bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Translational Relevance and Recent Advances of Animal Models of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Authors: Sénémaud Jean , Caligiuri Giuseppina , Etienne Harry , Delbosc Sandrine , Michel Jean-Baptiste , Coscas Raphaël 
Published: January 2017

Human abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) pathophysiology is not yet completely understood. In conductance arteries, the insoluble extracellular matrix, synthesized by vascular smooth muscle cells, assumes the function of withstanding the intraluminal arterial blood pressure. Progressive loss of this function through extracellular matrix proteolysis is a main feature of AAAs. As most patients are now treated via endovascular approaches, surgical AAA specimens have become rare. Animal models provide valuable complementary insights into AAA pathophysiology. Current experimental AAA models involve induction of intraluminal dilation (nondissecting AAAs) or a contained intramural rupture (dissecting models). Although the ideal model should reproduce the histological characteristics and natural history of the human disease, none of the currently available animal models perfectly do so. Experimental models try to represent the main pathophysiological determinants of AAAs: genetic or acquired defects in extracellular matrix, loss of vascular smooth muscle cells, and innate or adaptive immune response. Nevertheless, most models are characterized by aneurysmal stabilization and healing after a few weeks because of cessation of the initial stimulus. Recent studies have focused on ways to optimize existing models to allow continuous aneurysmal growth. This review aims to discuss the relevance and recent advances of current animal AAA models.

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Long-Term Impacts of a Career Development Workshop for Undergraduates
Authors: Sloan Valerie , Haacker Rebecca , Barnes Tim , Brinkworth Carolyn 
Published: January 2017

AbstractFor 15 years, the Undergraduate Leadership Workshop (ULW) has connected undergraduate students with scientists, engineers, educators, and leadership at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado. The week-long program gives students exposure to research areas and to graduate school and career options in the atmospheric sciences. The ULW provides mentoring, training in leadership and professional skills, and a chance to meet peers in this field. An evaluation of the program, including surveys and focus groups of alumni from the past 15 years, has yielded insights into the program’s short- and long-term impacts. The main themes that have emerged are that the ULW provides 1) exposure to a whole new world of careers in the atmospheric sciences; 2) a sense of belonging to a group of students who are also interested in weather and climate; 3) long-term support and a professional network of peers; and 4) an increase in interest in pursuing a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) graduate degree. Results suggest that short but intense programs have significant positive impacts without the investment of effort or cost of a full-fledged internship. The ULW provides a model for a cocurricular learning experience that could be adapted at other research laboratories and universities to serve a larger number of students.
On the Correlativity between Atmospheric Gravity Waves and Various Weather Phenomena
Authors: Jin-Lai Xie , Xun-Ren Yang , Ying-Bo Li , Qi-Tai Li 
Published: January 2017

Acoustic Gravity Waves (AGW) and Internal Gravity Waves (IGW) concerned with various abnormal weather phenomena, such as storms, high wind, hail etc., in some local regions have been detected, recorded and studied. These waves, as a kind of perturbation with infrasonic frequenices, express different wave characteristics. Four to ten hours before the eruption of developing disastrous weathers, obvious perturbated waveforms can be recorded at a nearby infrasonic observatory. The analysis and understanding of these results has considerable practical meaning for the prediction of events. The spectral analyses for the whole process of hailing has been carried out, and a new classification for studying disastrous weather has been suggested. Furthermore, some possible practical applications of AGW and IGW to disaster forecasting have been discussed.
Expression of Depressive Symptoms in a Nonclinical Brazilian Adolescent Sample
Authors: Gorenstein Clarice , Andrade Laura , Zanolo Elaine , Artes Rinaldo 
Published: January 2017

Objective: This study aimed to detect the prevalence of depressive symptomatology and its expression in a nonclinical Brazilian adolescent student sample. Method: A sample of students from private and public schools ( n = 1555, aged 13 to 17 years) answered the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). We performed factor analysis of the BDI as an indicator of the expression of depressive symptomatology. The following cut-off scores defined nonclinical subgroups: “nondepressed,” BDI < 15; “dysphoria,” BDI 16 to 20; and “depressed,” BDI > 20. We used discriminant analysis to test whether these subgroups could be separated by the depression-specific and nonspecific items. Results: The point prevalence of depression was 7.6%, according to the BDI cut-off of 20. Girls had higher scores than boys in several items. Scores increased with age. Students from public schools had higher scores than did private school students. Factor analysis showed 2 common factors for the total sample and for each sex: the cognitive affective dimension and the somatic nonspecific dimension. In the adolescents showing clinical depression, items related to self-depreciation, sense of failure, guilty feelings, self-dislike, suicidal wishes, and distortion of body image were common components of BDI factors. Discriminant analysis showed that the BDI highly discriminates depressive symptomatology in adolescent students and also measures specific aspects of depression. Conclusions: The BDI is useful as a measure of specific aspects of depression in nonclinical adolescent samples; it was able to detect depression in approximately 7% of the surveyed population. The expression of depressive symptoms in a Brazilian adolescent population is compatible with international studies in this age group. Detecting depressive symptoms in a school population is a critical preventive strategy; to avoid damage to the learning process, it should be followed with further referral to treatment when needed.
Mental Health Concerns of Canadian Adolescents: A Consumer's Perspective
Authors: Kutcher Stan , Ward Bridgette , Hayes Denise , Wheeler Kathy , Brown Fran , Kutcher Jan 
Published: January 2017

Objective: To evaluate the mental health of adolescent students in Metropolitan Toronto. Method: A survey was developed by adolescents for adolescents to evaluate adolescent mental health. The survey was completed by 486 secondary school students in Metropolitan Toronto. Results: The findings of this consumer-directed survey show that the majority of teenagers are not overwhelmed by stress and generally exhibit healthy coping behaviours. Violence is identified as an important concern and help-seeking behaviour for mental health issues, when it occurs, is directed primarily towards the family and teachers rather than physicians. Conclusion: A number of important issues regarding mental illness, including its identification and treatment, were not considered by teens to be part of their mental health concerns. The implications of these findings for the development of community-based mental health programs for adolescents are discussed.
The Impact of Canadian Criminal Code Changes on Remands and Assessments of Fitness to Stand Trial and Criminal Responsibility in British Columbia
Authors: Roesch Ronald , Ogloff James RP , Hart Stephen D , Dempster Rebecca J , Zapf Patricia A , Whittemore Karen E 
Published: January 2017

Objective: To evaluate the impact in British Columbia of the 1992 Criminal Code of Canada amendments dealing with remands for fitness to stand trial and not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder (NCRMD) assessments. Method: Information on 620 remands for evaluation of fitness to stand trial and/or NCRMD were collected from a sample obtained in British Columbia from 1992 to 1994. The data collected included length of remand order, length of evaluation, criminal charges, psychiatric diagnoses, and the decisions about fitness or NCRMD. Results: Remands increased by about 20% in a 1993–1994 fiscal year compared with the previous year. The majority of evaluations continue to be conducted in an inpatient facility. The goal of a 5-day evaluation period is rarely met: only 12.5% of inpatients were released within 5 days of admission, and the average length of evaluation was about 3 weeks. The use and success of the NCRMD defence appears to be on the rise. In addition, there were some striking differences in remands from metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas in terms of rates of referral and recommendations of unfitness or NCRMD. Conclusion: Results indicated that Bill C-30 has not yet had the anticipated impact on remands as inpatient evaluations continue to be the norm and evaluations typically take several weeks. Suggestions for policy reform and future research are presented.
The Breast Implant and Disease: An Observed Association or a Verdict of Causation? Part II
Authors: Discoe Tony A. 
Published: January 2017

The issue presented in breast implant litigation, whether breast implants cause harm, graphically displays the fron-tiers of the interface of law and medicine, and the complex method of evaluating causal relationships in medicine. Should the law wait for an answer? This paper provides a system for evaluating the results of studies in the area of breast implant litigation, in terms of the extent to which those results support or refute a causal relationship. The concept and characteristics of causation and the re-liability of cases, reports, descriptive studies, and anecdotal cases as evidence of causation are discussed. Because of the current media and medical legal environment, recommen-dations for the care and treatment of patients with breast implants are being made without careful thought. The con-sequences of widespread litigation may be the determining factor in attempting to resolve the question of the potential harm of the silicone-gel breast implant.
Ultrastructural Localization of Calmodulin in Rat Incisor Ameloblasts and Odontoblasts During the Early Stages of Development
Authors: Goldberg M. , Escaig F. , Feinberg J. , Weinman S. 
Published: January 2017

W visualized calmodulin distribution in rat incisor pre-secretory and secretory ameloblasts on ultrathin sections, using Lowicryl K4M embedding, antibody to calmodulin prepared from rabbit antiserum, and colloidal gold. The distribution of gold particles was compared with that observed in post-mitotic and secretory odontoblasts, and we also evaluated the effects of aldehyde fixation and fixation by rapid-freezing freeze-substitution. Evaluation of gold particles showed enhanced immuno-staining during cell development. More particles were found in the cell bodies of secretory cells than in their processes. There was no difference between tissue fixed with aldehyde and that fixed by cryoprocessing. Gold particles were present mainly in the rough endoplasmic reticulum and to a lesser extent in the nucleus, cytoplasm, and a few vesicles. Although the odontoblast processes displayed gold particles, the latter were never observed in pre-dentin or dentin. However, no such selective intracellular localization was observed in the ameloblasts, where gold particles were present not only in Tomes' processes but also in the interrod forming enamel, and to a lesser degree inside the forming rods. In the underlying enamel at later stages of mineralization, only background labeling was detected. The extracellular location of an intracellular calcium-binding protein suggests either the non-specific binding of antiserum with some enamel proteins or the release of small fragments of the secretory ameloblasts into the forming enamel.
Octacalcium Phosphate as a Precursor in Biomineral Formation
Authors: Brown W.E. , Eidelman N. , Tomazic B. 
Published: January 2017

What are biominerals and how are they formed? It is usually assumed: (i) that the prototype for most apatitic biominerals is hydroxyapatite (OHAp), Ca5(PO4) 3OH; and (ii) that the OHAp structure has been modified by the presence of impurity ions and vacancy defects in specific OHAp lattice sites. The usual answer, at least implicitly, to the second question is that the apatitic mineral is formed directly by the precipitation of ions from the surrounding solution. Our answers are: (i) that apatitic biominerals are formed through a precursor mechanism in which octacalcium phosphate (OCP), Ca8H 2(PO4)6·5H2O, precipitates first and then hydrolyzes ireversibly in situ to a transition product intermediate to OCP and OHAp; and (ii) that this product, "octacalcium phosphate hydrolyzate" (OCPH), may contain (a) OHAp-like and OCP-like domains in varying amounts, (b) vacancy defects and impurity ions in lattice sites in these domains, and (c) various kinds of one-, two-, and three-dimensional defects which are not present in either the OHAp or the OCP lattice, these defects being formed during the in situ hydrolysis step. A calcification model of this type was first proposed in 1957, but full acceptance was delayed because most of the evidence was circumstantial and in vitro in nature. The situation has changed radically because of three unrelated studies that are in vivo in nature but lead to the same conclusion: I. 32P-pyrolysis studies of rat enamel: The results clearly demonstrated that an acidic calcium phosphate precursor was involved. II. Precipitation of calcium phosphates in serum. Ultrafiltered serum was equilibrated with brushite. Subsequent changes in the ionic concentrations revealed that OCP was formed at first and then hydrolyzed to a more basic form, OCPH, but never reached the solubility of OHAp. III. Physicochemical properties of cardiovascular biominerals: We recently characterized biominerals in cardiovascular deposits in an encompassing variety of ways. As an overall conclusion, OCPH was the prototype most compatible with the data [including indices of refraction, solubility, P2O74- formation on pyrolysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) measurements, presence of water, and incorporation of CO32-, Na+, and Mg2+]. This calcification model has important consequences relative to all kinds of calcification and decalcification processes, including those of enamel.
Identification of Periodontopathic Bacteria Based Upon their Peptidase Activities
Authors: Suido H. , Eguchi T. , Tanaka T. , Nakamura M. 
Published: January 2017

Black-pigmented Bacteroides (BPB) and spirochetes are associated with some forms of periodontal diseases. The enzymes produced by these bacteria may participate in the destruction of gingival and periodontal tissues. Certain proteases and peptidases are unique to Bacteroides gingivalis and Treponema denticola. Our purpose was to study the peptidases of periodontopathogens and to evaluate the use of unique peptidases for detection and identification of these bacteria. Bacteria used were BPB, Treponema, Fusobacterium, Capnocytophaga, Actinobacillus (Haemophilus), and Eikenella species. Twenty-five substrates, including mono-, di-, and tri-peptides of β-naphthylamide (β-NA) were employed for examination of peptidase activity. Clinically isolated BPB were obtained from 16 adult periodontitis patients. One hundred and ninety-three BPB strains were identified by conventional identification methods, and the peptidase activity was determined with N-Carbobenzoxy-glycyl-glycyl-L-arginine-β-naphthylamide (N-CBz-Gly-Gly-Arg-β-NA) used as a substrate. Among tested periodontopathic bacteria, only B. gingivalis and T. denticola could strongly hydrolyze some substrates such as N-CBz-Gly-Gly-Arg-β-NA and N-Benzoyl-L-valyl-glycyl-L-arginine-4-methoxy-(3-naphthylamide (Bz-Val-Gly-Arg-β-NA). In subgingival plaque samples, all patients showed BPB, and eight out of 16 patients possessed B. gingivalis by culture. One hundred and ten strains out of 193 BPB isolated were identified as B. gingivalis. Ninety-nine percent of these B. gingivalis strains identified showed N-CBz-Gly-Gly-Arg-β-NAhydrolyzing activity on a newly developed colorimetric plate assay. However, none of the other strains showed this activity in cultures of subgingival plaque which did not allow growth of spirochetes. Enzymes, such as N-CBz-Gly-Gly-Arg-peptidase and Bz-Val-Gly-Arg-peptidase, specific for B. gingivalis and T. denticola seem to be useful for rapid detection and identification of these bacteria.
Determinants of Childbirth Assistance in the Remote Islands of the Indian Sundarbans
Authors: Barman Debjani , Vadrevu Lalitha , Vyas Divya 
Published: January 2017

Background: India contributes to almost 70 percent of the maternal mortality in South East Asia. Improving access to skilled attendance at birth is crucial for addressing the issue of maternal deaths in the Indian context while majority of women deliver her child at home. Several issues of inaccessibility due to cost, distance, and lack of services still persist. The present research article, thus, discusses the determinants of child delivery care practices in a rural region like the Sundarbans in West Bengal, India. Methods: A household survey was conducted in the Patharpratima block of the Indian Sundarbans. A total of 1200 households were sampled using a two stage cluster sampling from 30 villages. Mothers were interviewed regarding child delivery practice of their youngest child along with other socio-demographic variables. Data analysis involves a multinomial logistic regression using STATA IC 10. Results: Child Delivery was assisted by formal providers in 48 percent of the cases, by informal providers in 30 percent cases and friends or relatives in 22 percent cases. Geographical location of the household, caste and religion, mother’s education and birth order were statistically significant predictors. Conclusion: Sundarbans as geographically isolated rural regions of the country face serious issue of inaccessibility. Following it high preference for home delivery and henceforth higher dependence on unskilled personnel for delivery in the region calls for specific plans to address the inaccessibility issue.
Failure of Cetirizine and Fexofenadine to Prevent Motion Sickness
Authors: Cheung Bob S , Heskin Raquel , Hofer Kevin D 
Published: January 2017

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of 2 second-generation antihistamines in modulating motion sickness induced by Coriolis vestibular cross-coupling stimulation. METHODS: This prospective, randomized, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled study was conducted in 18 healthy adults. Subjects were exposed to Coriolis vestibular cross-coupling in the laboratory using the Staircase Profile Test for baseline susceptibility and when under the influence of cetizirine, fexofenadine, and placebo. Subjective evaluation of sickness symptoms was based on the Graybiel diagnostic criteria of acute motion sickness, Golding's scale, and the Coriolis Sickness Susceptibility Index. RESULTS: Repeated measures ANOVA and Friedman nonparametric ANOVA of rank tests revealed that there were significant differences in symptom assessments based on Graybiel's diagnostic criteria (p ≤ 0.001), subjective symptoms of motion sickness (p ≤ 0.001), and state-anxiety (p ≤ 0.001) before and after motion exposure. However, there are no significant differences between the baseline susceptibility to motion sickness and treatment with placebo, cetirizine, or fexofenadine. CONCLUSIONS: The failure of the second-generation antihistamines cetirizine and fexofenadine to prevent motion sickness suggests that the therapeutic actions of this class of antihistamines against motion sickness may be mediated through central versus peripheral receptors. The sedative effect of other antihistamines, such as hydroxyzine, may play a more significant role in alleviating motion sickness than previously thought.
Acute Verapamil Toxicity in a Patient with Chronic Toxicity: Possible Interaction with Ceftriaxone and Clindamycin
Authors: Kishore Kamal , Raina Abhinav , Misra Vijay , Jonas Ernesto 
Published: January 2017

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of acute toxicity in a patient with chronic verapamil toxicity, possibly precipitated by intravenous administration of the highly protein-bound drugs ceftriaxone and clindamycin. DATA SOURCES: Case reports, review articles, and relevant laboratory and clinical studies identified by MEDLINE (1984-forward), and relevant cross references from those articles. DATA EXTRACTION: Data were abstracted from pertinent sources by one author and reviewed by the remaining authors. CASE SUMMARY: A 59-year-old man who had been receiving sustained-release verapamil 240 mg ql2h for more than two years for hypertension, and phenytoin 300 mg/d for many years for prophylaxis against seizures, was noted to be in junctional rhythm when he presented to the emergency room with bilateral pneumonia. Administration of intravenous ceftriaxone 1 g and clindamycin 900 mg precipitated symptoms of acute verapamil toxicity in this patient. The toxicity led to complete heart block requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation and insertion of a temporary pacemaker. He spontaneously reverted to normal sinus rhythm after 16 hours. Subsequent cardiac evaluation, including echocardiogram, 48-hour dynamic electrocardiographic recording (Holter), and exercise stress test were normal. The patient has remained in sinus rhythm for more than one year after this episode. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that junctional rhythm on admission was a result of chronic verapamil toxicity. This may have been because of increased bioavailability of the drug or increased sensitivity of the receptors. Administration of ceftriaxone, clindamycin, or both agents might have precipitated acute verapamil toxicity by displacing verapamil from its protein-binding sites. Extreme caution is necessary when a highly protein-bound drug is given to a patient already receiving verapamil.
Clinical and immunologic impact of CCR5 blockade in graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis
Authors: Moy Ryan H. , Huffman Austin P. , Richman Lee P. , Crisalli Lisa , Wang Ximi K. , Hoxie James A. , Mick Rosemarie , Emerson Stephen G. , Zhang Yi , Vonderheide Robert H. , Porter David L. , Reshef Ran 
Published: January 2017

Key Points
CCR5 blockade decreases peripheral T-cell activation, gut GVHD biomarkers, and acute GVHD incidence in allo-HSCT recipients. CXCR3-mediated lymphocyte trafficking may represent an important resistance mechanism to CCR5 blockade in GVHD prophylaxis.
Hierarchical Maximum Likelihood Parameter Estimation for Cumulative Prospect Theory: Improving the Reliability of Individual Risk Parameter Estimates
Authors: Murphy Ryan O. , ten Brincke Robert H. W. 
Published: January 2017

An individual’s tolerance of risk can be quantified by using decision models with tuned parameters that maximally fit a set of risky choices the individual has made. A goal of this model fitting procedure is to identify parameters that correspond to stable underlying risk preferences. These preferences can be modeled as an individual difference, indicating a particular decision maker’s tastes and willingness to accept risk. Using hierarchical statistical methods, we show significant improvements in the reliability of individual risk preference parameter estimates over other common methods for cumulative prospect theory. This hierarchical procedure uses population-level information (in addition to an individual’s choices) to break “ties” (or near ties) in the fit quality for sets of possible risk preference parameters. By breaking these statistical ties in a sensible way, researchers can avoid overfitting choice data and thus more resiliently measure individual differences in people’s risk preferences.This paper was accepted by Yuval Rottenstreich, judgment and decision making.