bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relative impact of flavonoid composition, dose and structure on vascular function: A systematic review of randomised controlled trials of flavonoid‐rich food products
Authors: Kay Colin D. , Hooper Lee , Kroon Paul A. , Rimm Eric B. , Cassidy Aedín
Published: September 2012

Scope

Previous systematic reviews suggest beneficial effects of flavonoids on biomarkers of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, but have overlooked the impact of dose response or food complexity. The aim of the present study was to examine the relative impact of composition, flavonoid structure and dose.

Methods and results

MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane were searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of flavonoids or flavonoid‐rich foods/extracts. Flavonoid composition was established using United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Phenol‐Explorer databases. Effects of six flavonoid subgroups on endothelial function (flow‐mediated dilation; FMD), and systolic and diastolic blood pressures were assessed by random effects meta‐analyses and regression analyses. Meta‐analyses of combined flavonoid subclasses showed significant improvements in FMD (chronic, 0.73% (0.17, 1.30) 14 RCTs; acute, 2.33% (1.58, 3.08) 18 RCTs) and blood pressures (systolic, –1.46 mmHg (–2.38, –0.53) 63 RCTs; diastolic, –1.25 mmHg (–1.82, –0.67) 63 RCTs). Similar benefits were observed for the flavan‐3‐ol, catechol flavonoids (catechins, quercetin, cyanidin etc.), procyanidins, epicatechin and catechin subgroups. Dose‐response relationships were non‐linear for FMD (R2 ≤ 0.30), with greater associations observed when applying polynomial regression analyses (R2 ≤ 0.72); there was no indication of a dose response for blood pressure.

Conclusion

The present analysis suggests that flavonoid bioactivity does not follow a classical linear dose‐response association and this may have important biological implications.
Constitutive modeling of polycarbonate during high strain rate deformation
Authors: Safari Keivan H. , Zamani Jamal , Ferreira Fernando J. , Guedes Rui M.
Published: September 2012

A constitutive model is presented for large strain deformation of polycarbonate (PC) at high strain rates (above 102 s−1). The proposed model considers the primary process (α) and the two secondary rate‐activated processes (β and γ). It is shown that the secondary transitions in the material affect the yield and post yield behavior of the material at high strain rates. The constitutive model has been implemented numerically into a commercial finite element code through a user material subroutine. The experimental results, obtained using a split Hopkinson pressure bar, are supported by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and DSR (Decompose/Shift/Reconstruct) method. These are employed to gain understanding of the material transitions, and to further the linkages between material viscoelastic, yield, and stress–strain behavior. Comparison of model predictions with experimental data demonstrates the ability of model to capture the characteristic features of stress–strain curve of the material such as initial linear elasticity, global yield, strain softening, and strain hardening at very high strain rates (up to 10,000 s−1). POLYM. ENG. SCI. 2013. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers
Analysis of the rat hypothalamus proteome by data‐independent label‐free LC‐MS/MS
Authors: Stelzhammer Viktoria , Amess Bob , Martins‐de‐Souza Daniel , Levin Yishai , Ozanne Susan E. , Martin‐Gronert Malgorzata S. , Urday Sebastian , Bahn Sabine , Guest Paul C.
Published: September 2012

Studies of neuronal, endocrine, and metabolic disorders would be facilitated by characterization of the hypothalamus proteome. Protein extracts prepared from 16 whole rat hypothalami were measured by data‐independent label‐free nano LC‐MS/MS. Peptide features were detected, aligned, and searched against a rat Swiss‐Prot database using ProteinLynx Global Server v.2.5. The final combined dataset comprised 21 455 peptides, corresponding to 622 unique proteins, each identified by a minimum of two distinct peptides. The majority of the proteins (69%) were cytosolic, and 16% were membrane proteins. Important proteins involved in neurological and synaptic function were identified including several members of the Ras‐related protein family and proteins involved in glutamate biosynthesis.
Proton shuffling in acid/base‐catalyzed enolizations: a computational study
Authors: Karaman Rafik , Menger Fredric M.
Published: September 2012

Enolization of acetaldehyde catalyzed by the combined action of a general base (ammonia) and a general acid (formic acid) was examined by density functional theory at the B3LYP/6‐311 + G(3df,2p) level while manipulating distance relationships among the reactants. Computations were carried out in the gas phase, in the presence of four water molecules, and with a dielectric constant of 78.4. Enolization involves an early transition state where general‐base catalysis is more developed than general‐acid catalysis. Although formic acid does not promote enolization by itself, it does facilitate α‐proton transfer from acetaldehyde to the general base by several orders of magnitude. Formic acid accomplishes this feat via a hydrogen bond at a van der Waals distance to the carbonyl oxygen as opposed to forming a low‐barrier hydrogen bond. A low‐barrier hydrogen bond would indeed be capable of accelerating the enolization were it not for the energy cost of generating it. Formic acid may also facilitate enolization by internal solvation of the ammonium ion that is partially formed in the transition state via carbon‐to‐nitrogen proton transfer. General‐base catalysis by trimethylamine, which is out of position to coordinate with the formic acid carboxyl, actually has lower activation energy than that of ammonia catalysis, possibly owing to basicity/shielding effects. Computations also demonstrate that the proton removed by the ammonia nitrogen remains on the nitrogen throughout rather than being transferred via low‐energy rotation processes and secondary proton transfers to an oxygen atom of formic acid or the enol itself. Finally, stepwise and concerted mechanisms for enolizations have been proposed in the literature, with experimental evidence being provided for both. The concerted/non‐concerted disagreement seems to stem from the continuum of organic mechanisms that Nature bestows onto organic chemistry. Thus, acid/base catalysis varies from stepwise at one extreme to synchronous at the other extreme with an infinite number of concerted mechanisms in between. Since the degree of concertedness undoubtedly depends upon the particular acid, base, substrate, and solvent, disparate enolization models are to be expected. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dystroglycan function is a novel determinant of tumor growth and behavior in prostate cancer
Authors: Mitchell A. , Mathew G. , Jiang T. , Hamdy F.C. , Cross S.S. , Eaton C. , Winder S.J.
Published: September 2012

BACKGROUND

Dystroglycan is a ubiquitously expressed cell adhesion molecule frequently found to be altered or reduced in adenocarcinomas, however the mechanisms or consequences of dystroglycan loss have not been studied extensively.

METHODS

We examined the consequence of overexpression or RNAi depletion of dystroglycan on properties of in vitro growth migration and invasion of LNCaP, PC3, and DU145 prostate cancer cell lines.

RESULTS

Using LNCaP cells we observed cell density‐dependent changes in β‐dystroglycan with the appearance of several lower molecular weight species ranging in size from 43 to 26 kDa. The bands of 31 and 26 kDa were attributed to proteolysis, whereas bands between 43 and 38 kDa were a consequence of mis‐glycosylation. The localization of β‐dystroglycan in LNCaP colonies in culture also varied, cells with a mesenchymal appearance at the periphery of the colony had more pronounced membrane localization of dystroglycan. Whereas some cells demonstrated nuclear dystroglycan. Increased dystroglycan levels were inhibitory to growth in soft agar but promoted Matrigel invasion, whereas reduced dystroglycan levels promoted growth in soft agar but inhibited invasion. Similar results were also obtained for PC3 and DU145 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that changes in β‐dystroglycan distribution within the cell and/or the loss of dystroglycan during tumorigenesis, through a combination of proteolysis and altered glycosylation, leads to an increased ability to grow in an anchorage independent manner, however dystroglycan may need to be re‐expressed for cell invasion and metastasis to occur. Prostate 73: 398–408, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cathepsin D acts as an essential mediator to promote malignancy of benign prostatic epithelium
Authors: Pruitt Freddie L. , He Yue , Franco Omar E. , Jiang Ming , Cates Justin M. , Hayward Simon W.
Published: September 2012

BACKGROUND

Stromal–epithelial interactions are important in both development and prostate cancer. Stromal changes have been shown to be powerful prognostic indicators of prostate cancer progression and of patient death helping to define lethal versus indolent phenotypes. The specific molecular underpinnings of these interactions are incompletely understood. We investigated whether stromal cathepsin D (CathD) overexpression affects prostate tumorigenesis through a paracrine mechanism.

METHODS

Normal prostate fibroblasts (NPF) were retrovirally transduced to overexpress cyclin D1 (CD1) and were designated NPFCD1. Cathepsin D expression was knocked down using shRNA in cancer associated fibroblasts (CAF) and NPFCD1. We analyzed these stromal cell lines using immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and tissue recombination.

RESULTS

An examination of human prostate tissue revealed significantly increased stromal staining of CathD in malignant prostate tissue. Overexpression of CD1 in normal prostate fibroblasts (NPFCD1) produced a phenotype similar to, but more moderate than, CAF in a tissue recombination model. Knockdown studies revealed that CathD is required for NPFCD1 motility and invasive growth in vitro. BPH‐1 cell proliferation was found to be induced when cultured with NPFCD1 conditioned medium, this effect was inhibited when CathD was knocked down in NPFCD1 cells. Overexpression of CathD in prostate stromal cells induced malignancy in adjacent epithelium, and this transformation was inhibited when stromal CathD expression was knocked down in CAF.

CONCLUSIONS

The study presented here demonstrates increased CathD expression is seen in human CAF. The upregulation of CD1 results in concomitant increases in CathD expression. Elevated CathD expression in the stroma contributes to tumor promotion. Prostate 73: 476–488, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Zoledronic acid but not somatostatin analogs exerts anti‐tumor effects in a model of murine prostatic neuroendocrine carcinoma of the development of castration‐resistant prostate cancer
Authors: Hashimoto Kohei , Masumori Naoya , Tanaka Toshiaki , Maeda Toshihiro , Kobayashi Ko , Kitamura Hiroshi , Hirata Koichi , Tsukamoto Taiji
Published: September 2012

BACKGROUND

Since neuroendocrine (NE) cells play an important role in the development of castration‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), target therapy to NE cells should be considered for treating CRPC. We investigated the effects zoledronic acid (ZOL) and two somatostatin analogs (octreotide: SMS, and pasireotide: SOM) on an NE allograft (NE‐10) and its cell line (NE‐CS), which were established from the prostate of the LPB‐Tag 12T‐10 transgenic mouse.

METHODS

We examined the in vivo effects of ZOL, SMS and SOM as single agents and their combinations on subcutaneously inoculated NE‐10 allografts and the in vitro effects on NE‐CS cells. Apoptosis and cell cycle activity were assessed by immunohistochemistry using TdT‐mediated dUTP‐biotin nick‐end labeling (TUNEL) and a Ki‐67 antibody, respectively.

RESULTS

In vivo growth of NE‐10 tumors treated with ZOL, ZOL plus SMS, or ZOL plus SOM was significantly inhibited compared to the control as a consequence of induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. ZOL induced time‐ and dose‐dependent inhibition of in vitro proliferation of NE‐CS cells, but the somatostatin analogs (SMS and SOM) did not. ZOL also inhibited migration of NE‐CS cells. These effects were caused by inhibition of Erk1/2 phosphorylation via impairment of prenylation of Ras.

CONCLUSIONS

ZOL, but not SMS or SOM, induced apoptosis and inhibition of proliferation and migration through impaired prenylation of Ras in NE carcinoma models. Our findings support the possibility that ZOL could be used in the early phase for controlling NE cells, which may trigger progression to CRPC. Prostate 73: 500–511, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Solid‐phase synthesis and screening of a library of C‐terminal arginine peptide aldehydes against Murray Valley encephalitis virus protease
Authors: Ede Nicholas J. , Hill Jeffrey , Joy Joma K. , Ede Anne‐Marie , Koppens Merran L.
Published: September 2012

Murray Valley encephalitis virus is a member of the flavivirus group, a large family of single‐stranded RNA viruses, which cause serious disease in all regions of the world. Unfortunately, no suitable antivirals are available, and there are commercial vaccines for only three flaviviruses. The solid‐phase synthesis of a library of 400 C‐terminal arginine peptide aldehydes and their screening against Murray Valley encephalitis virus protease are demonstrated. The library was utilised to elucidate several tripeptide sequences that can be used as inhibitors in further SAR studies. Copyright © 2012 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prediction of the thermal conductivity of SiC nanowires with kinetic theory of gases
Authors: Chantrenne Patrice , Termentzidis Konstantinos
Published: September 2012

Thermal conductivity of silicon carbide nanowires is predicted using a model based on the kinetic theory of gas (KTG). Within this model, the energy carriers, which are the phonons, are considered as a gas whose basic properties are given by phonon dispersion curves and relaxation times of phonons. This model can give results for large spectra of temperature and sizes of nanowires in comparison to Molecular Dynamics (MD) method. The model is validated with the comparison of the results with other theoretical and experimental ones for the constant volume specific heat, the density of states and the bulk thermal conductivity function the temperature. The model is applied to SiC nanowires and the axial and radial thermal conductivities of nanowires are predicted. Comparison with MD results for the same size of nanowires is given.
Modeling the splitting of thin silicon films from porosified crystalline silicon upon high temperature annealing in hydrogen
Authors: Ghannam Moustafa Y. , Raheem Yaser Abdul , Alomar Abdul Azeez , Poortmans Jef
Published: September 2012

The role of hydrogen in promoting thin film splitting from crystalline silicon wafers with pores or trenches during high temperature annealing is investigated. During the treatment, trenches are transformed into spherical voids that may laterally channel and split off the substrate. It is shown that the conditions necessary for hydrogen to contribute to the establishment of high stress levels around transformed voids or of pressure inside the voids are usually not satisfied. Hence promoting void coalescence by substantial void volume growth resulting from stress enhanced vacancy diffusion and/or exfoliation of separated voids are unlikely to occur. Also, there are no experimental evidence that confirms the role of hydrogen in triggering premature void collapse by Griffith fracture at relatively lower stress levels in conjunction with reduced surface energy. Therefore, it is concluded that splitting occurs during high temperature annealing only when neighboring voids are close enough to systematically coalesce. In that case, hydrogen may react at high temperature with the internal silicon surface of the voids (walls) and contribute to breaking the thin straps separating the voids which promotes channelling and film splitting (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Formation of shallow front emitters for solar cells by rapid thermal processing
Authors: Normann Hans B. , Svensson Bengt G. , Monakhov Edouard
Published: September 2012

In this work we report on formation of shallow front emitters by phosphorus in‐diffusion during rapid thermal processing (RTP). Both Filmtronics P509 diffusant and concentrated phosphoric acid were deposited on 1 Ωcm p‐type mono crystalline silicon samples. Diffused shallow emitters were realized by annealing at 900 °C and 950 °C in the range of 10 – 40 s using an Annealsys AS‐Micro furnace. The chemical concentration versus depth profiles of phosphorus were measured by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and the sheet resistance was measured by four‐point probing. It is found that emitters with depths in the range 100 – 275 nm and the maximum doping concentrations in the range 2 × 1020 – 1 × 1021 cm–3 can be formed after RTP.

By varying the RTP‐conditions, a sheet resistance of 314 – 40 Ω/sq for diffusant‐treated samples and of 175 – 40 Ω/sq for phosphoric acid treated samples are obtained. The P509 diffusant and concentrated phosphoric acid gave similar emitter profiles. High solubility of phosphorus in silicon at elevated temperatures ensured a low sheet resistance even for short annealing times. It is shown that phosphorus in‐diffusion during RTP is a viable method in formation of shallow front emitters for solar cells. In particular, the highest phosphorus peak concentration and the shallowest diffusion profile were achieved by in‐diffusion from dehydrated phosphoric acid (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Mechanical stress in silicon oxides grown on hydrogen implanted Si
Authors: Alexandrova Sashka , Szekeres Anna , Valcheva Evgenia
Published: September 2012

The work presents results on stress characterization of 10 nm silicon oxides thermally grown on Si hydrogenated at different conditions, namely RF plasma at different substrate temperatures and hydrogen plasma immersion implantation (PIII) at energy 2 keV and different fluences. From electroreflectance technique (ER) and spectral ellipsometry (SE) spectra the characteristic energy bands of direct electron transitions in Si are elaborated. The stress in dependence of hydrogenation conditions is considered and related to the shifts of the direct energy gaps. The stress values are evaluated from the Raman shifts around 520 cm‐1 gained by micro‐Raman spectroscopy (RS). The correlated data from the ER, SE and RS allow hydrogenation conditions using shallow implantation of H+ ions to be defined at which low strain and defect density level can be grown (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Human‐centric visual monitoring of multi‐clients system behavior and BiT for trust computing
Authors: Song Eun‐Ha , Yang Su‐Hyun , Jeong Young‐Sik
Published: September 2012

This paper proposes the trusted platform board monitoring (TPBM) system that enabled effectively detecting and managing abnormal phenomenon based on the trusted platform board not only for security but also for multiple clients connected on the web. In other words, TPBM strengthens weak points of the existing security and provides the function to monitor with human‐centric method not only system resources and process status for remote multi‐client systems that are operated based on hardware security but also behavior of multiple clients in the cloud computing environment. In addition, measuring instruction level behavior is potentially a more effective protection than a pure software approach. From program's run‐time behavior, system state safety can also be analyzed. However, dynamic characteristic of program trace also introduces challenges on what to measure and how to measure. To solve such problems, branch instruction trace (BiT) profiling tool is introduced to measure processor's instruction level run‐time behavior. However, the BiT has provided only the text results of logical error information but not the visual monitoring function by tracing abnormal branch at the level of instruction. In order to resolve this problem, this paper includes the human‐centric visual monitoring function for information on abnormal branch trace to TPBM. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Retrospective Study of Mortality in Varanid Lizards (Reptilia:Squamata:Varanidae) at the Bronx Zoo: Implications for Husbandry and Reproductive Management in Zoos
Authors: Mendyk Robert W. , Newton Alisa L. , Baumer Megan
Published: September 2012

Varanid lizards have been maintained in zoological parks for more than a century, yet few studies to date have attempted to pinpoint significant health issues affecting their management or areas of captive husbandry that are in need of improvement. In an effort to identify and better understand some of the husbandry‐related challenges and health issues specifically affecting varanids in zoos, this study examined mortality in 16 species maintained at the Bronx Zoo between 1968 and 2009. Out of 108 records reviewed, complete necropsy reports were available for 85 individuals. Infection‐related processes including bacterial (15.3%), protozoal (12.9%), nematode (9.4%), and fungal (3.5%) infections accounted for the greatest number of deaths (47.1%). Noninfectious diseases including female reproductive disorders (7.1%), neoplasia (7.1%), gout (10.8%), and hemipenal prolapse (1.3%) accounted for 29.4% of deaths. Multiple disease agents were responsible for 5.9% of deaths, and a cause for death could not be determined for 17.7% of individuals. Reproductive complications accounted for 11.5% of female deaths, but were identified in 23.1% of females. Although not necessarily the cause for death, gout was present in 18.8% of individuals. Differences in mortality between species, genders, and origin (captive‐bred vs. wild‐caught) were also evaluated. The results of this study corroborate earlier findings that identify bacterial infections, neoplasia, female reproductive disorders, gout, and endoparasitism as major sources of mortality in captive varanids. In light of these results, we discuss potential etiologies and offer recommendations for improving captive management practices in zoos. Zoo Biol. 32:152–162, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Psychiatric disorders in low birthweight young adults. Prevalence and association with assessments at 11 years
Authors: Elgen I.B. , Holsten F. , Odberg M.D.
Published: September 2012

Objective

To compare mental health of 136 young adults without neurosensory handicaps born with low birthweight (LBW, birthweight less than 2000 g) with 132 adults with normal birthweight (NBW).

Method

A cohort of moderate LBW and NBW young adults were assessed with the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) at 19 years and the Children Assessment Schedule (CAS) at 11 years of age.

Results

At 19 years of age, 44 out of 136 (32%) LBW young adults were diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder compared to 10% NBW (OR: 2.8; 95% CI: 1.1, 4.5, P = 0.02). Among the LBW young adults, affective-, anxiety-, ADHD- and antisocial personality disorders were most common, and nine subjects (20%) had more than one diagnosis. Of 97 LBW subjects examined both at 11 and 19 years of age, 54 (56%) were mentally healthy though out adolescence. This was half as many as for controls (OR: 0.6; 95% CI: 0.3 to 0.9).

Conclusion

Moderate LBW was associated with an increased risk of psychiatric disorders in young adulthood. Only half of LBW young adults stayed healthy throughout adolescence.
The influence of impaired processing speed on cognition in first-episode antipsychotic-naïve schizophrenic patients
Authors: Andersen R. , Fagerlund B. , Rasmussen H. , Ebdrup B.H. , Aggernaes B. , Gade A. , Oranje B. , Glenthoj B.
Published: September 2012

Background:

Impaired cognition is a prominent feature of schizophrenia. To what extent the heterogeneous cognitive impairments can be accounted for by considering only a single underlying impairment or a small number of core impairments remains elusive. This study examined whether cognitive impairments in antipsychotic-naïve, first-episode schizophrenia patients may be determined by a relative slower speed of information processing.

Method:

Forty-eight antipsychotic-naïve patients with first-episode schizophrenia and 48 matched healthy controls were administered a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests to assess domains of cognitive impairments in schizophrenia. Composite scores were calculated, grouping tests into cognitive domains.

Results:

There were significant differences between patients and healthy controls on global cognition and all cognitive domains, including verbal intelligence, processing speed, sustained attention, working memory, reasoning and problem solving, verbal learning and memory, visual learning and memory, and reaction time. All these significant differences, except for verbal intelligence and global cognition, disappeared when processing speed was included as a covariate.

Conclusion:

At the first stage of illness, antipsychotic-naïve patients with schizophrenia display moderate/severe impairments in all the cognitive domains assessed. The results support the contention of a global cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia that to some extent may be determined by impaired processing speed.
BODY HEIGHT AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS OF FEMALES AT DIFFERENT LIFE STAGES
Authors: WRONKA IWONA
Published: September 2012

Adult height reflects long-term nutritional status and exposure to infectious diseases, both of which are influenced by socioeconomic factors. Very little research has been done on these inequalities from a longitudinal perspective. This paper explores the links between body height at different life stages and socioeconomic characteristics. Data were obtained from 1008 Polish schoolgirls aged 16–18 years for whom earlier data on height were available. The height of each subject was measured. Socioeconomic status and age at menarche were assessed based on information received from the surveyed girls. Girls' heights in early life were ascertained from medical records. All girls were measured by trained school nurses at 7, 9 and 14 years of age. Socioeconomic status was found to be related to body height, but not to the rate of height gain during childhood and adolescence. Girls of a higher socioeconomic status were taller than girls of a lower socioeconomic status. On dividing the research material into homogeneous groups by maturity status, the same relationship was observed. No significant relationships were found between socioeconomic status and rate of height gain between ages 7 and 16, 17, 18 years. The findings suggest that socioeconomic variation in height is the result of living conditions during the first years of life.
Endoscopic, endonasal, trans-sphenoidal hypophysectomy: retrospective analysis of 171 procedures
Authors: Kumar S , Darr A , Hobbs C G , Carlin W V
Published: September 2012

Introduction:

Endoscopic, transnasal management of pituitary gland neoplasms is a widely accepted alternative to the traditional microscopic approach. This study aimed to determine outcomes and complication rates for the largest UK series of endoscopic, trans-sphenoidal hypophysectomies reported to date.

Methods:

We performed a retrospective analysis of 136 primary resections and 35 revision cases performed at a tertiary referral centre.

Results and analysis:

Total tumour resection was confirmed in over 85 per cent of primary and revision cases, with biochemical remission in 60 per cent. The incidence of complications such as epistaxis, sphenoid sinus problems, endocrine insufficiency, visual disturbance, post-operative haemorrhage, cranial nerve injury and mortality was significantly lower, compared with similar series using the microscopic approach.

Conclusion:

Despite its steep ‘learning curve’, our series demonstrates that the endoscopic approach not only allows superior anatomical visualisation and therefore facilitates full oncological resection of tumours, but also reduces the incidence of peri-operative complications.
Comparison of peritonsillar infiltration of tramadol and lidocaine for the relief of post-tonsillectomy pain
Authors: Heiba M H , Atef A , Mosleh M , Mohamed R , El-Hamamsy M
Published: September 2012

Background:

Several studies have reported the use of peritonsillar infiltrations of local anaesthetics and/or locally active analgesic drugs for the relief of post-tonsillectomy pain, with variable results in terms of quality and duration of analgesia. We aimed to compare the effects of peritonsillar infiltration of lidocaine versus tramadol versus placebo on post-tonsillectomy pain.

Methods:

Sixty patients over the age of 10 years undergoing bilateral elective tonsillectomy under general anaesthesia were randomised into three groups. The first group received peritonsillar infiltration of tramadol, the second 2 per cent lidocaine and the third normal saline. In all groups, peritonsillar infiltration was carried out after tonsillectomy but prior to tracheal extubation. Post-operative comparisons were made to assess the quality of pain control and the patients' analgesic requirements.

Results:

Peritonsillar infiltration of tramadol provided an analgesic effect comparable to that of lidocaine in the first 6 hours post-operation, as reflected by visual analogue scale pain scores and opioid requirements, which were lower compared with the placebo group.

Conclusion:

Peritonsillar infiltration of tramadol provided pain control in the first 6 hours post-tonsillectomy which was comparable to that of lidocaine.
Morphological assessment of the luminal surface of olfactory epithelium in mice deficient in tissue plasminogen activator following bulbectomy
Authors: Makino N , Ookawara S , Madoiwa S , Ohta Y , Ishikawa T , Katoh K , Takigami S , Kanazawa T , Matsuo O , Ichikawa M , Mimuro J , Sakata Y , Ichimura K
Published: September 2012

Objective:

This study aimed to investigate the function of tissue plasminogen activator in the olfactory epithelium of mice following neural injury.

Method:

Transmission electron microscopy was used to study the changes in the morphology of the olfactory epithelium 1–7 days after surgical ablation of the olfactory bulb (bulbectomy).

Results:

Prior to bulbectomy, a uniformly fine material was observed within some regions of the olfactory epithelium of mice deficient in tissue plasminogen activator. At 2–3 days after bulbectomy, there were degenerative changes in the olfactory epithelium. At 5–7 days after bulbectomy, we noted drastic differences in olfactory epithelium morphology between mice deficient in tissue plasminogen activator and wild-type mice (comparisons were made using findings from a previous study). The microvilli seemed to be normal and olfactory vesicles and receptor neuron dendrites were largely intact in the olfactory epithelium of mice deficient in tissue plasminogen activator.

Conclusion:

The tissue plasminogen activator plasmin system may inhibit the regeneration of the olfactory epithelium in the early stages following neural injury.
Inclusion of sea‐surface temperature variation in the U.S. Navy ensemble‐transform global ensemble prediction system
Authors: McLay J. G. , Flatau M. K. , Reynolds C. A. , Cummings J. , Hogan T. , Flatau P. J.
Published: September 2012

The local ensemble transform (ET) analysis perturbation scheme is adapted to generate perturbations to both atmospheric variables and sea‐surface temperature (SST). The adapted local ET scheme is used in conjunction with a prognostic model of SST diurnal variation and the Navy Operational Global Atmospheric Prediction System (NOGAPS) global spectral model to generate a medium‐range forecast ensemble. When compared to a control ensemble, the new forecast ensemble with SST variation exhibits notable differences in various physical properties including the spatial patterns of surface fluxes, outgoing longwave radiation (OLR), cloud radiative forcing, near‐surface air temperature and wind speed, and 24‐h accumulated precipitation. The structure of the daily cycle of precipitation also is substantially changed, generally exhibiting a more realistic midday peak of precipitation. Diagnostics of ensemble performance indicate that the inclusion of SST variation is very favorable to forecasts in the Tropics. The forecast ensemble with SST variation outscores the control ensemble in the Tropics across a broad set of metrics and variables. The SST variation has much less impact in the Midlatitudes. Further comparison shows that SST diurnal variation and the SST analysis perturbations are each individually beneficial to the forecast from an overall standpoint. The SST analysis perturbations have broader benefit in the Tropics than the SST diurnal variation, and inclusion of the SST analysis perturbations together with the SST diurnal variation is essential to realize the greatest gains in forecast performance.
Global model of lower band and upper band chorus from multiple satellite observations
Authors: Meredith Nigel P. , Horne Richard B. , Sicard‐Piet Angélica , Boscher Daniel , Yearby Keith H. , Li Wen , Thorne Richard M.
Published: September 2012

Gyroresonant wave particle interactions with whistler mode chorus play a fundamental role in the dynamics of the Earth's radiation belts and inner magnetosphere, affecting both the acceleration and loss of radiation belt electrons. Knowledge of the variability of chorus wave power as a function of both spatial location and geomagnetic activity, required for the computation of pitch angle and energy diffusion rates, is thus a critical input for global radiation belt models. Here we present a global model of lower band (0.1fce < f < 0.5fce) and upper band (0.5fce < f < fce) chorus, where fce is the local electron gyrofrequency, using data from five satellites, extending the coverage and improving the statistics of existing models. From the plasmapause out to L* = 10 the chorus emissions are found to be largely substorm dependent with the largest intensities being seen during active conditions. Equatorial lower band chorus is strongest during active conditions with peak intensities of the order 2000 pT2 in the region 4 < L* < 9 between 2300 and 1200 MLT. Equatorial upper band chorus is both weaker and less extensive with peak intensities of the order a few hundred pT2 during active conditions between 2300 and 1100 MLT from L* = 3 to L* = 7. Moving away from the equator midlatitude chorus is strongest in the lower band during active conditions with peak intensities of the order 2000 pT2 in the region 4 < L* < 9 but is restricted to the dayside between 0700 and 1400 MLT.
Statistical distribution of height‐integrated energy exchange rates in the ionosphere
Authors: Aikio A. T. , Cai L. , Nygrén T.
Published: September 2012

The EISCAT radar in Tromsø (67° cgmLat) has been used to estimate statistics of electromagnetic (EM) energy transfer rates by utilizing calculated electric fields, conductivities and E‐region neutral winds. It was found that the magnetospheric EM energy input is slightly larger in the evening than morning sector, but due to winds, the Joule heating rate has the largest values in the morning sector. The duskside subauroral region contains large northward electric fields and is a site of significant magnetospheric EM energy input and Joule heating. For quiet conditions (Kp: 0–2+), the neutral wind is the major source for Joule heating at all MLT except at the evening maximum of magnetospheric EM input. For medium (Kp: 3−–4+) and high (Kp ≥ 5−) activity levels, winds increase Joule heating rates in the morning, but decrease them in the evening. The positive contribution of winds during the morning maximum is 30% and 20% for medium and high activity levels, respectively. The region where winds are a net load for the magnetospheric EM energy input is 17–20 MLT for medium and 13–18 MLT for high activity conditions. The median EM energy transfer to mechanical work made on winds is 20% at maximum. An event with a long‐lasting high electric field showed that the ion drag acting on neutrals can decrease the Joule (ion–neutral collisional) heating by more than 50%.
Eruption forerunners from multiparameter monitoring and application for eruptions time predictability (Piton de la Fournaise)
Authors: Schmid A. , Grasso J. R. , Clarke D. , Ferrazzini V. , Bachèlery P. , Staudacher T.
Published: September 2012

Volcanic eruptions impact on societal risk, and volcanic hazard assessment is a necessary ingredient for decision‐makers. However, the prediction of volcanic eruptions remains challenging due to the complexity and the non‐linearity of volcanic processes. Identified forerunners such as increasing seismicity or deformation of the volcanic edifice prior to eruption are not deterministic. In this study, we use statistical methods to identify and discriminate precursory patterns to eruptions, on three sets of observables of Piton de la Fournaise volcano. We analyzed the short‐term (i.e. the inter‐eruptive period) time series of the seismicity rate, the deformation and the seismic velocity changes (deduced from seismic noise cross‐correlations) over the period 1999–2006, with two main goals. First, we characterize the average pre‐eruptive time patterns before 22 eruptions using superposed epoch analysis for the three observables. Using daily rate values, we resolve (1) a velocity change within 100–50 days from the eruptions onsets, then a plateau value up to eruption onset; (2) a power law increase in seismicity rate from noise level 15–10 days before eruption time; (3) an increase of displacement rate on the eruption day. These results support a three step mechanism leading to magma transfers toward the surface. Second we use pattern recognition techniques and the formalization of error diagrams to quantify the predictive power of each forerunner either as used independently or as combined to each other. We show that when seismicity rate alone performs the best prediction in the failure to predict versus alarm duration space, the combination of the displacement and seismicity data reduces the false alarm rate. We further propose a tool which explores the prediction results in order to optimize prediction strategy for decision‐makers, as a function of the risk value.
Space‐time clustering of seismicity in California and the distance dependence of earthquake triggering
Authors: Shearer P. M.
Published: September 2012

Using two recent high‐resolution earthquake catalogs, I examine clustering in California seismicity by plotting the average rate of earthquakes as a function of both space and time from target events ofM2 to 5. Comparisons between pre‐ and post‐target event activity can be used to resolve earthquake‐to‐earthquake triggering associated with target events of different magnitudes. The results are more complicated than predicted by computer simulations of earthquake triggering that begin with background events occurring at random times. In particular, at least some of the temporal clustering of seismicity at short scales (0.1 to 5 km) does not appear to be caused by local earthquake triggering, but instead reflects an underlying physical process that temporarily increases the seismicity rate, such as is often hypothesized to drive earthquake swarms. Earthquake triggering forM < 4.5 earthquakes is only resolvable in average seismicity rates at times less than about one day and to distances of less than about 10 km, and its linear density decreases as r−1.5 to r−2.5, significantly steeper than some previous studies have found.
The freshwater composition of the Fram Strait outflow derived from a decade of tracer measurements
Authors: Dodd Paul A. , Rabe Benjamin , Hansen Edmond , Falck Eva , Mackensen Andreas , Rohling Eelco , Stedmon Colin , Kristiansen Svein
Published: September 2012

The composition of the Fram Strait freshwater outflow is investigated by comparing 10 sections of concurrent salinity, δ18O, nitrate and phosphate measurements collected between 1997 and 2011. The largest inventories of net sea ice meltwater are found in 2009, 2010 and 2011. The 2009–2011 sections are also the first to show positive fractions of sea ice meltwater at the surface near the core of the EGC. Sections from September 2009–2011 show an increased input of sea ice meltwater at the surface relative to older September sections. This suggests that more sea ice now melts back into the surface in late summer than previously. Comparison of April, July and September sections reveals seasonal variations in the inventory of positive sea ice meltwater, with maximum inventories in September sections. The time series of sections reveals a strong anti‐correlation between meteoric water and net sea ice meltwater inventories, suggesting that meteoric water and brine may be delivered to Fram Strait together from a common source. We find that the freshwater outflow at Fram Strait exhibits a similar meteoric water to net sea ice meltwater ratio as the central Arctic Ocean and Siberian shelves, suggesting that much of the sea ice meltwater and meteoric water at Fram Strait may originate from these regions. However, we also find that the ratio of meteoric water to sea ice meltwater inventories at Fram Strait is decreasing with time, due to an increased surface input of sea ice meltwater in recent sections.
A conceptual framework for shear flow–induced erosion of soft cohesive sediment beds
Authors: Winterwerp J. C. , van Kesteren W. G. M. , van Prooijen B. , Jacobs W.
Published: September 2012

This paper proposes a conceptual framework for erosion of cohesive sediment beds. We focus on cohesive beds, distinguishing between floc erosion, surface erosion, and mass erosion. By (our) definition, surface erosion is a drained soil mechanical process, whereas mass erosion occurs under undrained conditions. The eroding shear stress is modeled through a probability density function. This yields a continuous description of floc erosion and surface erosion as a function of mean bed shear stress. Furthermore, we assume a distribution for the bed strength. The mean values of the bed strength are derived from soil mechanical theory, assuming that the surface erosion rate is limited by the swelling rate from the undrained shear strength in the bed to its drained value at its surface. The rate of erosion then relates to the undrained shear strength of the soil, and its consolidation (swelling) coefficient. The critical shear stress for erosion is slightly larger than the true cohesion of the bed, i.e., the drained strength, and follows a power law relation with the plasticity index. The conceptual framework proposed herein has been validated against a limited number of experimental data, and has a series of advantages above other methods of direct measuring erodibility, as it is inexpensive and can be used to attain space‐covering information on the sediment bed. Moreover, the use of bulk soil mechanical parameters accounts implicitly for the effects of organic material, though the role of, e.g., macrophytobenthos mats and/or bioturbation is difficult to capture a priori.
Interocean exchanges and the spreading of Antarctic Intermediate Water south of Africa
Authors: Rusciano Emanuela , Speich Sabrina , Ollitrault Michel
Published: September 2012

Argo hydrographic profiles collected from 2004 to 2011 in the southeast Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean are used in combination with hydrographic transects to describe the characteristics of Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) in the region. Making use of the recently developed ANDRO velocity data set, we estimate the evolution of the dynamical properties of different AAIW varieties along their pathways within the isoneutral layer (27.1 < γn < 27.6). Three different regional varieties of intermediate water converge in the southeast Atlantic: Atlantic AAIW (A‐AAIW, characterized by S ≤ 34.2), Indian AAIW (I‐AAIW, S ≥ 34.3), and a previously unknown variety that we named Indo‐Atlantic intermediate water (IA‐AAIW, 34.2 < S < 34.3). South of Africa, the I‐AAIW flowing within the Agulhas Current separates into two branches. One branch retroflects following the Agulhas Return Current (13.4 Sv) and proceeds back to the Indian Ocean. The other one separates from the Agulhas Current, and flows into the southeast Atlantic via the Cape Basin within mesoscale eddies (13.5 Sv). A‐AAIW enters the domain between the Subtropical Front and the Subantarctic Front (36 Sv). Part of this water (28 Sv) flows eastward into the Indian Ocean, while 10 Sv are injected into the Cape Basin and mix with I‐AAIW giving rise to the new IA‐AAIW variety. The latter separates into two branches, both transporting 7.4 Sv. One flows northwestward and subducts along the Northern Subtropical Front, while the other moves eastward to contribute a sizable volume of fresh and oxygenated water to the Indian Ocean.
Atmospheric gravity wave effects on polar mesospheric clouds: A comparison of numerical simulations from CARMA 2D with AIM observations
Authors: Chandran A. , Rusch D. W. , Thomas G. E. , Palo S. E. , Baumgarten G. , Jensen E. J. , Merkel A. W.
Published: September 2012

The effects of atmospheric gravity waves (AGWs) on Polar Mesospheric Cloud (PMC) evolution and brightness are studied using a two dimensional version of the Community Aerosol and Radiation Model for Atmospheres (CARMA 2D). The primary objectives for doing CARMA modeling of AGW effects on PMCs are to address the question of whether AGWs can account for the rapid, orbit by orbit changes in cloud structure and brightness seen in overlapping regions from images of the Cloud Imaging and Particle Size (CIPS) experiment on board the Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM) spacecraft. We present comparisons of PMC brightness changes between our numerical simulations and observations from the CIPS experiment. Previous modeling studies have indicated a much longer life‐time for PMC than the 90 min between CIPS orbits. We present CARMA 2D results showing dependence of ice particle growth and PMC brightness on AGW perturbation of background temperatures and water vapor concentrations. The model shows differences in brightness of PMCs due to differences in number of large ice particles depending on the scale and periods of the AGWs and also indicates that overall cloud brightness is a function of the wave period. While the maximum rate of change in PMC brightness from the model is still almost a factor of two less than the CIPS observed maximum rate of change in brightness, our study indicates that the variation in PMC brightness is in part due to the upward transport of water vapor into water depleted region by AGWs and the growth of ice particles from sub visual to visual and to larger sizes than they normally would have without AGWs. The presence of short period AGW cause periodic oscillations in cloud brightness about the no‐AGW brightness while long‐period AGW can temporarily increase the brightness of PMCs compared to the PMC brightness under no‐AGW case. However, both the short‐period and long‐period AGW ultimately reduce the domain averaged PMC brightness in the long‐term. This agrees with CIPS observations of generally dimmer PMCs in regions of high AGW activity. The seasonal variation in PMC albedos and the day to day variations seen in CIPS can be reproduced using a spectrum of short and long period AGW.