bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validation of apathy evaluation scale and assessment of severity of apathy in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Hsieh Chia‐Jung , Chu Hsin , Cheng Joseph Jror‐Serk , Shen Winston W. , Lin Chia‐Chin
Published: March 2012

Aim:  Apathy is a well‐recognized symptom of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of the present study was to validate the Taiwanese version of the Apathy Evaluation Scale, clinician version (AES‐C) and assess the severity of apathy in patients with AD.

Methods:  Comprehensive evaluations were conducted in a total of 144 AD patients. This study used a cross‐sectional comparative design. Data were collected from clinical interviews using the AES, the Mini‐Mental Status Examination (MMSE), the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), and the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR).

Results:  Internal consistency was indicated by Cronbach's alphas of 0.85; test–retest reliability was 0.89 over a period of 3 days. Criterion‐related validity was supported by the fact that AES‐C significantly correlated with the apathy scores of the NPI. Factor analysis indicated a three‐factor structure. Convergent validity was supported by a positive correlation between the AES‐C score and the anxiety score of the NPI. Discriminant validity was supported by the fact that the AES‐C scores did not correlate with the depression subscale of the NPI, and the correlation between the AES‐C score and the euphoria score of the NPI score was negative. Known‐group validity was supported by results showing that AD patients in a moderate stage of dementia (CDR = 2) had significantly higher scores on the AES‐C than patients with mild‐stage dementia (CDR = 1).

Conclusion:  The AES‐C is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring symptoms of apathy among AD patients in Taiwan.
A history of pediatric anesthesia: a tale of pioneers and equipment
Authors: Mai Christine L. , Coté Charles J.
Published: March 2012

The history of pediatric anesthesia is fascinating in terms of how inventive anesthesiologists became over time to address the needs for advances in surgery. We have many pioneers and heroes. We hope you will enjoy this brief overview and that we have not left out any of the early contributors to our speciality. Obviously there is insufficient space to include everyone.
The end of analysis for the analyst (Translated by Ann Kutek)
Authors: Raguet Claire
Published: March 2012

Abstract:  This paper is an account of an analyst's personal exploration to make conceptual sense of the delicate closing stages of an analysis. Jung's theory of complexes provides a model of the functioning of the analytic relationship as an integral whole which itself is the locus of the process that brings an analysis to completion. Clinical vignettes are used to illustrate this.
Considering Extinction of Dependent Species during Translocation, Ex Situ Conservation, and Assisted Migration of Threatened Hosts
Authors: MOIR MELINDA L. , VESK PETER A. , BRENNAN KARL E. C. , POULIN ROBERT , HUGHES LESLEY , KEITH DAVID A. , McCARTHY MICHAEL A. , COATES DAVID J.
Published: March 2012

Abstract:  Translocation, introduction, reintroduction, and assisted migrations are species conservation strategies that are attracting increasing attention, especially in the face of climate change. However, preventing the extinction of the suite of dependent species whose host species are threatened is seldom considered, and the effects on dependent species of moving threatened hosts are unclear. There is no published guidance on how to decide whether to move species, given this uncertainty. We examined the dependent–host system of 4 disparate taxonomic groups: insects on the feather‐leaf banksia (Banksia brownii), montane banksia (B. montana), and Stirling Range beard heath (Leucopogon gnaphalioides); parasites of wild cats; mites and ticks on Duvaucel's gecko (Hoplodactylus duvaucelii) and tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus); and internal coccidian parasites of Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus) and Hihi (Notiomystis cincta). We used these case studies to demonstrate a simple process for use in species‐ and community‐level assessments of efforts to conserve dependents with their hosts. The insects dependent on Stirling Range beard heath and parasites on tigers (Panthera tigris) appeared to represent assemblages that would not be conserved by ex situ host conservation. In contrast, for the cases of dependent species we examined involving a single dependent species (internal parasites of birds and the mite Geckobia naultina on Duvaucel's gecko), ex situ conservation of the host species would also conserve the dependent species. However, moving dependent species with their hosts may be insufficient to maintain viable populations of the dependent species, and additional conservation strategies such as supplementing populations may be needed.
The Gender‐Neutral Feminism of Hannah Arendt
Authors: Maslin Kimberly
Published: March 2012

Though many have recently attempted either to locate Arendt within feminism or feminism within the great body of Arendt's work, these efforts have proven only modestly successful. Even a cursory examination of Arendt's work should suggest that these efforts would prove frustrating. None of her voluminous writings deal specifically with gender, though some of her work certainly deals with notable women. Her interest is not in gender as such, but in woman as assimilated Jew or woman as social and political revolutionary. In this paper, I argue that Arendt recognized that what frequently passes for a gender question is not essentially a matter of gender at all, but rather an idiosyncratic form of loneliness that typically affects, though is by no means limited to, women. In her work one finds the conceptual tools necessary to understand the “woman problem” rather than an explicit argument or a solution to it.
The Balancing Act: Using Private Money for Public Projects
Authors: EBDON CAROL , LANDOW PAUL
Published: March 2012

As public resources become scarcer, private donations for capital projects and public services may become increasingly important. Modern donors, using the new philanthropy philosophy common now in the nonprofit sector, may desire more control over the use of their funding than in the past. This research examines the effects of private donations on capital decision making, and explores the balancing act required by public officials between best practices and private norms in this process. The study uses the city of Omaha, Nebraska case, where corporate and individual donors have made significant financial contributions for the construction of a convention center/arena and a baseball stadium. Findings include both costs and benefits of this approach, and may be beneficial for theory‐building related to this relatively unexplored topic, as well as for practitioners faced with similar needs and demands.
Thymosin β4 is a novel potential prognostic marker in gastrointestinal stromal tumors
Authors: Can Bilge , Karagoz Filiz , Yildiz Levent , Yildirim Arzu , Kefeli Mehmet , Gonullu Guzin , Kandemir Bedri
Published: March 2012

Thymosin beta‐4 (Tβ4) is a major actin‐sequestering molecule that contributes to cell growth, differentiation, motility, survival, mitosis and angiogenesis. It is overexpressed in certain type of carcinoma and fibrosarcoma cell lines and is associated with metastatic potential. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between Tβ4 expression and clinicopathologic features and VEGF status in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). Retrospectively, 60 GISTs were re‐examined and immunohistochemistry for Tβ4 and VEGF was performed. Increased expression of Tβ4 and VEGF was observed in 26 (43.3%) and in 19 (31.6%) of the tumors, respectively. Tβ4 expression was positively correlated with VEGF expression (p < 0.01). Tβ4 and VEGF expression were significantly associated with tumor size (p = 0.00 and p = 0.02, respectively) and high mitosis (p = 0.03 and p = 0.00, respectively). Although Tβ4 expression was positively associated with pleomorphism (p = 0.01), VEGF expression was positively associated with necrosis (p = 0.03). Tβ4 expression was related with local recurrence and/or metastasis (p = 0.03), but VEGF expression was not (p = 0.12). We firstly demonstrate the presence of Tβ4 protein in GISTs. Our study reveals that increased expression of Tβ4 could be considered as an indicator of aggressive behavior of tumor.
Broad‐scale geographic patterns in body size and hind wing development of western Palaearctic carabid beetles(Coleoptera: Carabidae)
Authors: Homburg Katharina , Schuldt Andreas , Drees Claudia , Assmann Thorsten
Published: March 2012

Research into large‐scale ecological rules has a long tradition but has received increasing attention over the last two decades. Whereas environmental, especially climatic, influences on the geographic distribution of species traits such as body size are well understood in mammals and birds, our knowledge of the determinants and mechanisms which shape spatial patterns in invertebrate traits is still limited. This study analyzes macroecological patterns in two traits of the highly diverse invertebrate taxon of carabid beetles: body size and hind wing development, the latter being directly linked to species’ dispersal abilities. We tested for potential impacts of environmental variables (spatial, areal, topographic and climate‐related) representing both contemporary conditions and historical processes on large‐scale patterns in the two traits. Regression models revealed hump‐shaped relationships with latitude for both traits in the categories 1) all species, 2) widespread and 3) endemic (restricted‐range) species: body size and the proportion of flightless species increased from northern towards southern Europe and then decreased towards North Africa. The shared and independent influence of environmental factors was analyzed by variation partitioning. While contemporary environmental productivity and stability (represented by measures of ambient energy and water energy balance) had strong positive relationships with carabid body size, patterns in hind wing development were most notably influenced by topography (elevation range). Regions with high elevation range and low historical climate variability (since the last ice age), which likely offer long‐term stable habitats (i.e. glacial refugia), coincide with regions with high proportions of flightless species. Thus geographic patterns in carabid traits tend to be formed not only by recent climate but also by dispersal and historical climate and processes (i.e. glaciations and postglacial colonization).
Are Investment Banks Special Too? Evidence on Relationship‐Specific Capital in Investment Bank Services
Authors: Fernando Chitru S. , Megginson William L. , May Anthony D.
Published: March 2012

The question of whether optimal provision of these services comes mainly from established relationships between banks and client firms or can result from arms'‐length market transactions has been the topic of considerable recent debate. This discussion has paralleled the debate in the commercial banking literature on the “specialness” of banks and whether lending can and should be relational or purely transactional. Whether the provision of investment bank services is relationship‐based or transactional is especially relevant now thanks to recent trends that have blurred the distinction between commercial and investment banks, and changed the competitive landscape for investment bank services.

In their study summarized in this article, the authors examine whether investment bank‐client relationships create valuable relationship‐specific capital using stock market evidence from the period surrounding the collapse of Lehman Brothers. Specifically, they studied the effect of the Lehman collapse on companies that used Lehman for (1) underwriting equity offerings, (2) underwriting debt offerings, (3) advice on mergers and acquisitions, (4) analyst research services, and (5) market‐making services.

The study addressed two specific questions. First, which investment bank services, if any, are associated with the creation of relationship‐specific capital; and second, what are the value drivers of this relationship capital?

The authors report finding that companies that used Lehman as lead underwriter for public equity offerings experienced significantly negative abnormal stock returns in the days surrounding Lehman's bankruptcy announcement. By contrast, they find no significant reaction to the announcement for Lehman's debt underwriting clients or any of the other client categories they examine. While most of these investment bank services have at least the potential to create relationship‐specific capital, the authors' findings suggest that except for equity underwriting, all the other investment bank services appear to be transactional rather than relationship‐based, at least in the average case.

Moreover, the authors report significant differences even among different groups of Lehman's equity underwriting clients. An equity underwriting relationship with Lehman appears to have been especially valuable for smaller, younger, and more financially constrained firms—those firms which presumably had a high degree of dependence on Lehman to access the capital market.
HIGH‐RESOLUTION STRATIGRAPHY, PALYNOFACIES AND SOURCE ROCK POTENTIAL OF THE ÁGUA DE MADEIROS FORMATION (LOWER JURASSIC), LUSITANIAN BASIN, PORTUGAL
Authors: Duarte L.V. , Silva R.L. , Mendonça Filho J.G. , Ribeiro N. Poças , Chagas R.B.A.
Published: March 2012

In the Lusitanian Basin (central‐western Portugal), the Lower Jurassic carbonate‐dominated succession is thought to have significant source rock potential. One of the most important units is the Água de Madeiros Formation (Upper Sinemurian – lowermost Pliensbachian) which is composed of alternating organic‐rich marls and limestones including black shale horizons. This paper is based on a study of this formation at its type locality at S. Pedro de Moel in western Portugal. Data includes Total Organic Carbon (TOC) measurements, palynofacies analyses and results of Rock‐Eval pyrolysis presented within a high‐resolution lithostratigraphic framework.

TOC contents were measured in some 200 samples from the Água de Madeiros Formation covering a stratigraphic interval of 58 m, and vary widely up to a maximum of about 22 wt %. Kerogen assemblages are dominated by marine amorphous organic matter with varying contributions by phytoclasts and palynomorphs. A majority of the 85 samples analyzed by Rock‐Eval pyrolysis have S2 values above 10 mg HC/g rock, reaching a maximum of 78 mg HC/g rock. These high S2 values are correlative with maximum values of the Hydrogen Index which averages 355 mg HC/g TOC (maximum of 637 mg HC/g TOC). However in spite of these indicators of source‐rock potential, the Água de Madeiros Formation in the study area is thermally immature or very early mature, as indicated by Tmax values below 437 °C and average vitrinite reflectance values of 0.43 % Ro.
Interconnect Joule Heating under Transient Currents using the Transmission Line Matrix Method
Authors: Barabadi Banafsheh , Joshi Yogendra K. , Kumar Satish , Refai-Ahmed Gamal
Published: March 2012

The quality and reliability of interconnects in microelectronics is a major challenge considering the increasing level of integration and high current densities. This work studied the problem of transient Joule heating in interconnects in a two-dimensional (2D) inhomogeneous domain using the transmission line matrix (TLM) method. Computational efficiency of the TLM method and its ability to accept non-uniform 2D and 3D mesh and variable time step makes it a good candidate for multi-scale analysis of Joule heating in on-chip interconnects. The TLM method was implemented with link-resistor (LR) and link-line (LL) formulations, and the results were compared with a finite element (FE) model. The overall behavior of the TLM models were in good agreement with the FE model while, near the heat source, the transient TLM solutions developed slower than the FE solution. The steady-state results of the TLM and FE models were identical. The two TLM formulations yielded slightly different transient results, with the LL result growing slower, particularly at the source boundary and becoming unstable at short time-steps. It was concluded that the LR formulation is more accurate for transient thermal analysis.
Control Valve Trajectories for SOFC Hybrid System Startup
Authors: Gorrell Megan , Banta Larry , Rosen William , Restrepo Bernardo , Tucker David
Published: March 2012

Control and management of cathode airflow in a solid oxide fuel cell gas turbine hybrid power system was analyzed using the Hybrid Performance (HyPer) hardware simulation at the National Energy Technology (NETL), U.S. Department of Energy. This work delves into previously unexplored operating practices for HyPer, via simultaneous manipulation of bypass valves and the electric load on the generator. The work is preparatory to the development of a Multi-Input, Multi-Output (MIMO) controller for HyPer. A factorial design of experiments was conducted to acquire data for 81 different combinations of the manipulated variables, which consisted of three air flow control valves and the electric load on the turbine generator. From this data the response surface for the cathode airflow with respect to bypass valve positions was analyzed. Of particular interest is the control of airflow through the cathode during system startup and during large load swings. This paper presents an algorithm for controlling air mass flow through the cathode based on a modification of the steepest ascent method.
The Effect of Ionomer Thin Films in Ionomer- and Water-Filled Agglomerate Models
Authors: Dobson Peter , Secanell Marc
Published: March 2012

The catalyst layer of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell is commonly represented in mathematical models as an agglomerate structure of carbon catalyst-support particles. There are two prevailing assumptions for the structure of the agglomerates. The first is that the pores are filled with perfluorosulfonated-ionomer (PFSI). The second is that the pores are hydrophilic and are flooded only with liquid water during operation. The objective of this work is to develop numerical models for single water-filled and ionomer-filled agglomerates in a cathode catalyst layer of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), and investigate the properties of oxygen transport, proton transport, and reaction kinetics. The two models provide different solutions for the distribution of oxygen and protons, and produce a different reaction profile within the agglomerate. Previous numerical water-filled ionomer models in the literature have neglected the effect of the ionomer thin film. Therefore, the results obtained for both ionomer and water-filled models could not be easily compared. In this article, the equations developed relate the assumed structure of the agglomerates to the structure of the catalyst layer (CL). Results compare the effect of the thin film thickness in the two different types of agglomerates and relate the phenomena occurring within the agglomerates to overall catalyst layer performance.
Integrated processing of contrast pulse sequencing ultrasound imaging for enhanced active contrast of hollow gas filled silica nanoshells and microshells
Authors: Ta Casey N. , Liberman Alexander , Paul Martinez H. , Barback Christopher V. , Mattrey Robert F. , Blair Sarah L. , Trogler William C. , Kummel Andrew C. , Wu Zhe
Published: March 2012

In recent years, there have been increasing developments in the field of contrast-enhanced ultrasound both in the creation of new contrast agents and in imaging modalities. These contrast agents have been employed to study tumor vasculature in order to improve cancer detection and diagnosis. An in vivo study is presented of ultrasound imaging of gas filled hollow silica microshells and nanoshells which have been delivered intraperitoneally to an IGROV-1 tumor bearing mouse. In contrast to microbubbles, this formulation of microshells provided strong ultrasound imaging signals by shell disruption and release of gas. Imaging of the microshells in an animal model was facilitated by novel image processing. Although the particle signal could be identified by eye under live imaging, high background obfuscated the particle signal in still images and near the borders of the tumor with live images. Image processing techniques were developed that employed the transient nature of the particle signal to selectively filter out the background signal. By applying image registration, high-pass, median, threshold, and motion filtering, a short video clip of the particle signal was compressed into a single image, thereby resolving the silica shells within the tumor.
Complementary voltage inverters with large noise margin based on carbon nanotube field-effect transistors with SiNx top-gate insulators
Authors: Maehashi Kenzo , Kishimoto Takaomi , Ohno Yasuhide , Inoue Koichi , Matsumoto Kazuhiko
Published: March 2012

Complementary voltage inverters based on top-gated carbon nanotube field-effect transistors (CNTFETs) were fabricated with SiNx top-gate insulators. The SiNx passivation films were deposited by catalytic chemical vapor deposition, and the carrier type of the CNTFETs was controlled by the conditions used to form the passivation film. Air-stable complementary voltage inverters incorporating p- and n-type CNTFETs were then fabricated on the same SiO2 substrate. The static transfer and noise margin characteristics of the CNTFET-based inverters were investigated. A high gain of 24 at an input voltage of 0.49 V and a large noise margin equal to 80% of half the supply voltage were achieved. This approach is a useful technique for fabricating integrated logic devices and circuits based on CNTFETs.
Presence and Persistence of Salmonella enterica Serotype Typhimurium in the Phyllosphere and Rhizosphere of Spray-Irrigated Parsley
Authors: Kisluk Guy , Yaron Sima
Published: March 2012

Salmonella enterica
is one of the major food-borne pathogens associated with ready-to-eat fresh foods. Although polluted water might be a significant source of contamination in the field, factors that influence the transfer of
Salmonella
from water to the crops are not well understood, especially under conditions of low pathogen levels in water. The aim of this study was to investigate the short- and long-term (1 h to 28 days) persistence of
Salmonella enterica
serotype Typhimurium in the phyllosphere and the rhizosphere of parsley following spray irrigation with contaminated water. Plate counting and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR)-based methods were implemented for the quantification. By applying qRT-PCR with enrichment, we were able to show that even irrigation with water containing as little as ∼300 CFU/ml resulted in the persistence of
S
. Typhimurium on the plants for 48 h. Irrigation with water containing 8.5 log CFU/ml resulted in persistence of the bacteria in the phyllosphere and the rhizosphere for at least 4 weeks, but the population steadily declined with a major reduction in bacterial counts, of ∼2 log CFU/g, during the first 2 days. Higher levels of
Salmonella
were detected in the phyllosphere when plants were irrigated during the night compared to irrigation during the morning and during winter compared to the other seasons. Further elucidation of the mechanisms underlying the transfer of
Salmonella
from contaminated water to crops, as well as its persistence over time, will enable the implementation of effective irrigation and control strategies.
Influence of Substrate Mineralogy on Bacterial Mineralization of Calcium Carbonate: Implications for Stone Conservation
Authors: Rodriguez-Navarro Carlos , Jroundi Fadwa , Schiro Mara , Ruiz-Agudo Encarnación , González-Muñoz María Teresa
Published: March 2012

The influence of mineral substrate composition and structure on bacterial calcium carbonate productivity and polymorph selection was studied. Bacterial calcium carbonate precipitation occurred on calcitic (Iceland spar single crystals, marble, and porous limestone) and silicate (glass coverslips, porous sintered glass, and quartz sandstone) substrates following culturing in liquid medium (M-3P) inoculated with different types of bacteria (Myxococcus xanthus,Brevundimonas diminuta, and a carbonatogenic bacterial community isolated from porous calcarenite stone in a historical building) and direct application of sterile M-3P medium to limestone and sandstone with their own bacterial communities. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), and 2-dimensional XRD (2D-XRD) analyses revealed that abundant highly oriented calcite crystals formed homoepitaxially on the calcitic substrates, irrespective of the bacterial type. Conversely, scattered spheroidal vaterite entombing bacterial cells formed on the silicate substrates. These results show that carbonate phase selection is not strain specific and that under equal culture conditions, the substrate type is the overruling factor for calcium carbonate polymorph selection. Furthermore, carbonate productivity is strongly dependent on the mineralogy of the substrate. Calcitic substrates offer a higher affinity for bacterial attachment than silicate substrates, thereby fostering bacterial growth and metabolic activity, resulting in higher production of calcium carbonate cement. Bacterial calcite grows coherently over the calcitic substrate and is therefore more chemically and mechanically stable than metastable vaterite, which formed incoherently on the silicate substrates. The implications of these results for technological applications of bacterial carbonatogenesis, including building stone conservation, are discussed.
Hypoxia and Fungal Pathogenesis: To Air or Not To Air?
Authors: Grahl Nora , Shepardson Kelly M. , Chung Dawoon , Cramer Robert A.
Published: March 2012

Over the last 3 decades, the frequency of life-threatening human fungal infections has increased as advances in medical therapies, solid-organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplantations, an increasing geriatric population, and HIV infections have resulted in significant rises in susceptible patient populations. Although significant advances have been made in understanding how fungi cause disease, the dynamic microenvironments encountered by fungi during infection and the mechanisms by which they adapt to these microenvironments are not fully understood. As inhibiting and preventing
in vivo
fungal growth are main goals of antifungal therapies, understanding
in vivo
fungal metabolism in these host microenvironments is critical for the improvement of existing therapies or the design of new approaches. In this minireview, we focus on the emerging appreciation that pathogenic fungi like
Candida albicans
,
Cryptococcus neoformans
, and
Aspergillus fumigatus
are exposed to oxygen-limited or hypoxic microenvironments during fungal pathogenesis. The implications of these
in vivo
hypoxic microenvironments for fungal metabolism and pathogenesis are discussed with an aim toward understanding the potential impact of hypoxia on invasive fungal infection outcomes.
Nature and timing of incidents intercepted by the SURPASS checklist in surgical patients
Authors: de Vries Eefje N , Prins Hubert A , Bennink M Christine , Neijenhuis Peter , van Stijn Ilse , van Helden Sven H , van Putten M Agnes , Smorenburg Susanne M , Gouma Dirk J , Boermeester Marja A
Published: March 2012

Introduction

More than half of in-hospital adverse events can be attributed to a surgical discipline. Checklists can effectively decrease errors and adverse events. However, the mechanisms by which checklists lead to increased safety are unclear. This study aimed to assess the number, nature and timing of incidents intercepted by use of the Surgical Patient Safety System (SURPASS) checklist, a patient-specific multidisciplinary checklist that covers the entire surgical patient pathway.

Methods

The checklist was implemented in two academic hospitals and four teaching hospitals in the Netherlands. Users of the checklist had three options for each item that was checked: ‘not applicable’, ‘yes’ and ‘intercepted by checklist’. In each hospital, the first 1000 completed checklists were entered into an online central database.

Results

In six participating hospitals, 6313 checklists were collected. One or more incidents were intercepted in 2562 checklists (40.6%). In total, 6312 incidents were intercepted. After correction for the number of items and the extent of adherence in each part of the checklist, the number of intercepted incidents was highest in the preoperative and postoperative stages.

Conclusions

The checklist intercepts many potentially harmful incidents across all stages of the surgical patient pathway. The majority of incidents were intercepted in the preoperative and postoperative stages of the pathway. The degree to which these incidents would have been intercepted by a single checklist in the operating room only, compared with a checklist for the entire surgical pathway, remains a subject for future study.
Infantile haemangioma expresses embryonic stem cell markers
Authors: Itinteang Tinte , Tan Swee T , Brasch Helen D , Steel Ryan , Best Heather A , Vishvanath Anasuya , Jia Jun , Day Darren J
Published: March 2012

Background

The origin of infantile haemangioma (IH) remains enigmatic. A primitive mesodermal phenotype origin of IH with the ability to differentiate down erythropoietic and terminal mesenchymal lineages has recently been demonstrated.

Aims

To investigate the expression of human embryonic stem cell (hESC) markers in IH and to determine whether IH-derived cells have the functional capacity to form teratomain vivo.

Methods

Immunohistochemical staining and quantitative reverse transcription PCR were used to investigate the expression of hESC markers in IH biopsies. The ability of cells derived from proliferating IH to form teratomas in a mouse xenograft model was investigated.

Results

The hESC markers, Oct-4, STAT-3 and stage-specific embryonic antigen 4 were collectively expressed on the endothelium of proliferating IH lesions, whereas Nanog was not. Nanog was expressed by cells in the interstitium and these cells did not express Oct-4, stage-specific embryonic antigen 4 or STAT-3. Proliferating IH-derived cells were unable to form teratomas in severely compromised immunodeficient/non-obese diabetic mice.

Conclusion

The novel expression of hESC on two different populations of cells in proliferating IH and their inability to form teratomasin vivoinfer the presence of a primitive cellular origin for IH downstream from hESC.
Nitric oxide synthase, ADMA, SDMA, and nitric oxide activity in the paraventricular nucleus throughout the etiology of renal wrap hypertension
Authors: Northcott Carrie A. , Billecke Scott , Craig Teresa , Hinojosa-Laborde Carmen , Patel Kaushik P. , Chen Alex F. , D'Alecy Louis G. , Haywood Joseph R.
Published: March 2012

Within the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), there is a balance between the excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters that regulate blood pressure; in hypertension, the balance shifts to enhanced excitation. Nitric oxide (NO) is an atypical neurotransmitter that elicits inhibitory effects on cardiovascular function. We hypothesized that reduced PVN NO led to elevations in blood pressure during both the onset and sustained phases of hypertension due to decreased NO synthase (NOS) and increased asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA; an endogenous NOS inhibitor) and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA). Elevated blood pressure, in response to PVN bilateral microinjections of a NO inhibitor, nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, was blunted in renal wrapped rats during the onset of hypertension ( day 7) and sustained renal wrap hypertension ( day 28) compared with sham-operated rats. Adenoviruses (Ad) encoding endothelial NOS (eNOS) or LacZ microinjected into the PVN [1 × 109plaque-forming units, bilateral (200 nl/site)] reduced mean arterial pressure compared with control ( Day 7, Ad LacZ wrap: 144 ± 7 mmHg and Ad eNOS wrap: 117 ± 5 mmHg, P ≤ 0.05) throughout the study ( Day 28, Ad LacZ wrap: 123 ± 1 mmHg and Ad eNOS wrap: 108 ± 4 mmHg, P ≤ 0.05). Western blot analyses of PVN NOS revealed significantly lower PVN neuronal NOS during the onset of hypertension but not in sustained hypertension. Reduced SDMA was found in the PVN during the onset of hypertension; however, no change in ADMA was observed. In conclusion, functional indexes of NO activity indicated an overall downregulation of NO in renal wrap hypertension, but the mechanism by which this occurs likely differs throughout the development of hypertension.
Antibody-Mediated Rejection: Pathogenesis, Prevention, Treatment, and Outcomes
Authors: Blume Olivia R. , Yost Sarah E. , Kaplan Bruce
Published: March 2012

Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) is a major cause of late kidney transplant failure. It is important to have an understanding of human-leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing including well-designed studies to determine anti-MHC-class-I-related chain A (MICA) and antibody rejection pathogenesis. This can allow for more specific diagnosis and treatment which may improve long-term graft function. HLA-specific antibody detection prior to transplantation allows one to help determine the risk for AMR while detection of DSA along with a biopsy confirms it. It is now appreciated that biopsy for AMR does not have to include diffuse C4d, but does require a closer look at peritubular capillary microvasculature. Although plasmapheresis (PP) is effective in removing alloantibodies (DSAs) from the circulation, rebound synthesis of alloantibodies can occur. Splenectomy is used in desensitization protocols for ABO incompatible transplants as well as being found to treat AMR refractory to conventional treatment. Also used are agents targeted for plasma cells, B cells, and the complement cascade which are bortezomib rituximab and eculizumab, respectively.
SPECT Molecular Imaging in Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Wang Ling , Zhang Qi , Li Huanbin , Zhang Hong
Published: March 2012

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common disorder, and the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease is clinical and relies on the presence of characteristic motor symptoms. The accuracy of the clinical diagnosis of PD is still limited. Functional neuroimaging using SPECT technique is helpful in patients with first signs of parkinsonism. The changes detected may reflect the disease process itself and/or compensatory responses to the disease, or they may arise in association with disease- and/or treatment-related complications. This paper addresses the value of SPECT in early differential diagnosis of PD and its potential as a sensitive tool to assess the pathophysiology and progression, as well as the therapeutic efficacy of PD.
Cultured responses: The production of social capital in faith based organizations
Authors: Bunn Christopher , Wood Matthew
Published: March 2012

The theoretical concept of ‘social capital’ has been increasingly invoked in connection to religion by academics, policy-makers, charities and faith based organizations (FBOs). Drawing on the popularization of the term by Robert Putnam, many in these groups have hailed the religious as one of the most virulent generators of social capital in today’s societies. In this article, the authors examine this claim through ethnographic material relating to Faithworks, a national ‘movement’ of Christians who provide welfare services within their communities. The authors claim that to apply the term ‘social capital’ in a meaningful sociological manner to FBOs requires a return to Bourdieu’s use of the term and a refusal to extricate it from the practices in which it is enmeshed.
Suberoylanilide Hydroxamic Acid Enhances Odontoblast Differentiation
Authors: Kwon A. , Park H.-J. , Baek K. , Lee H.-L. , Park J.-C. , Woo K.M. , Ryoo H.-M. , Baek J.-H.
Published: March 2012

Previous studies have shown that histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors stimulate osteoblast differentiation in vitro and bone formation in vivo. However, the effects of HDAC inhibitors on odontoblasts have not been elucidated. Therefore, in this study, we examined the effect of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), an HDAC inhibitor, on odontoblast differentiation using an MDPC23 odontoblast-like cell line. SAHA significantly enhanced matrix mineralization and the expression levels of odontoblast marker genes. SAHA increased the expression levels of nuclear factor I/C (Nfic) and dentin sialophosphoprotein (Dspp). Nfic bound directly to the Dspp promoter and stimulated Dspp transcription. SAHA increased both basal and Nfic-induced Dspp promoter activity. SAHA-induced Dspp promoter activity disappeared when mutations were introduced within the Nfic binding element of the Dspp promoter. Nfic knockdown by siRNA blocked SAHA stimulation of Dspp expression. These results indicate that SAHA enhances odontoblast differentiation and that SAHA increases Dspp expression, at least in part, by increasing the expression level of Nfic.
On Critical and Pancritical Rationalism
Authors: Diller Antoni
Published: March 2012

Bartley’s pancritical rationalism is seen by some as being a refinement of Popper’s critical rationalism. I contest this view and argue that pancritical rationalism is obtained from critical rationalism by removing some of its most important and useful features. The remainder consists of a restatement of some of Popper’s key ideas and an interpretation of others that I attempt to show is not entirely faithful to what Popper says.
Searching for Evidence-Based Practice
Authors: Walsh Rosalind L. , Kemp Coral R. , Hodge Kerry A. , Bowes Jennifer M.
Published: March 2012

A search of the literature from the past 30 years reveals that there is a dearth of research surrounding effective interventions for intellectually gifted children in the early childhood years. The findings of 11 empirical studies of educational provisions for young gifted children were located and the methodological rigor of the studies examined. Aspects problematic to research with young gifted children are discussed, including issues relating to sample sizes, definitions of giftedness, difficulties in conducting experimental studies, finding appropriate standardized measures for use with gifted children, and measurement of program outcomes. Suggestions are made for strengthening future research in the field of early childhood gifted education.
Some physical and socio-economic aspects of climate change in Central America
Authors: Hidalgo Hugo G. , Alfaro Eric J.
Published: March 2012

The relative magnitude of precipitation and temperature changes obtained from 21st-century climate change projections from general circulation models (GCMs) is compared to the changes in a selection of socio-economic indicators from countries in Central America. The objectives of the study are: (1) to determine the relative influence of climatic and socio-economic variables for different 21st-century scenarios; and (2) to compare the relative situation of each of the countries of Central America, considering climate and socio-economic variables during present and future scenarios. Each socio-economic variable along with the projected changes in precipitation and temperature are used to produce red-green-blue (RGB) composite maps during the historical, mid-century, and end-of-21st-century horizon scenarios. The most consistent result is that the current north–south socio-economic contrast between the countries (in which the southern countries of Panama and Costa Rica present better living conditions than the rest of the Central American countries), is not diminished in the future; and for some combination of scenarios this contrast is exacerbated by future socio-economic differences and climate change impacts. Moreover, Panama and Costa Rica are the only countries that present improved living conditions at the end of the century when considering increases in gross domestic product (GDP) and the effects of climate change. It is worrisome that the north–south differences in the living standards will keep growing in the region, and attention should be given to socio-economic and physical aspects that may play a role in increasing these differences.
Pathogen reduction efficiency of on-site treatment processes in eco-sanitation system
Authors: Endale Yohannes Tesfaye , Yirsaw Biruck Desalegn , Asfaw Seyoum Leta
Published: March 2012

An experimental study was conducted to assess the pathogen removal efficiency of primary treatment of ecological sanitation (eco-san) system. Ash, lime and soil were used as covering and treatment materials of faeces in the system. A significant rise in pH was observed when the faeces were treated with lime and ash, with a pH value of 11.3 and 9, respectively. Lime treatment was effective in complete destruction of faecal coliforms within 24 h while ash treatment took 30 days of storage to give the same result. On the other hand, no immediate destruction of Ascaris ova was observed during primary treatment of eco-san faeces. Dehydration and storage were other parameters which were considered in the experiment. Faecal coliforms tolerated a moisture content of 3% in untreated faeces while a large number of Ascaris lumbricoides eggs were inactivated by the same level of desiccation, even in the absence of alkaline treatment. The study showed a strong direct relationship between moisture content and viability of Ascaris egg ( r = 0.806, p = 0.01) and a negative correlation between viability of eggs and storage time ( r = −0.895, p = 0.01). Generally, the treatment methods used in this experiment showed a substantial potential of faeces sanitization, with removals ranging from 54 to 100% after a minimum of 40 days storage.
Sequencing treatment of landfill leachate using ammonia stripping, Fenton oxidation and biological treatment
Authors: Nurisepehr Mohammad , Jorfi Sahand , Kalantary Roshanak Rezaei , Akbari Hamideh , Soltani Reza Darvishi Cheshmeh , Samaei Mohamad
Published: March 2012

Landfill leachates contain a wide variety of pollutants such as organic matter, refractory compounds, ammonia, particulate and dissolved solids and hazardous metals requiring application of advanced and well designed treatment processes before release to the environment. The main purpose of this research was to evaluate the efficiency of combined air stripping, Fenton oxidation and biological treatment in treating landfill leachate, especially the elimination of ammonia and refractory organics. The laboratory scale set-up consisted of three sequential but separate steps. The optimum conditions for air stripping and the Fenton oxidation were determined for landfill leachate from Karaj city, Iran. The final step was a moving bed bioreactor with HRTs of 18, 12 and 6 h. The highest NH3-N removal was 79% in the air stripping process at pH 10.5. At the optimum conditions for the Fenton reaction at a reaction time of 90 min, pH 3 and a H2O2/Fe2+ mass ratio of 20, the COD removal was 61% and improved the BOD/COD ratio from 0.42 to 0.78. The overall COD removal including the final biological reactor with a HRT of 6 h resulted in an effluent COD concentration of less than 100 mg L−1
Current Practice and Views of Neurologists on the Transition From Pediatric to Adult Care
Authors: Oskoui Maryam , Wolfson Christina
Published: March 2012

To describe the current practice and views of neurologists on transitioning patients from pediatric to adult care, a cross-sectional study of all pediatric and adult neurologists in the province of Quebec, Canada, was conducted. The response rate was 73% for pediatric and 49% for adult neurologists. Most pediatric neurologists do not have a patient transition program or policy in place. Although a transfer summary is commonly provided, critical information is often lacking. Nearly half of neurologists believed that patients experience a gap in care during the transition process, and most agreed that the transition process is often poorly coordinated, highlighting patient, family, and health care factors. Current practice does not follow existing consensus statements for transition of care with respect to timing, communication, and preparation, and many pediatric neurologists experience difficulty in finding an appropriate adult health care provider for their patients. Neurologists reported many challenges in the current transition of care process.
Impulsive control on global exponential stability for cellular neural networks with supremums
Authors: Stamova Ivanka M , Stamov Trayan , Simeonova Neli
Published: March 2012

In this paper, the problem of global exponential stability for impulsive cellular neural networks with time-varying delays and supremums over a past interval of time is studied. The impulses are realized at fixed moments of time and can be considered as a control. We establish several stability criteria by employing Lyapunov functions and the Razumikhin technique. These results can easily be used to design and verify globally stable networks.
Effect of strain-energy function and axial prestretch on the bulges, necks and kinks forming in elastic membrane tubes
Authors: Pearce Simon
Published: March 2012

This paper considers the formation of bulges, necks and kinks which may occur in an inflated hyperelastic membrane tube, as a bifurcation from the cylindrical uniformly inflated state. We show how the presence of these features is dependent on the strain-energy function and the boundary conditions, which may be either closed or open with a fixed axial stretch. We give examples of the resulting deformation for the Varga, neo-Hookean, Gent, Ogden, Fung and Yeoh strain-energy functions, showing how the general results apply for these particular functions, illustrating the need to choose appropriately for the material under consideration. Examples are shown of combinations of strain-energy functions and boundary conditions which result in zero and three bifurcation points.
Homogenization of linearly elastic honeycombs
Authors: Davini Cesare
Published: March 2012

A continuum model for the in-plane deformations of cellular materials with honeycomb texture is derived by using the tools of homogenization theory via Γ-convergence. It is shown that the effective medium does not develop couple stresses, although it exhibits some mild trait of polarity. General stress–strain relations and the yield domains for various levels of the applied body couples are deduced. The paper is a refinement of a previous one based on a less rich microscopic kinematics, but the analysis confirms most of those results.
Boundary integral equation formulation for coupled thermoelasticity with three phase-lags
Authors: Prasad Rajesh , Das Subir , Mukhopadhyay Santwana
Published: March 2012

The present paper is aimed at formulating the boundary integral equations for the solution of equations in three-dimensional Euclidian space under coupled thermoelasticity with three phase-lags. We consider the initial mixed boundary value problem in the present context and obtain the fundamental solutions of corresponding differential equations in the Laplace transform domain by employing the treatment of scalar and vector potential theory. On the basis of these fundamental solutions we formulate the boundary integral equations by using a reciprocal relation of Betti type for coupled thermoelasticity with three phase-lags. The implementation of the boundary element method is also outlined for the solution of the derived boundary equations with an example.