON than obesity-resistant or control. The depressor effect of resiniferatoxin lasted ≥3 weeks in OH. Leptin antagonist in WAT reduced renal sympathetic nerve activity and mean arterial pressure in OH. WAT injection of capsaicin increased plasma renin, angiotensin II, and norepinephrine levels in OH and caused more c-fos expression in paraventricular nucleus in OH than ON and in ON than obesity-resistant or control rats. Inhibiting paraventricular nucleus neurons with lidocaine attenuated renal sympathetic nerve activity in OH and ON, decreased mean arterial pressure in OH, and abolished the capsaicin-induced AAR in all groups. The results indicate that enhanced AAR contributes to sympathetic activation in OH, and paraventricular nucleus plays an important role in the enhanced AAR and sympathetic activation in OH.
Being Free in Obama's America: Racial Differences in Perceptions of Constraints on Political Action
Authors: Gibson James L.
Published: October 2012

Many studies of interracial differences in rates of political participation pay too little attention to African Americans' perceptions of whether they can freely participate in politics. Survey evidence collected over the last several decades has consistently shown that black Americans perceive much less political freedom available to them than do white Americans. The gap in perceived freedom has narrowed somewhat in recent years but remains large. Following the empowerment hypothesis of Lawrence Bobo and Franklin Gilliam, black perceptions of freedom increased with the election of Barack Obama to the American presidency. But perhaps unexpectedly, the empowerment bonus has not persisted, especially among conservative and fundamentalist blacks. Because African Americans do not perceive that their government would permit various types of political action, it is likely that substantial interracial differences exist in non-voting types of political participation, especially political action directed against governmental authority.
Culture Wars, Revanchism, Moral Panics and the Creative City. A Reconstruction of a Decline of Tolerant Public Policy: The Case of Dutch Anti-squatting Legislation
Authors: Pruijt Hans
Published: October 2012

Squatting became illegal in the Netherlands on 1 October 2010. The paper examines the dynamics involved. Theoretically drawing on debates about culture wars, revanchism, moral panics and the creative city, it is based on participant observation in squatter meetings, debates with politicians, a parliament hearing, lobbying meetings and various informal encounters, on a survey and on a collection of documents. A key mechanism that the paper explores is the following. Strategies of resistance that seem more or less manageable in the local context of a creative city can, when they backfire, cause a moral panic on the national level. This provides ammunition for revanchist politicians.
Sociophonetic Variation in an Internet Place Name
Authors: Witten Kim
Published: October 2012

AbstractThis study provides one of the first published accounts of sociophonetic variation in which the speech community under investigation exists online and text-based communication is the dominant mode of interaction. The abbreviated name of the Internet community weblog — MeFi, from MetaFilter.com — has at least eight recognized pronunciation variants. Quantitative analysis of surveys from over 2000 MetaFilter members reveals statistically significant variation in the distribution of members’ preferred pronunciations for MeFi across four English-speaking countries. These results reflect dialectal and socio-cultural differences in naming preferences in spite of the fact that the speech channel is limited or non-primary.
Sonic hedgehog (Shh)/Gli modulates the spatial organization of neuroepithelial cell proliferation in the developing chick optic tectum
Authors: Rapacioli Melina , Botelho Joao , Cerda Gustavo , Duarte Santiago , Elliot Matías , Palma Verónica , Flores Vladimir
Published: October 2012

Background

Sonic hedgehog (Shh)/Gli pathway plays an important regulatory role on the neuroepithelial cells (NEc) proliferation in the dorsal regions of the developing vertebrate Central Nervous System. The aim of this paper was to analyze the effect of the Shh/Gli signaling pathway activation on the proliferation dynamics and/or the spatial organization of the NEc proliferation activity during early stages of the developing chick optic tectum (OT). In ovo pharmacological gain and loss of hedgehog function approaches were complemented with in vivo electroporation experiments in order to create ectopic sources of either Shh or Gli activator (GliA) proteins in the OT. NEc proliferating activity was analyzed at ED 4/4.5 by recording the spatial co-ordinates of the entire population of mitotic NEc (mNEc) located along OT dorsal-ventral sections. Several space signals (numerical sequences) were derived from the mNEc spatial co-ordinate records and analyzed by different standardized non-linear methods of signal analysis.

Results

In ovo pharmacologic treatment with cyclopamine resulted in dramatic failure in the OT expansion while the agonist purmorphamine produced the opposite result, a huge expansion of the OT vesicle. Besides, GliA and Shh misexpressions interfere with the formation of the intertectal fissure located along the dorsal midline. This morphogenetic alteration is accompanied by an increase in the mNEc density. There is a gradient in the response of NEcs to Shh and GliA: the increase in mNEc density is maximal near the dorsal regions and decrease towards the OT-tegmental boundary. Biomathematical analyses of the signals derived from the mNEc records show that both Shh and GliA electroporations change the proliferation dynamics and the spatial organization of the mNEc as revealed by the changes in the scaling index estimated by these methods.

Conclusions

The present results show that the Shh/Gli signaling pathway plays a critical role in the OT expansion and modelling. This effect is probably mediated by a differential mitogenic effect that increases the NEc proliferation and modulates the spatial organization of the NEc proliferation activity.
Aspergillus-PCR in bronchoalveolar lavage for detection of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in immunocompromised patients
Authors: Buess Michael , Cathomas Gieri , Halter Jörg , Junker Lilian , Grendelmeier Peter , Tamm Michael , Stolz Daiana
Published: October 2012

Background

Invasive fungal disease (IFD) is a frequent and serious infectious complication in immunocompromised patients. Culture and cytology in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) have a high specificity but low sensitivity for the diagnosis of IFD as assessed by histology. Molecular methods are expected to allow a rapid diagnosis of IFD with a high sensitivity. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of conventional nested PCR in the bronchoalveolar fluid to diagnose IFD in severely immunocompromised patients.

Methods

Consecutive immunosuppressed patients undergoing bronchoscopy for suspected pulmonary infection in a tertiary care hospital were included. Patients were classified as having “proven”, “probable”, “possible”, and “no” IFD based on definitions of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (EORTC/NIAID) and on clinical grounds. Conventional nested PCR for aspergillus fumigatus, flavus, niger, glaucus, terreus and tomarrii were applied to 2.5 ml bronchoalveolar fluid.

Results

A total of 191 patients were included. Mean age was 51 y, 61% were male. There were 129 patients with hematological conditions, 26 solid organ transplant recipients, 24 auto-immune disorders, and 12 HIV. According to the EORTC/NIAID classification, there were 53 patients with potential IFD: 3 (2%) had proven, 8 (4%) probable, 42 (22%) possible and 138 (72%) no IFD. A total of 111 (58%) of the patients - 10 (90.9%) proven or probable IFD, 32 (76.2%) possible IFD and 69 (50%) “no” IFD) were on anti-fungal therapy at the time of bronchoscopy. Conventional nested PCR for Aspergillus was positive in 55 cases (28.8%). According to these results, sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV for “proven” IFD was 0%, 71%, 0%, 98%, respectively and “probable” IFD was 36%, 72%, 7%, 95%, respectively. In 53 (28%) cases there was a strong clinical suspicion of IFD in the chest-x-ray and/or chest-CT irrespective of the EORTC/NIAID classification. However, from those, only 15 (28%) had a positive conventional nested PCR.

Conclusion

In our experience, conventional nested Aspergillus PCR in the BAL seems to be of limited usefulness for detection of invasive fungal disease in immunocompromised patients due to the limited sensitivity and specificity of the method.
Moving from rhetoric to reality: adapting Housing First for homeless individuals with mental illness from ethno-racial groups
Authors: Stergiopoulos Vicky , O’Campo Patricia , Gozdzik Agnes , Jeyaratnam Jeyagobi , Corneau Simon , Sarang Aseefa , Hwang Stephen W
Published: October 2012

Background

The literature on interventions addressing the intersection of homelessness, mental illness and race is scant. The At Home/Chez Soi research demonstration project is a pragmatic field trial investigating a Housing First intervention for homeless individuals with mental illness in five cities across Canada. A unique focus at the Toronto site has been the development and implementation of a Housing First Ethno-Racial Intensive Case Management (HF ER-ICM) arm of the trial serving 100 homeless individuals with mental illness from ethno-racial groups. The HF ER-ICM program combines the Housing First approach with an anti-racism/anti-oppression framework of practice. This paper presents the findings of an early implementation and fidelity evaluation of the HF ER-ICM program, supplemented by participant narrative interviews to inform our understanding of the HF ER-ICM program theory.

Methods

Descriptive statistics are used to describe HF ER-ICM participant characteristics. Focus group interviews, key informant interviews and fidelity assessments were conducted between November 2010 and January 2011, as part of the program implementation evaluation. In-depth qualitative interviews with HF ER-ICM participants and control group members were conducted between March 2010 and June 2011. All qualitative data were analysed using grounded theory methodology.

Results

The target population had complex health and social service needs. The HF ER-ICM program enjoyed a high degree of fidelity to principles of both anti-racism/anti-oppression practice and Housing First and comprehensively addressed the housing, health and sociocultural needs of participants. Program providers reported congruence of these philosophies of practice, and program participants valued the program and its components.

Conclusions

Adapting Housing First with anti-racism/anti-oppression principles offers a promising approach to serving the diverse needs of homeless people from ethno-racial groups and strengthening the service systems developed to support them. The use of fidelity and implementation evaluations can be helpful in supporting successful adaptations of programs and services.

Trial registration

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN42520374
Strong stimulation of recombinant protein production in Escherichia coli by combining stimulatory control elements in an expression cassette
Authors: Zwick Friederike , Lale Rahmi , Valla Svein
Published: October 2012

Background

The XylS/Pmexpression system has been used to produce recombinant proteins at industrial levels inEscherichia coli. Activation of transcription from thePmpromoter takes place in the presence of benzoic acid or derivatives of it. Previous mutagenesis studies resulted in identification of several variants of the expression control elementsxylS(X),Pm(P) and the 5'-untranslated region (U) that individually gave rise to strongly stimulated expression. The goal of this study was to test if combination of such stimulatory mutations in the same expression vectors would lead to further increase of expression levels.

Results

We combined X, P and U variants that were originally identified due to their ability to strongly stimulate expression of the reporter genebla(resistance to penicillin). Combination of optimized elements stimulatedblaexpression up to 75-fold (X, P and U combined) relative to the wild-type system, while accumulated transcript levels increased about 50-fold. This is much more than for the elements individually. We also tested combination of the variant elements on two other and unrelated genes,celB(encoding phosphoglucomutase) and the human growth factor genegm-csf. Protein production from these genes is much more efficient than fromblain the wild-type system, but expression was still significantly stimulated by the combination of X, P and U variants, although not to the same extent as forbla.

We also integrated a single copy of the expression cassette with each gene into theE. colichromosome and found that the expression level from this single copy was higher forblathan for the wild-type plasmid system, while it was lower forcelBandgm-csf.

Conclusion

Our results show that combination of stimulatory expression control elements can be used to further increase production of different proteins inE. coli. For one reporter gene (bla) this allowed for more protein production from a single gene copy integrated on the chromosome, compared to the wild-type plasmid system. The approach described here should in principle be applicable for improvement of any expression cassette.
Zoning for management in wetland nature reserves: a case study using Wuliangsuhai Nature Reserve, China
Authors: Zeng Qing , Zhang Yamian , Jia Yifei , Jiao Shengwu , Feng Duoduo , Bridgewater Peter , Lei Guangchun
Published: October 2012

Background

Zoning is a fundamental tool for the effective management of nature reserves. A three-zone model (core zone, buffer zone, and experimental zone) has been applied to nature reserves in China since 1980s; however, this model appears not fit for all types of nature reserves, especially wetlands.

Case description

Wuliangsuhai is such a typical wetland reserve, which can represent most of the other wetland reserves in China, for both its human utilization, and for its function as the bird habitat. The “Component-Process-Service” (CPS) framework of the Convention on Wetlands allows a determination of the “ecological character” of the wetland and also allows identification of potential threats, providing thus a perspective for management opportunities and challenges.

Discussion and evaluation

Applying the CPS framework to Wuliangsuhai wetland nature reserve, we have had a better understanding of the ecosystem services and its relationship with the ecological process and components of the wetland. A comparison of effectiveness in maintaining ecosystem services by the two zoning models (the existing three-zone model, and the new zoning model) was made.

Conclusions

The study suggested introducing an additional risk-control zone to be more effective in managing and alleviating threats to the ecological character than the standard 3-zone system. Furthermore, a “dynamic” zoning that takes into account the annual variation in habitat and avifauna distribution, as an elaboration of the Four-zone structure, may achieve the desired conservation objectives in an even more effective manner. The proposed zonation structure has the added benefit of promoting harmonization between nature conservation and local sustainable development.
Failure to Rescue As a Source of Variation in Hospital Mortality for Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Wright Jason D. , Herzog Thomas J. , Siddiq Zainab , Arend Rebecca , Neugut Alfred I. , Burke William M. , Lewin Sharyn N. , Ananth Cande V. , Hershman Dawn L.
Published: October 2012

Purpose

Although the association between high surgical volume and improved outcomes from procedures is well described, the mechanisms that underlie this association are uncertain. There is growing recognition that high-volume hospitals may not necessarily have lower complication rates but rather may be better at rescuing patients with complications. We examined the role of complications, failure to rescue from complications, and mortality based on hospital volume for ovarian cancer.

Patients and Methods

The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was used to identify women who underwent surgery for ovarian cancer from 1988 to 2009. Hospitals were ranked on the basis of their procedure volume. We determined the risk-adjusted mortality, major complication rate, and “failure to rescue” rate (mortality in patients with a major complication) for each tertile. Univariate and multivariate associations were then compared.

Results

We identified 36,624 patients. The mortality rate for the cohort was 1.6%. The major complication rate was 20.4% at low-volume, 23.4% at intermediate-volume, and 24.6% at high-volume hospitals (P < .001). However, the rate of failure to rescue (death after a complication) was markedly higher at low-volume (8.0%) compared with high-volume hospitals (4.9%; P < .001). After accounting for patient and hospital characteristics, women treated at low-volume hospitals who experienced a complication were 48% more likely (odds ratio [OR], 1.48; 95% CI, 1.11 to 1.99) to die than patients with a complication at a high-volume hospital.

Conclusion

Mortality is lower for patients with ovarian cancer treated at high-volume hospitals. The reduction in mortality does not appear to be the result of lower complications rates but rather a result of the ability of high-volume hospitals to rescue patients with complications.
Chronic Administration of the Metastin/Kisspeptin Analog KISS1-305 or the Investigational Agent TAK-448 Suppresses Hypothalamic Pituitary Gonadal Function and Depletes Plasma Testosterone in Adult Male Rats
Authors: Matsui Hisanori , Tanaka Akira , Yokoyama Kotaro , Takatsu Yoshihiro , Ishikawa Kaori , Asami Taiji , Nishizawa Naoki , Suzuki Atsuko , Kumano Satoshi , Terada Michiko , Kusaka Masami , Kitada Chieko , Ohtaki Tetsuya
Published: October 2012

Metastin/kisspeptin, a hypothalamic peptide, plays a pivotal role in controlling GnRH neurons. Here we studied the effect of chronic sc administration of two kisspeptin analogs, KISS1-305 and TAK-448, on hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal function in male rats in comparison with a GnRH analogue leuprolide or bilateral orchiectomy (ORX). The prototype polypeptide, KISS1-305 (1–4 nmol/h), caused substantial elevations of plasma LH and testosterone, followed by abrupt reductions of both hormone levels. Notably, testosterone levels were reduced to castrate levels within 3 d and remained depleted throughout the 4-wk dosing period, an effect that was faster and more pronounced than leuprolide (1 nmol/h) dosing. KISS1-305 also reduced genital organ weight more profoundly than leuprolide. In mechanistic studies, chronic KISS1-305 administration only transiently induced c-Fos expression in GnRH neurons, suggesting that GnRH-neural response was attenuated over time. Hypothalamic GnRH content was reduced to 10–20% of control at 3 wk without any changes in Gnrh mRNA expression. Dosing with the investigational peptide TAK-448 was also studied to extend our understanding of hypothalamic-pituitary functions. Similar to ORX, TAK-448 (0.1 nmol/h) depleted testosterone and decreased GnRH content by 4 wk. However, in contrast to ORX, TAK-448 decreased gonadotropin levels in pituitary and plasma samples, implying the suppression of GnRH pulses. These results suggest that chronic administration of kisspeptin analogs disrupts endogenous kisspeptin signals to suppress intrinsic GnRH pulses, perhaps by attenuating GnRH-neural response and inducing continuous GnRH leakage from the hypothalamus. The potential utility of kisspeptin analogs as novel agents to treat hormone-related diseases, including prostate cancer, is discussed.
Pathological Biominerals: Raman and Infrared Studies of Bioapatite Deposits in Human Heart Valves
Authors: Mangialardo Sara , Cottignoli Valentina , Cavarretta Elena , Salvador Loris , Postorino Paolo , Maras Adriana
Published: October 2012

We studied pathological bioapatite from patients undergoing valvular replacement due to severe aortic and mitral stenosis. Three different types of mineralized human cardiac valves were analyzed. We used infrared and Raman spectroscopy to infer the presence of the carbonate group and evaluate the carbonate substitution in bioapatite structure. The Raman spectra showed that the pathological bioapatite is a B-type “carbonateapatite” (CO32- for PO43-) similar to the major mineralized products derived from normal biomineralization processes occurring in the human body. Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR) confirmed the B-type carbonate substitution (CO32- for PO43-) and showed evidence for the partial replacement of [OH] by [CO3] (A-type substitution). The carbonate content of the samples inferred by the spectroscopic measurements is in good agreement with the range of values estimated for biological apatite. On the contrary, the crystal size of the pathological apatite estimated using the percentage area of the component at 1059 cm−1 of the infrared spectrum is in the nanometer range and it is significantly smaller than the crystal size of normal mineralized tissues.
Contemporary Chinese Cinema: A Chronicle of Events: 1978 - 2000
Authors: Lent John A. , Renying Wang , Bao Yuheng
Published: October 2012

After a ten-years-long Cultural Revolution (1966 - 1976), China entered a new age. In the Post-Cultural Revolution Era, Chinese cinema made great progress, after a long period of suffering. Contemporary Chinese cinema usually refers to the years after 1976. Actually the new Chinese
cinema had started a bit later in 1978. To help readers understand how the new Chinese cinema has developed since the year 1978, this chronicle of events in Chinese cinema: 1978 -2000, is presented.
Indian Women In The Flesh: From Prose To Screen
Authors: Hemphill Linda
Published: October 2012

A frequently occuring storyline in Indian cinema revolves around a sexually adventurous or morally ambiguous female protagonist, often a prostitute or entertainer. Such films have been observed by some commentators to provide merely "the constant sexual titillation of the bourgeois
sexual nerve." (Prasad, 148) Popular films are viewed as more commercially viable if they appeal to the audience's prurience, the tone generally being voyeuristic and sanctimonious by turn. Examples of infantile male sexuality and cliched sexual insecurity abound in Indian popular cinema.
The sexual and emotional immaturity of popular film is perhaps most difficult to avoid or most unwillingly rejected, even by adventurous filmmakers, in the depiction of women. Nevertheless, the cliched independent woman who is reduced to a harmless virginal figure by marriage or love is disappearing
in more thoughtful films as is the notion that to win the hero a woman must be untainted even by mere outward sexual display Some filmmakers attempt to break from the bind of audience expectation of favorite stereotypes by balancing the use of these traditional stereotypes with a suggestion
of the way in which tradition retards and distorts social change. (Binford, 1988)
Seoul as Cinematic Cityscape: Shiri and the Politico-Aesthetics of Invisibility
Authors: Diffrient David Scott
Published: October 2012

In his recent book, Hong Kong: Culture and the Politics of Disappearance, Ackbar Abbas charts the complex spatial coordinates of a port city that, leading up to its 1997 "handover" to China, endured colonial "dislocations and discontinuities." Though Abbas focuses
on the cultural forms unique to Hong Kong that melt away either "local," "marginal," or "cosmopolitan" identities and, in the space of that evaporation, reveal the dynamic symbiosis between colonialism and globalism, his attempt to destabilize the traditional
fallacies of identity-construction can be superimposed atop virtually any city rendered historically anomalous during the reign of late capitalism.
Blocking semiovals containing conics
Authors: Dover J. M. , Mellinger K. E. , Wantz K. L.
Published: October 2012

A blocking semioval is a set of points in a projective plane that is both a blocking set (i.e., every line meets the set, but the set contains no line) and a semioval (i.e., there is a unique tangent line at each point). Sz˝onyi investigated an infinite family of blocking semiovals that are formed from the union of conics contained in a particular type of algebraic pencil. In this paper, the authors look at the general problem of blocking semiovals containing conics, proving a lower bound on the size of such sets and providing several new constructions of blocking semiovals containing conics. In addition, the authors investigate the natural generalization of Sz˝onyi’s construction to other conic pencils.
Beyond anemia: hepcidin, monocytes and inflammation
Authors: Zhang Xiaolan , Rovin Brad H.
Published: October 2012

Hepcidin is an iron regulatory protein mainly synthesized by the liver. Hepatocyte production of hepcidin is responsible for serum hepcidin, is responsive to body iron stores, and is critical for maintaining iron homeostasis. Monocytes and macrophages also express hepcidin, and in contrast to the liver, hepcidin expression is primarily regulated by inflammatory mediators and infectious agents. Monocyte and macrophage hepcidin is likely to be more important on a local rather than systemic level, contributes to host defense and may modulate inflammatory processes. This review summarizes recent findings and hypotheses on the relationship of hepcidin to the mononuclear phagocyte system.
Preservation of Renal Function in Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome by Eculizumab: A Case Report
Authors: Giordano Mario , Castellano Giuseppe , Messina Giovanni , Divella Claretta , Bellantuono Rosa , Puteo Flora , Colella Vincenzo , Depalo Tommaso , Gesualdo Loreto
Published: October 2012

Genetic mutations in complement components are associated with the development of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), a rare disease with high morbidity rate triggered by infections or unidentified factors. The uncontrolled activation of the alternative pathway of complement results in systemic endothelial damage leading to progressive development of renal failure. A previously healthy 8-month-old boy was referred to our hospital because of onset of fever, vomiting, and a single episode of nonbloody diarrhea. Acute kidney injury with preserved diuresis, hemolytic anemia, and thrombocytopenia were detected, and common protocols for management of HUS were followed without considerable improvement. The persistent low levels of complement component C3 led us to hypothesize the occurrence of aHUS. In fact, the child carried a specific mutation in complement factor H (Cfh; nonsense mutation in 3514G>T, serum levels of Cfh 138 mg/L, normal range 350–750). Given the lack of response to therapy and the occurrence of kidney failure requiring dialysis, we used eculizumab as rescue therapy, a monoclonal humanized antibody against the complement component C5. One week from the first administration, we observed a significant improvement of all clinical and laboratory parameters with complete recovery from hemodialysis, even in the presence of systemic infections. Our case report shows that complement inhibiting treatment allows the preservation of renal function and avoids disease relapses during systemic infections.
Hot Flashes in a Young Girl: A Wake-up Call Concerning Serenoa repens Use in Children
Authors: Miroddi Marco , Carnì Antonio , Mannucci Carmen , Moleti Mariacarla , Navarra Michele , Calapai Gioacchino
Published: October 2012

Extracts of the plant Serenoa repens are widely used in male adults for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Recently, therapy with S repens has been proposed as a "natural" alternative to conventional treatments for male androgenetic alopecia as well as for other hair disorders. Telogen effluvium is a form of alopecia characterized by abnormality of hair cycling, resulting in excessive loss of telogen hair. We report the case of an 11-year-old girl presenting hot flashes that appeared after treatment of telogen effluvium with a food supplement containing S repens that lasted for ∼2 months. When use of the product was discontinued, the hot flashes no longer occurred. Four months after the start of S repens intake and 45 days from the cessation of therapy, the girl experienced menarche at the age of 11 years. The Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability scale indicated a probable relationship (score of 6) between the appearance of hot flashes and the intake of S repens. A correlation between exposure to S repens and the onset of menarche is not certain, but it cannot be excluded. Medicinal products or food supplements containing S repens are generally well tolerated in male adults, but we believe that their use in pediatric patients should be better evaluated.
Physician Attitudes Regarding School-Located Vaccinations
Authors: McCormick Emily V. , Durfee Josh , Vogt Tara M. , Daley Matthew F. , Hambidge Simon J. , Shlay Judith
Published: October 2012

OBJECTIVE:

To assess physician attitudes regarding school-located adolescent vaccination and influenza vaccination.

METHODS:

From July through September 2010, a 20-item survey was mailed to 1337 practicing Colorado family physicians and pediatricians. Standard statistical methods were used to examine unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios of factors associated with physician support for school-located vaccination programs.

RESULTS:

Overall, 943 physicians were survey-eligible, and 584 (62%) responded. More than half of physicians supported both school-located influenza and adolescent vaccination. However, fewer physicians supported school-located adolescent vaccination compared with influenza vaccination. More physicians supported school-located vaccination for their publicly insured patients compared with their privately insured patients. Some family physicians (32%) and pediatricians (39%) believed that school-located vaccination would make their patients less likely to attend well-child visits, and half of respondents believed that school-located vaccination would have a negative financial impact on their practice. In multivariate analyses, physicians concerned about the financial impact of school-located vaccination were less likely to support such programs.

CONCLUSIONS:

Although a majority of Colorado physicians supported influenza and adolescent vaccination at school, they expressed concerns regarding the implications on their practice. Lesser support for vaccination of their privately insured patients and concerns regarding attendance at well-child visits suggests the perceived financial impact from school-located vaccination is a barrier and merits additional examination.
Caring in Pediatric Emergency Nursing
Authors: Gillespie Gordon Lee , Hounchell Melanie , Pettinichi Jeanne , Mattei Jennifer , Rose Lindsay
Published: October 2012

An environment committed to providing family-centered care to children must be aware of the nurse caring behaviors important to parents of children. This descriptive study assessed the psychometrics of a revised version of the Caring Behaviors Assessment (CBA) and examined nurse caring behaviors identified as important to the parents of pediatric patients in a pediatric emergency department. Jean Watson’s theory of human caring provided the study’s theoretical underpinnings. The instrument psychometrics was determined through an index of content validity (CVI) and internal consistency reliability. The instrument was determined to be valid (CVI = 3.75) and reliable (Cronbach’s alpha = .971). The revised instrument was completed by a stratified, systematic random sample of 300 parents of pediatric emergency patients. Participants rated the importance of each item for making the child feel cared for by nurses. Individual survey item means were computed. Items with the highest means represented the most important nurse caring behaviors. Leading nurse caring behaviors centered on carative factors of “human needs assistance” and “sensitivity to self and others.” Nearly all nurse caring behaviors were important to the parents of pediatric patients, although some behaviors were not priority. It is important for nurses to provide family-centered care in a way that demonstrates nurse caring.
The Sociodemographic Characteristics, Periodontal Health Status, and Subgingival Microbiota of Patients With Chronic Periodontitis and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Case‐Control Study in a Chinese Population
Authors: Li Chen , Liu Jingbo , Tan Lisi , Yu Ning , Lin Li , Geng Fengxue , Zhang Dongmei , Pan Yaping
Published: October 2012

Background: In China, chronic periodontitis (CP) is common in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The purpose of this study is to identify the sociodemographic characteristics associated with such patients and to assess the periodontal health status and subgingival microbiota of patients with CP and T2DM (T2DMCP) in the Chinese population.

Methods: A total of 150 patients with T2DMCP and 306 patients with CP without any systemic disease completed questionnaires, underwent clinical periodontal examinations and participated in diabetes‐related parameter examinations. Subgingival plaques were obtained to determine the prevalence and amounts of selected oral bacterial species using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real‐time PCR, respectively.

Results: The income level and mean body mass index (BMI) of the patients with T2DMCP were significantly higher than those of the patients with CP. Additionally, the patients with T2DMCP were more likely to be urban residents, and they had significantly more severe periodontitis than did the patients with CP. In the patients with T2DMCP, the prevalence and amounts of Treponema denticola and Tannerella forsythia were significantly higher than those in the patients with CP. Finally, compared with the patients with CP, the patients with T2DMCP had a significantly lower prevalence and amount of Prevotella intermedia.

Conclusions: Compared with the patients with CP, the patients with T2DMCP were more likely to be urban residents and generally had higher incomes, higher mean BMI, and poorer periodontal health status. Higher levels of T. denticola and T. forsythia and lower levels of P. intermedia were identified in the subgingival plaque of the patients with T2DMCP.
Regenerative Treatment of a Cemental Tear Using Enamel Matrix Derivatives: a Ten-Year Follow-up
Authors: Schmidlin Patrick R
Published: October 2012

A patient presented with chronic periapical periodontitis on tooth 45. The root canal was re-treated and a wide apical perforation was closed with MTA® as an apical plug. At reevaluation six month later, the tooth presented with increased mobility, bleeding on probing and probing pocket depths of 9 mm. Despite good periapical healing radio graphically, the tooth showed signs of localized marginal bone loss that was diagnosed as being due to a cemental fracture. The tooth was splinted, a muco-periostal flap was raised and the fragment of cementum was removed. The defect was treated in a regenerative approach, using enamel matrix derivatives (EMD). Six month after therapy, the probing pocket depths decreased to values of ≤ 3 mm and a defect fill was radiographically visible. The 10-year follow up showed a stable situation.

It can be concluded that the occurrence of a local delamination of the root surface may contribute to the development of plaque-induced periodontal destruction. Its removal and the regenerative conditioning of the root surface with EDTA and EMD may result in a, at least partial, resolution of the problem and regeneration of bone at the affected the site.
Moderate-Intensity Physical Activity Ameliorates the Breast Cancer Risk in Diabetic Women
Authors: Torres-Mejía Gabriela , Angeles-Llerenas Angélica , Ortega-Olvera Carolina , Lazcano-Ponce Eduardo , Ziv Elad , Pulido-Rodríguez José , García-Solis Manuel de Jesús , Murillo-Zamora Efrén , Vázquez-Lara Julia , Romieu Isabelle
Published: October 2012

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between self-reported diabetes and the risk of breast cancer (BC) and its interaction with moderate-intensity physical activity in pre- and postmenopausal Mexican women.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A population-based case-control study was conducted using 1,000 incident case subjects and 1,074 control subjects. Blood samples and information on health, diet, physical activity, and anthropometric measurements were obtained.

RESULTS

The association between diabetes and BC risk decreased with increasing tertiles of moderate-intensity physical activity (odds ratio [OR] = 4.9 [95% CI 2.3–10.8]; 3.0 [1.3–6.9]; and 1.0 [0.1–9.2], respectively, for each tertile) (test for interaction = 0.04). Compared with the women in the lowest tertiles, increased risk was observed in those premenopausal women with the highest serum C-peptide, IGF-1, and IGF-1 binding protein 3 levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Moderate-intensity physical activity can substantially ameliorate the increased BC risk in diabetic women.
Can Ultrasound of the Tibial Nerve Detect Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy?
Authors: Riazi Sheila , Bril Vera , Perkins Bruce A. , Abbas Sherif , Chan Vincent W.S. , Ngo Mylan , Lovblom Leif E. , El-Beheiry Hossam , Brull Richard
Published: October 2012

OBJECTIVE

Peripheral nerve imaging by portable ultrasound (US) may serve as a noninvasive and lower-cost alternative to nerve conduction studies (NCS) for diagnosis and staging of diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSP). We aimed to examine the association between the size of the posterior tibial nerve (PTN) and the presence and severity of DSP.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We performed a cross-sectional study of 98 consecutive diabetic patients classified by NCS as subjects with DSP or control subjects. Severity was determined using the Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Score. A masked expert sonographer measured the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the PTN at 1, 3, and 5 cm proximal to the medial malleolus.

RESULTS

Fifty-five patients had DSP. The mean CSA of the PTN in DSP compared with control subjects at distances of 1 (23.03 vs. 17.72 mm2; P = 0.004), 3 (22.59 vs. 17.69 mm2; P < 0.0001), and 5 cm (22.05 vs. 17.25 mm2; P = 0.0005) proximal to the medial malleolus was significantly larger. Although the area under the curve (AUC) for CSA measurements at all three anatomical levels was similar, the CSA measured at 3 cm above the medial malleolus had an optimal threshold value for identification of DSP (19.01 mm2) with a sensitivity of 0.69 and a specificity of 0.77 by AUC analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

This large study of diabetic patients confirms that the CSA of the PTN is larger in patients with DSP than in control subjects, and US is a promising point-of-care screening tool for DSP.
Active Sites, Deactivation and Stabilization of Fe-ZSM-5 for the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) of NO with NH3
Authors: Kröcher Oliver , Brandenberger Sandro
Published: October 2012

Fe-ZSM-5 has been systematically investigated as catalyst for the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO with NH3, concentrating on the active sites, the deactivation mechanism during hydrothermal aging and the chemical possibilities to stabilize this type of SCR catalyst.
Regarding the active SCR sites, it could be shown that monomeric species start to become active at the lowest temperatures (Ea,app ? 36.3 ± 0.2 kJ/mol), followed by dimeric species at intermediate temperatures (Ea,app ? 77 ± 16 kJ/mol) and oligomeric
species at high temperatures. Experiments with Fe-ZSM-5 samples, in which the Brønsted acidity was specifically removed, proved that Brønsted acidity is not required for high SCR activity and that NH3 can also be adsorbed on other acidic sites on the zeolite surface.
The hydrothermal deactivation of Fe-ZSM-5 could be explained by the migration of active iron ions from the exchange sites. Parallel to the iron migration dealumination of the zeolite framework occurs, which has to be regarded as an independent process. The migration of iron can be reduced
by the targeted reaction of the aluminum hydroxide groups in the lattice with trimethylaluminium followed by calcination. With respect to the application of iron zeolites in the SCR process in diesel vehicles, the most efficient stabilization method would be to switch from the ZSM-5 to the
BEA structure type. The addition of NO2 to the feed gas is another effective measure to increase the activity of even strongly deactivated iron zeolites tremendously.
450°C isothermal section of the Zn-Fe-Co-Si quaternary system at the zinc-rich corner
Authors: Zhao Manxiu , Yin Fucheng , Li Zhi , Long Zhaohui , Wang Xinming
Published: October 2012

The Zn-rich corner of the 450°C isothermal section of the Zn-Fe-Co-Si quaternary system with the Zn content being fixed at 93 at.% was determined experimentally using the equilibrated alloy approach. The specimens were investigated by means of scanning electronic microscopy coupled with wave dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray powder diffraction. It was found that 2 four-phase regions, i. e. L+(Fe,Co)Si+FeSi2+Si and L+(Fe,Co)Si+CoSi2+Si, exist in the section. The Si solubility in ζ-FeZn13 phase is rather limited, with Co dissolving in this compound, the solubility of Si is up to 0.82 at.%. The Fe solubility in CoSi2 is no more than 1.21 at.%, whereas the Co solubility in FeSi2 is high up to 7.81 at.%. The maximum solubility of Zn in (Fe,Co)Si, FeSi2, and CoSi2 is 1.92, 1.49, 2.93 at.%, respectively. No true quaternary compound was found in the present study.
Isothermal section of the Al-Tb-V ternary system at 773 K
Authors: Zhou K. W. , Li C. L. , Yan J. L. , Xu Y. P. , Zhuang Y. H. , Zhang X. Y.
Published: October 2012

The isothermal section of the phase diagram of the Al-Tb–V system at 773 K has been investigated by means of X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The existence of 10 binary compounds and two ternary compounds, namely, Al3Tb, Al2Tb, AlTb, Al2Tb3, AlTb2, Al10V, Al45V7, Al23V4, Al3V, Al8V5, Al43V4Tb6 and Al20V2Tb were confirmed. The compounds AlV, AlV3 and Al4Tb were not observed, and no binary compound was found in the Tb–V binary system. The isothermal section consists of 15 single-phase regions, 30 binary-phase regions and 15 ternary-phase regions. The solubility of V in Al2Tb, AlTb and Al2Tb3 is about 2.4 at.%, 1.6 at.% and 1.2 at.%, respectively. The solubility of Al in V is about 40.0 at.%.
X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure Studies of Pb1-x
Mn
x
Te(In, Ga) Systems
Authors: Radisavljević Ivana , Novaković Nikola , Mahnke Heinz-Eberhard , Romčević Nebojša , Medić Mirjana , Paskaš-Mamula Bojana , Ivanović Nenad
Published: October 2012

The X-ray absorption near edge structure technique was employed for studies of coordination environments and valence states of impurity atoms (Mn, In and Ga) in a series of narrow band gap PbTe-based semiconductors. Impurity atoms' absorption data were analysed with the help of the Real Space Full Multiple Scattering FEFF8.2 code. These results are complemented with band structure calculations using the full potential augmented plane waves method extended by local orbitals using WIEN2k code. Impurity atoms are found to be off-centred from the regular lattice positions each in a specific manner, which leads to formation of significantly different local structures from that expected in host PbTe. Observed structural modifications are accompanied by the change in the impurity atoms' valence states. These findings support and extend our previous results obtained with various techniques on this class of materials.
The Assessment of Animal Welfare in British Zoos by Government-Appointed Inspectors
Authors: Draper Chris , Harris Stephen
Published: October 2012

We analysed the reports of government-appointed inspectors from 192 zoos between 2005–2008 to provide the first review of how animal welfare was assessed in British zoos since the enactment of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981. We examined the effects of whether or not a veterinarian was included in the inspection team, type of inspection, licence status of the zoo and membership of a zoo association on the inspectors’ assessments of animal welfare standards in five areas that approximate to the Five Freedoms. At least 11% of full licence inspections did not comply with the legal requirement for two inspectors. The inspectors’ reports were unclear as to how animal welfare was assessed, whether all animals or only a sub-sample had been inspected, and were based predominantly on welfare inputs rather than outcomes. Of 9,024 animal welfare assessments across the 192 zoos, 7,511 (83%) were graded as meeting the standards, 782 (9%) as substandard and the rest were not graded. Of the 192 zoos, 47 (24%) were assessed as meeting all the animal welfare standards. Membership of a zoo association was not associated with a higher overall assessment of animal welfare standards, and specialist collections such as Farm Parks and Other Bird collections performed least well. We recommend a number of changes to the inspection process that should lead to greater clarity in the assessment of animal welfare in British zoos.