bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An automated method for nonparametric kinetic analysis of clinical DCE‐MRI data: Application to glioblastoma treated with bevacizumab
Authors: Ferl Gregory Z. , Xu Lu , Friesenhahn Michel , Bernstein Lisa J. , Barboriak Daniel P. , Port Ruediger E.
Published: April 2010

Here, we describe an automated nonparametric method for evaluating gadolinium‐diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (Gd‐DTPA) kinetics, based on dynamic contrast‐enhanced–MRI scans of glioblastoma patients taken before and after treatment with bevacizumab; no specific model or equation structure is assumed or used. Tumor and venous blood concentration‐time profiles are smoothed, using a robust algorithm that removes artifacts due to patient motion, and then deconvolved, yielding an impulse response function. In addition to smoothing, robustness of the deconvolution operation is assured by excluding data that occur prior to the plasma peak; an exhaustive analysis was performed to demonstrate that exclusion of the prepeak plasma data does not significantly affect results. All analysis steps are executed by a single R script that requires blood and tumor curves as the sole input. Statistical moment analysis of the Impulse response function yields the area under the curve (AUC) and mean residence time (MRT). Comparison of deconvolution results to fitted Tofts model parameters suggests that
${{AUC} \over {{\rm MRT}}}$
and AUC of the Impulse response function closely approximate fractional clearance from plasma to tissue (Ktrans) and fractional interstitial volume (ve) . Intervisit variability is shown to be comparable when using the deconvolution method (11% [${{AUC} \over {{\rm MRT}}}$] and 13%[AUC]) compared to the Tofts model (14%[Ktrans] and 24%[ve]). AUC and ${{AUC} \over {{\rm MRT}}}$
both exhibit a statistically significant decrease (P < 0.005) 1 day after administration of bevacizumab. Magn Reson Med 63:1366–1375, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Pixel‐based comparison of spinal cord MR diffusion anisotropy with axon packing parameters
Authors: Golabchi Fatemeh N. , Brooks Dana H. , Hoge W. Scott , De Girolami Umberto , Maier Stephan E.
Published: April 2010

Water diffusion in nerve fibers is strongly influenced by axon architecture. In this study, fractional diffusion anisotropy and transverse and longitudinal diffusion coefficients were measured in excised human cervical spinal cord with MR line‐scan diffusion imaging, at 625 μm in‐plane resolution and 3 mm slice thickness. A pixel‐based comparison of fractional diffusion anisotropy, transverse diffusion coefficient, and longitudinal diffusion coefficient data with axon packing parameters derived from corresponding stained histological sections was performed for four slices. The axon packing parameters, axon density, axon area‐fraction, and average axon size for entire specimen cross‐sections were calculated by computerized segmentation of optical microscopy data obtained at 0.53 μm resolution. Salient features could be recognized on fractional diffusion anisotropy, transverse diffusion coefficient, axon density, axon area fraction, and average axon size maps. For white matter regions only, the average correlation coefficients for fractional diffusion anisotropy compared to histology‐based parameters axon density and axon area fraction were 0.37 and 0.21, respectively. For transverse diffusion coefficient compared to axon density and axon area fraction, they were −0.40 and −0.36, and for longitudinal diffusion coefficient compared to axon density and axon area fraction, −0.14 and −0.30. All average correlation coefficients for average axon size were low. Correlation coefficients for collectively analyzed white and gray matter regions were significantly higher than correlation coefficients derived from analysis of white matter regions only. Magn Reson Med, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Phase‐contrast velocimetry with simultaneous fat/water separation
Authors: Johnson Kevin M. , Wieben Oliver , Samsonov Alexey A.
Published: April 2010

Phase‐contrast MRI can provide high‐resolution angiographic velocity images, especially in conjunction with non‐Cartesiank‐space sampling. However, acquisitions can be sensitive to errors from artifacts from main magnetic field inhomogeneities and chemical shift from fat. Particularly in body imaging, fat content can cause degraded image quality, create errors in the velocity measurements, and prevent the use of self‐calibrated amplitude of static field heterogeneity corrections. To reduce the influence of fat and facilitate self‐calibrated amplitude of static field heterogeneity corrections, a combination of chemical shift imaging with phase‐contrast velocimetry with nonlinear least‐squares estimation of velocity, fat, and water signals is proposed. A chemical shift and first‐moment symmetric dual‐echo sequence is proposed to minimize the scan time penalty, and initial investigations are performed in phantoms and volunteers that show reduced influence from fat in velocity images. Magn Reson Med, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Multiband multislice GE‐EPI at 7 tesla, with 16‐fold acceleration using partial parallel imaging with application to high spatial and temporal whole‐brain fMRI
Authors: Moeller Steen , Yacoub Essa , Olman Cheryl A. , Auerbach Edward , Strupp John , Harel Noam , Uğurbil Kâmil
Published: April 2010

Parallel imaging in the form of multiband radiofrequency excitation, together with reduced k‐space coverage in the phase‐encode direction, was applied to human gradient echo functional MRI at 7 T for increased volumetric coverage and concurrent high spatial and temporal resolution. Echo planar imaging with simultaneous acquisition of four coronal slices separated by 44mm and simultaneous 4‐fold phase‐encoding undersampling, resulting in 16‐fold acceleration and up to 16‐fold maximal aliasing, was investigated. Task/stimulus‐induced signal changes and temporal signal behavior under basal conditions were comparable for multiband and standard single‐band excitation and longer pulse repetition times. Robust, whole‐brain functional mapping at 7 T, with 2 × 2 × 2mm3 (pulse repetition time 1.25 sec) and 1 × 1 × 2mm3 (pulse repetition time 1.5 sec) resolutions, covering fields of view of 256 × 256 × 176mm3 and 192 × 172 × 176mm3, respectively, was demonstrated with current gradient performance. Magn Reson Med 63:1144–1153, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Super‐resolved spatially encoded single‐scan 2D MRI
Authors: Ben‐Eliezer Noam , Irani Michal , Frydman Lucio
Published: April 2010

Single‐scan MRI underlies a wide variety of clinical and research activities, including functional and diffusion studies. Most common among these “ultrafast” MRI approaches is echo‐planar imaging. Notwithstanding its proven success, echo‐planar imaging still faces a number of limitations, particularly as a result of susceptibility heterogeneities and of chemical shift effects that can become acute at high fields. The present study explores a new approach for acquiring multidimensional MR images in a single scan, which possesses a higher built‐in immunity to this kind of heterogeneity while retaining echo‐planar imaging's temporal and spatial performances. This new protocol combines a novel approach to multidimensional spectroscopy, based on the spatial encoding of the spin interactions, with image reconstruction algorithms based on super‐resolution principles. Single‐scan two‐dimensional MRI examples of the performance improvements provided by the resulting imaging protocol are illustrated using phantom‐based and in vivo experiments. Magn Reson Med, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
In vivo assessment of wall shear stress in the atherosclerotic aorta using flow‐sensitive 4D MRI
Authors: Harloff Andreas , Nußbaumer Andrea , Bauer Simon , Stalder Aurélien F. , Frydrychowicz Alex , Weiller Cornelius , Hennig Jürgen , Markl Michael
Published: April 2010

Our purpose was to correlate atherogenic low wall shear stress (WSS) and high oscillatory shear index (OSI) with the localization of aortic plaques. Flow‐sensitive four‐dimensional MRI was used to acquire three‐dimensional blood flow in the aorta of 62 patients with proven aortic atherosclerosis and 31 healthy volunteers. Multiplanar data analysis of WSS magnitude and OSI in 12 wall segments was performed in analysis planes distributed along the aorta. Disturbed WSS and OSI were defined as areas exposed to low WSS magnitude and high OSI beyond individual 15% thresholds. Planewise analysis revealed a good correlation (r = 0.85) of individual low WSS magnitude but not of high OSI with plaque distribution. Although plaques occurred only rarely in the ascending aorta, the incidence of low WSS magnitude and high OSI was similar to findings in other aortic segments where plaques occurred more frequently. Case‐by‐case comparisons of plaque location and critical wall parameters revealed a shift of atherogenic WSS magnitude (78% of all cases) and OSI (91%) to wall segments adjacent to the atheroma. Our results indicate that the predictive value of WSS for plaque existence depends on the aortic segment and that locations of critical wall parameters move to neighboring segments of regions affected by atherosclerosis. Magn Reson Med, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mixed incontinence: Current evidence and future perspectives
Authors: Khullar Vik , Cardozo Linda , Dmochowski Roger
Published: April 2010

The epidemiology and treatment of mixed incontinence has received relatively little attention. However, mixed incontinence—defined as the combination of stress and urge incontinence accounts for ∼33% of all cases of incontinence in women. The condition often responds poorly to treatment, either pharmacologic or surgical. Potential pharmacologic approaches for mixed incontinence include antimuscarinic agents, estrogen replacement therapy (for postmenopausal women), and dopamine, serotonin, or norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. In a large‐scale, multinational, placebo‐controlled, clinical trial, the antimuscarinic agent tolterodine significantly reduced incontinence episodes in women with mixed symptoms. The benefits of tolterodine continued to increase during the 8 weeks of the trial and extended to additional end points, including frequency, urgency, and urge incontinence. A limited number of studies have examined the use of estrogen for mixed incontinence and have produced conflicting results. Duloxetine oxalate, a combined serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, has shown great promise in animal studies, as well as in phase 2 and 3 clinical trials. This agent is the first to demonstrate efficacy as a sole therapy for stress incontinence and has exhibited favorable effects on bladder capacity, suggesting possible benefits in mixed incontinence. Only five studies (two of which were conducted during the 1980s) have specifically examined the use of surgery for the treatment of mixed incontinence; the cure rates reported have varied. The current body of information supports use of an antimuscarinic agent as initial therapy for mixed incontinence, although long‐term trials are needed to shed more light on the duration of benefit. Neurourol. Urodynam. 29:618–622, 2010. Copyright © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Potential insights into lower urinary function derived from CNS imaging
Authors: Drake Marcus J. , Tannenbaum Cara , Kanai Anthony J.
Published: April 2010

Powerful advances in central nervous system (CNS) imaging technology offer an unprecedented opportunity to identify which CNS structures coordinate lower urinary tract (LUT) function in health and disease. Positron emission tomography and functional magnetic resonance imaging studies have already yielded preliminary insights into the neural control of continence mechanisms and their dysfunction. Such technologies have also enabled researchers to begin investigating the changes in CNS activity that occur with age, or after implementation of incontinence therapies, such as sacral neuromodulation. Nonetheless, the use of CNS imaging for understanding LUT function remains in a state of infancy. Several challenges, such as the relative spatial and temporal resolutions of the different technologies, and valid and reliable interpretation of the findings under non‐physiological conditions, limit the ability to constructively understand LUT control. This paper reviews state‐of‐the‐art CNS knowledge, discusses issues related to the use of CNS technology in LUT research, and raises key questions that need to be addressed. Neurourol. Urodynam. 29:629–633, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Robust and provably second‐order explicit–explicit and implicit–explicit staggered time‐integrators for highly non‐linear compressible fluid–structure interaction problems
Authors: Farhat C. , Rallu A. , Wang K. , Belytschko T.
Published: April 2010

An explicit–explicit staggered time‐integration algorithm and an implicit–explicit counterpart are presented for the solution of non‐linear transient fluid–structure interaction problems in the Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) setting. In the explicit–explicit case where the usually desirable simultaneous updating of the fluid and structural states is both natural and trivial, staggering is shown to improve numerical stability. Using rigorous ALE extensions of the two‐stage explicit Runge–Kutta and three‐point backward difference methods for the fluid, and in both cases the explicit central difference scheme for the structure, second‐order time‐accuracy is achieved for the coupled explicit–explicit and implicit–explicit fluid–structure time‐integration methods, respectively, via suitable predictors and careful stagings of the computational steps. The robustness of both methods and their proven second‐order time‐accuracy are verified for sample application problems. Their potential for the solution of highly non‐linear fluid–structure interaction problems is demonstrated and validated with the simulation of the dynamic collapse of a cylindrical shell submerged in water. The obtained numerical results demonstrate that, even for fluid–structure applications with strong added mass effects, a carefully designed staggered and subiteration‐free time‐integrator can achieve numerical stability and robustness with respect to the slenderness of the structure, as long as the fluid is justifiably modeled as a compressible medium. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Post‐treatment regret among young breast cancer survivors
Authors: Fernandes‐Taylor Sara , Bloom Joan R.
Published: April 2010

Objective: The study addresses: (1) what women regret about their breast cancer treatment 5 years later, and (2) what characteristics of disease and treatment predict post‐treatment regret.

Method: Interviews were conducted with breast cancer survivors in the San Francisco Bay Area. Participants were interviewed following diagnosis. Five years later, women were asked whether they had any regrets about their cancer treatment (N=449). Qualitative analysis was used to identify regret content, and logistic regression was used to determine what characteristics of treatment predicted regret.

Results: Forty two point five percent women in the sample regretted some aspect of the treatment. The most common regrets were primary surgery (24.1%), chemotherapy and/or radiation (21.5%), reconstruction (17.8%), and problems with providers (13.1%). In addition, women regretted inactions (59.2%) (actions that they did not take) more than actions that they did take (30.4%). This represents a novel finding in the study of post‐treatment regret, which has largely focused on regrets over actions. Quantitative analysis revealed that women who were anxious about the future (OR=1.32; p=0.03) or had problems communicating with physicians (OR=1.26; p=0.02) during treatment were more likely to express regret 5 years later. In addition, women with new or recurrent cancers 5 years later were significantly more likely to regret some aspect of their primary treatment (OR=5.81; p<0.001).

Conclusion: This research supports addressing the psychosocial aspects of cancer care and improving physician‐patient communication. Evidence is also provided for addressing the unique emotional needs of women with recurrent cancers, who may experience an undue burden of regret. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Angle‐resolved XPS depth profiling of modeled structures: testing and improvement of the method
Authors: Polčák Josef , Čechal Jan , Bábor Petr , Urbánek Michal , Průša Stanislav , Šikola Tomáš
Published: April 2010

Angle‐resolved XPS depth profiling is a useful method in surface and ultrathin film research. However, it is useful to test various modeled structures in order to get information on its ability to recognize individual sublayers and to find its resolution limits. In this paper, a model consisting of ultrathin films with sharp interfaces has been proposed and the relative intensities of XPS lines as a function of the detection angle calculated. In addition, this method has been improved by the incorporation of an attenuation of the photoelectron signal already in the layer of its origin. Using the signal obtained from the simulation of electron spectra for surface‐analysis‐based simulations as an experimental one, genetic algorithms have been used for reproducing the profiles, especially for finding its first estimates. In this way, it was possible to find the pros and cons of the angle‐resolved XPS method in the depth profiling of Co, C and SiO2 ultrathin layers on Si substrates. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Predicting treatment effects using biomarker data in a meta‐analysis of clinical trials
Authors: Li Y. , Taylor J. M. G.
Published: April 2010

A biomarker (S) measured after randomization in a clinical trial can often provide information about the true endpoint (T) and hence the effect of treatment (Z). It can usually be measured earlier and more easily than T and as such may be useful to shorten the trial length. A potential use of S is to completely replace T as a surrogate endpoint to evaluate whether the treatment is effective. Another potential use of S is to serve as an auxiliary variable to help provide information and improve the inference on the treatment effect prediction when T is not completely observed. The objective of this report is to focus on its role as an auxiliary variable and to identify situations when S can be useful to increase efficiency in predicting the treatment effect in a new trial in a multiple‐trial setting. Both S and T are continuous. We find that higher efficiency gain is associated with higher trial‐level correlation but not individual‐level correlation when only S, but not T is measured in a new trial; but, the amount of information recovery from S is usually negligible. However, when T is partially observed in the new trial and the individual‐level correlation is relatively high, there is substantial efficiency gain by using S. For design purposes, our results suggest that it is often important to collect markers that have high adjusted individual‐level correlation with T and at least a small amount of data on T. The results are illustrated using simulations and an example from a glaucoma clinical trial. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Smart buildings: viscous dampers for a tall twisting tower
Authors: Hart Gary C. , Jain Anurag , Ekwueme Chukwuma G.
Published: April 2010

This paper presents the evolution of the structural design of one of the tallest structures in the world. The architectural design was developed by Mehrdad Yazdani at Cannon Design Group. The structural design approach is to view the building as a living building. The approach selected uses viscous dampers as an important structural member to be added to the building. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High performance/smart and living buildings: the benefits of using viscous dampers on a high‐rise building (Part I)
Authors: Hart Gary C. , Ekwueme Chukwuma G. , Brandow Gregg , Barnes Michael S. , Ozegbe Kingsley
Published: April 2010

This paper describes Part I of a two‐part study that demonstrates how using viscous dampers—Taylor Dampers in this case—significantly improves the performance of tall buildings. Part II will appear in the December issue of this Journal. The limit state of primary focus is the first structural damage limit state. Drifts are improved with the use of Taylor Dampers and also very significantly there is a large reduction in floor accelerations and damage to personal occupant contents. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Viability of intrauterine pregnancy in women with pregnancy of unknown location: prediction using human chorionic gonadotropin ratio vs. progesterone
Authors: Bignardi T. , Condous G. , Kirk E. , Van Calster B. , Van Huffel S. , Timmerman D. , Bourne T.
Published: April 2010

Objectives

To find the best predictor of the viability of intrauterine pregnancies of uncertain viability (IPUVs). An IPUV is defined as an empty intrauterine gestational sac measuring less than 20 mm in diameter or an intrauterine gestational sac containing a fetal pole with a crown–rump length (CRL) of less than 6 mm with no fetal cardiac activity.

Methods

This was a prospective observational study comparing the following two markers for the prediction of viability in IPUVs: human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) ratio (hCG 48 h : hCG 0 h); and serum progesterone at first presentation. All women classified with a pregnancy of unknown location (PUL) were followed up until final diagnosis: failing PUL, viable or non‐viable intrauterine pregnancy (IUP), or ectopic pregnancy. Those PULs found to have an IPUV at follow‐up transvaginal ultrasound scan (TVS) were included in the final analysis. Receiver–operating characteristics (ROC) curves were used to compare the performance of the hCG ratio and progesterone. Using logistic regression, the added value of combining both variables over single‐variable prediction was also evaluated. Missing values were imputed using multiple imputation.

Results

In total, 12 572 consecutive first‐trimester women were scanned. Of these, 1003 (8%) women were classified as having PULs at first scan; 379 (37.8%) PULs were confirmed as IPUVs at follow‐up scan, with 82.6% (276/334) found to be viable IUPs and 17.4% (58/334) non‐viable IUPs on a second follow‐up scan. Forty‐five PULs were lost to follow‐up. For prediction of viability in IPUVs, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) for the hCG ratio was 0.756 (95% CI, 0.686–0.826) whilst that for progesterone was 0.678 (95% CI, 0.603–0.753). The difference in AUC was 0.078 (95% CI, 0.014–0.169, P = 0.098), suggesting that the hCG ratio was at least as good as initial progesterone. Furthermore, there was no clear threshold for initial progesterone, whilst for hCG a ratio of 2 was suggested (sensitivity 78%, specificity 67%). Logistic regression modeling demonstrated that progesterone did not improve the discriminatory power of the hCG ratio (AUC = 0.758).

Conclusions

The hCG ratio may be preferred to single measurements of progesterone to predict the viability of IPUVs in the PUL population. Copyright © 2010 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Interventies na een gestructureerde medicatie-analyse door klinisch geriater en ziekenhuisapotheker bij klinisch opgenomen kwetsbare oudere patiënten
Authors: Van Dijk K. N. , Van Asselt D. Z. B. , Vogel D. , Van der Hooft C. S. , Van Roon E. N.
Published: April 2010

Objective To study the results of a structured medication review of geriatric inpatients by both geriatrician and hospitalpharmacist/clinical pharmacologist.Methods Patients who were present at the geriatric ward were eligible for a review of their medication and medical problemsusing a screening form. Recommendations and questions following these forms were subsequently discussed in thegerontopharmacologic meeting (‘GFO’) held every two weeks.Results In a 30 month-period 44 GFO’s were held during which 184 patients were discussed. A total of 206 recommendationswere made and 115 questions were asked. Of the recommended interventions,134 (65%) were accepted by the geriatrician.To stop a medication (64/206), to change the dosage of a medication (60/206) and to switch to another medication (44/206)were the types of interventions most accounted for.Conclusion Structured medication review led to a substantial number of medication changes in geriatric inpatients. Nearly twothirdsof the recommended interventions were accepted by the geriatricians. Seventy-two recommendations (35%) were notimplemented due to logistic or patient-relatedreasons.
Globaler Umweltwandel, Naturgefahren, Vulnerabilität und Katastrophenresilienz
Authors: Birkmann Jörn
Published: April 2010

Climate change and the increase of extreme weather events (floods, storms etc.) are signals of global environmental change, which implies new challenges for spatial planning. The paper examines how spatial planning and particularly regional planning focuses on natural hazards and vulnerability. Based on the example of flooding and preventive flood protection it shows that the current focus in planning lies mainly on the hazard rather than on the vulnerability. This is problematic due to the fact that climate change implies changes within the frequency and intensity of flood events. Thus the static focus on a 100 years flood event is misleading. Therefore it is essential to shift the focus and to take into account the vulnerability of society and that of different land uses. The paper discusses fundamentals and key terms. It shows how the concept of vulnerability can be made more concrete for spatial planning.
A methodological concept for territorial impact assessment applied to three EU environmental policy elements
Authors: Greiving Stefan , Fleischhauer Mark , Tarvainen Timo , Schmidt-Thomé Philipp , Jarva Jaana
Published: April 2010

EU policies require either impact assessment or evaluation, depending on the character of the policy elements. A relatively new requirement is the need to assess the territorial impacts of a policy as proposed in the European Spatial Development Perspective (ESDP) and promoted by the European Spatial Planning Observation Network (ESPON) 2006 programme. Territorial impact assessment (TIA) is defined as “a tool for assessing the impact of spatial development against spatial policy objectives or prospects for an area” (European Communities 2000). This paper summarises and further develops basic work on TIA and presents a methodological concept and the first results of such a TIA approach, applying it to EU environmental policy (civil protection, water, biodiversity).
Regionalmanagement in drei kooperierenden Amtsbereichen
Authors: Mehl Dietmar , Bollmohr Anja , Bittl Romuald , Reimann Thomas
Published: April 2010

Ein innovatives Pilotvorhaben integrierter ländlicher Entwicklung zur Umsetzung von GAKG und ELER-Verordnung in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Cannabis et fertilité masculine
Authors: Alj Y. , Demonlis M. , Pavili L. , Dellis X. , Joguet G. , Bangou J.
Published: April 2010

Le cannabis est la drogue récréative la plus utilisée dans le monde. Une des inquiétudes majeures de l’exposition au cannabis concerne son effet négatif sur la fonction reproductive. La découverte du système endocannabinnoïde, composé de multiples ligands endogènes lipidiques, leurs récepteurs et leurs enzymes métaboliques, a permis de mettre en évidence l’importance de la signalisation de ce système dans de multiples événements de la reproduction. Dans cet article, nous nous proposons de passer en revue la littérature sur l’impact du cannabis dans la fonction reproductive masculine. Nous aborderons les études réalisées chez l’homme et chez l’animal, et enfin nous discuterons les limites et perspectives des études envisageables pour évaluer les effets du cannabis sur la fertilité masculine.
On the energy critical Schrödinger equation in 3D non-trapping domains
Authors: Ivanovici Oana , Planchon Fabrice
Published: April 2010

We prove that the quintic Schrödinger equation with Dirichlet boundary conditions is locally well posed for

H_{0}^{1}(\Omega )

data on any smooth, non-trapping domain

\Omega \subset \mathbb{R}^{3}

. The key ingredient is a smoothing effect in

L_{x}^{5}(L_{t}^{2})

for the linear equation. We also derive scattering results for the whole range of defocusing sub quintic Schrödinger equations outside a star-shaped domain.
Multi-bump standing waves with critical frequency for nonlinear Schrödinger equations
Authors: Byeon Jaeyoung , Oshita Yoshihito
Published: April 2010

We glue together standing wave solutions concentrating around critical points of the potential

V

with different energy scales. We devise a hybrid method using simultaneously a Lyapunov–Schmidt reduction method and a variational method to glue together standing waves concentrating on local minimum points which possibly have no corresponding limiting equations and those concentrating on general critical points which converge to solutions of corresponding limiting problems satisfying a non-degeneracy condition.

Nous recollons des ondes stationnaires d'ordres différents en énergie, se concentrant autour de points critiques d'un potentiel

V

. Nous introduisons une méthode hybride, utilisant à la fois une méthode de réduction de Lyapunov–Schmidt, et une méthode variationnelle pour recoller des ondes stationnaires, se concentrant en des minima locaux, éventuellement sans équation-limite correspondante, et d'autres se concentrant en des points critiques quelconques, convergeant vers des solutions de problèmes-limites correspondants, satisfaisant une condition de non-dégénérescence.
Small quantities of carotenoid-rich tropical green leafy vegetables indigenous to Africa maintain vitamin A status in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)
Authors: Ejoh Richard A. , Dever Joseph T. , Mills Jordan P. , Tanumihardjo Sherry A.
Published: April 2010

Leafy vegetables are important sources of provitamin A carotenoids. Information on their ability to provide vitamin A is often misleading because of the methodology used to assess bioefficacy. Mongolian gerbils were used to evaluate the bioefficacy of provitamin A carotenoids in tropical leafy vegetables (i.e. Solanum nigrum, Moringa oleifera, Vernonia calvoana and Hibiscus cannabinus) that are indigenous to Africa. Gerbils (n 67) were vitamin A-depleted for 5 weeks. After a baseline kill (n 7), the gerbils were weight-matched and assigned to six treatment groups (n 10; four vegetable groups; negative and positive controls). For 4 weeks, the treatments included 35 nmol vitamin A (theoretical concentrations based on 100 % bioefficacy) in the form of vegetables or retinyl acetate. In addition to their diets, the control and vegetable groups received daily doses of oil, while the vitamin A group received retinyl acetate in oil matched to prior day intake. Serum and livers were analysed for vitamin A using HPLC. Serum retinol concentrations did not differ among groups, but total liver vitamin A of the vitamin A and vegetable groups were higher than that of the negative control group (P < 0·0001). Liver β-carotene 15,15′-monooxygenase-1 expression levels were determined for two vegetable groups and were similar to the positive and negative controls. Conversion factors for the different leafy vegetables were between 1·9 and 2·3 μg β-carotene equivalents to 1 μg retinol. Small quantities of these vegetables maintained vitamin A status in gerbils through efficient bioconversion of β-carotene to retinol.
Role of Toll-like receptors in the development of immunotolerance mediated by probiotics
Authors: Gómez-Llorente Carolina , Muñoz Sergio , Gil Angel
Published: April 2010

Commensal bacteria are important in intestinal homeostasis and appear to play a role in early tolerance to foreign antigens. The requirement for homeostatic balance between tolerance and immunity poses a unique regulatory challenge to mucosal immune systems. Dysregulation of this balance can contribute to the pathogenesis of numerous inflammatory conditions such as inflammatory bowel diseases. The primary response to these bacteria is triggered by pattern recognition receptors (PRR), which bind pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMP). PRR comprise Toll-like receptors (TLR), nucleotide-binding oligomerization domains, adhesion molecules and lectins. Probiotics are living commensal micro-organisms of the intestinal tract with clinically documented health effects in human subjects. They are known to affect the gastrointestinal tract and the associated immune system and to have numerous effects on intestinal function and immune responses, including immunotolerance. This last effect appears to be mediated via regulatory T-cell activation by intestinal dendritic cells and the low activation of T-helper 1 and 2 (Th1 and Th2) cell inflammatory responses. However, the precise mechanisms of probiotic activity remain poorly understood. The aim of the present work was to review the function of TLR in the development of immunotolerance and examine the specific role of probiotics in the regulation of tolerance to antigens.
Deliberative global governance and the question of legitimacy: what can we learn from the WTO?
Authors: HIGGOTT RICHARD , ERMAN EVA
Published: April 2010

The integration of the global economy through the liberalisation of the trade regime, the deregulation of financial markets and the privatisation of state assets has led to what we now commonly call ‘globalisation’. These processes, however, have not been accompanied by a comparable development of the global polity. At the same time, it is increasingly recognised in policy circles that without the development of norms, institutions and processes to manage globalisation many of the advantages it has brought the world could be undone by a failure to mitigate the excesses and negative consequences that emanate from it, especially for large sections of the world's poor. This article addresses two broad questions: what might we understand by global governance in an era of increasingly contested globalisation and what role might international organisations play in making it more (democratically) legitimate? It addresses these questions in three steps. First, it proposes a heuristic definition that identifies two key strands of ‘governance’ in the contemporary debate. It is argued that global governance understood as effective and efficient collective decision-making and problem solving is insufficient for normative reasons and must, in addition, be complemented by global governance understood as the democratic legitimation of policy-making. In a second step, as an example of this latter type of governance, the article develops a deliberative two-track view of transnational legitimacy. It argues that deliberative democracy offers some fruitful theoretical tools in this context since it is equipped to address some of the qualitative problems of international decision-making as well as accommodate a plausible notion of political agency. Thirdly, from the point of view of this two-track view, the article examines the WTO and discusses its strengths and vulnerabilities, not only as a vehicle for trade liberalisation but also as an instrument of better global governance.
ON PROBABILITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE MINIMUM DISTANCE BETWEEN EVENTS OF A POISSON PROCESS IN A FINITE INTERVAL
Authors: Covo Shai
Published: April 2010

We revisit the probability that any two consecutive events in a Poisson process N on [0, t] are separated by a time interval that is greater than s (<t) (a particular scan statistic probability) and the closely related probability (recently introduced by Todinov [8], who denotes it as pMFFOP) that before any event of N in [0, t], there exists an event-free interval greater than s. Both probabilities admit simple explicit expressions, which, however, become intractable for very large values of t/s. Our main objective is to demonstrate that these probabilities can be approximated extremely well for large values of t/s by some very tractable and attractive expressions (actually, already for t larger than a few multiples of s).
Epidemiology of squirrelpox virus in grey squirrels in the UK
Authors: BRUEMMER C. M. , RUSHTON S. P. , GURNELL J. , LURZ P. W. W. , NETTLETON P. , SAINSBURY A. W. , DUFF J. P. , GILRAY J. , McINNES C. J.
Published: April 2010

The dramatic decline of the native red squirrel in the UK has been attributed to both direct and disease-mediated competition with the grey squirrel where the competitor acts as a reservoir host of squirrelpox virus (SQPV). SQPV is threatening red squirrel conservation efforts, yet little is known about its epidemiology. We analysed seroprevalence of antibody against SQPV in grey squirrels from northern England and the Scottish Borders in relation to season, weather, sex, and body weight using Generalized Linear Models in conjunction with Structural Equation Modelling. Results indicated a heterogeneous prevalence pattern which is male-biased, increases with weight and varies seasonally. Seroprevalence rose during the autumn and peaked in spring. Weather parameters had an indirect effect on SQPV antibody status. Our findings point towards a direct disease transmission route, which includes environmental contamination. Red squirrel conservation management options should therefore seek to minimize squirrel contact points.
Epidemiological and genetic characteristics of norovirus outbreaks in long-term care facilities, 2003–2006
Authors: ROSENTHAL N. A. , LEE L. E. , VERMEULEN B. A. J. , HEDBERG K. , KEENE W. E. , WIDDOWSON M.-A. , CIESLAK P. R. , VINJÉ J.
Published: April 2010

To identify the epidemiological and genetic characteristics of norovirus (NoV) outbreaks and estimate the impact of NoV infections in an older population, we analysed epidemiological and laboratory data collected using standardized methods from long-term care facilities (LTCFs) during 2003–2006. Faecal specimens were tested for NoV by real-time reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction. NoV strains were genotyped by sequencing. Of the 234 acute gastroenteritis (AGE) outbreaks reported, 163 (70%) were caused by NoV. The annual attack rate of outbreak-associated NoV infection in LTCF residents was 4%, with a case-hospitalization rate of 3·1% and a case-fatality rate of 0·5%. GII.4 strains accounted for 84% of NoV outbreaks. Median duration of illness was longer for GII.4 infections than non-GII.4 infections (33vs. 24 h,P<0·001). Emerging GII.4 strains (Hunter/2004, Minerva/2006b, Terneuzen/2006a) gradually replaced the previously dominant strain (Farmington Hills/2002) during 2004–2006. NoV GII.4 strains are now associated with the majority of AGE outbreaks in LTCFs and prolonged illness in Oregon.
Habitat features of settlement areas used by floaters of Bonelli’s and Golden Eagles
Authors: CARO JESÚS , ONTIVEROS DIEGO , PIZARRO MANUEL , PLEGUEZUELOS JUAN M.
Published: April 2010

Bonelli’s EagleHieraaetus fasciatusand Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosare two declining species, in which floaters tend to be located outside of breeding territories during the dispersal period, in so-called settlement areas. We studied settlement areas for both these long-lived raptors in the southern Iberian Peninsula, to gain a better understanding of the ecological requirements of the eagles during their long pre-adult stage, a period accounting for around 80% of the species’ mortality. Eagle abundance was calculated by road censuses, and habitat characteristics of settlement and non-settlement areas compared by General Discriminant Analysis (GDA) and Logistic Regression (LR). The best model of GDA and LR incorporated the abundance of main prey for eagles (rabbits, partridges) and orchard surface area, and explained 100% of eagle presence; the best model selected by GDA also included habitat heterogeneity. Both eagles tended to share settlement areas in the southern Iberian Peninsula and, when they did not, the mean annual temperature and slope appeared to explain the segregation between the two species. Management measures for the conservation of both threatened species during the dispersal period should be focused on identifying settlement areas, maintaining high prey densities and maximum habitat heterogeneity.
DYNAMIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INFLATION AND FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Authors: Kim Dong-Hyeon , Lin Shu-Chin
Published: April 2010

This paper studies the long- and short-run relationships between inflation and financial development. Applying the Pooled Mean Group estimator of Pesaran, Shin, and Smith (1999,Journal of the American Statistical Association94, 621–634) to unbalanced panel data for 87 countries over the period 1960–2005, we find that a negative long-run relationship between inflation and financial development coexists with a positive short-run relationship. However, when the data are split into different income or inflation groups, these results can be observed only in low-income or low-inflation economies.
Custom-designed proteins as novel therapeutic tools? The case of arrestins
Authors: Gurevich Vsevolod V. , Gurevich Eugenia V.
Published: April 2010

Multiple genetic disorders can be associated with excessive signalling by mutant G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that are either constitutively active or have lost sites where phosphorylation by GPCR kinases is necessary for desensitisation by cognate arrestins. Phosphorylation-independent arrestin1 can compensate for defects in phosphorylation of the GPCR rhodopsin in retinal rod cells, facilitating recovery, improving light responsiveness, and promoting photoreceptor survival. These proof-of-principle experiments show that, based on mechanistic understanding of the inner workings of a protein, one can modify its functional characteristics to generate custom-designed mutants that improve the balance of signalling in congenital and acquired disorders. Manipulations of arrestin elements responsible for scaffolding mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades and binding other signalling proteins involved in life-or-death decisions in the cell are likely to yield mutants that affect cell survival and proliferation in the desired direction. Although this approach is still in its infancy, targeted redesign of individual functions of many proteins offers a promise of a completely new therapeutic toolbox with huge potential.
DESCARTES' OTHER DECEPTION PROBLEM
Authors: O'Connor David
Published: April 2010

The problem of skepticism is the fundamental epistemological problem Descartes addresses. He introduces three forms of it, each embedded in a possible error-scenario. The first possibility is that, since my sense perception is sometimes misperception, my sensory experience in any given case may not reflect how things are outside my experience. The second possibility is that maybe I am dreaming when I think I am awake. And the third possibility is that maybe I am deceived in all my ideas and beliefs by a powerful demon. The third is the most radical, far-reaching, and potent of the error-scenarios Descartes discusses. Unlike the first two, it threatens knowledge of all kinds. So, if Descartes is to defeat skepticism in a fundamental and comprehensive way, he must eliminate that possible scenario.
DID SOCRATES KNOW NOTHING?
Authors: Machan Tibor R.
Published: April 2010

A familiar teaching about Socrates, based mostly on Plato's representation of the Athenian philosopher, is that he professed not to know anything. The only thing he knew, he is reported to have said, is that he knew nothing.
MIGHT DOES NOT MAKE RIGHT
Authors: Suttle Bruce B.
Published: April 2010

Most people believe that rules, orders, and directives issue forth from some agency. Granting that, then being obligated to do something is interpreted as having been put under an obligation by some agency to do something. And if an obligation has been imposed upon one by some agency, then, it is concluded, that agency has the power – therefore the authority – to enforce compliance with the obligation.
THE PROBLEM OF WORSHIP
Authors: Aikin Scott F.
Published: April 2010

Theism is a cluster of views. The first of which is that God exists. Others are that God has all the relevant omni-attributes, that He created the world, and that He communicates with and performs miracles on behalf of humans. There is one additional view that is often overlooked. It is that humans are obligated to worship God. Importantly, this issue of worship is of central importance to traditional theism. And it extends into pagan thought that predates Christianity. Take, for example Epicurus' deployment of the argument from evil:

If god is willing to prevent evil, then he is not omnipotent. If he is able but unwilling, then he is malevolent. If he is able and willing, from whence comes evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him god?
Primordial nucleosynthesis: A cosmological probe
Authors: Steigman Gary
Published: April 2010

During its early evolution the Universe provided a laboratory to probe fundamental physics at high energies. Relics from those early epochs, such as the light elements synthesized during primordial nucleosynthesis when the Universe was only a few minutes old, and the cosmic background photons, last scattered when the protons (and alphas) and electrons (re)combined some 400 thousand years later, may be used to probe the standard models of cosmology and of particle physics. The internal consistency of primordial nucleosynthesis is tested by comparing the predicted and observed abundances of the light elements, and the consistency of the standard models is explored by comparing the values of the cosmological parameters inferred from primordial nucleosynthesis with those determined by studying the cosmic background radiation.
The cosmic lithium problem and physics beyond the Standard Model
Authors: Jedamzik Karsten
Published: April 2010

In this proceeding I briefly discuss the possibility of relic decaying or annihilating particles to explain the cosmological 7Li anomaly and/or to be the source of significant amounts of pre-galactic 6Li. The effect of relic massive charged particles through catalysis of nuclear reactions is also discussed. The possibility of a connection of the 7Li problem to the cosmic dark matter and physics beyond the standard model of particle physics, such as supersymmetry, is noted.
Primordial nucleosynthesis in higher dimensional cosmology
Authors: Chatterjee S.
Published: April 2010

We investigate nucleosynthesis and element formation in the early universe in the framework of higher dimensional cosmology. We find that temperature decays less rapidly in higher dimensional cosmology, which we believe may have nontrivial consequences vis-a-vis primordial physics.
Measurements of deuterium in the Milky Way
Authors: Sembach Kenneth
Published: April 2010

In this article I review measurements of deuterium in the Milky Way.
(Un)true deuterium abundance in the Galactic disk
Authors: Prodanović Tijana , Steigman Gary , Fields Brian D.
Published: April 2010

Deuterium has a special place in cosmology, nuclear astrophysics, and galactic chemical evolution, because of its unique property that it is only created in the big bang nucleosynthesis while all other processes result in its net destruction. For this reason, among other things, deuterium abundance measurements in the interstellar medium (ISM) allow us to determine the fraction of interstellar gas that has been cycled through stars, and set constraints and learn about different Galactic chemical evolution (GCE) models. However, recent indications that deuterium might be preferentially depleted onto dust grains complicate our understanding about the meaning of measured ISM deuterium abundances. For this reason, recent estimates by Linsky et al. (2006) have yielded a lower bound to the “true”, undepleted, ISM deuterium abundance that is very close to the primordial abundance, indicating a small deuterium astration factor contrary to the demands of many GCE models. To avoid any prejudice about deuterium dust depletion along different lines of sight that are used to determine the “true” D abundance, we propose a model-independent, statistical Bayesian method to address this issue and determine in a model-independent manner the undepleted ISM D abundance. We find the best estimate for the gas-phase ISM deuterium abundance to be (D/H)ISM ≥ (2.0 ± 0.1) × 10−5. Presented are the results of Prodanović et al. (2009).