bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Post-ban self-reports on economic impact of smoke-free bars and restaurants are biased by pre-ban attitudes. A longitudinal study among employees
Authors: Lund Ingeborg , Lund Karl Erik
Published: July 2011

Introduction: Objective sales data have indicated that the Norwegian indoor smoke-free regime implemented in June 2004 did not affect the hospitality business negatively. This paper investigates whether self-reports on the economic impact of the smoking ban from employees in the hospitality sector gave similar results, and whether post-ban self-reports on the economic impact of the ban were influenced by pre-ban attitudes towards smoke-free policies. Methods: A random sample of 516 employees in bars and restaurants stated their attitudes towards smoke-free policies shortly before the ban became effective. One year later, the same respondents gave their perceptions of changes in patronage for their workplace. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires and telephone interviews. Results: 56.4% of the hospitality workers stated that the ban on smoking had led to a large reduction (28.2%) or some reduction (28.2%) in the number of patrons, a result inconsistent with analysis of sales data. After adjusting for demographic and smoking-related variables, a negative pre-ban attitude significantly increased the odds for reporting a negative economic impact post ban (odds ratio 2.48, confidence interval 1.48—4.14). Conclusions: Subjective reports of the economic impact from an indoor ban on smoking are influenced by attitudes towards smoke-free policies and should not be considered as a valid measure of the economic effect.
Original Technique to Close the Transrectal Viscerotomy Access in a NOTES Transrectal and Transgastric Segmental Colectomy
Authors: Leroy Joël , Diana Michele , Perretta Silvana , Wall James , De Ruijter Vivian , Marescaux Jacques
Published: July 2011

Segmental colectomy is an ideal procedure for natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES). Transanal endoscopic approaches have enabled rectosigmoid colectomy through a viscerotomy that is resected with the specimen. To extend NOTES segmental colectomy to the entire colon and beyond, a rectal viscerotomy will have to be safely and effectively closed at the end of the procedure. A new technique for rectal viscerotomy closure using a circular EEA Hemorrhoid and Prolapse Stapler with DST Series Technology (Covidien) is described.
Monitoring the quality of conduct of clinical trials: a survey of current practices
Authors: Morrison Briggs W , Cochran Chrissy J , White Jennifer Giangrande , Harley Joan , Kleppinger Cynthia F , Liu An , Mitchel Jules T , Nickerson David F , Zacharias Cynthia R , Kramer Judith M , Neaton James D
Published: July 2011

Background There is a little empirical evidence to determine which, if any, monitoring practices best achieve the goals of trial monitoring set forth in ICH E6 under the variable circumstances of different clinical trial settings.

Purpose The purpose of this project was to describe current methods of monitoring clinical trials and to explore the rationale for the use of those methods.

Methods An electronic survey of known monitoring practices was developed and sent to over 200 organizations involved in conducting clinical research. The survey collected information on institutional demographics, methods of overall study oversight, use of risk-based monitoring and factors that influence assessments of risk, and details on quality assurance and monitoring practices.

Results Seventy-nine organizations completed the survey; our analysis included the 65 organizations that indicated they perform clinical trials. Data from the survey indicate that a wide variety of monitoring practices are currently being employed. Eighty-three percent of respondents use centrally available data to evaluate site performance, but only 12% of respondents always or frequently used centralized monitoring to replace on-site visits. Eighty-seven percent of respondents indicated that they always performed on-site visits. This varied by type of organization, with 31% of academic coordinating centers/cooperative groups/government organizations always performing on-site monitoring visits versus 84% of other organizations. The rationale for using a specific monitoring approach does not appear to be based on empirical evidence. Fifty-four percent of respondents stated that ‘usual practice’ determined the frequency with which they conducted on-site monitoring visits.

Limitations The overall response rate to our survey was only 30%; thus, we may not have captured the full variance of current monitoring practices, and our responding sample may not be representative.

Conclusion These findings underscore the necessity of research to provide an evidence base for monitoring practice.
The development and description of the comparison group in the Look AHEAD trial
Authors:   The Look AHEAD Research Group
Published: July 2011

Background Despite more lifestyle intervention trials, there is little published information on the development of the comparison group intervention. This article describes the comparison group intervention, termed Diabetes Support and Education Intervention and its development for the Action for HEAlth in Diabetes (Look AHEAD) trial. Look AHEAD, a randomized, controlled, multicenter trial, was designed to determine whether an Intensive Lifestyle Intervention to reduce weight and increase physical activity reduces cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in overweight volunteers with type 2 diabetes compared to the Diabetes Support and Education Intervention. The Diabetes Support and Education Committee was charged with developing the Diabetes Support and Education Intervention with the primary aim of participant retention.

Purpose The objectives were to design the Diabetes Support and Education Intervention sessions, standardize delivery across the 16 clinics, review quality and protocol adherence and advise on staffing and funding.

Methods Following a mandatory session on basic diabetes education, three optional sessions were offered on nutrition, physical activity, and support yearly for 4 years. For each session, guidelines, objectives, activities, and a resource list were created.

Conclusions Participant evaluations were very positive with hands on experiences being the most valuable. Retention so far at years 1 and 4 has been excellent and only slightly lower in the Diabetes Support and Education Intervention arm. The comparison group plays an important role in the success of a clinical trial. Understanding the effort needed to develop and implement the comparison group intervention will facilitate its implementation in future lifestyle intervention trials, particularly multicenter trials. Retention rates may improve by developing the comparison intervention simultaneously with the lifestyle intervention.
Digital human manikins for work-task ergonomic assessment
Authors: Savin J
Published: July 2011

Digital human manikins (DHMs) are integrated into computer tools that are implemented by workstation designers, and can be used for evaluating workstation ergonomics. Many usage cases confirm the prevention advantages of DHMs at the design stage, but only few assess their degree of confidence. This paper focuses on the influence of simulated exertion on ergonomic assessment performed with DHMs used in industry, in the simple case of an experiment in a laboratory. Digital human manikin ergonomic simulation can lead to an erroneous ergonomic index (the Occupational Repetitive Actions (OCRA) exertion multiplier). It is therefore essential to call upon an ergonomist and base oneself on accurate exertion references when interpreting ergonomic assessments made using DHMs.
Nostalgia, neglect and the necessity of a historicized geography
Authors: Mayhew Robert J
Published: July 2011

In this article, I comment on Keith Lilley's (2011) contentions concerning a putative decay in geographical interest in the medieval period. It is argued that some of this decay is really a nostalgia not wholly warranted by the facts concerning the role of medieval geography in past and present geographical practice. It is further suggested that databases of historical studies show geographers are by no means unusual in concentrating disproportionately on periods more recent than the medieval, but the essay closes by welcoming and supporting Lilley's overarching advocacy of the need to retain a humane vision of geographical inquiry.
Trans-medieval geographic anxieties
Authors: Pinto Karen
Published: July 2011

This commentary is a response to Keith Lilley’s (2011) article from the perspective of a former student of geography, now historian of medieval Islamic history and Islamic cartography. It takes into consideration the impact of spatial and visual turns and trans-disciplinary concerns. It suggests that air-tight disciplinary categories no longer exist, and reinforces Lilley’s concern that geographers should take more of an interest in their medieval past.
Grey area
Authors: Bell David
Published: July 2011

In this commentary, I pick up on selected themes and issues raised by Woods and Gardner’s (2011) article and also draw on my own experiences of ‘grey research’. My focus is on the messy and mundane realities of this work, and I suggest that we need something of an ‘emotional turn’ in policy research, to rethink what this work means to us and how it makes us feel. This is a different way of thinking about ‘impact’ than the usual one deployed by, among other instruments, the UK’s Research Excellence Framework. I also draw on notions of the ‘prosaic state’ and the ‘peopled state’ to help understand how the policy-making process is also prosaic and peopled, to contextualize the ‘grey environment’ and to suggest some ways of approaching grey research. Finally, I draw on debates about ‘public geographies’ while responding to the ‘lessons’ that conclude Woods and Gardner’s discussion.
How I conduct a comprehensive chronic graft-versus-host disease assessment
Authors: Carpenter Paul A.
Published: July 2011

Since the National Institutes of Health Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease (cGVHD) Consensus Project in 2005, a need has emerged to evaluate cGVHD more methodically, not only to make a cGVHD diagnosis, but also to accurately classify individual organ and global organ severity, at baseline and in follow-up so that subjects participating in clinical trials may reliably be assigned an accurate response category irrespective of the evaluator. Even for patients not enrolled on a clinical trial, periodic complete cGVHD assessments can allow subtle manifestations to be detected, monitored carefully, and/or treated early with the goal of hopefully avoiding progression to highly morbid, difficult to treat, and quite often irreversible forms of cGVHD. Early feedback has been that the National Institutes of Health approach to diagnosis classification, staging, and response, as well as other new assessment tools, are too detailed and overly complex. This article tries to address many of these issues by describing how I conduct a comprehensive cGVHD assessment using a streamlined and reliable method that I use regularly within the constraints of a busy clinic.
Amino-terminal extension present in the methionine aminopeptidase type 1c of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is indispensible for its activity
Authors: Kanudia Pavitra , Mittal Monica , Kumaran Sangaralingam , Chakraborti Pradip K
Published: July 2011

Background

Methionine aminopeptidase (MetAP) is a ubiquitous enzyme in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, which catalyzes co-translational removal of N-terminal methionine from elongating polypeptide chains during protein synthesis. It specifically removes the terminal methionine in all organisms, if the penultimate residue is non-bulky and uncharged. The MetAP action for exclusion of N-terminal methionine is mandatory in 50-70% of nascent proteins. Such an activity is required for proper sub cellular localization, additional processing and eventually for the degradation of proteins.

Results

We cloned genes encoding two such metalloproteases (Mt MetAP1a and Mt MetAP1c) present in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and expressed them as histidine-tagged proteins in Escherichia coli. Although they have different substrate preferences, for Met-Ala-Ser, we found, Mt MetAP1c had significantly high enzyme turnover rate as opposed to Mt MetAP1a. Circular dichroism spectroscopic studies as well as monitoring of enzyme activity indicated high temperature stability (up to 50°C) of Mt MetAP1a compared to that of the Mt MetAP1c. Modelling of Mt MetAP1a based on Mt MetAP1c crystal structure revealed the distinct spatial arrangements of identical active site amino acid residues and their mutations affected the enzymatic activities of both the proteins. Strikingly, we observed that 40 amino acid long N-terminal extension of Mt MetAP1c, compared to its other family members, contributes towards the activity and stability of this enzyme, which has never been reported for any methionine aminopeptidase. Furthermore, mutational analysis revealed that Val-18 and Pro-19 of Mt MetAP1c are crucial for its enzymatic activity. Consistent with this observation, molecular dynamic simulation studies of wild-type and these variants strongly suggest their involvement in maintaining active site conformation of Mt MetAP1c.

Conclusion

Our findings unequivocally emphasized that N-terminal extension of Mt MetAP1c contributes towards the functionality of the enzyme presumably by regulating active site residues through "action-at-a-distance" mechanism and we for the first time are reporting this unique function of the enzyme.
Design of a variant surface antigen-supplemented microarray chip for whole transcriptome analysis of multiple Plasmodium falciparum cytoadherent strains, and identification of strain-transcendent rif and stevor genes
Authors: Claessens Antoine , Ghumra Ashfaq , Gupta Archna P , Mok Sachel , Bozdech Zbynek , Rowe J Alexandra
Published: July 2011

Background

The cytoadherence of Plasmodium falciparum is thought to be mediated by variant surface antigens (VSA), encoded by var, rif, stevor and pfmc-2tm genes. The last three families have rarely been studied in the context of cytoadherence. As most VSA genes are unique, the variability among sequences has impeded the functional study of VSA across different P. falciparum strains. However, many P. falciparum genomes have recently been sequenced, allowing the development of specific microarray probes for each VSA gene.

Methods

All VSA sequences from the HB3, Dd2 and IT/FCR3 genomes were extracted using HMMer software. Oligonucleotide probes were designed with OligoRankPick and added to the 3D7-based microarray chip. As a proof of concept, IT/R29 parasites were selected for and against rosette formation and the transcriptomes of isogenic rosetting and non-rosetting parasites were compared by microarray.

Results

From each parasite strain 50-56 var genes, 125-132 rif genes, 26-33 stevor genes and 3-8 pfmc-2tm genes were identified. Bioinformatic analysis of the new VSA sequences showed that 13 rif genes and five stevor genes were well-conserved across at least three strains (83-100% amino acid identity). The ability of the VSA-supplemented microarray chip to detect cytoadherence-related genes was assessed using P. falciparum clone IT/R29, in which rosetting is known to be mediated by PfEMP1 encoded by ITvar9. Whole transcriptome analysis showed that the most highly up-regulated gene in rosetting parasites was ITvar9 (19 to 429-fold up-regulated over six time points). Only one rif gene (IT4rifA_042) was up-regulated by more than four fold (five fold at 12 hours post-invasion), and no stevor or pfmc-2tm genes were up-regulated by more than two fold. 377 non-VSA genes were differentially expressed by three fold or more in rosetting parasites, although none was as markedly or consistently up-regulated as ITvar9.

Conclusions

Probes for the VSA of newly sequenced P. falciparum strains can be added to the 3D7-based microarray chip, allowing the analysis of the entire transcriptome of multiple strains. For the rosetting clone IT/R29, the striking transcriptional upregulation of ITvar9 was confirmed, and the data did not support the involvement of other VSA families in rosette formation.
CCL2/MCP-1 modulation of microglial activation and proliferation
Authors: Hinojosa Ara E , Garcia-Bueno Borja , Leza Juan C , Madrigal Jose LM
Published: July 2011

Background

Monocyte chemoattractant protein (CCL2/MCP-1) is a chemokine that attracts cells involved in the immune/inflammatory response. As microglia are one of the main cell types sustaining inflammation in brain, we proposed here to analyze the direct effects of MCP-1 on cultured primary microglia.

Methods

Primary microglia and neuronal cultures were obtained from neonatal and embryonic Wistar rats, respectively. Microglia were incubated with different concentrations of recombinant MCP-1 and LPS. Cell proliferation was quantified by measuring incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). Nitrite accumulation was measured using the Griess assay. The expression and synthesis of different proteins was measured by RT-PCR and ELISA. Cell death was quantified by measuring release of LDH into the culture medium.

Results

MCP-1 treatment (50 ng/ml, 24 h) did not induce morphological changes in microglial cultures. Protein and mRNA levels of different cytokines were measured, showing that MCP-1 was not able to induce proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL6, MIP-1α), either by itself or in combination with LPS. A similar lack of effect was observed when measuring inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2) expression or accumulation of nitrites in the culture media as a different indicator of microglial activation. MCP-1 was also unable to alter the expression of different trophic factors that were reduced by LPS treatment. In order to explore the possible release of other products by microglia and their potential neurotoxicity, neurons were co-cultured with microglia: no death of neurons could be detected when treated with MCP-1. However, the presence of MCP-1 induced proliferation of microglia, an effect opposite to that observed with LPS.

Conclusion

These data indicate that, while causing migration and proliferation of microglia, MCP-1 does not appear to directly activate an inflammatory response in this cell type, and therefore, other factors may be necessary to cause the changes that result in the neuronal damage commonly observed in situations where MCP-1 levels are elevated.
Microglial phagocytosis induced by fibrillar β-amyloid is attenuated by oligomeric β-amyloid: implications for Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Pan Xiao-dong , Zhu Yuan-gui , Lin Nan , Zhang Jing , Ye Qin-yong , Huang Hua-pin , Chen Xiao-chun
Published: July 2011

Background

Reactive microglia are associated with β-amyloid (Aβ) deposit and clearance in Alzhiemer's Disease (AD). Paradoxically, entocranial resident microglia fail to trigger an effective phagocytic response to clear Aβ deposits although they mainly exist in an "activated" state. Oligomeric Aβ (oAβ), a recent target in the pathogenesis of AD, can induce more potent neurotoxicity when compared with fibrillar Aβ (fAβ). However, the role of the different Aβ forms in microglial phagocytosis, induction of inflammation and oxidation, and subsequent regulation of phagocytic receptor system, remain unclear.

Results

We demonstrated that Aβ(1-42) fibrils, not Aβ(1-42) oligomers, increased the microglial phagocytosis. Intriguingly, the pretreatment of microglia with oAβ(1-42) not only attenuated fAβ(1-42)-triggered classical phagocytic response to fluorescent microspheres but also significantly inhibited phagocytosis of fluorescent labeled fAβ(1-42). Compared with the fAβ(1-42) treatment, the oAβ(1-42) treatment resulted in a rapid and transient increase in interleukin 1β (IL-1β) level and produced higher levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and intracellular superoxide anion (SOA). The further results demonstrated that microglial phagocytosis was negatively correlated with inflammatory mediators in this process and that the capacity of phagocytosis in fAβ(1-42)-induced microglia was decreased by IL-1β, lippolysaccharide (LPS) and tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP). The decreased phagocytosis could be relieved by pyrrolidone dithiocarbamate (PDTC), a nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) inhibitor, and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), a free radical scavenger. These results suggest that the oAβ-impaired phagocytosis is mediated through inflammation and oxidative stress-mediated mechanism in microglial cells. Furthermore, oAβ(1-42) stimulation reduced the mRNA expression of CD36, integrin β1 (Itgb1), and Ig receptor FcγRIII, and significantly increased that of formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2) and scavenger receptor class B1 (SRB1), compared with the basal level. Interestingly, the pre-stimulation with oAβ(1-42) or the inflammatory and oxidative milieu (IL-1β, LPS or t-BHP) significantly downregulated the fAβ(1-42)-induced mRNA over-expression of CD36, CD47 and Itgb1 receptors in microglial cells.

Conclusion

These results imply that Aβ oligomers induce a potent inflammatory response and subsequently disturb microglial phagocytosis and clearance of Aβ fibrils, thereby contributing to an initial neurodegenerative characteristic of AD. Antiinflammatory and antioxidative therapies may indeed prove beneficial to delay the progression of AD.
Taxon ordering in phylogenetic trees by means of evolutionary algorithms
Authors: Cerutti Francesco , Bertolotti Luigi , Goldberg Tony L , Giacobini Mario
Published: July 2011

Background

In in a typical "left-to-right" phylogenetic tree, the vertical order of taxa is meaningless, as only the branch path between them reflects their degree of similarity. To make unresolved trees more informative, here we propose an innovative Evolutionary Algorithm (EA) method to search the best graphical representation of unresolved trees, in order to give a biological meaning to the vertical order of taxa.

Methods

Starting from a West Nile virus phylogenetic tree, in a (1 + 1)-EA we evolved it by randomly rotating the internal nodes and selecting the tree with better fitness every generation. The fitness is a sum of genetic distances between the considered taxon and the r (radius) next taxa. After having set the radius to the best performance, we evolved the trees with (λ + μ)-EAs to study the influence of population on the algorithm.

Results

The (1 + 1)-EA consistently outperformed a random search, and better results were obtained setting the radius to 8. The (λ + μ)-EAs performed as well as the (1 + 1), except the larger population (1000 + 1000).

Conclusions

The trees after the evolution showed an improvement both of the fitness (based on a genetic distance matrix, then close taxa are actually genetically close), and of the biological interpretation. Samples collected in the same state or year moved close each other, making the tree easier to interpret. Biological relationships between samples are also easier to observe.
CANGS DB: a stand-alone web-based database tool for processing, managing and analyzing 454 data in biodiversity studies
Authors: Pandey Ram Vinay , Nolte Viola , Boenigk Jens , Schlötterer Christian
Published: July 2011

Background

Next generation sequencing (NGS) is widely used in metagenomic and transcriptomic analyses in biodiversity. The ease of data generation provided by NGS platforms has allowed researchers to perform these analyses on their particular study systems. In particular the 454 platform has become the preferred choice for PCR amplicon based biodiversity surveys because it generates the longest sequence reads. Nevertheless, the handling and organization of massive amounts of sequencing data poses a major problem for the research community, particularly when multiple researchers are involved in data acquisition and analysis. An integrated and user-friendly tool, which performs quality control, read trimming, PCR primer removal, and data organization is desperately needed, therefore, to make data interpretation fast and manageable.

Findings

We developed CANGS DB (C leaning and A nalyzing N ext G eneration S equences D ataB ase) a flexible, stand alone and user-friendly integrated database tool. CANGS DB is specifically designed to organize and manage the massive amount of sequencing data arising from various NGS projects. CANGS DB also provides an intuitive user interface for sequence trimming and quality control, taxonomy analysis and rarefaction analysis. Our database tool can be easily adapted to handle multiple sequencing projects in parallel with different sample information, amplicon sizes, primer sequences, and quality thresholds, which makes this software especially useful for non-bioinformaticians. Furthermore, CANGS DB is especially suited for projects where multiple users need to access the data. CANGS DB is available at http://code.google.com/p/cangsdb/.

Conclusion

CANGS DB provides a simple and user-friendly solution to process, store and analyze 454 sequencing data. Being a local database that is accessible through a user-friendly interface, CANGS DB provides the perfect tool for collaborative amplicon based biodiversity surveys without requiring prior bioinformatics skills.
Determination of Heats of Tautomerization of Nitrile—Ketenimine by Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Cisneros Hebe Saraví , Erben Mauricio F. , Della Védova Carlos O. , Laurella Sergio , Allegretti Patricia E. , Furlong Jorge J.P.
Published: July 2011

Tautomerism of some nitriles has been studied by mass spectrometry. The analysis of the corresponding mass spectra has allowed some fragmentations to specific tautomers to be assigned and the heats of tautomerization to be determined through temperature effects and electron energy studies. Experimental determinations are supported by theoretical calculations. The joint analysis of mass spectrometry and DFT-B3LYP data indicate that this tautomeric equilibrium can be studied by the experimental spectrometric strategy employed.
Government Transfers and Political Support
Authors: Manacorda Marco , Miguel Edward , Vigorito Andrea
Published: July 2011

This paper estimates the impact of a large anti-poverty cash transfer program, the Uruguayan PANES, on political support for the government that implemented it. Using the discontinuity in program assignment based on a pretreatment eligibility score, we find that beneficiary households are 11 to 13 percentage points more likely to favor the current government relative to the previous government. Political support effects persist after the program ends. Our results are consistent with theories of rational but poorly informed voters who use policy to infer politicians' redistributive preferences or competence, as well as with behavioral economics explanations grounded in reciprocity. (JEL D72, H23, H53, I38, O15, O17)
Do Social Connections Reduce Moral Hazard? Evidence from the New York City Taxi Industry
Authors: Kirabo Jackson C , Schneider Henry S
Published: July 2011

This study investigates the role of social networks in aligning the incentives of agents in settings with incomplete contracts. Specifically, the study examines the New York City taxi industry where taxis are often leased and lessee-drivers have worse driving outcomes than owner-drivers due to moral hazard. Using within-driver variation and instrumental variable strategies to remove selection, we find that drivers leasing from members of their country-of-birth community exhibit significantly reduced effects of moral hazard, representing an improvement of almost one-half of a standard deviation of the outcome measures. Screening is ruled out as an explanation, and other mechanisms are investigated. (JEL D82, D86, L92, Z13)
Low-Skilled Immigration and the Labor Supply of Highly Skilled Women
Authors: Cortés Patricia , Tessada José
Published: July 2011

Low-skilled immigrants represent a significant fraction of employment in services that are close substitutes of household production. This paper studies whether the increased supply of low-skilled immigrants has led high-skilled women, who have the highest opportunity cost of time, to change their time-use decisions. Exploiting cross-city variation in immigrant concentration, we find that low-skilled immigration increases average hours of market work and the probability of working long hours of women at the top quartile of the wage distribution. Consistently, we find that women in this group decrease the time they spend in household work and increase expenditures on housekeeping services. (JEL J16, J22, J24, J61)
Structural Change Out of Agriculture: Labor Push versus Labor Pull
Authors: Alvarez-Cuadrado Francisco , Poschke Markus
Published: July 2011

A declining agricultural employment share is a key feature of economic development. Its main drivers are: improvements in agricultural technology combined with Engel's law release resources from agriculture (“labor push”), and improvements in industrial tech nology attract labor out of agriculture (“labor pull”). We present a model with both channels and evaluate the importance using data on 12 industrialized countries since the nineteenth century. Results suggest that the “pull” channel dominated until 1920 and the “push” channel dominated after 1960. The “pull” channel mattered more in countries in early stages of the structural transformation. This contrasts with modeling choices in recent literature. (JEL E23, N10, N53, O10, O47).
Interest Rate Risk and Other Determinants of Post-WWII US Government Debt/GDP Dynamics
Authors: Hall George J , Sargent Thomas J
Published: July 2011

This paper uses a sequence of government budget constraints to motivate estimates of returns on the US Federal government debt. Our estimates differ conceptually and quantitatively from the interest payments reported by the US government. We use our estimates to account for contributions to the evolution of the debt-GDP ratio made by inflation, growth, and nominal returns paid on debts of different maturities. (JEL E23, E31, E43, G12, H63)
Genome-wide screening using RNA interference to study host factors in viral replication and pathogenesis
Authors: Houzet Laurent , Jeang Kuan-Teh
Published: July 2011

With the recent development of short interfering RNA and short hairpin RNA expression libraries, RNA interference (RNAi) technology has been extensively employed to identify genes involved in diverse cellular processes, such as signal transduction, cell cycle, cancer biology and host–pathogen interactions. In the field of viral infection, this approach has already identified hundreds of new genes not previously known to be important for various virus lifecycles. In this brief review, we focus on recent studies performed using genome-wide RNAi-based screens in mammalian cells for the identification of essential host factors for viral infection and pathogenesis.
Human papillomavirus vaccination uptake and factors related to uptake in a traditional desert city in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Al-Nuaimi N S , Al-Ghas Y S , Al-Owais A H , Grivna M , Schneider J , Nagelkerke N J , Bernsen R M
Published: July 2011

It is important to assess uptake of a new vaccine. The present survey estimated the uptake of the recently introduced human papillomavirus vaccine (HPVV) in the emirate of Abu Dhabi and also explored barriers to uptake. A questionnaire survey was conducted in secondary schools, enrolling 334 girls. The uptake percentage was estimated and factors associated with uptake were assessed with multilevel logistic regression. Crude vaccination uptake was 53%. Factors positively associated with uptake were, among others, having knowledge on human papillomavirus (vaccine) and having United Arab Emirates (UAE) nationality. The HPVV uptake of just over 50% could probably be improved by educating the target group and their parents before offering the HPVV and by making it free of costs for everyone.
Trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole-associated rhabdomyolysis in an HIV-infected patient
Authors: Jen S P , Sharma R
Published: July 2011

We describe a case of rhabdomyolysis associated with trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) in a HIV-infected patient. A 33-year-old African American man with newly diagnosed AIDS initially presented with persistent, high-grade fevers suspected to be TMP-SMZ-related drug fever. The antibiotic was discontinued while in the hospital, but the patient was restarted on TMP-SMZ following discharge. Two days later, he returned to the hospital with severe muscle pain, acute renal failure and a significantly elevated creatine phosphokinase consistent with rhabdomyolysis. The patient gradually improved following discontinuation of TMP-SMZ.
Health-seeking behaviour of women selling sex in Lahore, Pakistan
Authors: Khan M S , Unemo M , Zaman S , Lundborg C Stålsby
Published: July 2011

The aim of this study was to describe the knowledge and health-seeking behaviour related to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and abortion among women selling sex in Lahore, Pakistan. This was a cross-sectional, community-based, quantitative study. A total of 730 women selling sex were recruited by respondent-driven sampling. A pretested structured questionnaire was administered through face-to-face interviews. The median age of the participants was 30 years. Thirteen percent of the participants said it was common for them to have an abnormal vaginal discharge. Seventy-five percent of the participants recognized STIs as either leucorrhoea or AIDS. Sixty-five percent of the participants complained of having suffered from STI(s) in the six months preceding the survey, of whom 28% sought treatment. Women selling sex who reported consistent condom use were 1.5 times (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1–2.2) more likely to seek treatment than women who did not report consistent condom use. The level of knowledge about STIs remains low among women selling sex in Lahore, Pakistan, and health-seeking behaviour for the management of STIs and abortions is influenced by ability to pay and ease of access in the private sector.
Knowledge of sexually transmissible infections: a comparison of prisoners and the general population
Authors: Malacova E , Butler T , Richters J , Yap L , Grant L , Richards A , Smith A M A , Donovan B
Published: July 2011

The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified a failure to provide education for vulnerable populations such as prisoners as a contributing factor to the epidemic of sexually transmissible infections (STIs). Despite this recognition, little is known about prisoners' level of knowledge of STIs compared with the general population. Using computer-assisted telephone interviews, we compared a representative sample of 2289 Australian prisoners, aged 18–59 years from New South Wales and Queensland prisons with a representative community sample of 3536 participants from these two states. Prisoners had significantly better knowledge than the general community of chlamydia-related questions, while knowledge of herpes (genital and oral) was slightly better in the community sample. Prisoners who were aged over 25 years, not married, female, self-identified as either homosexual or bisexual and reported a history of STIs tended to have better STI knowledge levels. Despite their more disadvantaged backgrounds, prisoners demonstrated relatively good health literacy in relation to STIs. Ongoing education about the transmission risks of STIs for prisoners and the general community is needed.
Vaccination against hepatitis B in an HIV outpatients' department: an audit against national vaccination guidelines
Authors: Williams H , Bevan M A , Tong C Y W , Kulasegaram R
Published: July 2011

Practice related to hepatitis B vaccination of HIV outpatients in a London teaching hospital was audited against the British HIV Association (BHIVA) immunization guidelines 2004 and 2008, both before and after the implementation of a vaccination record sheet in the patients' notes. Adherence to the guidelines in the original audit was poor – only 67% of patients requiring vaccination for hepatitis B received a full course of vaccination. Following the introduction of the vaccination record sheet, this vaccination completion rate increased to 79% (BHIVA target 95%). Overall the percentage of patients managed according to BHIVA guidelines, including those who did not require vaccination, improved from 33% in the original audit to 61% in the re-audit. Introduction of a simple hepatitis B vaccination record sheet improved the quality of care for our HIV outpatients. Further modification of this system is warranted, perhaps by the introduction of a computerized reminder system.
BASHH UK guideline for the management of epididymo-orchitis, 2010
Authors: Street E , Joyce A , Wilson J
Published: July 2011

The BASHH UK guideline for the management of epididymo-orchitis has been updated in 2010. Consideration should be made of the changing potential aetiologies of epididymo-orchitis – mumps in non-immune individuals and tuberculosis in the immunocompromised and men from countries of high prevalence. The treatment of sexually acquired epididymo-orchitis has changed given the high levels of quinolone-resistant gonorrhoea such that ceftriaxone and doxycycline are recommended in those at high risk of gonorrhoea and doxycycline or ofloxacin in those patients where gonorrhoea is considered unlikely (negative microscopy for Gram-negative intracellular diplococci and no risk factors for gonorrhoea identified). A clinical care pathway has also been produced to simplify the management of epididymo-orchitis.
Static foot disorders: a major risk factor for chronic venous disease?
Authors: Uhl J-F , Chahim M , Allaert F-A
Published: July 2011

Objective

To study the relationship between the static foot disorders (SFDs) and chronic venous disease (CVD).

Material and methods

A retrospective study of 824 feet in unselected 412 patients seen by one phlebologist using a standardized record form. A complete clinical, aetiological, anatomical and pathological elements (CEAP) classification was determined. Alleged venous symptoms were recorded using a 10-point visual analogue scale and scored using a customized questionnaire. A standardized measurement of the Djian-Annonier angle was used to quantify and identify the presence of any static disorder of the foot.

Results

There were 156 men (37.8%) and 256 women (62.2%) who were included in this study. A majority of patients (59.3%) had a CEAP classification of C3 or greater. Static disorders of the feet were found to be very common in the study population: 137 feet were hollow feet (16.6%) and 120 flat feet (14.5%). Thus, 31% of all of the feet had some form of SFD. A significant correlation was found between the incidence of SFD and body mass index ( P < 0.01), the presence of symptoms ( P<0.001) and prolonged standing during the day (>5 hours, P < 0.05). The severity of the CVD, represented by the CEAP clinical classes, was also found to be very significantly related to the SFD ( P < 0.001). This correlation was found to be independent of age.

Conclusion

Static disorders of the foot can be considered as an important risk factor that negatively affects CVD. In daily practice, it is often underestimated. This emphasizes the crucial importance of the detection of SFD during the clinical exam of all CVD patients. Correction of static disorders of the feet will improve symptoms due to the SFD, as well as those related to venous stasis. These results can easily be explained by improvement of foot pump efficacy during walking.
National Call for Organizational Change From Sheltered to Integrated Employment
Authors: Rogan Patricia , Rinne Susan
Published: July 2011

Our purpose in this article is to contend that organizational change from sheltered to integrated employment is not only possible but necessary, and a federal Employment First agenda must be advanced. Findings are reported from interviews with senior managers from 10 organizations that have shifted their service delivery to community employment, and recommendations are provided based on these findings. Results reveal the commonalities among a diverse group of agencies, suggesting the viability of transformation of our current systems with the support and leadership of state and federal agencies and programs.
Neonatal Osteomyelitis
Authors: Fisher Randall G.
Published: July 2011

Bone and joint infections in neonates differ significantly from what is seen in older children, adolescents, and adults. They are more common in preterm neonates but occasionally are seen in term babies. A high index of suspicion, coupled with careful daily physical examination, is important for early identification and treatment. Multiple foci should be sought. Underlying bone or joint involvement should be suspected in patients who have cutaneous abscesses. Surgical debridement or drainage, as required, and long-term appropriate antibiotic therapy are the pillars of therapy. Long-term outcome must be monitored closely, even in babies whose disease is rapidly identified and appropriately treated.
Late Talking and the Risk for Psychosocial Problems During Childhood and Adolescence
Authors: Whitehouse Andrew J. O. , Robinson Monique , Zubrick Stephen R.
Published: July 2011

OBJECTIVE:

Although many toddlers with expressive vocabulary delay (“late talkers”) present with age-appropriate language skills by the time they are of school age, little is known about their broader behavioral and emotional profile. The aim of this study was to determine whether late talkers are at increased risk for behavioral and emotional problems during childhood and adolescence.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Participants were from the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort Study. Early expressive vocabulary was measured by parent report at age 2 years using the Language Development Survey. Late talkers were defined as toddlers who scored at or below the 15th percentile on the Language Development Survey for their gender but were screened not to have any other developmental delays. The Child Behavior Checklist was used to measure problem child behavior with continuous z scores and clinical thresholds at ages 2, 5, 8, 10, 14, and 17 years. Potential confounders included maternal and family sociodemographic characteristics as well as prenatal smoking and alcohol exposure.

RESULTS:

At age 2 years, late talkers (n = 142) had higher Child Behavior Checklist scores (representing poorer behavior) than control toddlers (n = 1245) in total, internalizing, and externalizing scales and higher risk for clinically significant internalizing and externalizing problems. Regression models, incorporating the confounding variables, revealed no association between late-talking status at age 2 years and behavioral and emotional problems at the 5-, 8-, 10-, 14-, and 17-year follow-ups.

CONCLUSIONS:

Expressive vocabulary delay at the age of 2 years is not in itself a risk factor for later behavioral and emotional disturbances.
Novel Protagonists in Autoinflammatory Arthritis of Familial Mediterranean Fever
Authors: Al-Salam Suhail , Conca Walter
Published: July 2011

To clarify mechanisms responsible for the self-limiting and nonerosive features of autoinflammatory joint disease in familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), we performed a study on synovial tissue obtained surgically from an acutely inflamed hip joint from a boy feared to have septic arthritis but later found to be homozygous for mutation M694I in pyrin/marenostrin. We defined by immunohistology the infiltrating cells and examined the in situ expression of plausible protagonists in synovitis of FMF: myeloperoxidase, lysozyme, galectin 1, galectin 3, p65 (RelA)/nuclear factor κB, inducible nitric-oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase 2, and cleaved caspase 3. Neutrophils deficient in myeloperoxidase and lysozyme, macrophages, and mast cells outnumbered T and B lymphocytes as well as plasma cells. Among cells of adaptive immunity, B lymphocytes were predominant. Galectin 1 was detected in numerous cells of the innate immune system throughout the synovial tissue, whereas expression of galectin 3 was less abundant and scattered. p65 (RelA)/nuclear factor κB and inducible nitric-oxide synthase were both upregulated in most of the infiltrating cells. Cyclooxygenase 2 expression was low, and cleaved caspase 3 was undetectable. We conclude that the exquisitely inflammatory yet nondestructive character of FMF arthritis could correlate with the presence of nonpathogenic neutrophils lacking effector molecules and the widespread expression of anti-inflammatory galectin 1 in regulatory cells of the innate immune system. Intrinsic apoptosis seemed irrelevant for confining synovial autoinflammation, but regulation through pyroptosis or the adaptive immune system remains possible.
Sustaining and Spreading the Reduction of Adverse Drug Events in a Multicenter Collaborative
Authors: Tham Eric , Calmes Helen M. , Poppy Amy , Eliades Aris B. , Schlafly Stacey Morgan , Namtu Katie C. , Smith Dani M. , Vitaska Matthew C. , McConnell Cindy , Potts Amy L. , Jastrzembski Jenny , Logsdon Tina R. , Hall Matthew , Takata Glenn S.
Published: July 2011

OBJECTIVES:

Adverse drug events (ADEs) occur more frequently in pediatric patients than adults. ADEs frequently cause serious harm to children and increase the cost of care. The purpose of this study was to decrease ADEs by targeting the entire medication-delivery system for all high-risk medications.

METHODS:

Thirteen freestanding children's hospitals participated in this ADE collaborative. An advisory panel developed a change package of interventions that consisted of standardization of medication-ordering (eg, consensus-based protocols and order sets and high-alert medication protocols), reliable medication-dispensing processes (eg, automated dispensing cabinets and redesign of floor stock procedures), reliable medication-administration processes (eg, safe pump use and reducing interruptions), improvement of patient safety culture (eg, safety-culture changes and reduction of staff intimidation), and clinical decision support (eg, increase ADE detection and redesign care systems). ADE rates were compared from the 3-month baseline period to quarters of the 12-month intervention phase. ADE rates were categorized further as opioid related and other medication related.

RESULTS:

From baseline to the final quarter, the collaborative resulted in a 42% decrease in total ADEs, a 51% decrease in opioid-related ADEs, and a 41% decrease in other medication ADEs.

CONCLUSION:

A pediatric collaborative that targeted the medication-delivery system decreased the rate of ADEs at participating institutions.