bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
L-type Ca2+channel function and expression in neonatal rabbit ventricular myocytes
Authors: Huang Jingbo , Xu Liqun , Thomas Marion , Whitaker Keith , Hove-Madsen Leif , Tibbits Glen F.
Published: December 2005

L-type Ca2+channel-mediated, Ca2+-induced Ca2+release (CICR) is the dominant mode of excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling in the mature mammalian myocardium but is thought to be absent in the fetal and newborn mammalian myocardium. Furthermore, the characteristics and contributors of E-C coupling at the earliest developmental stages are poorly understood. In this study, we measured [3H](+)PN200-110 dihydropyridine binding capacity, functionality and expression of the L-type Ca2+channel, and cytosolic [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]i) at various developmental stages (3, 6, 10, 20, and 56 days old) to characterize ontogenetic changes in E-C coupling. We found that 1) the whole cell L-type Ca2+channel peak current ( ICa) density increased slightly in parallel with cell growth, but the current-voltage relationship, the steady-state activation, and the maximum DHP binding and binding affinity did not exhibit significant developmental changes; 2) sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+dependence of inactivation rates of L-type Ca2+channel and peak of ICadensity were only observed after 10 days of age, which temporally coincides with transverse (T)-tubule formation; 3) the relationship between [Ca2+]iand voltage changed from a linear relationship at the earliest developmental stages to a “bell-shaped” relationship at the later developmental stages, presumably corresponding to a switch from reverse-mode Na/Ca exchange-dependent to ICa-dependent E-C coupling; and 4) the expression of two different splice variants of CaV1.2, IVS3A and IVS3B, switched from predominantly IVS3A at the earliest stages to IVS3B at the later developmental stages. Our data suggest that whereas the density of functional dihydropyridine receptors (DHPRs) increases only slightly during ontogeny, the enhancement of functional coupling between DHPR and ryanodine receptor is dramatic between the second and third weeks after birth. Furthermore, we found that the differential expression of splice variants during development temporally correlated with the appearance of ICa-dependent E-C coupling and T-tubule formation.
Effect of adenosine A2Areceptor activation in murine models of respiratory disorders
Authors: Bonneau Olivier , Wyss Daniel , Ferretti Stephane , Blaydon Clare , Stevenson Christopher S. , Trifilieff Alexandre
Published: December 2005

Activation of the adenosine A2Areceptor has been postulated as a possible treatment for lung inflammatory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In this report, we have studied the anti-inflammatory properties of the reference A2Aagonist CGS-21680, given intranasally at doses of 10 and 100 μg/kg, in a variety of murine models of asthma and COPD. After an acute ovalbumin challenge of sensitized mice, prophylactic administration of CGS-21680 inhibited the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid inflammatory cell influx but not the airway hyperreactivity to aerosolized methacholine. After repeated ovalbumin challenges, CGS-21680 given therapeutically inhibited the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid inflammatory cell influx but had no effect on the allergen-induced bronchoconstriction, the airway hyperreactivity, or the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid mucin levels. As a comparator, budesonide given intranasally at doses of 0.1–1 mg/kg fully inhibited all the parameters measured in the latter model. In a lipopolysaccharide-driven model, CGS-21680 had no effect on the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid inflammatory cell influx or TNF-α, keratinocyte chemoattractant, and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 levels, but potently inhibited neutrophil activation, as measured by bronchoalveolar lavage fluid elastase levels. With the use of a cigarette smoke model of lung inflammation, CGS-21680 did not significantly inhibit bronchoalveolar lavage fluid neutrophil infiltration but reversed the cigarette smoke-induced decrease in macrophage number. Together, these results suggest that activation of the A2Areceptor would have a beneficial effect by inhibiting inflammatory cell influx and downregulating inflammatory cell activation in asthma and COPD, respectively.
Identification of Multiple-Input Systems with Highly Coupled Inputs: Application to EMG Prediction from Multiple Intracortical Electrodes
Authors: Westwick David T. , Pohlmeyer Eric A. , Solla Sara A. , Miller Lee E. , Perreault Eric J.
Published: December 2005

A robust identification algorithm has been developed for linear, time-invariant, multiple-input single-output systems, with an emphasis on how this algorithm can be used to estimate the dynamic relationship between a set of neural recordings and related physiological signals. The identification algorithm provides a decomposition of the system output such that each component is uniquely attributable to a specific input signal, and then reduces the complexity of the estimation problem by discarding those input signals that are deemed to be insignificant. Numerical difficulties due to limited input bandwidth and correlations among the inputs are addressed using a robust estimation technique based on singular value decomposition. The algorithm has been evaluated on both simulated and experimental data. The latter involved estimating the relationship between up to 40 simultaneously recorded motor cortical signals and peripheral electromyograms (EMGs) from four upper limb muscles in a freely moving primate.The algorithm performed well in both cases:it provided reliable estimates of the system output and significantly reduced the number of inputs needed for output prediction. For example, although physiological recordings from up to 40 different neuronal signals were available, the input selection algorithm reduced this to 10 neuronal signals that made signicant contributions to the recorded EMGs.
Oscillatory Networks: Pattern Recognition Without a Superposition Catastrophe
Authors: Burwick Thomas
Published: December 2005

Using an oscillatory network model that combines classical network models with phase dynamics, we demonstrate how the superposition catastrophe of pattern recognition may be avoided in the context of phase models. The model is designed to meet two requirements: on and off states should correspond, respectively, to high and low phase velocities, and patterns should be retrieved in coherent mode. Nonoverlapping patterns can be simultaneously active with mutually different phases. For overlapping patterns, competition can be used to reduce coherence to a subset of patterns. The model thereby solves the superposition problem.
Governing a Global Community of Shared Risks
Authors: Masciulli Joseph , Day Richard
Published: December 2005

This chapter considers interpretations of the globalization process along a continuum ranging from "realist" emphasis upon sovereignty in the inter-state system to "idealist" projections of cosmopolitan citizenship and even global government. The work of Jürgen Habermas is taken to be the most comprehensive via media between the "extreme" positions. In The Postnational Constellation, Habermas relates morality to ethics in explaining the potential for, but also the current limitations upon, cosmopolitan projects. The example of the European Union demonstrates the possibility for politics to "catch up" with globalizing markets.
Russia and Globalization
Authors: Molchanov Mikhail
Published: December 2005

Globalization dramatically changed Russia and prompted its return to the global market economy on terms largely dictated by the West. The post-communist transition transformed not only the country's economic and political systems but also the state-society articulation at large. Russia's complete abandonment of socialist ethics cost the country and its people dearly. While neoliberal economists regard globalization as a worldwide advance in terms of economic efficiency and human enlightenment, the Russian example shows that the process can also be catastrophic and intrinsically unethical.
Conflicting Interests in the Turkish Straits: Is the Free Passage of Merchant Vessels still Applicable?
Authors: Fornari Matteo
Published: December 2005

The issue of the regulation of navigation through Turkish straits proved to be one of the most sensitive and thorny question of international law of the sea in the last years. Transit through theses waters is regulated by a 1936 Convention—"a long-standing" convention according to the article 35, lett. c, of UNCLOS—that is more concerned with the passage regime of warships rather than the transit of commercial vessels. In the last decades, the Montreux Convention has showed its inadequacy in regulating this latter kind navigation: the free-passage principle, by day and night without obstacles, could be considered well grounded time ago, when essentially vessels carrying cereal went through these waters. But nowadays it seems hazardous, for marine environment and security of populations, allowing free and unimpeded transit of fifteen tankers a day. It follows that the problem is how can Turkey, the only coastal State of the Straits (and international community) prevent in the future accidents or collisions between ships carrying oil, chemical or radioactive substances, endangering seriously the regional ecosystem?
The Data Protection (Amendment) Act, 2003: The Data Protection Directive and its Implications for Medical Research in Ireland
Authors: Sheikh Asim
Published: December 2005

Directive 95/46/EC on the Protection of Individuals with regard to the Processing of Personal Data and on the Free Movement of Such Data has been transposed into national law and is now the Data Protection (Amendment) Act, 2003.The Directive and the transposing Act provide for new obligations to those processing data. The new obligation of primary concern is the necessity to obtain consent prior to the processing of data (Article 7, Directive 95/46/EC). This has caused much concern especially in relation to 'secondary data' or 'archived data'.There exist, what seem to be in the minds of the medical research community, two competing interests: (i) that of the need to obtain consent prior to processing data and (ii) the need to protect and foster medical research. At the same time as the introduction of the Act, other prior legislation, i.e. the Freedom of Information Act, 1997-2003, has encouraged candour within the doctor-patient relationship and the High Court in Ireland, in the case of Geoghegan v. Harris, has promulgated the 'reasonable-patient test' as being the correct law in relation to the disclosure of risks to patients. The court stated that doctors have a duty to disclose all material risks to patients. The case demonstrates an example of a move toward a more open medical relationship. An example of this rationale was also recently seen in the United Kingdom in the House of Lords decision in Chester v. Afshar. Within the medical research community in Ireland, the need to respect the autonomy of patients and research participants by providing information to such parties has also been observed (Sheikh A. A., 2000 and Irish Council for Bioethics, 2005).Disquiet has been expressed in Ireland and other jurisdictions by the medical research communities in relation to the exact working and meaning of the Directive and therefore the transposing Acts (Strobl et al). This may be due to the fact that, as observed by Beyleveld "The Directive makes no specific mention of medical research and, consequently, it contains no provisions for medical research as an explicitly delineated category." (Beyleveld D., 2004) This paper examines the Irish Act and discusses whether the concerns expressed are well-founded and if the Act is open to interpretation such that it would not hamper medical research and public health work.
Management Reform in the United Nations: Between Politics and Efficiency
Authors: Müller Joachim
Published: December 2005

Management reform in the United Nations has been a frequent concern in the public debate. Although a multitude of initiatives were launched, the result remains disappointing. A string of management reforms are described, emphasizing the most recent ones introduced under the Secretary-Generals Kofi Annan and Boutros Boutros Ghali. Particular attention is given to initiatives following the Volcker inquiry into the alleged mismanagement and corruption under the United Nations Oil-for-Food program. The review concludes with the management reforms approved during the recent World Summit in September 2005. Since the creation of the United Nations, management reforms have been driven from outside the Organization, by member countries and here in particular by the United States. Proposals to improve management are often closely linked to overriding political concerns. The negotiation process militates towards lowest common denominator; with the Secretary-General of the Organization taking a cautious approach and attempting to facilitate the reaching of consensus. While recognizing the challenge to reconcile the different priorities of 191 member countries, recommendations are put forward to facilitate a more proactive approach by the Secretariat. Management reform in the United Nations is seen, however, to remain a cumbersome and lengthy step-by-step process.
What Sets the Surface Eddy Mass Flux in the Southern Ocean?
Authors: Drijfhout S. S.
Published: December 2005

The Ocean Circulation and Climate Advanced Modelling (OCCAM) global, eddy-permitting ocean general circulation model has been used to investigate the surface eddy mass flux in the Southern Ocean. The isopycnal eddy mass flux in the surface layer is almost uniformly poleward and scales well with the local Ekman transport. This seems at odds with other models and observations suggesting topographic localization of the eddy fluxes with locally, large rotational components. Integrated over the thermocline depth the eddy fluxes do show such topographic localization. The surface eddy mass flux is mainly a consequence of the intermittent deepening of the mixed layer with the seasonal cycle, which redistributes the Ekman transport over the stack of layers that eventually become ventilated. Baroclinic instability gives rise to much smaller eddy-induced transports. Independent of the framework in which the residual mean flow is analyzed (isopycnal or geometric), the eddy-induced transport that opposes the wind-driven Ekman flow only partially compensates the Deacon cell. The associated overturning cell is about 5 Sv (where 1 Sv ≡ 106 m3 s−1), responsible for a cancellation of the Deacon cell of 30%. In geometric coordinates, a strong signature (14 Sv) of the Deacon cell remains for the residual mean flow. Only after transformation to density coordinates is a further reduction with 10 Sv obtained. Zonal tilting of isopycnals makes along-isopycnal recirculations appear as vertical overturning cells in geometric coordinates. These cells disappear in the isopycnal framework without any eddy-induced transport being involved.
Equilibration and Circulation of Red Sea Outflow Water in the Western Gulf of Aden*
Authors: Bower Amy S. , Johns William E. , Fratantoni David M. , Peters Hartmut
Published: December 2005

Hydrographic, direct velocity, and subsurface float observations from the 2001 Red Sea Outflow Experiment (REDSOX) are analyzed to investigate the gravitational and dynamical adjustment of the Red Sea Outflow Water (RSOW) where it is injected into the open ocean in the western Gulf of Aden. During the winter REDSOX cruise, when outflow transport was large, several intermediate-depth salinity maxima (product waters) were formed from various bathymetrically confined branches of the outflow plume, ranging in depth from 400 to 800 m and in potential density from 27.0 to 27.5 σθ, a result of different mixing intensity along each branch. The outflow product waters were not dense enough to sink to the seafloor during either the summer or winter REDSOX cruises, but analysis of previous hydrographic and mooring data and results from a one-dimensional plume model suggest that they may be so during wintertime surges of strong outflow currents, or about 20% of the time during winter. Once vertically equilibrated in the Gulf of Aden, the shallowest RSOW was strongly influenced by mesoscale eddies that swept it farther into the gulf. The deeper RSOW was initially more confined by the walls of the Tadjura Rift, but eventually it escaped from the rift and was advected mainly southward along the continental slope. There was no evidence of a continuous boundary undercurrent of RSOW similar to the Mediterranean Undercurrent in the Gulf of Cadiz. This is explained by considering 1) the variability in outflow transport and 2) several different criteria for separation of a jet at a sharp corner, which indicate that the outflow currents should separate from the boundary where they are injected into the gulf.
An Assessment of Orthobaric Density in the Global Ocean
Authors: McDougall Trevor J. , Jackett David R.
Published: December 2005

Orthobaric density has recently been advanced as a new density variable for displaying ocean data and as a coordinate for ocean modeling. Here the extent to which orthobaric density surfaces are neutral is quantified and it is found that orthobaric density surfaces are less neutral in the World Ocean than are potential density surfaces referenced to 2000 dbar. Another property that is important for a vertical coordinate of a layered model is the quasi-material nature of the coordinate and it is shown that orthobaric density surfaces are significantly non-quasi-material. These limitations of orthobaric density arise because of its inability to accurately accommodate differences between water masses at fixed values of pressure and in situ density such as occur between the Northern and Southern Hemisphere portions of the World Ocean. It is shown that special forms of orthobaric density can be quite accurate if they are formed for an individual ocean basin and used only in that basin. While orthobaric density can be made to be approximately neutral in a single ocean basin, this is not possible in both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere portions of the Atlantic Ocean. While the helical nature of neutral trajectories (equivalently, the ill-defined nature of neutral surfaces) limits the neutrality of all types of density surface, the inability of orthobaric density surfaces to accurately accommodate more than one ocean basin is a much greater limitation.
Low-Frequency Basin Modes in a Two-Layer Quasigeostrophic Model in the Presence of a Mean Gyre Flow*
Authors: Ben Jelloul Mahdi , Huck Thierry
Published: December 2005

The spectrum of baroclinic basin modes is investigated in a two-layer wind-driven quasigeostrophic model through weakly nonlinear multiple time-scale expansion in the Burger number. The baroclinic basin modes are mainly advected by a barotropic steady Sverdrup flow. Emphasis is given to the regularizing influence of dispersion rather than to dissipation. In the inviscid large-scale limit, that is, for basin scale considerably larger than the Rossby radius of deformation, all of the basin modes are neutral. Their typology is then numerically examined (with some necessary dissipation), and their frequency and spatial properties are discussed. Three types of modes arise for some wind forcing strong enough to produce a recirculating gyre with closed geostrophic contours: the classical Rossby basin modes deformed by the mean flow (shadow modes), stationary modes, and recirculating pool modes, the two latter being trapped in the closed-contours pool. Focus is made here on the recirculating modes that could have very low frequencies for moderate recirculating gyres. Strong gyres lead to higher frequencies, and recirculating modes resonate with deformed Rossby basin modes.
Improved Oceanic Cool-Skin Corrections Using a Refined Solar Penetration Model
Authors: Wick Gary A. , Ohlmann J. Carter , Fairall Christopher W. , Jessup Andrew T.
Published: December 2005

The oceanic near-surface temperature profile must be accurately characterized to enable precise determination of air–sea heat exchange and satellite retrievals of sea surface temperature. An improved solar transmission parameterization is integrated into existing models for the oceanic warm layer and cool skin within the Tropical Ocean and Global Atmosphere Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere Response Experiment (TOGA COARE) bulk flux model to improve the accuracy of predictions of the temperature profile and corresponding heat flux components. Application of the revised bulk flux model to data from 12 diverse cruises demonstrates that the improved parameterization results in significant changes to the predicted cool-skin effect and latent heat fluxes at low wind speeds with high solar radiation due to reduced absorption of solar radiation just below the surface. Daytime skin-layer cooling is predicted to increase by 0.03 K on average but by more than 0.25 K for winds below 1 m s−1 and surface irradiance exceeding 900 W m−2. Predicted changes to the warm-layer correction were smaller but exceeded 0.1 K below 1 m s−1. Average latent and sensible heat fluxes changed by 1 W m−2, but the latent flux decreased by 5 W m−2 near winds of 0.5 m s−1 and surface irradiance of 950 W m−2. Comparison with direct observations of skin-layer cooling demonstrated, in particular, that use of the improved solar transmission model resulted in the reduction of previous systematic overestimates of diurnal skin-layer warming. Similar results can be achieved using a simplified treatment of solar absorption with an appropriate estimate of the fraction of incident solar radiation absorbed within the skin layer.
Erosion of a Surface Vortex by a Seamount on the β Plane
Authors: Herbette Steven , Morel Yves , Arhan Michel
Published: December 2005

This paper investigates the behavior of a surface-intensified anticyclone encountering a seamount on the β plane in a stratified ocean. The eddy may be strongly eroded, and sometimes subdivided, provided that it gets close enough to the seamount. In case of subdivision, the detached part has a vertical structure different from that of the initial eddy, and a subsurface vortex may result. The basic erosion mechanism previously observed with f-plane experiments is still active on the β plane. Deep fluid motions induced by the initial vortex across the isobaths generate topographic vortices whose upper parts exert a shear/strain on the initial eddy, causing its filamentation. On the β plane, this process is further complicated by the presence of additional eddies created by fluid motion across the planetary vorticity gradient. Experiments without any topography show that these eddies by themselves can erode the initial vortex. In particular, a deep positive potential vorticity pole influences the near-bottom signature of the original vortex with a strong temporal variability. This reflects on the manner in which the surface eddy feels an underlying seamount. Sensitivity experiments show that the eddy erosion rate after encountering a seamount can no longer be related to basic parameters such as the minimum eddy–seamount distance, as it was on the f plane. The additional vorticity poles influencing the eddy on the β plane make the result of the eddy–seamount encounter very sensitive to small variations of the initial conditions, and impossible to predict.
Relationships between Tracer Ages and Potential Vorticity in Unsteady Wind-Driven Circulations
Authors: Zhang Hong , Haine Thomas W. N. , Waugh Darryn W.
Published: December 2005

The relationships between different tracer ages and between tracer age and potential vorticity are examined by simulating barotropic double-gyre circulations. The unsteady model flow crudely represents aspects of the midlatitude, middepth ocean circulation including inhomogeneous and anisotropic variability. Temporal variations range in scale from weeks to years, although the statistics are stationary. These variations have a large impact on the time-averaged tracer age fields. Transport properties of the tracer age fields that have been proved for steady flow are shown to also apply to unsteady flow and are illustrated in this circulation. Variability of tracer ages from ideal age tracer, linear, and exponential transient tracers is highly coordinated in phase and amplitude and is explained using simple theory. These relationships between different tracer ages are of practical benefit to the problem of interpreting tracer ages from the real ocean or from general circulation models. There is also a close link between temporal anomalies of tracer age and potential vorticity throughout a significant fraction of the domain. There are highly significant anticorrelations between ideal age and potential vorticity in the subtropical gyre and midbasin jet region, but correlation in the central subpolar gyre and eastern part of the domain is not significant. The existence of the relationship is insensitive to the character of the flow, the tracer sources, and the potential vorticity dynamics. Its structure may be understood by considering the different time-mean states of the tracer age and potential vorticity, the different tracer sources and sinks, and the effect of variability in the flow. Prediction of the correlation without knowledge of the time-mean fields is a harder problem, however. Detecting the correlation between potential vorticity and tracer age in the real ocean will be difficult with typical synoptic oceanographic transect data that are well-sampled in space, but sparse in time. Nevertheless, it is reasonable to suppose the correlation exists in some places.
The Dispersion Relation for Planetary Waves in the Presence of Mean Flow and Topography. Part II: Two-Dimensional Examples and Global Results
Authors: Killworth Peter D. , Blundell Jeffrey R.
Published: December 2005

The one-dimensional examples of the dispersion relation for planetary waves under the Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin–Jeffreys (WKBJ) assumption given in Part I are extended to two dimensions and analyzed globally. The dispersion relations are complicated, and there is a nontrivial lower bound to the frequency given by the column maximum of what would be the local Doppler shift to the frequency. This generates short waves of a much higher frequency than would be expected from traditional theory; these waves can have larger phase velocities than long waves but do not appear to have faster group velocities. The longer waves possess phase speeds in excellent agreement with recent remotely sensed data. Waves cannot propagate efficiently across ocean basins, suggesting that mechanisms other than eastern boundary generation may be playing a role in the ubiquitous nature of planetary waves.
Technology for preserving surface features of ancient finds in sea water
Authors: Salvago G. , Magagnin L. , Mapelli C.
Published: December 2005

Archaeological iron objects found in sea water are coated with large amounts of mineralised iron and CaCO3 deposits with the presence of micro and macrobiological components. The aim of the present work is to propose techniques for avoiding detaching of or damage to mineralised iron featured on surface layers and deposits generated by long immersion in a sea-water environment. These elements can actually be the source of important historical information but can be rapidly degraded by successive exposure to the atmosphere. The importance of controlling the pH, redox potentials and osmotic pressure of the solution before the first period of conservation has been pointed out. Moreover, a decrease in surface tension of the liquid phase during drying has been recognised as a critical aspect in avoiding the crack–splitting phenomena of the surface layers. Correct extraction of the chloride through an electrochemical process is fundamental to ensuring the correct storage of finds during successive exposure to the atmosphere. This operation can be implemented by controlling the current density and distribution, thus avoiding development of the gas phase. Technology suitable for performing this operation is described.
Analysis and research of damage phenomena on tin based organ pipes of different ages
Authors: Mapelli C. , Nicodemi W. , Venturini R.
Published: December 2005

Organ pipes are made mainly of tin alloys, and they can undergo surface damage usually called ‘sickness of tin’ or ‘tin cancer’. Several parts of degraded organ pipes from organs produced in different periods (from the eighteenth to the twentieth century) and from different areas in Italia were examined and investigated in order to identify the possible causes of damage. Analysis by differential scanning calorimetry-differential thermal analysis (DSC-DTA) measurements was performed to define the crystallographic transformation of the alloys studied as a function of temperature, and a metallographic analysis was done to point out the different microstructural characteristics of the alloys observed. The morphological analysis was improved by a SEM instrument equipped with an energy dispersive device which enables quantitative chemical characterisation of intact and degraded zones to be carried out. The presence of chlorides was identified as responsible for the degradation phenomena, and this conclusion needs to be taken into account in the choice of woods and materials used in restoration.
Window panes of the Certosa di Pavia: Chemical composition, microstructure and alteration
Authors: Marchesi V. , Messiga B. , Riccardi M. P.
Published: December 2005

The glass panes of five stained windows of the Certosa di Pavia, (representing S. Caterina, S. Gregorio, S. Girolamo, S. Bernardo and the Presepe) have been analysed by electron microscope and electron microprobe to identify the composition, production techniques and alteration processes. Some blue, green and red glass is multilayered, i.e. is of different glass types that are commonly defined as flashed glass in the literature. The glass panes of the Certosa di Pavia show a great variety of composition. Most samples were made of K–Ca glass, but Na–Ca glass is also present. The composition of the Certosa glass is similar to that of European Medieval glass. In the time between 1000 and 1400 AD, beechwood ash was the raw material for the fluxes used by glass makers. The alteration processes reveal a complex sequence with clear successive steps: at an early stage there is a microbe attack, followed by chemical alteration and crystallisation of gypsum.
Ancient glass deterioration in mosaics of Pompeii
Authors: Corradi A. , Leonelli C. , Veronesi P. , Fabbri B. , Macchiarola M. , Ruffini A. , Boschetti C. , Santoro S.
Published: December 2005

The aim of the present project is to evaluate the deterioration degree of ancient glass surface used as mosaic materials (tesserae) in Pompeii's ‘ ninfei a scala’. Specimens come from the fountain in the ‘ Domus del Centenario’ (Pompeii, IX, 8), built starting from the 1st century AD and have been studied within a broader project on the Domus involving archaeologists, engineers, geologists, chemists and materials scientists. Using data from both non-destructive analyses (OM, XRD, SEM-EDS and UV-VIS) and those requiring few milligrams of specimens (DTA-TGA and ICP-AES), a complete database of the tesserae based on classification by colour, materials characterisation and evaluation of their deterioration have been constructed. After characterisation, specimens were replaced in their original position in the mosaic using suitable mortars. One of the glassy tesserae that was analysed for surface deterioration gave interesting results. The glass, coloured opaque red from Cu2O micrometric crystallisation, turned green on the surface as a result of copper and lead leaching out and depositing as carbonate and sulphate salts. The glass production technology appeared to be very similar to that found in Nimrud (north Iraq) during the 8th century BC, the glass showing a similar chemical composition and deterioration. The identification of colour variations makes it possible to correctly read the decoration system and the archaeometric analysis will help to identify the site and production technique of materials.
Surface analyses on modern and ancient copper based fakes
Authors: Giumlia-Mair A. , Lucchini E.
Published: December 2005

Over the last two decades, together with the increasing prices in the antique market and the proliferation of private ‘hobby collectors’, the number of fakes in circulation among antique shops, auctions and even institutions and museums has noticeably increased. So called ‘bronzes’ seem to be the favourite objects for both fakers and inexperienced collectors. In some cases the fakes are well made, so that often the professional can be fooled by them also. In this paper some examples of modern and ancient fake objects will be discussed.
Numerical and experimental analysis of laser surface remelting of Al–15Cu alloy samples
Authors: Cheung N. , Pinto M. A. , Ierardi M. C. F. , Garcia A.
Published: December 2005

The aim of this work was to develop a heat transfer mathematical model based on the finite difference method in order to simulate temperature fields in the laser surface remelting process. Convective heat transfer in the remelted pool was taken into account by using the effective thermal conductivity approach. Theoretical predictions furnished by previous models from the literature and results of experiments of laser surface remelting of Al–15Cu samples, carried out in the present investigation, were used for validation of numerical simulations performed with the proposed model. The work also encompassed the analysis of microstructural parameters by scanning electron microscopy and microhardness variations throughout the resulting treated and unmolten zones.
Harshlight: a "corrective make-up" program for microarray chips
Authors: Suárez-Fariñas Mayte , Pellegrino Maurizio , Wittkowski Knut M , Magnasco Marcelo O
Published: December 2005

Background

Microscopists are familiar with many blemishes that fluorescence images can have due to dust and debris, glass flaws, uneven distribution of fluids or surface coatings, etc. Microarray scans do show similar artifacts, which might affect subsequent analysis. Although all but the starkest blemishes are hard to find by the unaided eye, particularly in high-density oligonucleotide arrays (HDONAs), few tools are available to help with the detection of those defects.

Results

We develop a novel tool,Harshlight, for the automatic detection and masking of blemishes in HDONA microarray chips.Harshlightuses a combination of statistic and image processing methods to identify three different types of defects: localized blemishes affecting a few probes, diffuse defects affecting larger areas, and extended defects which may invalidate an entire chip.

Conclusion

We demonstrate the use ofHarshlightcan materially improve analysis of HDONA chips, especially for experiments with subtle changes between samples. For the widely used MAS5 algorithm, we show that compact blemishes cause an average of 8 gene expression values per chip to change by more than 50%, two of them by more than twofold; our masking algorithm restores about two thirds of this damage. Large-scale artifacts are successfully detected and eliminated.
Coronary artery bypass grafting and sensorineural hearing loss, a cohort study
Authors: Ashraf Omer
Published: December 2005

Background

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is routinely encountered by the otologist. The etiology is varied and often identifiable. One of the relatively less frequent causes is surgery. Apart from being an established entity with otological surgeries, sensorineural hearing loss has also been known to occur after non-otological procedures under general anesthesia. Commonest amongst these procedures is cardiopulmonary bypass, an association that has long been recognized. However, despite the proposition of diverse hypotheses in the past, the pathophysiology remains unclear.

Methods

The study is a prospective matched cohort study that will be carried out in Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. Participants among exposed would include all those patients who would be undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery in the hospital who fall under the criteria for inclusion. Unexposed group would comprise of patients undergoing a non-bypass procedure of similar duration under the same type of anesthesia who meet the selection criteria. Both these groups will undergo audiometric testing at our hospital on three different occasions during the course of this study. Initially before the procedure to test the baseline hearing capacity; then one week after the procedure to assess any changes in hearing ability following the surgery; and finally a third audiogram at six weeks follow-up to assess further changes in any hearing deficits noted during the second phase of testing. Certain variables including the subjects' demographics and those concerning the procedure itself will be noted and used later for risk factors analysis. A detailed past medical and surgical history will also be obtained. Data analysis would include calculation of relative risk and significance of the results, by running the chi-square test. Other statistical tests like Fisher exact test may then be employed to facilitate data interpretation. Continuous scale may then be employed and multivariate linear regression used.

Discussion

This study is planned to obtain a better understanding of the correlation between sudden sensorineural hearing loss and cardiopulmonary bypass. Being the first major cohort trial in this line of investigation, the project is designed to identify the existence of any significant relationship between cardiopulmonary bypass and sensorineural hearing deficit.
Clinical notes for informal carers in palliative care: recommendations from a random patient file audit
Authors: Harding Richard , Leam Celia
Published: December 2005

Although palliative care aims to support family members and informal carers, current evidence suggests that high levels of unmet need persist, and that this population is challenging to work with. This study aimed to 1) measure the proportion of patients that have an informal carer, 2) describe the clinical notes data on existing needs and coping, 3) measure the completeness of assessment data recording, 4) appraise the utility of existing informal carers’ sections in the patient files, and 5) make recommendations for improvement. An audit was conducted reviewing 145 closed patient files. Of these, 100 had identifiable informal carers (69.9%). Although patient data was complete, data was severely lacking on their informal carer. Diverse coping strategies were described, and the primary need was for finance and advice about state welfare payments ( n = 64). The findings suggest a need for files to identify and record informal carers as potentially distinct from family members, promote assessment data completion for informal carers on a par with that of patients, and to develop systematic approaches to systems that maximize utility and incorporate multiprofessional input into the development of clinical notes.
Q methodology in health economics
Authors: Baker Rachel , Thompson Carl , Mannion Russell
Published: December 2005

The recognition that health economists need to understand the meaning of data if they are to adequately understand research findings which challenge conventional economic theory has led to the growth of qualitative modes of enquiry in health economics. The use of qualitative methods of exploration and description alongside quantitative techniques gives rise to a number of epistemological, ontological and methodological challenges: difficulties in accounting for subjectivity in choices, the need for rigour and transparency in method, and problems of disciplinary acceptability to health economists. Q methodology is introduced as a means of overcoming some of these challenges. We argue that Q offers a means of exploring subjectivity, beliefs and values while retaining the transparency, rigour and mathematical underpinnings of quantitative techniques. The various stages of Q methodological enquiry are outlined alongside potential areas of application in health economics, before discussing the strengths and limitations of the approach. We conclude that Q methodology is a useful addition to economists' methodological armoury and one that merits further consideration and evaluation in the study of health services.
Quality indicators for cardiac care: national standards in a community context
Authors: Putnam Wayne , Bower Kelly Nicol , Cox Jafna , Twohig Peter , Pottie Kevin , Jackson Lois , Burge Frederick
Published: December 2005

Objective: Public reporting of health data is well established in the United States and in the United Kingdom, and is assumed to promote better health care through informed choice by consumers. To be successful, reporting systems must have the support of physicians, but their opinions have been mixed. The purpose of this study was to explore with practising physicians the perceived usefulness of, and barriers to use of, quality indicators in the care of acute myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure, and the contexts in which these issues arise.

Methods: Six focus groups were conducted in small-, medium- and large-sized communities in two provinces in Canada. Subjects were family physicians, emergency physicians, internists and cardiologists. Data were analysed inductively.

Results: Our participants were generally supportive of the quality indicators, with concerns expressed regarding interpretation of data from measures created by 'experts' but applied in the context of community hospitals and community-based practice. Content analysis disclosed that a majority of the indicators was acceptable; few were outright unacceptable. Inductive analysis revealed two contextual concerns: issues arising from the structure and organization of the health care system, such as equitable access to health care resources and discontinuity or fragmentation of the system, and patient-related issues, such as compliance with medications post-discharge and costs of medications.

Conclusions: There is general support for this set of quality indicators, with the caveat that data should be carefully interpreted in the context of each community in which they are applied.
Impact of administrative restrictions on antibiotic use and expenditure in Ontario: time series analysis
Authors: Marshall Deborah , Gough Jacqueline , Grootendorst Paul , Buitendyk Melanie , Jaszewski Barbara , Simonyi Susan , Jivraj Farah , MacLeod Stuart
Published: December 2005

Objective: In a potential attempt to guide antibiotic prescribing based on current clinical evidence and mitigate the spread of antibiotic resistance, in March 2001 the Ontario Drug Benefit programme restricted reimbursement of two fluoroquinolone antibiotics – ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin – to its beneficiaries. Our objective was to determine the impact of this policy on the volume and cost of antibiotic prescribing.

Method: Weekly administrative data on antibiotic prescribing volumes and expenditures were analysed between January 1999 and September 2002 to estimate the effect of the policy changes using time series analysis.

Results: The policy changes were associated with a statistically significant shift downwards for the fluoroquinolones as a category (1905 fewer prescriptions each week, representing a saving of Can$105,707 a week), driven by a decrease in prescriptions for ciprofloxacin (2084 fewer prescriptions a week, saving Can$129,421 a week). Nitrofurantoin (200 more prescriptions a week, costing an extra Can$2082 a week) and trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole (532 more prescriptions a week, costing an extra Can$1473 a week) demonstrated a statistically significant shift upwards. The latter also showed a decrease in trend and nitrofurantoin an increase in trend during the time period. There was no statistically significant change in either the total number of antibiotic prescriptions or expenditures associated with the policy of limiting their use.

Conclusions: Although no direct cause and effect can be shown with these observational data, the results suggest that the change in reimbursement policy to restrict prescribing of fluoroquinolones decreased their use and associated expenditures. These decreases were offset by increases in the use of other antibiotics. The balance of consequent benefit and harm of these shifts in prescribing patterns needs to be examined carefully. Alternative solutions to encourage appropriate use of antibiotics deserve exploration.
Suicidality in clinical practice: Anxieties and answers
Authors: Rudd M. David
Published: December 2005

This issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychology: In Session is devoted to suicidality in clinical practice, with coverage of a broad range of topics. After summarizing some of the problems and recent advances in clinical suicidology, I provide a brief overview of the articles. Included are the more broadly defined issues of risk management and psychotherapy with suicidal individuals, along with more specific topics such as risk assessment, no‐suicide contracts, and the risk of suicide with the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) by children and adolescents. Most of the articles feature case vignettes and provide practitioners with clinical recommendations, and all of the articles have clear and important clinical implications. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol: In Session 62: 157–159, 2006.
Risk management with suicidal patients
Authors: Berman Alan L.
Published: December 2005

The patient who is at‐risk for suicide is complex and is difficult to evaluate and treat effectively. Should suicidal behavior occur, the clinician faces the potential wrath of bereaved survivors and their externalized blame exercised through a malpractice suit. The clinician's duty of care to a patient is to act affirmatively to protect a patient from violent acts against self. A finding of malpractice is established if the court finds that this duty was breached, through an act of omission or commission relative to the standard of care, and that this breach was proximately related to the patient's suicidal behavior. This article discusses the standard of care and factors that determine liability in a suicide death of a patient. An extensive list of recommendations for competent caregiving for the at‐risk patient and risk management guidelines are then presented. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol: In Session 62: 171–184, 2006.
Clinical applications of the interpersonal‐psychological theory of attempted and completed suicide
Authors: Stellrecht Nadia E. , Gordon Kathryn H. , Van Orden Kimberly , Witte Tracy K. , Wingate LaRicka R. , Cukrowicz Kelly C. , Butler Melanie , Schmidt Norman B. , Fitzpatrick Kathleen Kara , Jr. Thomas E. Joiner
Published: December 2005

This article reviews the interpersonal‐psychological theory of attempted and completed suicide and describes its applications in suicide risk assessment, crisis intervention, and skills‐based psychotherapies. Three components are necessary, but not sufficient, for an individual to die by suicide: (1) the acquired capability to enact lethal self‐injury, (2) a sense that one is a burden on others, and (3) the sense that one does not belong to a valued social group. We suggest that therapeutic interventions should focus on ascertaining the presence of these components and work to amend the cognitive distortions, negative interpersonal response styles, and ineffective coping behaviors that serve to maintain suicidal urges. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol: In Session 62: 211–222, 2006.