bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
L‘écologie entre au musée
Authors: Nair S. M.
Published: July 2010

Ardent défenseur de la mission pédagogique du musée d'histoire naturelle, l'auteur a eu maintes occasions de mettre ses idées en pratique en qualité de fondateur, puis de directeur, depuis plus de vingt ans, du Musée national d'histoire naturelle de New Delhi. Vice‐président du Comité international pour les musées et collections d'histoire naturelle de l'ICOM et de l'Association des musées de l'Inde, S. M. Nair est conseiller du Fonds mondial pour la nature pour l'Inde. Il doit sa consécration internationale à l'attribution de la J. D. Rockefeller III Fund Fellowship, de la Homi Bhabha Fellowship et de la Smithsonian National Museum Act Fellowship. Le gouvernement de l'Inde lui a décerné le Distinguished Scientist Award 1993–1994 pour sa contribution à l'éducation relative à l'environnement et à la muséologie.
L'esthétique au service de la science: la Grande Galerie de l‘évolution, à Paris
Authors: Maigret Jacques
Published: July 2010

Le 21 juin 1994, François Mitterrand, président de la République française, inaugurait la Grande Galerie de l'évolution du Museum national d'histoire naturelle, à Paris. C'était alors l'aboutissement d'un travail de réflexion et de conception qui s'était prolongé cinq ans durant. Jacques Maigret, conservateur à la Grande Galerie, est océanographe et biologiste des pêches. Après une carrière de chercheur en Afrique de l'Ouest, où il a occupé les fonctions de conservateur du Musée de la mer de Gorée, à Dakar, Sénégal, il a été directeur de l'Aquarium du Musée océanographique de Monaco. En 1990, il rejoint l'équipe chargée de la conception muséologique de la future Grande Galerie de l'évolution. A l'ouverture de celle‐ci, il prend en charge le service Conservation et Collections.
L'atelier, source d'inspiration
Authors: Valentien Imke K.
Published: July 2010

Transformée en musée, la demeure d'un artiste devient à soi seul objet d'exposition. Ce qui toutefois pose bien des problèmes complexes touchant aux notions d'authenticité, d'objectivité, aux relations entre espace public et lieu privé. C'est ce qu'explique Imke K. Valentien qui, après avoir travaillé dans des musées de Stuttgart, de Düsseldorf et de. Paris, est devenu un spécialiste indépendant de l'histoire de l'art, et assistant de galerie à Düsseldorf. Il est l'auteur d'une étude intitulée Le musée, une image de l'artiste, à paraître dans un ouvrage qui sera publié prochainement en Italie.
L'ICOM a cinquante ans
Authors: Boylan Patrick J.
Published: July 2010

En novembre 1996, le Conseil international des musées — ICOM — célébrera ses cinquante ans d'activité an service de la communauté muséale. Pendant ce demi‐siècle d'existence, l'ICOM a contribué de manière significative an développement spectaculaire de musées de toutes sortes aux quatre corns du monde. L'influence du Conseil et son infatigable engagement à travers le monde en faveur du développement et de la promotion des musées et des professions qui y sont liées sont attestés par le fait qu'une forte majorité des musées sont plus jeunes que l'ICOM lui‐même. Patrick Boylan, son vice‐président, est l'un des trois membres du conseil exécutif qui écrivent l'histoire de ce cinquantenaire de l'ICOM. Il offre dans le présent article quelques réflexions personnelles sur les principaux aspects de l'évolution et des réalisations de l'ICOM.
Les musées maritimes, gardiens d'un patrimoine mondial
Authors: Genin Olivier
Published: July 2010

Nous tenons à remercier tout particulièrement Olivier Genin pour le concours enthousiaste et avisé qu'il a apporté à l'élaboration de ce dossier. Après une carrière dans la Marine nationale, puis dans la marine marchande, il n'a cessé de s'intéresser au monde de la mer, auquel il voue une véritable passion. Membre de l'Institut de la mer, il a mené de 1990 à 1992, pour le compte du Ministère de la culture, une étude sur les principaux musées maritimes européens. A partir de ses recherches et de ses contacts personnels avec les dirigeants d'institutions européennes et américaines, il vient d'achever un recueil où sont relatées diverses initiatives prises actuellement pour valoriser le patrimoine maritime. La version anglaise de cet ouvrage est en préparation. Olivier Genin présente ici l'ensemble d'articles qui composent ce numéro de Museum international.
Les trésors maritimes d'Israël: fouilles et collections
Authors: Kashtan Nadav
Published: July 2010

La diversité et la richesse des collections maritimes d'Israël témoignent de la longue histoire de la navigation dans la région. Né à Haïfa, Nadav Kashtan a soutenu en France une thèse de doctorat, La côte septentrionale de la Palestine aux époques hellénistique et romaine. Diplômé du Programme d'études muséologiques de l'Université de Tel‐Aviv, il a été directeur du Musée maritime national de 1990 à 1995. Enseignant an Département des civilisations maritimes de l'Université de Haïfa, Nadav Kashtan est un spécialiste des civilisations de la mer et de la navigation de l'Antiquité méditerranéenne. Il dirige actuellement, au Centre d'études maritimes, un projet de recherche sur » la contribution juive à l'histoire de l'armement naval et de la navigation «.
A Workload-Adaptive and Reconfigurable Bus Architecture for Multicore Processors
Authors: Akram Shoaib , Papakonstantinou Alexandros , Kumar Rakesh , Chen Deming
Published: July 2010

Interconnection networks for multicore processors are traditionally designed to serve a diversity of workloads. However, different workloads or even different execution phases of the same workload may benefit from different interconnect configurations. In this paper, we first motivate the need for workload-adaptive interconnection networks. Subsequently, we describe an interconnection network framework based on reconfigurable switches for use in medium-scale (up to 32 cores) shared memory multicore processors. Our cost-effective reconfigurable interconnection network is implemented on a traditional shared bus interconnect with snoopy-based coherence, and it enables improved multicore performance. The proposed interconnect architecture distributes the cores of the processor into clusters with reconfigurable logic between clusters to support workload-adaptive policies for inter-cluster communication. Our interconnection scheme is complemented by interconnect-aware scheduling and additional interconnect optimizations which help boost the performance of multiprogramming and multithreaded workloads. We provide experimental results that show that the overall throughput of multiprogramming workloads (consisting of two and four programs) can be improved by up to 60% with our configurable bus architecture. Similar gains can be achieved also for multithreaded applications as shown by further experiments. Finally, we present the performance sensitivity of the proposed interconnect architecture on shared memory bandwidth availability.
A Survey of Cognitive Radio Access to TV White Spaces
Authors: Nekovee Maziar
Published: July 2010

Cognitive radio is being intensively researched as the enabling technology for license-exempt access to the so-called TV White Spaces (TVWS), large portions of spectrum in the UHF/VHF bands which become available on a geographical basis after digital switchover. Both in the US, and more recently, in the UK the regulators have given conditional endorsement to this new mode of access. This paper reviews the state-of-the-art in technology, regulation, and standardisation of cognitive access to TVWS. It examines the spectrum opportunity and commercial use cases associated with this form of secondary access.
A System of Generalized Mixed Equilibrium Problems and Fixed Point Problems for Pseudocontractive Mappings in Hilbert Spaces
Authors: Kumam Poom , Jaiboon Chaichana
Published: July 2010

We introduce and analyze a new iterative algorithm for finding a common element of the set of fixed points of strict pseudocontractions, the set of common solutions of a system of generalized mixed equilibrium problems, and the set of common solutions of the variational inequalities with inverse-strongly monotone mappings in Hilbert spaces. Furthermore, we prove new strong convergence theorems for a new iterative algorithm under some mild conditions. Finally, we also apply our results for solving convex feasibility problems in Hilbert spaces. The results obtained in this paper improve and extend the corresponding results announced by Qin and Kang (2010) and the previously known results in this area.
Pain in Children: Assessment and Nonpharmacological Management
Authors: Srouji Rasha , Ratnapalan Savithiri , Schneeweiss Suzan
Published: July 2010

Pain perception in children is complex, and is often difficult to assess. In addition, pain management in children is not always optimized in various healthcare settings, including emergency departments. A review of pain assessment scales that can be used in children across all ages, and a discussion of the importance of pain in control and distraction techniques during painful procedures are presented. Age specific nonpharmacological interventions used to manage pain in children are most effective when adapted to the developmental level of the child. Distraction techniques are often provided by nurses, parents or child life specialists and help in pain alleviation during procedures.
Morphological Variation and Ecological Structure of Iroko (Milicia excelsaWelw. C.C. Berg) Populations across Different Biogeographical Zones in Benin
Authors: Ouinsavi Christine , Sokpon Nestor
Published: July 2010

Iroko (Milicia excelsa) is a commercially important timber tree species formerly known by local people in Benin. Because of the highly attractive technological properties of its wood and its multipurpose uses, the species was subjected to intensive human pressure. Apart from strong climate oscillation during the Pleistocene, human caused habitat fragmentation through continuous land clearing for agriculture, extensive forests exploitation and urbanization induced the occurrence of many isolated forest plots and trees species among whichMilicia excelsatrees. As fragmentation was proved to have deleterious effects on genetic diversity within a species and its morphological structure, it was of interest to investigate the current demographic, morphological and genetic structure ofM. excelsabefore coming up with conservation strategies. In the current study, morphological variation and ecological structure ofM. excelsapopulations were assessed in Benin using transect sampling method and multivariate analyses including principal component, cluster and canonical discriminant analyses. On the basis of morphological parameters,M. excelsaindividuals and populations were clustered into four and discrimination of groups indicated that most of variations were highly related to edaphic factors and annual rainfall. Erratic diameter distribution was found for many populations although most of them showed bell shaped diameter distribution.
Modeling and Evolutionary Optimization on Multilevel Production Scheduling: A Case Study
Authors: Shi Ruifeng , Shangguan Chunxia , Zhou Hong
Published: July 2010

Multilevel production scheduling problem is a typical combinatorial optimization problem in a manufacturing system, which is traditionally modeled as several hierarchical sublevel problems and optimized at each level, respectively. An integrated model, which can cope with the whole multilevel scheduling information simultaneously, is proposed in this paper, and a specific evolutionary algorithm is designed to solve the integrated model with a twin-screw coding strategy. In order to evaluate the performance of the new algorithm, a real 3-level production scheduling problem is employed for case study, and two typical metaheuristic algorithms, a genetic algorithm (GA) and a simulated annealing (SA), are also employed for comparison study. Experimental simulation results show that our proposed modeling and optimization method has outperformed the other ones.
Polyamic Acid Nanofibers Produced by Needleless Electrospinning
Authors: Jirsak Oldrich , Sysel Petr , Sanetrnik Filip , Hruza Jakub , Chaloupek Jiri
Published: July 2010

The polyimide precursor (polyamic acid) produced of 4, 4′‐oxydiphthalic anhydride and 4, 4′‐oxydianiline was electrospun using needleless electrospinning method. Nonwoven layers consisting of submicron fibers with diameters in the range about 143–470 nm on the polypropylene spunbond supporting web were produced. Filtration properties of these nanofiber layers on the highly permeable polypropylene support—namely filtration effectivity and pressure drop—were evaluated. Consequently, these polyamic acid fibers were heated to receive polyimide nanofibers. The imidization process has been studied using IR spectroscopy. Some comparisons with the chemically identical polyimide prepared as the film were made.
Synthesis of Fluorocyclotriphosphazene Derivatives and Their Fire-Retardant Finishing on Cotton Fabrics
Authors: Zhanxiong Li , Liping Du
Published: July 2010

A series of novel fire-retardant agents, fluorocyclotriphosphazene derivatives with the substitution groups of 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropoxy groups were synthesized using hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene and 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl alcohol as starting materials. The synthesized fire-retardant agent was emulsified and applied on the cotton fabric finishing to reduce the flammability and afford water/oil repellency simultaneously. The optimum finishing process was achieved according to the test of cotton finishing with fluorocyclotriphosphazene. The treated cotton showed not only excellent fire-retardant performance, but also water and oil repellency with little change in strength and whiteness.
Comparison of Two Anti-Hepatitis C Virus Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays: Wellcozyme VK45 and Ortho 2.0
Authors: Vrielink H. , van der Poel C.L. , Reesink H.W. , Lelie P.N.
Published: July 2010

Background: The aim of the present study was to compare 2 anti-HCV ELISA tests with respect to sensitivity specificity in detecting Hepatitis C antigen. Materials and Methods: A 3rd-generation anti-HCV ELISA (Wellcozyme anti-HCV VK45) was compared with a 2nd-generation anti-HCV ELISA (Ortho HCV 2.0) in various serum panels: A) anti-HCV ELISA-positive samples of blood donations (n = 536) B) non-A, non-B hepatitis patients (n = 188), C) multi-transfused patients (n = 79), D) hemodialysis patients (n = 473), and E) random blood donors (n = 1,080). Results: Of 248 cDNA polymerase chain reaction (cDNA-PCR) positive samples in panels A, B, C, ELISA-VK45 detected 247 (99.6%) and Ortho-2 248 (100%). The cDNA-PCR-positive sample missed by ELISA-VK45 showed isolated anti-C33c reactivity in a 2nd-generation recombinant immunoblot (RIBA-2). Of 281 RIBA-2-positive samples, ELISA-VK45 detected 274 (97.5%) and Ortho-2 279 (99.3%). ELISA-VK45-negative, RIBA-2-positive samples showed combined anti-C100/5-1-1 reactivity in RIBA-2 in 6/7 cases and anti-C22 and C33c reactivity in one. Ortho-2-negative, RIBA-2-positive samples showed combined anti-C100/5-l-l reactivity in RIBA-2 in 2/2 cases. The specificities of ELISA-VK45 and Ortho-2 were not significantly different in 1,080 blood donors. Conclusion: It is concluded that the ELISA-VK45 lacks sensitivity because a cDNA-PCR-confirmed positive sample was missed in the assay. The specificity of both ELISAs was comparable.
Modellrechnungen zum HIV-Screening bei Blut- und Plasmaspendern mit der Kombination zweier Suchtests: Teststrategien, Validität, Kosten und Nutzen
Authors: Abel U. , Kießig S.T.
Published: July 2010

Ziel: Die verschiedenen möglichen Strategien der Kombination zweier Suchtests im Screening für HIV-Infektionen bei Blut- oder Plasmaspendern werden präzisiert und im Hinblick auf ihre Wertigkeit, d. h. ihre Validität, Kosten und Nutzen, analysiert. Design: Biometrische Modellrechnungen aufgrund vorgegebener Annahmen über die Validität der Einzeltests, die bedingten Korrelationen zwischen ihnen, die Kosten der Testungen sowie die Folgekosten von Falschbefundungen. Ergebnisse: Definiert man den Kombinationstest als positiv, wenn mindestens einer der Einzeltests positiv ausfällt, so führt diese Regel («believe the positive», BTP) wegen ihrer niedrigen Spezifität zu äußerst geringen positiven Vorhersagewerten. Für höhere Prävalenzen der Infektion (z. B. 1:1000) führt die Kombination von Tests nach der BTB-Regel zu geringeren Gesamtkosten als die Einzeltestung, sofern sich diese nicht schon durch hohe Sensitivität (z. B. 99%) auszeichnet. Für kleine Prävalenzen ( < 1:50000), wie sie in der selektionierten Gruppe der Blut- oder Plasma-spender eher realistisch sind, ist die Kombinationstestung unergiebig: Die Mehr-kosten zur Entdeckung einer zusätzlichen Infektion (im Vergleich zur Einzeltestung) können hier, je nach Korrelation zwischen den Tests und der Sensitivität der Einzeltests, Größenordnungen von mehreren 100 Millionen DM erreichen. Schlußfolgerungen: Der Aufwand für die Entdeckung zusätzlicher HIV-Infizierter durch Hinzunahme eines weiteren Suchtests im Screeningverfahren ist so beträcht-lich, daß die Entscheidung dafür auf gesamtgesellschaftlicher Ebene getroffen werden sollte.
Validierung computergestützter Verfahren bei der Herstellung von Blut- und Blutbestandteilkonserven
Authors: Reinhardt F.
Published: July 2010

Hintergrund: Die Validierung computergestützter Verfahren bei der Herstellung von Blut- und Blutbestandteilkonserven ist für ein pharmazeutisches Unternehmen eine Grundvoraussetzung bei der Umsetzung der Pharmabetriebsverordnung. Bei der Validierung computergestützter Verfahren in der Medizin oder Pharmazie sind die Wissensgebiete Informatik und Technik mit Anwendungen in Medizin und Pharmazie zu verknüpfen. Methode: Vielfach sind die Anwendungen, für die der dokumentierte Nachweis über die zu erbringende Leistungsfähigkeit eines Systems zu führen ist, zu complex, so daß eine Validierung nur in Modulgruppen praktikabel ist. Dies wird am Beispiel der Blutgruppenbestimmung auf der Mikrotiterplatte gezeigt. Ergebnisse: Nach Auswahl der Hard- und Software nach informationstechnischen Sicherheitskriterien unter Beachtung von Funktionalitätsklassen und Qualitätsstufen erfolgte eine umfassende Dokumentation der Validierung der Blutgruppenbestimmung auf der Mikrotiterplatte. Schlußfolgerungen: Der erhöhte Aufwand zur Methodenvalidierung bei der Schaffung von Automatisierungsstrukturen führt zu einem höheren Grad an Sicherheit, wobei diese dokumentierte Nachweisführung Bestandteil eines funktionierenden Qualitätssicherheitssystems sein sollte.
The Role of Exenterative Surgery and Urinary Diversion in Persistent or Locally Recurrent Gynecological Malignancy: Complications and Survival
Authors: Spahn M. , Weiss C. , Bader P. , Frohneberg D. , Studer U.E. , Burkhard F.C.
Published: July 2010

Objective: Treatment options in patients with persistent or locally recurrent cervical cancer are limited. The aim of this study was to determine the chance of cure and associated morbidity following pelvic exenteration. Patients and Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent pelvic exenteration between January 1992 and December 2006 at the University Hospital of Bern or the Karlsruhe Medical Center were evaluated. Time to recurrence, type of exenteration and urinary diversion, pathological stage, postoperative complications and survival were assessed. Results: Initial therapy prior to diagnosis of persistent or locally recurrent disease included radiation therapy in 51%. Anterior exenteration was performed in 37 (86%) and total exenteration in 6 (14%). Half of the women underwent additional procedures. A continent urinary diversion was constructed in 16 and an ileal conduit in 27 patients. Early postoperative complications were generally minor and only 2 patients required surgical intervention. Four intestinal fistulas were successfully treated conservatively. Late complications were mainly tumor-related. Complication rates associated with the urinary diversion were low and there was no difference in complications between continent and incontinent diversions. The overall disease-specific 5-year survival rate after exenteration was 36.5%. Survival correlated significantly with surgical margin status. Conclusion: In patients with persistent or locally recurrent gynecological malignancy of the pelvis, exenteration is a viable option with long-term survival in over one third of patients. Continent urinary diversion did not show higher complication rates than an ileal conduit and should be considered even in irradiated patients. This may be of greater significance in younger patients in whom an intact body image can play an important role in quality of life.
Pilot Study on the Effect of Composite UmayC in Catheter-Associated Lower Urinary Tract Infection
Authors: Chen C.S. , Chang P.J. , Ho D.R.
Published: July 2010

Purpose: Previous studies showed that cranberries and related products may play a role in the prevention of urinary tract infection. The objective of this study is to investigate composite UmayC, a cranberry composite with the herbal extract Acrobio TS® and Acrobio GL®, in its effectiveness for catheter-associated lower urinary tract infection in an animal model. Materials and Methods: A catheter was inserted into the bladder of rats with or without bacterial suspension. The rats were randomly assigned to the treated or the control group, which, respectively, received or did not receive UmayC in chowder diet. The voiding pattern was recorded using a metabolic cage. Spleen lysate cytokines were measured in both groups with Western blot analysis. Results: The voiding pattern remained nearly the same in UmayC-treated rats, even when they had a bacterial suspension-filled catheter inserted. The most significant cytokine changes in these rats were decreased spleen interleukin-10 and interleukin-6, which may indicate a diminished host response to infection under UmayC herbal composite treatment. Conclusions: UmayC herbal composite can reduce bladder irritation caused by catheter-related infection. The host immune response to infection may also be altered and improved by the preventive effectiveness of Acrobio TS- and Acrobio GL-composited cranberry.
Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Infants with Periventricular Hemorrhagic Infarction: Associations and Outcomes
Authors: Maitre N.L. , Marshall D.D. , Goldstein R.F. , Slaughter J.C. , Price W.A.
Published: July 2010

Background: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and periventricular hemorrhagic infarction (PVHI) are complications of prematurity associated with poor neurodevelopmental outcomes. Objectives: We characterized temporal and causal associations between NEC and type of PVHI as well as associations with outcomes. Methods: This was a multicenter retrospective study of infants with birth weight <1,500 g and diagnosis of PVHI by a pediatric radiologist at 3 neonatal intensive care units in North Carolina, USA, between January 1998 and December 2004. NEC was confirmed using radiological and surgical pathology findings. Infants were assessed by 3 years using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, second edition. Results: 35 of 112 (31%) of study patients developed NEC. NEC was diagnosed subsequent to PVHI by a median of 16.6 days (95% CI [9.5, 24.9], p < 0.0001). Indomethacin use and the presence of bilateral PVHI were associated with an increased risk of subsequent NEC (OR 2.8, 95% CI [1.1, 7.2] and OR 2.4, 95% CI [1.1, 5.7], respectively). Having bilateral versus unilateral PVHI was associated with a 2.34-fold increased risk of death (95% CI [1.27, 4.33], p = 0.007). NEC was not associated with worse motor outcomes in this population. Overall, the probability of a mental development index >70 was greatest for infants with unilateral PVHI versus bilateral PVHI, although the presence of NEC was associated with worse cognitive outcomes in both groups. Conclusions: Premature infants with PVHI often subsequently develop NEC, especially if they have bilateral PVHI and are exposed to indomethacin. While NEC results in worse neurodevelopmental outcomes, PVHI severity appears more important to the outcome of these infants.
Prostate Cancer: Recent Trends in Korea
Authors: Chi Byung Hoon , Chang In Ho
Published: July 2010

Introduction: We investigated the yearly changes in the baseline prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and the incidence of prostate cancer in men screened at our health promotion center from 1995 to 2008 to determine the trends in prostate cancer in Korea. Subjects and Methods: The participants were 6,007 men, who had PSA screening for the first time at the health promotion center. Changes in the baseline PSA levels, age, body mass index (BMI), and cholesterol levels were investigated. We evaluated the percentage of participants with a PSA level ≧2.0 and 4.0 ng/ml; the men were stratified by a 5-year age range, over two calendar years. In addition, we reviewed the results of their prostate biopsies. Results: The median baseline PSA level and the percentage of participants with a PSA level ≧2.0 and 4.0 ng/ml was not increased. The univariate and multivariate analyses, controlled for age and BMI, showed that two calendar years was not an independent predictive factor of the PSA level. The biopsy compliance rate increased from 36% during 1997–1998 to 70% during 2005–2006. Conclusions: The data from this study suggest that the increase in the incidence of prostate cancer might have been inaccurate in Korea.
Influence of Visceral Obesity on Oncologic Outcome in Patients with Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Naya Yukio , Zenbutsu Satoki , Araki Kazuhiro , Nakamura Kazuyoshi , Kobayashi Masayuki , Kamijima Syuichi , Imamoto Takashi , Nihei Naoki , Suzuki Hiroyoshi , Ichikawa Tomohiko , Igarashi Tatsuo
Published: July 2010

Objective: At present, computed tomography (CT) is used in almost all patients with renal tumors. We aimed to investigate the relationship between visceral adipose tissue (VAT), as assessed by CT, and various other factors in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Methods: We undertook an examination of VAT in 117 male patients undergoing nephrectomy or partial nephrectomy at Chiba University Hospital using software designed to detect VAT in the horizontal plane of the body cavity. Pathological stage, microvascular invasion, tumor grade, performance status, C-reactive protein, BMI, hypertension, hyperlipemia, hyperglycemia, history of smoking and cause-specific survival rate were examined in relation to VAT, and multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to determine significant predictors of cause-specific survival. Results: VAT in patients with stage I disease was significantly greater than that in patients with more advanced disease (p = 0.0219). VAT in patients with microvascular invasion was significantly smaller than in those without microvascular invasion (p = 0.0260). Patients with high VAT had significantly higher cumulative cause-specific survival when compared to patients with low VAT (p = 0.0257). Conclusion: VAT was associated with better clinical features in patients with RCC. Further study is necessary in order to clarify the role of VAT in RCC.
Relative Contribution of Lipids and Apolipoproteins to Incident Coronary Heart Disease and Ischemic Stroke: The PRIME Study
Authors: Canouï-Poitrine Florence , Luc Gerald , Bard Jean-Marie , Ferrieres Jean , Yarnell John , Arveiler Dominique , Morange Pierre , Kee Frank , Evans Alun , Amouyel Philippe , Ducimetiere Pierre , Empana Jean-Philippe
Published: July 2010

Aim: To compare within the same cohort the association of a large panel of lipids with the risk of incident coronary heart disease (CHD) and ischemic stroke events in participants of the Prospective Epidemiological Study of Myocardial Infarction. Methods: In this binational (Northern Ireland and France) prospective cohort, we considered 9,711 men aged 50–59 years free of CHD and stroke at baseline (1991–1993). The hazard ratios of each lipid marker for CHD and ischemic stroke events were estimated in separate Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for age, study center, systolic blood pressure, antihypertensive treatment, current smoking status, body mass index and diabetes. Results: After 10 years of follow-up, 635 men had a first CHD and 98 a first ischemic stroke event. Total cholesterol (total-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), non-HDL-C, triglycerides, apolipoprotein (Apo) A1 and Apo B100, their ratios and lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] were all significantly predictive of future CHD. Associations with ischemic stroke followed the same trend as for CHD, but with lower strength, and none were statistically significant. However, none of the differences between the hazard ratios for CHD and for ischemic stroke were statistically significant. Conclusions: In healthy, middle-aged men, total-C, HDL-C, LDL-C, non-HDL-C, triglycerides, Apo A1 and Apo B100, their ratios and Lp(a) are, if anything, weak predictors of ischemic stroke events over a 10-year period.
Interrelation between the Degree of Carotid Stenosis, Collateral Circulation and Cerebral Perfusion
Authors: Jongen L.M. , van der Worp H.B. , Waaijer A. , van der Graaf Y. , Mali W.P.T.M.
Published: July 2010

Background: In patients with carotid artery stenosis, ipsilateral hemodynamic compromise is associated with an increased risk of stroke. It is unclear which factors determine cerebral perfusion. We studied the effect of both the degree of the stenosis and the collateral circulation via the circle of Willis (CoW) on cerebral perfusion in patients with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis. Methods: In 88 patients with unilateral symptomatic carotid artery stenosis of ≧50%, CT perfusion was used to measure the relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV), the difference in mean transit time (ΔMTT) and the relative cerebral blood flow (rCBF). CT angiography was used to measure the degree of carotid stenosis and to assess the configuration of the CoW. Differences in mean rCBF, rCBV and ΔMTT between patients with a carotid stenosis of ≤69, 70–79, 80–89 and 90–99%, and between patients with a complete and those with an incomplete CoW were determined by analysis of covariance. Results: The ipsilateral rCBF showed a gradual decrease with increasing severity of carotid stenosis (1.09 ± 0.06, 0.93 ± 0.06, 0.90 ± 0.04 and 0.83 ± 0.04 ml/100 g/min, respectively; p = 0.005), and the ΔMTT showed a gradual increase (–0.02 ± 0.33, 0.16 ± 0.34, 1.08 ± 0.22 and 1.47 ± 0.20 s, respectively; p < 0.001). The rCBV was not related to the severity of stenosis. No relation was found between the configuration of the CoW and the cerebral perfusion parameters. Conclusions: Cerebral perfusion is inversely related to the degree of stenosis in patients with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis. A relation between the configuration of the CoW and cerebral perfusion was not detected, suggesting that other collateral pathways play an important role.
Disappearing Hyperdense Middle Cerebral Artery Sign Is Associated with Striatocapsular Infarcts on Follow-Up CT in Ischemic Stroke Patients Treated with Intravenous Thrombolysis
Authors: van Overbeek E.C. , Knottnerus I.L.H. , van Oostenbrugge R.J.
Published: July 2010

Background: A striatocapsular infarct (SCI) is a subcortical infarct in the territory of the lenticulostriate arteries, most likely due to transient occlusion of the main stem of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). Presence of the hyperdense middle cerebral artery sign (HMCAS) is a reliable marker of occlusion of the MCA. We hypothesized that SCIs are related to HMCAS at baseline, which subsequently disappears (HMCAS-D) on follow-up CT in stroke patients treated with intravenous rtPA. Methods: Baseline and 24-hour follow-up CTs were evaluated for HMCAS in acute ischemic stroke patients treated with intravenous rtPA and follow-up scans were also reviewed for the presence of isolated cortical (CIn), SCI, cortical and striatocapsular (CI-SCI) or lacunar infarct. We determined the incidence of SCI and the association between SCI and HMCAS on baseline and follow-up CT. Results: Of the 247 patients, 43 had an SCI (17.4%; 95% CI: 13.1–22.5). The presence of HMCAS at baseline was related to the occurrence of infarction with involvement of the striatocapsular region (SCI or CI-SCI) on follow-up CT (OR: 11.6; 95% CI: 5.9–22.8). HMCAS-D on follow-up scans was significantly related to SCI on follow-up CT compared to CI-SCI (OR: 4.9; 95% CI: 3.7–6.1). Conclusions: Occurrence of SCI and CI-SCI is associated with the presence of HMCAS on CT before thrombolysis, whereas HMCAS-D on follow-up CT is strongly related to the occurrence of SCI. Our findings support the causative role of transient occlusion of the MCA main stem in the pathogenesis of SCI.
Amelioration of Inflammation and Cytotoxicity by Dipyridamole in Brain Endothelial Cells
Authors: Guo Shuzhen , Stins Monique , Ning MingMing , Lo Eng H.
Published: July 2010

Background: Increasing evidence suggests that beyond its antiplatelet properties, dipyridamole may have pleiotropic effects on other cells within the neurovascular elements of the brain. In this experimental cellular study, we asked whether dipyridamole can ameliorate brain endothelial injury after exposure to inflammatory and metabolic insults. Methods: Human brain endothelial cells were grown in culture, and exposed to TNFα (continuously for 20 h) or subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD; 6 h of insult followed by 18 h recovery). Expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and PECAM-1 were measured by immunoblotting. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in the conditioned media were quantified via zymography. MTT mitochondrial activity was measured to assess endothelial cell viability. Results: Exposure of human brain endothelial cells to TNFα (12.5–50 ng/ml) induced a clear increase in protein levels of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and MMP-9. TNFα did not alter PECAM-1. Dipyridamole (1–5 µM) significantly attenuated ICAM-1 and MMP-9 levels after this inflammatory insult. No significant effects of dipyridamole were noted for VCAM-1. Six-hour OGD induced moderate endothelial cell death accompanied by a release of MMP-9. Dipyridamole significantly decreased MMP-9 levels and cell death after this metabolic insult. Conclusions: These results suggest that dipyridamole may ameliorate brain endothelial injury after inflammation and/or metabolic insults. How these putative cellular mechanisms may relate to clinical outcomes and conditions in stroke patients remains to be elucidated.
Prevalence and Risk Factors for Multiple Simultaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhages
Authors: Stemer Andrew , Ouyang Bichun , Lee Vivien H. , Prabhakaran Shyam
Published: July 2010

Background: Multiple simultaneous intracerebral hemorrhages (MSICH) are rare. We aimed to describe the frequency and potential risk factors for MSICH. Methods: We reviewed 522 consecutive patients admitted to our institution with spontaneous ICH between August 1, 2006 and November 30, 2009. Patients with traumatic hemorrhages, predominantly subarachnoid or intraventricular hemorrhages, hemorrhagic transformation of ischemic infarcts, and hemorrhages due to cerebral venous thrombosis were excluded. We defined MSICH as spontaneous hemorrhages in 2 discrete areas with similar density profiles on initial CT imaging. We then classified MSICH as primary (spontaneous) or secondary (due to an underlying condition). In a 1:5 ratio case-control design study, we assessed risk factors for primary MSICH compared to solitary ICH using logistic regression. Values of p < 0.05 were considered significant in the final analyses. Results: Of 522 ICH patients, 29 met the criteria for MSICH (5.6%) with a mean age of 59 years. The mean systolic blood pressure at presentation was 176 mm Hg. Fifteen cases had secondary causes while 14 were considered as having primary MSICH. In a multivariable model comparing primary MSICH cases to 70 solitary ICH controls, the presence of >5 chronic microhemorrhages on gradient echo imaging (adjusted OR 9.8, 95% CI 2.0–49.3, p = 0.006) was the only independent predictor of primary MSICH. Conclusions: In a single-center experience, we found that MSICH account for 5.6% of all spontaneous ICH. Prior microhemorrhage burden, perhaps due to severity of hypertension or cerebral amyloid angiopathy, may mark those at risk for primary MSICH occurrence.
Feasibility of Circumferential Pulmonary Vein Isolation Using a Novel Endoscopic Ablation System
Authors: Schmidt Boris , Metzner Andreas , Chun Kyoung Ryul Julian , Leftheriotis Dionysios , Yoshiga Yasuhiro , Fuernkranz Alexander , Neven Kars , Tilz Roland Richard , Wissner Erik , Ouyang Feifan , Kuck Karl-Heinz
Published: July 2010

Background—

Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is an established treatment option for patients with drug refractory paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. A novel compliant endoscopic ablation system housing a 980-nm-diode laser allows for discrete point-by-point ablation enabling a true circumferential ablation line design. We sought to determine the feasibility and safety of a circumferential ablation using endoscopic ablation system.

Methods and Results—

Thirty patients (17 female; mean age, 58±9 years) with a median paroxysmal atrial fibrillation history of 3 years (range, 1 to 17 years) were treated. PVI was achieved in 114 of 116 (98%) PVs (4 left common PVs), thereby achieving simultaneous PVI for separate ipsilateral PVs in 19 of 26 (73%) left PVs and 6 of 30 (20%) right PVs. The total procedure time was 250±62 minutes. Procedure time decreased from 310±59 to 220±37 minutes (
P
=0.0001) between the first 10 and the last 20 cases. Mean fluoroscopy time was 30±18 minutes. Twenty-seven patients underwent postoperative endoscopy showing no or minimal thermal lesions in the esophagus in 21 (78%) and 2 (7%), respectively. In 4 (15%) patients, an esophageal ulceration was found that healed without sequelae. One pericardial tamponade and 1 right-sided phrenic nerve palsy occurred. During a median follow-up of 168 days (113 to 203 days; q1-q3), 24 of 30 patients (80%) remained free of atrial fibrillation recurrence.

Conclusions—

Circumferential PVI using the novel compliant endoscopic ablation system was feasible in the majority of left PVs and minority of right PVs accompanied by a complication rate comparable to established approaches. To minimize the risk for thermal esophageal injury temperature monitoring is recommended.
The Stretch of Strategic Management Discourse: A Critical Analysis
Authors: Greckhamer Thomas
Published: July 2010

This article investigates the stretch of strategic management discourse, accomplished through writing economic development into the umbrella of strategic management. Building on the notion of authors as institutional entrepreneurs, I use discourse analysis methodology to analyze selected texts by Michael Porter that accomplish this discursive stretch. Findings illustrate the reality produced by the stretch of strategic management discourse, the discursive mechanisms used to accomplish this stretch, and how these mechanisms are concealed. I conclude with implications for future research investigating instances of stretch of strategic management discourses and for critical approaches to strategic management and economic development.
Role Transition and the Interaction of Relational and Social Identity: New Nursing Roles in the English NHS
Authors: Currie Graeme , Finn Rachael , Martin Graham
Published: July 2010

Our study provides an analysis of role transition, examining how macro-level influences and micro-level practice interact in framing role transition, with a focus upon professional identity. Empirically, we examine the case of nurses in the English NHS, for whom government ‘modernization’ policy has opened up a new occupational position in the delivery of genetics services within a professional bureaucracy. We track the experiences of the nurses through their recruitment to, enactment of, and progress on from, the new genetics role over two years. Our qualitative interview-based study encompasses six comparative cases. Analysis draws upon two linked literatures — role and identity, and sociology of professions — to examine the tension between the identity expected by the profession and the role expected by government policy-makers. While policy encourages reconfiguration of roles and relationships to support the new, less-bounded role, concerns aligned to professional identity mean that inter-professional competition between doctors and nurses, and intra-professional competition within nursing itself, constrain the enactment of the new role. Through our empirical study, we develop literature on role transition through its application to a professionalized context, and sociology of professions literature, within which issues of identity are relatively neglected. Our study demonstrates that the emphasis of identity within a professional bureaucracy lies at the collective level.
“Sorry Golfers, This Is Not Your Spot!”: Exploring Public Opposition to Golf Development
Authors: Briassoulis Helen
Published: July 2010

The worldwide expansion of golf development has been often accompanied by local opposition that at times has been strong. Most analyses focus on the views and attitudes of locals. The wider public’s stance has been little researched. One reason may be the difficulty to obtain a satisfactorily diverse sample of the public in a given case. An international petition against a proposed golf resort in Greece has offered an opportunity to analyze public perception and attitudes toward golf development and, thus, address the more general question of whether and why people react to golf and golfing or to golf courses and resorts. After presenting the conceptual approach and methodology of the study, the article analyzes the Greek case, summarizes the main findings, and suggests future research directions.
Ralph Cudworth and the theological origins of consciousness
Authors: Carter Benjamin
Published: July 2010

The English Neoplatonic philosopher Ralph Cudworth introduced the term ‘consciousness’ into the English philosophical lexicon. Cudworth uses the term to define the form and structure of cognitive acts, including acts of freewill. In this article I highlight the important role of theological disputes over the place and extent of human freewill within an overarching system of providence. Cudworth’s intellectual development can be understood in the main as an increasingly detailed and nuanced reaction to the strict voluntarist Calvinism that is typified in the thought of his near contemporary William Perkins. At the heart of Cudworth’s rejection of Calvinism is the dilemma over whether God is understood primarily in terms of will or justice. In this fleshing-out of the power of consciousness Cudworth moves from an instrumental account of the working of the human mind towards an account of human consciousness that is intrinsic to his definition of human agency.
Kant and the scientific study of consciousness
Authors: Sturm Thomas , Wunderlich Falk
Published: July 2010

We argue that Kant’s views about consciousness, the mind—body problem and the status of psychology as a science all differ drastically from the way in which these topics are conjoined in present debates about the prominent idea of a science of consciousness. Kant never used the concept of consciousness in the now dominant sense of phenomenal qualia; his discussions of the mind—body problem center not on the reducibility of mental properties but of substances; and his views about the possibility of psychology as a science did not employ the requirement of a mechanistic explanation, but of a quantification of phenomena. This shows strikingly how deeply philosophical problems and conceptions can change even if they look similar on the surface.
Mathematics, experience and laboratories: Herbart’s and Brentano’s role in the rise of scientific psychology
Authors: Huemer Wolfgang , Landerer Christoph
Published: July 2010

In this article we present and compare two early attempts to establish psychology as an independent scientific discipline that had considerable influence in central Europe: the theories of Johann Friedrich Herbart (1776—1841) and Franz Brentano (1838—1917). While both of them emphasize that psychology ought to be conceived as an empirical science, their conceptions show revealing differences. Herbart starts with metaphysical principles and aims at mathematizing psychology, whereas Brentano rejects all metaphysics and bases his method on a conception of inner perception (as opposed to inner observation) as a secondary consciousness, by means of which one gets to be aware of all of one’s own conscious phenomena. Brentano’s focus on inner perception brings him to deny the claim that there could be unconscious mental phenomena — a view that stands in sharp contrast to Herbart’s emphasis on unconscious, ‘repressed’ presentations as a core element of his mechanics of mind. Herbart, on the other hand, denies any role for psychological experiments, while Brentano encouraged laboratory work, thus paving the road for the more experimental work of his students like Stumpf and Meinong. By briefly tracing the fate of the schools of Herbart and Brentano, respectively, we aim to illustrate their impact on the development of psychological research, mainly in central Europe.
Wundt, Vygotsky and Bandura: A cultural-historical science of consciousness in three acts
Authors: Ferrari Michel , Robinson David K. , Yasnitsky Anton
Published: July 2010

This article looks at three historical efforts to coordinate the scientific study of biological and cultural aspects of human consciousness into a single comprehensive theory of human development that includes the evolution of the human body, cultural evolution and personal development: specifically, the research programs of Wilhelm Wundt, Lev Vygotsky and Albert Bandura. The lack of historical relations between these similar efforts is striking, and suggests that the effort to promote cultural and personal sources of consciousness arises as a natural foil to an overemphasis on the biological basis of consciousness, sometimes associated with biological determinism.
Narrating consciousness: Language, media and embodiment
Authors: Hayles N. Katherine , Pulizzi James J.
Published: July 2010

Although there has long been a division in studies of consciousness between a focus on neuronal processes or conversely an emphasis on the ruminations of a conscious self, the long-standing split between mechanism and meaning within the brain was mirrored by a split without, between information as a technical term and the meanings that messages are commonly thought to convey. How to heal this breach has posed formidable problems to researchers. Working through the history of cybernetics, one of the historical sites where Claude Shannon’s information theory quickly became received doctrine, we argue that the cybernetic program as it developed through second-order cybernetics and autopoietic theory remains incomplete. In this article, we return to fundamental questions about pattern and noise, context and meaning, to forge connections between consciousness, narrative and media. The thrust of our project is to reintroduce context and narrative as crucial factors in the processes of meaning-making. The project proceeds along two fronts: advancing a theoretical framework within which context plays its properly central role; and demonstrating the importance of context by analyzing two fictions, Stanislaw Lem’s His Master’s Voice and Joseph McElroy’s Plus, in which context has been deformed by being wrenched away from normal human environments, with radical consequences for processes of meaning-making.