bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Christology and Anti‐Humanism
Authors: Riches Aaron 
Published: June 2013

AbstractThis article engages the current anti‐humanist or post‐human ethos from the point of view of Christology. Invoking Alain Badiou's claim that “the man of humanism has not survived the twentieth century”, it argues that the death of “the man of humanism” ushers in a situation in which the Christian proposal can be clarified in two crucial ways: (1) Christology is the core of Christian anthropology, and therefore must be the first and last word of the Church's formulation of her answer to the question that is every human life; (2) there is no neutral “human” ground in which the Church can carry on a discourse about “humanism” or “natural law”. The current situation thus forces a theological decision: either the death of man or the God‐Man.
A Sacramental Vision: Environmental Degradation and the Aesthetics of Creation
Authors: Eggemeier Matthew T. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractThis article contends that Hans Urs von Balthasar's theological focus on seeing the form of God's glory in creation constitutes a critical resource for elaborating a contemporary Christian theology responsive to the crisis of environmental degradation. In particular, in this article Martin Heidegger's reflections on the environmental dangers present in modern technology provide the framework for analyzing the ecological significance of Balthasar's retrieval of a Christian sacramental ontology.
Slavoj Žižek, the Death Drive, and Zombies: A Theological Account
Authors: Sigurdson Ola 
Published: June 2013

AbstractIn this article, I discuss the question of the hybridity of the religious and the secular through the example of the Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Žižek and his psychoanalytically inspired notion of the undead. The undead is Žižek's rendering of the Freudian death drive, and as the undead is instantiated in the popular culture cliché of the zombies, we need to look no further than to George A. Romero's classic zombie movie Night of the Living Dead from 1968. Thus, this article proceeds in three steps: first, I trace the concept of the death drive from Freud to Žižek, supplemented, for their theological importance, by two contemporary philosophers, Jonathan Lear and Eric Santner. Second, I discuss the zombie in contemporary popular culture, with a focus on Romero's movies, and whether such cinematic representations can function as a kind of cultural critique. In conclusion, I return to the question of theology by showing what Žižek means by theology and contrasting as well as comparing his philosophy to Augustine's anthropology. Despite Žižek's atheistic confession and his dismissal of all pre‐modern philosophy and theology, I show that Augustine's anthropology is structurally similar to Žižek's, thus suggesting that the relationship is more complex than Žižek allows. Both are united in rejecting any superficial and transparent understanding of self, and become, consequently, an example of the ambiguous relationship between religion and secularity in contemporary times.
Risk factors for early mortality in haematological malignancy patients with pulmonary mucormycosis
Authors: Lewis Russell E. , Georgiadou Sarah P. , Sampsonas Fotis , Chamilos George , Kontoyiannis Dimitrios P. 
Published: June 2013

SummaryPulmonary mucormycosis (PM) is a life‐threatening opportunistic mycosis with a variable clinical evolution and few prognostic markers for outcome assessment. Several clinical risk factors for poor outcome present at the diagnosis of PM were analyzed in 75 consecutive hematology patients from 2000–2012. Significant variables (P < 0.1) were entered into a multivariate Cox‐proportional hazard regression model adjusting for baseline APACHE II to identify independent risk factors for mortality within 28 days. Twenty‐eight of 75 patients died within 4‐week follow up. A lymphocyte count < 100/mm3 at the time of diagnosis (adjusted hazard ratio 4.0, 1.7–9.4, P = 0.01) and high level of lactate dehydrogenase (AHR 3.7, 1.3–10.2, P = 0.015) were independent predictors along with APACHE II score for 28‐day mortality. A weighted risk score based on these 3 baseline variables accurately identified non‐surviving patients at 28 days (area under the receiver‐operator curve of 0.87, 0.77–0.93, P < 0.001). A risk score > 22 was associated with 8‐fold high rates of mortality (P < 0.0001) within 28 days of diagnosis and median survival of 7 days versus 28 days in patients with risk scores 22. We found that APACHE II score, severe lymphocytopenia and high LDH levels at the time of PM diagnosis were independent markers for rapid disease progression and death.
Effect of patient position and verbal interaction on recovery following intravenous sedation
Authors: Clarke M. , Wilson K.E. , Girdler N.M. , Stassen L.F.A. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractAimTo investigate if recovery position and verbal interaction with the patient post sedation influences the recovery time for patients receiving intravenous conscious sedation following oral surgical procedures.Material and methodsA randomised, prospective, single‐centre clinical trial was carried out in Dublin Dental University Hospital in the sedation day unit during the time period of March 2005–February 2006. Seventy‐three patients meeting the following criteria were recruited: requiring an oral surgery procedure under intravenous sedation, American Society of Anaesthetists classification I or II, no history of kidney/liver disease, 18–65 years of age, and neither pregnant nor breastfeeding. Patients were randomly assigned a position of recovery, which was either sitting, semi‐prone or lying with or without gentle verbal interaction, and recovery time to discharge from professional care was recorded. Two recovery times were recorded as the times to discharge from professional care. One from the last increment of drug (midazolam) given, known as ‘post‐midazolam recovery time’, and the second time from the end of the operative procedure, known as ‘post‐operative recovery time’.ResultsPosition was significantly associated with outcome for both post‐midazolam recovery time (P = 0.046) and post‐operative recovery time (P = 0.010), with patients in the sitting position recovering more quickly than those in the supine position.ConclusionVariability in recovery times is significantly related to recovery position. Patients if haemodynamically stable should be recovered in a sitting position.
Acquired Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis in a Child with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Authors: Cowan Katelyn R. , Gonzalez Santiago Tania M. , Tollefson Megha M. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractEpidermodysplasia verruciformis (EDV) is a rare genodermatosis characterized by susceptibility to human papilloma virus (HPV) infection. An acquired form of EDV has been described in the setting of immunosuppression, including in patients with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We present the case of an HIV‐positive, adopted Haitian boy who presented with EDV. Few cases of chidren with HIV and acquired EDV have been reported and are likely underrecognized.
Mucocutaneous Manifestations in Indian Children with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection
Authors: Mittal Saurabh , Mendiratta Vibhu , Kumar Praveen , Chander Ram 
Published: June 2013

AbstractA cross‐sectional study was conducted on 44 children (<14 years) with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and an attempt was made to compare the various mucocutaneous manifestations in the untreated and treated groups and to study any correlation of mucocutaneous manifestations with their CD4 counts. Viral infections were the most common manifestation. Discoid dermatitis and ashy dermatosis were also seen in our study. The study of mucocutaneous manifestations is particularly important in resource poor developing countries, where some of them can act as markers of HIV and make up for lack of investigations for early detection of HIV.
Mothers' and fathers' negative responsibility attributions and perceptions of children's problem behavior
Authors: NELSON JACKIE A. , O'BRIEN MARION , CALKINS SUSAN D. , KEANE SUSAN P. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractParents' negative responsibility attributions about their child's misbehavior are related to a perception that the child has more behavior problems. This study used a dyadic framework to explore how mothers' and fathers' attributions relate to their own perceptions and to their partner's perceptions of the child's externalizing problems. Participants included 102 couples interviewed when children were 7 years old. Results confirmed that mothers reported more externalizing behavior problems in their children than did fathers, and fathers of boys reported more child behavior problems than fathers of girls. Dyadic analyses suggested that parents' negative responsibility attributions of the child's behavior were associated with greater perceptions of child externalizing problems on behalf of parents and their partners.
Social isolation in older Malaysians: prevalence and risk factors
Authors: Ibrahim Rahimah , Abolfathi Momtaz Yadollah , Hamid Tengku Aizan 
Published: June 2013

AbstractBackground:Social isolation is one of the most important emerging issues among ageing populations, as it reduces well‐being, health and quality of life. The purpose of this study was to identify prevalence and risk factors of social isolation in older Malaysians.Methods:The sample for this study was drawn from a national survey entitled ‘Patterns of Social Relationships and Psychological Well‐Being among Older Persons in Peninsular Malaysia’. Social isolation was measured with the Lubben Social Network Scale.Results:The findings from the present study showed that 49.8% of older Malaysians are at risk for social isolation. The results of logistic regression analysis revealed that the number of sons, number of brothers, number of sisters, household size, self‐rated health, place of residence, homeownership, sex and ethnicity were significantly associated with social isolation.Conclusion:These findings may have some implications for social and health‐care policymakers in planning and developing new and effective interventions such as educational programmes to reduce social isolation among this vulnerable population
Ultrasonographic and Endocrine Characterization of Follicular Waves in Llamas with a Special Reference to the Overlapping Phenomenon During Successive Waves
Authors: Cavilla MV , Bianchi CP , Maistruarena C , Aba MA 
Published: June 2013

ContentsOvarian follicular growth in non‐mated llamas occurs in successive waves that generally superimpose their origin on the regression of the preceding wave (overlapping), originating prolonged sexual receptivity in the species. The aim of this study was to perform an ultrasonographic and endocrine characterization of individual and successive waves in non‐mated llamas with a special interest on the overlapping phenomenon. Twelve llamas were examined daily by transrectal ultrasonography for at least two consecutive waves. In six females, blood samples were collected daily at the end of each examination. The development of the largest follicle (F) showed a wavelike pattern with a mean duration of 25 days. All waves evaluated were partially overlapped on the preceding wave and emerged at a mean interval of 15.8 ± 0.5 days. This interwave interval determines a mean overlapping degree of 32% of the wave length. Similarly, mean plasma oestradiol‐17β (E2) concentrations followed a wavelike pattern. However,E2concentrations started to decline before the structural regression of theFwas observed. Mean basalE2concentrations remain higher than 10.9 ± 0.6 pmol/l. In conclusion, follicular activity in non‐mated llamas is characterized by continuous emergence of successive waves that always overlap the preceding wave with variable degrees.E2production during the follicular wave is shorter in duration than the morphological development of theF. Finally, the overlapping phenomenon maintains increased plasmaE2concentrations persistently and this could explain the prolonged periods of sexual receptivity registered in llamas.
Gonadotropin‐Releasing Hormone Administration to Dairy Cows without a Corpus Luteum 4 Weeks after Calving Increases Reproductive Performance
Authors: Jeong JK , Kang HG , Hur TY , Kim IH 
Published: June 2013

ContentsThis field study investigated whether the administration of a single dose of gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) to dairy cows without a corpus luteum (CL) 4 weeks after calving can improve reproductive performance. Holstein dairy cows underwent ultrasonography to assess the presence of ovarian structures at 29.2 ± 5.2 days post‐partum, and cows were divided into two main groups based on the presence (CL group, n = 230) or absence (non‐CL group, n = 460) of a CL. The non‐CL group was further randomly divided into two subgroups based on the administration of GnRH (non‐CL GnRH group, n = 230) or no GnRH (non‐CL control group, n = 230). Subsets of cows from non‐CL control (n = 166) and non‐CL GnRH (n = 175) groups received a second ultrasonography at 44.5 ± 5.4 days post‐partum to assess CL formation. The percentage of cows with CL at the second ultrasonography was greater in the non‐CL GnRH group (70.9%) than in the non‐CL control group (53.0%, p = 0.0006). The hazard of the first post‐partum insemination by 150 days in milk (DIM) was higher in the CL group than in the non‐CL control group (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.36, p = 0.001). The probability of a pregnancy to the first insemination was higher in non‐CL GnRH (odds ratio [OR]: 1.50, p = 0.04) and CL groups (OR: 1.55, p = 0.03) compared to the non‐CL control group. Furthermore, the hazard of pregnancy by 210 DIM was higher in non‐CL GnRH (HR: 1.30, p = 0.01) and CL (HR: 1.51, p = 0.0001) groups than in the non‐CL control group. In conclusion, administration of GnRH to dairy cows without a CL 4 weeks after calving was associated with an increase in ovulation and improved reproductive performance.
Red blood cell transfusion in critically ill children (CME)
Authors: Demaret Pierre , Tucci Marisa , Ducruet Thierry , Trottier Helen , Lacroix Jacques 
Published: June 2013

BackgroundRed blood cell (RBC) transfusions are common in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). However, there are no recent data on transfusion practices in the PICU. Our objective was to determine transfusion practice in the PICU, to compare this practice with that observed 10 years earlier, and to estimate the compliance to the recommendation of a large randomized clinical trial, the Transfusion Requirements in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (TRIPICU) study.Study Design and MethodsThis was a single‐center prospective observational study over a 1‐year period. Information was abstracted from medical charts. Determinants of transfusion were searched for daily until the first transfusion in transfused cases or until PICU discharge in nontransfused cases. The justifications for transfusions were assessed using a questionnaire.ResultsOf 913 consecutive admissions, 842 were included. At least one RBC transfusion was given in 144 patients (17.1%). The mean hemoglobin (Hb) level before the first transfusion was 77.3 ± 27.2 g/L. The determinants of a first transfusion event retained in the multivariate analysis were young age (<12 months), congenital cardiopathy, lowest Hb level of not more than 70 g/L, severity of illness, and some organ dysfunctions. The three most frequently quoted justifications for RBC transfusion were a low Hb level, intent to improve oxygen delivery, and hemodynamic instability. The main recommendation of the TRIPICU study was applied in 96.4% of the first transfusion events.ConclusionsRBC transfusions are frequent in the PICU. Young age, congenital heart disease, low Hb level, severity of illness, and some organ dysfunctions are significant determinants of RBC transfusions in the PICU. Most first transfusion events were prescribed according to recent recommendations.
A Method to Construct Gene Regulatory Networks to Estimate and Calculate Time Delays
Authors: Mohamad Mohd Saberi , Suk Phin Chai 
Published: June 2013

In general, the motive of this research is to infer gene regulatory network in order to clarify the basis consequences of biological process at the molecular level. Time course gene expression profiling dataset has been widely used in basic biological research, especially in transcription regulation studies since the microarray dataset is a short time course gene expression dataset and have lots of errors, missing value, and noise. In this research, R library is implemented in this method to construct gene regulatory which aims to estimate and calculate the time delays between genes and transcription factor. Time delay is the parameters of the modeled time delay linear regression models and a time lag during gene expression change of the regulator genes toward target gene expression. The constructed gene regulatory network provided information of time delays between expression change in regulator genes and its target gene which can be applied to investigate important time-related biological process in cells. The result of time delays and regulation patterns in gene regulatory network may contribute into biological research such as cell development, cell cycle, and cell differentiation in any of living cells.
A Live Attenuated Human Metapneumovirus Vaccine Strain Provides Complete Protection against Homologous Viral Infection and Cross-Protection against Heterologous Viral Infection in BALB/c Mice
Authors: Liu Ping , Shu Zhou , Qin Xian , Dou Ying , Zhao Yao , Zhao Xiaodong 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACT
A live attenuated vaccine candidate strain (M2) of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) was generated by removing the N-linked carbohydrate at amino acid 172 in the fusion (F) protein. Previously, replication of M2 in mouse lungs could be detected by molecular assays but not by viral titration. In the present study, the protective effects of M2 against infection by homologous or heterologous viruses were evaluated in BALB/c mice. Immunization with M2 produced a high titer of serum virus-neutralizing antibodies in BALB/c mice at 4 and 8 weeks postimmunization, with the titers against the homologous virus being higher than those against the heterologous virus. Challenges at 4 and 8 weeks postinoculation with M2 or wild-type virus led to no replication when mice were challenged with a homologous virus and extremely reduced replication when mice were challenged with a heterologous virus, as determined by the detection of viral genomic RNA copies in the lungs, as well as significantly milder pulmonary pathology. Thus, M2, with only one N-linked carbohydrate removed in the F protein, provides complete protection from homologous virus infection and substantial cross-protection from heterologous virus infection for at least 56 days after inoculation. This vaccine strain may therefore be a candidate for further preclinical study. Furthermore, this attenuating strategy (changing the glycosylation of a major viral protein) may be useful in the development of other viral vaccines.
Exploratory Study on Plasma Immunomodulator and Antibody Profiles in Tuberculosis Patients
Authors: Ravindran Resmi , Krishnan Viswanathan V. , Khanum Azra , Luciw Paul A. , Khan Imran H. 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACTHost immune responses toMycobacterium tuberculosisare generally able to contain infection and maintain a delicate balance between protection and immunopathology. A shift in this balance appears to underlie active disease observed in about 10% of infected individuals. Effects of local inflammation, combined with anti-M. tuberculosissystemic immune responses, are directly detectable in peripheral circulation, withoutex vivostimulation of blood cells or biopsy of the affected organs. We studied plasma immunomodulator and antibody biomarkers in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) by a combination of multiplex microbead immunoassays and computational tools for data analysis. Plasma profiles of 10 immunomodulators and antibodies against eightM. tuberculosisantigens (previously reported by us) were examined in active pulmonary TB patients in a country where TB is endemic, Pakistan. Multiplex analyses were performed on samples from apparently healthy individuals without active TB from the same community as the TB patients to establish the assay baselines for all analytes. Over 3,000 data points were collected from patients (n= 135) and controls (n= 37). The data were analyzed by multivariate and computer-assisted cluster analyses to reveal patterns of plasma immunomodulators and antibodies. This study shows plasma profiles that in most patients represented either strong antibody or strong immunomodulator biomarkers. Profiling of a combination of both immunomodulators and antibodies described here may be valuable for the analysis of host immune responses in active TB in countries where the disease is endemic.
Real-Time PCR as a Prognostic Tool for Human Congenital Toxoplasmosis
Authors: Costa Júlia Gatti Ladeia , Carneiro Ana Carolina Aguiar Vasconcelos , Tavares Alice Thomáz , Andrade Gláucia Manzan Queiroz , Vasconcelos-Santos Daniel Vitor , Januário José Nélio , Menezes-Souza Daniel , Fujiwara Ricardo Toshio , Vitor Ricardo Wagner Almeida 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACT

Real-time PCR (qPCR) was positive in 72/150 (48%) blood samples of newborns with congenital toxoplasmosis. Among infants with active retinochoroiditis, 68% had positive qPCR results, while positivity was 29% (
P
= 0.009) in the absence of ocular involvement. Positive qPCR was associated with the presence of retinochoroidal lesions, with an odds ratio of 2.8.
SNaPBcen
: a Novel and Practical Tool for Genotyping Burkholderia cenocepacia
Authors: Eusebio Nadia , Coutinho Carla P. , Sá-Correia Isabel , Araujo Ricardo 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACT

Burkholderia cenocepacia
is the most prevalent and feared member of the
Burkholderia cepacia
complex in lung infections of cystic fibrosis (CF). Genotyping and monitoring of long-term colonization are critical at clinical units; however, the differentiation of specific lineages performed by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) is still limited to a small number of isolates due to the high cost and time-consuming procedure. The aim of this study was to optimize a protocol (the
SNaPBcen
assay) for extensive bacterial population studies. The strategy used for the
SNaPBcen
assay is based on targeting single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in MLST genes instead of sequencing full MLST sequences. Nonpolymorphic and redundant MLST positions were eliminated, and a set of 24 polymorphisms included in the
SNaPBcen
assay ensures a high-resolution genomic characterization. These polymorphisms were identified based on the comparative analysis of 137
B. cenocepacia
MLST profiles available online (
http://pubmlst.org/bcc/
). The group of 81 clinical isolates of
B. cenocepacia
examined in this study using the
SNaPBcen
assay revealed 51 distinct profiles, and a final discriminatory power of 0.9997 compared with MLST was determined. The
SNaPBcen
assay was able to reveal isolates with microvariations and the presence of multiple clonal variants in patients chronically colonized with
B. cenocepacia
. Main phylogenetic subgroups IIIA, IIIB, and IIIC of
B. cenocepacia
could be separated by the Gl94R polymorphism included in the panel. The
SNaPBcen
assay proved to be a rapid and robust alternative to the standard MLST for
B. cenocepacia
, allowing the simultaneous analysis of multiple polymorphisms following amplification and mini-sequencing reactions.