bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Uses of the Desert in the Sixth-Century West
Authors: Leyser Conrad
Published: November 2006

This essay surveys the cultural uses of the Egyptian desert in western ascetic culture across the fifth and sixth centuries. Challenging the commonly-held assumption that the desert was effectively suppressed by clerical hierarchies or monastic communities in the West, the essay argues that the institutions of the episcopacy and the monastery, the twin pillars of the medieval Church, in fact sought to lay their foundations squarely in the memory of the desert. The bishops selected for discussion are Caesarius of Arles, Fulgentius of Ruspe, and Gregory of Tours; the monastic communities are those described in the Life of the Jura Fathers and the Rule of Saint Benedict.
A Global Root-Zone Soil Moisture Analysis Using Simulated L-band Brightness Temperature in Preparation for the Hydros Satellite Mission
Authors: Balsamo G. , Mahfouf J-F. , Bélair S. , Deblonde G.
Published: November 2006

The aim of this study is to test a land data assimilation prototype for the production of a global daily root-zone soil moisture analysis. This system can assimilate microwave L-band satellite observations such as those from the future Hydros NASA mission. The experiments are considered in the framework of the Interaction Soil Biosphere Atmosphere (ISBA) land surface scheme used operationally at the Meteorological Service of Canada for regional and global weather forecasting. A land surface reference state is obtained after a 1-yr global land surface simulation, forced by near-surface atmospheric fields provided by the Global Soil Wetness Project, second initiative (GSWP-2). A radiative transfer model is applied to simulate the microwave L-band passive emission from the surface. The generated brightness temperature observations are distributed in space and time according to the satellite trajectory specified by the Hydros mission. The impact of uncertainties related to the satellite observations, the land surface, and microwave emission models is investigated. A global daily root-zone soil moisture analysis is produced with a simplified variational scheme. The applicability and performance of the system are evaluated in a data assimilation cycle in which the L-band simulated observations, generated from a land surface reference state, are assimilated to correct a prescribed initial root-zone soil moisture error. The analysis convergence is satisfactory in both summer and winter cases. In summer, when considering a 3-K observation error, 90% of land surface converges toward the reference state with a soil moisture accuracy better than 0.04 m3 m−3 after a 4-week assimilation cycle. A 5-K observation error introduces 1-week delay in the convergence. A study of the analysis error statistics is performed for understanding the properties of the system. Special features associated with the interactions between soil water and soil ice, and the presence of soil moisture vertical gradients, are examined.
Impact of Climate Change on River Discharge Projected by Multimodel Ensemble
Authors: Nohara Daisuke , Kitoh Akio , Hosaka Masahiro , Oki Taikan
Published: November 2006

This study investigates the projections of river discharge for 24 major rivers in the world during the twenty-first century simulated by 19 coupled atmosphere–ocean general circulation models based on the Special Report on Emissions Scenarios A1B scenario. To reduce model bias and uncertainty, a weighted ensemble mean (WEM) is used for multimodel projections. Although it is difficult to reproduce the present river discharge in any single model, the WEM results produce more accurate reproduction for most rivers, except those affected by anthropogenic water usage. At the end of the twenty-first century, the annual mean precipitation, evaporation, and runoff increase in high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, southern to eastern Asia, and central Africa. In contrast, they decrease in the Mediterranean region, southern Africa, southern North America, and Central America. Although the geographical distribution of the changes in precipitation and runoff tends to coincide with that in the river discharge, it should be emphasized that the change in runoff at the upstream region affects the river flow in the downstream region. In high-latitude rivers (Amur, Lena, MacKenzie, Ob, Yenisei, and Yukon), the discharge increases, and the peak timing shifts earlier because of an earlier snowmelt caused by global warming. Discharge tends to decrease for the rivers in Europe to the Mediterranean region (Danube, Euphrates, and Rhine), and southern United Sates (Rio Grande).
Thermodynamic and Hydrological Impacts of Increasing Greenness in Northern High Latitudes
Authors: Zhang Jing , Walsh John E.
Published: November 2006

Satellite remote sensing data indicate that greenness has been increasing in the northern high latitudes, apparently in response to the warming of recent decades. To identify feedbacks of this land-cover change to the atmosphere, the authors employed the atmospheric general circulation model ARPEGE-CLIMAT, an adaptation of the Action de Recherche Petite Echelle Grande Echelle model for climate studies, to conduct a set of control and sensitivity modeling experiments. In the sensitivity experiments, they increased the greenness poleward of 60°N by 20% to mimic the manifestation of vegetation changes in the real world, and by 60% and 100% to represent potential aggressive vegetation change scenarios under global warming. In view of the direct exposure of vegetation to sunlight during the warm seasons, the authors focused their study on the results from late spring to early fall. The results revealed significant thermodynamic and hydrological impacts of the increased greenness in northern high latitudes, resulting in a warmer and wetter atmosphere. Surface and lower-tropospheric air temperature showed a marked increase, with a warming of 1°–2°C during much of the year when greenness is increased by 100%. Precipitation and evaporation also showed a notable increase of 10% during the summer. Snow cover decreased throughout the year, with a maximum reduction in the spring and early summer. The above changes are attributable to the following physical mechanisms: 1) increased net surface solar radiation due to a decreased surface albedo and enhanced snow–albedo feedback as a result of increased greenness; 2) intensified vegetative transpiration by the additional plant cover; and 3) reduced atmospheric stability leading to enhanced convective activity. The results imply that increased greenness is a potentially significant contributing factor to the amplified polar effects of global warming.
Effects of Frozen Soil on Snowmelt Runoff and Soil Water Storage at a Continental Scale
Authors: Niu Guo-Yue , Yang Zong-Liang
Published: November 2006

The presence of ice in soil dramatically alters soil hydrologic and thermal properties. Despite this important role, many recent studies show that explicitly including the hydrologic effects of soil ice in land surface models degrades the simulation of runoff in cold regions. This paper addresses this dilemma by employing the Community Land Model version 2.0 (CLM2.0) developed at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and a simple TOPMODEL-based runoff scheme (SIMTOP). CLM2.0/SIMTOP explicitly computes soil ice content and its modifications to soil hydrologic and thermal properties. However, the frozen soil scheme has a tendency to produce a completely frozen soil (100% ice content) whenever the soil temperature is below 0°C. The frozen ground prevents infiltration of snowmelt or rainfall, thereby resulting in earlier- and higher-than-observed springtime runoff. This paper presents modifications to the above-mentioned frozen soil scheme that produce more accurate magnitude and seasonality of runoff and soil water storage. These modifications include 1) allowing liquid water to coexist with ice in the soil over a wide range of temperatures below 0°C by using the freezing-point depression equation, 2) computing the vertical water fluxes by introducing the concept of a fractional permeable area, which partitions the model grid into an impermeable part (no vertical water flow) and a permeable part, and 3) using the total soil moisture (liquid water and ice) to calculate the soil matric potential and hydraulic conductivity. The performance of CLM2.0/SIMTOP with these changes has been tested using observed data in cold-region river basins of various spatial scales. Compared to the CLM2.0/SIMTOP frozen soil scheme, the modified scheme produces monthly runoff that compares more favorably with that estimated by the University of New Hampshire–Global Runoff Data Center and a terrestrial water storage change that is in closer agreement with that measured by the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites.
Modeling the Recent Evolution of Global Drought and Projections for the Twenty-First Century with the Hadley Centre Climate Model
Authors: Burke Eleanor J. , Brown Simon J. , Christidis Nikolaos
Published: November 2006

Meteorological drought in the Hadley Centre global climate model is assessed using the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI), a commonly used drought index. At interannual time scales, for the majority of the land surface, the model captures the observed relationship between the El Niño–Southern Oscillation and regions of relative wetness and dryness represented by high and low values of the PDSI respectively. At decadal time scales, on a global basis, the model reproduces the observed drying trend (decreasing PDSI) since 1952. An optimal detection analysis shows that there is a significant influence of anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gasses and sulphate aerosols in the production of this drying trend. On a regional basis, the specific regions of wetting and drying are not always accurately simulated. In this paper, present-day drought events are defined as continuous time periods where the PDSI is less than the 20th percentile of the PDSI distribution between 1952 and 1998 (i.e., on average 20% of the land surface is in drought at any one time). Overall, the model predicts slightly less frequent but longer events than are observed. Future projections of drought in the twenty-first century made using the Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES) A2 emission scenario show regions of strong wetting and drying with a net overall global drying trend. For example, the proportion of the land surface in extreme drought is predicted to increase from 1% for the present day to 30% by the end of the twenty-first century.
Guidelines for Meta-Analyses of Counseling Psychology Research
Authors: Quintana Stephen M. , Minami Takuya
Published: November 2006

This article conceptually describes the steps in conducting quantitative meta-analyses of counseling psychology research with minimal reliance on statistical formulas. The authors identify sources that describe necessary statistical formula for various meta-analytic calculations and describe recent developments in meta-analytic techniques. The authors illustrate meta-analytic procedures with recently published meta-analyses in counseling psychology, and last, they provide a guide for writing up meta-analytic studies for publication.
Construct Validation in Counseling Psychology Research
Authors: Hoyt William T. , Warbasse Rosalia E. , Chu Erica Y.
Published: November 2006

Counseling psychology researchers devote little attention to theory-based measurement validation, as evidenced by cursory mention of validity issues in the method and discussion sections of published research reports. Especially, many researchers appear unaware of the limitations of correlations between pairs of self-report measures as evidence of construct validity. The authors provide an overview of the process of construct validation via user-friendly terminology and examples, with special attention to aspects often neglected in counseling psychology research, including specific recommendations for design and interpretation of multimethod validity investigations.
“Hitting is not Manly”
Authors: Mirchandani Rekha
Published: November 2006

In this study, the author investigates how the battered women’s movement has transformed the treatment of domestic violence in Salt Lake City’s specialized domestic violence court. Using Lisa Brush’s account of how the state promotes the dominance of men and the disadvantage of women, the author shows that Salt Lake City’s domestic violence court transforms both its governance of gender and its gender of governance, lending support to optimistic theories of the state. The author argues that this court is an example of a state institution that has been transformed into a feminist regime committed to individual and social change. The author encourages feminist theorists to engage with the work of Jurgen Habermas to better conceptualize the potentially positive relations among the state, social movements, and social change.
Gender Differences in Productivity
Authors: Leahey Erin
Published: November 2006

Since 1984, when Cole and Zuckerman referred to gender differences in productivity among academic scientists as a puzzle, sociologists have sought to explain these differences by incorporating primarily institutional-level factors. In addition to these factors, the author contends that an undertheorized and heretofore unmeasured concept—the extent of research specialization—can also help explain the process by which gender affects research productivity. Although some researchers have examined areas of specialization, the extent of research specialization has been completely neglected in studies of academic careers. Using a probability sample of academics in two disciplines (sociology and linguistics), primary data collection, and simultaneous equation modeling, the author finds that the extent of research specialization is a critical intervening variable: Women specialize less than men and thereby lose out on an important means of increasing their productivity.
Factors Associated With Frequent Admissions to an Acute Geriatric Psychiatric Inpatient Unit
Authors: Woo Benjamin K. P. , Golshan Shahrokh , Allen Edward C. , Daly John W. , Jeste Dilip V. , Sewell Daniel D.
Published: November 2006

As a first step toward developing strategies to reduce the frequency of psychiatric hospitalizations, the authors retrospectively collected and analyzed demographic and clinical variables from 424 consecutive admissions to a university-based geriatric psychiatry inpatient unit over a 20-month period. The study sample was dichotomized into patients who were admitted more than one time (35.6%) versus those with a single admission. Factors associated with rehospitalization were examined with multivariate logistic regression analysis. The great majority of readmissions (81%) occurred in the first 3 months after discharge. The logistic regression model indicated that significant predictors of rehospitalization were single relationship status, male gender, and bipolar disorder diagnosis. Our findings overlap with findings from previous similar studies and suggest that information readily obtainable on admission to an acute geriatric psychiatry inpatient unit may provide a useful indication of risk for frequent psychiatric hospitalizations and may contribute to readmission prevention strategies.
Assessment of Anxiety in Dementia: An Investigation Into the Association of Different Methods of Measurement
Authors: Gibbons Laura E. , Teri Linda , Logsdon Rebecca G. , McCurry Susan M.
Published: November 2006

The objectives were to compare patient and caregiver ratings of anxiety for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and investigate their association with ratings of patient depression. Participants were 95 community-dwelling Alzheimer’s disease patients and their caregivers. Measurements included caregiver proxy ratings: Rating Anxiety in Dementia, the NeuroPsychiatric Inventory, the Revised Memory and Behavior Problems Checklist, and the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia. Patient self-assessments included the Clinical Anxiety Scale (adapted) and the Geriatric Depression Scale. Correlations among anxiety measures ranged from ρ = .16 to .40, whereas correlations between anxiety and depression scales ranged from ρ = .03 to .66. Overlap among items across both anxiety and depression scales appeared to be the most important factor in determining these associations. Current scales for anxiety in dementia differ in their construction of symptoms and can overlap considerably with depression scales. Because of this, measures inadequately distinguish anxiety from depression in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. The measurement of anxiety in dementia needs additional refinement.
Effect of intravenous cyclophosphamide in systemic lupus erythematosus: relation to lymphocyte subsets and activation markers
Authors: Amano H , Morimoto S , Kaneko H , Tokano Y , Takasaki Y , Hashimoto H
Published: November 2006

Since the mechanism mediating the beneficial effect of intravenous cyclophosphamide (IVCY) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is unknown, we investigated lymphocyte subsets and markers of activated lymphocytes in patients received IVCY, and compared the results with the effect of steroid pulse. In 55 patients with SLE, 34 patients receiving IVCY [21 cases (61.8%) were responsive] and 25 patients received steroid pulse [21 cases (84.0%) were responsive] (four patients who were resistant to steroid pulse therapy were transferred to IVCY). When the lymphocyte subsets and markers of activated lymphocytes were compared in the responsive and unresponsive group of IVCY, soluble CD4 levels and the ratio of HLA-DP-positive T cells were significantly higher in the unresponsive group. Further, the changes of these markers and costimulatory molecules [LFA-1 (CD11a), ICAM-1 (CD54), CD40 and CD40-ligand (CD154)] were also examined in the responsive patients. The ratio of HLA-DP-positive T cells did not change in the IVCY-responsive group, while it decreased in the steroid pulse therapy-responsive group. The ratio of CD11a on T cells increased and CD54 on B cells decreased in the IVCY-responsive group. The ratio of CD154 on T cells increased in the steroid pulse-responsive group, while it decreased in the IVCY-responsive group. These results suggest that the effect of IVCY is different to that of steroid pulse therapy and mainly related to B cell activation, and that these markers may contribute to predict the responsiveness of IVCY.
Acquired C1q deficiency caused by monoclonal paraproteinaemia
Authors: Gordon Margaret-Mary , Lucie Norman , Porter Duncan
Published: November 2006

Acquired C1q deficiency secondary to anti C1q auto-antibodies may result in the hypocomplementaemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome and may also be seen in active systemic lupus erythematosus. Some patients with acquired C1 inhibitor deficiency are found to have an underlying malignancy, most commonly lymphoma.

We report a case of a 40-year-old man presenting with a lupus-like illness with acquired C1q deficiency secondary to a monoclonal paraprotein in the presence of splenic lymphoma with villous lymphocytes. His clinical symptoms correlated with the presence of the paraprotein. Relapse coincided with a rise in the paraprotein and fall in C1q, C3 and C4. There was no improvement in his clinical condition following combination chemotherapy. He remains on oral prednisolone.
Renal immunofluorescence and the prediction of renal outcome in patients with proliferative lupus nephritis
Authors: Nossent H , Berden J , Swaak T
Published: November 2006

The risk for endstage renal failure in patients with proliferative lupus nephritis (PLN) depends largely on the severity and reversibility of the inflammatory process as determined by light microscopy (LM). As the intrarenal formation of immune complexes is thought to initiate this inflammation, we studied whether renal immunofluorescence microscopy (IFM) provides clinical or prognostic information in addition to LM findings.

Clinical data at the time of renal biopsy and during a mean follow-up of 46 months were extracted from the records of 69 SLE patients with proliferative LN (WHO class III/IV). Biopsy specimens were analyzed by LM for AI and CI, while IFM was performed on cryostat sections with the use of antisera against IgG, 1gM, IgA, C3, C1q and fibrin. IFM findings were recorded in terms of the localization (glomerular, tubular or vascular) and intensity of fluorescence (score from zero to three). IFM findings were then related to clinical and LM findings and its prognostic value studied by survival analysis.

Glomerular immune deposits were present in 99% of patients, tubular deposits in 38% and vascular deposits in 17%. A ‘full-house’ pattern (all three Ig classes) was found in 67% of biopsies and C3 and C1q deposits in 93% and 74% respectively. Median scores for AI and CI were 6 (1–18) and 3 (0–10); aside from a negative correlation between IgA deposits and CI, we found no other correlation between the amount or type of immune deposits and AI or CI. IgM deposits were associated with high serumlevels of anti-dsDNA, while IgG deposits correlated with high ESR and serumcreatinin levels. IFM scores were not related to steroiddose at the time of biopsy and neither type of glomerular, tubular or overall renal immunedeposits had prognostic value for renal survival. Renal immunofluorescence does not reflect light microscopy findings in patients with PLN and does not contribute prognostic information in patients with PLN.
Anetoderma in systemic lupus erythematosus: relationship to antiphospholipid antibodies
Authors: Montilla C , Alarcón-Segovia D
Published: November 2006

Anetoderma is an elastolytic disorder where multiple patches of slack skin are formed.

Twelve patients with anetoderma associated with systemic lupus erythematous have been described, all in the dermatological literature. Recently, a role for antiphospholipid antibodies has been proposed with microthromboses as its pathogenic mechanism.

We present herein a 20-year-old female patient who developed anetoderma soon after sun exposure. She was found to have a false positive VDRL and gradually developed other manifestations of SLE, including interstitial cystitis. She has had repeatedly positive antiphospholipid antibodies.

Although there are patients who may have a primary form, diagnosis of anetoderma should trigger a search for SLE and/or antiphospholipid antibodies.
Lamotrigine-induced lupus
Authors: Sarzi-Puttini P , Panni B , Cazzola M , Muzzupappa S , Turiel M
Published: November 2006

A 57-year-old woman was under treatment for epilepsy with lamotrigine 2 mg/kg/d since 1996. In April 1998 she was admitted to the Rheumatology Unit for arthralgias affecting the small joints of the hands, wrists and knees, erythematosus skin rash and myalgias. She referred a vascular abnormality at the hands exposed to cold, compatible with Raynaud's phenomenon. Serum antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were positive (1:320, speckled pattern); moreover, a positivity for anti-Ro/SSA was observed. Rheumatoid factor was negative, serum complement was normal. LAC and anticardiolipin antibodies were negative. Drug-related lupus diagnosis was made with resolution of symptoms and gradual normalisation of positivity of ANA and anti-Ro/SSA upon lamotrigine withdrawal. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of an association between lamotrigine and the onset of SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus).
Pulmonary embolism and transitory anti-b2-GPI antibodies in an adult with chicken pox
Authors: Viseux V , Darnige L , Carmi E , Chaby G , Poulain J F , Cevallos R , Lok C , Denoeux J P
Published: November 2006

Anti-β2-glycoprotein I antibodies are considered as a specific marker for the antiphospholipid syndrome. In contrast to lupus circulating anticoagulant and anticardiolipin (aCL) antibodies, they are usually not found at significant levels in infections.

We report a case of pulmonary embolism in an adult with varicella. Transient significant levels of aCL antibodies and of IgM anti-b2-GPI antibodies were observed. No other prothrombotic factor, including free protein S antigen deficiency, was found.

The direct pathogenic role of these transient antibodies on the thrombotic event may then be suspected. They are probably associated with VZV acute infection and are absent two months after varicella.
Osteoporosis screening in systemic lupus erythematosus: impact of disease duration and organ damage
Authors: Becker A , Fischer R , Scherbaum W A , Schneider M
Published: November 2006

The aim of the present studywas to assess the effects of disease severityand demonstrable organ damage as risk factors for the development of osteoporosis in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Sixty-four SLE patients were included. Mean disease duration was 7.7–5.7 y. Thirty-two patients had persistent organ damage, defined as SLICC-ACR damage score ≥1. Disease activitymeasured bySLAM-2 ranged from 3 to 27. Bone mineral density(BMD) measurements were performed with dual X-rayabsorptiometry. In addition, biochemical markers of bone metabolism were studied.

BMD was inverselycorrelated with disease duration, damage score and cumulative glucocorticoid intake, but no correlation was found for current glucocortioid use or with markers of bone metabolism. In a multivariate analysis, body weight, disease duration and damage index fitted best for the prediction of BMD at both lumbar spine and femoral neck. Seven out of 64 patients had osteoporosis according to WHO criteria.

In conclusion, severe osteoporosis is uncommon in lupus patients. Disease activityand severity were no major risk factors for loss of BMD in this study, but persistent non-bone-related organ damage was significantlylinked to the presence of osteoporosis measured as decreased BMD. Our data suggest that, in addition to patients receiving glucocorticoids, patients with an SLICC-ACR ≥1 or a disease duration ≤7 ymight benefit from regular monitoring of BMD as secondary prevention of damage.
Early environmental exposure and the development of lupus
Authors: Edwards C J , Cooper C
Published: November 2006

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex trait with evidence of polygenic inheritance influenced by environmental factors. However, the precise underlying causes of SLE remain unclear. A number of environmental exposures have been associated with lupus or related autoimmune phenomena. Evidence suggests that some environmental exposures need to be present many years before the onset of SLE. Both SLE and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can occur in very young children and this supports the possibility that important environmental factors must be present during or before this time. In addition, the immune pathology, including autoantibody production, in adult lupus may begin years before clinical disease. There is also evidence that the developing immune system demonstrates developmental plasticity and can be permanently altered or ‘programmed’ by the early environment. We describe how early life environmental influences including infectious exposure may lead to autoantibody production in later life thus beginning the journey that leads to autoimmune diseases such as lupus in susceptible individuals.
Immunizing patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a review of effectiveness and safety
Authors: O'Neill S G , Isenberg D A
Published: November 2006

Concerns regarding the safety and efficacy of immunization in patients with SLE have persisted for over 60 years, despite the increased risk of infection in these patients. There are many anecdotal case reports of SLE induction or exacerbation following immunization, but overall, these events seem to be very rare. Evidence from prospective trials suggests that inactivated and component vaccines are probably safe in patients with SLE. Live vaccines are contraindicated in patients on immunosuppressive agents or high dose steroids (prednisone 20 mg/day or greater).

There is limited evidence regarding efficacy of vaccination in patients with SLE. Studies assessing serological response to vaccination have generally shown that the majority of patients have an appropriate response, but a significant minority do not. Response to hepatitis B vaccination may be impaired and serological responses should be assessed post vaccination. It is not clear if disease activity or immunosuppressive medications are risk factors for a poor response, rather than intrinsic abnormalities of immune function in patients with SLE. The majority of patients appear to have a reasonable serological response to vaccination.
Microchimeric cells in systemic lupus erythematosus: targets or innocent bystanders?
Authors: Stevens A M
Published: November 2006

During pregnancy maternal and fetal cells commute back and forth leading to fetal microchimerism in the mother and maternal microchimerism in the child that can persist for years after the birth. Chimeric fetal and maternal cells can be hematopoietic or can differentiate into somatic cells in multiple organs, potentially acting as targets for ‘autoimmunity' and so have been implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases that resemble graft-versus-host disease after stem cell transplantation. Fetal cells have been found in women with systemic lupus erythematosus, both in the blood and a target organ, the kidney, suggesting that they may be involved in pathogenesis. Future studies will address how the host immune system normally tolerates maternal and fetal cells or how the balance may change during autoimmunity.
Drug exposure, pregnancy outcome and fetal and childhood development occurring in the offspring of mothers with systemic lupus erythematosus and other chronic autoimmune diseases
Authors: Parke A
Published: November 2006

Most autoimmune diseases occur more commonly in females and many of these young women wish to become mothers. For pregnancy to proceed successfully immunomodulation and physiological changes preparing the reproductive system need to occur. Pregnancy occurring in a chronically ill mother who requires medications in order to maintain her own health and who may have already incurred significant organ pathology gives rise to several problems and so four questions arise: 1) What will be the effect of the pregnancy on the underlying disease? 2) What will be the effect of the disease on the outcome of pregnancy? 3) How to manage the disease, just prior to, throughout and immediately after the pregnancy? 4) The long term fetal and childhood effects of maternal disease and its management. This paper reviews the current literature pertaining to these questions in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other chronic rheumatic and autoimmune diseases.
Ethnic and geographical differences in systemic lupus erythematosus: an overview
Authors: Lau C S , Yin G , Mok M Y
Published: November 2006

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is one of the most heterogeneous autoimmune disorders known. There is production of a variety of autoantibodies and patients present with a wide range of symptoms due to multiple organ involvement by the disease process. The underlying cause is not fully understood but it may involve genetic and environmental factors. It is interesting to note that while SLE is found worldwide, it is more commonly found in some countries, and within a country certain ethnic groups appear to be more susceptible to develop this condition than others. Additionally, the presentation and course of SLE appear highly variable between patients of different ethnic origins. For example, African-Americans and Orientals are believed to have a more severe disease than Caucasian whites. But are these ethnic and geographical differences real? If yes, they may provide investigators insight into the underlying pathoaetiology of this condition and pave the way to future research directions in lupus.
Do antibodies to β2-glycoprotein 1 contribute to the better characterization of the antiphospholipid syndrome?
Authors: Detková D , Gil-Aguado A , Lavilla P , Cuesta M V , Fontaán G , Pascual-Salcedo D
Published: November 2006

The aim of this study was to determine if the measurement of anti-β2-glycoprotein I antibodies (aβ2-GPI) in serum levels contributes to the better characterization of the clinical situation of patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). For this purpose aβ2-GPI of both isotypes was measured in 42 patients with APS and 32 SLE patients without APS. Clinical records of all patients were thoroughly reviewed. The presence of aβ2-GPI was correlated with the clinical manifestations of APS and compared with the presence of anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) and lupus anticoagulant (LA) activity.

There was a positive correlation between levels of aCL and aβ2-GPI for both IgG and IgM isotypes (r of Spearman = 0.82 and 0.64 respectively, P = 0.0001). Both antibodies presented significantly higher titres in LA positive patients (P 0.05).

The specificity for APS was 91% for IgG aβ2-GPI vs 75% for IgG aCL and 87% for IgM aβ2-GPI vs 81% for IgM aCL. 68% of patients with thrombosis of 100% of patients with thrombocytopenia showed positive tests for all three markers (aCL, LA, aβ2-GPI). Simultaneous presence of circulating LA and high titres of both aCL and aβ2-GPI identify a subset of patients with primary APS (PAPS) who have a more severe clinical course of the disease. Although the specificity of aβ2-GPI IgG is higher than that of aCL IgG, when all three tests are performed aβ2-GPI testing provides only additional information to that of aCL and LA. Therefore, we concluded that the aβ2-GPI test should not be considered as a substitute for conventional LA or aCL assays. However, performance of aβ2-GPI seems to be important in PAPS with high aCL titres, to alert the physician about the risk for the worst course of the illness.
The association between the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome and neuropsychological impairment in SLE
Authors: Whitelaw D A , Spangenberg J J , Rickman R , Hugo F H , Roberts M
Published: November 2006

Objective: To examine the relationship between neuropsychological impairment and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (aPL syndrome) in patients with systemic lupus erythermatosus (SLE).

Patients: Sixty-nine patients satisfying ACR criteria were studied. Sixteen patients with the aPL syndrome and 53 patients without the syndrome were subjected to eight neuropsychological tests, a physical examination and serological investigations. No patients with other pathology, known to cause acute or chronic impairment of neuropsychological function, were included. Sixty-five underwent MRI scans.

Results: There were no significant differences in age, level of education, incidence of hypertension or disease activity in the two groups. Pearson's correlation coefficients revealed a significant negative correlation with duration of disease in six out of eight tests in the aPL positive group and one out of eight in the aPL negative group. This suggests that aPL syndrome may be involved in the psychological impairment in SLE patients. A larger cohort needs to be studied to confirm this observation.
Isolated tricuspid valve disease in antiphospholipid syndrome
Authors: Turjanski A A , Finkielman J D , Vazquez-Blanco M
Published: November 2006

Cardiac valve involvement in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) has been consistently shown. However, isolated tricuspid valve disease within this syndrome has only been recently reported. We report a patient with primary antiphospholipid syndrome who had isolated tricuspid organic valve disease, pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary thromboembolism. We suggest that the APS should be listed as one of the aetiologies of organic isolated tricuspid valve disease in the adult population.
Massive ovarian haemorrhage complicating oral anticoagulation in the Antiphospholipid Syndrome: a report of three cases
Authors: Crétel Elodie , Cacoub Patrice , Thi Huong Du Le , Gompel Anne , Amoura Zahir , Piette Jean-Charles
Published: November 2006

We report three cases of severe haemorrhagic rupture of luteal ovarian cyst requiring surgical haemostasis in young women treated with long-term oral anticoagulation for antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) who used no contraception. At the time of bleeding, the international normalized ratios were 3.78, 4.24, and 7.11. Anticoagulation was resumed post-operatively, in association with antigonadotropic progestins to induce ovulatory suppression. A systematic use of these progestins should probably be discussed in young women receiving long-term warfarin for APS. Ovarian haemorrhage must be considered when such patients develop acute abdominal pain.
ADHD With Comorbid Anxiety
Authors: Schatz David Beck , Rostain Anthony L.
Published: November 2006

Objective/Method: ADHD is often comorbid with anxiety disorders, with rates approaching 25% in many samples. This current review’s goal is to examine the literature on ADHD with comorbid anxiety from 1998 to the present.

Results: Recent studies indicate that anxiety in ADHD may a) partially inhibit the impulsivity and response inhibition deficits, b) make working memory deficits worse, and c) may be qualitatively different from more phobic types of anxiety seen in pure anxiety samples. In examining subtypes of ADHD, measures of sluggish cognitive tempo show strong correlations with anxiety measures. Insights into the nature of the comorbidity between ADHD and anxiety may be gained by examining the possible comorbidity between Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and ADHD, shared risk factors for ADHD and anxiety, and the current pathogenic models of ADHD.

Conclusion: The article concludes with a synthesis of the above work, along with directions for future research.
Manual Transmission Enhances Attention and Driving Performance of ADHD Adolescent Males
Authors: Cox Daniel J. , Punja Mohan , Powers Katie , Merkel R. Lawrence , Burket Roger , Moore Melissa , Thorndike Frances , Kovatchev Boris
Published: November 2006

Objective: Inattention is a major contributor to driving mishaps and is especially problematic among adolescent drivers with ADHD, possibly contributing to their 2 to 4 times higher incidence of collisions. Manual transmission has been demonstrated to be associated with greater arousal. This study tests the hypotheses that manual transmission, compared to automatic transmission, would be associated with better attention and performance on a driving simulator.

Method: Ten adolescent drivers with ADHD practice driving on the simulator in the manual and automatic mode. Employing a single-blind, cross-over design, participants drive the simulator at 19:30 and 22:30 hr for 30 min in both transmissions and rate their attention to driving.

Results: Subjectively, participants report being more attentive while driving in manual transmission mode. Objectively, participants drive safer in the manual transmission mode.

Conclusion: Although in need of replication, this pilot study suggests a behavioral intervention to improve driving performance among ADHD adolescents.
Career Development: Load-Bearing Wall or Window Dressing? Exploring Definitions, Theories, and Prospects for HRD-Related Theory Building
Authors: Egan Toby Marshall , Upton Matthew G. , Lynham Susan A.
Published: November 2006

Career development (CD) has long been cited as a core area associated with human resource development (HRD). Despite this explicit connection, few publications focusing on CD are available in general HRD-related literature. This review outlines selected theories, examines selected definitions of CD, and analyzes the aims of career development in relation to HRD. The authors argue that there is much more opportunity to explore CD as a necessary component of HRD than has been undertaken to date. Furthermore, they make recommendations for multilevel integration and related theory-building approaches that may enhance the role of CD in HRD.
Preparation and characterisation of fluorescent polystyrene spheres coated with different sized quantum dots
Authors: Chu M. Q. , Sun Y. , Liu G. J.
Published: November 2006

Water soluble CdSe quantum dots (QDs) coated polymer sphere with single and multiple fluorescent peaks have been prepared through the layer by layer self-assembly method. Polystyrene (PS) spheres ranging mainly from 330 to 750 nm and from 1·0 to 3·5 μm were used as the templates for deposition of three sized fluorescent QDs. The results of transmission electron microscopy and fluorescent confocal optical slice showed that the PS/CdSe composites were spherical in shape with core–shell structures. Emission colours of the mixture of spheres with single colour signal emitting at different wavelengths stimulated by a single light source could be distinguished clearly. Single spheres with separated, multiple fluorescence peaks could be easily obtained by controlling the ratios of the three sized CdSe QDs.
Study of reaction process on Ni/4H–SiC contact
Authors: Cao Y. , Nyborg L. , Yi D.-Q. , Jelvestam U.
Published: November 2006

The present study deals with mechanisms of the reaction process of fabricated thin film Ni/SiC contacts by means of XRD, XPS and Raman spectroscopy. After annealing SiC samples sputter coated with Ni at 800 and 950°C in vacuum for 20 min, the dominant silicide is textured Ni2Si. Its formation consists of two stages: initial reaction rate and subsequent diffusion controlled stage. For ultra thin initial Ni layer (∼3–6 nm), islands formation of Ni2Si is observed after heat treatment. Increasing the Ni film thickness prevents this phenomenon. The C released owing to the Ni2Si formation reaction forms a thin graphite layer on the top of the surface and also tends to form cluster inside the reaction layer. The overall degree of graphitisation is higher at 950°C than that at 800°C.
Synthesis and characterisation of cerium–samarium mixed oxide nanorods
Authors: Bugayeva N. , Robinson J.
Published: November 2006

Mixed oxide nanoparticles of 80 mol.-% cerium and 20 mol.-% samarium with rod like morphology were synthesised via a chemical coprecipitation technique. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high resolution TEM characterisation showed homogeneous distribution of both rare earth metal oxides throughout individual particles.
Influence of laser surface alloying with chromium and nickel on corrosion resistance of type 304L stainless steel
Authors: Mudali U. Kamachi , Kaul R. , Ningshen S. , Ganesh P. , Nath A. K. , Khatak H. S. , Raj Baldev
Published: November 2006

The influence of laser surface alloying (LSA) with Cr and Cr + Ni on the corrosion behaviour of type 304L stainless steel (SS) was investigated using potentiodynamic polarisation and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in chloride (0·5M NaCl) and acidic (1 N H2SO4) media. Surface alloying was carried out by laser cladding type 304L SS substrate with premixed powders of AISI type 316L SS and the desired alloying elements. The results indicated that Cr surface alloyed specimen exhibited a duplex (γ + α) microstructure with Cr content of ∼24 wt-%, whereas Cr + Ni surface alloyed specimen was associated with austenitic microstructure with Cr and Ni contents of ∼22 wt-% each. The potentiodynamic polarisation results in chloride solution indicated that LSA with Cr + Ni considerably enhanced the pitting corrosion resistance compared with LSA with Cr alone. In acidic media, such beneficial effects were not observed. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results showed an increase in semicircle arc for both chloride and acidic media for both Cr and Cr + Ni clad samples indicating improvement in the oxide film stability compared with untreated specimen. The polarisation resistance was higher and capacitance values of the laser clad specimen were lower than those in the untreated specimen. The microstructural changes and compositional variations produced by LSA are correlated to the corrosion behaviour.
Glass ceramics of high hardness and fracture toughness developed from steel fly ash
Authors: Boccaccini A. R. , Han W. X. , Dimech C. , Rawlings R. D.
Published: November 2006

A study has been carried out on the feasibility of using a high iron content fly ash, generated during steel making, as a raw material for glass ceramic production. The fly ash was mixed in different proportions with soda–lime glass cullet and sand. The devitrification of the parent glasses produced from the different mixtures was investigated using differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The mechanical properties of the glass-ceramics were assessed by hardness and indentation fracture toughness measurements. A glass ceramic with composition of 60 wt-% fly ash, 25 wt-% sand and 15 wt-% glass cullet and containing magnetite in a marked dendritic morphology exhibited the best combination of properties, namely, hardness 7·9 GPa and fracture toughness 3·75 MPam0·5. These new hard glass-ceramics are proposed for wear resistant tiles and paving for heavy duty industrial floors. In powder form, the glass ceramics are candidate materials for blasting and abrasion applications.
The role of TLR2 in the inflammatory activation of mouse fibroblasts by human antiphospholipid antibodies
Authors: Satta Nathalie , Dunoyer-Geindre Sylvie , Reber Guido , Fish Richard J. , Boehlen Francoise , Kruithof Egbert K. O. , de Moerloose Philippe
Published: November 2006

Antiphospholipid antibodies (APLAs) promote inflammatory and procoagulant responses in endothelial cells and monocytes. Previous studies have shown that MyD88, TRAF6, and NF-κB mediate cell activation by APLAs. These intermediates are also used by toll-like receptors (TLRs). We investigated the role of TLRs in the cellular response to APLAs. IgGs were isolated from the plasma of 5 patients with antiphospholipid syndrome along with immunopurified anti–β2-glycoprotein 1 IgG from a sixth patient. Control IgG was obtained from a pool of healthy donor plasmas negative for APLAs. Wild-type mouse embryonic fibroblasts (EFs) and EFs deficient in TLR1, TLR2, TLR4, or TLR6 were incubated with APLAs, anti–β2-glycoprotein 1 IgG, or control IgG. On incubation with the patient IgG, but not control IgG, a significant increase in mRNA levels of the inflammatory marker proteins MCP-1, ICAM-1, and IL-6 as well as IL-6 secretion was observed in wild-type EFs, whereas TLR2-deficient EFs did not respond. Responses in TLR1- and TLR6-deficient EFs were decreased and those in TLR4-deficient EFs comparable to those in wild-type EFs. Overexpression of human TLR2 in the TLR2-deficient EFs restituted the response to patient IgG. Our results imply that TLR2 plays a role in mouse fibroblast activation by APLAs.
Active tissue factor pathway inhibitor is expressed on the surface of coated platelets
Authors: Maroney Susan A. , Haberichter Sandra L. , Friese Paul , Collins Maureen L. , Ferrel Josephine P. , Dale George L. , Mast Alan E.
Published: November 2006

The incorporation of blood-borne forms of tissue factor (TF) into a growing blood clot is necessary for normal fibrin generation and stabilization of the blood clot. Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) is the primary physiologic inhibitor of tissue factor and is present within platelets. Expression of TFPI on the platelet surface may be the optimal location for it to abrogate blood-borne TF activity that incorporates within the blood clot, balancing the need for adequate hemostasis while preventing development of occlusive thrombosis. TFPI is produced by megakaryocytes but is not expressed on the platelet surface. Activation of platelets with thrombin receptor activation peptide does not cause release or surface expression of TFPI, demonstrating that TFPI is not stored within platelet α granules. TFPI is expressed on the platelet surface following dual-agonist activation with convulxin plus thrombin to produce coated platelets. In association with its expression on the surface of coated platelets TFPI is also released in microvesicles or as a soluble protein.