bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The value of cognitive interviewing techniques in palliative care research
Authors: Murtagh Fliss E M , Addington-Hall Julia M , Higginson Irene J
Published: March 2007

Background: In answering questionnaires, research participants undertake complex cognitive processes, including understanding/interpreting questions, retrieval of information from memory, decision processes to estimate answers and response formulation. Cognitive interviewing techniques are widely used in large surveys, to improve questionnaires by understanding these processes, but their use is less familiar in other areas of palliative research.

Aim: This study applied cognitive interviewing techniques, alongside standard piloting, to refine a questionnaire for survey of symptoms in end-stage renal disease patients.

Methods: Ten consecutive renal patients were invited to undertake a cognitive interview, while completing a questionnaire comprised of the Memorial Symptom Assessment, Geriatric Depression and Palliative Care Outcomes Scales. Interviews were conducted using ‘think-aloud’ and concurrent probing techniques, and recorded, transcribed and analysed using content analysis.

Results: Nine interviews were completed. A variety of cognitive problems were identified, including legibility/format, comprehension of specific words/phrases, inapplicability of some questions, response estimation and difficulties caused by combining instruments. These were categorized, using Tourangeau’s information processing model, and used to refine the symptom questionnaire.

Conclusion: Cognitive interviewing was able to helpfully identify the range and depth of difficulties with questions, to a greater degree than with standard piloting. It may be of particular benefit when instruments are used in different combinations, or applied to new study populations. Wider use of these techniques in palliative research is recommended.
Fighting a losing battle: eating-related distress of men with advanced cancer and their female partners. A mixed-methods study
Authors: Strasser F , Binswanger J , Cerny T , Kesselring A
Published: March 2007

Background: Anorexia/cachexia is a frequent complication of advanced cancer with poorly understood psychosocial impact or eating-related distress (ERD) on both patients and family members. To assist palliative care practitioners manage this important psychosocial aspect of care, we aimed to discover and describe elements of ERD, focusing on male patients with advanced cancer and their female partners.

Methods: Nineteen male patients and their partners were systematically investigated by (1) focus group interviews and data analysis inspired by Grounded Theory, and (2) a comparative survey with categorical questions.

Results: For patients, eating-related distress was characterised by obstruction to eating, poor and capricious appetite, a disconnection of oral intake and ability to gain weight, and continuous efforts to eat. Partners expressed feelings of deep concern, frustration, and insufficiency in their loving and innovative efforts to prepare appealing food. Partners were more concerned about patients’ weight loss than patients themselves (P =0.002). Patients felt more pressure to eat from partners than they estimated (P =0.007).

Conclusion: Anorexia/cachexia of male cancer patients affects the cooking at home, a couple’s daily eating routines, and their spousal relationship. Identification of ERD may trigger targeted psychosocial interventions.
Respiratory function during parenteral opioid titration for cancer pain
Authors: Estfan Bassam , Mahmoud Fade , Shaheen Philip , Davis Mellar P , Lasheen Wael , Rivera Nilo , LeGrand Susan B , Lagman Ruth L , Walsh Declan , Rybicki Lisa
Published: March 2007

Background: Respiratory depression is the most feared opioid-related side-effect yet research on the topic is sparse. We evaluated changes in respiratory parameters during parenteral opioid titration for cancer pain to determine if opioid titration was associated with evidence of hypoventilation. The primary outcome measure was to measure changes in end-tidal CO2 (ET-CO2) during opioid titration to pain control.

Methods: Subjects with severe cancer pain admitted for parenteral opioid titration for poorly controlled pain were eligible. Those who were oxygen dependent were excluded. ET-CO2, O2 saturation, respiratory rate (RR), and vital signs were monitored daily until pain control was achieved.

Results: 30 patients completed the study of which 29 are reported. The mean ET-CO2 at initial evaluation was 33.39 ∓ 5.0 and 34.79 ∓ 5.7 mmHg at pain control (P =0.14, 95% CI -0.5 to 3.3). None had an ET-CO2 ≥50 mmHg. All maintained O2 saturation ≥92%. RR dropped transiently below 10/minute in two subjects.

Conclusions: Parenteral opioid titration for relief of cancer pain was not associated with respiratory depression as demonstrated by significant changes in ET-CO2 or oxygen saturation in non-oxygen dependent cancer patients.
The Prophet as Mentor: A Crucial Facet of the Biblical Presentations of Moses, Elijah, and Isaiah
Authors: Moore Rickie
Published: March 2007

Contrary to the common stereotype of the ancient Israelite prophet as a ‘lone ranger’, the Old Testament yields a significant amount of evidence that prophets nurtured and were nurtured by supportive social groups within which attention is given particularly to mentoring relationships. This is brought to special focus and emphasis in the Elijah-Elisha materials, but it can also be found in the biblical presentations of other leading prophetic figures, especially Moses and Isaiah. This paper examines these materials for the insights they yield on the matter of the role of the Hebrew prophet as mentor. Some concluding reflections are offered as to how these insights can inform prophetic ministry in the church today.
Understanding the Dynamics of State-problems in Distributed and Collaborative Design Process
Authors: Movahed-Khah Reza , Ostrosi Egon , Garro Olivier
Published: March 2007

The implementation of multi-agents systems aided collaborative and distributed design requires a deeper understanding of the real interactions between actors, inside of the multidisciplinary teams. In this view, it is considered that for the implementation of these systems, it is necessary to observe, model, and analyze this process with finer granularities levels. This study presents an approach of collaborative and distributed design process analysis. The core of this approach is the modeling of interactions between actors during the design process. The approach consists in discerning, from the real interactions and the emergence of concepts, the different characteristic state-problems of the collaborative and distributed design process. The analysis of state-problems, in a real experience of collaborative and distributed design process, shows that their dynamics is rather characterized by the numerous irregular leaps. These leaps, probably unforeseeable, show that the design process is far from harmonious. Indeed, these leaps depend strongly on either the structural causes, as the auto-organization inside the group, or on the human actions, as the creative character of the design process.
Prescribing benzodiazepines in general practice: a new view of an old problem
Authors: Rogers Anne , Pilgrim David , Brennan Susie , Sulaiman Ilyas , Watson Gareth , Chew-Graham Carolyn
Published: March 2007

General practitioner (GP) prescribing has been identified as an arena that has broad social and political implications, which stretch beyond individual outcomes for patients. This article revisits aspects of the controversy about prescribing benzodiazepines (or ‘minor tranquillizers’) through an exploration of contemporary views of GPs. In the 1980s the prescribing of these drugs was considered to be both a clinical and social problem, which brought medical decision making under public scrutiny. The legacy of this controversy for recent GPs remains a relatively under-explored topic. This article describes a qualitative study of GPs practising in the north-west of England about their views of prescribing benzodiazepines. The accounts of the respondents highlight a number of points about: blame allocation, past and present; clinical challenges about risk management; and deserving and undeserving patients. These GP views are then discussed in the wider context of psychotropic drug use. It is concluded that, while there has been a recent consensus that the benzodiazepines have been problematic, when they are placed in a longer historical context, a different picture is apparent because other psychotropic drugs have raised similar problems.
Dutch documentary film as a site of memory
Authors: de Leeuw Sonja
Published: March 2007

This article discusses how documentary film as site of memory has constructed the memory of the Second World War. Its focus is on Dutch documentary films produced by the end of the 1980s and in the 1990s and their relation to both the discourses of memory and of documentary representation. The construction of memory is closely related to the debate on historical representation, centred around the Shoah as an event of extreme importance. This article addresses these debates as well as the interventions made by filmmakers. With the help of several examples from Dutch documentary practice, its aim is to illustrate how representational modes in documentary film are related to the construction of memory.
Remains out of place
Authors: Peterson Brandt G.
Published: March 2007

This article addresses the politics and history of mestizo nationalism and indigenous identity in El Salvador. Guided by Begoña Aretxaga's insistence that questions of fantasy, fiction, and the unconscious are critical for understanding cultural and political processes, this article analyzes the alleged disappearance of Indians from the Salvadoran national scene following a 1932 massacre by the state and the complicated dynamics of the return of the Indian in contemporary political movements.
Imagining risk, care and security
Authors: Patel Geeta
Published: March 2007

This article envisions insurance through the ways in which it comes to inhabit the dailiness of people's lives. Insurance is usually constituted as a technology of risk. Rather than holding risk and insurance to the bare provisions of finance and financial forms, this article tangles with the affective attachments that grow out of insurance technologies. It investigates the place of these attachments (insurance fantasies) and the intimacies that effloresce from these attachments.
Talking about literacy: A cultural model of teaching and learning untangled
Authors: Gomez Mary Louise , Johnson Amy Suzanne , Gisladottir Karen
Published: March 2007

In this article, we explore how members of a teacher conversation group, focused on primary students' learning, circulated and instantiated a cultural model of what teaching for literacy meant and how young children learned.We show how, over time, particular discourses around literacy as a quantifiable and measurable skill populated teachers', literacy specialists' and the principal's talk, and were privileged in conversations about learners. We offer insights into how such talk regarding young children's learning might be problematized, analyzed, and made salient for teachers' pedagogy.
Optimal Organization of Health Care in Diabetic Foot Disease: Introduction to the Eurodiale Study
Authors: Prompers Leonne , Huijberts Maya , Apelqvist Jan , Jude Edward , Piaggesi Alberto , Bakker Karel , Edmonds Michael , Holstein Per , Jirkovska Alexandra , Mauricio Didac , Tennvall Gunnel Ragnarson , Reike Heinrich , Spraul Maximilian , Uccioli Luigi , Urbancic Vilma , Van Acker Kristien , Van Baal Jeff , Van Merode Frits , Schaper Nicolaas
Published: March 2007

This article describes the rationale and protocol of a large data collection study in patients with new diabetic foot ulcers by the Eurodiale study group, a consortium of centers of expertise in the field of diabetic foot disease within Europe. This study is a multicenter, observational, prospective data collection study. Its main aim is to determine the major factors determining clinical outcome and outcome in terms of health-related quality of life and health care consumption. Between September 1, 2003, and October 1, 2004, in 14 European centers, all consecutive patients with diabetes and a new foot ulcer were included in the study and followed until the end point or for a maximum of 1 year. End points were healing of the foot, major amputation, or death. Data were collected on patient, foot, and ulcer characteristics and on diagnostic and management procedures. Furthermore, data were collected on health care organization, quality of life, and resource use. A total of 1232 patients were included in the study. Sixty-three percent of the patients were referred by their general practitioner or were self-referrals. Twenty-seven percent of the patients were admitted at the time of inclusion; 1088 patients were followed until the end point. “Optimal Organization of Health Care in Diabetic Foot Disease” is one of the first large multicenter studies in the field of diabetic foot disease on clinical presentation, clinical outcome, quality of life, resource utilization, and health care organization and their interrelationships. These data will provide us with new insights that enable us to improve care for these patients and guide the development of new studies in this area. The results of this study are the subject of a separate presentation.
The Development and Application of Diabetic Foot Protocol in Chiang Mai University Hospital With an Aim to Reduce Lower Extremity Amputation in Thai Population: A Preliminary Communication
Authors: Rerkasem K. , Kosachunhanun N. , Tongprasert S. , Khwanngern K. , Matanasarawoot A. , Thongchai C. , Chimplee K. , Buranapin S. , Chaisrisawadisuk S. , Manklabruks A.
Published: March 2007

Lower extremity amputation is a frequent complication of diabetes, and the authors' region did not have effective strategies to minimize it. From August 2005 to July 2006, a diabetic foot protocol (DFP) for out-patient management based on a multidisciplinary team approach was tried at the local teaching hospital. There are devices to reduce pressure and educate. After healing, there are custom fabricated orthoses and footwear, and monitoring of progressive ambulation. This report compares the amputation rate in patients receiving DFP care from August 2005 to July 2006 with those who had standard care from August 2003 to July 2005. Sixty-one and 110 diabetic foot ulcer patients received DFP and standard foot care, respectively. Their sex distribution and mean age were similar. The incidence of major amputations in the DFP and standard care groups was 3.3% and 13.6%, respectively (P = .03). The incidence of minor amputations in the DFP and standard care groups was 3.4% and 15.8%, respectively (P = .02). DFP was associated with improved diabetic foot care outcomes. It may be used by clinical teams with a view to improve outcomes for patients with diabetes.
Growth Factors in the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers: New Technologies, Any Promises?
Authors: Papanas N. , Maltezos E.
Published: March 2007

Foot ulcers remain a common problem, leading to increased morbidity in patients with diabetes. Despite the progress that has been achieved in revascularization techniques as well as in off-loading to relieve high-pressure areas, diabetic foot wounds remain a clinical challenge. Growth factors are a major technological advance that promised to change the face of wound healing. The most important of growth factors are recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor-BB and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. The former has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of neuropathic ulcers when there is adequate blood supply. The latter is less demonstrably useful. Advances include methods of delivering growth factors.
Clinical Outcomes of Wide Postsurgical Lesions in the Infected Diabetic Foot Managed With 2 Different Local Treatment Regimes Compared Using a Quasi-Experimental Study Design: A Preliminary Communication
Authors: Goretti Chiara , Mazzurco Sabrina , Nobili Laura Ambrosini , Macchiarini Silvia , Tedeschi Anna , Palumbo Francesca , Scatena Alessia , Rizzo Loredana , Piaggesi Alberto
Published: March 2007

The safety and efficacy of a novel superoxidized solution (Dermacyn™ Wound Care [DWC], Oculus Innovative Sciences, Petaluma, Calif) was evaluated for the treatment of wide postsurgical infected ulcers of the diabetic foot. A group (group A,n = 18) of patients with diabetes mellitus who had postsurgical lesions>5 cm2 without ischemia or infection were recruited consecutively and treated with DWC-saturated dressings. These dressings were renewed once daily and were compared with a group of patients that had been previously treated with diluted povidone iodine (group B,n = 15) using a quasi-experimental study design. Both sets of patients also received standard systemic antibiotic therapy, as per the practice in this center, and local surgical debridement. Patients had weekly assessments until wounds had re-epithelialized completely. Patients in group A had statistically significant shorter healing time and duration of antibiotic therapy and a higher healing rate at 6 months compared with those in group B (p < .01). Recurrence of infection, requirement for debridement procedures, and requirement for minor amputations were significantly less frequent during follow-up in group A patients (p < .05) when compared with those in group B. These preliminary data suggest that DWC used as a wound dressing together with other local and systemic therapies may have a role in reducing healing time as well as complications in patients with diabetes who have postsurgical lesions of the diabetic foot. These data propose the need for a robust controlled study of DWC-saturated dressings to explore its full potential.
Malarial anemia: of mice and men
Authors: Lamikanra Abigail A. , Brown Douglas , Potocnik Alexandre , Casals-Pascual Climent , Langhorne Jean , Roberts David J.
Published: March 2007

Severe malaria is manifest by a variety of clinical syndromes dependent on properties of both the host and the parasite. In young infants, severe malarial anemia (SMA) is the most common syndrome of severe disease and contributes substantially to the considerable mortality and morbidity from malaria. There is now growing evidence, from both human and mouse studies of malaria, to show that anemia is due not only to increased hemolysis of infected and clearance of uninfected red blood cells (RBCs) but also to an inability of the infected host to produce an adequate erythroid response. In this review, we will summarize the recent clinical and experimental studies of malaria to highlight similarities and differences in human and mouse pathology that result in anemia and so inform the use of mouse models in the study of severe malarial anemia in humans.
The role of γδ T cells in airway epithelial injury and bronchial responsiveness after chlorine gas exposure in mice
Authors: Koohsari Hossein , Tamaoka Meiyo , Campbell Holly R , Martin James G
Published: March 2007

Background

Acute exposure to chlorine (Cl2) gas causes epithelial injury and airway dysfunction. γδ T cells are present in the mucosal surface of the airways and may contribute to the injury/repair response of the epithelium.

Methods

C57Bl/6J (wild type) and TCR-δ-/-mice exposed to Cl2(400 ppm) for 5 minutes underwent measurements of airway responses to i.v. methacholine (MCh) at 1, 3, and 5 days after exposure. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed to determine epithelial and leukocyte counts, and protein content. Tissue repair was assessed by proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunoreactivity and by expression of keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) mRNA by real-time PCR.

Results

Wild type mice developed a greater degree of airway hyperresponsiveness to MCh at 1 day post exposure to Cl2compared with TCR-δ-/-mice. Epithelial cell counts in BAL after Cl2exposure were greater in TCR-δ-/-mice, but macrophages showed a later peak and granulocyte numbers were lower in TCR-δ-/-than in wild type mice. Both groups had increased levels of total protein content in BAL after Cl2exposure that resolved after 3 and 5 days, respectively. Epithelial proliferating cell nuclear antigen staining was increased at 1 and 3 days post exposure and was similar in the two groups. KGF mRNA was constitutively expressed in both groups and did not increase significantly after Cl2but expression was lower in TCR-δ-/-mice.

Conclusion

The severity of airway epithelial injury after Cl2is greater in TCR-δ-/-mice but the inflammatory response and the change in airway responsiveness to methacholine are reduced. The rates of epithelial regeneration are comparable in both groups.
Leucine-rich diet alters the eukaryotic translation initiation factors expression in skeletal muscle of tumour-bearing rats
Authors: Ventrucci Gislaine , Mello Maria Alice R , Gomes-Marcondes Maria Cristina C
Published: March 2007

Background

Cancer-cachexia induces a variety of metabolic disorders on protein turnorver, decreasing protein synthesis and increasing protein degradation. Controversly, insulin, other hormones, and branched-chain amino acids, especially leucine, stimulate protein synthesis and modulate the activity of translation initiation factors involved in protein synthesis. Since the tumour effects are more pronounced when associated with pregnancy, ehancing muscle-wasting proteolysis, in this study, the influence of a leucine-rich diet on the protein synthesis caused by cancer were investigated.

Methods

Pregnant rats with or without Walker 256 tumour were distributed into six groups. During 20 days of experiment, three groups were fed with a control diet: C – pregnant control, W – tumour-bearing, and P – pair-fed, which received the same amount of food as ingested by the W group; three other groups of pregnant rats were fed a leucine-rich diet: L – pregnant leucine, WL – tumour-bearing, and PL – pair-fed, which received the same amount of food as ingested by the WL group.

Results

The gastrocnemius muscle of WL rats showed increased incorporation of leucine in protein compared to W rats; the leucine-rich diet also prevented the decrease in plasma insulin normally seen in W. The expression of translation initiation factors increased when tumour-bearing rats fed leucine-rich diet, with increase of ~35% for eIF2α and eIF5, ~17% for eIF4E and 20% for eIF4G; the expression of protein kinase S6K1 and protein kinase C was also highly enhanced.

Conclusion

The results suggest that a leucine-rich diet increased the protein synthesis in skeletal muscle in tumour-bearing rats possibly through the activation of eIF factors and/or the S6kinase pathway.
Modelling the spatial distribution of five natural hazards in the context of the WHO/EMRO Atlas of Disaster Risk as a step towards the reduction of the health impact related to disasters
Authors: El Morjani Zine El Abidine , Ebener Steeve , Boos John , Abdel Ghaffar Eman , Musani Altaf
Published: March 2007

Background

Reducing the potential for large scale loss of life, large numbers of casualties, and widespread displacement of populations that can result from natural disasters is a difficult challenge for the individuals, communities and governments that need to respond to such events.

While it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to predict the occurrence of most natural hazards; it is possible to take action before emergency events happen to plan for their occurrence when possible and to mitigate their potential effects.

In this context, an Atlas of Disaster Risk is under development for the 21 Member States that constitute the World Health Organization's (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean (EM) Region and the West Bank and Gaza Strip territory.

Methods and Results

This paper describes the Geographic Information System (GIS) based methods that have been used in order to create the first volume of the Atlas which looks at the spatial distribution of 5 natural hazards (flood, landslide, wind speed, heat and seismic hazard).

It also presents the results obtained through the application of these methods on a set of countries part of the EM Region before illustrating how this type of information can be aggregated for decision making.

Discussion and Conclusion

The methods presented in this paper aim at providing a new set of tools for GIS practitioners to refine their analytical capabilities when examining natural hazards, and at the same time allowing users to create more specific and meaningful local analyses.

The maps resulting from the application of these methods provides decision makers with information to strengthen their disaster management capacity. It also represents the basis for the reflection that needs to take place regarding populations' vulnerability towards natural hazards from a health perspective.
Mechanisms of osteopontin and CD44 as metastatic principles in prostate cancer cells
Authors: Desai Bhavik , Rogers Michael J , Chellaiah Meenakshi A
Published: March 2007

Background

The expression level of osteopontin correlates with the metastatic potential of several tumors. Osteopontin is a well-characterized ligand for the αvβ3 integrin. The present study was undertaken to elucidate the possible role of osteopontin/αvβ3 signaling in prostate cancer cell migration.

Results

We generated stable prostate cancer cell (PC3) lines that over-express osteopontin (PC3/OPN), mutant OPN in the integrin binding-site (PC3/RGDΔRGA), and null for OPN (PC3/SiRNA). The following observations were made in PC3/OPN cells as compared with PC3 cells: 1) an increase in multinucleated giant cells and RANKL expression; 2) an increase in CD44 surface expression, interaction of CD44/MMP-9 on the cell surface, MMP-9 activity in the conditioned medium, and cell migration; 3) western blot analysis of concentrated conditioned medium exhibited equal levels of MMP-9 protein in all PC3 cells. However, zymography analysis demonstrated that the levels of MMP-9 activity in the conditioned media reflect the CD44 surface expression pattern of the PC3 cell lines; 4) although MMP-9 and MMP-2 are secreted by PC3 cells, only the secretion of MMP-9 is regulated by OPN expression. A strong down regulation of the above-mentioned processes was observed in PC3/OPN (RGA) and PC3/SiRNA cells. PC3/OPN cells treated with bisphosphonate (BP) reproduce the down-regulation observed in PC3/OPN (RGA) and PC3/SiRNA cells.

Conclusion

Rho signaling plays a crucial role in CD44 surface expression. BPs inhibits the mevalonate pathway, which in turn, prevents the prenylation of a number of small GTPases. Attenuation of Rho GTPase activation by BPs may have contributed to the down regulation of cell surface CD44/MMP-9 interaction, MMP-9 activation/secretion, and cell migration. Taken together, these observations suggest that CD44 surface expression is an important event in the activation of MMP-9 and migration of prostate cancer cells. The various steps involved in the above mentioned signaling pathway and/or the molecules regulating the activation of MMP-9 are potential therapeutic target.
Antagonistic interaction of HIV-1 Vpr with Hsf-mediated cellular heat shock response and Hsp16 in fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe)
Authors: Benko Zsigmond , Liang Dong , Agbottah Emmanuel , Hou Jason , Taricani Lorena , Young Paul G , Bukrinsky Michael , Zhao Richard Y
Published: March 2007

Background

Expression of the HIV-1 vpr gene in human and fission yeast cells displays multiple highly conserved activities, which include induction of cell cycle G2 arrest and cell death. We have previously characterized a yeast heat shock protein 16 (Hsp16) that suppresses the Vpr activities when it is overproduced in fission yeast. Similar suppressive effects were observed when the fission yeast hsp16 gene was overexpressed in human cells or in the context of viral infection. In this study, we further characterized molecular actions underlying the suppressive effect of Hsp16 on the Vpr activities.

Results

We show that the suppressive effect of Hsp16 on Vpr-dependent viral replication in proliferating T-lymphocytes is mediated through its C-terminal end. In addition, we show that Hsp16 inhibits viral infection in macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. Mechanistically, Hsp16 suppresses Vpr activities in a way that resembles the cellular heat shock response. In particular, Hsp16 activation is mediated by a heat shock factor (Hsf)-dependent mechanism. Interestingly, vpr gene expression elicits a moderate increase of endogenous Hsp16 but prevents its elevation when cells are grown under heat shock conditions that normally stimulate Hsp16 production. Similar responsive to Vpr elevation of Hsp and counteraction of this elevation by Vpr were also observed in our parallel mammalian studies. Since Hsf-mediated elevation of small Hsps occurs in all eukaryotes, this finding suggests that the anti-Vpr activity of Hsps is a conserved feature of these proteins.

Conclusion

These data suggest that fission yeast could be used as a model to further delineate the potential dynamic and antagonistic interactions between HIV-1 Vpr and cellular heat shock responses involving Hsps.
Different rates of (non-)synonymous mutations in astrovirus genes; correlation with gene function
Authors: van Hemert Formijn J , Lukashov Vladimir V , Berkhout Ben
Published: March 2007

Background

Complete genome sequences of the Astroviridae include human, non-human mammalian and avian species. A consensus topology of astroviruses has been derived from nucleotide substitutions in the full-length genomes and from non-synonymous nucleotide substitutions in each of the three ORFs. Analyses of synonymous substitutions displayed a loss of tree structure, suggesting either saturation of the substitution model or a deviant pattern of synonymous substitutions in certain virus species.

Results

We analyzed the complete Astroviridae family for the inference of adaptive molecular evolution at sites and in branches. High rates of synonymous mutations are observed among the non-human virus species. Deviant patterns of synonymous substitutions are found in the capsid structural genes. Purifying selection is a dominant force among all astrovirus genes and only few codon sites showed values for the dN/dS ratio that may indicate site-specific molecular adaptation during virus evolution. One of these sites is the glycine residue of a RGD motif in ORF2 of human astrovirus serotype 1. RGD or similar integrin recognition motifs are present in nearly all astrovirus species.

Conclusion

Phylogenetic analysis directed by maximum likelihood approximation allows the inclusion of significantly more evolutionary history and thereby, improves the estimation of dN and dS. Sites with enhanced values for dN/dS are prominent at domains in charge of environmental communication (f.i. VP27 and domain 4 in ORF1a) more than at domains dedicated to intrinsic virus functions (f.i. VP34 and ORF1b (the virus polymerase)). Integrin recognition may play a key role in astrovirus to target cell attachment.
Confirmation of double-peaked time distribution of mortality among Asian breast cancer patients in a population-based study
Authors: Gao Fei , Tan Say Beng , Machin David , Wong Nan Soon
Published: March 2007

Introduction

Double-peaked time distributions of the mortality hazard function have been reported for breast cancer patients from Western populations treated with mastectomy alone. These are thought to reflect accelerated tumour growth at micrometastatic sites mediated by angiogenesis after primary tumour removal as well as tumor dormancy. Similar data are not available for Asian populations. We sought to investigate whether differences exist in the pattern of mortality hazard function between Western breast cancer patients and their Asian counterparts in Singapore, which may suggest underlying differences in tumor biology between the two populations.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study of female unilateral breast cancer patients diagnosed in Singapore between October 1994 and June 1999. Data regarding patient demographics, tumour characteristics and death were available. Overall survival curves were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The hazard rate was calculated as the conditional probability of dying in a time interval, given that the patient was alive at the beginning of the interval. The life table method was used to calculate the yearly hazard rates.

Results

In the 2,105 women identified, 956 patients (45.4%) had mastectomy alone. Demographic characteristics were as follows: 86.5% were Chinese, 45.2% were postmenopausal, 38.9% were hormone receptor positive, 54.6% were node negative and 44.1% had high histological grade. We observed a double-peaked mortality hazard pattern, with a first peak in mortality achieving its maximum between years 2 and 4 after mastectomy, and a second large peak in mortality during year 9. Analyses by subgroups revealed a similar pattern regardless of T stage, or node or menopausal status. This pattern was also noted in high-grade tumors but not in those that were well to moderately differentiated. The double-peaked pattern observed in Singaporean women was quantitatively and qualitatively similar to those reported in Western series.

Conclusion

Our study confirms the existence of a double-peaked process in Asian patients, and it gives further support to the tumour dormancy hypothesis after mastectomy.
Seismic Fragility of Suspended Ceiling Systems
Authors: Badillo-Almaraz Hiram , Whittaker Andrew S. , Reinhorn Andrei M.
Published: March 2007

Full-scale dynamic testing of suspended ceiling systems was performed to obtain fragility data suitable for performance-based assessment and design. On the basis of the fragility data derived from testing, (1) the use of retainer clips improves the performance of ceiling systems in terms of loss of tiles, (2) including recycled cross tees in the suspension grid increases the vulnerability of the ceiling systems, (3) undersized (poorly fitting) tiles are substantially more vulnerable than properly fitted tiles, and (4) the use of compression posts improves the seismic performance of ceiling systems for the limit states of minor and moderate damage. Fragility curves are provided for four damage states.
Effects of Seasonal Freezing on Bridge Column–Foundation–Soil Interaction and Their Implications
Authors: Sritharan Sri , Suleiman Muhannad T. , White David J.
Published: March 2007

Several seismic regions around the world experience seasonal freezing that can drastically alter the soil-foundation-structure interaction and structural response under earthquake loads. This paper analytically investigates the effects of seasonal freezing on lateral load response of a bridge column supported by a cast-in-drilled-hole (CIDH) foundation shaft. Accounting for the temperature effects on materials, the analyses were conducted at ambient temperatures of 23° C, −1° C, −7° C, −10° C, and −20° C, and the results obtained at 23° C and −10° C were validated using experimental data. In comparison to the response at 23° C, the response of the column-shaft system in the range of −1° C to −20° C exhibited 40%–188% increase in the effective elastic stiffness, 17%–63% reduction in the lateral displacement capacity, 0.54–0.82 m upward shift in the maximum moment location, 25%–30% increase in the column shear demand, and 25%–80% increase in shear and 19%–68% reduction in the length of the plastic region in the CIDH shaft.
On Ground Motion Intensity Indices
Authors: Riddell Rafael
Published: March 2007

The characterization of strength of earthquake demands for seismic analysis or design requires the specification of a level of intensity. Numerous ground motion intensity indices that have been proposed over the years are being used for normalizing or scaling earthquake records regardless of their efficiency. An essential point of this study is that a ground motion index is appropriate, or efficient, as long as it can predict the level of structural response. This study presents correlations between 23 ground motion intensity indices and four response variables: elastic and inelastic deformation demands, and input energy and hysteretic energy; nonlinear responses are computed using elastoplastic, bilinear, and bilinear with stiffness degradation models. As expected, no index is found to be satisfactory over the entire frequency range. Indeed, indices related to ground acceleration rank better in the acceleration-sensitive region of the spectrum; indices based on ground velocity are better in the velocity-sensitive region and, correspondingly, generally occur in the displacement-controlled region. Despite frequent criticism, the peak ground motion parameters passed the test successfully. A ranking of indices is presented, thus providing a choice of the most appropriate one for a particular application in the frequency range of interest.
Istanbul at the Threshold: An Evaluation of the Seismic Risk in Istanbul
Authors: Pyper Griffiths Jacob H. , Irfanoglu Ayhan , Pujol Santiago
Published: March 2007

There is no convincing evidence indicating that future ground motion in at least two-thirds of Istanbul, Turkey, shall be less demanding than the ground motions that devastated the city of Düzce, Turkey, in 1999. Comparison of vulnerability indices calibrated for Turkish construction indicates that the structures of the buildings in Istanbul are no better than the structures of buildings in Düzce. On the basis of these arguments, we project that a future earthquake near Istanbul may cause severe damage or collapse approximately quarter of a million buildings. Leaving the vulnerable buildings as they are and organizing for emergency response is not an option for Istanbul.
Post-earthquake Prioritization of Bridge Inspections
Authors: Ranf R. T. , Eberhard M. O. , Malone S.
Published: March 2007

Bridge damage reports from the 2001 Nisqually earthquake were correlated with estimates of ground-motion intensity at each bridge site (obtained from ShakeMaps) and with bridge properties listed in the Washington State Bridge Inventory. Of the ground-motion parameters considered, the percentage of bridges damaged correlated best with the spectral acceleration at a period of 0.3 s. Bridges constructed before the 1940s, movable bridges, and older trusses were particularly vulnerable. These bridge types were underestimated by the HAZUS procedure, which categorizes movable bridges and older trusses as “other” bridges. An inspection prioritization strategy was developed that combines ShakeMaps, the bridge inventory and newly developed fragility curves. For the Nisqually earthquake, this prioritization strategy would have made it possible to identify 80% of the moderately damaged bridges by inspecting only 481 (14%) of the 3,407 bridges within the boundaries of the ShakeMap. To identify these bridges using a prioritization strategy based solely on epicentral distance, it would have been necessary to inspect 1,447 (42%) bridges. To help the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) rapidly identify damaged bridges, the prioritization procedure has been incorporated within the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN) ground-motion processing and notification software.
Review of Seismic Codes on Liquid-Containing Tanks
Authors: Jaiswal O. R. , Rai Durgesh C. , Jain Sudhir K.
Published: March 2007

Liquid storage tanks generally possess lower energy-dissipating capacity than conventional buildings. During lateral seismic excitation, tanks are subjected to hydrodynamic forces. These two aspects are recognized by most seismic codes on liquid storage tanks and, accordingly, provisions specify higher seismic forces than buildings and require modeling of hydrodynamic forces in analysis. In this paper, provisions of ten seismic codes on tanks are reviewed and compared. This review has revealed that there are significant differences among these codes on design seismic forces for various types of tanks. Reasons for these differences are critically examined and the need for a unified approach for seismic design of tanks is highlighted.
In-Plane Shake-Table Testing of GFRP-Strengthened Concrete Masonry Walls
Authors: Turek Martin , Ventura Carlos E. , Kuan Steven
Published: March 2007

In-plane shake-table tests were performed on eight full-scale unreinforced concrete block walls. Three of the walls were left as plain unreinforced masonry and five were strengthened using glass-fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP) strips in four different configurations. All walls were first subjected to design-level earthquake records to determine the improvement obtained from the addition of the GFRP. The walls were then subjected to extreme-level earthquake records to examine the ultimate failure modes and the effects of the various GFRP configurations on the response of the walls. It was observed that all strengthened specimens performed well during the design-level shaking, and three of the four GFRP configurations also performed well during the extreme-level shaking. The tests showed that the use of vertical GFRP strips alone is able to improve the in-plane performance of URM walls. The strips were also able to control the failure modes, and prevent collapse after severe damage, improving significantly the life safety performance of URM walls.
Alternative Models of Seismic Hazard Evaluation along the Jordan–Dead Sea Transform
Authors: Al-Tarazi Eid , Sandvol Eric
Published: March 2007

Three models were used to produce three probabilistic hazard maps for the Jordan–Dead Sea transform (DST). No seismic source zones were proposed. Models I and II are based on spatially smoothed historical and instrumentally recorded earthquakes. Model I used the data with magnitudes greater than 3.0 for the time period 1900 to 2003, while Model II used data with the magnitude range between 5.0 and 7.0 for the time period 2100 B.C. to A.D. 2003. Model III is the weighted model that is based on characteristic earthquakes that occurred along each major fault in the last ∼4,100 years. To assess the peak ground acceleration (PGA), three different attenuation equations were used. The resulting hazard maps represent 10% probability of being exceeded in 50 years, which corresponds to a return period of 475 years. The maximum PGA value was 350 cm/sec2 for the northernmost part of the DST, namely, between latitudes 35.5° and 36.5° N, and the southwestern part of Cyprus. In the regions of maximum expected ground motion, there is general agreement between the results of this study and those of previous studies that used the seismic source zones. However, peak ground accelerations predicted in this study are typically 10–20% less than those of previous studies. We believe this study represents an improvement on prior seismic hazard evaluations for the region. In addition to the updated input data, we believe that, by integrating three models, a more robust estimate of the hazard is provided.
Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Assessment of the Kermanshah-Sanandaj Region of Western Iran
Authors: Shabani Elham , Mirzaei Noorbakhsh
Published: March 2007

Seismic hazard assessment and zoning of the Kermanshah-Sanandaj region in western Iran is conducted using probabilistic approach. Two maps have been prepared to indicate the earthquake hazard of the region in the form of iso-acceleration contour lines. They display a probabilistic estimate of peak ground acceleration (PGA) over bedrock for the return periods of 475 and 50 years. A uniform catalog of earthquakes containing historical and instrumental events covering the period from the eleventh century A.D. to 2003 is used. Twelve potential seismic sources are modeled as area sources in the region. Seismicity parameters are evaluated using the method in which magnitude uncertainty and incompleteness of earthquake data are considered. Seismic hazard assessment is carried out for a grid of 357 points with 0.1° intervals using the SEISRISKIII computer program for the study area encompassed by the 46–48° E longitudes and 34–36° N latitudes. This region includes the most active segments of the Zagros Main Recent Fault; among them, the Sahneh and Nahavand faults have a well-known history of intense seismic activity. PGA values for this region are estimated to be 0.35 g and 0.20 g for 475- and 50-years return periods, respectively.
The Impact of High-Frequency/ Low-Energy Seismic Waves on Unreinforced Masonry
Authors: Meyer Patrik , Ochsendorf John , Germaine John , Kausel Eduardo
Published: March 2007

Traditionally, the high-frequency components of earthquake loading are disregarded as a source of structural damage because their energy content is small and their frequency is too high to resonate with the natural frequencies of structures. We argue that higher-frequency waves traveling through stiff masonry structures can trigger two types of failure mechanisms that have not yet been taken into account. First, the high frequencies can cause small vertical interstone vibrations that result in irreversible relative displacements of the stones, which may ultimately lead to collapse. The energy needed to cause this deformation and failure comes largely from gravitational forces. Second, the partial fluidification and densification of the loose, granular inner core of some unreinforced masonry walls results in an increase of outward thrust. Preliminary results of a series of static and dynamic tests, as well as numerical models, demonstrate the potentially destructive effects of high-frequency/low-energy seismic waves on unreinforced masonry structures. Based on this new understanding, an improved construction method is suggested.
Exploring the Concept of Seismic Resilience for Acute Care Facilities
Authors: Bruneau Michel , Reinhorn Andrei
Published: March 2007

This paper explores the operational and physical resilience of acute care facilities, recognizing that the key dimension of acute care facilities is not a simple engineering unit. Quantification of resilience is first approached from the broader societal context, from which the engineering subproblem is formulated, recognizing that, to operate, hospitals depend intricately on the performance of their physical infrastructure (from the integrity of structural systems and nonstructural systems, lifelines, components, and equipment). Quantification relates the probability of exceeding floor accelerations and interstory drifts within a specified limit space, for the structural and nonstructural performance. Linear and nonlinear structural responses are considered, as well as the impact of retrofit or repair. Impact on time to recovery is considered in all cases. The proposed framework makes it possible to relate probability functions, fragilities, and resilience in a single integrated approach, and to further develop general tools to quantify resilience for sociopolitical-engineering decisions.