bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of Physical Contact on Pacing Strategies During Game-Based Activities
Authors: Johnston Rich D. , Gabbett Tim J. , Seibold Anthony J. , Jenkins David G.
Published: January 2014

Purpose:

Repeated sprinting incorporating tackles leads to greater reductions in sprint performance than repeated sprinting alone. However, the influence of physical contact on the running demands of game-based activities is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine whether the addition of physical contact altered pacing strategies during game-based activities.

Methods:

Twenty-three elite youth rugby league players were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 played the contact game on day 1 while group 2 played the noncontact game; 72 h later they played the alternate game. Each game consisted of offside touch on a 30 × 70-m field, played over two 8-min halves. Rules were identical between games except the contact game included a 10-s wrestle bout every 50 s. Microtechnology devices were used to analyze player movements.

Results:

There were greater average reductions during the contact game for distance (25%, 38 m/min, vs 10%, 20 m/min; effect size [ES] = 1.78 ± 1.02) and low-speed distance (21%, 24 m/min, vs 0%, 2 m/s; ES = 1.38 ± 1.02) compared with the noncontact game. There were similar reductions in high-speed running (41%, 18 m/min, vs 45%, 15 m/min; ES = 0.15 ± 0.95).

Conclusions:

The addition of contact to game-based activities causes players to reduce low-speed activity in an attempt to maintain high-intensity activities. Despite this, players were unable to maintain high-speed running while performing contact efforts. Improving a player’s ability to perform contact efforts while maintaining running performance should be a focus in rugby league training.
Associations Between the Perceived Environment and Physical Activity Among Adults Aged 55–65 Years: Does Urban-Rural Area of Residence Matter?
Authors: Cleland Verity , Sodergren Marita , Otahal Petr , Timperio Anna , Ball Kylie , Crawford David , Salmon Jo , McNaughton Sarah A.
Published: January 2014

This study aimed to determine whether associations between the perceived environment and physical activity are moderated by urban-rural status among midolder aged adults. Environmental (safety, aesthetics, physical activity environment) and physical activity (total, leisure, transport) data from 3,888 adults (55 to 65 years) from urban and rural areas of Victoria, Australia, were analyzed. Multinomial logistic regression examined interactions between urban-rural status and environments in associations with physical activity. Significant (P < .05) interactions were evident and indicated positive associations only among older rural adults for both safety and aesthetics with total and transport physical activity (e.g., rural adults reporting higher safety were 91% to 118% more likely to have higher activity than rural adults reporting low safety). In contrast, the physical activity environment was positively associated with leisure activity among only urban adults. Findings suggest that some tailoring of physical activity promotion strategies targeting the environment may be required for urban and rural midolder aged adults.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Synechococcus
sp. Strain CB0101, Isolated From the Chesapeake Bay Estuary
Authors: Marsan David , Wommack K. Eric , Ravel Jacques , Chen Feng
Published: January 2014

Here, we report the draft genome sequence of the estuarine
Synechococcus
sp. strain CB0101. The genomics information of this strain will facilitate the study of the poorly understood
Synechococcus
subcluster 5.2 and how this strain is capable of thriving in a dynamic estuarine system, such as the Chesapeake Bay.
Genome Sequence of Lactobacillus plantarum EGD-AQ4, Isolated from Fermented Product of Northeast India
Authors: Qureshi Asifa , Itankar Yogeshwari , Ojha Ramkrishna , Mandal Manabendra , Khardenavis Anshuman , Kapley Atya , Purohit Hemant J.
Published: January 2014

We present a draft genome sequence of
Lactobacillus plantarum
strain EGD-AQ4, isolated from nonalcoholic fermented bamboo shoot products of Northeast India. The size of the draft genome sequence is the largest among all the reported genome sequences of
Lactobacillus plantarum
, thus enabling the exploration of new gene clusters involved in various functional and probiotic attributes.
Whole-Genome Sequences of Two Strains of Porcine Circovirus 2 Isolated from Calves in Germany
Authors: Halami Mohammad Yahya , Müller Hermann , Böttcher Jens , Vahlenkamp Thomas W.
Published: January 2014

Two new strains of porcine circovirus type 2 virus (PCV2), strains Ha09 and Ha10, were detected in calves in Germany, and the complete genome of each virus has been sequenced and analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that these strains belong to the PCV2b genotype cluster, a highly prevalent genotype found worldwide.
Complete Genome Sequence of Spiroplasma apis B31
T
(ATCC 33834), a Bacterium Associated with May Disease of Honeybees (Apis mellifera)
Authors: Ku Chuan , Lo Wen-Sui , Chen Ling-Ling , Kuo Chih-Horng
Published: January 2014

Spiroplasma apis
B31
T
(ATCC 33834) is a wall-less bacterium in the class
Mollicutes
that has been linked to May disease of honeybees (
Apis mellifera
). Here, we report the complete genome sequence of this bacterium to facilitate the investigation of its virulence factors.
Lansoprazole-induced hypomagnesaemia
Authors: Krupa Lukasz Zbigniew , Fellows Ian Wilfred
Published: January 2014

The introduction of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in the late 1980s optimised the medical treatment of acid-related disorders. They are potent medications and have a good safety profile. However, long-term therapy with PPIs may carry undesired side effects, one of which is hypomagnesaemia. This entity is likely to be under-reported. We present a clinical casewhich illustrates this important clinical problem. We present the case of a 73-year-old woman who was admitted to the hospital with supraventricular tachycardia due to hypomagnesaemia while using lansoprazole, followed by the literature review on this subject. In our patient after the intravenous magnesium replenishment, her arrhythmia resolved. After stopping her PPI her serum magnesium remained within reference values without oral supplementation. We believe that more attention towards this underdiagnosed side effect is required. Serum magnesium concentration should be checked in patients on PPIs if they are unwell or present with arrythmia.
Sedentary behaviour and health: mapping environmental and social contexts to underpin chronic disease prevention
Authors: Owen Neville , Salmon Jo , Koohsari Mohammad Javad , Turrell Gavin , Giles-Corti Billie
Published: January 2014

The time that children and adults spend sedentary–put simply, doing too much sitting as distinct from doing too little physical activity—has recently been proposed as a population-wide, ubiquitous influence on health outcomes. It has been argued that sedentary time is likely to be additional to the risks associated with insufficient moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. New evidence identifies relationships of too much sitting with overweight and obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, some cancers and other adverse health outcomes. There is a need for a broader base of evidence on the likely health benefits of changing the relevant sedentary behaviours, particularly gathering evidence on underlying mechanisms and dose–response relationships. However, as remains the case for physical activity, there is a research agenda to be pursued in order to identify the potentially modifiable environmental and social determinants of sedentary behaviour. Such evidence is required so as to understand what might need to be changed in order to influence sedentary behaviours and to work towards population-wide impacts on prolonged sitting time. In this context, the research agenda needs to focus particularly on what can inform broad, evidence-based environmental and policy initiatives. We consider what has been learned from research on relationships of environmental and social attributes and physical activity; provide an overview of recent-emerging evidence on relationships of environmental attributes with sedentary behaviour; argue for the importance of conducting international comparative studies and addressing life-stage issues and socioeconomic inequalities and we propose a conceptual model within which this research agenda may be addressed.
Infiltration of inflammatory cells expressing mitochondrial proteins around bile ducts and in biliary epithelial layer may be involved in the pathogenesis in primary biliary cirrhosis
Authors: Sasaki Motoko , Kakuda Yuko , Miyakoshi Masami , Sato Yasunori , Nakanuma Yasuni
Published: January 2014

Aims

Serum antimitochondrial antibodies are characteristic in most patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC); however, the significance of antimitochondrial antibodies in the pathogenesis of PBC remains unclear. We examined the extent and types of mitochondrial protein-expressing inflammatory cells and its association with deregulated autophagy of mitochondria in biliary epithelial lesions in PBC.

Methods

We examined the expression of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex-E2 component and a mitochondrial protein cytochrome c oxidase, subunit I in inflammatory cells in livers taken from patients with PBC (n=35) and control livers (n=64) including primary sclerosing cholangitis. Mitochondrial protein-expressing inflammatory cells were characterised by double immunofluorescence with surface markers.

Results

Infiltration of mitochondrial protein-expressing inflammatory cells was mainly observed in portal tracts and in the biliary epithelial layer and around the damaged small bile ducts in PBC. The extent of infiltration in portal tracts was significantly higher in PBC and early stage of chronic viral hepatitis than normal livers. The extent of infiltration around bile ducts and in biliary epithelial layer was significantly higher in early stage of PBC than control livers. Mitochondrial protein-expressing inflammatory cells included (1) CD68 and/or myeloperoxidase -positive monocytes/macrophages and (2) CD79a, CD38, CD138, IgM-positive and/or IgG-positive plasma cells. Colocalised expression of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex-E2 component and autophagy marker light chain 3β was observed in the inflammatory cells.

Conclusions

Mitochondrial protein-expressing inflammatory cells infiltrating around the damaged bile ducts and in biliary epithelial layers may be closely associated with the pathogenesis of bile duct lesion in PBC.
Predictors of mental health competence in a population cohort of Australian children
Authors: Goldfeld Sharon , Kvalsvig Amanda , Incledon Emily , O'Connor Meredith , Mensah Fiona
Published: January 2014

Background

The child mental health epidemiology literature focuses almost exclusively on reporting the prevalence and predictors of child mental disorders. However, there is growing recognition of positive mental health or mental health competence as an independent outcome that cannot be inferred from the absence of problems, and requires epidemiological investigation in its own right.

Methods

We developed a novel measure of child mental health competence within the framework of the Australian Early Development Index, a three-yearly national census of early child development. Predictors of this outcome were investigated by linking these census data at individual level to detailed background information collected by a large longitudinal cohort study.

Results

Predictors of competence were consistent with previously described theoretical and empirical models. Overall, boys were significantly less likely than girls to demonstrate a high level of competence (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.39 to 0.91). Other strong predictors of competence were parent education and a relative absence of maternal psychological distress; these factors also appeared to attenuate the negative effect of family hardship on child competence.

Conclusions

This measure of mental health competence shows promise as a population-level indicator with the potential benefit of informing and evaluating evidence-based public health intervention strategies that promote positive mental health.
Emergency reconstructive endovascular management of intraoperative complications involving the internal carotid artery from trans-sphenoidal surgery
Authors: Griauzde Julius , Gemmete Joseph J , Pandey Aditya S , McKean Erin L , Sullivan Stephen E , Chaudhary Neeraj
Published: January 2014

Purpose

To report our experience with intraoperative complications involving the internal carotid artery (ICA) during trans-sphenoidal surgery and their outcome with reconstructive endovascular management.

Methods

A retrospective review was conducted of patients with an ICA injury related to trans-sphenoidal surgery from 2000 to 2012. Demographic data, clinical charts, indications for treatment, radiographic images, lesion characteristics, operative notes, endovascular procedure notes and post-procedure hospital course were reviewed.

Results

Three men and one woman of mean age of 52 years (range 33–74) were identified. The lesions included two macroadenomas, one meningioma and one chondrosarcoma. Risk factors for ICA rupture included two patients with carotid dehiscence, one with sphenoid septal attachment to the ICA, two with revision surgery, one with prior radiation to the tumor, one with bromocriptine treatment and two with acromegaly. In three patients, covered stent placement achieved hemostasis at the site of injury within the ICA. One patient developed delayed bleeding 6 h after covered stent placement and underwent successful endovascular occlusion of the ICA but died 6 days after the injury. The fourth patient had an intraoperative ICA stroke requiring suction thrombectomy, thrombolysis, stent placement and evacuation of an epidural hematoma. At 1-year follow-up, two patients had a modified Rankin score (mRS) and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of 0; in the patient who had a stroke the mRS score was 1 and the NIHSS score 2.

Conclusions

Endovascular management with arterial reconstruction is helpful in the treatment of ICA injuries during trans-sphenoidal surgery.
Direct carotid artery puncture access for endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke: technical aspects, advantages, and limitations
Authors: Mokin Maxim , Snyder Kenneth V , Levy Elad I , Hopkins L Nelson , Siddiqui Adnan H
Published: January 2014

Background

Challenging anatomy for carotid artery access can result in a delay to achieve successful recanalization in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Our objective was to study emergent direct percutaneous carotid artery puncture as an alternative access approach for acute endovascular stroke interventions.

Methods

We reviewed cases of acute ischemic stroke in which direct carotid artery puncture was used for access. We also reviewed current literature relevant to this subject.

Results

We describe the technical aspects, limits, and potential complications associated with direct carotid artery puncture for intracranial acute ischemic stroke interventions, and present cases to illustrate the utility of this access approach.

Conclusions

Direct carotid artery puncture is a feasible alternative to transfemoral artery access in cases of stroke with difficult anatomy, including unfavorable arch type, carotid tortuosity, or an ostial lesion.
The Scandinavian Caledonides: main features, conceptual advances and critical questions
Authors: Corfu F. , Andersen T. B. , Gasser D.
Published: January 2014

Thirty years of research, and especially the refinements of many geological, geochemical and geophysical techniques, have uncovered many new facets of the geology of the Scandinavian Caledonides, also correcting some fundamental misconceptions. Our present understanding is that of a sequence of allochthons, some derived from Baltica, but others of probably exotic origin, in part from the Laurentian margin that collided with Baltica, but perhaps also from other parts of Rodinia. The present paper summarizes the main features of the Scandinavian Caledonides, proposing some rethinking of the traditional schemes, which were developed lacking a substantial amount of the information we have today, and discusses the main advances since the last major synthesis in 1985.
Rab1a regulates sorting of early endocytic vesicles
Authors: Mukhopadhyay Aparna , Quiroz Jose A. , Wolkoff Allan W.
Published: January 2014

We previously reported that Rab1a is associated with asialoorosomucoid (ASOR)-containing early endocytic vesicles, where it is required for their microtubule-based motility. In Rab1a knockdown (KD) cell lines, ASOR failed to segregate from its receptor and, consequently, did not reach lysosomes for degradation, indicating a defect in early endosome sorting. Although Rab1 is required for Golgi/endoplasmic reticulum trafficking, this process was unaffected, likely due to retained expression of Rab1b in these cells. The present study shows that Rab1a has a more general role in endocytic vesicle processing that extends to EGF and transferrin (Tfn) trafficking. Compared with results in control Huh7 cells, EGF accumulated in aggregates within Rab1a KD cells, failing to reach lysosomal compartments. Tfn, a prototypical example of recycling cargo, accumulated in a Rab11-mediated slow-recycling compartment in Rab1a KD cells, in contrast to control cells, which sort Tfn into a fast-recycling Rab4 compartment. These data indicate that Rab1a is an important regulator of early endosome sorting for multiple cargo species. The effectors and accessory proteins recruited by Rab1a to early endocytic vesicles include the minus-end-directed kinesin motor KifC1, while others remain to be discovered.
Amniotic fluid-borne hepatocyte growth factor protects rat pups against experimental necrotizing enterocolitis
Authors: Jain Sunil K. , Baggerman Eric W. , MohanKumar Krishnan , Namachivayam Kopperuncholan , Jagadeeswaran Ramasamy , Reyes Victor E. , Maheshwari Akhil
Published: January 2014

Fetal swallowing of amniotic fluid, which contains numerous cytokines and growth factors, plays a key role in gut mucosal development. Preterm birth interrupts this exposure to amniotic fluid-borne growth factors, possibly contributing to the increased risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in premature infants. We hypothesized that supplementation of formula feeds with amniotic fluid can provide amniotic fluid-borne growth factors and prevent experimental NEC in rat pups. We compared NEC-like injury in rat pups fed with infant formula vs. formula supplemented either with 30% amniotic fluid or recombinant hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). Cytokines/growth factors in amniotic fluid were measured by immunoassays. Amniotic fluid and HGF effects on enterocyte migration, proliferation, and survival were measured in cultured IEC6 intestinal epithelial cells. Finally, we used an antibody array to investigate receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) activation and immunoblots to measure phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling. Amniotic fluid supplementation in oral feeds protected rat pups against NEC-like injury. HGF was the most abundant growth factor in rat amniotic fluid in our panel of analytes. Amniotic fluid increased cell migration, proliferation, and cell survival in vitro. These effects were reproduced by HGF and blocked by anti-HGF antibody or a PI3K inhibitor. HGF transactivated several RTKs in IEC6 cells, indicating that its effects extended to multiple signaling pathways. Finally, similar to amniotic fluid, recombinant HGF also reduced the frequency and severity of NEC-like injury in rat pups. Amniotic fluid supplementation protects rat pups against experimental NEC, which is mediated, at least in part, by HGF.
Bridging Population and Tissue Scale Tumor Dynamics: A New Paradigm for Understanding Differences in Tumor Growth and Metastatic Disease
Authors: Gallaher Jill , Babu Aravind , Plevritis Sylvia , Anderson Alexander R.A.
Published: January 2014

To provide a better understanding of the relationship between primary tumor growth rates and metastatic burden, we present a method that bridges tumor growth dynamics at the population level, extracted from the SEER database, to those at the tissue level. Specifically, with this method, we are able to relate estimates of tumor growth rates and metastatic burden derived from a population-level model to estimates of the primary tumor vascular response and the circulating tumor cell (CTC) fraction derived from a tissue-level model. Variation in the population-level model parameters produces differences in cancer-specific survival and cure fraction. Variation in the tissue-level model parameters produces different primary tumor dynamics that subsequently lead to different growth dynamics of the CTCs. Our method to bridge the population and tissue scales was applied to lung and breast cancer separately, and the results were compared. The population model suggests that lung tumors grow faster and shed a significant number of lethal metastatic cells at small sizes, whereas breast tumors grow slower and do not significantly shed lethal metastatic cells until becoming larger. Although the tissue-level model does not explicitly model the metastatic population, we are able to disengage the direct dependency of the metastatic burden on primary tumor growth by introducing the CTC population as an intermediary and assuming dependency. We calibrate the tissue-level model to produce results consistent with the population model while also revealing a more dynamic relationship between the primary tumor and the CTCs. This leads to exponential tumor growth in lung and power law tumor growth in breast. We conclude that the vascular response of the primary tumor is a major player in the dynamics of both the primary tumor and the CTCs, and is significantly different in breast and lung cancer. Cancer Res; 74(2); 426–35. ©2014 AACR.
Cancer Cells Exploit eIF4E2-Directed Synthesis of Hypoxia Response Proteins to Drive Tumor Progression
Authors: Uniacke James , Kishan Perera J. , Lachance Gabriel , Francisco Camille B. , Lee Stephen
Published: January 2014

Human tumors display considerable diversity in their genetic makeup but share common physiologic attributes such as a hypoxic microenvironment that contribute to the malignant phenotype. Hypoxic cells switch from eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) to eIF4E2 cap-dependent translation to synthesize a portion of their proteins. Here, we show that genetically distinct human cancer cells exploit eIF4E2-directed protein synthesis to form cellular masses larger than approximately 0.15 mm, the diffusion limit of oxygen. Cancer cells depleted of eIF4E2 are indistinguishable from control cells under normoxic conditions, but are unable to survive and proliferate in low oxygen conditions. Activation of eIF4E2-directed translation is essential for cancer cells to form a hypoxic tumor core in in vitro spheroids and to form detectable tumors in in vivo xenograft assays. In contrast, the eIF4E-directed protein synthesis pathway alone cannot sustain cellular adaptation to hypoxia in vitro or confer tumorigenic potential in xenograft assays. These data demonstrate that the phenotypic expression of the cancer genome requires translation by the eIF4E2-directed hypoxic protein synthesis machinery. Cancer Res; 74(5); 1379–89. ©2014 AACR.
Focal Resection of Leptomeningeal Angioma in a Rare Case of Sturge-Weber Syndrome without Facial Nevus
Authors: Shekhtman Yevgenia , Kim Irene , Riviello Jr. James J. , Milla Sarah S. , Weiner Howard L.
Published: January 2014

Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) is a neurocutaneous disorder comprised typically of a facial nevus, leptomeningeal angioma with calcifications, and seizures. SWS without a port-wine stain is a rare variant with only 30 cases reported in the literature. Here, a case of an 8-year-old girl with no cutaneous abnormalities presenting with medically intractable epilepsy and MRI and CT findings consistent with SWS is described. The patient underwent multistage surgery with subdural electrode monitoring before and after resection of the epileptogenic focus, with complete excision of the lesion and postoperative resolution of her seizures. This is the first reported case of three-stage surgery for localized resection of the seizure focus for SWS.
Percentile Ranking and Citation Impact of a Large Cohort of National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute–Funded Cardiovascular R01 Grants
Authors: Danthi Narasimhan , Wu Colin O. , Shi Peibei , Lauer Michael
Published: January 2014

Rationale
:

Funding decisions for cardiovascular R01 grant applications at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) largely hinge on percentile rankings. It is not known whether this approach enables the highest impact science.

Objective
:

Our aim was to conduct an observational analysis of percentile rankings and bibliometric outcomes for a contemporary set of funded NHLBI cardiovascular R01 grants.

Methods and Results
:

We identified 1492 investigator-initiated de novo R01 grant applications that were funded between 2001 and 2008 and followed their progress for linked publications and citations to those publications. Our coprimary end points were citations received per million dollars of funding, citations obtained <2 years of publication, and 2-year citations for each grant’s maximally cited paper. In 7654 grant-years of funding that generated $3004 million of total National Institutes of Health awards, the portfolio yielded 16 793 publications that appeared between 2001 and 2012 (median per grant, 8; 25th and 75th percentiles, 4 and 14; range, 0–123), which received 2 224 255 citations (median per grant, 1048; 25th and 75th percentiles, 492 and 1932; range, 0–16 295). We found no association between percentile rankings and citation metrics; the absence of association persisted even after accounting for calendar time, grant duration, number of grants acknowledged per paper, number of authors per paper, early investigator status, human versus nonhuman focus, and institutional funding. An exploratory machine learning analysis suggested that grants with the best percentile rankings did yield more maximally cited papers.

Conclusions
:

In a large cohort of NHLBI-funded cardiovascular R01 grants, we were unable to find a monotonic association between better percentile ranking and higher scientific impact as assessed by citation metrics.
Hydrellia Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Ephydridae) from Brazil with an emphasis on the faunas from the states of Parana and Rio de Janeiro
Authors: JÚNIOR FRANCISCO DE ASSIS RODRIGUES , MATHIS WAYNE NIELSEN , COURI MÁRCIA SOUTO
Published: January 2014

With more than 200 species worldwide, Hydrellia Robineau-Desvoidy is the largest genus of the family Ephydridae (Diptera). However, knowledge of this genus is much reduced in Brazil and throughout the Neotropical Region, where only 8 species are known, including one from Brazil (H. xanthocera Cresson). The objective of this study is to review the species of Hydrellia from Brazil, with an emphasis on the faunas of Paraná and Rio de Janeiro states. Six new species are described: H. bocaiuvensis sp. nov. (Brazil, Paraná, Bocaiúva do Sul, 25°14.9'S, 49°8.9'W, 890 m), H. longiseta sp. nov. (Brazil, Paraná, Parque Iguaçú, 25°33.4'S, 49°13.6'W, 880 m),H. vilelai sp. nov. (Brazil, Paraná, Bocaiúva do Sul, 25°16.6'S, 48°58.5'W, 770 m), H. simplex sp. nov. (Brazil, Paraná, Parque Iguaçú, 25°33.4'S, 49°13.6'W, 880 m) e H. schneiderae sp. nov. (Brazil, Paraná, Parque Iguaçú (25°33.4'S, 49°13.6'W, 880 m), H. similis sp. nov. (Brazil, Paraná, Bocaiúva do Sul, 25°14.9'S, 49°8.9'W, 890 m). Seven new registers are recorded: H. agitator (Pará), H. apalachee (Paraná and Rio de Janeiro), H. calverti (Amazonas and Paraná), H. cavator (Rio de Janeiro), H. tibialis (Amazonas, Paraná and Rio de Janeiro), H. vulgaris (Paraná, São Paulo, Santa Catarina and Rio de Janeiro), H. wirthi (Pará, Paraná and Santa Catarina). Together with H. xanthocera, Hydrellia now includes 14 species from Brazil.
New species and records of the earthworm genus Ramiellona (Annelida, Oligochaeta, Acanthodrilidae) from southern Mexico and Guatemala
Authors: FRAGOSO CARLOS , ROJAS PATRICIA
Published: January 2014

Three new species from the Mexican states of Tabasco and Chiapas are added to the acanthodrilid earthworm genus Ramiellona, R. microscolecina sp. nov., R. tojolabala sp. nov. and R. teapaensis sp. nov. They belong to a group of species with penial setae and last pair of hearts in segment 12. All are holandric and the spermathecae have either a flat circular diverticle in a segment anterior to that of the ampulla (R. microscolecina sp. nov. and R. tojolabala sp. nov.) or two ovoidal and sessile diverticles on opposite sides in the same segment of the ampulla (R. teapaensis sp. nov.). Ramiellona americana (Gates) is re-described from a single specimen from central Guatemala, and the diagnosis of Ramiellona lasiura (Graff) from El Salvador is emended after reinvestigating a paratype specimen from the Senckenberg Naturmuseum Frankfurt. On the basis of several individuals from different populations of the Mexican states of Chiapas and Tabasco, the morphological variation of Ramiellona strigosa setosa Righi is described and its relationship with the Guatemalan Ramiellona strigosa strigosa Gates and Ramiellona eiseni (Michaelsen) is discussed. Finally, the position of Ramiellona within Acanthodrilidae and its relation to genera of the doubtful Octochaetidae is discussed.
Ambulance Transport of Noncritical Children
Authors: O’Neil Joseph , Steele Gregory K. , Weinstein Elizabeth , Collins Robert , Talty Judith , Bull Marilyn J.
Published: January 2014

Purpose. Safe ambulance transport of children presents unique challenges. Our study describes child passenger restraint practices during ambulance transport, Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers’ knowledge, training, and use of child passenger restraint devices (CRD). Methods. A child passenger safety technician (CPST) recorded restraint used for pediatric ambulance transport. The CPST assessed and documented type of CRD used, securement, and whether the child was properly restrained. EMS providers’ knowledge, training, and CRD use for ambulance transport were assessed. Results. The study period spanned July 2009 to July 2010; 63 EMS personnel were interviewed and 40 children were observed. Approximately 75% of emergency medical technicians surveyed felt their knowledge of pediatric transport was adequate. Fourteen percent allowed a stable patient to be transported via parent’s lap. Twelve percent were transported unrestrained. None of the 11 patients, birth to 3 years, were found to be transported correctly. Conclusion. Study findings supports education and training of EMS personnel to improve the safe ambulance transport of children.
Costs and Benefits of More Learner Freedom
Authors: Carolan Thomas F. , Hutchins Shaun D. , Wickens Christopher D. , Cumming John M.
Published: January 2014

Objective:

Individual meta-analyses were conducted for six training methods as part of a U.S. Army basic research project. The objective was to identify evidence-based guidelines for the effectiveness of each training method, under different moderating conditions, for cognitive skill transfer in adult learning. Results and implications for two of these training methods, learner control (LC) and exploratory learning (EL), are discussed. LC provides learners with active control over training variables. EL requires learners to discover relationships and interactions between variables.

Background:

There is mixed evidence on the effectiveness of both LC and EL learning methods on transfer relative to more guided training methods. Cognitive load theory (CLT) provides a basis for predicting that training strategies that manage intrinsic load of a task during training and minimize extraneous load will avail more resources that can be devoted to learning.

Method:

Meta-analyses were conducted using a Hedges’s g analysis of effect sizes. Control conditions with little to no learner freedom were contrasted with treatment conditions manipulating more learner freedom.

Results:

Overall more LC was no different from training with limited or no learner control, and more EL was less effective than limited or no exploration; however, each can be effective under certain conditions. Both strategies have been more effective for cognitive skill learning than for knowledge recall tasks. LC exhibited more benefit to very near transfer, whereas EL’s benefit was to far transfer.

Conclusion:

Task type, transfer test, and transfer distance moderate the overall transfer cost of more learner freedom.

Application:

The findings are applicable to the development of instructional design guidelines for the use of LC and EL in adult skill training.
The Impact of Holiday Trips on Life Satisfaction and Domains of Life Satisfaction
Authors: Pagán Ricardo
Published: January 2014

This study analyses the contribution of holiday trips to the levels of life satisfaction reported by individuals with and without disability by using an approach in which life satisfaction is seen as a combination of various life satisfaction domains (health, job, housework, household income, dwelling, and leisure). Using longitudinal data from the German Socio-Economic Panel, we estimate a two-layer model which proposes that satisfaction with different domains of life are interrelated and wherein life satisfaction depends on the weight that the individual allocates to each of these domains. The results show that disabled people who participate in holiday trips obtain higher levels of satisfaction with health, job, and housework than do nondisabled ones, especially when this participation is more intense. In addition, satisfaction with health and household income has a significant effect on the overall life satisfaction reported by disabled individuals. Public policy recommendations are given.
Biliary ascariasis: an uncommon cause for recurrent biliary colic after biliary sphincterotomy and common bile duct stone removal
Authors: Thandassery Ragesh Babu , Jha Ashish Kumar , Goenka Mahesh Kumar
Published: January 2014

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography is the most commonly used technique for removal of common bile duct stones. Biliary sphincterotomy during the procedure facilitates stone retrieval from the common bile duct. However, sphincterotomy ablates the normal biliary sphincter mechanism. This facilitates duodeno-biliary reflex and can result in inward migration of luminal parasite into the biliary system. In areas where ascariasis is endemic there is an increased risk of biliary ascariasis in postbiliary sphincterotomy patients. We report an unusual case where a patient presented with recurrent biliary colic after cholecystectomy and common bile duct stone extraction and was diagnosed to have biliary ascariasis with the help of endoscopic ultrasound examination of the biliary system.
CSF pseudocyst: an unusual cause of abdominal distension in a child
Authors: Pahwa Shivani , Sherwani Poonam , Anand Rama
Published: January 2014

Abdominal cerebrospinal fluid pseudocyst is an uncommon complication of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement. We present the case of a 4 year old child in whom a VP shunt was placed for tubercular meningitis 5 months earlier. The clinical presentation, classic imaging findings and management of CSF pseudocyst in a child are discussed.
The “Cuban Model” and Its Microeconomy
Authors: Anderson Tim
Published: January 2014

No productivist model of socialism has ever existed in Cuba. Rather, the Cuban approach has drawn on a hybrid of ethical principles with some consistent strategic themes. Cuba’s socialist strategy has been reformulated quite flexibly, in relation to these principles and historical circumstances, and this flexibility seems to have been important in allowing Cuban socialism to adapt and survive. More recently, Cuba has looked for a selective engagement with the global economy, advancing its strong service sectors while protecting key domestic services and domestic food production. The major in-principle change in recent years has been the licensing of the hiring of private labor. Changes to Cuba’s microeconomy are also best understood through the lens of ethical socialism and adaptation. Special attention to Cuba’s microeconomy is warranted because of the complex relation between wages, subsidized prices, and shared services.

Nunca ha existido ningún modelo productivista del socialismo en Cuba. Por el contrario, el enfoque cubano se ha basado en un híbrido de principios éticos con algunos temas estratégicos consistentes. La estrategia socialista cubana ha sido reformulada de manera bastante flexible en relación a estos principios y circunstancias históricas, y esta flexibilidad parece haber ayudado en la adaptación y supervivencia del socialismo cubano. Más recientemente, Cuba ha buscado un compromiso selectivo con la economía mundial, avanzando sus sectores de servicio fuertes hacia adelante a la vez que protegiendo servicios domésticos clave y la producción nacional de alimentos. El principal cambio en los últimos años ha sido la licencia de contratación de mano de obra privada. Los cambios a la microeconomía cubana también se entienden mejor a través de un lente de socialismo ético y adaptación. El énfasis en la microeconomía de Cuba tiene sentido dada la compleja relación entre los salarios, los precios subsidiados y los servicios compartidos.
Peruvians in Paterson
Authors: Francesco Michael G.
Published: January 2014

Paterson, New Jersey, America’s first planned industrial city, has long been an economic haven for many immigrant ethnic groups. Today, the city provides a unique environment to study a high concentration of Peruvian immigrants in a relatively small city. Analysis of the growth of Peruvian religious, cultural, and political organizations within the city shows that they have created an effective support structure for themselves in Paterson along the same lines as past immigrant groups. A combined analysis of data from recent sources provide a reasonable estimate of the current size of the Peruvian population in the United States that is much larger than the official U.S. census count. In this study, the Peruvian experience in Paterson is analyzed within the overall immigrant history of the city, and the nature of the economic, political, and social activity of Peruvians in the city is explored.
Trading Volume and Investor Disagreement Around Management Forecast Disclosures
Authors: Cho Myojung , Kwon Soo Young
Published: January 2014

We investigate the relationship between trading volume and investor disagreement over information before and from management forecast disclosures. Prior studies on trading volume usually focus on earnings announcements, which are mandatory and largely anticipated by investors, and report that trading volume around earnings announcements are significantly related to investor disagreement over information before and from the announcement. We use management earnings forecasts to test Kim and Verrecchia’s (1997) prediction that trading volume around an unanticipated information event reflects investors’ differential interpretation of information from the event relatively more than that of information available before the event. Consistent with the prediction, we find that trading volume around a management forecast is significantly related to belief jumbling, a proxy for investor disagreement over management forecast information, but not to analyst forecast dispersion before a management forecast, which is a proxy for investor disagreement over information available before the information event. Our findings are robust to the two-stage self-selection estimation and other sensitivity tests. We also find that the volume–jumbling relationship tends to be stronger for management forecasts with bad news or shorter forecast horizon. Finally, using earnings announcements subsequent to management forecast disclosures, we report results that suggest that management forecasts trigger preemptive information processing activities before the scheduled information events.
Vitamin D Status and Severity of Clostridium difficile Infections
Authors: van der Wilden Gwendolyn M. , Fagenholz Peter J. , Velmahos George C. , Quraishi Sadeq A. , Schipper Inger B. , Camargo Carlos A.
Published: January 2014

Background: Clostridium difficile is the most common cause of nosocomial diarrhea, affecting up to 10% of hospitalized patients. Preliminary studies suggest an association between vitamin D status and C difficile infections (CDIs). Our goal was to investigate whether serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels are associated with CDI severity. Methods: We prospectively enrolled patients diagnosed with CDI and divided them into 2 severity groups: group A (positive toxin A/B enzyme immunoassay only) and group B (positive toxin A/B enzyme immunoassay with abdominal computed tomography scan findings consistent with colitis). Serum 25(OH)D levels (25(OH)D3, 25(OH)D2, and total 25(OH)D) were measured on all patients after diagnosis of CDI. We performed multivariable logistic regression analyses to investigate the association between 25(OH)D levels and CDI severity, while adjusting for age, Deyo‐Charlson Comorbidity Index, recent hospitalization, and vitamin D supplementation. Results: One hundred patients were enrolled between July 2011 and February 2013. The mean (standard deviation) cohort age and Deyo‐Charlson Comorbidity Index were 62 (19) years and 4 (3), respectively; 54% of patients were male. Mean serum total 25(OH)D level was 22 (10) ng/mL. Mean 25(OH)D3 level was significantly higher in group A (n = 71) than in group B (n = 29): 21 (1) vs 15 (2) ng/mL, respectively (P = .005). There was no observed difference in mean 25(OH)D2 levels and total 25(OH)D levels between the 2 groups. Multivariable logistic regression analysis demonstrated an association between 25(OH)D3 levels and CDI severity (adjusted odds ratio, 0.92; 95% confidence interval, 0.87–0.98). Conclusions: We found a significant inverse association between 25(OH)D3 levels and CDI severity. Further studies are needed to determine whether vitamin D supplementation can improve outcomes in patients with CDI.
Birds of a Feather Have Babies Together? Family Structure Homogamy and Union Stability Among Cohabiting Parents
Authors: Högnäs Robin S. , Thomas Jason R.
Published: January 2014

The association between childhood family structure and offspring well-being is well-documented. Recent research shows that adult children of divorced parents will likely marry someone whose parents’ divorced (i.e., family structure homogamy) and are subsequently likely to divorce themselves. This literature has focused primarily on marital unions, despite the rise in cohabitation and nonmarital childbearing. Research suggests that marriage and cohabitation are different types of unions and have different implications for the well-being of children. Therefore, we extend the literature by examining the role of family structure homogamy in matching patterns and union stability among unmarried, cohabiting couples. Data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study suggest that unmarried, cohabiting mothers and fathers are both more likely to be from nonintact childhood family structures and are significantly more likely to dissolve their unions compared to married parents who both tend to be from intact childhood family structures.
The Voice of Wisdom
Authors: Montepare Joann M. , Kempler Daniel , McLaughlin-Volpe Tracy
Published: January 2014

To understand better how age-related physical qualities affect age stereotyping, this research investigated the social judgments young adult listeners make when they hear the voices of younger, middle-aged, and older adult speakers. Ninety-six listeners judged 24 speakers (22-79 years in age) reading a content-neutral passage. The listeners rated each speaker on scales reflecting character traits, vocal characteristics, and social affordances. Consistent with traditional age stereotypes, listeners judged older speakers to be less powerful and less engaged than younger speakers. However, even stronger than these negative impressions were positive impressions of older speakers’ greater wisdom, which were associated with distinct age-related vocal qualities. Moreover, although listeners indicated a desire to avoid interactions with older speakers, they acknowledged them as good storytellers. The positive impressions of older speakers are interpreted within an evolutionary-ecological perspective, suggesting that some age-related vocal qualities reveal long-standing, adaptive traits associated with older adulthood.
Rural library and information services, their success, failure and sustainability: a literature review
Authors: Hoq Kazi Mostak Gausul
Published: January 2014

Rural library and information centres could play a significant role in the socio-economic development of rural areas by providing information and communication services to the rural people. In most parts of the world, especially in the developing countries, these centres are plagued with various problems like insufficient funds, lack of government and community support, uncertainty about sustainability, etc. The centres are trying to solve these problems in various ways, although it has proved to be a very difficult task. This article highlights the problems and prospects of rural library and information services in different parts of the world by reviewing relevant literature contributed by development practitioners, library and information professionals, academics and others. It contains valuable insights and observations for making the rural library and information initiatives successful in the long run. The field of rural library and information services is changing continuously with the advent of new techniques and technologies. This paper will help achieve a better understanding of this changing landscape and provide specific directions for making this endeavour worthwhile and sustainable in the long run.
Mechanical performance of epoxy/carbon fiber laminated composites
Authors: Rahmani Hossein , Najafi S. Heydar Mahmoudi , Ashori Alireza
Published: January 2014

The objective of this research work was to gain a better understanding of the mechanical properties of epoxy resin composites reinforced with carbon fiber. For this purpose, the effects of fiber orientations, resin types, and number of laminates on mechanical properties of laminated composites have been investigated. In the sample preparation, composites were manufactured by hand lay-up process, using a fiber-to-resin ratio of 40:60 (w:w). To investigate the effect of fiber orientation, angles of 0°, 35°, 45°, and 90° were selected. Results show that the mechanical properties, in terms of tensile, flexural and impact strengths, were mainly dependent on the fiber orientations followed by the number of laminates. At a similar fiber orientation, the composites made with EM500 epoxy resin showed the highest mechanical properties (such as tensile and flexural and impact strengths) compared to other evaluated composites. However, the differences were not highly significant. The results indicated that the mechanical properties of composites made with five-ply were generally slightly greater than three-ply composites. It may be due to the bondline defects, which adversely influence the mechanical properties. Scanning micrographs of the composites showed that the epoxy matrix material was fully adhered to the fibers, indicating a strong interface. It can be concluded that the order of increment parameters in the mechanical properties of the composites is fiber orientation > number of laminates > resin type. In addition, the tensile and flexural properties were superior in case of ±35° fiber orientations.