bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Toxicological assessment of beta‐lapachone on organs from pregnant and non‐pregnant rats
Authors: de Almeida Edvaldo Rodrigues , Lucena Flávia Raquel Santos , Silva Camilla Vila Nova Soares , da Silva Costa‐Junior Wilson , Cavalcanti Jouse Bezerra , Couto Gerald Bosco Lindoso , da Silva Luiz Lúcio Soares , da Mota Diógenes Luís , da Silveira Alex Benício , de Sousa Filho Samuel Daniel , da Silva Aldo Cezar Passilongo
Published: February 2009

Naphthoquinones have been studied extensively due to their activity as topoisomerase inhibitors. These enzymes are critical to DNA replication in cells. β‐Lapachone (beta‐lap) is an o‐naphthoquinone chemically obtained from lapachol. This work results in a toxicological evaluation of beta‐lap in Wistar rats observing the following parameters: teratology, histology, hematology and serum biochemistry. The data demonstrate teratogenic action at the doses used, as well as hematological alterations in the total leukocytes, monocytes and segmented. The biochemical data demonstrated an increase in gamma glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase levels. Histological study showed significant alterations in the spleen, however, the liver and kidney did not present significant alterations. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
REAL—Ensemble radar precipitation estimation for hydrology in a mountainous region
Authors: Germann Urs , Berenguer Marc , Sempere‐Torres Daniel , Zappa Massimiliano
Published: February 2009

An elegant solution to characterise the residual errors in radar precipitation estimates is to generate anensembleof precipitation fields. The paper proposes a radar ensemble generator designed for usage in the Alps using LU decomposition (REAL), and presents first results from a real‐time implementation coupling the radar ensemble with a semi‐distributed rainfall–runoff model for flash flood modelling in a steep Alpine catchment. Each member of the radar ensemble is a possible realisation of the unknown true precipitation field given the observed radar field and knowledge of the space–time error structure of radar precipitation estimates. Feeding the alternative realisations into a hydrological model yields a distribution of response values, the spread of which represents the sensitivity of runoff to uncertainties in the input radar precipitation field.

The presented ensemble generator is based on singular value decomposition of the error covariance matrix, stochastic simulation using the LU decomposition algorithm, and autoregressive filtering. It allows full representation of spatial dependence of the mean and covariances of radar errors. This is of particular importance in a mountainous region with large uncertainty in radar precipitation estimates and strong dependence of error structure on location. The real‐time implementation of the radar ensemble generator coupled with a semi‐distributed hydrological model in the framework of the forecast demonstration project MAP D‐PHASE is one of the first experiments of this type worldwide, and is a fully novel contribution to this evolving area of applied research. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society
Testing for sphericity in phase I control chart applications
Authors: Windfeldt Gitte B. , Bisgaard Søren
Published: February 2009

When using x̄–R charts it is a crucial assumption that the observations within samples are independent and have common variance. However, this assumption is almost never checked. We propose to use the samples gathered during the phase I study and the test for distributional sphericity, to check this assumption. We supply a graph of the exact percentage points for the distribution of the test statistics. The test statistics can be computed with standard statistical software. Together with the graph of the exact percentage points, the test can easily be performed during a phase I study. We illustrate the method with examples. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of etchant on the nanostructure of dentin: an atomic force microscope study
Authors: Ma Shuyuan , Cai Jiye , Zhan Xinwen , Wu Yangzhe
Published: February 2009

The objective of this study is to investigate effects of etchant on dentin surface as a function of etching time by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Twenty intact, freshly extracted noncarious human teeth were used to make 40 dentin discs and the discs were randomly divided into 4 groups. A commercial etchant was applied on these dentin discs. The main component of the etchant is 32% phosphoric acid and the etching time for the four dentin disc groups was 0, 20, 40, and 60 s. The AFM results show progressive changes of the surface morphology as the etching time increases. Significant difference of average roughness (Ra) exists in the dentin surface among all four groups (p<0.05). The statistic difference of diameters of dentinal tubule orifice (Dt) exists between the control group and all other groups (p<0.05), whereas the Dts for the 40‐s group and 60‐s group are not statistically different (p>0.05). Our results showed that acid treatment has a significant influence on dentin demineralization and the effective etching time of the dentin surface appears to be 60 s. We provide a new nanoscale insight into the dentin surface treatment and this can help us to select the optimal etching time in clinic. SCANNING 31: 28–34, 2009. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Surface characterization of a cross‐linked cytochrome c film on cysteamine‐modified gold electrodes
Authors: De Wael Karolien , Van Vlierberghe Sandra , Buschop Hans , Dubruel Peter , Vekemans Bart , Schacht Etienne , Vincze Laszlo , Adriaens Annemie
Published: February 2009

The aim of the present paper is to characterize a cross‐linked horse heart cytochrome c (HHC) film on cysteamine‐modified gold electrodes. The HHC film was deposited using 1‐ethyl‐3‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl)‐carbodiimide (EDC) as a coupling agent. Attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR‐IR) spectroscopic analyses were performed to characterize the newly formed surface on a qualitative and conformational level. The film thickness was measured using a noncontact optical surface profiler, while quantitative data and information on the heterogeneity of the film were obtained by means of synchrotron radiation X‐ray micro fluorescence (SR micro‐XRF). Results indicate that, in addition to electrochemical studies, spectroscopic analysis methods are essential to gain insight in the effect of immobilization strategies on protein conformations. The latter is of relevance in the development and optimization of biosensors. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Adverse Effects of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles on Human Dermal Fibroblasts and How to Protect Cells
Authors: Pan Zhi , Lee Wilson , Slutsky Lenny , Clark Richard A. F. , Pernodet Nadine , Rafailovich Miriam H.
Published: February 2009

The effects of exposure of human dermal fibroblasts to rutile and anatase TiO2 nanoparticles are reported. These particles can impair cell function, with the latter being more potent at producing damage. The exposure to nanoparticles decreases cell area, cell proliferation, mobility, and ability to contract collagen. Individual particles are shown to penetrate easily through the cell membrane in the absence of endocytosis, while some endocytosis is observed for larger particle clusters. Once inside, the particles are sequestered in vesicles, which continue to fill up with increasing incubation time till they rupture. Particles coated with a dense grafted polymer brush are also tested, and, using flow cytometry, are shown to prevent adherence to the cell membrane and hence penetration of the cell, which effectively decreases reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and protects cells, even in the absence of light exposure. Considering the broad applications of these nanoparticles in personal health care products, the functionalized polymer coating can potentially play an important role in protecting cells and tissue from damage.
Carbon‐Nanotube–Polymer Nanocomposites for Field‐Emission Cathodes
Authors: Connolly Thomas , Smith Richard C. , Hernandez Yenny , Gun'ko Yurii , Coleman Jonathan N. , Carey J. David
Published: February 2009

The electron field‐emission (FE) characteristics of functionalized single‐walled carbon‐nanotube (CNT)–polymer composites produced by solution processing are reported. It is shown that excellent electron emission can be obtained by using as little as 0.7% volume fraction of nanotubes in the composite. Furthermore by tailoring the nanotube concentration and type of polymer, improvements in the charge transfer through the composite can be obtained. The synthesis of well‐dispersed randomly oriented nanotube–polymer composites by solution processing allows the development of CNT‐based large area cathodes produced using a scalable technology. The relative insensitivity of the cathode's FE characteristics to the electrical conductivity of the composite is also discussed.
Inkjet‐Printed Multicolor Arrays of Highly Luminescent Nanocrystal‐Based Nanocomposites
Authors: Kim Joo Yeon , Ingrosso Chiara , Fakhfouri Vahid , Striccoli Marinella , Agostiano Angela , Curri M. Lucia , Brugger Jurgen
Published: February 2009

Inkjet technology is a compelling method for the flexible and cost‐effective printing of functional inks. We show that nanocomposite solutions based on polystyrene and differently sized core/shell‐type nanocrystals (NCs) formed by a CdSe core coated with a shell of ZnS (CdSe@ZnS) in a single solvent, chloroform, can be reliably dispensed into luminescent, multicolor pixel arrays. This study demonstrates the relevance of parameters like polymer concentration and nozzle diameter, highlighting how the optimal conditions to print NCs embedded in 5 wt% polystyrene nanocomposite are given by a 70‐µm‐diameter nozzle. The obtained structures show that the bright size‐dependent emission of the NCs in the nanocomposite is retained in the printed pixels.
Fabrication of Nanowire Channels with Unidirectional Alignment and Controlled Length by a Simple, Gas‐Blowing‐Assisted, Selective‐Transfer‐Printing Technique
Authors: Kim Yong‐Kwan , Kang Pil Soo , Kim Dae‐Il , Shin Gunchul , Kim Gyu Tae , Ha Jeong Sook
Published: February 2009

A printing‐based lithographic technique for the patterning of V2O5 nanowire channels with unidirectional orientation and controlled length is introduced. The simple, directional blowing of a patterned polymer stamp with N2 gas, inked with randomly distributed V2O5 nanowires, induces alignment of the nanowires perpendicular to the long axis of the line patterns. Subsequent stamping on the amine‐terminated surface results in the selective transfer of the aligned nanowires with a controlled length corresponding to the width of the relief region of the polymer stamp. By employing such a gas‐blowing‐assisted, selective‐transfer‐printing technique, two kinds of device structures consisting of nanowire channels and two metal electrodes with top contact, whereby the nanowires were aligned either parallel (parallel device) or perpendicular (serial device) to the current flow in the conduction channel, are fabricated. The electrical properties demonstrate a noticeable difference between the two devices, with a large hysteresis in the parallel device but none in the serial device. Systematic analysis of the hysteresis and the electrical stability account for the observed hysteresis in terms of the proton diffusion in the water layer of the V2O5 nanowires, induced by the application of an external bias voltage higher than a certain threshold voltage.
Die neue Eisenbahnbrücke über den Donaukanal und den Winterhafen in Wien
Authors: Dorrer Günther
Published: February 2009

Mit der Probebelastung der Winterhafenbrücke am 01.09.2008 wurde die seit April 1945 zerstörte Gleisverbindung zwischen Donaulände‐ und Donauuferbahn wieder hergestellt. Mit einer Länge von 168 m bildet die neue eingleisige Eisenbahnbrücke, welche als Zweifelddurchlaufträger konzipiert ist, das zentrale Bindeglied und somit das Herzstück des Projekts. Die beiden Spannweiten wurden als dreieckförmiger Fachwerkträger über den Donaukanal und flache Trogbrücke über den Winterhafen aufgelöst. Die Planung, Herstellung und Montage der Stahlbrücke erfolgten in mehreren Etappen und stellte eine enorme bautechnische Herausforderung dar. Mit der Gesamtfertigstellung des Projektes im September 2009 wird ein wesentlicher Beitrag zur Verlagerung des Güterverkehrs von der Straße auf die umweltfreundliche Schiene geleistet (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
VFT‐WIB‐Brücke bei Vigaun – Verbundbrücke mit externer Bewehrung
Authors: Seidl Günter , Braun Anton
Published: February 2009

Der Verbunddübel ermöglicht neue Konstruktionsprinzipien im Brückenbau. Mit der Straßenbrücke in Vigaun/Österreich ist im Herbst 2008 die erste Brücke in VFT‐WIB‐Bauweise in Betrieb gegangen. Zwei Verbundfertigteile mit halbierten Walzträgern als Untergurt bilden den Querschnitt. Die durch den Schneideprozess mit Verbunddübeln versehenen halbierten Walzträger wirken als “externe” Bewehrung im Querschnitt und vereinen Schlankheit und Wirtschaftlichkeit im Verbundbrückenbau. Der Aufsatz beschreibt das 78m lange 3‐Feld‐Rahmenbauwerk über die Bahnstrecke von Salzburg nach Wörgl unter den Gesichtspunkten Entwurf, versuchsgestützte Bemessung und Ausführung (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Rheinbrücke Breisach – Umbau und Instandsetzung einer 45 Jahre alten Stahlkonstruktion
Authors: Lenz Peter , Emrich Christine , Wenzel Gernot , Materna Stefan , Loose Tobias
Published: February 2009

Die Rheinbrücke Breisach zwischen Breisach in Baden‐Württemberg und Neuf‐Brisach im Elsass ist nach der Europabrücke Kehl–Straßburg die wichtigste regionale Straßenverbindung zwischen Deutschland und Frankreich. Die vierfeldige Straßenbrücke wurde 1962 auf den Fundamenten einer ehemaligen Eisenbahnbrücke errichtet. Der mit Flachblech‐ und Winkelsteifen ausgesteifte Hohlkastenquerschnitt der Brücke wurde sowohl geschweißt als auch genietet und geschraubt. Die Konstruktion des Schrammbordes mit einer damals des Öfteren verwendeten, aus heutiger Sicht ungünstigen Anschlussart sowie Schäden an der im Hohlkasten verlaufenden Entwässerung führten zu massiven Korrosionsschäden. Zukünftig soll ein Radweg über das Bauwerk verlaufen. Dies erfordert eine Verbreiterung des südlichen Gehweges. Die Umbau‐ und Instandsetzungsmaßnahme wurde im Frühjahr 2008 begonnen.

In diesem Aufsatz soll nicht nur auf die einzelnen Details der Baumaßnahme eingegangen werden, sondern vielmehr auf die im Bauwerk versteckten Schwierigkeiten, die erst während der Durchführung der Baumaßnahme zu erkennen waren und gelöst werden mussten. Eine weitere Besonderheit des Bauwerks liegt darin, dass zwei Straßenbauverwaltungen, Frankreich und Deutschland, für den Unterhalt der Brücke zuständig sind (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Blockade of Peroxynitrite-Induced Neural Stem Cell Death in the Acutely Injured Spinal Cord by Drug-Releasing Polymer
Authors: Yu Dou , Neeley William L. , Pritchard Christopher D. , Slotkin Jonathan R. , Woodard Eric J. , Langer Robert , Teng Yang D.
Published: February 2009

Therapeutic impact of neural stem cells (NSCs) for acute spinal cord injury (SCI) has been limited by the rapid loss of donor cells. Neuroinflammation is likely the cause. As there are close temporal-spatial correlations between the inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase expression and the donor NSC death after neurotrauma, we reasoned that NO-associated radical species might be the inflammatory effectors which eliminate NSC grafts and kill host neurons. To test this hypothesis, human NSCs (hNSCs: 5 × 104 to 2 × 106 per milliliter) were treated in vitro with “plain” medium, 20 μM glutamate, or donors of NO and peroxynitrite (ONOO−; 100 and 400 μM of spermine or DETA NONOate, and SIN-1, respectively). hNSC apoptosis primarily resulted from SIN-1 treatment, showing ONOO−-triggered protein nitration and the activation of p38 MAPK, cytochrome c release, and caspases. Therefore, cell death following post-SCI (p.i.) NO surge may be mediated through conversion of NO into ONOO−. We subsequently examined such causal relationship in a rat model of dual penetrating SCI using a retrievable design of poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) scaffold seeded with hNSCs that was shielded by drug-releasing polymer. Besides confirming the ONOO−-induced cell death signaling, we demonstrated that cotransplantation of PLGA film embedded with ONOO− scavenger, manganese (III) tetrakis (4-benzoic acid) porphyrin, or uric acid (1 μmol per film), markedly protected hNSCs 24 hours p.i. (total: n = 10). Our findings may provide a bioengineering approach for investigating mechanisms underlying the host microenvironment and donor NSC interaction and help formulate strategies for enhancing graft and host cell survival after SCI.

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
Functional Evidence that the Self-Renewal Gene NANOG Regulates Human Tumor Development
Authors: Jeter Collene R. , Badeaux Mark , Choy Grace , Chandra Dhyan , Patrawala Lubna , Liu Can , Calhoun-Davis Tammy , Zaehres Holm , Daley George Q. , Tang Dean G.
Published: February 2009

Tumor development has long been known to resemble abnormal embryogenesis. The embryonic stem cell (ESC) self-renewal gene NANOG is purportedly expressed by some epithelial cancer cells but a causal role in tumor development has remained unclear. Here, we provide compelling evidence that cultured cancer cells, as well as xenograft- and human primary prostate cancer cells express a functional variant of NANOG. NANOG mRNA in cancer cells is derived predominantly from a retrogene locus termed NANOGP8. NANOG protein is detectable in the nucleus of cancer cells and is expressed higher in patient prostate tumors than matched benign tissues. NANOGP8 mRNA and/or NANOG protein levels are enriched in putative cancer stem/progenitor cell populations. Importantly, extensive loss-of-function analysis reveals that RNA interference-mediated NANOG knockdown inhibits tumor development, establishing a functional significance for NANOG expression in cancer cells. Nanog short hairpin RNA transduced cancer cells exhibit decreased long-term clonal and clonogenic growth, reduced proliferation and, in some cases, altered differentiation. Thus, our results demonstrate that NANOG, a cell-fate regulatory molecule known to be important for ESC self-renewal, also plays a novel role in tumor development.

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
Effect of Near‐Total Thyroidectomy on Thyroid Orbitopathy Due to Toxic Goiter
Authors: Elsayed Yasser A. , Abdul‐Latif Atif M. , Abu‐Alhuda Mukhtar F. , Halim Hosam A‐F.
Published: February 2009

Background

The relative merit of surgery in the treatment of Graves’ ophthalmopathy as well as the extent of surgical resection are still matters of debate. This study aimed at reporting an assessment of the impact of near‐total thyroidectomy on the course of ophthalmopathy including exophthalmos.

Methods

A total of 20 patients with thyrotoxic goiters who were suffering from mild to moderate exophthalmos were enrolled in this prospective study. Preoperative evaluation of ophthalmopathy was accomplished through the NOSPECS classification, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for measuring the extraocular muscle diameters, and measurement of the exophthalmos using Hertel’s exophthalmometer. Ophthalmopathy including exophthalmos was reevaluated 6 months after operation using the same parameters.

Results

Clinical activity evaluation, exophthalmometry, and extraocular muscles measurement by MRI revealed that most of the patients experienced improvement of their ophthalmopathy (65%). This improvement was statistically significant. In addition, no major postoperative complications were observed. However, the study, unlike a number of reported retrospective ones, failed to specify any statistically significant prognostic factors affecting the course of ophthalmopathy; this may have been due to the limited number of patients. In addition, all of the patients were of relatively young age and thyrotoxic, and most were female and nonsmoking.

Conclusions

In addition to the fact that near‐total thyroidectomy adds the advantages of total thyroidectomy (no recurrence) to those of subtotal thyroidectomy (low incidence of temporary and permanent hypoparathyroidism), it has a significant positive impact on thyroid‐associated orbitopathy.
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor of the Small Intestine: A Clinicopathologic Study of 70 Cases in the Postimatinib Era
Authors: Huang Chun‐Chieh , Yang Ching‐Yao , Lai I‐Rue , Chen Chiung‐Nien , Lee Po‐Huang , Lin Ming‐Tsan
Published: February 2009

Background

The small intestine, after the stomach, is the second most common primary site for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). This study aimed to identify clinicopathologic prognostic factors of tumor recurrence and survival and to analyze the influence of imatinib and sunitinib for small‐intestine GISTs.

Methods

We reviewed the surgical experience of patients with small‐intestine GISTs at National Taiwan University Hospital from January 1995 to March 2007. We analyzed the perioperative clinicopathologic data and treatment course.

Results

Seventy patients were included. The tumor was local in 43 patients, advanced in 21 patients, and 6 had metastasis. The median size of the tumor was 6.5 cm. Forty‐four patients had a mitotic rate of less than 5/50 high‐power field. The 1‐year and 5‐year disease‐free survival rates were 85 and 66.7%, respectively, while the 1‐year and 5‐year overall survival rates were 98.5 and 86.6%, respectively. There were 19 patients with recurrent disease and 6 patients died of intestinal GISTs. The response rate of imatinib and sunitinib were 73.3 and 60%, respectively. According to multivariate analysis for disease recurrence, only invasion status, tumor size, and mitotic rate are significant (P = 0.007, 0.035, 0.007 respectively). They are also associated with poor survival (P ≤ 0.001, 0.006, 0.002, respectively).

Conclusions

The invasion status, size, and mitotic rate of tumor involve higher risk of recurrence and poor survival in small‐intestine GISTs. The patients with recurrent small‐intestine GISTs may have a lower mortality rate after using imatinib and sunitinib.
Surgical Site Infection Following Surgery for Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Patients with Clean‐Contaminated Wounds
Authors: Uchino Motoi , Ikeuchi Hiroki , Tsuchida Toshie , Nakajima Kazuhiko , Tomita Naohiro , Takesue Yoshio
Published: February 2009

Background

It is generally believed that the accompanying conditions in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are associated with a high incidence of surgical site infection (SSI), and sometimes these patients are classified as compromised hosts without definitive clinical evidence. The aim of this study was to clarify the impact of IBD on the occurrence and features of SSI in patients with clean‐contaminated wounds.

Methods

We conducted prospective SSI surveillance of 580 patients with clean‐contaminated wounds who underwent surgery between March 2006 and December 2007 using the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance system. Multivariate analyses using stepwise logistic regression were performed to determine risk factors for SSI.

Results

A total of 562 patients with clean‐contaminated wounds who underwent surgery for IBD [ulcerative colitis (UC), n = 173; Crohn’s disease (CD), n = 122] or colorectal cancer [(CA), n = 267] were identified for evaluation. SSI was observed in 12.6% of all patients and there was no significant difference in infection rate by type of disease (UC, 14.5%; CD, 13.9%; CA, 10.9%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis yielded an ASA score ≥3 [odds ratio (OR) = 2.04; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.06–3.93] and rectal surgery (OR = 2.35; 95% CI = 1.28–4.31) as independent risk factors for SSI. IBD surgery was not an independent risk factor for overall SSI (OR = 1.62; 95% CI = 0.94–2.80). However, there was a significant difference in the incidence of incisional SSI [IBD, 11.9% (UC, 12.7%; CD, 10.7%); CA, 4.9%, p = 0.003]. In the analysis of rectal surgery, the incidence of incisional SSI was 5.3% in CA patients, 12.0% in UC patients, and 26.3% in CD patients. In contrast to overall SSI data, IBD surgery was found to be an independent risk factor for incisional SSI (OR = 2.59; 95% CI = 1.34–5.03).

Conclusions

In patients of surgery restricted to clean‐contaminated wounds, IBD was shown to be an independent risk factor for incisional SSI. With the use of proper operative procedures and techniques, the incidence of organ/space SSI should not be high in patients who undergo an uncomplicated IBD surgical procedure.
Clinicopathologic Characteristics and Prognosis of Diffuse Sclerosing Variant of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma in Japan: An 18‐Year Experience at a Single Institution
Authors: Fukushima Mitsuhiro , Ito Yasuhiro , Hirokawa Mitsuyoshi , Akasu Haruki , Shimizu Kazuo , Miyauchi Akira
Published: February 2009

Background

Diffuse sclerosing variant (DSV) is a variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma that has diffuse involvement in one or both thyroid lobes without forming a dominant mass. We investigated the biological characteristics of DSV in Japan.

Methods

We investigated biological behaviors and prognoses of DSV in 35 patients who underwent surgical treatment between 1989 and 2007.

Results

After excluding papillary microcarcinoma, DSV accounts for 0.7% of papillary carcinoma. DSV occurs more frequently in younger patients and is clinically apparent as lymph node metastasis and lung metastasis more frequently than other papillary carcinomas, but the incidence of extrathyroid extension did not differ between the metastases. Routine radioiodine ablation therapy after initial surgery was not performed unless distant metastasis was clinically apparent at surgery. The disease‐free survival rate of DSV was significantly worse than that of a pair‐matched control group. However, only two patients, one with lung metastasis at surgery and another who underwent only palliative surgery, have died of carcinoma to date.

Conclusions

Although cause‐specific survival of DSV was good, its disease‐free survival was worse than that of the control group because of the unavailability of routine radioiodine ablation therapy. Therefore, DSV requires careful surgical resection to minimize the carcinoma recurrence.
VA‐Based Survey of Osteoporosis Management in Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Morse Leslie R. , Giangregorio Lora , Battaglino Ricardo A. , Holland Robert , Craven B. Catharine , Stolzmann Kelly L. , Lazzari Antonio A. , Sabharwal Sunil , Garshick Eric
Published: February 2009

Objective

Although osteoporosis is common following spinal cord injury (SCI), no guidelines exist for its treatment, diagnosis, or prevention. The authors hypothesized that wide variations in diagnosis and treatment practices result from the absence of guidelines. This study sought to characterize the diagnosis and management practices within the VA health care system for osteoporosis following SCI.

Design

Online survey regarding osteoporosis management in SCI composed of 27 questions designed to gather information on responder demographics, osteoporosis diagnostics, and treatment options.

Setting

VA health care system.

Participants

VHA National SCI Staff Physicians and VHA National SCI Nurses (total n = 450) were sent an email with an invitation to participate.

Intervention

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

Practice patterns were assessed, including factors associated with ordering a clinical workup and prescribing osteoporosis treatment.

Results

The response rate was 28%. Ninety‐two prescribing practitioners (physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants) were included in the analysis. Of these respondents, 50 (54%) prescribe medications for SCI‐induced bone loss; 39 (42%) prescribe bisphosphonates and 46 (50%) prescribe vitamin D. There were 54 (59%) respondents who routinely order diagnostic tests, including dual energy x‐ray absorptiometry scans in 50 (54%). Variations in practice were not explained by age, gender, or years practicing SCI medicine. Many respondents (23%) reported barriers to osteoporosis testing including lack of scanning protocols, cost, wheelchair inaccessibility of scanning facilities, and lack of effective treatment guidelines once osteoporosis is diagnosed.

Conclusions

Despite an absence of screening and treatment guidelines, more than half of all respondents are actively diagnosing and treating osteoporosis with bisphosphonates within the VA health care setting. These data suggest that evidence‐based practice guidelines are necessary to reduce practice variations and improve clinical care for this population.
Projecting Function of Stroke Patients in Rehabilitation Using the AlphaFIM Instrument in Acute Care
Authors: Stillman Gary , Granger Carl , Niewczyk Paulette
Published: February 2009

Objectives

(1) To establish the reliability and validity of the AlphaFIM instrument; (2) To examine the hypotheses that the 6‐item AlphaFIM instrument administered in acute care would closely approximate the full 18‐item FIM instrument rating administered at admission to an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF); (3) to determine whether the acute AlphaFIM projected rating could predict the full FIM instrument ratings at discharge from the IRF; (4) to test whether the acute AlphaFIM projected rating could predict length of stay (LOS) in the IRF; (5) to determine if the acute AlphaFIM projected rating could predict the likelihood of patients being discharged from the IRF to the community.

Design, Setting, and Participants

A prospective cohort study of 144 stroke patients in an acute care stroke unit with subsequent transfer to an IRF.

Interventions

None.

Main Outcome Measurements

IRF admission FIM rating, IRF discharge FIM ratings, LOS, and likelihood of discharge to community.

Results

The AlphaFIM instrument displayed adequate reliability and validity. Results of a linear regression showed the acute AlphaFIM instrument ratings were significant in predicting IRF admission FIM instrument ratings, IRF discharge FIM instrument ratings, and IRF LOS. Results of a logistic regression indicated the ability of the acute AlphaFIM instrument ratings to predict the likelihood of patients being discharged from the IRF to the community was statistically significant but did not account for a great deal of the variance in the model.

Conclusions

The AlphaFIM instrument, used in acute care, has utility in projecting FIM instrument ratings of stroke patients' function at admission to and discharge from the IRF.
Resonant interaction of runaway electrons with magnetic field ripple in tokamak plasmas
Authors: CHEN Z. Y. , WAN B. N. , SHI Y. J. , JU H. J. , ZHU J. X. , LIANG H. F.
Published: February 2009

The toroidal magnetic field of tokamaks is generated by a finite number of coils, which slightly modulates the magnetic field and runaway electrons experience this modulation. The resonant interaction between runaway electrons and the magnetic field ripple has been observed in the HT-7 tokamak. The maximum energy of runaways in the edge region could be blocked by the resonance of gyromotion with the nth harmonic of the magnetic field ripple. This resonant interaction is favorable for the control of runaway energy.
The Relation of Luke i and ii to Hebraic Sources and to the Rest of Luke-Acts
Authors: Turner Nigel
Published: February 2009

In his recent article, ‘The Birth and Infancy Stories of the Third Gospel’ (New Testament Studies, Vol. i, No. 2, pp. 111–21) Dr Paul Winter adheres to the Semitic source hypothesis for Luke i, ii and one Hebrew document is apparently envisaged (‘a document written in Hebrew formed the basis of this part of the Third Gospel’ (p. 113)). Moreover, he maintains that ‘the theory that the editor…was the author of the first two chapters…and that he wrote these chapters in Greek whilst intentionally adopting a Hebraizing style is untenable’ (p. 121). The article does not allow the possibility that the use of Hebrew sources went hand in hand with consultation of the LXX, nor consider the question whether the evangelist himself translated the Hebrew or whether he found the document in its present Hebraized Greek form. Such questions are fundamental to the problem posed by the article, namely the reason for the ‘barbarous’ language. Thus, in a brief summary of this question, Professor Matthew Black gives due weight to the possibility of the evangelist's indebtedness to the LXX, and suggests that the LXX was an ‘aid’.
Sprachliche Reminiszenzen an Abgeänderte oder ausgelassene Bestandteile der Spruchsammlung im Lukas- und Matthäusevangelium
Authors: Schürmann H.
Published: February 2009

Schon häufiger ist beobachtet worden, daß ntl. Schriftsteller seltene Vokabeln oder Wendungen manchmal überraschend schon nach kurzem Abstand wiederholen: ‘Mit seinem Meister Paulus (s. Zahn, Einleitung in das N.T.. i, S. 363) und wohl sehr vielen Schriftstellern, — im N.T. geht am weitesten hierin Jakobus, — teilt Lukas die Gewohnheit, einmal ihm in den Griffel gekommene Ausdrücke bald darauf zu wiederholen, dann vielleicht selten oder nie wieder.’
II Corinthians v. 1–10 in Pauline Eschatology
Authors: Ellis E. Earle
Published: February 2009

Since the days of Pfleiderer II Cor. v. 1–10 has been commonly regarded as showing a hellenization of Paul's eschatology, or in today's language, a transition from a futurist to a realized (or inaugurated) eschatology. Paul's earliest view (I Thess. iv. 13 ff.) followed the ancient Jewish idea of physical resurrection at the last day; in I Cor. xv this is qualified by distinguishing between the σω̃μα ψυχıκóν and the σ̃ωμα πνευματıκóν; II Cor. v completes the process, viewing the transition in Greek fashion as occurring at death rather than at the parousia. Although W. D. Davies locates ‘the two diverse strains in Paul's conception of resurrection’ in (a hellenized) Judaism, the end result is the same: in contrast to I Cor. xv ‘resurrection’ in II Cor. v takes place at death. Some writers, following Pfleiderer, have contended that Paul, for a shorter or longer period, held both Jewish and Greek concepts ‘without any thought of their essential inconsistency’. Even scholars normally opposed to a Greek dualism in Pauline anthropology tend toward it when interpreting II Cor. v. 8. Thus, J. A. T. Robinson is content to equate ‘absent from the body’ with the ‘naked’ interim state. Also Cullmann, who has emphasized the temporal character of redemption focused upon the parousia, refers this verse to Paul's confidence concerning the intermediate state.
The Secrecy Motif in St Mark's Gospel
Authors: Boobyer G. H.
Published: February 2009

No one book has figured more prominently in the study of St Mark's Gospel in this century than W. Wrede's Das Messiasgeheimnis in den Evangelien, published in 1901. But whilst it has been widely agreed that Wrede focused attention upon a significant Marcan motif and one which to some extent shows the influence of a doctrinal interest, most scholars have rejected Wrede's solution of the secrecy problem.
Romans and I Corinthians: Their Chronological Relationship and Comparative Dates
Authors: Richards J. R.
Published: February 2009

It is generally assumed that Rom. xv. 23–8, when read in conjunction with I Cor. xvi. 5–9, puts beyond question both the occasion on which Romans was written and the priority of I Corinthians. But a comparative study of the two Epistles provides a body of evidence which cannot be reconciled with this assumption, for it would seem to imply the priority of Romans in a chronological relationship with the Corinthians letter that is so close that the ink of the one could hardly have been dry before the amanuensis was engaged on the other.
The Coptic Gnostic Library Today
Authors: Robinson James M.
Published: February 2009

In the autumn of 1947 Togo Mina, Director of the Coptic Museum in Old Cairo, showed to Jean Doresse a Coptic manuscript acquired the previous year, which we today call Codex III. Doresse recognized its gnostic character and its importance, and began inquiries as to whether there were other manuscripts in the same find, a find dated ‘about 1945’. Parts of one other codex—today called Codex I—were located in the possession of a Belgian antiquities dealer Albert Eid. This incomplete codex was subsequently taken out of Egypt and, via America and Benelux, emerged in Zürich, where it was purchased for the Jung Institute by Mr George H. Page and named the Jung Codex. It was presented to Jung as a birthday gift, and is not, as one usually infers from the literature, the possession of the Jung Institute, but rather of the heirs of C. G. Jung. An agreement to return it to Egypt after its publication has been made in principle. The Gospel of Truth (1, 2) has been turned over to the Egyptian Embassy in Berne, and from there wad returned to the Coptic Museum; however, the tractate On the Resurrection (1, 3), though published, ahs not been thus far returned. What is still in Zürich is in the Leu Bank.
The Authorship of the Pastorals in the Light of Statistical Linguistics
Authors: Grayston K. , Herdan G.
Published: February 2009

The authorship of the Pastorals must have been among the first instances inviting the application of quantitative methods in literature. Schleiermacher's [1] critical campaign against the authenticity of I Timothy uses a great array of hapax legomena for establishing the linguistic peculiarity of that Epistle. The controversy continued on these lines, subsequent workers using linguistic criteria to a greater or lesser extent according to the value they attributed to them. This continued until 1921 when Harrison's book on The Problem of the Pastoral Epistles [2] appeared, in which he presented such overwhelming linguistic evidence against Paul's authorship that most workers regarded the controversy as closed. However, this was not so, and Harrison's procedure has been subjected from time to time to a certain amount of criticism, for example, by W. Michaelis [3, 4], F. R. M. Hitchcock [5, 6], D. Guthrie [7] and B. M. Metzger [8].
Die Grundzüge Der Ptolemaeischen Gnosis
Authors: Foerster Werner
Published: February 2009

Irenaeus hat in den ersten acht Kapiteln des ersten Buches seines Werkes Adversus haereses einen geschlossenen und abgerundeten Bericht von einem Zweige der valentinianischen Gnosis gegeben. Die gleiche Quelle, der er folgt, hat auch Clemens von Alexandrien in seinen Excerpta e Theodoto Kap. 43–65 ausgezogen.1 Das gleiche System — oder ein aufs engste verwandtes —lassen der Brief des Ptolemaeus an Flora,2 eine von Irenaeus zitierte Auslegung des Johannes-Prologs3 und die zahlreichen Fragmente des Herakleon4 erkennen. Der Gegenstand der nachfolgenden Untersuchung bildet das von Irenaeus dargelegte und von Clemens excerpierte System, das ich nach Sagnards Vorgang mit Ptolemaeus verbinde.5 Irenaeus hat in seinem großen Bericht auch Züge aus einer anderen Spielart des Valentinianismus eingearbeitet; die Scheidung dieser beiden ‘Systeme A und B’6 ist aber meist leicht zu vollziehen.7 Auch Anklänge an andere gnostische Systeme fehlen nicht und müssen gleichfalls unberücksichtigt bleiben.8 Ironische Zwischenbemerkungen und Wendungen des Irenaeus, denen Sagnard mit Recht einen besonderen Abschnitt gewidmet hat, spielen in der Darstellung des Kirchenvaters eine geringere Rolle als in der späteren Polemik und sind ebenfalls leicht zu erkennen.9 Der so gereinigte Bericht des Irenaeus, ergänzt durch die Excerpte des Clemens, zu dessen Verdeutlichung wir gelegentlich den Brief an Flora und die Fragmente des Herakleon heranziehen, bietet nun em sehr eigenartiges und eigenständiges Ganzes, dessen Grundz¨ge und besondere Struktur herauszustellen sich lohnt.
Some Recent Studies in Gnosticism
Authors: Wilson R. McL.
Published: February 2009

The study of Gnosticism is about to enter upon a new phase. Of this we are confidently assured by those who have had opportunity to examine the documents discovered some thirteen years ago at Nag Hammadi, and to say the least the publication not of one or two only but of no less than forty-three hitherto unknown texts cannot but bring a considerable accession to our knowledge.1 As yet only one has been made available in an edited form,2 although preliminary studies of some others have already appeared in print,3 and from these it is evident that if the new texts provide the answers to some of our problems they will also raise fresh problems for investigation. If we may judge from the example of the Dead Sea Scrolls, it is probable that the publication of these documents will be followed by a steady flow of books and articles for some years to come, and in these circumstances it may be that some useful purpose will now be served by a review of recent studies in this field, if only by indicating the current state of research and the literature at present available.
The Biblical Concept of Time and Our Gospels
Authors: Mánek Jindřrick
Published: February 2009

In the New Testament canon there are two works by the same author, but different in nature; the Third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. The first of these tells of the life, death and resurrection of Christ. The Book of the Acts of the Apostles recounts the events which took place after Jesus' death and resurrection. It is concerned with the mission work of the Primitive Church, especially that of the foremost apostles Peter and Paul.
A Formula Describing Prophecy
Authors: Van Unnik W. C.
Published: February 2009

In the opening section of the recently discovered (and now published) Gnostic ‘Apocryphon of John’, the Revealer says to John: ‘Now I have come to reveal to you that which is, that which has been, and that which will be, so that you may know the things which are seen and the things not seen and to reveal to you about the perfect Man.’
I Thess. i. 9–10 and the Missionary Preaching of Paul: Textual Exegesis and Hermeneutic Reflexions
Authors: Munck Johannes
Published: February 2009

Exegetical study in the days of liberal theology assumed that Paul spoke on impulse, according to the mood of the moment, deeply moved, and with often changing emotions. Scholars read between the lines, searching for crises in the life of the apostle that might explain his changes of attitude. If we consider Adolf Deissmann's research on Paul it is not difficult to see that an interpretation assuming a far too detailed knowledge of the apostle's spiritual life is an exaggeration. The actual material of our study is the texts, not the man behind them. And Paul is not as spontaneous as was believed by the older generation of exegetes. The letters are those of an experienced missionary, used to preaching and instructing. And it is possible that in the letters he is dealing with subjects he has discussed before, so that the expressions he uses have not necessarily been new minted for this particular occasion.
Das System des Basilides
Authors: Foerster Werner
Published: February 2009

über das System des Basilides, seines Sohnes und Schülers Isidor und der Basilidianer ist unter den Forschern bis heute keine Einigkeit erzielt worden, auch ist die einzig neuere Schrift, die sich ausführlich und umfassend mit Basilides befaβt, die von Hendrix,2zu wenig in die Tiefe gegangen und läβt manche Fragen offen. Die Uneinigkeit der Forscher hangt mit der besonders disparaten Quellenlage zusammen. Die Berichte der Kirchenväter teilen sich in zwei Gruppen. Die eine wird vertreten durch Irenaeus,Adv. haerI.
Mark's Contribution to the Quest of the Historical Jesus
Authors: Schweizer Eduard
Published: February 2009

When Mark wrote his gospel, the kerygma had long since conquered the world. Paul had overcome a religion of the law limited to Israel and to a few proselytes who were courageous enough to pledge themselves to a total obedience to the law. Colossians, Ephesians, the hymn in I Tim. iii. 16 and the post-Pauline doxology Rom. xvi. 25–7 show how enthusiastically the triumphal journey of Christ through the world was praised. A most imposing ‘theology of the kerygma’ was arising. However, what had all this to do with Jesus? Was not the theology of grace, the emphasis on justification without the works of law all that was needed? Palestine was far away, and very few would have known about that remote corner of the earth with its strange population and its superstitious habits. Thus, Jesus was a mere name without much meaning, a symbol, maybe, for the kerygma, but not more. Why, therefore, not connect the kerygma with Hermes or Attis or any other saviour? The Gnostics were about to draw this consequence
Messianic Motifs of Qumran and the New Testament
Authors: Brownlee William H.
Published: February 2009

An important aspect of messianism among the Covenanters is the presence of messianically charged variants in the complete Qumran Isaiah Scroll (IQIsa). This was first pointed out by D. Barthélemy,1 but the most complete study of the subject has been by John V. Chamberlain.2 The most outstanding passage is probably not the reading ‘anointed’ (for ‘marred’) in Isa. lii. 14 (because of possible equivocation),3 but rather Isa. li. 4–5:4
Paul's Ministry in Asia—the Last Phase
Authors: Duncan G. S.
Published: February 2009

This article is an attempt to trace the course of events in the closing stages of Paul's ministry in Asia. I have in mind the period described in Acts xix. 2I-xx. I; viewed from another angle, it is the period following the writing of I Corinthians.
The Disciples of Emmaus
Authors: Ehrhardt Arnold
Published: February 2009

The story in Luke xxiv. 13–35 of the manifestation of the risen Lord to the disciples on the road to Emmaus is relevant for the understanding of Luke as an author since it has no parallels in the New Testament, apart from the spurious ending of the Gospel of Mark. Among the apocryphal traditions too there is only a Coptic fragment of a rather recent age which contains the beginning of it; and both of these seem closely connected with the Lukan tradition. Nevertheless, it seems to me unwise to regard the whole of Luke xxiv as one unit, as has been done recently by P. Schubert. For the general impression made by the story is that it forms an independent piece which, for a time, had existed outside the Third Gospel. This impression is strengthened by an old tradition which gives us the name of the second disciple. Luke xxiv. 18 mentions, almost accidentally, Cleopas as the name of one of the disciples, but keeps silent about the other. We learn, however, from Origen that his name was Simon.
The Lucan Birth Stories and the Purpose of Luke-Acts
Authors: Oliver H. H.
Published: February 2009

Motivated by the suggestions of Rudolf Bultmann and Ernst Käsemann, the redaktionsgeschichtlich method has been recently applied to the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts with noteworthy success. Hans Conzelmann made the initial study and his work has been carried on by Ernst Haenchen and J. C. O'Neill. Though these men do not agree in every detail on the theological purpose of Luke-Acts, there is nonetheless a striking unity among them. This article is based upon the general conclusions shared by these scholars, though it will seek to go beyond them by showing that the Lucan birth stories are integral to that purpose and not irrelevant (Conzelmann) or incidental (O'Neill) to it. It is in order first to review briefly the present situation as to the theological purpose of Luke-Acts.