bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
L’évolution des idées sur la langue dans le Japon ancien
Authors: Terada Akira
Published: April 2013

The Japanese formulated different ideas about their language through various attempts to adapt Chinese writing to their language. What they needed to add to Chinese writing is precisely what characterises the Japanese language.
Serving Meals making a Home. The PPNA Limestone Vessel Industry of the Southern Levant and its Importance to the Neolithic Revolution
Authors: Rosenberg Danny
Published: April 2013

Stone vessels are known from the archaeological record of the Southern Levant since the Upper Palaeolithic, though these usually appear in small numbers until the onset of the Natufian culture. The PPNA (Pre-Pottery Neolithic A, 11,700-10,500 cal. BP) 1 stone assemblage bears many similarities to its Natufian predecessors, but also presents several changes— amongst these is the appearance of meticulously shaped and finished limestone vessels, found mainly in PPNA sites in the Mediterranean eco-zone and less frequently in the more arid regions. This paper presents these vessels and their characteristics and argues that these usually shallow bowls and platters relate to the presentation and serving of foodstuffs in communities undergoing socio-economic changes, with the continuing transformation from hunter-gatherer groups to settled agricultural village communities.
Des crânes et des vautours ou la guerre oubliée
Authors: Testart Alain
Published: April 2013

L’archéologie proche-orientale est célèbre pour les crânes sans corps retrouvés en différents sites du PPNA, PPNB ou Néolithique. Ces trouvailles ont été régulièrement interprétées comme l’indice d’un culte des ancêtres. Le présent article questionne cette interprétation en proposant au contraire d’y voir des têtes-trophées prises aux ennemis. Il prend pour point de départ l’invraisemblance de l’interprétation par J. Mellaart des fresques du «sanctuaire aux vautours» de Çatal Höyük comme représentations d’un rite funéraire : elles suggèrent beaucoup plus directement l’abandon aux vautours des corps des vaincus décapités. Les matériaux ethnographiques comparatifs sont mobilisés dans cette remise en question, et le symbolisme animal du PPNA ou PPNB réexaminé dans une perspective guerrière.
The Middle – Upper Palaeolithic Transition at Yabroud II (Syria). A Re-evaluation of the Lithic Material from the Rust Excavation
Authors: Pastoors Andreas , Weniger Gerd-Christian , Kegler Jan F.
Published: April 2013

The discussion about the Levantine transition from Middle to Upper Palaeolithic is still very intense. Different interpretations of the assemblage from Yabroud II (Syria) make this problem particularly apparent. This article presents the results of our reanalysis, which concentrated on the lithic artefacts from layers 10 to 5. Hence, the updated state of knowledge of Yabroud II allows a comparison to the sequence from Ksar Akil (Lebanon). Acting with all necessary caution that old excavations require, we see evidence for a complete transition from Tabun B-Type via Initial Upper Palaeolithic to Early Ahmarian industries at Yabroud II. Moreover, the cultural change at Yabroud II might be correlated to a climatic event.
Diastereoselective synthesis of nitroso acetals from (S,E)-γ-aminated nitroalkenes via multicomponent [4 + 2]/[3 + 2] cycloadditions promoted by LiCl or LiClO4
Authors: de Carvalho Leandro Lara , Burrow Robert Alan , Pereira Vera Lúcia Patrocinio
Published: April 2013

Chiral nonracemic aminated nitroso acetals were synthesized via diastereoselective multicomponent [4 + 2]/[3 + 2] cycloadditions employing new (S,E)-γ-nitrogenated nitroalkenes 5a–c as heterodienes, ethyl vinyl ether (EVE) as a dienophile, and selected electron-deficient alkenes as 1,3-dipolarophiles. The employment of different organic solutions of LiClO4 or LiCl as promoter systems provided the respective nitroso acetals with yields from 34–72% and good levels of diastereoselectivity. In addition, the nitroso acetal 9c was transformed to the pyrrolizidin-3-one derivative 14c, proving the usefulness of the route in the synthesis of an interesting chiral compound. The elucidation of the stereostructures was based on 2D COSY, NOESY and HSQC NMR experiments as well as an X-ray diffraction experiment.
Créativité et traduction spécialisée
Authors: Lavault-Olléon Élisabeth
Published: April 2013

À partir de plusieurs exemples tirés de traductions spécialisées, notamment dans le domaine de l’informatique, l’auteur soutient que le traducteur technique fait preuve de créativité, que ce soit par la création de terminologie, par la création discursive, par la réécriture de textes défectueux dans la langue source et par l’adaptation.
La fonction traduction en localisation logicielle
Authors: Chukwu Uzoma
Published: April 2013

Adaptation d’un logiciel aux goûts, normes et culture du peuple d’un marché étranger, la localisation logicielle implique forcément de la traduction mais elle ne s’y réduit pas. Du fait du dédoublement des difficultés habituelles liées à la traduction de façon générale des contraintes spécifiques à la localisation, la fonction traduction peut y relever d’un exercice périlleux, surtout si le donneur d’ouvrage lui-même n’a pas beaucoup d’expérience en la matière. En s’appuyant sur deux cas fictifs, cet article propose une discussion générale sur la spécificité de la fonction traduction dans ce contexte et comment aborder certains des problèmes soulevés par l’exercice.
Regulation of VH Replacement by B Cell Receptor–Mediated Signaling in Human Immature B Cells
Authors: Liu Jing , Lange Miles D. , Hong Sang Yong , Xie Wanqin , Xu Kerui , Huang Lin , Yu Yangsheng , Ehrhardt Götz R. A. , Zemlin Michael , Burrows Peter D. , Su Kaihong , Carter Robert H. , Zhang Zhixin
Published: April 2013

VH replacement provides a unique RAG-mediated recombination mechanism to edit nonfunctional IgH genes or IgH genes encoding self-reactive BCRs and contributes to the diversification of Ab repertoire in the mouse and human. Currently, it is not clear how VH replacement is regulated during early B lineage cell development. In this article, we show that cross-linking BCRs induces VH replacement in human EU12 μHC+ cells and in the newly emigrated immature B cells purified from peripheral blood of healthy donors or tonsillar samples. BCR signaling–induced VH replacement is dependent on the activation of Syk and Src kinases but is inhibited by CD19 costimulation, presumably through activation of the PI3K pathway. These results show that VH replacement is regulated by BCR-mediated signaling in human immature B cells, which can be modulated by physiological and pharmacological treatments.
Targeting of Antigens to B Lymphocytes via CD19 as a Means for Tumor Vaccine Development
Authors: Ma Yunfeng , Xiang Dong , Sun Jinwen , Ding Chuanlin , Liu Min , Hu Xiaoling , Li Guoxin , Kloecker Goetz , Zhang Huang-ge , Yan Jun
Published: April 2013

Ab therapy against surface Ags on tumor cells has demonstrated significant efficacy for some cancers. However, it is costly and patients frequently develop acquired resistance over time. In cases of Ab therapy resistance, T cell responses have been shown to be essential in controlling disease progression. Thus, vaccination that generates a sustained Ab response as well as a T cell response may be more effective and economical. In this article, we have developed a vaccination strategy by targeting protein Ags to B cells via a CD19 single-chain variable fragment miniAb. Using the tumor-associated Ag her-2/neu extracellular domain, we showed that the coengagement of CD19 and BCR induced full B cell activation to produce a high titer of Abs and enhanced CD4 Th2 response and CD8 T cell activation and differentiation. These Abs competitively inhibited humanized her-2/neu Ab binding and were capable of activating the complement and inhibiting human breast cancer growth in vitro. Therapeutic efficacy was demonstrated in vivo using murine mammary carcinoma models. Furthermore, four different extracellular domains of her-2/neu could be targeted to B cells to generate Abs against particular domains with different antitumor properties. This approach may offer a new avenue for vaccine development with significantly lower cost, which may be of use not only for cancer therapy but also for infectious agents.
Engineered Regulatory T Cells Coexpressing MHC Class II:Peptide Complexes Are Efficient Inhibitors of Autoimmune T Cell Function and Prevent the Development of Autoimmune Arthritis
Authors: Qian Zhaohui , Latham Kary A. , Whittington Karen B. , Miller David C. , Brand David D. , Rosloniec Edward F.
Published: April 2013

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are critical homeostatic components in preventing the development of autoimmunity, and are a major focus for their therapeutic potential for autoimmune diseases. To enhance the efficacy of Tregs in adoptive therapy, we developed a strategy for generating engineered Tregs that have the capacity to target autoimmune T cells in an Ag-specific manner. Using a retroviral expression system encoding Foxp3 and HLA-DR1 covalently linked to the immunodominant peptide of the autoantigen type II collagen (DR1-CII), naive T cells were engineered to become Tregs that express DR1-CII complexes on their surface. When these cells were tested for their ability to prevent the development of collagen induced arthritis, both the engineered DR1-CII-Foxp3 and Foxp3 only Tregs significantly reduced the severity and incidence of disease. However, the mechanism by which these two populations of Tregs inhibited disease differed significantly. Disease inhibition by the DR1-CII-Foxp3 Tregs was accompanied by significantly lower numbers of autoimmune CII-specific T cells in vivo and lower levels of autoantibodies in comparison with engineered Tregs expressing Foxp3 alone. In addition, the numbers of IFN-γ– and IL-17–expressing T cells in mice treated with DR1-CII-Foxp3 Tregs were also significantly reduced in comparison with mice treated with Foxp3 engineered Tregs or vector control cells. These data indicate that the coexpression of class II autoantigen–peptide complexes on Tregs provides these cells with a distinct capacity to regulate autoimmune T cell responses that differs from that used by conventional Tregs.
IL-33 Induces Nuocytes and Modulates Liver Injury in Viral Hepatitis
Authors: Liang Yuejin , Jie Zuliang , Hou Lifei , Aguilar-Valenzuela Renan , Vu David , Soong Lynn , Sun Jiaren
Published: April 2013

Molecules containing damage-associated molecular patterns play an important role in many pathogenic processes. In this study, our aim was to investigate the role of IL-33, a damage-associated molecular pattern molecule, in adenovirus (Ad)-induced liver inflammation. Ad-infected mice exhibited a steadily increased IL-33 and its receptor IL-1R–like 1 expression in the liver during the first week of infection. Treatment of exogenous IL-33 resulted in a great decrease in the serum alanine aminotransferase levels and the number of Councilman bodies in the liver. Attenuated liver injury by IL-33 correlated with an increase in T regulatory cells but with a decrease in macrophages, dendritic cells, and NK cells in the liver. IL-33 enhanced both type 1 (IL-2 and IFN-γ) and type 2 (IL-5 and IL-13) immune responses in infected mice. However, IL-33 inhibited TNF-α expression in hepatic T cells and macrophages, and significantly reduced TNF-α levels in the liver. We found that in addition to its direct effects, IL-33 strongly induced novel nuocytes in the livers and spleens of infected mice. When cocultured with nuocytes, hepatic T cells and macrophages expressed lower levels of TNF-α. The IL-33–treated mice also demonstrated a slight delay, but no significant impairment, in eliminating an intrahepatic infection with Ad. In conclusion, this study reveals that IL-33 acts as a potent immune stimulator and a hepatoprotective cytokine in acute viral hepatitis. Its direct immunoregulatory functions and ability to induce novel nuocytes further suggest to us that it may be a potentially promising therapeutic candidate for the management of viral hepatitis.
Proteinuria: pathophysiology, diagnostic and therapeutic approach
Authors: Valvo Enrico
Published: April 2013

Normal urine contains minute amounts of protein. The normal glomerular basement membrane imposes a barrier to large plasma proteins. This effect depends mainly on basement membrane pore size and electrostatic charge. However, a relevant role is also played by podocytes. Smaller proteins are filtered freely. Most of the proteins normally entering the urine are catabolized by the proximal tubules. The most frequent cause of major proteinuria is the functional failure of the glomerular barrier (glomerular proteinuria). In tubular proteinuria functional disturbances of the tubules result in a lack of catabolization of smaller proteins that can readily cross the glomerular barrier. The overflow proteinuria is caused by the glomerular filtration of compounds that are present in the plasma at higher concentrations in certain diseases; for example: light chain of immunoglobulins in multiple myeloma. Proteinuria may occur as a consequence of resistance to venous outflow, as in orthostatic proteinuria. This is asymptomatic and occurs mainly in young, slim and tall males, and it is generally benign. Proteinuria should be monitored regularly in any disease that is potentially related to glomerular damage, such as diabetes mellitus, autoimmune disorders, and hypertension. The correct diagnosis in a patient with proteinuria can only be obtained by renal biopsy. The presence of proteinuria is a well-known major independent risk factor for progressive renal damage, and for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The interaction of albumin with proximal tubules leads to renal damage through an increased expression of a variety of inflammatory and fibrogenic cytokines. This progression seems to be largely independent of the initial insult, and it is the final common pathway for chronic, proteinuric nephropathies in animals and humans. Both interstitial inflammation and progression of disease can be controlled by drugs that interfer with the renin angiotensin system, such as the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), the angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), and the aldosterone receptor blockers. These agents strengthen the glomerular permeability barrier to protein, limit proteinuria and filtered protein-dependent inflammatory indicators.
Prevalence, feature and treatment in a cohort of patients hospitalized for heart failure with preserved systolic function: data from the PRESYF-HF Toscana study
Authors: Biagi Paolo , Abate Luigi , Bocchini Salvatore , Verdiani Valerio , Nozzoli Carlo
Published: April 2013

Background: The prevalence and the characteristics of heart failure (HF) with preserved systolic function (more commonly named diastolic heart failure) may differ according to the type of the study (population based or cohort), setting, methods to define the cardiac function, so epidemiologic data are actually quite variable ranging from 15% to over 60% of HF patients. Moreover the treatment is still based more on physiopathologic data of the single case for no evidence based therapy has been defined. Materials and methods: We have studied a cohort of 338 consecutive patients admitted for HF at 24 Internal Medicine Units; all patients had a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) echographically measured within 72 hours from hospital admission. Patients with LVEF > 50% were considered to have preserved systolic function (PRESYF). The prevalence and the clinical characteristics of the patients were recorded as well the therapy at the admission and at the discharge. Pharmacologic treatment was analyzed for each category of drug normalized for equivalent dosage at the admission and at the discharge. Results: The patients with LVEF > 50% were 112 (33.1%); they were older than the subjects with depressed systolic function but the difference in our cohort was not statistically significant; the clinical presentation is similar but female sex, hypertensive ethiology, and elevated BMI prevail. ACE-inhibitors and diuretics are the most frequent drugs prescribed in both forms of HF, with no difference in prescription and dosage at the admission and at the discharge. Beta-blockers were prescribed at a higher dosage in the subjects with depressed than with preserved systolic function (17.86 + 15.90 mg/die vs 9.69 + 9.06 mg/die; p < 0.05). Discussion: One third of patients admitted in hospital for HF has DHF; these patients differ from HF with depressed systolic function for female sex, hypertensive ethiology, and elevated BMI. Taking into account the advanced age of both groups (mean age 81 year) the treatment is aimed above all to control symptoms (actually diuretics are the most used drugs). No difference was registered in prescription and dosage of HF therapy in both forms, with the exception of a wider and a higher dosage of beta-blockers in depressed systolic function. Conclusions: Diastolic HF is a diffuse problem in the real world and account for one third of inhospital admission. Patients are old, complex and present comorbidities. The treatment is still tailored more on single patient physiopathologic data than on evidence base. The prescription ‘‘habits’’ we have registered at the discharge from hospital are the snapshot of what the patients assume in the real world.
News and controversy in inflammatory bowel disease treatment
Authors: Straforini Giulia , Brugnera Ramona , Tambasco Rosy , Rizzello Fernando , Gionchetti Paolo , Campieri Massimo
Published: April 2013

Background: The treatment of Inflammatory bowel disease comes from many years of esperience, clinical trials and mistakes. Discussion: In patients with active Crohn disease steroids are considerated the first choice, but recently, the introduction of anti-TNF alfa agents (infliximab and adalimumab) has changed the protocols. Anti-TNF are also used for closing fistula after surgical curettage. An efficently preventive treatment of Crohn disease still has not been found but hight dose of oral salicylates, azatioprine or 6-MP and antibiotics might be useful. In severe attacks of ulcerative colitis, high dose iv treatment of steroids are required for a few days. Later on, a further treatment with anti- TNF might delay the need of surgery. In patients with mild to moderate attacks of ulcerative colitis, topical treatment is preferred, it consists of enemas, suppositories or foams containing 5-aminosalycilic acid, traditional steroids, topical active steroids. Topical treatment can be associated with oral steroids or oral salicylates. Oral salicylates or azatioprine are used for prevention of relaps.
Statins and regression of organ damage
Authors: Panuccio Domenico
Published: April 2013

Atherosclerosis develops over the course of 50 years. It is a generally asymptomatic process that begins early in life in response to the stimuli of cardiovascular risk factors. The first step is a lipid retention, oxidation, and modification, which provokes chronic inflammation at susceptible sites in the walls of all major conduit arteries. Initial fatty streaks evolve into fibrous plaques, some of which develop into forms that are vulnerable to rupture, causing thrombosis or stenosis. Erosion of the surfaces of some plaques and rupture of a plaque’s calcific nodule into the artery lumen also may trigger thrombosis. It has been demonstrated that statins significantly affect the prognosis and outcome of patients either with or at risk of having cardiovascular atherosclerotic disease. Several studies suggested an extra-beneficial effect of statins, since they may affect the cardiovascular system beyond their effect on the lipid profile, through pleiotropic effects such as modulation of endothelial function, and reduction of inflammatory and immunological processes in the vascular bed. Thus, these drugs favorably alter atherosclerosis in term of plaque size, cellular composition, chemical composition, and biological activities.
Aging, patient-bed management and overcrowding in the medical departments
Authors: Gardellini Aldina , Nardi Roberto , Arienti Vincenzo , Panuccio Domenico , Bernardi Raffaella , Pedone Vincenzo
Published: April 2013

BACKGROUND Hospital overcrowding (HO) profoundly affects the whole hospital system, reducing productivity and efficiency. The aging population and the increased prevalence of chronic-degenerative diseases, susceptible to acute exacerbations, make the elderly as frequent users of the emergency room (ER). There is a general agreement that the current disease-oriented and episodic model of care does not adequately cope with the complex needs of older patients. Hospital admission and discharge do not sufficiently link with primary care and other community resources, such as long-term care facilities and outpatient clinics. AIM OF THE STUDY To evaluate, using a simple dedicated software, the activity data of nine hospitals of Local Health Authority of Bologna (Italy) (ER accesses, hospital admissions, average length of stay – LOS) and the impact of a patient and bed management net in which managers, doctors and nurses share their operational skills to improve patient flow in medical and geriatric wards. RESULTS Data show that 24% ER accesses concern people > 75 years old; 51% admissions concern people > 75 years old; half of these admissions are from ER frequent users (FU = ≥ 3 ER accesses/ year). Only 15% admissions of younger people are from ER frequent users. Each of > 75 years old frequent users produces an average of 2 admissions/year. At the end of the first year of this experience, ER accesses and admissions rose more than 8%. In our model of bed-management (patient and bed management net-software matching hospital capacity with admission, escalation measures) LOS was shortened by an average 0.5-1 day to a range from 0,5 to 1 day. DISCUSSION HO is due to mismanagement of chronic diseases (CD). Further actions are needed in primary health care to avoid unscheduled hospital due to CD. Applications for admission to hospital should be administered in the real context of the needs, developing both measures to face the contingent situation (setting temporary additional beds in one of the highest step of escalation measures) and post-discharge case management for selected “high risk-FU” patient profiles. CONCLUSIONS Our experience shows that an organizational model with a simple software is effective only to manage patient flow for relative small variations. Biggest peak of admissions requires strong link with primary care and other community resources, by systemic administration of health, particularly in frail people, with not scheduled hospital readmissions, for which hospital-centred care is not ever the best choice. Further research in initial ER assessment of FU is needed, by an identification of the high risk patient’s profile and its appropriate setting allocation.
Comprehensive care of elderly patients with hip fracture: the orthogeriatric model
Authors: Frondini Carlo , Lunardelli Maria L.
Published: April 2013

Introduction: Hip fractures in the elderly are a major source of morbidity and mortality. Interdisciplinary hospital care models proposed for the treatment of these patients include consultant teams, integrated orthopedic-geriatric care, and comprehensive geriatric-led care settings. A prospective interventional cohort study was conducted in 4 public hospitals in the Emilia-Romagna Region of Italy to compare the outcomes of these different care models. This report presents the preliminary results obtained with an orthogeriatric model in one of these centers, a large teaching hospital in Bologna. Materials and methods: Beginning in February 2008, all patients older than 75 years admitted to the University of Bologna’s Sant’Orsola-Malpighi Hospital for hip fractures were cared for in an orthogeriatric unit. The unit consisted of 10 beds in the orthopedic ward that were managed by a geriatric specialist and a multidisciplinary team, which met daily and included an orthopedic surgeon, a physiatrist, a nurse case-manager, staff nurses, a physical therapist, and a social worker. The management protocol included a thorough geriatric work-up to identify comorbidities and risk factors, systematic assessment and prevention of pain and acute disorientation, early verticalization and moblization, postacute rehabilitation therapy, family support, and regular follow-up after discharge. Preliminary results were compared with those achieved in the same orthopedic ward prior to the creation of the Orthogeriatric Unit. Results: During 2008, 226 elderly patients (mean age 86.2 + 5.5 years), 73.4% of whom were women, were admitted to the Orthogeriatric Unit for hip fractures. The mean Charlson comorbidity index of this cohort was 3.0 + 1.8). Half the patients had Activity of Daily Living scores < 4, and cognitive impairment was common (mean score on Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire: 5.9 + 3.2). Compared with figures obtained in the hospital’s orthopedic ward prior to 2008, in-hospital mortality dropped from 5.98% to 3.98%. The mean overall length of hospitalization was not significantly reduced, but the mean stay in the Orthogeriatric unit decreased by almost 2 days (to 10.46 days from 12.44 days in the traditional orthopedic unit). Discussion: Compared with traditional care models, the orthogeriatric model may allow better integration of the health-care resources available for the management of hip fractures in the elderly, and this improvement may have positive effects on the outcome of these cases.
Le cime e le valli
Authors: Nardi Roberto
Published: April 2013

Book review of:Vito Cagli Le cime e le valli Roma: Armando Editore, 2010 173 pagg., euro 15.00
Alla scoperta dell’ipertensione arteriosa: Una storia lunga alcuni secoli
Authors: Nardi Roberto
Published: April 2013

Book review of:Vito Cagli Alla scoperta dell’ipertensione arteriosa: Una storia lunga alcuni secoli. Roma: CIC Edizioni Internazionali, 2010 150 pagg., 25,00 euro.
Internists and Orthopedics: which competences and models are needed?
Authors: Colombo Fabrizio
Published: April 2013

Not available
Jesus� halakhic argumentation on the true intention of the law in Matthew 5:21−48
Authors: Viljoen Francois P.
Published: April 2013

In the time when Matthew wrote his gospel, the interpretation of the Torah became a feature of division. Matthew frequently presented Jesus as being in debate with the Pharisees and scribes on the true intention of the Law. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus was presented as using the halakhic form of argumentation to counter false assumptions about the meaning of the Torah. Six theses about the Torah were set, followed by Jesus� antitheses. Jesus� alternative interpretations were presented as an authoritative explanation of the true, intended meaning of the Law. Matthew argued that Jesus did not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets, but bring them to fulfilment. In this argument Jesus formulated the higher level of righteousness that is required of his followers.
Salivary Duct Cyst: Histo-pathologic Correlation
Authors: Vinayachandran Divya , Sankarapandian Sathasivasubramanian
Published: April 2013

Non-neoplastic cysts of the salivary glands are uncommon and represent 2-5% of all salivary gland lesions. They are mainly mucoceles or salivary duct cysts. Unlike a mucocele, which is surrounded by granulation tissue, the salivary duct cyst is lined by epithelium. Salivary duct cysts are more common in the oral minor salivary glands and rarely occur in the major salivary glands, show a marked predilection for the superficial lobe of the parotid, and represent 10% of all salivary gland cysts. Neoplastic differentiation of the lining of the salivary duct cyst has been reported. We report a case of a salivary duct cyst of the left parotid gland, with a review of radiographic and histopathologic features.
Ultrasensitive Real-Time PCR for the Clinical Management of Visceral Leishmaniasis in HIV-Infected Patients
Authors: Molina Israel , Fisa Roser , Riera Cristina , Falcó Vicenç , Elizalde Aleix , Salvador Fernando , Crespo Manuel , Curran Adrian , López-Chejade Paulo , Tebar Silvia , Pérez-Hoyos Santiago , Ribera Esteban , Pahissa Albert
Published: April 2013

Molecular methods have been proposed as an alternative tool for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), but no data are available regarding use for monitoring clinical outcome. A prospective cohort study of human immunodeficiency virus-(HIV) and VL-coinfected patients was conducted in a university-affiliated hospital in Barcelona, Spain. Leishmania parasite load was monitored using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at baseline and every 3 months. Cutoff values for PCR were determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Overall, 37 episodes were analyzed, and 25 of these episodes were considered as relapsing episodes. A significant decrease of parasite load measured 3 months after treatment could predict the clinical evolution of VL. A parasite load over 0.9 parasites/mL measured 12 months after treatment could predicts relapse with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 90.9%. Monitoring parasite load by an ultrasensitive quantitative Leishmania PCR is useful to predict the risk of relapse after a VL episode in HIV-infected patients.
Upwelling‐influence, macroalgal blooms, and seagrass production; temporal trends from latitudinal and local scales in northeast Pacific estuaries
Authors: Hessing-Lewis Margot L. , Hacker Sally D.
Published: April 2013

In coastal marine systems worldwide, land‐based nutrient inputs are often correlated with blooms of macroalgae, which can negatively affect seagrass habitats. We used spatiotemporal trends in production to identify the role of marine‐derived nutrients in mediating these interactions. Among ocean upwelling‐influenced estuaries along the northeastern Pacific, we documented a negative correlation between annual production of ulvoid macroalgae and the seagrass, Zostera marina L., at a regional scale that included four estuaries along a ∼ 400 km distance. While macroalgal biomass was ∼ 30 times greater in southern (Yaquina Bay and Coos Bay, Oregon) compared to northern (Willapa Bay, Washington, and Netarts Bay, Oregon) estuaries, no temporal patterns of eelgrass decline were observed within the estuaries over a 5 yr period. Latitudinally, 65% of the between‐site ordination variance in interannual macrophyte production was associated with ocean upwelling; macroalgae was positively correlated, and eelgrass negatively correlated with more intense upwelling. Within one estuary, Coos Bay, we found that land‐based nutrients had no effect on macrophyte productivity. Instead, a little more than a third of the variation was explained by upwelling (marine dissolved inorganic nitrogen and salinity) and climate (photosynthetically active radiation). Thus, contrary to the paradigm of negative effects of macroalgae on eelgrass, we found correlative evidence that ocean upwelling and local estuarine conditions could be responsible for these large biogeographic patterns.
The contribution of oceanic methyl iodide to stratospheric iodine
Authors: Tegtmeier S. , Krüger K. , Quack B. , Atlas E. , Blake D. R. , Boenisch H. , Engel A. , Hepach H. , Hossaini R. , Navarro M. A. , Raimund S. , Sala S. , Shi Q. , Ziska F.
Published: April 2013

Abstract. We investigate the contribution of oceanic methyl iodide (CH3I) to the stratospheric iodine budget. Based on CH3I measurements during three tropical ship campaigns and the Lagrangian transport model FLEXPART we provide a detailed analysis of CH3I transport from the ocean surface to the cold point in the upper tropical tropopause layer (TTL). While average oceanic emissions differ by less than 50% from campaign to campaign, the measurements show much stronger variations within each campaign. A positive correlation between the oceanic CH3I emissions and the efficiency of CH3I troposphere–stratosphere transport has been identified for some cruise sections. The mechanism of strong horizontal surface winds triggering large emissions on the one hand and being associated with tropical convective systems, such as developing typhoons, on the other hand, could explain the identified correlations. As a result of the simultaneous occurrence of large CH3I emissions and strong vertical uplift, localized maximum mixing ratios of 0.6 ppt CH3I at the cold point have been determined for observed peak emissions during the SHIVA-Sonne campaign in the coastal West Pacific. The other two campaigns give considerable smaller maxima of 0.1 ppt CH3I for the TransBrom campaign in the open West Pacific and 0.03 ppt for emissions from the coastal East Atlantic during the DRIVE campaign. In order to assess the representativeness of the large local mixing ratios we use climatological emission scenarios to derive global upper air estimates of CH3I abundances. The model results are compared to available upper air measurements including data from the recent ATTREX and HIPPO2 aircraft campaigns. In the East Pacific region, the location of the available measurement campaigns in the upper TTL, the comparisons give a good agreement indicating that around 0.01 to 0.02 ppt of CH3I enter the stratosphere. However, other tropical regions, which are subject to stronger convective activity show larger CH3I entrainment, e.g., 0.08 ppt in the West Pacific. The strong variations in the geographical distribution of CH3I entrainment suggest that currently available upper air measurements are not representative of global estimates and further campaigns will be necessary in order to better understand the CH3I contribution to stratospheric iodine.
A Marine Aerosol Reference Tank system as a breaking wave analogue for the production of foam and sea-spray aerosols
Authors: Stokes M. D. , Deane G. B. , Prather K. , Bertram T. H. , Ruppel M. J. , Ryder O. S. , Brady J. M. , Zhao D.
Published: April 2013

Abstract. In order to better understand the processes governing the production of marine aerosols a repeatable, controlled method for their generation is required. The Marine Aerosol Reference Tank (MART) has been designed to closely approximate oceanic conditions by producing an evolving bubble plume and surface foam patch. The tank utilizes an intermittently plunging sheet of water and large volume tank reservoir to simulate turbulence, plume and foam formation, and the water flow is monitored volumetrically and acoustically to ensure the repeatability of conditions.
Understanding soil erosion impacts in temperate agroecosystems: bridging the gap between geomorphology and soil ecology
Authors: Baxter C. , Rowan J. S. , McKenzie B. M. , Neilson R.
Published: April 2013

Abstract. Soil is a key asset of natural capital, providing a myriad of goods and ecosystem services that sustain life through regulating, supporting and provisioning roles, delivered by chemical, physical and biological processes. One of the greatest threats to soil is accelerated erosion, which raises a natural process to unsustainable levels, and has downstream consequences (e.g. economic, environmental and social). Global intensification of agroecosystems is a major cause of soil erosion which, in light of predicted population growth and increased demand for food security, will continue or increase. Elevated erosion and transport is common in agroecosystems and presents a multi-disciplinary problem with direct physical impacts (e.g. soil loss), other less tangible impacts (e.g. loss of ecosystem productivity), and indirect downstream effects that necessitate an integrated approach to effectively address the problem. Climate is also likely to increase susceptibility of soil to erosion. Beyond physical response, the consequences of erosion on soil biota have hitherto been ignored, yet biota play a fundamental role in ecosystem service provision. To our knowledge few studies have addressed the gap between erosion and consequent impacts on soil biota. Transport and redistribution of soil biota by erosion is poorly understood, as is the concomitant impact on biodiversity and ability of soil to deliver the necessary range of ecosystem services to maintain function. To investigate impacts of erosion on soil biota a two-fold research approach is suggested. Physical processes involved in redistribution should be characterised and rates of transport and redistribution quantified. Similarly, cumulative and long-term impacts of biota erosion should be considered. Understanding these fundamental aspects will provide a basis upon which mitigation strategies can be considered.
Climate change impact on groundwater levels: ensemble modelling of extreme values
Authors: Kidmose J. , Refsgaard J. C. , Troldborg L. , Seaby L. P. , Escrivà M. M.
Published: April 2013

Abstract. This paper presents a first attempt to estimate future groundwater levels by applying extreme value statistics on predictions from a hydrological model. Climate scenarios for the future period, 2081–2100, are represented by projections from nine combinations of three global climate models and six regional climate models, and downscaled (including bias correction) with two different methods. An integrated surface water/groundwater model is forced with precipitation, temperature, and potential evapotranspiration from the 18 models and downscaling combinations. Extreme value analyses are performed on the hydraulic head changes from a control period (1991–2010) to the future period for the 18 combinations. Hydraulic heads for return periods of 21, 50 and 100 yr (T21–100) are estimated. Three uncertainty sources are evaluated: climate models, downscaling and extreme value statistics. Of these sources, extreme value statistics dominates for return periods higher than 50 yr, whereas uncertainty from climate models and extreme value statistics are similar for lower return periods. Uncertainty from downscaling only contributes to around 10% of the uncertainty from the three sources.
Importance of vegetation, topography and flow paths for water transit times of base flow in alpine headwater catchments
Authors: Mueller M. H. , Weingartner R. , Alewell C.
Published: April 2013

Abstract. The mean transit time (MTT) of water in a catchment gives information about storage, flow paths, sources of water and thus also about retention and release of solutes in a catchment. To our knowledge there are only a few catchment studies on the influence of vegetation cover changes on base flow MTTs. The main changes in vegetation cover in the Swiss Alps are massive shrub encroachment and forest expansion into formerly open habitats. Four small and relatively steep headwater catchments in the Swiss Alps (Ursern Valley) were investigated to relate different vegetation cover to water transit times. Time series of water stable isotopes were used to calculate MTTs. The high temporal variation of the stable isotope signals in precipitation was strongly dampened in stream base flow samples. MTTs of the four catchments were 70 to 102 weeks. The strong dampening of the stable isotope input signal as well as stream water geochemistry points to deeper flow paths and mixing of waters of different ages at the catchments' outlets. MTTs were neither related to topographic indices nor vegetation cover. The major part of the quickly infiltrating precipitation likely percolates through fractured and partially karstified deeper rock zones, which increases the control of bedrock flow paths on MTT. Snow accumulation and the timing of its melt play an important role for stable isotope dynamics during spring and early summer. We conclude that, in mountainous headwater catchments with relatively shallow soil layers, the hydrogeological and geochemical patterns (i.e. geochemistry, porosity and hydraulic conductivity of rocks) and snow dynamics influence storage, mixing and release of water in a stronger way than vegetation cover or topography do.
AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON REGISTRATION THREE-DIMENSIONAL RANGE IMAGES USING RANGE AND INTENSITY DATA
Authors: Altuntas C.
Published: April 2013

Abstract. Laser scanner is noncontact instrument to measurement of spatial data. It measures object surfaces as point series and visualize as point cloud. One of the important steps on processes of laser scanning data is the registration of point clouds relation to common coordinate system. Many interactive and automatic methods have been developed for point cloud registration so far. The automatic methods are applied with range data of laser scanner or image data of sensor combination camera. The registration by range data is mostly depend object geometry. If scan surface is deprived from geometrical details, conjugate points can not be found to compute registration parameters between point clouds. In that case, intensity data of laser points can be used for registration. In this study, intensity image was created from laser scanner data and the registration parameters were computed with keypoints extracted by SIFT method from these images. The results were also compared with the iterative closest point (ICP) method.
STITCHING LARGE MAPS FROM VIDEOS TAKEN BY A CAMERA MOVING CLOSE OVER A PLANE USING HOMOGRAPHY DECOMPOSITION
Authors: Michaelsen E.
Published: April 2013

Abstract. For applications such as underwater monitoring a platform with a camera will be moving close to a large roughly planar scene. The idea to map the scene by stitching a panorama using planar homographies is nearby. However, serious problems occur with drift caused by uncertainty in the estimation of the matrices and un-modelled lens distortions. Sooner or later image points will be mapped to infinity. Instead this contribution recommends using the homographies only for the composition of local patches. Then the homography obtained between the first and the last frame in such patch can be decomposed giving an estimate of the surface normal. Thus the patches can be rectified and finally stitched into a global panorama using only shift in x and y. The paper reports about experiments carried out preliminarily with a video taken on dry ground but a first under water video has also been processed.
INTERPRETATION OF 2D AND 3D BUILDING DETAILS ON FACADES AND ROOFS
Authors: Meixner P. , Leberl F. , Brédif M.
Published: April 2013

Abstract. Current Internet-inspired mapping data are in the form of street maps, orthophotos, 3D models or street-side images and serve to support mostly search and navigation. Yet the only mapping data that currently can really be searched are the street maps via their addresses and coordinates. The orthophotos, 3D models and street-side images represent predominantly "eye candy" with little added value to the Internet-user. We are interested in characterizing the elements of the urban space from imagery. In this paper we discuss the use of street side imagery and aerial imagery to develop descriptions of urban spaces, initially of building facades and roofs. We present methods (a) to segment facades using high-overlap street side facade images, (b) to map facades and facade details from vertical aerial images, and (c) to characterize roofs by their type and details, also from aerial photography. This paper describes a method of roof segmentation with the goal of assigning each roof to a specific architectural style. Questions of the use of the attic space, or the placement of solar panels, are of interest. It is of interest that roofs have recently been mapped using LiDAR point clouds. We demonstrate that aerial images are a useful and economical alternative to LiDAR for the characterization of building roofs, and that they also contain very valuable information about facades.
SMART FILTERING OF INTERFEROMETRIC PHASES FOR ENHANCING BUILDING RECONSTRUCTION
Authors: Thiele A. , Dubois C. , Cadario E. , Hinz S.
Published: April 2013

Abstract. The current generation of space borne high resolution SAR sensors provides high spatial resolution as well as interferometric data within short time frames. This makes such data attractive for 3D information extraction. Especially, the operational configuration of TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X opens up new perspectives for this kind of applications. Despite of this, the interferometric phases still suffer from considerable noise, so that filtering is mandatory to enhance building reconstruction. In our previous work, we used conventional Multilook-filtering to smooth the phase signature. For large buildings acceptable filter results are shown, but signatures of small buildings and significant layover areas are destroyed by the use of large square windows. Such filters are especially inappropriate if building orientations are not aligned with the sensor flight direction. Hence, in this paper, we present modified InSAR phase filters to support 3D building reconstruction. The implementation focuses on two different strategies: on the one hand taking GIS information into account, in order to parameterize the filters accordingly, and on the other hand purely relying on the image data. The filters are tested on simulated interferometric phases and on real single-pass airborne InSAR data. Finally, filter properties are compared with current standard InSAR filters.
ASSESSMENT OF RADARSAT-2 HR STEREO DATA OVER CANADIAN NORTHERN AND ARCTIC STUDY SITES
Authors: Toutin T. , Omari K. , Blondel E. , Clavet D. , Schmitt C. V.
Published: April 2013

Abstract. Digital surface models (DSMs) extracted from high-resolution Radarsat-2 (R2) stereo images using a new hybrid radargrammetric modeling developed at the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing are evaluated over two Canadian northern and arctic study sites. Because the new hybrid model uses the full metadata of R2, it does not require any ground control point. The first study site in the north of Quebec is used for the scientific validation where accurate checked data (dGPS, lidas) is available. The second study site in the Arctic (steep relief and glaciated surfaces) is challenging for the operational evaluation of topographic mapping capabilities of R2. For the first study site, the bias and elevation linear errors with 68 percent confidence level (LE68) of R2 stero-extracted DSM compared to lidar data were computed over bare surfaces: LE90 of 3.9 m and no bias were achieved. For the second study site the comparison was performed between the R2 DEM and ICESat data. A negative 18-m bias was computed and certainly results suggests a bias in the stereo-model of R2 and thus in the metadata used in the model computation because there is few temporal variation in the data acquisition (R2 and ICESat)/ LE68 of 28 m was obtained. However, the differential melting and thinning depending of the glaciers elevations and planimetric surging of glacier tongues with less accumulation of debris and moraines, a lower LE68 of around 20 m could be expected. In addition to evaluate the potential of R2 over ice bodies, which generally have low slope relief and because the errors are strongly correlated with slopes, other statistical results of elevation differences were also computed: LE68 of 15 m was obtained over ice fields with 0–5° slopes while a little more than 20-m over less than 30° slopes was achieved.