bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Giant Right Coronary Artery (RCA) Aneurysm
Authors: Colak Abdurrahim , Ceviz Munacettin , Tas M. Hakan , Ogul Hayri
Published: December 2012

Coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) is a rare type of coronary artery disease. The angiographic incidence of the coronary artery aneurysm is reportedly between 1.5% to 4.9%, and it is more frequent in men. We have successfully carried out a simultaneous “coronary bypass together with aneurysm ligation” operation on a patient with coronary heart disease and an aneurysm within the right coronary artery.
Guided Bone Regeneration Using a Synthetic Polyethylene Glycol Hydrogel Membrane Over a Bone Substitute Material After Immediate Placement of a Non‐Submerged Implant
Authors: Ohayon Laurent
Published: December 2012

Introduction: This case report describes a synthetic polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogel membrane used to obtain guided bone regeneration (GBR) in a clinical case of a non‐submerged implant placement. The conditioning of this hydrogel membrane for bone regeneration is an innovation compared to previously used membranes in which the size and shape are already predetermined.

Case Presentation: Eight weeks after a connective tissue graft on the maxillary lateral incisor of a 20‐year‐old female, tooth extraction and immediate implant placement were performed using a GBR technique with a PEG hydrogel membrane over a bone substitute material. The absence of inflammation and the good soft‐tissue healing confirmed the biocompatibility of the membrane. A three‐dimensional scan was taken to assess the behavior of the bone substitute covered with the PEG hydrogel membrane at 6 months after surgery.

Conclusions: The synthetic PEG bone regeneration membrane presented in this case report differs from all other membranes by its hydrogel form. Its properties as described here make this membrane a new tool for clinicians and a source for additional clinical studies to analyze its characteristics in the various indications for GBR.
Virulence Mechanism of Bacteria in Mixed Infection: Attenuation of Cytokine Levels and Evasion of Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte Phagocytosis
Authors: Polak David , Shapira Lior , Weiss Ervin I. , Houri‐Haddad Yael
Published: December 2012

Background: The objective of the present study is to evaluate the effect of bacterial viability on the virulence of mixed infection.

Methods: Expression of pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]‐1β and IL‐10, respectively) was tested in vivo, following live versus heat‐killed infection (mono or mixed), using the mouse chamber model of infection. Ex vivo, phagocytosis of fluorescently labeled bacteria was tested in primary mouse polymorphonuclear leukocytes by flow cytometry.

Results: In monoinfection, heat‐killed Porphyromonas gingivalis led to augmented levels of IL‐1β 2 hours postinfection, whereas IL‐10 levels remained unaffected. Phagocytosis of heat‐killed P. gingivalis was reduced compared with that of the live P. gingivalis, whereas phagocytosis of heat‐killed Fusobacterium nucleatum was augmented compared with that of live F. nucleatum. In mixed infection, both IL‐1β and IL‐10 levels were augmented 24 hours postinfection when the bacteria were heat‐killed. Although the phagocytosis pattern of F. nucleatum in the mixed infection remained similar to that upon monoinfection, phagocytosis of P. gingivalis was reduced following mixed infection.

Conclusions: The inflammatory response to live mixed infection is attenuated with reduced phagocytosis, compared with that of heat‐killed mixed infection. The lower response to live mixed infection could stem from a mechanism enabling the bacteria to evade the host response, thereby increasing bacterial survival.
Efficacy of Collagen Membrane Seeded With Autologous Gingival Fibroblasts in Gingival Recession Treatment: A Randomized, Controlled Pilot Study
Authors: Köseoğlu Serhat , Duran İsmet , Sağlam Mehmet , Bozkurt S. Buket , Kırtıloğlu Osman S. , Hakkı Sema S.
Published: December 2012

Background: Gingival recession (GR) is one of the most common esthetic concerns associated with periodontal tissues. Recently, tissue engineering technology has been developed and applied in periodontology for the treatment of GR. The aim of this study is to compare the clinical efficacy of collagen membrane with or without autologous gingival fibroblasts under a coronally advanced flap for root coverage.

Methods: In this split‐mouth, controlled clinical study, 22 sites are selected from 11 patients with Miller Class I recessions affecting canines or premolars in the maxillary arch. One tooth in each patient was randomized to receive either a collagen membrane (CM) (control group) or a collagen membrane seeded with autologous gingival fibroblasts (CM+GF) (test group) under a coronally advanced flap. Thickness of the gingiva, GR, and percentage of root coverage (PRC) were recorded by a calibrated examiner at baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Furthermore, GR and PRC were evaluated using photogrammetric analysis at baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months.

Results: Both treatments resulted in a significant gain in root coverage compared with baseline. A statistically significant increase was detected in PRC in the test group compared with the control group. No significant difference was noted between the test and control sites regarding the thickness of the gingiva.

Conclusions: The results indicated that CM+GF prepared by tissue engineering technology can be considered an alternative method for the treatment of Miller Class I recession defects.
Using Generalizability Theory to Develop Clinical Assessment Protocols
Authors: Preuss Richard A.
Published: December 2012

Clinical assessment protocols must produce data that are reliable, with a clinically attainable minimal detectable change (MDC). In a reliability study, generalizability theory has 2 advantages over classical test theory. These advantages provide information that allows assessment protocols to be adjusted to match individual patient profiles. First, generalizability theory allows the user to simultaneously consider multiple sources of measurement error variance (facets). Second, it allows the user to generalize the findings of the main study across the different study facets and to recalculate the reliability and MDC based on different combinations of facet conditions. In doing so, clinical assessment protocols can be chosen based on minimizing the number of measures that must be taken to achieve a realistic MDC, using repeated measures to minimize the MDC, or simply based on the combination that best allows the clinician to monitor an individual patient's progress over a specified period of time.
Ciegos ojos pecadores : visiones e invenciones de América
Authors: Amate Virginia Gil
Published: December 2012

Este trabajo se aproxima a los planteamientos contemporáneos sobre « invención » de América y a las visiones ficcionales ligadas a lo maravilloso, contrastándolas con las aproximaciones a la realidad americana dadas por algunos cronistas de Indias. El análisis destaca el peso de los constructos de la alta cultura en la creación de imaginarios supuestamente colectivos.
De l’islamisation des Hispaniques aux États-Unis
Authors: Cadinot Dominique
Published: December 2012

Le paysage religieux des États-Unis est marqué, depuis plusieurs décennies, par un phénomène de nomadisme spirituel. Parallèlement, on observe depuis le 11 Septembre 2001 une augmentation des conversions à l’islam au sein de la majorité anglo-américaine, ainsi que parmi certaines minorités culturelles de tradition chrétienne. En s’appuyant sur un travail de contextualisation historique, cette recherche vise à explorer la genèse du processus de conversion des Portoricains new-yorkais à la religion islamique. Nous nous intéresserons en particulier à l’intégration socio-économique de cette minorité et à l’évolution des relations interraciales dans le contexte new-yorkais des années 1970-1980.
La cabaretera del cine mexicano en los procesos de promoción y venta 1931-1950
Authors: Cabañas Osorio Jesús Alberto
Published: December 2012

El presente ensayo estudia los procesos de promoción y venta de la cabaretera del cine mexicano en el periodo 1931 y 1950. Analiza el inicio de la producción cinematográfica mexicana con el tema de la cabaretera, y cómo su representación queda vinculada a los modelos de producción propuestos por Estados Unidos. En este sentido, el trabajo observa los desplazamientos de contenidos artísticos de los filmes a fórmulas esquematizadas y paradigmáticas de la representación. Como consecuencia de ello, el cuerpo de la mujer es reducido a signos básicos para esquematizar lo mismo actitudes, que movimientos, poses o acciones físicas, así como las estructuras dramáticas de los filmes. En el proceso, la representación deja a la cabaretera primero como esquema de erotismo y seducción, y después como un objeto mercancía para su consumo sencillo en el ámbito del desarrollo de la cultura de masas. En este contexto el cuerpo de la cabaretera queda atrapado en un modo de cosificación femenina. Formas de la representación como consecuencia de la puesta en escena del director para destacar y asignar nuevos significados a las partes del cuerpo. Una construcción fetichista del cuerpo en la imagen cinematográfica, en el cartel publicitario y en la fórmula estereotipada de las historias de cabareteras.
Résonances dans la presse, de la politique sexuelle au Mexique
Authors: Ludec Nathalie
Published: December 2012

La presse commerciale mexicaine a contribué à la construction de nouvelles identités sexuelles et de genre en donnant la parole à des militantes féministes, intellectuelles, au sein de leurs rédactions où elles interviennent avec une grande liberté d'écriture. Le rôle de ces collaboratrices consiste précisément à diffuser de nouvelles idées sur les femmes, les rapports entre les sexes, à la lumière du discours politique, en matière d'éducation sexuelle et de planification familiale.  À partir d'une sélection d' articles issus des plus grands quotidiens mexicains des années 1970 (Novedades, El Universal, Unomásuno), l'analyse de contenu dégagera les stratégies mises en place par deux intellectuelles et militantes féministes, Elena Urrutia et Marta Lamas, d'une part pour décrypter les insuffisances du discours officiel en matière de politique sexuelle, sous les présidences de Luis Echeverría Álvarez et José López Portillo, et d'autre part pour proposer une analyse féministe en matière de sexualité au regard des pratiques culturelles.
L’égalité des chances dans l’enseignement supérieur
Authors: Ramos De Santana Aderivaldo
Published: December 2012

Social exclusion, ethnical prejudices or racial taboos, influence the access to prestigious French Universities « les grandes écoles »  and Brazilian Universities. How to promote universal access and consolidate the way to Democracy ? For 10 years, experience has shown that politics implemented in higher education do not necessary fit with existing realities : how to adjust educational politics to French & Brazilian social & cultural realities ? This paper analyses the 10 years’ implementation of the French model, based on a positive discrimination  approach, and the Brazilian model, based on the affirmative action, which is the system most famous in the world.
Granzyme B–Mediated Damage of CD8+ T Cells Impairs Graft-versus-Tumor Effect
Authors: Bian Guanglin , Ding Xilai , Leigh Nicholas D. , Tang Youzhou , Capitano Maegan L. , Qiu Jingxin , McCarthy Philip L. , Liu Hong , Cao Xuefang
Published: December 2012

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation is an established treatment for hematologic and other malignancies. Donor-derived immune cells can identify and attack host tumor cells, producing a graft-versus-tumor (GVT) effect that is crucial to the treatment. Using multiple tumor models and diverse donor–host combinations, we have studied the role of granzyme B (GzmB) in GVT effect. We first confirmed previous findings that GzmB deficiency diminished the ability of a high dose of CD8+ T cells to cause lethal graft-versus-host disease. However, when GVT studies were performed using a moderate cell dose that the hosts could tolerate, GzmB−/− CD8+ T cells demonstrated a significantly enhanced GVT effect. GzmB-mediated, activation-induced cell death in wild-type CD8+ T cells was found responsible for their reduced GVT activity. Conversely, GzmB−/− CD8+ T cells exhibited enhanced expansion, skewed toward an effector or effector memory phenotype, and produced higher amounts of IFN-γ and Fas ligand that might contribute to GzmB-independent tumor control. These findings demonstrate for the first time, to our knowledge, that GzmB-mediated damage of CD8+ T cells impairs the desired GVT effect. This study suggests that inhibiting donor-derived GzmB function may represent a promising strategy to improve GVT effect without exacerbating graft-versus-host disease.
Macrophage-Specific TLR2 Signaling Mediates Pathogen-Induced TNF-Dependent Inflammatory Oral Bone Loss
Authors: Papadopoulos George , Weinberg Ellen O. , Massari Paola , Gibson Frank C. , Wetzler Lee M. , Morgan Elise F. , Genco Caroline A.
Published: December 2012

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a primary etiological agent of chronic periodontal disease, an infection-driven chronic inflammatory disease that leads to the resorption of tooth-supporting alveolar bone. We previously reported that TLR2 is required for P. gingivalis–induced alveolar bone loss in vivo, and our in vitro work implicated TNF as a key downstream mediator. In this study, we show that TNF-deficient (Tnf−/−) mice are resistant to alveolar bone loss following oral infection with P. gingivalis, and thus establish a central role for TNF in experimental periodontal disease. Using bone marrow–derived macrophages (BMDM) from wild-type and gene-specific knockout mice, we demonstrate that the initial inflammatory response to P. gingivalis in naive macrophages is MyD88 dependent and requires cooperative signaling of TLR2 and TLR4. The ability of P. gingivalis to activate cells via TLR2 or TLR4 was confirmed in TLR2- or TLR4-transformed human embryonic kidney cells. Additional studies using bacterial mutants demonstrated a role for fimbriae in the modulation of TLR-mediated activation of NF-κB. Whereas both TLR2 and TLR4 contributed to TNF production in naive macrophages, P. gingivalis preferentially exploited TLR2 in endotoxin-tolerant BMDM to trigger excessive TNF production. We found that TNF induced surface TLR2 expression and augmented TLR-induced cytokine production in P. gingivalis–stimulated BMDM, establishing a previously unidentified TNF-dependent feedback loop. Adoptive transfer of TLR2-expressing macrophages to TLR2-deficient mice restored the ability of P. gingivalis to induce alveolar bone loss in vivo. Collectively, our results identify a TLR2- and TNF-dependent macrophage-specific mechanism underlying pathogen-induced inflammatory bone loss in vivo.
Determinants of the Demise of Terrorist Organizations
Authors: Gaibulloev Khusrav , Sandler Todd
Published: December 2012

This article investigates the determinants of terrorist groups' failure by applying survival analysis in a discrete‐time specification. Our sample consists of a diverse set of 586 terrorist groups, in which just over 63% end operations (demise) during 1970–2007. We use RAND event data and Jones and Libicki terrorist group data. Findings show that the survival of terrorist groups is bolstered by diversifying attacks, having multiple home bases, locating in the Middle East, locating in a democratic country, and limiting reliance on transnational terrorist attacks. Moreover, larger groups have better survival prospects. Religious fundamentalist terrorist groups face better survival prospects than other terrorist groups. Terrorist groups located in a country with larger tropical territory are less likely to end operations; however, groups based in a landlocked country are more likely to fail.
Temperature quenching of CDOM fluorescence sensors: temporal and spatial variability in the temperature response and a recommended temperature correction equation
Authors: Ryder Elizabeth , Jennings Eleanor , de Eyto Elvira , Dillane Mary , NicAonghusa Caitriona , Pierson Donald C. , Moore Karen , Rouen Martin , Poole Russell
Published: December 2012

Field‐based instruments measuring chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) fluorescence are often used as a proxy for dissolved organic carbon concentrations in lakes and streams. CDOM fluorescence yield is, however, affected by water temperature at the time of measurement, a factor which varies on both diel and seasonal timescales. A temperature correction must therefore be applied to these data. We present data on temporal and site‐specific variability in temperature quenching of CDOM fluorescence for water from a humic lake and one of its main inflows in the west of Ireland. In addition, we present a temperature compensation equation and show that this equation is an improvement on methods previously proposed.
Optimization and quality control of suspended particulate matter concentration measurement using turbidity measurements
Authors: Neukermans Griet , Ruddick Kevin , Loisel Hubert , Roose Patrick
Published: December 2012

The dry weight concentration of suspended particulate material, [SPM] (units: mg L−1), is measured by passing a known volume of seawater through a preweighed filter and reweighing the filter after drying. This is apparently a simple procedure, but accuracy and precision of [SPM] measurements vary widely depending on the measurement protocol and experience and skills of the person filtering. We show that measurements of turbidity, T (units: FNU), which are low cost, simple, and fast, can be used to optimally set the filtration volume, to detect problems with the mixing of the sample during subsampling, and to quality control [SPM]. A relationship between T and ‘optimal filtration volume’, Vopt, is established where Vopt is the volume at which enough matter is retained by the filter for precise measurement, but not so much that the filter clogs. This relationship is based on an assessment of procedural uncertainties in the [SPM] measurement protocol, including salt retention, filter preparation, weighing, and handling, and on a value for minimum relative precision for replicates. The effect of filtration volume on the precision of [SPM] measurement is investigated by filtering volumes of seawater ranging between one fifth and twice Vopt. It is shown that filtrations at Vopt maximize precision and cost effectiveness of [SPM]. Finally, the 90% prediction bounds of the T versus [SPM] regression allow the quality control of [SPM] determinations. In conclusion it is recommended that existing [SPM] gravimetric measurements be refined to include measurement of turbidity to improve their precision and quality control.
Optimization of instrument setup and post‐run corrections for oxygen and hydrogen stable isotope measurements of water by isotope ratio infrared spectroscopy (IRIS)
Authors: van Geldern Robert , Barth Johannes A.C.
Published: December 2012

Light stable isotope analyses of hydrogen (2H/1H) and oxygen (18O/16O) of water are used in many terrestrial and marine aquatic studies. The advantage of using stable isotope ratios is that water molecules serve as ubiquitous and already present natural tracers. Within recent years, these analyses have been revolutionized by the development of new isotope ratio laser spectroscopy (IRIS) systems that are cheaper, more robust, and mobile compared with traditional isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). Although easier to operate, laser systems also need thorough calibration with international reference materials, and raw data need correction for analytical effects (i.e., memory and drift). This study presents modifications to the hardware for liquid water injection, an optimized sequence layout and a simple post‐run correction procedure. These protocols will maximize precision, accuracy, and sample throughput via an efficient memory correction. The number of injections per unknown sample can be reduced to 4 or less. This procedure meets the demands of faster throughput with reduced costs per analysis. Procedures presented here are based on real analyses. They were also verified by an international proficiency test and traditional IRMS techniques.
Automated mapping of water bodies using Landsat multispectral data
Authors: Verpoorter Charles , Kutser Tiit , Tranvik Lars
Published: December 2012

The assessment of the role of lakes and impoundments at regional and global scales, e.g., in biogeochemical cycles, requires good estimates of the areal extent and shape of water bodies. Upscaling to large regions, except in limited areas where precise maps are available, so far depends on statistical estimates of the number and size of lakes, which explains why estimates are poor. We present an automated procedure that allows mapping of the actual number, size, and distribution of lakes at large scale. Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM +) mosaics from the GeoCover Circa 2000 dataset covering the Earth land surfaces with 14.25 m spatial resolution were used as input data. We developed an approach called GWEM (GeoCover™ Water bodies Extraction Method) that combines remote sensing and GIS to extract water bodies and study their abundance and morphometry. All water bodies greater than 0.0002 km2 were taken into account as lakes. The accuracy of the method was tested on Sweden, where detailed maps of lakes, based on in situ data and orthophotos, exist for the whole country. The proposed method produced accurate results. The largest sources of errors are shadows of mountains and clouds, since the GeoCover mosaics are not absolutely cloud free.
Attenuation of sunlight measured from moored radiometers to assess depletion of suspended particles caused by bivalve aquaculture
Authors: Ibarra Diego A. , Cembella Allan , Grant Jon
Published: December 2012

Bivalve suspension‐feeding can produce horizontal gradients of particulate suspended matter, or seston, which may impair bivalve growth among other impacts to the coastal ecosystem. We proposed a method to assess the concentration of seston at different locations along a shellfish farm by means of measurements of the depth‐averaged diffuse attenuation coefficient of downwelling irradiance at 490 nm, K̅, from at least two autonomous buoys equipped with a vertical array of irradiance sensors. Two approaches were compared. First, horizontal gradients of chlorophyll plus phaeopigments (Chl) were calculated from K̅ using an empirical algorithm derived from water samples. In the second approach, gradients of particulate suspended matter were calculated after correcting K̅ for the attenuation due to water and riverine colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM), estimated from continuous in situ measurements of salinity. The method was assessed in a mussel farm in Ship Harbour (Nova Scotia, Canada). The proposed method is relatively insensitive to the angular distribution of downwelling irradiance, biofouling, frame‐shading, and wave focusing; but it cannot be easily applied in places with strong and sustained sediment resuspension. This method can complement and validate current modeling studies of seston depletion, and it can assist managerial activities and legislative requirements of shellfish aquaculture. This method can also be used to assess gradients of other ecologically relevant substances (i.e., CDOM, phytoplankton, and seston) in applications associated with sewage discharges, river runoff, harmful algal blooms, suspension‐feeding invasive bivalves, and other horizontally variable phenomena in the coastal ocean.
Estimating the in situ distribution of acid volatile sulfides from sediment profile images
Authors: Wilson Peter S. , Vopel Kay
Published: December 2012

Measuring the sediment content of acid volatile sulfides (AVS), an important determinant of coastal ecosystem functioning, is laborious and therefore rarely considered in routine coastal monitoring. Here, we describe a new approach to estimate the in situ distribution of AVS in subtidal soft sediment. Using amperometric H2S microelectrodes and a flatbed scanner in the laboratory, we first established a strong correlation (R2 = 0.95) between the AVS content (as extracted by cold 1 mol L−1 HCl) and the color intensity of sediment collected at 12 m water depth off the eastern coast of Waiheke Island, New Zealand. We then used this correlation to estimate the distribution of AVS in the upper 20 cm of this sediment from sediment profile images. These images were obtained in situ with a lightweight imaging device consisting of a modified flatbed scanner housed inside a watertight acrylic tube (SPI‐Scan™, Benthic Science). We made two types of estimates from the acquired images: First, we obtained a vertical AVS concentration profile by averaging the color intensities of horizontally aligned pixels. Second, we created a two‐dimensional distribution plot of AVS concentration by assigning individual pixel color intensities. Because our technique enables assessments of temporal and spatial variations in the AVS content of subtidal soft sediment, we suggest using it in routine coastal monitoring.
Centering Shashi and Business Archives as Resources for the Study of Economic and Social History: The Activities of the Shibusawa Eiichi Memorial Foundation
Authors: Koide Izumi
Published: December 2012

No Abstract
Transformative Technology in Microfinance: Delivering Hope Electronically?
Authors: Senthe Shanthi Elizabeth
Published: December 2012

Considered a lifeline, and a convenience, a mobile phone has now acquired another transformative dimension within the microfinance context.  As a result of the proliferation of mobile banking in emerging markets and developing countries, microfinance institutions (“MFIs”) have adopted similar technological enhancements to deliver microfinance products.  This paper will explore how emerging technology advances has altered the contours of microfinance, specifically mobile banking (also known as “m-banking”) which is utilized to facilitate efficient financial services to a vast number of people without access to the formal banking  system and financial services, otherwise known as the “unbanked”.  This discussion offers a snapshot of the current state of mobile banking, and examines the kaleidoscopic approach used by microfinance institutions through several auxiliary considerations.  Part I examines the underlying rationale in employing a cashless banking paradigm and illustrates how mobile banking is administered institutionally.  Part II seeks to highlight the regulatory considerations intractable within the mobile banking discourse, and is intended to provide a survey of the current regulatory landscape, and finally, Part III focuses on uncovering the consumer perspective, and calls for a conceptual refinement in the interconnection of the social context within mobile banking. This paper is not intended to be categorized as a comparative law piece; rather its primary objective is to provide a snapshot of how certain jurisdictions have embraced mobile banking platforms and their legislative response thereto.  This discussion is merely offered as part of a functionalist approach discourse currently adopted by regulators; as such this paper only offers a cursory perspective of emerging legal considerations within the mobile banking context as it relates to MFIs.
Can Wetland Vegetation be Used to Describe Anthropogenic Effects and Pollution Patterns? The Case of Dakodwom and Kaase Wetlands in the Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana
Authors: Betey Campion Benjamin , Odametey Simeon Nii Laryea
Published: December 2012

Wetlands in general are losing their peculiar features, attributes, functions and products although the need to protect them is on the increase globally. Wetlands in Kumasi are not exempted. They are either being converted to other land uses or are directly affected by adjacent land use. Also, the vegetation of the different wetlands in Kumasi varies. This spatial heterogeneity in species of these urban spaces therefore makes management difficult. This research is therefore aimed at using the wetland vegetation to describe anthropogenic effects and pollution patterns in the Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana. Two large riverine wetland areas in Kumasi were selected. All plant species that are within 30 m from water channel were identified. Heavy metal concentrations and the associated anthropogenic activities in these wetlands were assessed. A total of 48 different plant species were identified in the study areas. Plant species with high importance value index observed at the sites included Ipomoea aquatica, Thalia geniculata, Ipomoea carica, Panicum maximum and Andropogon gayanus. Housing, vegetable farming and car repair shops were the major anthropogenic activities around these wetland areas. Also, all the heavy metals considered in this study were all present in both study sites. The very close similarity in the list of species identified makes it difficult to use vegetation to describe pollution. However, the adjacent anthropogenic activities are the sources of the pollutants and these activities also influence the vegetation.
Switching and Escalating Therapy in Long-Lasting Multiple Sclerosis: Not Always Necessary
Authors: Carvalho Ana Teresa , Sá Maria José
Published: December 2012

Although therapy switch is common among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), sometimes the initial prescribed treatment is maintained for a long period with clinical stability, low disability, and nonsignificant side effects. We aim to describe demographic and clinical characteristics of patients treated in our MS clinic with the same disease-modifying drug (DMD) lasting for >12 years. From the cohort of 51 patients followed in our MS clinic with relapse-remitting MS who started an DMD between 1996 and 1999, we found a high percentage (51%) of patients who were efficiently treated with the first DMD. These patients were mainly females, with low annualized relapse rate and Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score (MSSS). Our results may be related to the open and multidisciplinary model of our MS clinic organization. Identifying characteristics associated with therapy persistence may be useful in developing strategies to improve therapy effectiveness.
Knowledge Sharing between Farmer Field School Graduate Farmers and Other Farmers on Improved Cocoa Cultivation Practices in Edo State, Nigeria
Authors: Ebewore Solomon O.
Published: December 2012

This paper investigated the extent of knowledge sharing by cocoa FFS graduates farmers in Edo State with other cocoa farmers. The objectives of the study included to: ascertain the extent of knowledge sharing by FFS farmers, the nature of knowledge shared and the number of beneficiaries from the shared knowledge. A multistage sampling procedure was used to collect data from 68 respondents. A well structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Simple descriptive statistics (frequency counts and percentages) and logit regression were used to analyze the data. The results of the study showed that there was no significant sharing of knowledge by the FFS farmers with other farmers as only 13(19.1%) FFS farmers were involved in knowledge sharing. The logit regression result showed that all the socio-economic variables except household size and farm size were insignificant in influencing the FFS farmers’ knowledge sharing abilities. From the findings of the study, it was therefore recommended that FFS graduate farmers should be encouraged to sign knowledge sharing contract, to organize field day and the need for FFS facilitators to monitor the graduates to ensure that the contractual agreement is adhered to should be stressed.
Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Grafts Enhance Normal and Impaired Wound Healing by Recruiting Existing Endogenous Tissue Stem/Progenitor Cells
Authors: Shin Laura , Peterson Daniel A.
Published: December 2012

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been investigated as a clinical therapy to promote tissue repair. However, the disappearance of grafted cells soon after engraftment suggests a possible role as initiators of repair rather than effectors. We evaluated the relative contribution of grafted human MSCs and host stem/progenitor cells in promoting wound healing by using a novel asymmetric wound model in normal and impaired healing diabetic (db/db) mice to discriminate between the effect of direct engraftment and the subsequent systemic response. Experimental animals received paired wounds, with one wound receiving human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and the other wound receiving vehicle to assess local and systemic effects, respectively. Control animals received vehicle in both wounds. Grafted hMSCs significantly improved healing in both normal and impaired healing animals; produced significant elevation of signals such as Wnt3a, vascular endothelial growth factor, and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-α; and increased the number of pre-existing host MSCs recruited to the wound bed. Improvement was also seen in both the grafted and nongrafted sides, suggesting a systemic response to hMSC engraftment. Healing was enhanced despite the rapid loss of hMSCs, suggesting that mobilizing the host response is the major outcome of grafting MSCs to tissue repair. We validate that hMSCs evoke a host response that is clinically relevant, and we suggest that therapeutic efforts should focus on maximizing the mobilization of host MSCs.
Modeling and Rescue of the Vascular Phenotype of Williams-Beuren Syndrome in Patient Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Authors: Kinnear Caroline , Chang Wing Y. , Khattak Shahryar , Hinek Aleksander , Thompson Tadeo , de Carvalho Rodrigues Deivid , Kennedy Karen , Mahmut Naila , Pasceri Peter , Stanford William L. , Ellis James , Mital Seema
Published: December 2012

Elastin haploinsufficiency in Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) leads to increased vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation and stenoses. Our objective was to generate a human induced pluripotent stem (hiPS) cell model for in vitro assessment of the WBS phenotype and to test the ability of candidate agents to rescue the phenotype. hiPS cells were reprogrammed from skin fibroblasts of a WBS patient with aortic and pulmonary stenosis and healthy control BJ fibroblasts using four-factor retrovirus reprogramming and were differentiated into SMCs. Differentiated SMCs were treated with synthetic elastin-binding protein ligand 2 (EBPL2) (20 μg/ml) or the antiproliferative drug rapamycin (100 nM) for 5 days. We generated four WBS induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell lines that expressed pluripotency genes and differentiated into all three germ layers. Directed differentiation of BJ iPS cells yielded an 85%–92% pure SMC population that expressed differentiated SMC markers, were functionally contractile, and formed tube-like structures on three-dimensional gel assay. Unlike BJ iPS cells, WBS iPS cells generated immature SMCs that were highly proliferative, showed lower expression of differentiated SMC markers, reduced response to the vasoactive agonists, carbachol and endothelin-1, impaired vascular tube formation, and reduced calcium flux. EBPL2 partially rescued and rapamycin fully rescued the abnormal SMC phenotype by decreasing the smooth muscle proliferation rate and enhancing differentiation and tube formation. WBS iPS cell-derived SMCs demonstrate an immature proliferative phenotype with reduced functional and contractile properties, thereby recapitulating the human disease phenotype. The ability of rapamycin to rescue the phenotype provides an attractive therapeutic candidate for patients with WBS and vascular stenoses.
Incidence of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Sweden: A Nationwide Population‐Based Assessment of Incidence, Its Determinants, and Treatment Penetration
Authors: Eriksson Jonas K. , Neovius Martin , Ernestam Sofia , Lindblad Staffan , Simard Julia F. , Askling Johan
Published: December 2012

Objective

To estimate the nationwide incidence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Sweden, including its variation across age, sex, geography, and demography, and to describe the sensitivity of register‐based incidence estimates to different RA case definitions.

Methods

Incident RA patients were identified using the Swedish National Patient Register. In the base case, incident RA was defined as first‐ever inpatient or nonprimary outpatient care visit listing an RA diagnosis in 2006–2008, with a second visit listing RA within 1 year. Patients prescribed disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs more than 6 months prior to the first visit listing RA were not regarded as incident. The robustness of this definition was evaluated by more liberal and strict criteria, and by penetration of antirheumatic treatment.

Results

Between 2006 and 2008, 8,826 individuals were identified as incident RA patients. The overall incidence was 41 per 100,000 (56 for women, 25 for men). The incidence increased with age and peaked in the 70–79 years age group for both women and men. The age‐ and sex‐standardized incidences were lower in densely populated areas and in individuals with high educational level. No geographic trends were noted. More liberal and strict definitions of RA only altered the observed incidence by approximately 14%.

Conclusion

The overall nationwide register‐based incidence of RA was robust across different case definitions. In a country with universal access to care, RA displayed demographic and socioeconomic, but no geographic, variations in incidence, and peaks at an older age than most commonly reported, with no difference in peak age at RA onset between sexes.
Occurrence of Radiographic Osteoarthritis of the Knee and Hip Among African Americans and Whites: A Population‐Based Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Kopec Jacek A. , Sayre Eric C. , Schwartz Todd A. , Renner Jordan B. , Helmick Charles G. , Badley Elizabeth M. , Cibere Jolanda , Callahan Leigh F. , Jordan Joanne M.
Published: December 2012

Objective

To compare the incidence and progression of radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) in the knee and hip among African Americans and whites.

Methods

Using the joint as the unit of analysis, we analyzed data from the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project, a population‐based prospective cohort study in rural North Carolina. Baseline and followup assessments were 3–13 years apart. Assessments included standard knee and hip radiographs read for Kellgren/Lawrence (K/L) radiographic grade. Weighted analyses controlled for age, sex, body mass index, level of education, and baseline K/L grade; bootstrap methods adjusted for lack of independence between left and right joints. Time‐to‐event analysis was used to analyze the data.

Results

For radiographic knee OA, being African American had no association with incidence (adjusted hazard ratio [HRadj] 0.80, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.53–1.22), but had a positive association with progression (HRadj 1.67, 95% CI 1.05–2.67). For radiographic hip OA, African Americans had a significantly lower incidence (HRadj 0.44, 95% CI 0.27–0.71), whereas the association with progression was positive but nonsignificant (HRadj 1.46, 95% CI 0.53–4.01). In sensitivity analyses, the association with hip OA incidence was robust to a wide range of assumptions.

Conclusion

African Americans are protected against incident hip OA, but may be more susceptible to progressive knee OA.
A Novel Microwave‐Assisted Carbothermic Route for the Production of Copper‐Carbon Nanotube Metal Matrix Composites Directly from Copper Oxide
Authors: Vennerberg Danny , Quirino Rafael , Kessler Michael R.
Published: December 2012

Cu2O was reduced to copper via a microwave‐assisted carbothermic route using multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as the carbon source. The reaction atmosphere as well as the degree of mixing of Cu2O and MWCNTs was varied, and the resulting products were characterized as a function of microwave exposure time. Irradiation of thoroughly mixed Cu2O and MWCNTs under argon for 45 s produced Cu‐MWCNT composites with high MWCNT loading and high hardness. This new approach for fabricating carbon nanotube‐reinforced metal matrix composites eliminates many of the challenges associated with traditional methods while requiring a fraction of the time and energy.
Numerical study of mixing and thermal conduction of granular particles in rotating tumblers
Authors: Gui Nan , Gao Jinsen , Ji Zhongli
Published: December 2012

A discrete element method (DEM) study is conducted to investigate the mixing and heat‐transfer characteristics of steel spherical particles under various rotation speeds and flow regimes of a rotating tumbler. The mixing degree, weighted temperature, temperature discrepancy at the mixing interface, temperature radial distribution, and information entropy are used to analyze the effect of mixing structure and evolution duration on the heat‐transfer characteristics. The results under the same revolution and the same evolution time are compared to show the effects of evolution time and mixing structure on thermal conduction. After a detailed analysis, the joint contribution of mixing degree and duration to granular heat transfer is explained, and the different approaches in static thermal conduction and dynamic mixing are shown. Moreover, a new method is proposed using the mean increase rate of temperature information entropy to determine the most effective operating condition for thermal conduction in granular particles. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 1906–1918, 2013
Growth of a species, an association, a science: 80 years of growth and development research
Authors: Sherwood Richard J. , Duren Dana L.
Published: December 2012

Physical anthropological research was codified in the United States with the creation of the American Association of Physical Anthropology (AAPA) in 1929. That same year, a study began in yellow springs, Ohio, with a goal of identifying “what makes people different.” The approach used to answer that question was to study the growth and development of Homo sapiens. The resulting study, the Fels Longitudinal Study, is currently the longest continuous study of human growth and development in the world. Although the AAPA and the Fels Longitudinal Study have existed as separate entities for more than 80 years now, it is not surprising, given the relationship between anatomical and developmental research, there has been considerable overlap between the two. As the field of physical anthropology has blossomed to include subdisciplines such as forensics, genetics, primatology, as well as sophisticated statistical methodologies, the importance of growth and development research has escalated. Although current Fels Longitudinal Study research is largely directed at biomedical questions, virtually all findings are relevant to physical anthropology, providing insights into basic biological processes and life history parameters. Some key milestones from the early years of the AAPA and the Fels Longitudinal Study are highlighted here that address growth and development research in physical anthropology. These are still held as fundamental concepts that underscore the importance of this line of inquiry, not only across the subdisciplines of physical anthropology, but also among anthropological, biological, and biomedical inquiries. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Quality of surgical field during endoscopic sinus surgery: a systematic literature review of the effect of total intravenous compared to inhalational anesthesia
Authors: Kelly Elizabeth A. , Gollapudy Suneeta , Riess Matthias L. , Woehlck Harvey J. , Loehrl Todd A. , Poetker David M.
Published: December 2012

Background

Adequate surgical field visualization is imperative for successful outcomes in endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). The type of anesthetic administered can alter a patient's hemodynamics and impact endoscopic visualization during surgery. We review the current evidence regarding the effect of total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) compared to inhalational anesthesia (INA) on visualization of the surgical field during ESS.

Methods

A systematic review of the literature was performed. Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane databases were searched from 1946 to January 2012. Citations from the primary search were reviewed and filtered to identify all relevant abstracts in English. Articles meriting full review included prospective controlled trials enrolling adult patients undergoing ESS that were randomized to a group receiving INA or TIVA with outcome measures focused on surgical field visualization.

Results

Seven eligible trials fulfilled inclusion criteria. Four of the 7 demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in surgical field grade during ESS when receiving TIVA compared with INA. However, detailed INA concentrations were often not provided. High levels of INA may have been administered; therefore, side effects of INA rather than effects of an ideal INA administration were possibly represented. Analgesic administration also varied widely among the anesthetic groups, further complicating interpretation of study results. The lack of power and the heterogeneity of the studies precluded a formal meta‐analysis.

Conclusion

Although several studies reported that TIVA improves surgical conditions in ESS, there are significant limitations. These findings prevent any definite recommendation at this point, emphasizing the need for further high‐quality studies.
Dispersion of TiO2 on high‐surface‐area mesoporous silica: functionalization with tungstophosphoric acid and application in solvent‐free, aerobic oxidation of n‐hexadecane
Authors: Gopala Divakara Soorly , Bhattacharjee Rama R. , Richards Ryan
Published: December 2012

Imidazole type ionic liquid, 1‐hexadecyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride, was used to template the synthesis of high‐surface‐area mesoporous silica under acidic conditions and crystalline titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles of anatase phase were inserted utilizing a solvent evaporation‐induced method. The surface area of more than 700 m2 g−1 was obtained after TiO2 impregnation. Further, the polyoxometalate, 12‐tungstophosphoric acid (PW12) was dispersed on the surface of TiO2 to form PW12–TiO2–silica hybrid catalytic materials. The catalytic activity of this hybrid material was tested for solvent‐free, aerobic oxidation of n‐hexadecane. The experimental investigation shows that PW12–TiO2 nanocrystals did not block the pore channels and gave good conversion. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis and antiproliferative activity of (Z + E)‐1‐[4‐(2‐(cyclopentadienyltricarbonylmanganese)‐2‐oxo‐ethoxy)phenyl]‐1,2‐di(p‐hydroxyphenyl)‐but‐1‐ene against breast cancer cells
Authors: Dallagi Tesnim , Saidi Mouldi , Jaouen Gérard , Top Siden
Published: December 2012

This paper describes the synthesis of (Z + E)‐1‐[4‐(2‐(cyclopentadienyltricarbonylmanganese)‐2‐oxo‐ethoxy)phenyl]‐1,2‐di(p‐hydroxyphenyl)‐but‐1‐ene. Two synthetic pathways were explored. The best pathway consisted of the alkylation of 1,2‐bis‐[4‐(tert‐butyl‐dimethylsilyloxy)phenyl]‐1‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)but‐1‐ene with BrCH2COOEt. The ester obtained was transformed into the Weinreb amide by reaction with HN(OMe)Me–HCl. The reaction of lithium manganese tricarbonylcyclopentadienide with the Weinreb amide produced 1‐[4‐(2‐(cyclopentadienyltricarbonylmanganese)‐2‐oxo‐ethoxy)phenyl]‐1,2‐di(p‐tert‐butyldimethylsiloxyphenyl)‐but‐1‐ene. The deprotection of phenolic functions of the latter compound led to the formation of the final compound. The Z and E isomers could be separated but the isomerization of these isomers from one to another is an easy process. The Z + E compound 2 was tested against the hormone‐dependent MCF‐7 and hormone‐independent MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cell lines. The IC50 values of compound 2 were 4.80 ± 2.00 µm and 4.79 ± 0.70 µm for MCF‐7 cells and MDA‐MB‐231 cells, respectively, which was three times better than the ferrocenyl analogue. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.