bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
As condições sociais de produção das lembranças entre imigrantes ucranianos
Authors: Guérios Paulo Renato
Published: December 2008

O presente artigo propõe um enfoque para o estudo das relações entre "memória" e pertencimento social. A partir de uma crítica dos objetivos e dos instrumentos propostos nas obras de Maurice Halbwachs acerca da "memória coletiva", enceta uma discussão sobre as condições sociais que infletem a produção de lembranças entre pessoas ligadas a uma dada configuração social. São utilizadas como material empírico as lembranças produzidas por imigrantes camponeses de origem eslava - os "rutenos" ou "ucranianos" - a respeito de sua vinda ao Brasil no final do século XIX. O artigo inicia com um estudo crítico das idéias de Halbwachs sobre as relações entre "memória" e "sociedade"; após uma breve apresentação dos imigrantes ucranianos, explora seus relatos em torno de sua imigração para discutir os mecanismos sociais que incidem em suas lembranças em sentidos convergentes ou divergentes entre si; e conclui-se com o exame de algumas implicações da análise empreendida.
Caracterização das vítimas de acidentes e violências atendidas em serviço de emergência: Município de Alta Floresta, MT (Brasil)
Authors: Marchese Vania Salete , Scatena João Henrique Gurtler , Ignotti Eliane
Published: December 2008

INTRODUÇÃO: Em Alta Floresta - MT, embora os acidentes e violências sejam responsáveis por importante parcela da morbidade hospitalar e da mortalidade, principalmente entre a população jovem, não se conhecia o que tais agravos representam, em termos de morbidade ambulatorial. OBJETIVO: Apresentar a caracterização das vítimas de violências e acidentes em serviço de emergência no município de Alta Floresta - MT. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Estudo descritivo dos registros de todos os atendimentos de emergência ocorridos em três meses de 2006, por meio de ficha de notificação específica para acidentes e violências. RESULTADOS: Dos 7.394 atendimentos no período, 583 (7,9%) foram prestados às vítimas de acidentes e violências, a maioria do sexo masculino, com idade entre 20 e 39 anos, branca, e com escolaridade inferior a 8 anos. Dentre as ocorrências, predominaram os acidentes: foram 239 (41,0%) acidentes de transportes, destacando-se os de motocicleta; 153 quedas (26,2%) e 167 (28,7%) outros acidentes. Dentre os registros de violências, 16 (2,7%) foram agressões e 8 (1,4%) tentativas de suicídio. A suspeita de uso de álcool, entre maiores de 18 anos, foi registrada em 12,0% das vítimas de acidentes e violências. No entanto, entre as vítimas de agressões este percentual foi muito mais elevado (91,7%). Observou-se também importante relação dos acidentes com a categoria trabalho. CONCLUSÃO: O conhecimento adequado das características das vítimas dos acidentes e violências é imprescindível para o processo de deflagração de medidas efetivas que visem reduzir tais agravos.
Variação espacial e temporal na diversidade e composição de espécies de peixes em riachos da bacia do Rio Ivinhema, Alto Rio Paraná
Authors: Súarez Yzel Rondon
Published: December 2008

Com o objetivo de descrever o padrão espacial e temporal na diversidade e composição de espécies de peixes em sete riachos da bacia do rio Ivinhema, alto rio Paraná, amostragens mensais foram realizadas entre janeiro e dezembro/2002. Quarenta e seis espécies de peixes foram encontradas, sendo estimada a ocorrência de cinqüenta e cinco espécies nestes riachos. A riqueza de espécies e a equitabilidade não apresentaram variações temporais significativas, contudo, foi constatada variação espacial (entre riachos) significativa. A Análise de Similaridade (ANOSIM) sugere que existe somente variação espacial significativa na composição de espécies. A riqueza de espécies foi significativamente correlacionada com a largura (r = 0,80) e a profundidade do riacho (r = 0,78). A equitabilidade apresentou correlação significativa somente com o número médio de indivíduos coletados (r = -0,91). Apenas a largura dos riachos influenciou significativamente a distribuição das principais espécies de peixes nos riachos amostrados. Algumas espécies como H. marginatus, A. dentatus, M. sanctaefilomenae ocorreram principalmente em riachos mais volumosos e A. fasciatus e B. stramineus ocorreram principalmente em riachos rasos e com elevada velocidade da correnteza, indicando a importância das características hidrológicas na distribuição das espécies. As características físicas dos riachos são mais importantes que as variações temporais na organização das assembléias de peixes dos riachos amostrados.
Occurrence of Naididae (Annelida: Oligochaeta) from three gastropod species in irrigation fields in southeastern Brazil
Authors: Martins Renato Tavares , Alves Roberto da Gama
Published: December 2008

In the present study we report the occurrence of three Naididae species from three gastropod mollusk species. The species Dero (Dero) righii was found from mollusks of the genus Biomphalaria. Nais communis was found from Biomphalaria sp. and Aplexa rivalis. Chaetogaster limnaei was found from Biomphalaria sp., Aplexa rivalis and Lymnaea columella. In Brazil, previous studies have reported the occurrence of Chaetogaster limnaei from Biomphalaria solely, while Nais communis have been found from Pomacea bridgesii and Dero (Dero) righii in the sediment of aquatic habitats in Mato Grosso do Sul. Our results indicate that, due to their locomotion, naidids are capable of colonizing different substrates in aquatic environments.
Influência do biofármaco DNA-hsp65 na lesão pulmonar induzida por bleomicina
Authors: Padua Adriana Ignacio de , Silva Célio Lopes , Ramos Simone Gusmão , Faccioli Lúcia Helena , Martinez José Antônio Baddini
Published: December 2008

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a influência do biofármaco DNA-hsp65 em um modelo de distúrbio fibrosante pulmonar experimental. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados 120 camundongos machos C57BL/6, divididos em quatro grupos: grupo SS, animais tratados com salina (placebo) e injetados com salina intratraqueal (IT); grupo SB, tratados com salina (placebo) e injetados com bleomicina IT; grupo PB, tratados com plasmídeo, sem gene bacteriano, e injetados com bleomicina IT; e grupo BB, tratados com DNA-hsp65 e injetados com bleomicina IT. A bleomicina foi injetada 15 dias após a última imunização, e os animais sacrificados seis semanas após o uso da droga IT. O pulmão esquerdo retirado foi utilizado para análise morfológica, e o pulmão direito para dosagens de hidroxiprolina. RESULTADOS: A proporção de camundongos que apresentaram morte não-programada depois de 48 h da injeção IT foi maior no grupo SB em comparação ao grupo SS (57,7% vs. 11,1%). A área percentual média de interstício septal foi maior nos grupos SB e PB (53,1 ± 8,6% e 53,6 ± 9,3%, respectivamente) em comparação aos grupos SS e BB (32,9 ± 2,7% e 34,3 ± 6,1%, respectivamente). Os grupos SB, PB e BB mostraram aumentos nos valores médios da área de interstício septal corada por picrosirius em comparação ao grupo SS (SS: 2,0 ± 1,4%; SB: 8,2 ± 4,9%; PB: 7,2 ± 4,2%; e BB:6,6±4,1%).O conteúdo pulmonar de hidroxiprolina no grupo SS foi inferior ao dos demais grupos (SS: 104,9 ± 20,9 pg/pulmão; SB: 160,4 ±47,8 pg/pulmão; PB:170,0 ± 72,0 pg/pulmão; e BB: 162,5 ± 39,7 pg/pulmão). CONCLUSÕES: A imunização com o biofármaco DNA-hsp65 interferiu na deposição de matriz não-colágena em um modelo de lesão pulmonar induzida por bleomicina.
Tabagismo em pacientes internados em um hospital geral
Authors: Oliveira Maria Vera Cruz de , Oliveira Tatiana Riera de , Pereira Carlos Alberto de Castro , Bonfim Alexandre Vidal , Leitão Filho Fernando Studart , Voss Larissa Rego
Published: December 2008

OBJETIVO: Determinar a freqüência do tabagismo em pacientes internados em um hospital geral, e caracterizar o perfil dos fumantes hospitalizados. MÉTODOS: Foi avaliada uma amostra representativa e aleatória de 111 pacientes internados, classificados como não-fumantes, ex-fumantes e fumantes. Nos fumantes foi aplicado o questionário de Fagerström e obtidas medidas de monóxido de carbono no ar expirado. Valores acima de 6 ppm de monóxido de carbono no ar expirado foram considerados significantes para tabagismo recente. RESULTADOS: Dos 111 pacientes, 60 (54%) eram do sexo feminino. A média de idade foi de 70 anos. Do total, 56 pacientes (51%) nunca fumaram, 36 (32%) eram ex-fumantes e 19 (17%) eram fumantes atuais. Todos os fumantes eram do sexo masculino. Os fumantes tinham menor idade (58 ± 17 anos), em comparação aos não-fumantes (68 ± 14 anos) e ex-fumantes (73 ± 14 anos)-ANOVA: F = 6,57 (p = 0,002). A carga tabágica média dos fumantes foi de 43 anos-maço. A média do escore de Fagerström foi de 5,0. Dos 19 fumantes, 11 (58%) tinham sintomas respiratórios, e 3 tinham sintomas de abstinência. A média de monóxido de carbono no ar expirado dos fumantes foi 5,0 ppm. Oito (42%) dos fumantes tinham níveis de monóxido de carbono no ar expirado acima de 6 ppm. Houve maior prevalência de tabagistas em algumas clinicas: 70% dos fumantes se encontravam em apenas cinco enfermarias. CONCLUSÕES: Em um grande hospital terciário, 17% dos pacientes internados eram fumantes e destes 7% fumaram nas últimas 8 horas. Os fumantes eram pacientes mais jovens do sexo masculino, internados em determinadas clínicas.
The clinical value of [18F]fluoro-dihydroxyphenylalanine positron emission tomography in primary diagnosis, staging, and restaging of neuroendocrine tumors
Authors: Kauhanen Saila , Seppänen Marko , Ovaska Jari , Minn Heikki , Bergman Jörgen , Korsoff Pirkko , Salmela Pasi , Saltevo Juha , Sane Timo , Välimäki Matti , Nuutila Pirjo
Published: December 2008

The study was set up to determine the clinical value of dihydroxyphenylalanine positron emission tomography-computed tomography ([18F]DOPA PET-CT) in patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Eighty-two patients with suspected/known NET were imaged with PET(-CT) using [18F]DOPA. Patients were divided into two groups: primary diagnosis/staging and restaging of disease. All patients without previous diagnosis of NET had biochemical proof of disease. The diagnostic accuracy of PET was assessed by comparing the histopathology and clinical follow-up. The overall accuracy of [18F]DOPA PET was 90%. In patients having PET for primary diagnosis/staging (n=32), the accuracy of PET was 88%, and for restaging 92% (n=61). The mean s.d. sizes of primary and metastatic lesions detected by PET were 26±11 and 16±9 mm respectively. In organ-region-specific analysis, the sensitivity and specificity were 100% in the primary diagnosis of pheochromocytoma (n=16) and metastases were found in all cases with recurrent disease (n=5). The accuracy for NET of gastrointestinal tract was 92% in restaging (n=24). For the NETs located in the head–neck–thoracic region (n=19), the overall accuracy of PET was 89% including 12 cases of recurrent medullary thyroid cancer with a sensitivity of 90%. In analysis of patients with biochemical proof of disease combined with negative conventional imaging methods, PET had positive and negative predictive value of 92% and 95% respectively. [18F]DOPA PET-CT provided important additional information in the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma and restaging of known NET. Both in primary diagnosis and in patients with formerly known NET and increasing tumor markers, [18F]DOPA PET-CT is a sensitive first-line imaging method.
Tracing Streamlines on Unstructured Grids From Finite Volume Discretizations
Authors: Matringe S. F. , Juanes R. , Tchelepi H. A.
Published: December 2008

The accuracy of streamline reservoir simulations depends strongly on the quality of the velocity field and the accuracy of the streamline tracing method. For problems described on complex grids (e.g., corner-point geometry or fully unstructured grids) with full-tensor permeabilities, advanced discretization methods, such as the family of multipoint flux approximation (MPFA) schemes, are necessary to obtain an accurate representation of the fluxes across control volume faces. These fluxes are then interpolated to define the velocity field within each control volume, which is then used to trace the streamlines. Existing methods for the interpolation of the velocity field and integration of the streamlines do not preserve the accuracy of the fluxes computed by MPFA discretizations.

Here we propose a method for the reconstruction of the velocity field with high-order accuracy from the fluxes provided by MPFA discretization schemes. This reconstruction relies on a correspondence between the MPFA fluxes and the degrees of freedom of a mixed finite-element method (MFEM) based on the first-order Brezzi-Douglas-Marini space. This link between the finite-volume and finite-element methods allows the use of flux reconstruction and streamline tracing techniques developed previously by the authors for mixed finite elements. After a detailed description of our streamline tracing method, we study its accuracy and efficiency using challenging test cases.
Performance of Drainage Experiments With Orinoco Belt Heavy Oil in a Long Laboratory Core in Simulated Reservoir Conditions
Authors: Wang Ruihe , Qin Jishun , Chen Zhangxin , Zhao Ming
Published: December 2008

When some heavy-oil reservoirs are produced using gas drive, they show three important features: low production gas/oil ratios, higher-than-expected production rates, and relatively high oil recovery. The mechanism for this unusual behavior remains controversial and poorly understood, though the term "foamy oil" is often used to describe such behavior. The impetus for this work stems from some recent projects performed in the Orinoco belt, Venezuela. There exist nearly one trillion bbl of heavy oil (oil in place) in this region on the basis of a recent evaluation. Two crucial issues must be addressed before or during designing production projects: What is a suitable method for evaluating the foamy-oil drive mechanism that plays a major role during such oil recovery, and how do we obtain a reasonable percentage of ultimate oil recovery? Unfortunately, it is still difficult to give good explanations for these two issues, although several studies were performed. This paper attempts to present better explanations for these two issues using experimental drainage in a long laboratory core in simulated reservoir conditions.

Our experiments show that ultimate oil recovery for the heavy oil in the Orinoco belt can be as high as 15-20%. This high recovery comes from three contributions: fluid and rock expansion, foamy-oil drive, and conventional-solution-gas drive. Approximately 3-5% of recovery is from fluid and rock expansion, 11-16% from foamy-oil drive, and 2-4% from conventional-solution-gas drive. This ultimate-oil-recovery percentage is much higher than the 12% that has been used in the field-development plan for the Orimulsion project. The experiments performed and their findings obtained in this paper are representative at least in the Orinoco belt region.
Bidding Strategies for Simultaneous Ascending Auctions
Authors: Wellman Michael P , Osepayshvili Anna , MacKie-Mason Jeffrey K , Reeves Daniel
Published: December 2008

Simultaneous ascending auctions present agents with various strategic problems, depending on preference structure. As long as bids represent non-repudiable offers, submitting non-contingent bids to separate auctions entails an exposure problem: bidding to acquire a bundle risks the possibility of obtaining an undesired subset of the goods. With multiple goods (or units of a homogeneous good) bidders also need to account for their own effects on prices. Auction theory does not provide analytic solutions for optimal bidding strategies in the face of these problems. We present a new family of decision-theoretic bidding strategies that use probabilistic predictions of final prices: self-confirming distribution-prediction strategies. Bidding based on these is provably not optimal in general. But evidence using empirical game-theoretic methods we developed indicates the strategy is quite effective compared to other known methods when preferences exhibit complementarities. When preferences exhibit substitutability, simpler demand-reduction strategies address the own price effect problem more directly and perform better.
Bus-Only Shoulders in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, Minnesota
Authors: Douma Frank , Poindexter Gavin , Frooman Steven
Published: December 2008

As of December 2006, Minnesota's Minneapolis–St. Paul metropolitan area (the Twin Cities) was home to 257 bus-only shoulder (BOS) miles. As the BOS network grew in the Twin Cities, it became a fundamental piece of the region's transportation system and faced little opposition. Partnerships among transportation agencies and officials contributed greatly to the idea's success, ensuring that support and resources were made available. The result has been the proliferation of a “transit advantage” to transit passengers who bypass congestion and may save time by taking the bus. To understand how and why BOS have succeeded so well in the Twin Cities, this report used five elements of transportation projects identified by the Hubert H. Humphrey State and Local Policy Program to examine the origin and evolution of BOS. Governance, stakeholder participation, finance, design, and economics each played a role in developing the BOS system. Collectively, the details of each provide a picture of how BOS came to be in the Twin Cities and also provide insight for cities interested in pursuing BOS networks of their own.
Full-Featured Bus Rapid Transit in San Francisco, California
Authors: Bent Elizabeth M. , Hiatt Rachel , Singa Krute
Published: December 2008

San Francisco, California, has two full-featured bus rapid transit (BRT) projects under development that would convert two major auto-oriented arterials into attractive multimodal corridors. BRT on Geary Boulevard, San Francisco's primary east–west thoroughfare, and on Van Ness Avenue, a north–south connector, aims to improve transit, enhance pedestrian access, and install a package of urban design features to improve services for existing riders and attract new riders. Feasibility studies conducted for both corridors include a consistent planning framework for developing BRT on these corridors to meet broad multi-modal goals. This paper describes the approach to developing full-featured BRT alternatives in these two distinct corridors. It also describes the evaluation framework, which is grounded in the project goals, and consists of seven categories, each with methodologies designed to meaningfully capture and compare the effects of BRT alternatives against the broad set of qualitative and quantitative goals. These categories include transit performance, rider experience, pedestrian access, urban design, traffic and parking impacts, and construction impacts. Going beyond the traditional evaluation criteria to include subcriteria like access to employment, landscaping, wayfinding ability, and equity helps to understand the degree to which each alternative achieves project goals and to anticipate opposition to the project by producing a complete impact evaluation.
Assessing the Gap between Public Transport Vehicles and Platforms as a Barrier for the Disabled
Authors: Daamen Winnie , de Boer Enne , de Kloe Robert
Published: December 2008

The gap between public transport vehicles and platforms is an important factor in the accessibility of public transport. Many of the efforts to increase accessibility are directed at minimizing this gap, both horizontally and vertically. There is a general idea of the widths and heights that are completely unacceptable (15 cm x 15 cm being too much, for example), but there is much less of an idea of what type of gap is acceptable without aids such as lifts and ramps. It is essential to know how much can be achieved by narrowing the gap; that is, which types of disability and mobility aids will be accommodated, and how many disabled will benefit from a specific reduction of the gap. At the request of the Dutch National Office for Accessibility, the Delft University of Technology performed laboratory experiments to gain quantitative insights into this topic. For these experiments, a standard platform was built in a laboratory hall. A number of platforms representing public transport vehicles were placed along this pier. These were positioned at different combinations of horizontal and vertical distances. Persons with physical disabilities were invited to test the different gaps. In the analysis of the testing results, the relation between disability, mobility aid, and gap size was investigated. The results of the study revealed that the 2-cm x 2-cm gap was hardly a problem, whereas the 10 cm x 10 cm gap constituted a serious problem for more than half of the participants. Access for nearly all requires a gap size no larger than 5 cm x 2 cm. Especially in bus transport, this is hardly feasible. Therefore, vehicles will need ramps as a standard provision.
Performance Metrics and Data Mining for Assessing Schedule Qualities in Paratransit
Authors: Shioda Romy , Shea Marcus , Fu Liping
Published: December 2008

The simple productivity measures and hard constraints used in many paratransit vehicle scheduling software programs do not fully capture the interest of all the stakeholders in a typical paratransit organization (e.g., passengers, drivers, municipal government). As a result, many paratransit agencies still retain a human scheduler to look through all of the schedules to manually pick out impractical, unacceptable runs. (A run is considered one vehicle's schedule for one day.) The goal of this research was to develop a systematic tool that can compute all the relevant performance metrics of a run, predict its overall quality, and identify bad runs automatically. This paper presents a methodology that includes a number of performance metrics reflecting the key interests of the stakeholders (e.g., number of passengers per vehicle per hour, deadheading time, passenger wait time, passenger ride time, and degree of zigzagging) and a data-mining tool to fit the metrics to the ratings provided by experienced schedulers. The encouraging preliminary results suggest that the proposed methodology can be easily extended to and implemented in other paratransit organizations to improve efficiency by effectively detecting poor schedules.
Non-linear Information Inequalities
Authors: Chan Terence , Grant Alex
Published: December 2008

We construct non-linear information inequalities from Mat´uˇs’ infinite series of linear information inequalities. Each single non-linear inequality is sufficiently strong to prove that the closure of the set of all entropy functions is not polyhedral for four or more random variables, a fact that was already established using the series of linear inequalities. To the best of our knowledge, they are the first non-trivial examples of non-linear information inequalities.
What You Should Know About Carbon Markets
Authors: Mansanet-Bataller Maria , Pardo Ángel
Published: December 2008

Since the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol, carbon trading has been in continuous expansion. In this paper, we review the origins of carbon trading in order to understand how carbon trading works in Europe and, specifically, the functioning of the European Union Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS) and the workings of several spot, futures and options markets where European Union Allowances are traded. As well, the linking of the EU ETS with the other United Nations carbon markets is also studied.
Nondestructive Characterization by Advanced Synchrotron Light Techniques: Spectromicroscopy and Coherent Radiology
Authors: Margaritondo Giorgio , Hwu Yeukuang , Je Jung  Ho
Published: December 2008

The advanced characteristics of synchrotron light has led in recent years to the development of a series of new experimental techniques to investigate chemical and physical properties on a microscopic scale. Although originally developed for materials science and biomedical research, such techniques find increasing applications in other domains – and could be quite useful for the study and conservation of cultural heritage. Specifically, they can nondestructively provide detailed chemical composition information that can be useful for the identification of specimens, for the discovery of historical links based on the sources of chemical raw materials and on chemical processes, for the analysis of damage, their causes and remedies and for many other issues. Likewise, morphological and structural information on a microscopic scale is useful for the identification, study and preservation of many different cultural and historical specimens. We concentrate here on two classes of techniques: in the first case, photoemission spectromicroscopy. This is the result of the advanced evolution of photoemission techniques like ESCA (Electron Microscopy for Chemical Analysis). By combining high lateral resolution to spectroscopy, photoemission spectromicroscopy can deliver fine chemical information on a microscopic scale in a nondestructive fashion. The second class of techniques exploits the high lateral coherence of modern synchrotron sources, a byproduct of the quest for high brightness or brilliance. We will see that such techniques now push radiology into the submicron scale and the submillisecond time domain. Furthermore, they can be implemented in a tomographic mode, increasing the information and becoming potentially quite useful for the analysis of cultural heritage specimens.
EMERGENCY HEALTH CARE AND FOLLOW-UP TELEMEDICINE SYSTEM FOR RURAL AREAS BASED ON LABVIEW
Authors: Patil G. M. , Subba Rao K. , Satyanarayan K.
Published: December 2008

This paper presents the design and development of a prototype for remote ECG data transmission based on Internet-enabled health care services and telemedicine fundamentals. An ECG acquisition system developed by the authors is used to acquire the ECG signal in lead-II configuration from patient and store it in .lvm format in a PC interfaced to patient module through RS232. This unit (data server) on the patient side then transfers the data to a remote client (on doctor's side) using TCP/IP as network protocol on LabVIEW 8.20 environment. Using this device, a specialist doctor can telematically move to the patient site and instruct medical personnel when handling a patient. During the last years, more and more modern tools have found their ways to different tasks during the design, the realization, and data processing in the area of Internet access to the e-health services. The telemedicine system demonstrated in this work is a combined real-time and store-and-forward facility.
Optimal synthesis of p‐xylene separation processes based on crystallization technology
Authors: Lima Ricardo M. , Grossmann Ignacio E.
Published: December 2008

This article addresses the synthesis and optimization of crystallization processes for p‐xylene recovery for systems with feed streams of high concentration, a case that arises in hybrid designs where the first step is commonly performed by adsorption. A novel superstructure and its corresponding mixed‐integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) model are proposed. The distinct feature of this superstructure is the capability to generate optimum or near optimum flow sheets for a wide range of specifications of p‐xylene compositions in the feed stream of the process. To cope with the complexity of the MINLP model, a two‐level decomposition approach, consisting of the solution of an aggregated model and a detailed model, is proposed. The results obtained show good performance of the decomposition strategy, and the optimal flow sheets and p‐xylene recoveries are in agreement with the results reported in patents. © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009
Stable intermediates determine proteins' primary unfolding sites in the presence of surfactants
Authors: Hansen Jonas Høeg , Petersen Steen Vang , Andersen Kell Kleiner , Enghild Jan J. , Damhus Ture , Otzen Daniel
Published: December 2008

Despite detailed knowledge of the overall structural changes and stoichiometries of surfactant binding, little is known about which protein regions constitute the preferred sites of attack for initial unfolding. Here we have exposed three proteins to limited proteolysis at anionic (SDS) and cationic (DTAC) surfactant concentrations corresponding to specific conformational transitions, using the surfactant‐robust broad‐specificity proteases Savinase and Alcalase. Cleavage sites are identified by SDS‐PAGE and N‐terminal sequencing. We observe well‐defined cleavage fragments, which suggest that flexibility is limited to certain regions of the protein. Cleavage sites for α‐lactalbumin and myoglobin correspond to regions identified in other studies as partially unfolded at low pH or in the presence of organic solvents. For Tnfn3, which does not form partially folded structures under other conditions, cleavage sites can be rationalized from the structure of the protein's folding transition state and the position of loops in the native state. Nevertheless, they are more sensitive to choice of surfactant and protease, probably reflecting a heterogeneous and fluctuating ensemble of partially unfolded structures. Thus, for proteins accumulating stable intermediates on the folding pathway, surfactants encourage the formation of these states, while the situation is more complex for proteins that do not form these intermediates. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 91: 221–231, 2009.

This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The “Published Online” date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com
IFN‐α‐mediated increase in cytolytic activity of maturing NK cell upon exposure to HSV‐infected myelomonocytes
Authors: Costa Paola , Sivori Simona , Bozzano Federica , Martini Isabella , Moretta Alessandro , Moretta Lorenzo , De Maria Andrea
Published: December 2008

Impaired control of chronic pathogen replication may be associated to alterations of NK‐cell function. Whether mechanisms underlying this dysfunction involve perturbations of differentiating NK cells is still unknown. We studied an “in vitro” model of differentiation from CD34+Lin− precursors growing only myelomonocytes and maturing NK cells and where myelomonocytes could be suitably infected with HSV, HIV, or vaccinia. Cultures were evaluated by cytofluorometry and cytotoxicity assays for perturbations in differentiating NK cells. Increased expression of natural cytotoxicity receptors on maturing NK cells with increased cytolytic activity was observed with HSV‐1 infection, and with vaccinia while no modulation of NK‐cell phenotype nor cytotoxic activity were evident with an ssRNA lentivirus (HIV‐1). In the presence of constant IL‐12 and IL‐15 concentrations, the observed effect did not require cell contact, involved IFN‐αand was not reproduced by the addition of TLR9 agonist, nor blocked by TLR9 antagonists. Virus replication at sites of NK‐cell precursor development may have different outcomes depending on the interaction between invading viruses and maturing NK cells. Thus, NK‐cell precursors may be involved in the immune response to dsDNA viruses and possibly contribute to efficient control of virus infection.
Early recruitment of natural CD4+Foxp3+ Treg cells by infective larvae determines the outcome of filarial infection
Authors: Taylor Matthew D. , van der Werf Nienke , Harris Anjanette , Graham Andrea L. , Bain Odile , Allen Judith E. , Maizels Rick M.
Published: December 2008

Human helminth infections are synonymous with impaired immune responsiveness indicating suppression of host immunity. Using a permissive murine model of filariasis, Litomosoides sigmodontis infection of inbred mice, we demonstrate rapid recruitment and increased in vivo proliferation of CD4+Foxp3+ Treg cells upon exposure to infective L3 larvae. Within 7 days post‐infection this resulted in an increased percentage of CD4+T cells at the infection site expressing Foxp3. Antibody‐mediated depletion of CD25+ cells prior to infection to remove pre‐existing ‘natural’ CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg cells, while not affecting initial larval establishment, significantly reduced the number of adult parasites recovered 60 days post‐infection. Anti‐CD25 pre‐treatment also impaired the fecundity of the surviving female parasites, which had reduced numbers of healthy eggs and microfilaria within their uteri, translating to a reduced level of blood microfilaraemia. Enhanced parasite killing was associated with augmented in vitro production of antigen‐specific IL‐4, IL‐5, IL‐13 and IL‐10. Thus, upon infection filarial larvae rapidly provoke a CD4+Foxp3+ Treg‐cell response, biasing the initial CD4+ T‐cell response towards a regulatory phenotype. These CD4+Foxp3+ Treg cells are predominantly recruited from the ‘natural’ regulatory pool and act to inhibit protective immunity over the full course of infection.
The typology of ancient quarries within the Paleocene limestone of Álava in northern Spain
Authors: Martínez‐Torres Luis M.
Published: December 2008

Paleocene limestone and dolomitized limestone of Álava, Spain, were used as building materials from the Neolithic age until the Neoclassical, predominantly in the production of headstones, sculpture, and stonework during the Roman era (1st to 4th centuries) and Romanic and Gothic periods (10th to 15th centuries). The quarrying methods employed are related to topographic relief. Five types of ancient quarry have been identified: escarpment, dip‐slope (ascending and descending), edge, and trench. The oldest quarries (1st to 4th centuries) are the trench‐cut stone pits of “Raso de Cezama.” Later, from the Romanic period (10th to 15th centuries), descending dip‐slope, escarpment, and edge‐based quarries were worked, such as those at Achuri, Ajarte, and Santa Elena. Finally, an ascending dip‐slope quarry was developed at Marquínez during the Neoclassical period (18th century). © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Somatic and non‐affective symptoms of old age depression: ethnic differences among Chinese, Indians and Malays
Authors: Soh Keng Chuan , Kua Ee Heok , Ng Tze Pin
Published: December 2008

Background

Somatic and other non‐affective symptomatology characterizes late life depression and contributes to its under‐diagnosis, especially in some ethnic groups.

Objectives

We examined variations in non‐affective presentation and its health and functional significance across different ethnic groups of Chinese, Malays and Indians.

Method

We analyzed data from the National Mental Health Survey for Elderly, a population‐based cross‐sectional study of older adults aged 60 and above (N = 1092).

Results

Compared to the depressed Chinese as the reference group, depressed Malays were more likely to endorse symptoms of appetite decrease (OR = 5.19), sleep disturbances (OR = 2.93), disabling pain (OR = 3.12), psychomotor slowing (OR = 2.73) and anergia (OR = 3.70), while concurrently reporting poorer general health status and greater role limitations resulting from their mental and emotional problems (OR from 2.13 to 3.31). These differences were not influenced by anxiety, dementia or physical comorbidity.

Conclusion

We revealed striking differences in the somatic and non‐affective symptomatology of geriatric depression among different Asian ethnic groups. Non‐affective symptoms in depression have large health and functional significance and important implications for the diagnosis and management of depression among elderly in primary care. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
At the heart of the ventral attention system: The right anterior insula
Authors: Eckert Mark A. , Menon Vinod , Walczak Adam , Ahlstrom Jayne , Denslow Stewart , Horwitz Amy , Dubno Judy R.
Published: December 2008

The anterior insula has been hypothesized to provide a link between attention‐related problem solving and salience systems during the coordination and evaluation of task performance. Here, we test the hypothesis that the anterior insula/medial frontal operculum (aI/fO) provides linkage across systems supporting task demands and attention systems by examining the patterns of functional connectivity during word recognition and spatial attention functional imaging tasks. A shared set of frontal regions (right aI/fO, right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, bilateral anterior cingulate) were engaged, regardless of perceptual domain (auditory or visual) or mode of response (word production or button press). We present novel evidence that: (1) the right aI/fO is functionally connected with other frontal regions implicated in executive function and not just brain regions responsive to stimulus salience; and (2) that the aI/fO, but not the ACC, exhibits significantly correlated activity with other brain regions specifically engaged by tasks with varying perceptual and behavioral demands. These results support the hypothesis that the right aI/fO aids in the coordination and evaluation of task performance across behavioral tasks with varying perceptual and response demands. Hum Brain Mapp 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Neural substrates of low‐frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation during movement in healthy subjects and acute stroke patients. A PET study
Authors: Conchou Fabrice , Loubinoux Isabelle , Castel‐Lacanal Evelyne , Le Tinnier Anne , Gerdelat‐Mas Angélique , Faure‐Marie Nathalie , Gros Helene , Thalamas Claire , Calvas Fabienne , Berry Isabelle , Chollet François , Simonetta Moreau Marion
Published: December 2008

The aim of the study was to investigate, with an rTMS/PET protocol, the after‐effects induced by 1‐Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) of the primary motor cortex (M1) contralateral to that stimulated during a movement. Eighteen healthy subjects underwent a baseline PET scan followed, in randomized order, by a session of Real/Sham low‐frequency (1 Hz) subthreshold rTMS over the right M1 for 23 min. The site of stimulation was fMRI‐guided. After each rTMS session (real or sham), subjects underwent behavioral hand motor tests and four PET scans. During the first two scans, ten subjects (RH group) moved the right hand ipsilateral to the stimulated site and eight subjects (LH group) moved the left contralateral hand. All remained still during the last two scans (rest). Two stroke patients underwent the same protocol with rTMS applied on contralesional M1. Compared with Sham‐rTMS, Real‐rTMS over the right M1 was followed by a significant increase of rCBF during right hand movement in left S1M1, without any significant change in motor performance. The effect lasted less than 1 h. The same rTMS‐induced S1M1 overactivation was observed in the two stroke patients. Commissural connectivity between right dorsal premotor cortex and left M1 after real‐rTMS was observed with a psychophysiological interaction analysis in healthy subjects. No major changes were found for the left hand. These results give further arguments in favor of a plastic commissural connectivity between M1 both in healthy subjects and in stroke patients, and reinforce the potential for therapeutic benefit of low‐frequency rTMS in stroke rehabilitation. Hum Brain Mapp, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Two systems of resting state connectivity between the insula and cingulate cortex
Authors: Taylor Keri S. , Seminowicz David A. , Davis Karen D.
Published: December 2008

The insula and cingulate cortices are implicated in emotional, homeostatic/allostatic, sensorimotor, and cognitive functions. Non‐human primates have specific anatomical connections between sub‐divisions of the insula and cingulate. Specifically, the anterior insula projects to the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pACC) and the anterior and posterior mid‐cingulate cortex (aMCC and pMCC); the mid‐posterior insula only projects to the posterior MCC (pMCC). In humans, functional neuroimaging studies implicate the anterior insula and pre/subgenual ACC in emotional processes, the mid‐posterior insula with awareness and interoception, and the MCC with environmental monitoring, response selection, and skeletomotor body orientation. Here, we tested the hypothesis that distinct resting state functional connectivity could be identified between (1) the anterior insula and pACC/aMCC; and (2) the entire insula (anterior, middle, and posterior insula) and the pMCC. Functional connectivity was assessed from resting state fMRI scans in 19 healthy volunteers using seed regions of interest in the anterior, middle, and posterior insula. Highly correlated, low‐frequency oscillations (< 0.05 Hz) were identified between specific insula and cingulate subdivisions. The anterior insula was shown to be functionally connected with the pACC/aMCC and the pMCC, while the mid/posterior insula was only connected with the pMCC. These data provide evidence for a resting state anterior insula–pACC/aMCC cingulate system that may integrate interoceptive information with emotional salience to form a subjective representation of the body; and another system that includes the entire insula and MCC, likely involved in environmental monitoring, response selection, and skeletomotor body orientation. Human Brain Mapp 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Intentional inhibition: How the “veto‐area” exerts control
Authors: Kühn Simone , Haggard Patrick , Brass Marcel
Published: December 2008

One important aspect of self‐control is refraining voluntarily from already planned behavior, by a final intervention before commitment to action. Despite its crucial role in human existence, and clear social implications, this aspect of self‐control has proved hard to study experimentally. One recent study used a perceptual timing paradigm to identify specific activations in the dorsal fronto‐median cortex (dFMC) associated with voluntary inhibition of action (Brass and Haggard 2007: J Neurosci 27:9141–9145). Here, we extend this work in two important new directions. First, we developed a more naturalistic task that gives participants a strong reason to inhibit or to execute actions, and therefore involves self‐control in the sense of voluntary inhibition of prepotent impulsive responses. Second, we investigated the relation between dFMC and other cognitive‐motor areas using effective connectivity analysis. We show that dFMC is activated when inhibiting prepared responses to external events. Moreover, its effective connectivity suggests that it allows intentional inhibition of action through top‐down inhibition of premotor areas. This view of dFMC is consistent with a new view of self‐control as a key stage in a cognitive‐motor interface. Hum Brain Mapp, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Accuracy of positron emission tomography in the evaluation of patients treated with chemoradiotherapy for mucosal head and neck cancer
Authors: Martin Richard C. W. , Fulham Michael , Shannon Kerwin F. , Hughes Ceri , Gao Kan , Milross Chris , Tin Mo Mo , Jackson Michael , Clifford Anthony , Boyer Michael J. , O'Brien Christopher J.
Published: December 2008

Background

The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of positron emission tomography (PET) in assessing the patients treated with primary chemoradiotherapy for mucosal carcinoma of the head and neck.

Methods

A retrospective review of patients with biopsy‐proven cancer of mucosal head and neck sites receiving chemoradiotherapy with curative intent was undertaken.

Results

Seventy‐eight patients met the study criteria. Staging PET identified unsuspected distant metastatic disease in 11% of patients. Sixty‐one patients (78%) had a complete metabolic response on PET, with 17 showing residual disease. Sensitivity of PET was 82% (positive predictive value: 82%) and specificity was 95% (negative predictive value: 95%). Accuracy of PET response was significantly better than clinical assessment and conventional imaging (p< .002,p< .001, respectively).

Conclusion

PET has been found to be significantly better than clinical examination or conventional imaging in restaging patients after chemoradiotherapy. Patients with a complete response on posttreatment PET have a significant survival advantage and can be safely observed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2009
Closure of tracheoesophageal fistula with prefabricated revascularized bilaminar radial forearm free flap
Authors: Wreesmann Volkert B. , Smeele Ludi E. , Hilgers Frans J. M. , Lohuis Peter J. F. M.
Published: December 2008

Background

Tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) is a rare but serious complication associated with high mortality rates. Traditional management of TEF includes primary closure with or without interposition of regional tissue flaps but is associated with a significant recurrence risk, especially in case of larger fistulas. Application of microvascular free flap reconstruction is an emerging alternative in the surgical management of large TEFs, but may be limited by issues of flap bulkiness and requirement for neoepithelialization across the large inner flap surface.

Methods and Results

Here, we report prefabrication of a bilaminar radial forearm free flap to successfully close a large recurrent TEF that occurred years after tracheoesophageal puncture‐based voice rehabilitation in a laryngectomized patient.

Conclusion

The bilaminar radial forearm free flap may prove to be an important adjunct to the closure of large TEFs. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2009
Genome‐wide analysis of genetic changes in intestinal‐type sinonasal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Hermsen Mario A. , Llorente José Luis , Pérez‐Escuredo Jhudit , López Fernando , Ylstra Bauke , Álvarez‐Marcos César , Suárez Carlos
Published: December 2008

Background

Intestinal‐type sinonasal adenocarcinomas are rare tumors related to professional exposure to wood dust. Little is known about the genetic changes in these tumors.

Methods

Twenty‐two tumors were analyzed by microarray comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). In addition, DNA ploidy was measured by flow cytometry and microsatellite instability (MSI) by multiplex PCR.

Results

The most frequent gains were, in descending order, as follows: 5p15, 20q13, and 8q24. Losses occurred most frequently at 4q31‐qter, 18q12‐22, 8p12‐pter, and 5q11‐qter. MSI was not detected. Seven cases that harbored very few changes were mostly DNA diploid and had more favorable clinicopathological features, such as lack of intracranial invasion, less metastases, and longer overall survival.

Conclusion

The microarray CGH results enabled to better define hotspots of chromosomal gains and losses for further investigation of genes involved in the tumorigenesis of sinonasal adenocarcinoma. In addition, the data allowed classification of a group of patients with better clinical outcome. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2009
Analysis of postoperative complications of open partial laryngectomy
Authors: Ganly Ian , Patel Snehal G. , Matsuo Jeanette , Singh Bhuvanesh , Kraus Dennis H. , Boyle Jay , Wong Richard , Shaha Ashok R. , Shah Jatin P.
Published: December 2008

Background

The objective of this study was to report the incidence of postoperative complications for partial laryngectomy and to identify patient‐ and tumor‐related factors predictive of postoperative complications.

Methods

A total of 150 patients who had a partial laryngectomy were identified from an existing database of 662 patients treated for squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx from 1984 to 1998. Postoperative complications were recorded and categorized into local, swallowing, airway, and systemic complications. Patient‐ and tumor‐related predictors of complications were identified by univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

There was no postoperative mortality. Twenty percent of patients developed a postoperative complication following partial laryngectomy. Local complications were the most frequent complication and occurred in 17 (11%) patients. Laryngocutaneous fistula occurred in 6 (4%) patients. Multivariate analysis showed that prior radiation was an independent predictor of local complications and laryngocutaneous fistula with a 13‐fold increase in relative risk for both.

Conclusion

Partial laryngectomy following radiotherapy was more frequently associated with postoperative complications. Problems related to local wound healing, especially the development of laryngocutaneous fistula, constituted the most common postoperative complication in these patients. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2009