bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Incidence of non-infectious ‘acute mastoiditis’ in children
Authors: Kontorinis G , Psarommatis I , Karabinos C , Iliodromiti Z , Tsakanikos M 
Published: October 2011

AbstractObjective:The temporal bone may be the first involved site in cases of systemic disease, and may even present with acute, mastoiditis-like symptomatology. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of such non-infectious ‘acute mastoiditis’ in children.Materials and methods:Retrospective chart review of 73 children admitted to a tertiary referral centre for acute mastoiditis.Results:In 71 cases (97.3 per cent), an infectious basis was identified. In the majority of cases (33 of 73; 45 per cent), the responsible bacteria was Streptococcus pneumoniae. However, histopathological studies revealed a non-infectious underlying disease (myelocytic leukaemia or Langerhans' cell histiocytosis) in two atypical cases (2.7 per cent).Conclusion:‘Acute mastoiditis’ of non-infectious aetiology is a rare but real threat for children, and a challenging diagnosis for otologists. A non-infectious basis should be suspected in every atypical, persistent or recurrent case of acute mastoiditis.
The same as it never was? Uncertainty and the changing contours of international law
Authors: KESSLER OLIVER 
Published: October 2011

AbstractInternational law has changed significantly since the end of the Cold War. As long as the international was thought to be populated by sovereign states predominantly, international law was conceived of as a means for peaceful dispute settlement. That is: the reference to state sovereignty not only divided public from private international law, but structured most of public international law itself; from the very definition of and associated rights and duties to the attribution of responsibility. With the emergence of the post-national constellation, a reduction of law to questions of states' practices is increasingly problematic. At the same time, the post-national constellation denotes more than just a structural shift in the world polity. It challenges established dogmas rooted in an individualistic philosophy of science and thereby calls for a different understanding of how the world is (made) known. What uncertainty has to offer is the provision of a different vocabulary detached from the state through which we can reconsider some changes in international law.
Developing contour surfaces of manipulators with specified dexterities
Authors: Tsai K. Y. , Lin P. J. , Yu H. Y. 
Published: October 2011

SUMMARYDexterity and workspace are two of the most important design criteria in developing manipulators. This paper presents algorithms for developing contour surfaces with specified dexterities and evaluating the area of the surfaces or the volume of the enclosed regions. The obtained results can be utilized to evaluate the dexterity and the rate of change of dexterity. Any closed curve or surface can be used to determine the singularity-free workspace of a manipulator with better dexterity. The proposed algorithms can be employed to study the dexterity and singularity-free workspace of 3-DOF manipulators and 4-DOF redundant serial manipulators. The contour surfaces in some subspaces of 6-DOF manipulators can also be investigated.
Diarrhoeal Diseases
Authors: Brown, David 
Published: October 2011

Diarrhoea is the second leading cause of death in children globally. Just under 9 million children aged under 5 years died in 2008 and 1.5 million of these deaths were due to diarrhoea. It kills more children than AIDS, malaria, and measles combined. Including adult deaths, diarrhoeal diseases killed over 2.5 million people in 2009, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Funding for prevention and treatment has been insufficient. Neonatal and childhood deaths from diarrhoeal diseases account for nearly 20% of all deaths in children under 5 years of age, yet only 4.4% of global health funding is allocated to diarrhoeal disease research and development.
A 2009 report from UNICEF titled Diarrhoea: why children are still dying and what can be done outlined a seven-point plan for comprehensive diarrhoea control. The prevention package includes vaccination versus rotavirus and measles; promotion of early and exclusive breastfeeding and vitamin A supplementation; promotion of hand-washing with soap; improved water quantity and quality, including treatment and safe storage of household water; and promotion of community-wide sanitation. The treatment package includes fluid replacement to prevent dehydration (Oral Rehydration Salts) and zinc supplements.
Looking further forward, new cholera vaccines are becoming available, with active research at an earlier stage on vaccines versus typhoid, dysentery and E. coli. Antisecretory drugs are at various stages of development. If these prove compatible with ORS use, the combination would be a significant advance. Calcium-activated chloride channel blockers may provide additional therapeutic opportunities in the longer term.
Managing the HIV Epidemic in the Developing World – Progress and Challenges
Authors: Ryst Elna van der , Palmer Michael J , Vuuren Cloete van 
Published: October 2011

The identification of the first few cases of acquired immune-deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and HIV in the early 1980s heralded the start of a global epidemic of unprecedented proportions. It soon became clear that the developing world, especially sub-Saharan Africa, is bearing the brunt of the epidemic, thereby further increasing the public health impact of the disease.
Since the initial cases of AIDS and the discovery of HIV, significant progress has been made in understanding the epidemiology and pathogenesis of HIV and combating the infection. The discovery and development of multiple drugs to treat HIV infection, thereby turning the disease into a chronic manageable condition, less than 30 years after the discovery of the causative virus, is undoubtedly one of the greatest achievements of modern medical science.
However, there is no room for complacency, as much remains to be done in the fields of both prevention and treatment of HIV. Key ongoing needs are new drugs to treat drug-resistant virus, management of long-term complications of antiretroviral therapy, management of HIV infection in the context of ageing, and the treatment of HIV-induced chronic immune activation and its consequences. Large numbers of patients in the developing world do not yet have access to even basic antiretroviral therapy or are sub-optimally managed. Further research on the optimal and most cost-effective strategies for managing HIV infection in resource-limited settings is urgent. It is up to those engaged in research to continue to lead the way to resolving these remaining issues.
Differences in ball speed and accuracy of tennis groundstrokes between elite and high‐performance players
Authors: Landlinger Johannes , Stöggl Thomas , Lindinger Stefan , Wagner Herbert , Müller Erich 
Published: October 2011

AbstractThe main aim of this study was to identify and compare ball speed and hitting accuracy of forehand and backhand groundstrokes between ATP professionals (elite) and high‐performance youth players when shots were played cross‐court and down the line to a target square. Six elite and seven high‐performance tennis players volunteered to participate in the study. A Doppler‐radar device and a digital video camera, operating at 120 frames per second, were used to measure ball speed and accuracy of forehand and backhand groundstrokes in the respective situation (cross‐court and down the line). The results of 1040 measured groundstrokes indicate that the ball speed of the forehand and the backhand ground stroke was higher in the elite group when analysing (1) all valid shots, (2) the six fastest shots, and (3) the six most accurate shots (all P < 0.05). In addition, all players achieved a higher forehand speed compared with their backhand when balls were directed cross‐court (P < 0.01). The participants demonstrated similar ability when considering accuracy of their groundstrokes (P > 0.05). However, a group difference for accuracy was identified when considering the six fastest forehand shots (P<0.05), and the forehand cross‐court stroke was played more accurately than the backhand cross‐court stroke by both groups (valid shots and six most accurate shots, P<0.05). Moreover, there was no evidence that players who impacted the ball faster were any less accurate than those who impacted the ball more slowly. Analyses for participants actually revealed a negative correlation between ball speed and mean radial error (accuracy) for the backhand down the line (r= − 0.77, P<0.01). According to the results of this study, ball speed seems to be the determining factor that separates elite from sub‐elite tennis players.
Motor coordination, physical activity and fitness as predictors of longitudinal change in adiposity during childhood
Authors: Lopes VÍtor P , Maia José A. R. , Rodrigues Luis P , Malina Robert 
Published: October 2011

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to examine the influence of motor coordination (MC), physical fitness (PF) and physical activity (PA) on the development of subcutaneous adiposity in a sample of children followed longitudinally from 6 to 10 years of age. Participants were 142 girls and 143 boys. Height, weight, and the triceps and subscapular skinfolds were measured annually between the ages of 6 and 10 years. PA was estimated with the Godin–Shephard questionnaire. MC was evaluated with the Körperkoordination Test für Kinder (KTK) test battery, and PF was assessed with four Fitnessgram tests: curl‐ups (CU), push‐ups (PU), trunk‐lifts (TL) and one mile run/walk (MRW). Hierarchical linear modelling with MC, PF items and PA as predictors of the sum of two skinfolds (SKF) was used. The results showed that boys and girls differed significantly in SKF at baseline (girls: 19.7 mm; boys: 16.6 mm). Three PF items (CU, PU and MRW) and MC had a positive influence on SKF. For each unit improvement in CU, PU, MRW and MC, SKF was reduced by 0.06, 0.04, 0.06 and 0.12 mm, respectively. In conclusion, motor coordination, muscular strength and endurance, and aerobic endurance attenuated the accumulation of subcutaneous adipose tissue during childhood.
Automatic rebuilding and optimization of crystallographic structures in the Protein Data Bank
Authors: Joosten Robbie P. , Joosten Krista , Cohen Serge X. , Vriend Gert , Perrakis Anastassis 
Published: October 2011

Abstract
Motivation: Macromolecular crystal structures in the Protein Data Bank (PDB) are a key source of structural insight into biological processes. These structures, some &gt;30 years old, were constructed with methods of their era. With PDB_REDO, we aim to automatically optimize these structures to better fit their corresponding experimental data, passing the benefits of new methods in crystallography on to a wide base of non-crystallographer structure users.
Results: We developed new algorithms to allow automatic rebuilding and remodeling of main chain peptide bonds and side chains in crystallographic electron density maps, and incorporated these and further enhancements in the PDB_REDO procedure. Applying the updated PDB_REDO to the oldest, but also to some of the newest models in the PDB, corrects existing modeling errors and brings these models to a higher quality, as judged by standard validation methods.
Availability and Implementation: The PDB_REDO database and links to all software are available at http://www.cmbi.ru.nl/pdb_redo.
Contact: r.joosten@nki.nl; a.perrakis@nki.nl
Supplementary Information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Simulation-based Assessment of Pediatric Anesthesia Skills
Authors: Fehr James J. , Boulet John R. , Waldrop William B. , Snider Rebecca , Brockel Megan , Murray David J. 
Published: October 2011

Background
Assessment of pediatric anesthesia trainees is complicated by the random nature of adverse patient events and the vagaries of clinical exposure. However, assessment is critical to improve patient safety. In previous studies, a multiple scenario assessment provided reliable and valid measures of the abilities of anesthesia residents. The purpose of this study was to develop a set of relevant simulated pediatric perioperative scenarios and to determine their effectiveness in the assessment of anesthesia residents and pediatric anesthesia fellows.

Methods
Ten simulation scenarios were designed to reflect situations encountered in perioperative pediatric anesthesia care. Anesthesiology residents and fellows consented to participate and were debriefed after each scenario. Two pediatric anesthesiologists scored each scenario by key action checklist. The psychometric properties (reliability, validity) of the scores were studied.

Results
Thirty-five anesthesiology residents and pediatric anesthesia fellows participated. The participants with greater experience administering pediatric anesthetics generally outperformed those with less experience. Score variance attributable to raters was low, yielding a high interrater reliability.

Conclusions
A multiple-scenario, simulation-based assessment of pediatric perioperative care was designed and administered to residents and fellows. The scores obtained from the assessment indicated the content was relevant and that raters could reliably score the scenarios. Participants with more training achieved higher scores, but there was a wide range of ability among subjects. This method has the potential to contribute to pediatric anesthesia performance assessment, but additional measures of validity including correlations with more direct measures of clinical performance are needed to establish the utility of this approach.
Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 Antagonism with Fenobam
Authors: Montana Michael C. , Conrardy Beth A. , Cavallone Laura F. , Kolber Benedict J. , Rao Lesley K. , Greco Suellen C. , Gereau Robert W. 
Published: October 2011

Background
The metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 noncompetitive antagonist fenobam is analgesic in rodents. Future development of fenobam as an analgesic in humans will require a favorable long-term treatment profile and a lack of significant deleterious side effects. This study aimed to determine whether tolerance to fenobam's analgesic effects developed over 14 days and to assess for side effects in mice.

Methods
Mouse models of pain, locomotor behavior, and coordination were used. Fenobam or vehicle (n = 8 or 11 per group) was administered for 14 days, and analgesic tolerance to fenobam was assessed using the formalin test. Histopathologic examination, hematology, and clinical chemistry analysis after 14-day fenobam administration were also assessed (n = 12 or 9). The effects of fenobam on locomotor activity were assessed in the open field and elevated zero maze (n = 8 or 7). Coordination was assessed using ledge crossing and vertical pole descent tasks (n = 11 or 10).

Results
Tolerance to fenobam's analgesic effect did not develop after 14 days. Chronic fenobam administration resulted in statistically significantly less weight gain compared with vehicle control subjects, but did not cause any physiologically or statistically significant hematologic abnormalities, altered organ function, or abnormal histopathology of the liver, brain, or testes. Fenobam administration resulted in a metabotropic glutamate receptor 5-dependent increase in exploratory behavior but does not impair motor coordination at analgesic doses.

Conclusions
Analgesic tolerance to repeat fenobam dosing does not develop. Chronic dosing of up to 14 days is well tolerated. Fenobam represents a promising candidate for the treatment of human pain conditions.
Isozyme-specific Effects of Protein Kinase C in Pain Modulation
Authors: Zhao Chengshui , Leitges Michael , Gereau Robert W. 
Published: October 2011

Background
Protein kinase C (PKC) is a family of serine/threonine kinases that contains more than 10 isozymes. Evidence suggests that PKC may play important roles in pain modulation, but the isozyme-specific effects of PKC on different aspects of pain modulation are not fully understood. We hypothesize that different PKC isozymes play different roles in different aspects of pain modulation.

Methods
The nociceptive behaviors of mice with deletion of PKCα, β, γ, or δ in multiple pain models were compared with their respective wild-type littermates. Also, morphine analgesia and the development of morphine tolerance in mice with deletion of PKCγ were compared with their respective wild-type littermates.

Results
Thermal hyperalgesia induced by complete Freund's adjuvant injection was significantly attenuated by the deletion of PKCβ, γ, or δ, but not PKCα. Deletion of PKCγ significantly attenuated neuropathic mechanical allodynia induced by spared nerve injury, whereas deletion of PKCα enhanced this allodynia. Baseline thermal and mechanical sensitivity, nociceptive behaviors induced by formalin, mechanical allodynia induced by complete Freund's adjuvant injection, were not altered by deletion of PKCα, β, γ, or δ. Finally, morphine analgesia and the development of morphine tolerance were not altered in PKCγ-deficient mice.

Conclusions
PKC has isozyme-specific effects in pain modulation.
A Soybean Dual-Specificity Kinase, GmSARK, and Its Arabidopsis Homolog, AtSARK, Regulate Leaf Senescence through Synergistic Actions of Auxin and Ethylene
Authors: Xu Fan , Meng Tao , Li Pengli , Yu Yunqing , Cui Yanjiao , Wang Yaxin , Gong Qingqiu , Wang Ning Ning 
Published: October 2011

AbstractAs the last stage of leaf development, senescence is a fine-tuned process regulated by interplays of multiple signaling pathways. We have previously identified soybean (Glycine max) SENESCENCE-ASSOCIATED RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE (SARK), a leucine-rich repeat-receptor-like protein kinase from soybean, as a positive regulator of leaf senescence. Here, we report the elucidation of the molecular mechanism of GmSARK-mediated leaf senescence, especially its specific roles in senescence-inducing hormonal pathways. A glucocorticoid-inducible transcription system was used to produce transgenic Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) plants for inducible overexpression of GmSARK, which led to early leaf senescence, chloroplast destruction, and abnormal flower morphology in Arabidopsis. Transcript analyses of the GmSARK-overexpressing seedlings revealed a multitude of changes in phytohormone synthesis and signaling, specifically the repression of cytokinin functions and the induction of auxin and ethylene pathways. Inhibition of either auxin action or ethylene biosynthesis alleviated the senescence induced by GmSARK. Consistently, mutation of either AUXIN RESISTANT1 or ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE2 completely reversed the GmSARK-induced senescence. We further identified a homolog of GmSARK with a similar expression pattern in Arabidopsis and named it AtSARK. Inducible overexpression of AtSARK caused precocious senescence and abnormal floral organ development nearly identical to the GmSARK-overexpressing plants, whereas a T-DNA insertion mutant of AtSARK showed significantly delayed senescence. A kinase assay on recombinant catalytic domains of GmSARK and AtSARK revealed that these two leucine-rich repeat-receptor-like protein kinases autophosphorylate on both serine/threonine and tyrosine residues. We inferred that the SARK-mediated pathway may be a widespread mechanism in regulating leaf senescence.
Selective clinical and immune response of the oligoclonal autoreactive T cells in Omenn patients after cyclosporin A treatment
Authors: Lev A , Simon A J , Amariglio N , Rechavi G , Somech R 
Published: October 2011

SummaryThe immunological hallmark of Omenn syndrome (OS) is the expansion and activation of an oligoclonal population of autoreactive T cells. These cells should be controlled rapidly by immunosuppressive agents, such as cyclosporin A (CsA), to avoid tissue infiltration and to improve the general outcome of the patients. Here we studied the clinical and the immune response to CsA in two Omenn patients and also examined the gene expression profile associated with good clinical response to such therapy. T cell receptor diversity was studied in cells obtained from OS patients during CsA therapy. Characterization of gene expression in these cells was carried out by using the TaqMan low-density array. One patient showed complete resolution of his symptoms after CsA therapy. The other patient showed selective response of his oligoclonal T cell population and combination therapy was required to control his symptoms. Transcriptional profile associated with good clinical response to CsA therapy revealed significant changes in 26·6% of the tested genes when compared with the transcriptional profile of the cells before treatment. Different clinical response to CsA in two OS patients is correlated with their immunological response. Varying clonal expansions in OS patients can cause autoimmune features and can respond differently to immunosuppressive therapy; therefore, additional treatment is sometimes indicated. CsA for OS patients causes regulation of genes that are involved closely with self-tolerance and autoimmunity.
Galectin-3 in cord blood of term and preterm infants
Authors: Demmert M , Faust K , Bohlmann M K , Tröger B , Göpel W , Herting E , Härtel C 
Published: October 2011

SummaryIn recent years galectin-3 has gained attention as a signalling molecule, mainly in inflammatory diseases. Data on galectin-3 expression in neonates, however, are limited, and expression of this lectin in cord blood has not yet been reported. The aim of this study was to determine galectin-3 levels in cord blood of term and preterm neonates as well as galectin-3 levels in cord blood of term neonates after stimulation with the prevalent pathogen Streptococcus agalactiae. Cord blood samples were incubated for 24 h and galectin-3 levels were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. There is a positive correlation between gestational age and galectin-3 levels in cord blood. Expression of galectin-3 is significantly higher in cord blood of small-for-gestational-age infants compared to appropriate-for-gestational-age infants. Stimulation with an invasive but not with a colonizing strain of S. agalactiae induced expression of galectin-3. Galectin-3 is expressed constitutively in cord blood of neonates and seems to play a role in the innate immunity of this population.