bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nitro-chloromethylbenzindolines: hypoxia-activated prodrugs of potent adenine N3 DNA minor groove alkylators
Authors: Wilson William R. , Stribbling Stephen M. , Pruijn Frederik B. , Syddall Sophie P. , Patterson Adam V. , Liyanage H.D. Sarath , Smith Eileen , Botting K. Jane , Tercel Moana
Published: October 2009

Hypoxia represents an important therapeutic target in tumors because of the resistance of hypoxic cells to radiotherapy and chemotherapy and because it is more severe in many tumors than in normal tissues. Here, we describe a class of prodrugs, nitro-chloromethylindolines, which undergo hypoxia-selective activation by endogenous nitroreductases in tumor cells to form the corresponding amino compounds. The latter are chemically related to the cyclopropylindoline antitumor antibiotics and they share the same properties of sequence-selective DNA minor groove alkylation and high cytotoxic potency. Of three alkylating subunits investigated, the chloromethylbenzindoline (CBI) structure provided the most favorable prodrug properties: aerobic cytotoxic potency of the amines was approximately 90- to 3,000-fold higher than the corresponding nitro compounds, and the nitro compounds showed air/anoxia potency differentials of up to 300-fold. Selective alkylation of adenine N3 in calf thymus DNA by an amino-CBI was shown by characterization of the thermal depurination product; the same adduct was shown in hypoxic RIF-1 cells exposed to the corresponding nitro-CBI prodrug under hypoxic (but not oxic) conditions. The amino metabolite generated from a nitro-CBI by cells expressing Escherichia coli nfsB nitroreductase in multicellular layer cultures was shown to elicit bystander killing of surrounding cells. Nitro-CBI prodrugs were >500-fold less toxic to mice than amino-CBIs by i.p. administration and provided selective killing of hypoxic cells in RIF-1 tumors (although only at maximally tolerated doses). Nitro-CBIs are novel lead hypoxia-activated prodrugs that represent the first examples of hypoxia-selective generation of potent DNA minor groove alkylating agents. [Mol Cancer Ther 2009;8(10):2903–13]
Effect of L-Asparaginase Combined with Vincristine and Prednisolone on Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia (M0) Associated with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Authors: Horikoshi Akira , Takei Kazuhiro , Iriyama Noriyoshi , Uenogawa Kumi , Ishizuka Hikaru , Shiraiwa Hidetaka , Hosokawa Yoshifumi , Sawada Shigemasa , Kitoh Toshiyuki
Published: October 2009

A 66-year-old Japanese woman was referred to us because of severe anemia and fever and presented at our hospital. She was eventually diagnosed as having acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML; M0) with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). We investigated the therapeutic efficacy of L-asparaginase (L-Asp), vincristine and prednisolone for both her AML and NHL. Asparagine synthetase (AS) activity in her AML blast cells was undetectable. A lymph node biopsy specimen revealed NHL of the marginal zone B cell type. Complete remission (CR) of AML and NHL was achieved. CR of the AML lasted for 18 months without further consolidation therapy. We conclude that L-Asp can be an effective drug for the treatment of AML in which blasts are negative for AS.
Self-Monitoring of Oral Anticoagulation Therapy in Children
Authors: Paioni Paolo , Kroiss Sabine , Kägi Elsbeth , Bergsträsser Eva , Fasnacht Margrit , Bauersfeld Urs , Schmugge Markus , Albisetti Manuela
Published: October 2009

This study aimed to investigate the accuracy of home International Normalized Ratio (INR) self-monitoring in pediatric patients on long-term oral anticoagulation therapy. Statistical and clinical agreement of INR values from capillary whole blood samples measured by 2 different portable prothrombin time monitors (CoaguChek S and XS) and venous blood samples measured by a laboratory coagulation analyzer were evaluated using the Bland-Altman analysis. Eighty-three INR comparisons (56 using the CoaguChek S and 27 using the CoaguChek XS) were obtained from 35 children aged 4 months to 18 years. Mean differences between venous and capillary INR values and their limits of agreement were –0.04 (–0.63 to 0.55) overall, 0.006 (–0.63 to 0.65) for the CoaguChek S and –0.13 (–0.57 to 0.31) for the CoaguChek XS. The Pearson correlation coefficients were 0.88 overall, 0.84 for the CoaguChek S and 0.95 for the CoaguChek XS. Expanded and narrow agreements for all patients were 97.6 and 94%, respectively. In conclusion, home INR self-monitoring is accurate for children requiring long-term oral anticoagulation therapy. Our data suggest that INR self-monitoring with the newer CoaguChek XS is more accurate than with the older CoaguChek S monitor.
Pneumatic Trabeculoplasty versus Argon Laser Trabeculoplasty in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma
Authors: Uva M.G. , Longo A. , Reibaldi M.
Published: October 2009

Aims: To compare the efficacy of pneumatic trabeculoplasty (PNT) and argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT) in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) uncontrolled with two topical therapies. Methods: In a randomized, prospective clinical study, 32 patients received in 1 eye PNT or ALT. Results: At 1 month, in PNT- and in ALT-treated eyes respectively, mean intraocular pressure (IOP) decreased by 3 ± 2.3 and 5.7 ± 1.7 mm Hg (12.7 ± 9.6 and 24.4 ± 7.4%, both paired t test p < 0.001); 5 and 13 eyes (31 vs. 81%, χ2 test p = 0.013) had an IOP reduction ≥20%, 7 and 1 eyes had an insufficient effect (IOP >20 mm Hg). Only 1 PNT-treated eye had IOP reduction ≥20% until 4 months. At 6 months, 10 ALT-treated eyes (62.5%) had IOP reduction ≥20%; 15 PNT- and 3 ALT-treated eyes had an insufficient effect (94 vs. 19%, p < 0.001). Transient anterior segment side effects, but not visual field or fundus changes, occurred after both treatments. Conclusions: PNT is less effective than ALT in POAG uncontrolled with two topical therapies.
Prediction of 30-Day Mortality in Older Patients with a First Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Lenderink Timo , Hernández Adrián V. , Boersma Eric , Martínez-Sellés Manuel , Juárez Miriam , Sánchez Pedro L. , Vidán Maria T. , Simoons Maarten L. , Fernández-Avilés Francisco , Bueno Héctor
Published: October 2009

Objectives: This study sought predictors of mortality in patients aged ≥75 years with a first ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and evaluated the validity of the GUSTO-I and TIMI risk models. Methods: Clinical variables, treatment and mortality data from 433 consecutive patients were collected. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were applied to identify baseline factors associated with 30-day mortality. Subsequently a model predicting 30-day mortality was created and compared with the performance of the GUSTO-I and TIMI models. Results: After adjustment, a higher Killip class was the most important predictor (OR 16.1; 95% CI 5.7–45.6). Elevated heart rate, longer time delay to admission, hyperglycemia and older age were also associated with increased risk. Patients with hypercholesterolemia had a significantly lower risk (OR 0.46; 95% CI 0.24–0.86). Discrimination (c-statistic 0.79, 95% CI 0.75–0.84) and calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow 6, p = 0.5) of our model were good. The GUSTO-I and TIMI risk scores produced adequate discrimination within our dataset (c-statistic 0.76, 95% CI 0.71–0.81, and c-statistic 0.77, 95% CI 0.72–0.82, respectively), but calibration was not satisfactory (HL 21.8, p = 0.005 for GUSTO-I, and HL 20.6, p = 0.008 for TIMI). Conclusions: Short-term mortality in elderly patients with a first STEMI depends most importantly on initial clinical and hemodynamic status. The GUSTO-I and TIMI models are insufficiently adequate for providing an exact estimate of 30-day mortality risk.
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation and High-Dose Continuous Veno-Venous Hemodiafiltration in a Young Child as a Successful Bridge to Heart Transplant for Management of Combined Heart and Kidney Failure: A Case Report
Authors: Ricci Zaccaria , Carotti Adriano , Parisi Francesco , Grutter Giorgia , Di Donato Roberto M. , Picardo Sergio
Published: October 2009

Combined heart and kidney transplant is an established treatment modality in patients with coexisting end-stage heart and kidney failure. However, there is scarce information on the optimal management of children that are listed for cardiac transplantation with mild to severe renal dysfunction. Herein we report the case of a young child who presented with life-threatening dilative cardiomyopathy and severe renal dysfunction, and who required urgent extracorporeal membrane oxygenation associated with continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration and eventually underwent successful isolated heart transplantation followed by complete recovery of kidney function.
Mathematical Analysis of the Long-Term Efficacy of Daily Home Hemodialysis Therapy with a Cold Dialysate Regeneration System
Authors: Lim Ki Moo , Kim Ji Hyun , Shim Eun Bo
Published: October 2009

Background/Aim: We previously developed the cold dialysate regeneration system (CDRS) for use in daily home hemodialysis (HD). This study evaluates the long-term efficacy of the CDRS using a mathematical method. Method: HD with the CDRS was simulated using a method that integrates the mass-transfer model and the dialyzer solute kinetics model with a newly proposed model of CDRS function. Results: We mathematically assessed the long-term efficacy of HD with the CDRS. The weekly treatment time required for HD with the CDRS was reduced significantly using the daily dialysis method; it required only an 11% longer treatment time to obtain the corrected equivalent renal clearance and a 14% shorter time for the standard Kt/V, compared with thrice weekly treatment with conventional HD. Conclusion: By developing a mathematical model to test the long-term efficacy of the new CDRS, we showed that HD with the CDRS is an efficient means of daily home hemodialysis therapy.
ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Campbell Alex R. , Satran Daniel , Larson David M. , Chavez Ivan J. , Unger Barbara T. , Chacko Barbara P. , Kapsner Christopher , Henry Timothy D.
Published: October 2009

Background—

In the United States, efforts are underway to improve timely access to percutaneous coronary intervention in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The Joint Commission (TJC) and the American College of Cardiology National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR) have developed standardized definitions and clinical performance measures for STEMI. The purpose of this study was to determine differences in 3 quality-assurance registries for STEMI patients.

Methods and Results—

STEMI patients presenting to the Minneapolis Heart Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital (Minneapolis, Minn) are tracked by 3 distinct quality assurance programs: NCDR, TJC, and the level 1 MI registry (a regional system for percutaneous coronary intervention in STEMI which includes transfer patients). Over 1 year, we examined consecutive STEMI patients in level 1 and compared them with individuals meeting NCDR and TJC inclusion criteria. Of 501 STEMI patients treated using the level 1 MI protocol, 422 patients had a clear culprit (402 percutaneous coronary intervention, 13 coronary artery bypass grafting, 7 medical management). In the same period, 282 patients met inclusion criteria for NCDR (56% of the level 1 population), and 66 met inclusion criteria for TJC (13% of the level 1 population). Transfer patients (n=380) accounted for 87% of the discrepancy between level 1 and TJC. Pharmacoinvasive percutaneous coronary intervention (n=102) accounted for 47% of the discrepancy between level 1 and NCDR.

Conclusions—

Current inclusion criteria for enrollment in STEMI registries are not uniform. This may lead to variable quality assurance outcomes for the same patient cohort and has important implications for standardized quality measurement.
A Failure Mechanism of Pressure Vessels from Filament-wound Hoop Layer
Authors: Suemasu Hiroshi , Sakajiri Ken
Published: October 2009

This article studied a possible mechanism of a failure from a thick hoop layer of a filament-wound rocket motor case with long cylindrical portion analytically and numerically. The hoop-wound fibers at the cylindrical portion was slightly inclined from the circumferential direction as a finite width prepreg tape was wound without overlapping or gap by alternately feeding in forward and backward direction. Fiber stress concentration in the hoop layer due to possible damage states was assessed through analytical studies and a rough estimate of the stress concentration was given by explicit functions. The possible damage consisted of transverse cracks slightly inclined from each other and debonding of the interface between the hoop layer and the base layer. The approximate analytical solution agreed well with the numerical results in spite of simplification. The results could show the possibility of stress enhancement due to damage in the thick hoop layer made of two slight inclined fibers and important guideline for the design of filament winding pressure vessels.
Process Development Issues of Glass—Carbon Hybrid-reinforced Polymer Composite Wind Turbine Blades
Authors: Sharma Sanjay , Wetzel Kyle K.
Published: October 2009

Large structures made with composites (e.g., wind turbine rotor blades, yachts, and airplane fuselages) employ fabrics with small tow sizes especially when fabricated by vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM). Simulation tools are frequently used to aid the manufacturing process development for large structures. This article details the development of a low cost VARTM manufacturing process for a 3.2 m long aeroelastically tailored rotor blade that has been completed without an infusion modeling tool. This robust VARTM-based process has been developed for very large tow sized fabrics with very poor permeability. Changes in the manufacturing process are made based on a parametric matrix until the desired part quality is achieved. Principal in-plane permeability is measured using 1D channel flow method for various fibers used in this study. Details of the methods employed to assemble the final blade are presented. The final process results in the fabrication of six rotor blades each with different lay up and fiber constituents. Problems and solutions related to migrating from a small-scale VARTM process to larger structures are detailed. Final blade quality is determined by full-scale mechanical testing under static and fatigue loading conditions. All the manufactured blades fail at least 160% above the proof load indicating compliance with the design quality criteria.
A Comparative Study of the Impact Response of 3D Textile Composites and Aluminum Plates
Authors: Hong Hu  , Baozhong Sun  , Hanjian Sun  , Bohong Gu
Published: October 2009

Impact damage of textile composite and aluminum are the most common phenomenon in aircrafts and high-speed vehicles as impact loadings often occur. This article presents a comparative study of the impact responses of two kinds of 3D textile composites (named as 3D spacer weft-knitted composite and 3D orthogonal woven composite) and aluminum circular plates tested with a modified split Hopkinson pressure bar apparatus. Finite element analyses of the impact behavior of the composites and aluminum were also presented to uncover the impact damage mechanisms. Furthermore, the quasi-static indentation tests were carried out for comparing the different damage modes between quasi-static and impact loading. The 3D textile composites have resin crack and fiber breakage under quasi-static indentation tests while only elasto-plastic deformation has been found in aluminum. The energy absorption of the 3D textile composite is greater than aluminum. While under impact loading, the 3D textile composites absorb lower impact energy than aluminum because the lower impact damages were found in the composite circular plate. More importantly, no impact delamination was found in both of the 3D textile composites. This manifestation of the 3D textile composites is tougher than aluminum in impact loading and more suitable for aircrafts and high-speed vehicles design.
Multifunctional Hybrid Carbon Foams: Integrating Processing and Performance
Authors: Sarzynski M.D. , Lafdi K. , Ochoa O.O.
Published: October 2009

Finite element models based on X-ray tomography of the carbon foam morphology are developed to characterize response of multifunctional carbon foams. These models incorporate ligament anisotropy as well as coating layers and provide comprehensive information for adapting processing and performance parameters. Illustrations at multiple scales are presented to explore the range of properties in coupled-field environments that are crucial for the emerging multifunctional devices. The results highlight the importance of anisotropy and the impact of common processing defects in tailoring properties. Specifically, coating coverage and quality interfaces are critical in delivering the desired thermoelectrical response.
A Percolation Model of Thermal Conductivity for Filled Polymer Composites
Authors: Guoqing Zhang  , Yanping Xia  , Hui Wang  , Yu Tao  , Guoliang Tao  , Shantung Tu  , Haiping Wu
Published: October 2009

In view of the shape and distribution of fillers, a model predicting the effective thermal conductivity of filled polymer composites is proposed on the basis of the percolation theory. Compared to other models proposed in the literatures, theoretical results obtained with the percolation model agree better with the experimental data. Methods of determining the percolation threshold Vc and the exponent n in the percolation model are also discussed.
Foibe : Nationalism, Revenge and Ideology in Venezia Giulia and Istria, 1943—5
Authors: Baracetti Gaia
Published: October 2009

This article deals with a little-known but controversial chapter of second world war history: the massacres, arrests and deportations Yugoslavs carried out against Italians in the Venezia Giulia region between 1943 and 1945. Many of the victims were thrown into natural cavities of the Carso region called foibe. It is argued that these events were neither simply the effect of an anti-fascist reprisal, nor an instance of planned ethnic cleansing against Italians. Rather, the article will explore the complex interplay of personal and collective revenge, national and ideological rivalry and policies of pre-emptive cleansing that led to mass persecution.
Crime, Clairvoyance and the Weimar Police
Authors: Wolffram Heather
Published: October 2009

During the Weimar years, Germany’s police experimented with a wide range of new technologies and forensic techniques. Among the more unusual of these was so-called criminal telepathy ( Kriminaltelepathie): the practice of using a telepath or clairvoyant to shed light on unsolved crimes. Placing the emergence of the criminal telepath in the context of interwar crime and occultism, and the police interest in these occult practitioners in the context of professionalization, this article maintains that the Weimar police’s brief flirtation with the occult was consistent with, rather than antagonistic to, their efforts to professionalize through science. This article also explores contemporary critiques of this practice, arguing that the bitter polemics against criminal telepathy by men such as Albert Hellwig and Albert Moll resulted from their belief that the activities of clairvoyants endangered the claims of criminalists, jurists and psychiatrists to expertise in the nascent fields of criminology and criminalistics.
Refugee Town: Germans, Americans, and the Uprooted in Rural West Germany, 1945—52
Authors: Seipp Adam R.
Published: October 2009

This article examines the experience of the small rural community of Wildflecken in the Bavarian district of Lower Franconia after the second world war. This area became an important center for those uprooted by the war, including Polish displaced persons, evacuees from German cities, and Germans who fled or were expelled from Eastern Europe. Because of its strategic location, it also attracted the interest of the US Army. The multi-faceted refugee crisis strongly influenced the development and implementation of occupation policy, while the presence of American and non-German outsiders helped to integrate ethnic German refugees into rural communities.
Co-Actualization: A New Construct in Understanding Well-Functioning Relationships
Authors: Motschnig-Pitrik Renate , Barrett-Lennard Godfrey
Published: October 2009

The person-centered approach, positive psychology, and also neuroscience contribute evidence of a tendency toward actualization inherent in living organisms. In this article, the authors build on the observation that actualization in humans tends particularly to be promoted by being in well-functioning relationships with others. Each such fruitful relationship has a self-developing quality as well as being enhancing to the relationship partners.The resulting process is referred to as co-actualization. The postulated tendency toward engagement in that process is called the co-actualizing tendency. The article characterizes co-actualization especially from a relationally oriented person-centered perspective on psychology, education, systems thinking, psychotherapy, conceptual modeling, and neuroscience. The authors cite evidence from various sources, identify questions for further research, include phenomenological considerations, and discuss potentials of the co-actualizing process in close and larger scale relationships.
Dimensions of Cruisers’ Experiences, Satisfaction, and Intention to Recommend
Authors: Hosany Sameer , Witham Mark
Published: October 2009

In the past decade, Pine and Gilmore set out the vision for a new economic era, the experience economy, in which consumers are in search for extraordinary and memorable experiences. Since then, a rich body of research on applications of the experience economy concepts have appeared in the marketing literature. However, academic investigations on the measurement of tourism experiences are very recent. The purpose of this article is twofold: to identify the underlying dimensions of cruisers’ experiences and to investigate the relationships among cruisers’ experiences, satisfaction, and intention to recommend. Overall, findings of this study enhance the theoretical progress on the experiential concept in tourism and offer important implications for cruise marketers.
Pleiotropic Effects of Atorvastatin on Monocytes in Atherosclerotic Patients
Authors: Wang Zhi‐hao , Liu Xiao‐lin , Zhong Ming , Zhang Li‐ping , Shang Yuan‐yuan , Hu Xiao‐yan , Li Li , Zhang Yun , Deng Jing‐ti , Zhang Wei
Published: October 2009

The objective of this study was to investigate the gene expression signature of monocyte/macrophages and the pleiotropic effects of atorvastatin on monocytes in atherosclerotic patients. Forty patients with coronary heart diseases were randomly assigned to double‐blind therapy with either 20 or 80 mg per day of atorvastatin. Follow‐up visits occurred at weeks 6 and 12, including complete chemistry and lipid analyses and quantification of 14 target genes in monocytes. After 12 weeks of therapy, both groups gained beneficial alterations in lipid profiles. Both groups experienced significant reductions in gene expression of lipoprotein‐associated phospholipase A2, CD13, leptin receptor, matrix metalloproteases‐1, legumain, and prolyl oligopeptidase after 12 weeks of therapy. Only tumor protein 53 was increased in the atorvastatin 80‐mg group. Moreover, nonsignificant interactions between dosage and duration of therapy were found. The pleiotropic effects of statins in atherosclerotic patients include increased expression of genes involved in apoptosis of monocyte/macrophage, inhibition of inflammatory responses, antioxidant properties, prevention of foam cell formation, and stabilization of atherosclerotic plaques. This property fuels potential clinical significance.
Employee Retirement: A Review and Recommendations for Future Investigation
Authors: Wang Mo , Shultz Kenneth S.
Published: October 2009

Despite the obvious importance of retirement to employees, their employing organizations, and the larger society, the last comprehensive review of employee retirement in the field of organizational science was published more than 20 years ago. As such, the first purpose of this review is to provide a summary of key theoretical and empirical developments in employee retirement research since Beehr in 1986. A second purpose of this review is to highlight inconsistent findings revealed by studies that were designed to answer the same research questions. By identifying and scrutinizing those inconsistent findings, this study expects to provide suggestions and recommendations to further the theoretical development in the field of retirement research to address these research gaps. As a result, this proposed review would be of interest to scholars in a wide variety of areas within the organizational sciences, including human resource management, organizational behavior, organizational theory, and research methods.
Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in adult patients: predictors of mortality
Authors: JingwenLi  , Cun Long  , Song Lou  , Feilong Hei  , Kun Yu  , Shigang Wang  , Shengshou Hu  , Jianping Xu  , Qian Chang  , Ping Liu  , Haitao Zhang  , Hansong Sun  , Wei Wang
Published: October 2009

Background: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is a cardiopulmonary supportive therapy. In this study, we reviewed our experience with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support and tried to identify measurable values which might predict in-hospital mortality. Methods: From January 2004 through December 2008, 50 of 21,298 adult patients received venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. We retrospectively analyzed clinical records of these 50 consecutive patients. Details of demographics, preoperative measurements, clinical characteristics at the time of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation implantation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation-related complications and in-hospital mortality were collected. Logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate predictors of mortality. A p-value ≤ 0.05 was accepted as significant. Results: Thirty-eight patients were weaned from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and 33 patients survived to discharge. The overall survival rate was 66%. In a multiple logistic regression analysis, blood lactate level before initiation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was a risk factor associated with in-hospital mortality (OR 1.27 95% CI 1.042-1.542). To evaluate the utility of the lactate in predicting mortality, a conventional receiver operating characteristic curve was produced. Sensitivity and specificity were optimal at a cut-off point of 12.6mmol/L, with an area under the curve of 0.752. The positive and negative predictive values were 73.3% and 83.9%, respectively. Conclusions: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is a justifiable alternative treatment for postoperative refractory cardiac and pulmonary dysfunction which could rescue more than sixty percent of otherwise fatal patients. Patients with pre-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation lactate levels above 12.6mmol/L are at higher risks for in-hospital death. Evidence-based therapy for this group of high risk patients is needed.
Determination of reliable CO2 emission factors for waste-to-energy plants
Authors: Obermoser M. , Fellner J. , Rechberger H.
Published: October 2009

At Vienna University of Technology, the so-called balance method (BM) was developed to determine fossil and biogenic CO2 emissions from waste-to-energy (WTE) plants. Meanwhile, the BM has been routinely applied to several WTE plants for some years, providing a large set of data. The average site-specific emission factors for fossil CO2 were found to be in the range of 260— 780 kg CO2 t—1 waste, and 30—67 kg CO2 GJ—1 energy of the waste incinerated. These values are significantly different from the values that are found in the literature. Our results show that there is no such typical emission factor for WTE which could be applied to national CO2 measurements or accurate emission trading. This study reveals that instead of generic emission factors the BM can be used as a standard for WTE plants, since its application requires either no or only a few additional installations.
Integrated waste management as a climate change stabilization wedge
Authors: Bahor Brian , Van Brunt Michael , Stovall Jeff , Blue Katherine
Published: October 2009

Anthropogenic sources of greenhouse gas emissions are known to contribute to global increases in greenhouse gas concentrations and are widely believed to contribute to climate change. A reference carbon dioxide concentration of 383 ppm for 2007 is projected to increase to a nominal 500 ppm in less than 50 years according to business as usual models. This concentration change is equivalent to an increase of 7 billion tonnes of carbon per year (7 Gt C year—1). The concept of a stabilization wedge was introduced by Pacala and Socolow ( Science, 305, 968—972, 2004) to break the 7 Gt C year— 1 into more manageable 1 Gt C year— 1 reductions that would be achievable with current technology. A total of fifteen possible ‘wedges’ were identified; however, an integrated municipal solid waste (MSW) management system based on the European Union’s waste management hierarchy was not evaluated as a wedge. This analysis demonstrates that if the tonnage of MSW is allocated to recycling, waste to energy and landfilling in descending order in lieu of existing ‘business-as-usual’ practices with each option using modern technology and best practices, the system would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 1 Gt C year —1. This integrated waste management system reduces CO2 by displacing fossil electrical generation and avoiding manufacturing energy consumption and methane emissions from landfills.
Fungal exposure endocrinopathy in sinusitis with growth hormone deficiency: Dennis-Robertson syndrome
Authors: Dennis Donald , Robertson David , Curtis Luke , Black Judson
Published: October 2009

A retrospective study was carried out on 79 patients with a history of mold exposure, fatigue, and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) to determine whether there is a causal relationship between fungal exposure and chronic sinusitis, fatigue, and anterior hypopituitarism, especially growth hormone deficiency (GHD). Of the patients, 94% had a history of CRS, endoscopically and/or computed tomography (CT) confirmed; 100% had chronic fatigue and 100% had either significant history of indoor mold exposure and/or positive mold plate testing as measured by settle plates, with an average colony count of 21 (0-4 normal). A total of 62 had positive mold plate testing and 17 had positive history of mold exposure. Of 75, 73 (97.3%) had positive serum immunoglobulin G (IgG)-specific antibodies to fungal antigens. Out of 8, 7 were positive for urinary trichothecenes. Resting levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) averaged 123 ng/mL (range 43-285, normal 88-249 ng/mL). Despite normal resting levels of IGF-1, significant deficiency of serum human growth hormone (GH) was confirmed by insulin tolerance test (ITT) in 40 of 50 tested. In all, 51% (40/79) were GH deficient. Primary or secondary hypothyroidism in T3 and/or T4 was seen in 81% (64/79) patients; 75% (59/79) had adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) deficiency. Fungal exposure endocrinopathy likely represents the major cause of GHD, affecting approximately 4.8 million people compared to approximately known 60,000 cases from all other causes. A literature review indicates a possible mechanism of GHD in fungal exposure is that the fungal glucan receptors in the lenticulostellate cells of the anterior pituitary bind to fungal cells wall glucans and activate the innate immune system, which activates macrophages that destroy the fungus and lenticulostellate tissue. Treatment of patients included normal saline nasal irrigations, antifungal and antibiotic nasal sprays, appropriate use of oral antibiotics and antifungals, facial steamer with CitriDrops. Thymate and/or Intramax vitamin supplements, hormone replacement, and reduction of indoor mold levels. Resolution of rhinosinusitis was seen in 93% (41 of 45) of the patients who achieved a mold count by settling plates of 0-4 colonies. Thirty patients were unable to lower their mold counts below four colonies and had various degrees of mucosal disease and fatigue remaining. Fatigue was improved in all 37 patients who received GH and cortisol and/or thyroid hormone, which were deficient. Fatigue was partially relieved in 7 of the 37 who did not achieve mold counts of fewer than four colonies.
Epidemics of mold poisoning past and present
Authors: Meggs William J
Published: October 2009

Molds are ubiquitous throughout the biosphere of planet earth and cause infectious, allergic, and toxic diseases. Toxic diseases arise from exposure to mycotoxins produced by molds. Throughout history, there have been a number of toxic epidemics associated with exposure to mycotoxins. Acute epidemics of ergotism are caused by consumption of grain infested by fungi of the genus Claviceps, which produce the bioactive amine ergotamine that mimics the neurotransmitters norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine. Acute aflatoxin outbreaks have occurred from ingestion of corn stored in damp conditions that potentiate growth of the molds of the species Aspergillus. Contemporary construction methods that use cellulose substrates such as fiber board and indoor moisture have caused an outbreak of contaminated buildings with Stachybotrys chartarum, with the extent of health effects still a subject of debate and ongoing research. This article reviews several of the more prominent epidemics and discusses the nature of the toxins. Two diseases that were leading causes of childhood mortality in England in the 1970s and vanished with changing dietary habits, putrid malignant fever, and slow nervous fever were most likely toxic mold epidemics.
Safe Treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension With Bosentan in a Patient With Moyamoya Disease and Cerebral Ischemia
Authors: Day Ronald W. , Brockmeyer Douglas L. , Feola G. Peter
Published: October 2009

A 7-year-old girl with Down syndrome and moderately severe pulmonary hypertension experienced a stroke while being treated with a calcium channel blocker. Angiography identified bilateral stenosis of the supraclinoid internal carotid arteries, stenosis or occlusion of the proximal anterior and middle cerebral arteries, and occlusion of the left posterior cerebral artery. She underwent surgery to enhance collateral blood flow to vulnerable areas of the brain. Her pulmonary hypertension therapy was changed to an oral endothelin receptor antagonist. She developed excellent collateral blood flow through external carotid arteries to each cerebral hemisphere and an improvement in blood flow through the right internal carotid artery. This case suggests that bosentan can be used safely in children with moyamoya disease. Additional studies are needed to determine whether endothelin receptor antagonists may influence the progression of moyamoya disease or the development of collateral cerebral blood flow following surgery.
Major and Minor Arterial Malformations in Patients With Cutaneous Vascular Abnormalities
Authors: Pascual-Castroviejo Ignacio , Pascual-Pascual Samuel I. , Viaño Juan , López-Gutierrez Juan C. , Palencia Rafael
Published: October 2009

The association of persistent embryonic arteries and the absence of 1 carotid or vertebral arteries with facial or neck hemangioma or vascular malformation have been frequently described. The abnormalities can involve major or minor vessels. Of 22 patients of our series with this neurocutaneous syndrome, 20 had the origin of both anterior cerebral arteries from the same internal carotid artery. Thirteen patients showed absence or hypoplasia of 1 carotid artery and 10 of 1 vertebral artery; 10 showed persistence of the trigeminal artery; 3 had persistent proatlantal artery; 6 showed the absence of the posterior communicating artery; and 4 had hypoplastic posterior cerebral artery. Other less frequent abnormalities were found in 7 patients. Intellectual level of most patients was either borderline or below normal. Abnormalities in the vascularization and perfusion of the frontal lobes may contribute to the borderline or lower mental level of these patients.
A Novel Missense Mutation in LIS1 in a Child With Subcortical Band Heterotopia and Pachygyria Inherited From His Mildly Affected Mother With Somatic Mosaicism
Authors: Mineyko Aleksandra , Doja Asif , Hurteau Julie , Dobyns William B. , Das Soma , Boycott Kym M.
Published: October 2009

Mutations in the LIS1 gene result in isolated lissencephaly or subcortical band heterotopia. We report a 5-year-old male who presented with seizures and global developmental delay. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated posteriorly predominant pachygyria and subcortical band heterotopia. His mother had a history of epilepsy, with onset in her teenage years. Her MRI revealed no abnormalities. Sequence analysis of the LIS1 gene identified a novel p.H389Y mutation in exon 11 (c.1165C>T). The child’s mother was found to have the identical mutation as her son, with the signal intensity of the mutant allele being much lower than the normal allele, suggesting somatic mosaicism. This patient is one of only a few reported with a missense mutation in LIS1 associated with subcortical band heterotopia, and this is the first report of a mosaic individual having an affected child.
Sociodemographic Differences in Diagnosis and Treatment of Pediatric Headache
Authors: Stevens Jack , Harman Jeffrey , Pakalnis Ann , Lo Warren , Prescod Jessica
Published: October 2009

The authors investigated the sociodemographic differences in receiving a headache diagnosis for pediatric health care visits using 2 nationally representative databases—the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. For those visits involving a headache diagnosis, the authors explored 2 possible disparities in care—being diagnosed by a neurologist and being prescribed an evidence-based medication. A headache diagnosis was less common during visits for private insurance patients versus Medicaid patients. In addition, while a headache diagnosis was equally likely for visits by Caucasian American children versus African American children and children of other races, visits for the latter 2 groups were less likely to involve a headache diagnosis from a neurologist. Finally, only 37% of the headache visits involved a prescription of an evidence-based medication. The authors conclude that some sociodemographic disparities exist in pediatric headache care across the United States.
Outcome Measures Used in Studies of Botulinum Toxin in Childhood Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review
Authors: Baird Micah W. , Vargus-Adams Jilda
Published: October 2009

This literature review uses the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health to describe the quality and variety of the studies of botulinum toxin in children with cerebral palsy since 2001. Articles were identified via electronic query and then reviewed for strength of evidence and classification of outcome measures. The distribution of levels of evidence for the 63 articles was I (n = 8), II (n = 12), III (n = 21), and IV (n = 22). One or more measurements were used in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health domains of body structure and function (47 papers), activity (47 papers), participation (12 papers), and environmental/personal factors (10 papers). A total of 67% of all outcomes demonstrated a significant difference (I 49%, II 39%, III 74%, IV 88%). This review illustrates that few studies provide a high level of evidence and that outcomes focus on arenas such as spasticity or range of motion rather than activity or participation domains such as walking.
Mutation Analysis of the ASPM Gene in 18 Pakistani Families With Autosomal Recessive Primary Microcephaly
Authors: Kousar Rizwana , Nawaz Hira , Khurshid Maryam , Ali Ghazanfer , Khan Saad Ullah , Mir Hina , Ayub Muhammad , Wali Abdul , Ali Nadir , Jelani Musharraf , Basit Sulman , Ahmad Wasim , Ansar Muhammad
Published: October 2009

Autosomal recessive primary microcephaly (MCPH) is a rare neurological disorder, in which the patients exhibit reduced occipital frontal head circumference (>3 standard deviations) and mild-to-severe mental retardation. Autosomal recessive primary microcephaly is genetically heterogeneous and 7 loci have been reported to date. Mutations in ASPM (abnormal spindle-like, microcephaly associated) gene are the most common cause of autosomal recessive primary microcephaly in the majority of the reported families. In the current investigation, we have located and studied 21 families with autosomal recessive primary microcephaly. Genotyping using polymorphic microsatellite markers linked to 7 autosomal recessive primary microcephaly loci revealed linkage of 18 families to the MCPH5 locus. Sequence analysis of the ASPM gene in 18 linked families detected 2 novel nonsense mutations (c.2101C>T/p.Q701X; c.9492T>G/p.Y3164X) in 2 families and 2 novel deletion mutations (c.6686delGAAA/p.R2229TfsX9; c.77delG/p.G26AfsX41) in 2 other families. Three previously described mutations (c.3978G>A/p.W1326X; c.1260delTCAAGTC/p.S420SfsX32; c.9159delA/p.K3053NfsX4) were also detected in 11 families. These identified mutations extended the body of evidence implicating the ASPM gene in the pathogenesis of human hereditary primary microcephaly.
In Other Sources
Authors: Konrad Moira , Luu Ken C. T. , Rowe Dawn A. , Mazzotti Valerie L. , Kelley Kelly R. , Mustian April L. , Keesey Susan , Fishley Katelyn M.
Published: October 2009

This column provides brief summaries of transition-related articles published in 2008 in other professional journals. The 70 articles included descriptive, experimental, and qualitative research as well as program descriptions, conceptual papers, and practitioner pieces. All areas of Kohler’s (1996) Kohler, P. D. (1996). Preparing youth with disabilities for future challenges: A taxonomy for transition programming. In P. D. Kohler (Ed.), Taxonomy for transition programming: Linking research and practice (pp. 1-62). Champaign, IL: Transition Research Institute. Taxonomy for Transition Programming were addressed: family involvement, interagency collaboration, program structure, student development, and student-focused planning.
Fracture Characters and Damage Mechanism of the Notched AS4/PEEK Composite Laminate
Authors: Shurong Ding  , Tong J.W. , Wang Z.Y. , Yongzhong Huo
Published: October 2009

A uniaxial tension experiment was performed for the thermoplastic AS4/PEEK composite laminate with a circular hole. Ultimately the specimen fractured in the vicinity of the minimum cross section of the laminate. Through micro-observation with the OLYMPUS micro-system, the fracture characters and sub-critical damages were captured. It can be concluded that delamination and matrix cracks occurred prior to final failure of the laminate. Furthermore, a numerical simulation for the notched laminacte under uniaxial tension was implemented with a 3D elastoplasticity model to interpret the damage mechanism of the notched laminate.
Information Memory and Pricing Efficiency of Futures Contracts
Authors: Gupta Kapil , Singh Balwinder
Published: October 2009

The present study investigates the information dissemination efficiency of the Indian equity futures market. Daily log returns of all indices as well as individual stock futures contracts understudy have been found to be non-normal and responding asymmetrically to the information shocks. Volatility clustering in daily log returns of all indices and individual stock futures contracts has been identified, which suggests that Indian equity futures market is not an efficient price-discovery vehicle. In addition, the present study finds an evidence of leverage effect, which implies that traders assign more weightage to bad news, whereas, they cautiously react to positive news. Mean reversion in daily log returns of the Indian equity futures market further suggests that traders (especially retail traders) need to be overcautious while adding equity futures as leverage products in their portfolio because in a highly volatile market, framing a trading rule to earn super normal profit may be an easy task for big/institutional traders but may not be possible for small/uninformed traders.
Modeling and Experimental Study of Simultaneous Creep and Transformation in Polycrystalline High-Temperature Shape Memory Alloys
Authors: Lagoudas Dimitris C. , Chatzigeorgiou George , Kumar Parikshith K.
Published: October 2009

The viscoplastic behavior in high-temperature shape memory alloys and its interaction with the transformation behavior is investigated in this work. Standard creep tests and isobaric transformation-induced tests were conducted for a TiPdNi high-temperature shape memory alloy on a uniaxial frame fitted with a custom high-temperature setup. Motivated by the experimental observations indicating simultaneous creep and phase transformation, a 1D constitutive model is presented that aims to capture the coexistence of the rate-independent transformation and the rate-dependent viscoplastic behavior. Based on continuum thermodynamics, the evolution equations for forward and reverse transformation and viscoplasticity are properly chosen. The material parameters needed for the model calibration are identified from the experimental data. The predicted material response by the proposed constitutive model is in good agreement with the experimental results.
Explaining Cross-National Differences in Fertility: A Comparative Approach to the Demographic Shift
Authors: Barber Nigel
Published: October 2009

Low fertility in modern societies challenges evolutionary social scientists. A comparative analysis of less developed countries investigated various possible predictors of low fertility including urbanization, monogamous marriage, level of participation in the monetary economy (GDP), and low infant mortality. Using a sample of 45 countries broken out by urban and rural location, each of these predictors of total fertility was significant in a regression analysis ( r 2 = .76) that controlled for survey year, geographic latitude, sex ratio, and geographic hemisphere. Multivariate prediction estimated that the demographic shift (TFR < 2.6) occurs when infant mortality falls below 33 per thousand, when polygyny reaches zero, and when GDP per capita rises above US$20,508. (The low fertility at high latitudes, reported by Barber, was further found explainable in terms of monogamous marriage). Declining fertility in modern societies evidently constitutes an adaptive response to ecological conditions and is largely predictable from them.
A cross-sectional study comparing variation in body surface area and chemotherapy dosing in pediatric oncology using two different methods
Authors: Jastaniah Wasil , Aseeri Mohammed
Published: October 2009

Purpose. Standardizing body surface area (BSA) determination is essential for avoiding variation in chemotherapy dosage calculations. In this study, we compared variation in BSA calculation using weight and height by the Mosteller formula with weight alone using recently adapted table at a local oncology center.

Methods. Cross-sectional study of pediatric oncology patients presenting to a pediatric oncology clinic over a week period of time.

Results. One-hundred consecutive pediatric oncology patients presented to the clinic. The mean BSA calculated by the Mosteller formula was 0.83 m2 (SD 0.24) and the mean BSA determined by the table (based on weight alone) was 0.82 m2 (SD 0.25). The mean variation in dosing between the two methods was 1.64% (SD 3.4). Only 13 out of 100 patients (13%) had equal dosing using both methods and 21 out of 100 patients (21%) had dosing variation greater than 5%. When comparing both methods, using paired t-test, the difference was statistically significant (t(99) = 3.99 and p < 0.001).

Conclusion. Significant differences in BSAbased chemotherapy dosing exist in our center. The Mosteller method should remain the standard until prospective studies are performed to determine the significance of this dosing variability on toxicity and survival outcome.