bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Translating nodes of power through reflexive ethnographic writing
Authors: Mahadevan Jasmin 
Published: April 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to show the benefit of conceptualizing reflexive ethnographic writing as translation processes across circuits of power that involve researcher, field and audience. For this purpose, a model of translating nodes of power in the ethnographic triangle is developed.Design/methodology/approachThe author reflects upon organizational ethnography theoretically.FindingsEthnographic meaning emerges between researcher, field and audience (the ethnographic triangle). The author conceptualizes their relations as relations of power and draws from Clegg's circuits of power to map these relations. The author argues that ethnographers need to conceptualize power in the ethnographic triangle as three interrelated circuits of power, namely episodic power relations, rules of practice and structures of domination. This approach advances previous work on reflexivity in three aspects. First, it goes beyond individual researcher‐field interaction and integrates agency, practice and structure from a power‐perspective; second, it incorporates exotextual influences; and third, it is also a viable reflexive path if researcher and field cannot establish cooperation.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper provides a processual model to interrogate reflexive ethnographic writing. However, this model cannot solve issues of temporal reflexivity.Originality/valueReflexive ethnographic practice is viewed as translating nodes of power across circuits of power. This view implies that innocent reflexivity is not possible. Still, it might enable the researcher by providing an alternative reading of ethnographic practice.
MHC diversity, malaria and lifetime reproductive success in collared flycatchers
Authors: RADWAN JACEK , ZAGALSKA‐NEUBAUER MAGDALENA , CICHOŃ MARIUSZ , SENDECKA JOANNA , KULMA KATARZYNA , GUSTAFSSON LARS , BABIK WIESŁAW 
Published: April 2012

AbstractMajor histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes encode proteins involved in the recognition of parasite‐derived antigens. Their extreme polymorphism is presumed to be driven by co‐evolution with parasites. Host–parasite co‐evolution was also hypothesized to optimize within‐individual MHC diversity at the intermediate level. Here, we use unique data on lifetime reproductive success (LRS) of female collared flycatchers to test whether LRS is associated with within‐individual MHC class II diversity. We also examined the association between MHC and infection with avian malaria. Using 454 sequencing, we found that individual flycatchers carry between 3 and 23 functional MHC class II B alleles. Predictions of the optimality hypothesis were not confirmed by our data as the prevalence of blood parasites decreased with functional MHC diversity. Furthermore, we did not find evidence for an association between MHC diversity and LRS.
Esophageal impedance baselines in infants before and after placebo and proton pump inhibitor therapy
Authors: Loots C. M. , Wijnakker R. , van Wijk M. P. , Davidson G. , Benninga M. A. , Omari T. I. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBackground  Esophageal impedance monitoring records changes in conductivity. During esophageal rest, impedance baseline values may represent mucosal integrity. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of acid suppression on impedance baselines in a placebo‐controlled setting.Methods  Impedance recordings from 40 infants (0–6 months) enrolled in randomized placebo‐controlled trials of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) were retrospectively analyzed. Infants underwent 24 h pH‐impedance monitoring prior to and after 2 weeks of double blind therapy with placebo or a PPI. Typical clinical signs of gastro‐esophageal reflux (GER) were recorded and I‐GERQ‐R questionnaire was completed.Key Results  Median (IQR) impedance baseline increased on PPI treatment (from 1217 (826–1514) to 1903 (1560–2194) Ω, P < 0.001) but not with placebo (from 1445 (1033–1791) to 1650 (1292–1983) Ω, P = 0.13). Baselines before treatment inversely correlate with the number of GER, acid GER, weakly acid GER, acid exposure, and symptoms. The change in baseline on treatment inversely correlates with acid exposure and acid GER. Patients with initial low baselines have no improved symptomatic response to treatment.Conclusions & Inferences  Impedance baselines are influenced by GER and increase significantly more with PPI therapy than with placebo. Clinical impact of this observation remains undefined as targeting therapy at infants with low baselines does not improve symptomatic response to treatment.
Potential mechanisms for the association between fall birth and food allergy
Authors: Keet C. A. , Matsui E. C. , Savage J. H. , Neuman‐Sunshine D. L. , Skripak J. , Peng R. D. , Wood R. A. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBackgroundSeason of birth has been reported as a risk factor for food allergy, but the mechanisms by which it acts are unknown.MethodsTwo populations were studied: 5862 children from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III and 1514 well‐characterized food allergic children from the Johns Hopkins Pediatric Allergy Clinic (JHPAC). Food allergy was defined as self‐report of an acute reaction to a food (NHANES), or as milk, egg, and peanut allergy. Logistic regression compared fall or nonfall birth between (i) food allergic and nonallergic subjects in NHANES, adjusted for ethnicity, age, income, and sex, and (ii) JHPAC subjects and the general Maryland population. For NHANES, stratification by ethnicity and for JHPAC, eczema were examined.ResultsFall birth was more common among food allergic subjects in both NHANES (OR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.31–2.77) and JHPAC/Maryland (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.18–1.47). Ethnicity interacted with season (OR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.43–3.82 for Caucasians; OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 0.77–1.86 for non‐Caucasians; P = 0.04 for interaction), as did eczema (OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.29–1.67 with eczema; OR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.80–1.23 without eczema; P = 0.002 for interaction).ConclusionsFall birth is associated with increased risk of food allergy, and this risk is greatest among those most likely to have seasonal variation in vitamin D during infancy (Caucasians) and those at risk for skin barrier dysfunction (subjects with a history of eczema), suggesting that vitamin D and the skin barrier may be implicated in seasonal associations with food allergy.
Initial operative experience of single‐port retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy
Authors: Okegawa Takatsugu , Itaya Naoshi , Hara Hidehiko , Nutahara Kikuo , Higashihara Eiji 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThis paper reports our early experience with single‐port laparoscopic nephrectomy via the retroperitoneal approach. Since April 2010, 23 patients have undergone single‐port laparoscopic surgery for simple nephrectomy (n = 11 patients) and radical nephrectomy (n = 12) by an experienced laparoscopic surgeon. The mean operative time was 265.2 min and the mean estimated blood loss was 96.7 mL. The procedure was completed in all patients without conversion to standard laparoscopy or open surgery. No intraoperative or acute postoperative complications occurred. When the single‐port retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy group was retrospectively compared with the group that had undergone standard retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy, no significant difference was noted with respect to age, body mass index, operation time, time to eat, catheter removal or length of hospitalization (P > 0.05). A significant difference in favor of the single‐port retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy group was noted with respect to the estimated blood loss (P = 0.027) and the visual analog pain scale score at discharge (P = 0.016). Although our findings show that retroperitoneal single‐port laparoscopic nephrectomy is feasible with advanced techniques and optimal instrumentation, further study is required to determine the future extent of its clinical application.
Preservation of the smooth muscular internal (vesical) sphincter and of the proximal urethra during retropubic radical prostatectomy: Description of the technique
Authors: Brunocilla Eugenio , Pultrone Cristian , Pernetti Remigio , Schiavina Riccardo , Martorana Giuseppe 
Published: April 2012

AbstractWe describe our technique for preservation of the smooth muscular internal (vesical) sphincter and proximal urethra during radical retropubic prostatectomy. The first steps of the prostatectomy reflect the standard retropubic prostatectomy; whereas for the final phases, the procedure continues in an anterograde manner with incision of the fibers of the detrusor muscle at the insertion of the ventral surface of the base of the prostate. At this level, the inner circular muscle of the bladder neck forms a sphincteric ring of smooth muscle that covers the longitudinally‐oriented smooth muscle component of the urethra that extends distally to the verumontanum; these two proximal structures represent the internal sphincter that envelops and locks the proximal urethra. A blunt dissection is continued until the ring‐shaped vesical sphincter is separated from the prostate and the longitudinally‐oriented smooth muscle component of the urethral musculature is identified. The base of the prostate is then gently separated from the urethra and from the bladder until the maximal length of the urethral musculature is isolated and preserved. Finally, a urethra‐urethral anastomosis is carried out and the ventral stitches are placed through the circular fibres of the bladder neck. In all cases we carry out circumferential biopsies of the proximal urethra and of the base of the prostate. The described technique is a feasible and safe method for preservation of the internal urethral sphincter. Despite the enthusiasm regarding our positive functional results, further studies with larger series are required to confirm these findings.
Psychopathology in children before and after surgery for extratemporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: COLONNELLI M CHIARA , CROSS J HELEN , DAVIES SHARON , D’ARGENZIO LUIGI , SCOTT ROD C , PICKLES ANDREW , HANNAN SIOBHAN , HARKNESS WILLIAM , HEYMAN ISOBEL 
Published: April 2012

Aim  To establish the rates and types of psychiatric disorder in children before and after surgery for extratemporal epilepsy. Relationships between psychiatric morbidity and demographic/clinical variables were examined.Method  A retrospective case note review of 71 children undergoing extratemporal focal resection for drug resistant epilepsy in a specialist epilepsy surgery programme between 1997 and 2008. Psychiatric diagnoses were derived from pre‐ and postoperative assessments according to DSM‐IV criteria.Results  Seventy‐one children (38 males, 33 females) were eligible for this study. Mean age (SD) at surgery was 9 (5) years. Frontal resections were performed in 73% of the children, parietal in 17%, and occipital in 10%. Mental health problems were present in 37 of 71 (52%) children pre‐ and/or postoperatively. A similar proportion of children had psychiatric diagnoses pre‐ and postoperatively: 31 of 71 (44%) and 32 of 71 (45%) respectively.Interpretation  Psychopathology is common in children with extratemporal epilepsy. In this sample, the impact of surgery on psychiatric symptoms was not predictable: some children were unchanged, others improved, and others acquired new psychiatric diagnoses postoperatively. Given the high rates of psychiatric disorder in this group of patients, detection and treatment of mental health needs may be important.
Risk and causes of death in children with a seizure disorder
Authors: NESBITT VICTORIA , KIRKPATRICK MARTIN , PEARSON GALE , COLVER ALLAN , FORSYTH ROB 
Published: April 2012

Aim  To describe the frequency and causes of death in children with epilepsy, ascertain the contribution of seizure disorder to cause of death, and compare with rates of sudden unexplained death in children without epilepsy.Method  This study was a retrospective review of clinical and death certificate records. It examined two UK population‐based samples of deaths in children with epilepsy from 1 month to 18 years, together comprising the largest reported series of deaths in children with epilepsy (n=265).Results  In approximately two‐thirds, the death was not due to the seizure disorder. Rates of unexplained death were similar in the two samples at 7.3% and 9.7%: all were in children with symptomatic or presumed symptomatic epilepsy. There were no unexplained deaths in the children with idiopathic epilepsy. Four per cent of the deaths were of children experiencing acute symptomatic seizures as part of their final illness. The risk of unexpected, unexplained death in children with idiopathic epilepsy is not more than 65 per 100 000 child‐years.Interpretation  Epilepsy is associated with an increased risk of death in childhood but this risk is almost entirely confined to those with an associated neurodevelopmental disorder. The risk of unexpected, unexplained death in children with idiopathic epilepsy is extremely small.
The use of thallium diethyldithiocarbamate for mapping CNS potassium metabolism and neuronal activity: Tl+‐redistribution, Tl+‐kinetics and Tl+‐equilibrium distribution
Authors: Wanger Tim , Scheich Henning , Ohl Frank W. , Goldschmidt Jürgen 
Published: April 2012

J. Neurochem. (2012) 122, 106–114.AbstractThe potassium (K+) analogue thallium (Tl+) can be used as a tracer for mapping neuronal activity. However, because of the poor blood–brain barrier (BBB) K+‐permeability, only minute amounts of Tl+ enter the brain after systemic injection of Tl+‐salts like thallium acetate (TlAc). We have recently shown that it is possible to overcome this limitation by injecting animals with the lipophilic chelate complex thallium diethyldithiocarbamate (TlDDC), that crosses the BBB and releases Tl+ prior to neuronal or glial uptake. TlDDC can thus be used for mapping CNS K+ metabolism and neuronal activity. Here, we analyze Tl+‐kinetics in the rodent brain both experimentally and using simple mathematical models. We systemically injected animals either with TlAc or with TlDDC. Using an autometallographic method we mapped the brain Tl+‐distribution at various time points after injection. We show that the patterns and kinetics of Tl+‐redistribution in the brain are essentially the same irrespective of whether animals have been injected with TlAc or TlDDC. Data from modeling and experiments indicate that transmembrane Tl+‐fluxes in cells within the CNS in vivo equilibrate at similar rates as K+‐fluxes in vitro. This equilibration is much faster than and largely independent of the equilibration of Tl+‐fluxes across the BBB. The study provides further proof‐of‐concept for the use of TlDDC for mapping neuronal activity and CNS K+‐metabolism. A theoretical guideline is given for the use of K+‐analogues for imaging neuronal activity with general implications for the use of metal ions in neuroimaging.
Shoulder sensorimotor control assessment by force platform: feasibility and reliability
Authors: Edouard Pascal , Gasq David , Calmels Paul , Ducrot Sarah , Degache Francis 
Published: April 2012

SummaryGiven the important role of the shoulder sensorimotor system in shoulder stability, its assessment appears of interest. Force platform monitoring of centre of pressure (CoP) in upper‐limb weight‐bearing positions is of interest as it allows integration of all aspects of shoulder sensorimotor control. This study aimed to determine the feasibility and reliability of shoulder sensorimotor control assessment by force platform. Forty‐five healthy subjects performed two sessions of CoP measurement using Win‐Posturo® Medicapteurs force platform in an upper‐limb weight‐bearing position with the lower limbs resting on a table to either the anterior superior iliac spines (P1) or upper patellar poles (P2). Four different conditions were tested in each position in random order: eyes open or eyes closed with trunk supported by both hands and eyes open with trunk supported on the dominant or non‐dominant side. P1 reliability values were globally moderate to high for CoP length, CoP velocity and CoP standard deviation (SD), standard error of measurement ranged from 6·0% to 26·5%, except for CoP area. P2 reliability values were globally low and not clinically acceptable. Our results suggest that shoulder sensorimotor control assessment by force platform is feasible and has good reliability in upper‐limb weight‐bearing positions when the lower limbs are resting on a table to the anterior superior iliac spines. CoP length, CoP velocity and CoP SD velocity appear to be the most reliable variables.
Potential for pharmacological manipulation of human embryonic stem cells
Authors: Atkinson Stuart P , Lako Majlinda , Armstrong Lyle 
Published: April 2012

The therapeutic potential of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is vast, allowing disease modelling, drug discovery and testing and perhaps most importantly regenerative therapies. However, problems abound; techniques for cultivating self‐renewing hESCs tend to give a heterogeneous population of self‐renewing and partially differentiated cells and general include animal‐derived products that can be cost‐prohibitive for large‐scale production, and effective lineage‐specific differentiation protocols also still remain relatively undefined and are inefficient at producing large amounts of cells for therapeutic use. Furthermore, the mechanisms and signalling pathways that mediate pluripotency and differentiation are still to be fully appreciated. However, over the recent years, the development/discovery of a range of effective small molecule inhibitors/activators has had a huge impact in hESC biology. Large‐scale screening techniques, coupled with greater knowledge of the pathways involved, have generated pharmacological agents that can boost hESC pluripotency/self‐renewal and survival and has greatly increased the efficiency of various differentiation protocols, while also aiding the delineation of several important signalling pathways. Within this review, we hope to describe the current uses of small molecule inhibitors/activators in hESC biology and their potential uses in the future.LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on Regenerative Medicine and Pharmacology: A Look to the Future. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2013.169.issue‐2
Relationships between higher‐level functional capacity and dental health behaviors in community‐dwelling older adults
Authors: Moriya Shingo , Tei Kanchu , Yamazaki Yutaka , Hata Hironobu , Kitagawa Yoshimasa , Inoue Nobuo , Miura Hiroko 
Published: April 2012

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2012.00654.x

Relationships between higher‐level functional capacity and dental health behaviors in community‐dwelling older adults
Objective:  The aim of the present study was to elucidate relationships between higher‐level functional capacity and dental health behaviours in community‐dwelling older adults.Background:  In ageing society, it is necessary to promote oral health in the elderly, because good oral health is a significant contributing factor to good general health. Higher‐level functional capacity has been considered a crucial factor for successful independent living in the elderly. We hypothesised that functional capacity is a significant indicator of dental health behaviours.Methods:  Three hundred and thirty‐eight adults aged 65 years or older were enrolled in this study. Higher‐level functional capacity was evaluated using the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence (TMIG‐index). Univariate and multivariate models were constructed with dental health behaviours, such as regular visits to a dentist, brushing frequency and use of extra cleaning devices, as the dependent variable, and the total TMIG‐index score and its subcategory scores as the principal independent variable.Results:  Univariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated a significant correlation between low TMIG‐index and ‘intellectual activity’ subcategory scores to lack of regular visits to a dentist and not using extra cleaning devices. Using a multivariate model, significant relationships remained after adjusting for a number of variables including demographics, medical status, lifestyle and number of remaining teeth.Conclusion:  Intellectual activity of higher‐level functional capacity may be an accurate indicator of dental health behaviours in community‐dwelling older adults. Intellectual activity should be taken into consideration to effectively promote oral health behaviours and oral hygiene in elderly persons living independently.
The clinical presentation of a mid‐tail melanocytoma with sudden malignant transformation in a bay Irish Draught gelding
Authors: Poore L. A. , Rest J. R. , Knottenbelt D. C. 
Published: April 2012

SummaryEquine melanocytic tumours may be either a benign or malignant skin disease. They commonly involve the skin of grey horses. There are no reports of mid‐tail melanocytoma with sudden malignant transformation. Partial tail amputation was used to resect a melanocytic tumour mass from the mid‐tail of a 16‐year‐old bay Irish Draught (ID) horse. There was no evidence of significant re‐growth or complications at a 6‐month post operative examination.
Computation of variance in compartment model parameter estimates from dynamic PET data
Authors: Kamasak Mustafa E. 
Published: April 2012

Purpose:This paper investigates the validity of the analytical framework for variance (“analytical variance”) in kinetic parameter and macroparameter estimations. Analytical variance is compared against the variance obtained from Monte Carlo simulations (“MC variance”) for two different compartment models at different noise levels.Methods:Kinetic parameters for one‐tissue (1T) and two‐tissue (2T) compartment models are used to generate time–activity curves (TAC). Gaussian noise is added to the noiseless TAC to generate noise realizations for each noise level. The kinetic parameters are then estimated by minimizing the weighted squared error between the noisy TAC and the model output. Standard deviation is computed statistically from the estimated parameters and computed analytically using the framework at each noise level. The ratio of standard deviation to true parameter value obtained from Monte Carlo simulations and analytical computations is compared.Results:Difference between the analytical and MC variance increases with the level of noise and complexity of the compartment model. The standard deviation of the analytical variance also increases with the noise‐level and model complexity. The difference between the analytical and MC variance is less than 3% for 1T compartment model and less than 10% for 2T compartment model at all noise levels. In addition, the standard deviation in the analytical variance is less than 15% for 1T and 2T compartment models at all noise levels.Conclusions:These results indicate that the proposed framework for the variance in the kinetic parameter estimations can be used for 1T and 2T compartment models even in the existence of high noise.
High Diversity and Novel Species of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Bacteriophages
Authors: Sepúlveda-Robles Omar , Kameyama Luis , Guarneros Gabriel 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACT

The diversity of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
bacteriophages was investigated using a collection of 68 phages isolated from Central Mexico. Most of the phages carried double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genomes and were classified into 12 species. Comparison of the genomes of selected archetypal phages with extant sequences in GenBank resulted in the identification of six novel species. This finding increased the group diversity by ∼30%. The great diversity of phage species could be related to the ubiquitous nature of
P. aeruginosa
.