bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interposition Arthroplasty of Temporomandibular Joint Ankylosis Using Temporalis Muscle Flap: Our Experience
Authors: Sathe Nilam U. , Bhange Prasad , Acharya Rumita , Bhatia Abhijeet , Mhashal Shashikant
Published: October 2011

Ankylosis is defined as loss of joint movement resulting from fusion of bones within the joint or calcification of the ligaments around it. Satisfactory surgical correction of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis is limited by a high recurrence rate. This study aims to show that interposition arthroplasty with temporalis muscle flap improves mouth opening in 6 patients with TMJ ankylosis. Six patients with TMJ ankylosis were treated by interposition arthroplasty. The patients were evaluated between ten and 18 months after surgery. Preand postoperative assessment included a thorough analysis of case history and a physical examination to determine the cause of ankylosis, the maximal incisal opening and type of the ankylosis, recurrence rate and presence of facial nerve paralysis. All 6 patients had unilateral involvement. The mean age was 12.5 years ±6.5 (range 6–19 years). The mouth incisal opening in the preoperative period ranged from 5 mm to 11 mm and in the postoperative period it ranged from 30 mm to 35 mm. No recurrence and no facial palsy were observed in our series. No recurrence was noted, and in all the cases there was type IV ankylosis. Trauma was the major cause of temporomandibular joint ankylosis in our sample. Interpositional arthroplasty is a highly effective and safe surgical management option for TMJ ankylosis with acceptable immediate and long-term outcome, particularly when temporalis fascia and muscle are used.
Radiation distribution and protection in a surgical theatre
Authors: Van der Merwe Belinda
Published: October 2011

The duty of a radiographer in theatre is to be prudent to minimise radiation exposure whenever possible and thus to apply the ‘As-Low-As-Reasonably Achievable’ (ALARA) principle to ensure the lowest possible radiation dose to the patient and staff. The aim of the study is to determine low-dose radiation working areas in theatres and to propose protocols during fluoroscopy to apply the ALARA principle.
Problem Stabilization
Authors: Farri O. , McNaughton D.B. , Savik Kay , Monsen K.A.
Published: October 2011

Background: Public health nurse (PHN) home visiting programs have been widely employed to improve life course trajectories for high risk mothers. Home visiting programs are often lengthy, during which PHNs simultaneously address multiple problems using diverse interventions over several client encounters. To manage PHN caseloads it is critical to understand the trajectory of client improvement and the optimal duration or services. PHN documentation data enable intervention trajectory research for specific client problems. A new metric called problem stabilization is proposed for evaluating interim improvement during PHN home visiting. Problem stabilization is an intervention pattern for a client problem that is characterized by co-occurring actions (i.e. teaching, guidance, and counseling; treatments and procedures; case management; and/or surveillance) during a client encounter; followed by surveillance actions only for that problem during a subsequent client encounter. The purpose of the study was to investigate problem stabilization during home visiting services for high risk mothers.

Methods: A retrospective cohort was created using family home visiting intervention documentation data from a local Midwest public health agency over a six year period (2000–2005). The data set consisted of Omaha System interventions for 720 high risk mothers. Analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics and Kaplan Meier curves.

Results: On average 30.1% of the time, client problems stabilized before discharge. Stabilization patterns differed by problem. Time to stabilization was longest for Caretaking/parenting and Ante-partum/postpartum problems, and shortest for Residence and Mental health problems.

Conclusions: Problem stabilization, a proposed intermediate outcome of PHN home visiting care, appears to be meaningful in describing client response to PHN intervention. This metric is an example of meaningful use of structured clinical electronic health record data for program evaluation and clinical decision support.
Ozonesonde climatology between 1995 and 2009: description, evaluation and applications
Authors: Tilmes S. , Lamarque J.-F. , Emmons L. K. , Conley A. , Schultz M. G. , Saunois M. , Thouret V. , Thompson A. M. , Oltmans S. J. , Johnson B. , Tarasick D.
Published: October 2011

Abstract. An ozone climatology based on ozone soundings for the last 15 years has been constructed for model evaluation and comparisons to other observations. Vertical ozone profiles for 41 stations around the globe have been compiled and averaged for the years 1980–1994 and 1995–2009. The climatology provides information about the median and the width of the ozone probability distribution function, as well as interannual variability of ozone between 1995 and 2009, in pressure and tropopause-referenced altitudes. In addition to single stations, regional aggregates are presented, combining stations with similar ozone characteristics. The Hellinger distance is introduced as a new diagnostic to compare the variability of ozone distributions within each region and used for model evaluation purposes. This measure compares not only the mean, but also the shape of distributions. The representativeness of regional aggregates is discussed using independent observations from surface stations and MOZAIC aircraft data. Ozone from all of these data sets show an excellent agreement within the range of the interannual variability, especially if a sufficient number of measurements are available, as is the case for West Europe. Within the climatology, a significant longitudinal variability of ozone in the troposphere and lower stratosphere in the northern mid- and high latitudes is found. The climatology is used to evaluate results from two model intercomparison activities, HTAP for the troposphere and CCMVal2 for the tropopause region and the stratosphere. HTAP ozone is in good agreement with observations in the troposphere within their range of uncertainty, but ozone peaks too early in the Northern Hemisphere spring. The strong gradients of ozone around the tropopause are less well captured by many models. Lower stratospheric ozone is overestimated for all regions by the multi-model mean of CCMVal2 models. Individual models also show major shortcomings in reproducing the shape of ozone probability distribution functions in various regions and different altitudes, which might have significant implications for the radiative budgets in those models.
3-D evaluation of tropospheric ozone simulations by an ensemble of regional Chemistry Transport Model
Authors: Zyryanov D. , Foret G. , Eremenko M. , Beekmann M. , Cammas J.-P. , D'Isidoro M. , Elbern H. , Flemming J. , Friese E. , Kioutsioutkis I. , Maurizi A. , Melas D. , Meleux F. , Menut L. , Moinat P. , Peuch V.-H. , Poupkou A. , Razinger M. , Schultz M. , Stein O. , Suttie A. M. , Valdebenito A. , Zerefos C. , Dufour G. , Bergametti G. , Flaud J.-M.
Published: October 2011

Abstract. A detailed 3-D evaluation of an ensemble of five regional CTM's and one global CTM with focus on free tropospheric ozone over Europe is presented. It is performed over a summer period (June to August 2008) in the context of the GEMS-RAQ project. A data set of about 400 vertical ozone profiles from balloon soundings and commercial aircraft at 11 different locations is used for model evaluation, in addition to satellite measurements with the infrared nadir IASI sounder showing largest sensitivity to free tropospheric ozone. In the free troposphere, models using the same top and boundary conditions from MOZART-IFS exhibit a systematic negative bias with respect to observed profiles of about −20%. RMSE values are constantly growing with altitude, from 22% to 32% to 53%, respectively for 0–2 km, 2–8 km and 8–10 km height ranges. Lowest correlation is found in the free troposphere, with minimum coefficients (R) between 0.2 to 0.45 near 8 km, as compared to 0.7 near the surface and similar values around 10 km. Use of hourly instead of monthly chemical boundary conditions generally improves the model skill. Lower tropospheric 0–6 km partial ozone columns derived from IASI show a clear North-South gradient over Europe, which is qualitatively reproduced by the models. Also the temporal variability showing decreasing ozone concentrations in the lower troposphere (0–6 km columns) during summer is well catched by models even if systematic bias remains (the value of the bias being also controlled by the type of BC used). A multi-day case study of a through with low tropopause was conducted and showed that both IASI and models were able to resolve strong horizontal gradients of middle and upper tropospheric ozone occurring in the vicinity of an upper tropospheric frontal zone.
Comparisons of observed and modeled OH and HO2 concentrations during the ambient measurement period of the HOxComp field campaign
Authors: Kanaya Y. , Hofzumahaus A. , Dorn H.-P. , Brauers T. , Fuchs H. , Holland F. , Rohrer F. , Bohn B. , Tillmann R. , Wegener R. , Wahner A. , Kajii Y. , Miyamoto K. , Nishida S. , Watanabe K. , Yoshino A. , Kubistin D. , Martinez M. , Rudolf M. , Harder H. , Berresheim H. , Elste T. , Plass-Dülmer C. , Stange G. , Kleffmann J. , Elshorbany Y. , Schurath U.
Published: October 2011

Abstract. A photochemical box model constrained by ancillary observations was used to simulate OH and HO2 concentrations for three days of ambient observations during the HOxComp field campaign held in Jülich, Germany in July 2005. OH and HO2 levels, observed by four and three instruments, respectively, were fairly well reproduced to within 33% by a base model run (Regional Atmospheric Chemistry Mechanism with updated isoprene chemistry adapted from Master Chemical Mechanism ver. 3.1) with high R2 values (0.72–0.97) over a range of isoprene (0.3–2 ppb) and NO (0.1–10 ppb) mixing ratios. Adding isomerization of isoprene peroxy radicals to the model increased OH and HO2 by 43% and 48% on average. Although these are still only 15% and 21% higher than the observations made by one of the instruments, larger overestimations (>60%) occurred with respect to the observations made by the other three instruments, suggesting that the rates of the isomerization were not readily supported by the ensemble of radical observations. These model runs tend to underestimate observed OH reactivity which may be explained by unmeasured hydrocarbon species. By selecting hydrocarbon types to be added to the model in amounts that accounted for the missing fractions of observed OH reactivity, the gaps between HOx observations and model results with and without isomerization could be individually diminished to within uncertainty levels. In this case, however, the HO2/OH ratio rose on addition of hydrocarbons and diverged from observations. In the case where we used modeled HO2(*), taking into account the sensitivity toward speciated RO2 (organic peroxy) radicals, as recently reported from one of the participating instruments in the HO2 measurement mode, the model's overestimation for HO2 became evident (by factors of more than 1.8). These results strongly indicated that more loss processes for peroxy radicals were necessary to explain the observations. One of the measurement days was characterized by low isoprene concentrations (~0.5 ppb) and OH reactivity that was well explained by the observed species, especially before noon. For this selected period, as opposed to the general behavior, the model tended to underestimate HO2 (and HO2(*)) with respect to observations made by the three instruments. We found that this tendency is associated with high NOx concentrations, suggesting that some HO2 production or HO2 regeneration processes under high NOx conditions were being overlooked; this might require revision of ozone production regimes.
Quasi-stationary planetary waves in late winter Antarctic stratosphere temperature as a possible indicator of spring total ozone
Authors: Kravchenko V. O. , Evtushevsky O. M. , Grytsai A. V. , Klekociuk A. R. , Milinevsky G. P. , Grytsai Z. I.
Published: October 2011

Abstract. Stratospheric preconditions for the annual Antarctic ozone hole are analysed using the amplitude of quasi-stationary planetary waves in temperature as a predictor of total ozone column behaviour. It is found that the quasi-stationary wave amplitude in August is highly correlated with September–November total ozone over Antarctica with correlation coefficient as high as 0.83 indicating that quasi-stationary wave effects in late winter have a persisting influence on the evolution of the ozone hole during the following three months. Correlation maxima are found in both the lower and middle stratosphere. They are likely manifestations of wave activity influence on chemical ozone depletion and large-scale ozone transport, respectively. Both correlation maxima indicate that spring total ozone tends to increase in the case of amplified activity of quasi-stationary waves in late winter.
Droplet activation, separation, and compositional analysis: laboratory studies and atmospheric measurements
Authors: Hiranuma N. , Kohn M. , Pekour M. S. , Nelson D. A. , Shilling J. E. , Cziczo D. J.
Published: October 2011

Abstract. Droplets produced in a cloud condensation nuclei chamber (CCNC) as a function of supersaturation have been separated from unactivated aerosol particles using counterflow virtual impaction. Residual material after droplets were evaporated was chemically analyzed with an Aerodyne Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (AMS) and the Particle Analysis by Laser Mass Spectrometry (PALMS) instrument. Experiments were initially conducted to verify activation conditions for monodisperse ammonium sulfate particles and to determine the resulting droplet size distribution as a function of supersaturation. Based on the observed droplet size, the counterflow virtual impactor cut-size was set to differentiate droplets from unactivated interstitial particles. Validation experiments were then performed to verify that only droplets with sufficient size passed through the counterflow virtual impactor for subsequent analysis. A two-component external mixture of monodisperse particles was also exposed to a supersaturation which would activate one of the types (hygroscopic salts) but not the other (polystyrene latex spheres or adipic acid). The mass spectrum observed after separation indicated only the former, validating separation of droplets from unactivated particles. Results from ambient measurements using this technique and AMS analysis were inconclusive, showing little chemical differentiation between ambient aerosol and activated droplet residuals, largely due to low signal levels. When employing as single particle mass spectrometer for compositional analysis, however, we observed enhancement of sulfate in droplet residuals.
Reply to Nicholson's comment on "Consistent calculation of aquatic gross production from oxygen triple isotope measurements" by Kaiser (2011)
Authors: Kaiser J. , Abe O.
Published: October 2011

Abstract. The comment by Nicholson (2011a) questions the "consistency" of the "definition" of the "biological end-member" used by Kaiser (2011a) in the calculation of oxygen gross production. "Biological end-member" refers to the relative oxygen isotope ratio difference between photosynthetic oxygen and Air-O2 (abbreviated 17δP and 18δP for 17O/16O and 18O/16O, respectively). This comment has no merit for the following reasons: (a) the isotopic composition of photosynthetic oxygen cannot be "defined", it can only be measured, modelled or calculated based on other data; (b) the isotopic composition of photosynthetic oxygen was not "defined" in Kaiser (2011a), but derived from published measurements; (c) the published measurements themselves were inconsistent and no single result could be identified as best; (d) since no best value could be identified, a hypothetical base case was constructed in a way that was consistent with previous publications; (e) the values of 17δP=−11.646‰ and 18δP=−22.835‰ assumed for the base case are compatible with the experimental evidence published before the paper of Kaiser (2011a); (f) even if the "biological end-member" was based on a definition, there could be no argument about the "consistency" of this definition – as per its nature, a definition is arbitrary. The qualification of base case gross production values as being "30 % too high" must therefore also be rejected. Even though recently revised measurements of the relative 17O/16O isotope ratio difference between VSMOW and Air-O2, 17δVSMOW (Barkan and Luz, 2011), do support lower estimates of gross production, our own measurements disagree with these revised 17δVSMOW values. If scaled for differences in 18δVSMOW, they are actually in good agreement with the original data (Barkan and Luz, 2005). Moreover, species-dependent differences in photosynthetic isotope fractionation (Eisenstadt et al., 2010) correspond to an uncertainty of at least 15 % around the central estimate for the inferred gross production. Nicholson (2011a) also suggests that approximated calculations of gross production should be performed with a triple isotope excess defined as 17Δ#≡ln(1+17δ)−λln(1+18δ), with λ=θR=ln(1+17εR)/ln(1+18εR). However, this only improves the approximation for certain 17δP and 18δP values, for certain net to gross production ratios (f) and for certain ratios of gross production to gross Air-O2 invasion (g). In other cases, the approximated calculation based on 17Δ†≡17δ−κ18δ with κ=γR=17εR/18εR gives better results.
Peat decomposition records in three pristine ombrotrophic bogs in southern Patagonia
Authors: Broder T. , Blodau C. , Biester H. , Knorr K. H.
Published: October 2011

Abstract. Ombrotrophic bogs in southern Patagonia have been examined with regard to paleoclimatic and geochemical research questions but knowledge about organic matter decomposition in these bogs is limited. Therefore, we examined peat humification with depth by Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR) measurements of solid peat, C/N ratio, and δ13C and δ15N isotope measurements in three bog sites. Peat decomposition generally increased with depth but distinct small scale variation probably caused by environmental changes occurred. C/N ratios varied mostly between 40 and 120 and were significantly correlated (R2 > 0.55, p < 0.01) with FTIR-derived humification indices. The degree of decomposition was lowest at the site with the least sea spray input, while the peat was most decomposed at the driest site with highest sea spray deposition. Decomposition of peat was also advanced near ash layers. Values of δ13C were 26.5 ± 2‰ in the peat and partly related to decomposition indices, while δ15N in the peat varied around zero and did not consistently relate to any decomposition index. Concentrations of DOM partly related to C/N ratios, partly to FTIR derived indices. DOM was enriched in 13C and in 15N relative to the solid phase probably due to multiple microbial modifications and recycling of N in these N-poor environments. In summary, paleoclimatic signals may have influenced decomposition according to depth profiles of C/N ratios, δ13C values, and FTIR spectra, but the study also suggests that decomposition was also influenced by ash layers, sea spray input and other site specific factors.
Interhemispheric gradient of atmospheric radiocarbon reveals natural variability of Southern Ocean winds
Authors: Rodgers K. B. , Mikaloff-Fletcher S. E. , Bianchi D. , Beaulieu C. , Galbraith E. D. , Gnanadesikan A. , Hogg A. G. , Iudicone D. , Lintner B. R. , Naegler T. , Reimer P. J. , Sarmiento J. L. , Slater R. D.
Published: October 2011

Abstract. Tree ring Δ14C data (Reimer et al., 2004; McCormac et al., 2004) indicate that atmospheric Δ14C varied on multi-decadal to centennial timescales, in both hemispheres, over the period between AD 950 and 1830. The Northern and Southern Hemispheric Δ14C records display similar variability, but from the data alone is it not clear whether these variations are driven by the production of 14C in the stratosphere (Stuiver and Quay, 1980) or by perturbations to exchanges between carbon reservoirs (Siegenthaler et al., 1980). As the sea-air flux of 14CO2 has a clear maximum in the open ocean regions of the Southern Ocean, relatively modest perturbations to the winds over this region drive significant perturbations to the interhemispheric gradient. In this study, model simulations are used to show that Southern Ocean winds are likely a main driver of the observed variability in the interhemispheric gradient over AD 950–1830, and further, that this variability may be larger than the Southern Ocean wind trends that have been reported for recent decades (notably 1980–2004). This interpretation also implies that there may have been a significant weakening of the winds over the Southern Ocean within a few decades of AD 1375, associated with the transition between the Medieval Climate Anomaly and the Little Ice Age. The driving forces that could have produced such a shift in the winds at the Medieval Climate Anomaly to Little Ice Age transition remain unknown. Our process-focused suite of perturbation experiments with models raises the possibility that the current generation of coupled climate and earth system models may underestimate the natural background multi-decadal- to centennial-timescale variations in the winds over the Southern Ocean.
Climatic interpretation of the length fluctuations of Glaciar Frías, North Patagonia, Argentina
Authors: Leclercq P. W. , Pitte P. , Giesen R. H. , Masiokas M. H. , Oerlemans J.
Published: October 2011

Abstract. We explore the climatic information contained in the record of length fluctuations of Glaciar Frías, in the North Patagonian Andes of Argentina. This record is one of the longest and most detailed glacier records in southern South America, starting in 1639. In order to interpret the length variations of Glaciar Frías since the maximum Little Ice Age extent in 1639, we use a combination of a simplified surface energy-balance model to calculate the glacier mass balance, and a flow-line model to account for the dynamical response of the glacier to changes in the climatic forcing. The overall retreat of the glacier observed over 1639–2009 is best explained by an annual mean temperature increase of 1.16 °C or a decrease in annual precipitation of 34%, most of which would have occurred during the 20th century. The glacier model is also forced with independent proxy-based reconstructions of precipitation and temperature, based on tree rings and a composition of documentary evidence, tree rings, sediments, corals, and ice cores. The uncertainties in the presently available proxy reconstructions are rather large, leading to a wide range in the modelled glacier length. Most of the observations lie within this range. However, in these reconstructions, the mid-17th century is too cold and the early 19th century ca. 0.7 °C too warm to explain the observed glacier lengths.
The Met Office Unified Model Global Atmosphere 3.0/3.1 and JULES Global Land 3.0/3.1 configurations
Authors: Walters D. N. , Best M. J. , Bushell A. C. , Copsey D. , Edwards J. M. , Falloon P. D. , Harris C. M. , Lock A. P. , Manners J. C. , Morcrette C. J. , Roberts M. J. , Stratton R. A. , Webster S. , Wilkinson J. M. , Willett M. R. , Boutle I. A. , Earnshaw P. D. , Hill P. G. , MacLachlan C. , Martin G. M. , Moufouma-Okia W. , Palmer M. D. , Petch J. C. , Rooney G. G. , Scaife A. A. , Williams K. D.
Published: October 2011

Abstract. We describe Global Atmosphere 3.0 (GA3.0): a configuration of the Met Office Unified Model (MetUM) developed for use across climate research and weather prediction activities. GA3.0 has been formulated by converging the development paths of the Met Office's weather and climate global atmospheric model components such that wherever possible, atmospheric processes are modelled or parametrized seamlessly across spatial resolutions and timescales. This unified development process will provide the Met Office and its collaborators with regular releases of a configuration that has been evaluated, and can hence be applied, over a variety of modelling régimes. We also describe Global Land 3.0 (GL3.0): a configuration of the JULES community land surface model developed for use with GA3.0. This paper provides a comprehensive technical and scientific description of the GA3.0 and GL3.0 (and related GA3.1 and GL3.1) configurations and presents the results of some initial evaluations of their performance in various applications. It is to be the first in a series of papers describing each subsequent Global Atmosphere release; this will provide a single source of reference for established users and developers as well as researchers requiring access to a current, but trusted, global MetUM setup.
New zircon data supporting models of short-lived igneous activity at 1.89 Ga in the western Skellefte District, central Fennoscandian Shield
Authors: Skyttä P. , Hermansson T. , Andersson J. , Whitehouse M. , Weihed P.
Published: October 2011

Abstract. New U-Th-Pb zircon data (SIMS) from three intrusive phases of the Palaeoproterozoic Viterliden intrusion in the western Skellefte District, central Fennoscandian Shield, dates igneous emplacement in a narrow time interval at about 1.89 Ga. A locally occurring quartz-plagioclase porphyritic tonalite, here dated at 1889 ± 3 Ma, is considered the youngest of the intrusive units, based on the new age data and field evidence. This supports an existing interpretation of its fault-controlled emplacement after intrusion of the dominating hornblende-tonalite units, in this study dated at 1892 ± 3 Ma. The Viterliden magmatism was synchronous with the oldest units of the Jörn type early-orogenic intrusions in the eastern part of the district (1.89–1.88 Ga; cf. Gonzàles Roldán, 2010). A U-Pb zircon age for a felsic metavolcanic rock from the hanging-wall to the Kristineberg VMS deposit, immediately south of the Viterliden intrusion, is constrained at 1883 ± 6 Ma in this study. It provides a minimum age for the Kristineberg ore deposit and suggests contemporaneous igneous/volcanic activity throughout the Skellefte District. Furthermore, it supports the view that the Skellefte Group defines a laterally continuous belt throughout this "ore district". Tentative correlation of the 1889 ± 3 Ma quartz-plagioclase porphyritic tonalite with the Kristineberg "mine porphyry" suggests that these units are coeval at about 1.89 Ga. Based on the new age determinations, the Viterliden intrusion may equally well have intruded into or locally acted as a basement for the ore-hosting Skellefte Group volcanic rocks.
Modeling the impact of wintertime rain events on the thermal regime of permafrost
Authors: Westermann S. , Boike J. , Langer M. , Schuler T. V. , Etzelmüller B.
Published: October 2011

Abstract. In this study, we present field measurements and numerical process modeling from western Svalbard showing that the ground surface temperature below the snow is impacted by strong wintertime rain events. During such events, rain water percolates to the bottom of the snow pack, where it freezes and releases latent heat. In the winter season 2005/2006, on the order of 20 to 50% of the wintertime precipitation fell as rain, thus confining the surface temperature to close to 0 °C for several weeks. The measured average ground surface temperature during the snow-covered period is −0.6 °C, despite of a snow surface temperature of on average −8.5 °C. For the considered period, the temperature threshold below which permafrost is sustainable on long timescales is exceeded. We present a simplified model of rain water infiltration in the snow coupled to a transient permafrost model. While small amounts of rain have only minor impact on the ground surface temperature, strong rain events have a long-lasting impact. We show that consecutively applying the conditions encountered in the winter season 2005/2006 results in the formation of an unfrozen zone in the soil after three to five years, depending on the prescribed soil properties. If water infiltration in the snow is disabled in the model, more time is required for the permafrost to reach a similar state of degradation.
Leptospirosis in Febrile Patients: Diagnosis by Serology and Polymerase Chain Reaction
Authors: Perwez Khalid , VB Suman , Arun Kumar Nayanatara , Asif Hussain Mohammad
Published: October 2011

Introduction : Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease   found in  all tropical and temperate areas of the world .   Humans contract leptospira through mucosal or percutaneous exposure to  environments contaminated by the urine of chronically infected animal sources mainly  rodents, dogs, pigs and cattle. Objectives:It is known that IgM ELISA is used widely  to diagnose leptospirosis in acute stage of illness.Our aim is to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of a molecular technique like PCR in comparison to the serological test Pan Bio, IgM ELISA, and its usefulness as a diagnostic test in the diagnosis of leptospirosis.   Methods: The patients included 85 males and 15 females, age 2yrs–78 yrs, (median age, 40yrs). Common presenting symptoms were Fever, myalgia, jaundice, nausea and vomiting, oliguria and acute renal failure.Blood   samples were drawn during the acute phase of illness, 7.5 mean days from the onset of symptoms. All the samples were tested for IgM antibody by ELISA and for Leptospira DNA by PCR. Detection of antibody done by PanBio Leptospira IgM ELISA .  Detection of DNA by PCR: Extraction of DNA: was performed using the QIAGEN  mini kit.   Amplification of DNA: Primers used to amplify a 631 base-pair (bp) 5'-region of 16S rDNA of pathogenic leptospira,   Detection of DNA:  by Agarose gel electrophoresisResults:  All  100 samples were tested by both ELISA and PCR. 35 samples (35%) were positive for the presence of IgM antibodies by ELISA.   PCR demonstrated DNA in 34 of the samples .  A total of 28 samples were positive by both ELISA and PCR. The PCR demonstrated a sensitivity of 80 % and specificity of 90%.  Conclusions: PCR is a sensitive and specific technique which can detect the presence of DNA in the very early stage of the disease, Results of PCR can give us a presumptive diagnosis of leptospirosis in early phase of illness (1-7days) compared to pan Bio IgM ELISA. Hence  PCR together with IgM ELISA can be used to confirm the diagnosis, in  the acute stage(1-15days) of the infection.Key words: Leptospirosis, IgM Antibody, ELISA, DNA, PCR
The Resistance of Bean Yellow Mosaic Virus (BYMV) in Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) with Diallel Analysis
Authors: El-Bramaw Mohamed Abd El-Hamid , El-Beshehy Essam Kamal Fahmy
Published: October 2011

Bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV) has been recognized as one of the major economicdisease and reduced a considerable destructive in seed yield, particularly, when plants wereinfected at the beginning stage of faba bean growing regions of Egypt. Little geneticinformation is available on the resistance of Vicia faba to BYMV disease. Hence, this studywas conducted to determine the relative importance of general (GCA) and specific (SCA)combining ability, maternal and non-maternal reciprocal effects on resistance to BYMV inselected faba bean genotypes through mechanical transmation of BYMV. A complete diallelmating scheme including reciprocals of six faba bean genotypes varied in their resistant andsusceptible to BYMV were evaluated in the Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, SuezCanal University, Ismailia, Egypt during two seasons (2008/09 & 2009/010). The resultsshow that the combining ability analysis revealed that both additive and non additive geneeffects were present at this juncture and played a major role in the genetic resistance toBYMV. The crosses between the resistant and susceptible faba bean genotypes showedintermediate disease reaction to the BYMV, suggesting a polygenic system of resistance toBYMV. Significant maternal and specific reciprocal differences among the parents and theircrosses indicated that maternal inheritance is involved in the reaction of faba bean genotypesto BYMV. Also, significant genotype x years interaction suggested a deficient in stability inthe development of virus pathogen on faba bean plants. Therefore, recurrent selection wouldbe appropriate for accumulating genes for resistance to BYMV in V. faba and progenyperformance may be based on their parent's performance per se.
Disaster Medicine, Telemedicine and Integrated Vector Control: United Nation’s Space Technology Program for Disaster Management
Authors: Kale Gokul Babarao , N.B. Kutemate
Published: October 2011

UN-SPIDER-United Nations platform for space-based information for disaster management and emergency response is a new programme established as per UN’s resolution 61/110.UN-SPIDER is being implemented as an open network of providers of space-based solutions to support disaster management activities. Besides Vienna, the programme also has an office in Bonn, Germany and Beijing, China. In recent years the program have contributed to making space technologies available for humanitarian and emergency response, UN-SPIDER is the first to focus on the need to ensure access to and use of such solutions during all phases of the disaster management cycle, including the risk reduction phase, which significantly contributed for reducing the loss of lives and property. The UN-SPIDER programme is achieving this by being a gateway to space information for disaster management support, by serving as a bridge to connect the disaster management and space communities and by being a facilitator of capacity-building and institutional strengthening, in particular for developing countries. This paper communicates about emergency, disaster medicine, telemedicine and vector-borne disease management for prevention and control of harmful health effects due to disasters and optimizing benefits to both human health and the environment.
Sequences of Numbers Meet the Generalized Gegenbauer-Humbert Polynomials
Authors: He Tian-Xiao , Shiue Peter J.-S. , Weng Tsui-Wei
Published: October 2011

Here we present a connection between a sequence of numbers generated by a linear recurrence relation of order 2 and sequences of the generalized Gegenbauer-Humbert polynomials. Many new and known formulas of the Fibonacci, the Lucas, the Pell, and the Jacobsthal numbers in terms of the generalized Gegenbauer-Humbert polynomial values are given. The applications of the relationship to the construction of identities of number and polynomial value sequences defined by linear recurrence relations are also discussed.
Theory of Isotope Effect in YBaCuO
Authors: Liu Fu-sui
Published: October 2011

This paper is the first to demonstrate that a pure nonphonon mechanism can quantitatively explain all isotope effect experiments in YBaCuO (YBCO) and to conclude that the influence of zero-point oscillation on the two local spin-mediated interaction (TLSMI) causes the isotope effects in YBCO. This paper is the first to calculate the doping dependence of exponents
of oxygen isotope effect for all quantities of YBCO, such as , T, pseudogap at , gap at 0 K, and number density of supercurrent carriers at 0 K. This paper points out that the observed inverse isotope effect of comes also from zero-point oscillation.
Fire Weather Index Implementation in the Alpine Area
Authors: Cane Daniele , Ciccarelli Nadia , Pelosini Renata
Published: October 2011

Piedmont region is located in North-Western Italy and is surrounded by the alpine chain and by the Apennines. The region is covered by a wide extension of forests, mainly in its mountain areas (the forests cover 36% of the regional territory). In the period 1997–2007, Piedmont gained interest by an average of 378 wildfire events per year, covering an average of 1767 ha of forest per year. Meteorological conditions like long periods without precipitation contribute to create favourable conditions to forest fire development, while the fire propagation is made easier by the foehn winds, frequently interesting the region in winter and spring particularly. We applied the Fire Weather Index FWI (Van Wagner, 1987) to the Piedmont region on warning areas previously defined for fire management purposes (Cane et al., 2008). Here we present a new technique for the definition of thresholds in order to obtain alert levels more suited with the local conditions of the forest fire warning areas. We describe also the implementation of the prognostic FWI prediction system, involving the use of good forecasts of weather parameters at the station locations obtained by the Multimodel SuperEnsemble postprocessing technique.
Metabolomics‐Lipidomics of Eicosanoids and Docosanoids Generated by Phagocytes
Authors: Yang Rong , Chiang Nan , Oh Sungwhan F. , Serhan Charles N.
Published: November 2011

Lipid mediators derived from essential fatty acids, such as arachidonic acid, play important roles in physiologic and pathophysiologic processes. Prostaglandins, thromboxane, and leukotrienes are well‐known eicosanoids that play critical roles in hemodynamics and inflammation. New families of mediators were recently uncovered that constitute a new genus stimulating resolution of acute inflammation, and are organ‐protective. These include the resolvins (E‐series and D‐series), protectins (neuroprotectin D1/protectin D1), and maresins biosynthesized from omega‐3 essential fatty acids. Phagocytes play major roles in tissue homeostasis and have a high capacity to produce these mediators, which depend on their tissue and state of activation. It is important to select appropriate methods for identifying target mediators and pathway biomarkers. In this unit, we review state‐of‐the‐art approaches to identify and profile eicosanoid and docosanoid pathways, including specialized pro‐resolving mediators resolvins, protectins, and maresins, in relation to their biosynthesis and inactivation by neutrophils and macrophages. Curr. Protoc. Immunol. 95:14.26.1‐14.26.26. © 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A channelopathy contributes to cerebellar dysfunction in a model of multiple sclerosis
Authors: Shields Shannon D. , Cheng Xiaoyang , Gasser Andreas , Saab Carl Y. , Tyrrell Lynda , Eastman Emmanuella M. , Iwata Masashi , Zwinger Pamela J. , Black Joel A. , Dib‐Hajj Sulayman D. , Waxman Stephen G.
Published: November 2011

Objective:

Cerebellar dysfunction in multiple sclerosis (MS) contributes significantly to disability, is relatively refractory to symptomatic therapy, and often progresses despite treatment with disease‐modifying agents. We previously observed that sodium channel Nav1.8, whose expression is normally restricted to the peripheral nervous system, is present in cerebellar Purkinje neurons in a mouse model of MS (experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis [EAE]) and in humans with MS. Here, we tested the hypothesis that upregulation of Nav1.8 in cerebellum in MS and EAE has functional consequences contributing to symptom burden.

Methods:

Electrophysiology and behavioral assessment were performed in a new transgenic mouse model overexpressing Nav1.8 in Purkinje neurons. We also measured EAE symptom progression in mice lacking Nav1.8 compared to wild‐type littermates. Finally, we administered the Nav1.8‐selective blocker A803467 in the context of previously established EAE to determine reversibility of MS‐like deficits.

Results:

We report that, in the context of an otherwise healthy nervous system, ectopic expression of Nav1.8 in Purkinje neurons alters their electrophysiological properties, and disrupts coordinated motor behaviors. Additionally, we show that Nav1.8 expression contributes to symptom development in EAE. Finally, we demonstrate that abnormal patterns of Purkinje neuron firing and MS‐like deficits in EAE can be partially reversed by pharmacotherapy using a Nav1.8‐selective blocker.

Interpretation:

Our results add to the evidence that a channelopathy contributes to cerebellar dysfunction in MS. Our data suggest that Nav1.8‐specific blockers, when available for humans, merit study in MS. Ann Neurol 2012;71:186–194
Syntheses of novel chitosan derivative with excellent solubility, anticoagulation, and antibacterial property by chemical modification
Authors: Liu Hengquan , Zhao Yuancong , Cheng Si , Huang Nan , Leng Yongxiang
Published: November 2011

The soluble and antibacterial chitosan derivative was prepared on the basis of the regioselective chemical modification. The N‐(2‐phthaloylation) chitosan was obtained via the reaction of chitosan with phthalic anhydride in N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) at 130°C, and O‐(3,6‐hydroxyethyl) chitosan was produced using chlorohydrins as grafting agent and hydrazine hydrate as reductant. The structure of hydroxyethyl chitosan (HC) was characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) respectively. The solubility, anticoagulation, and antibacterial property were assessed separately. The result shows that amine I of chitosan is replaced and the amide II disappears during chemical modification, and the functional groups of C6‐OH and ‐NH2 are also reacted. The water‐solubility of the novel chitosan derivative was enhanced relatively; it could even slightly soluble in methanol. The results of platelet adhesion and the activated partial thromboplastin times (APTTs) indicate that grafting hydroxyethyl could improve anticoagulation of chitosan. The antibacterial activity of HC against Enterococcus and E. coli had been much better owing to enhancing the degree of protonation. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Some metal compounds in the phase of crosslinked ionic polymer—precursors for new sorbents and catalysts
Authors: Gutsanu Vasile , Cojocaru Ludmila , Lisa Gabriela , Volodina Galina F.
Published: November 2011

A commercial crosslinked ionic polymer AV‐17 containing N(CH3)3Cl groups was used. The common compounds of Bi(III) and Al(III); Bi(III) and Cr(III); Bi(III) and Fe(III); Bi(III) and FeOOH and of three components—Bi(III), Fe(III), and Cr(III); Bi(III), FeOOH, and Cr(III) were obtained in the AV‐17 polymer phase and investigated using scanning electron microscopy, powder X‐ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy. It was shown that metal‐containing compounds were concentrated on the surface of the polymer granules. The compounds were in the crystalline (BiOCl) or amorphous (jarosites and oxihydroxides) state. The morphology and composition of the metal‐containing ultra dispersed particles were different on the surface and in the volume of the polymer granule. Most of the metal‐containing compounds were in the form of pseudo spherical particles, but compounds containing Bi(III) and FeOOH in the volume of AV‐17 granule, were in the form of clew of nanometer fibers. Thermogravimetric analysis (in an N2 atmosphere) in the range 24–1000°C of the metallic compounds containing polymer was also carried out. The metal‐containing polymer samples were stable up to 120°C. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Zirconium nano building blocks based on the 3‐butynoic acid ligand: Synthesis and thermomechanical studies of the resulting inorganic–organic hybrid material
Authors: Maggini Simona , Girardi Fabrizio , Müller Klaus , Di Maggio Rosa
Published: October 2011

A new zirconium nano building block (ZrNBB) was prepared by the reaction of Zirconium tetrapropoxide with 3‐butynoic acid in an alkoxide/acid at a 1 : 3 or 1 : 6 molar ratio. The complex was characterized by FTIR, 1H‐NMR and 13C‐NMR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis, and elementary analysis. A spontaneous alkyne‐to‐allene isomerization process was observed for ZrNBB. A bulk sample was also prepared and analyzed via dynamical mechanical spectroscopy in compression mode. The zirconium complex was then embedded in a polymeric matrix by radical copolymerization with vinyl trimethoxysilane. The inorganic–organic hybrid material was chemically and thermally stable. The shear storage modulus and loss modulus were measured to determine the mechanical properties of the material. The preliminary results are presented. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Tensile modulus modeling of carbon black/polycarbonate, carbon nanotube/polycarbonate, and exfoliated graphite nanoplatelet/polycarbonate composites
Authors: Via Michael D. , King Julia A. , Keith Jason M. , Miskioglu Ibrahim , Cieslinski Mark J. , Anderson Jonathan J. , Bogucki Gregg R.
Published: October 2011

Conductive fillers are often added to thermoplastic polymers to increase the resulting composite's electrical conductivity (EC) which would enable them to be used in electrostatic dissipative and semiconductive applications. The resulting composite also exhibits increased tensile modulus. The filler aspect ratio plays an important role in modeling composite EC, and tensile modulus. It is difficult to measure the filler aspect ratio after the manufacturing process (often extrusion followed by injection molding) in the composite, especially when nanomaterials are used. The EC percolation threshold is a function of the filler aspect ratio; hence, knowledge of this percolation threshold provides a means to extract the filler aspect ratio. In this study, the percolation threshold of the composite was determined from EC measurements and modeling, which in turn was used to determine the filler aspect ratio for tensile modulus modeling. Per the authors' knowledge, this approach has not been previously reported in the open literature. The fillers; carbon black (CB: 2–10 wt %), multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNT: 0.5–8 wt %), or exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets (GNP: 2–12 wt %); were added to polycarbonate (PC) and the resulting composites were tested for EC and tensile modulus. With the filler aspect ratio determined from EC values for CNT/PC and GNP/PC composites, the three‐dimensional randomly oriented fiber Halpin‐Tsai model accurately estimates the tensile modulus for the CNT/PC composites and the Nielsen model predicts the tensile modulus well for the CB/PC and GNP/PC composites. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Fabrication of porous polylactic acid films assisted by dip‐coating and template leaching techniques
Authors: Yang Ta‐I , Su Tai‐Lun , Lin Po‐Liang , Tseng I‐Hsiang , Chang Chih‐Hung , Fang Hsu‐Wei
Published: October 2011

A new simple method was developed to fabricate porous polylactic acid (PLA) films coated directly on substrates. The PLA films with a controllable thickness were realized using a dip‐coating technique. The pore structure of the resulting porous PLA films was tailored by utilizing phase inversion process and template leaching techniques. The experimental results show that the resulting PLA films became thicker when using the coating solution with a higher viscosity or applying a faster withdrawal speed. The porous structures (pore size and void density) of the resulting PLA films are significantly influenced by the polymer concentration, the nonsolvents, and the addition of poly(ethylene glycol) templates. The analyses of solubility parameters was utilized to explain the porous structures of the resulting PLA films in details. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012