bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal isolates on the development and oleoresin production of micropropagated Zingiber officinale
Authors: Silva Maicon F. da , Pescador Rosete , Rebelo Ricardo A. , Stürmer Sidney L.
Published: August 2008

We have investigated the effects of phosphate fertilization and inoculation with isolates of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Scutellospora heterogama SCT120E, Gigaspora decipiens SCT304A, Acaulospora koskei SCT400A, Entrophospora colombiana SCT115, and an assemblage (Mix) of all four isolates on growth, development and oleoresin production of micropropagated Zingiber officinale. After 120 and 210 d of growth, the Mix and phosphorus addition significantly increased shoot height relative to control plants. Phosphorus addition was the only treatment resulting in significantly large shoot dry biomass relative to control after 120 d. No statistical differences were observed between treatments for shoot dry biomass after 210 d and for fine and coarse root biomass at both harvests. Inoculation with S. herogama and G. decipiens resulted in larger yields of oleoresin, corresponding to 3.48% and 1.58% of rhizome fresh biomass respectively. Based on retention index and mass spectrometry, we have characterized the following constituents present in ginger rhizomes: ar-curcumene, zingiberene, γ-cadinene, bisabolene, δ- or α-cadinene and farnesol. Two other constituents were characterized as possible members of the gingerol class. Results suggest that the screening and inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in ginger plants is a feasible procedure to increase the oleoresin production of Z. officinale and consequently increase the aggregate value of ginger rhizome production.
Radiation Treatment Breaks and Ulcerative Mucositis in Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Russo Gregory , Haddad Robert , Posner Marshall , Machtay Mitchell
Published: August 2008

Unplanned radiation treatment breaks and prolongation of the radiation treatment time are associated with lower survival and locoregional control rates when radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy is used in the curative treatment of head and neck cancer. Treatment of head and neck cancer is intense, involving high-dose, continuous radiotherapy, and often adding chemotherapy to radiotherapy. As the intensity of treatment regimens has escalated in recent years, clinical outcomes generally have improved. However, more intensive therapy also increases the incidence of treatment-related toxicities, particularly those impacting the mucosal lining of the oral cavity, pharynx, and cervical esophagus, and results in varying degrees of ulcerative mucositis. Ulcerative mucositis is a root cause of unscheduled radiation treatment breaks, which prolongs the total radiation treatment time. Alterations in radiotherapy and chemotherapy, including the use of continuous (i.e., 7 days/week) radiotherapy to ensure constant negative proliferative pressure, may improve efficacy outcomes. However, these approaches also increase the incidence of ulcerative mucositis, thereby increasing the incidence of unplanned radiation treatment breaks. Conversely, the reduction of ulcerative mucositis to minimize unplanned breaks in radiotherapy may enhance not only tolerability, but also efficacy outcomes. Several strategies to prevent ulcerative mucositis in radiotherapy for head and neck cancer have been evaluated, but none have demonstrated strong efficacy. Continued investigation is needed to identify superior radiation treatment regimens, technology, and supportive care that reduce unplanned radiation treatment breaks with the goal of improving clinical outcomes in head and neck cancer.
The Use of TLR7 and TLR8 Ligands for the Enhancement of Cancer Immunotherapy
Authors: Smits Evelien L. J. M. , Ponsaerts Peter , Berneman Zwi N. , Van Tendeloo Viggo F. I.
Published: August 2008

Learning Objectives

After completing this course, the reader should be able to: Describe the subtypes of Toll-like receptor 7 and 8 agonists and their effect on the different components of the antitumor immune response.Argue why they are used as stand-alone immunotherapeutic agents.Evaluate their potential to improve current approaches of active and passive immunotherapy.

CME This article is available for continuing medical education credit at CME.TheOncologist.com

The importance of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in stimulating innate and adaptive immunity is now well established. In view of this, TLR ligands have become interesting targets to use as stand-alone immunotherapeutics or vaccine adjuvants for cancer treatment. TLR7 and TLR8 were found to be closely related, sharing their intracellular endosomal location, as well as their ligands.

In this review, we describe the agonists of TLR7 and TLR8 that are known so far, as well as their contribution to antitumor responses by affecting immune cells, tumor cells, and the tumor microenvironment. The major benefit of TLR7/8 agonists as immune response enhancers is their simultaneous stimulation of several cell types, resulting in a mix of activated immune cells, cytokines and chemokines at the tumor site. We discuss the studies that used TLR7/8 agonists as stand-alone immunotherapeutics or cancer vaccine adjuvants, as well as the potential of TLR7/8 ligands to enhance antitumor responses in passive immunotherapy approaches.
Lifelong running reduces oxidative stress and degenerative changes in the testes of mice
Authors: Chigurupati Srinivasulu , Son Tae Gen , Hyun Dong-Hoon , Lathia Justin D , Mughal Mohamed R , Savell Jason , Li Shuan C , Nagaraju G P C , Chan Sic L , Arumugam Thiruma V , Mattson Mark P
Published: August 2008

Regular exercise can counteract the adverse effects of aging on the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems. In males, the normal aging process is associated with reductions in testosterone production and impaired spermatogenesis, but the underlying mechanisms and their potential modification by exercise are unknown. Here, we report that lifelong regular exercise (running) protects the testes against the adverse effects of advancing age, and that this effect of running is associated with decreased amounts of oxidative damage to proteins, lipids, and DNA in spermatogenic and Leydig cells. Six-month-old male mice were divided into a sedentary group and a group that ran an average of 1.75 km/day, until the mice reached the age of 20 months. Seminiferous tubules of runners exhibited a full complement of cells at different stages of the spermatogenic process and a clear central lumen with large numbers of spermatozoa, in contrast to sedentary mice that exhibited disorganized spermatogenic cells and lacked spermatocytes in a central lumen. Levels of protein carbonyls, nitrotyrosine, lipid peroxidation products, and oxidatively modified DNA were significantly greater in spermatogenic and Leydig cells of sedentary mice compared with runners. These findings suggest that lifelong regular exercise suppresses aging of testes by a mechanism that involves reduced oxidative damage to spermatogenic and Leydig cells.
Second-Trimester Histopathological Placental Findings in Maternal-Fetal Inflammatory Response Syndrome
Authors: Fuksman Rosa B. , Mazzitelli Nancy G.
Published: August 2008

Immature delivery is frequently associated with a maternal-fetal inflammatory response at the placental level. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence, staging, and grading of histological findings (associated with acute maternal-fetal inflammatory response syndrome) in placentas of immature fetuses and to establish the relationship between maternal and fetal responses and its frequency distribution by fetal weight. The studied placentas corresponded to fetuses with weights ranging between 12 g and 625 g. The inflammatory response was classified according to the criteria published by the Perinatal Section of the Society for Pediatric Pathology. Of the 354 placentas analyzed, 231 (65.3%) showed acute inflammatory response. In 98.7% of the cases, inflammation was classified as maternal inflammatory response (MIR) and in 49.8% as fetal inflammatory response (FIR). In 49.1% of the cases, MIR was accompanied by FIR, whereas only 3 cases of FIR did not show MIR. As their stages increased, fetal response rates and the severity of MIR and FIR grew at higher stages of maternal response. Although the frequency of MIR was similar in different fetal weight groups, that of FIR increased with weight and gestational age.
Fetal Thrombotic Vasculopathy in Twin Placentas with Complete Hydatidiform Mole
Authors: Ernst Linda M. , Chou Doris , Parry Samuel
Published: August 2008

Complete hydatidiform mole with a coexistent normal twin is rare, but the mortality rate for the coexistent twin is high, usually attributed to preeclampsia or vaginal bleeding. Placental examination of 3 twin pregnancies complicated by complete hydatidiform mole revealed significant abnormalities in the fetal vasculature. In 1 case, an intrauterine demise at 27 weeks, the placenta showed chorionic plate vessels with mural fibrin thrombi. The placenta from a second case, delivered at 30 weeks for preterm labor, showed similar thrombi in chorionic plate vessels, accompanied by calcification. A third case delivered at 35 weeks produced a liveborn infant, and the placenta showed villous stromal-vascular karyorrhexis, avascular villi, and stem villous thrombosis. Fetal placental thrombotic lesions seen in the coexistent twin circulation, associated with a complete hydatidiform mole, may play a heretofore unrecognized role in the morbidity and mortality of the fetus.
Integrated Urban Evacuation Planning Framework for Responding to Human-Caused Disasters over a Surface Transportation Network
Authors: Wei Heng , Zeng Qing-An , Hu Hong , Wang Xinhao , Kukreti Anant R.
Published: August 2008

The purpose of emergency evacuation is to move people away from a dangerous place because of a threat or an occurrence of a natural or a human-caused disastrous event. Although research has investigated emergency evacuations during hurricanes and nuclear power plant disasters, there is a lack of comprehensive, interdisciplinary research on urban evacuation planning by the use of surface transportation networks, especially for terrorist-induced emergencies. Recent disasters reveal how different factors hinder emergency evacuations in urban areas. Therefore, it is imperative to investigate how these factors should be taken into account in establishing an urban evacuation strategy. To achieve this goal, a framework for an integrated urban emergency evacuation contingency plan (IUE2CP) was developed to provide a basis for creating an emergency evaluation preparedness system. Such a system can raise public awareness of the evacuation procedures and provide guidelines for municipal governments. First, the paper presents the components of the IUE2CP framework, including the novel concept of the emergency evacuation backbone network. The Beijing Olympic Green serves as a case study of the IUE2CP initiative. Second, evacuation network planning objective models are structured, including harm zone and buffer zone traffic control planning objective models. Third, the primary requirements for emergency evacuation communication systems are discussed. Finally, to include human behavior factors in IUE2CP, the concepts of situation awareness and distributed situation awareness are introduced, and the framework for their application in the feed-forward and feedback control mechanisms during evacuation is presented.
Empirical Characterization of Mass Evacuation Traffic Flow
Authors: Wolshon Brian
Published: August 2008

Among the many gaps in the current state of mass evacuation planning and analysis practice has been a lack of the field-based study of traffic flows under actual evacuation conditions. Without observational studies of such conditions, the simulations and forecasts of roadway performance during emergencies have historically been based on conjecture and professional judgment. However, the recent series of hurricane evacuations along the U.S. Gulf Coast has given investigators the opportunity to collect and evaluate traffic conditions during evacuation scenarios. This paper uses recently collected traffic data from two recent evacuations in Louisiana to assess how well various roadway classifications in different geographic areas were able to carry traffic during emergencies under both normal-flow and contraflow operations. The objectives were to characterize the general conditions of traffic flow under an evacuation condition, to address lingering questions related to maximum sustainable flows, and to examine how the flows compared with those suggested in the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM). The findings of this work suggest that during evacuations most roadways carry flows well below the HCM-predicted maximums and that despite the enormous demand conditions generated by a mass evacuation, the maximum flows on urban roadways typically do not even reach those of typical daily commuter periods.
Rhode Island Transportation System in Natural or Human-Caused Disasters
Authors: Severson J. C. , Maier-Speredelozzi V. , Wang J. H. , Collyer C. E.
Published: August 2008

The rapid advance of technology has presented authorities with many new tools that they can use to monitor and control roadways for their safe, efficient, and convenient use by motorists, working toward an intelligent transportation system that adapts to dynamic situations that best serve motorists. Recent natural and human-caused disasters have demonstrated that there are significant challenges yet to be overcome by the advancing technology of transportation systems. A significant problem is a lack of clear, efficient communication during emergencies. The public requires timely information and guidance during and after a catastrophic event. This research investigated the feasibility of enhancing transportation system preparedness by creating messages to aid motorists during natural or human-caused disasters by supplementing the existing message display libraries for variable message signs (VMSs) and dynamic message signs (DMSs). This investigation considered the current transportation emergency communication environment and attempts to enhance communication and preparedness by improving the design and display of messages on VMSs and DMSs. The study examined 465 Rhode Island drivers by using a computer survey and 157 Rhode Island drivers by using driving simulation to research important factors in the design and deployment of message displays. The results indicated that the supplementation of communication through the use of VMSs and DMSs is a viable alternative and that there are design factors that can be used to help develop new and improve existing messages through further testing and implementation.
Cluster-Based Optimization of Urban Transit Hub Locations
Authors: Yu Jie , Liu Yue , Chang Gang-Len , Yang Xiao-Guang
Published: August 2008

Choosing proper locations for urban transit hubs has always been a critical concern facing urban transportation planning agencies in China. This study proposes a mixed integer optimal location model for urban transit hubs, with the objective to minimize the demand-weighted total travel time, when explicitly taking into account traffic analysis zones as demand origins or destinations in a target urban area. An integer nonlinear programming (INLP) reformulation was developed to reduce the number of variables significantly. Bilinear constraints in the proposed INLP formulation were then remodeled into linear functions to ensure that global optimal solutions were obtained. The model was successfully applied to optimize the hub locations in Suzhou Industrial Park, China, with the result of significantly improved system performance. The effects of several critical factors, such as the number of hubs and the travel time discount coefficient on the system performance, were also investigated.
Registration of KX2‐Hawaii, Interspecific‐Hybrid Leucaena
Authors: Brewbaker James L.
Published: August 2008

KX2‐Hawaii (Reg. No. CV‐281, PI 647963) (Leucaena hybrid) is a tropical, multipurpose, woody forage legume developed at the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) of the University of Hawaii. It was derived from hybrids made in 1976 between Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit and L. pallida Britton & Rose, followed by six cycles of recurrent mass selection. Each cycle involved 2‐ to 4‐yr growth of ∼2000 plants pollarded quarterly. All trees were eliminated except self‐sterile segregants with high forage‐regrowth vigor and with high tolerance of the psyllid (Heteropsylla cubana Crawford). Approximately 120 remaining trees were chosen as parents for the next cycle of selection. KX2‐Hawaii was released by CTAHR in 2007.
Registration of High‐Methionine Versions of Maize Inbreds A632, B73, and Mo17
Authors: Phillips R. L. , Suresh J. , Olsen M. , Krone T.
Published: August 2008

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a primary energy‐supplying grain for animal feed in the United States. However, it is deficient in the essential amino acid methionine. Of the maize used for animal feed, 20% is fed to poultry, where the methionine requirement is particularly important. Significant increases in maize methionine levels in the lines reported here can be effectively used in poultry nutrition as well as in human diets where corn and bean (Phaseolus L.) play a major role. Eleven inbred lines of high‐methionine maize (58611 Inbred A632 [Reg. No. GP‐557, PI 648423], 58609 A632 (Meth) BC5S4 [Reg. No. GP‐558, PI 648424], 58610 A632 (Meth) BC5S4 [Reg. No. GP‐559, PI 648425], 58612 Inbred B73 [Reg. No. GP‐560, PI 648426], 58613 B73 (Meth) BC5S4 [Reg. No. GP‐561, PI 648427], 58614 B73 (Meth) BC5S4 [Reg. No. GP‐562, PI 648428], 58615 B73 (Meth) BC5S4 [Reg. No. GP‐563, PI 648429], 58801 Inbred Mo17 [Reg. No. GP‐564, PI 648430], 58802 Mo17 (Meth) BCS3 [Reg. No. GP‐565, PI 648431], 58803 Mo17 (Meth) BCS3 [Reg. No. GP‐566, PI 648432], and 58804 Mo17 (Meth) BCS3 [Reg. No. GP‐567, PI 648433]) were developed by the University of Minnesota and released on 26 Oct. 2007 by the Minnesota Agricultural Experimental Station. These materials were produced by crossing BSSS53 with inbred lines A632, B73, and Mo17 and backcrossing to the respective inbred with intermittent selfing. Maize inbred lines A632, B73, and Mo17 are released with methionine elevated as much as 12.5, 25.0, and 50.0%, respectively, above the recurrent parent. The germplasm source of the high methionine trait is a random line isolate from the Iowa Stiff Stalk Synthetic, identified as BSSS53 and later released by the Iowa State Experiment Station as B101 after obtaining the high methionine information from the University of Minnesota.
Registration of ‘FreedomMR’ Red Clover
Authors: Taylor Norman L.
Published: August 2008

‘FreedomMR’ red clover (Trifolium pratense L. 69‐L‐38‐1921, Reg. No. CV‐29, PI 651017) was developed by the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station and released in 2006. It was selected for mildew resistance (caused by Erysiphe polygoni DC em Salm.) from ‘Freedom!’. FreedomMR, like Freedom!, has reduced pubescence (nonglandular hairs). FreedomMR is a medium red clover cultivar adapted to Kentucky and the central clover region of the United States. It is especially recommended for hay because it less dusty than ‘Kenland’ and more mildew resistant than Freedom! or Kenland.
Development of Large‐Seeded High‐Quality, High‐Yielding Great Northern Dry Bean ‘Hungerford’ and ‘Sawtooth’
Authors: Singh Shree P. , Terán Henry , Lema Margarita , Dennis Marie F. , Hayes Richard , Robinson Craig
Published: August 2008

Large‐seeded (45 g 100 seed weight−1), high‐yielding, and high‐quality Hungerford (Reg. No. CV‐285, PI 653258) and Sawtooth (Reg. No. CV‐286, PI 653259) great northern dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars were developed at the University of Idaho‐Kimberly Agricultural Research and Extension Center. The Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station released Hungerford and Sawtooth on 12 Apr. 2007. Hungerford and Sawtooth are full‐season (95–100 d maturity) cultivars adapted to the western United States that have resistance to Bean common mosaic virus (an aphid‐vectored potyvirus) and rust [caused by Uromyces appendiculatus (Pers.) Ung.]. Both also have moderate to high levels of resistance to heat, drought, and soil zinc deficiency and manganese toxicity.
Registration of BN611, AN612, BN612, and RN613 Sorghum Genetic Stocks with Stacked bmr‐6 and bmr‐12 Genes
Authors: Pedersen J. F. , Toy J. J. , Funnell D. L. , Sattler S. E. , Oliver A. L. , Grant R. A.
Published: August 2008

Four sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] genetic stocks, BN611 (Reg. No. GS‐140, PI 652943), AN612 (Reg. No. GS‐141, PI 652944), BN612 (Reg. No. GS‐142, PI 652945), and RN613 (Reg. No. GS‐143, PI 652946), with stacked brown midrib genes bmr‐6 and bmr‐12 were developed jointly by the USDA‐ARS and the Agricultural Research Division, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, and were released in July 2006. The genetic stocks BN611, AN612 and BN612, and RN613 were tested as Atlas bmr‐6 bmr‐12, Wheatland bmr‐6 bmr‐12, and RTx430 bmr‐6 bmr‐12, respectively. Release of these genetic stocks makes stacked brown midrib genes, reported to reduce the activity of two enzymes important in lignin synthesis, cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (bmr‐6) and caffeic acid O‐methyl transferase (bmr‐12), available in a common forage sorghum, a common grain sorghum seed parent, and a common grain sorghum pollen parent background. The genetic stocks have immediate application for basic research involving lignin synthesis.
Registration of RMUP‐C5, a Random Mated Population of Upland Cotton Germplasm
Authors: Jenkins J. N. , McCarty J. C. , Gutierrez O. A. , Hayes R. W. , Bowman D. T. , Watson C. E. , Jones D. C.
Published: August 2008

RMUP‐C5 (Random Mated Upland Population Cycle 5) (Reg. No. GP‐893, PI 652942) is a unique random mated germplasm population of Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) involving six cycles of random mating beginning with an 11 parent half diallel. This germplasm was developed through cooperative research by the USDA‐ARS, Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, North Carolina State Agricultural Experiment Station, and Cotton Incorporated. Parents used in development represented nonrelated or distantly related cultivars or breeding lines from across the U.S. Cotton Belt. The bulked pollen method of pollination was used in the development, and there were six cycles of random mating, with intercrossing of the F1 considered cycle zero. Selfed seed of C5S1 has been released. Changes in correlations between traits among parents, C0, and C5 cycles show that after random mating, the C5 population has recombinations that should be useful for selection and cultivar development. Because this germplasm represents random mating among 11 very diverse breeding programs and includes parents from the major seed breeding companies, this population should be of value to breeders across the U.S. Cotton Belt.
Registration of ‘Verano’ White Bean
Authors: Beaver J. S. , Porch T. G. , Zapata M.
Published: August 2008

‘Verano’, Reg. No. CV‐282, PI 653706, a multiple disease resistant white bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivar adapted to the humid tropics, was developed and released in 2007 cooperatively by the University of Puerto Rico Agricultural Experiment Station and the USDA‐ARS. Verano has tolerance to high temperature and resistance to Bean golden yellow mosaic virus, a whitefly [Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius)]‐transmitted begomovirus, Bean common mosaic virus, and common bacterial blight [caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli (Smith) Dye]. The release and adoption of a high temperature–tolerant cultivar such as Verano will improve yield and seed quality of green‐shelled beans produced in Puerto Rico. Verano possesses traits that may be useful to breeding programs where high temperature, viral diseases, and common bacterial blight limit bean production.
Registration of ‘Maverick’ Oat
Authors: Erickson Charles A. , Obert Don E. , Burrup David E. , Blake Tom K. , Dillon Merlin A. , Wesenberg Darrell M. , Whitmore James C.
Published: August 2008

‘Maverick’ spring oat (Avena sativa L.) (Reg. No. CV‐375, PI 652940) was developed cooperatively by the USDA‐ARS and the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) and jointly released in 2007 by the USDA‐ARS, the Idaho AES, the Montana AES, and the Colorado AES. Maverick derives from the cross 80Ab988/‘Monida’ made in 1984 at Aberdeen, ID. Maverick was developed using a modified bulk selection program and selected as an F5:6 head row at Aberdeen, ID, in 1990 and was given the selection designation of 90Ab1322. Maverick is a short‐strawed oat cultivar suited to irrigated and higher moisture areas in Colorado, Idaho, and Montana. It is a white hulled, high‐protein type favored in the equine industry.
Prevention of traumatic nail gun injuries in apprentice carpenters: Use of population‐based measures to monitor intervention effectiveness
Authors: Lipscomb Hester J. , Nolan James , Patterson Dennis , Dement John M.
Published: August 2008

Introduction

Nail guns are responsible for a significant injury burden in residential construction. Risk, based on hours of work, is particularly high among apprentice carpenters due in part to more frequent exposure to tool use.

Methods

Nail gun injuries were evaluated over 3 years among carpenters enrolled in two apprenticeship programs in the Midwest (2.3 million residential work hours observed) following initiation of training and a voluntary ANSI standard change calling for safer sequential triggers on framing nailers. Injury rates, based on hours of tool use, were calculated yearly. Rates and adjusted rate ratios were calculated with Poisson regression. Attributable risk percent (AR%) and population attributable risk (PAR%) were calculated yearly for modifiable independent risk factors for injury including lack of training in tool use and type of trigger mechanism on tools being used.

Results

As apprentices received training and safer trigger mechanisms became more widespread, injury rates decreased significantly (31%). While school training and hands‐on mentoring were both important, injury rates were lowest among apprentices who received both. Although injury rates changed over the observation period, the relative risk comparing trigger mechanisms did not; contact trip triggers consistently carried a twofold risk.

Conclusions

Although training and safer trigger use both increased, because of the relative prevalence of training and trigger exposures in this population, the engineering solution consistently had the potential to make more difference in population risk. Our findings demonstrate the utility of observational methods including measures of population–based risk in monitoring intervention effectiveness and making recommendations that lead to injury reduction. Am. J. Ind. Med. 51:719–727, 2008. Published 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Shift‐work and suicide ideation among police officers
Authors: Violanti John M. , Charles Luenda E. , Hartley Tara A. , Mnatsakanova Anna , Andrew Michael E. , Fekedulegn Desta , Vila Bryan , Burchfiel Cecil M.
Published: August 2008

Background

This cross‐sectional study assessed the association of shift work with suicide ideation among police officers.

Methods

Shift work was based on daily payroll records over 5 years (41 women, 70 men). Standardized psychological measures were employed. ANOVA and Poisson regression were used to evaluate associations.

Results

Among policewomen with increased depressive symptoms, prevalence of suicide ideation increased by 116% for every 10‐unit increase in percentage of hours worked on day shift (prevalence ratio (PR) = 2.16; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.22–3.71). Among policemen with higher (but not lower) posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, prevalence of suicide ideation increased by 13% with every 10‐unit increase in the percentage of hours worked on afternoon shift (PR = 1.13; 95% CI = 1.00–1.22).

Conclusion

Prevalence of suicide ideation significantly increased among policewomen with higher depressive symptoms and increasing day shift hours, and among policemen with higher PTSD symptoms with increasing afternoon shift hours. Am. J. Ind. Med. 51:758–768, 2008. Published 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The age‐dependent h‐type AR2‐index: Basic properties and a case study
Authors: Rousseau Ronald , Jin Bihui
Published: August 2008

Hirsch‐type indices are studied with special attention to the AR2‐index introduced by Jin. The article consists of two parts: a theoretical part and a practical illustration. In the theoretical part, we recall the definition of the AR2‐index and show that an alternative definition, the so‐called AR21, does not have the properties expected for this type of index. A practical example shows the existence of some of these mathematical properties and illustrates the difference between different h‐type indices. Clearly the h‐index itself is the most robust of all. It is shown that excluding so‐called non‐WoS source articles may have a significant influence on the R‐and, especially, the g‐index.
Stabilization of stochastic delayed neural networks with Markovian switching
Authors: Sun Yonghui , Cao Jinde
Published: August 2008

In this paper, the mean square exponential stabilization problem is investigated for a class of stochastic delayed neural networks with Markovian switching. After proposing an exponential stability condition, our attention is focused on the design of a state feedback controller such that the stochastic delayed neural networks with Markovian switching is exponentially stable in mean square. Several stabilization criteria, delay‐independent and delay‐dependent ones, which are expressed in terms of a set of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs), are proposed to stabilize the stochastic delayed neural networks with Markovian switching exponentially. The usefulness and applicability of the developed results are illustrated by means of two numerical examples. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society
Robust H∞ filtering of stochastic time‐delay systems with state dependent noise
Authors: An Xiuying , Zhang Weihai , Li Qinghua
Published: August 2008

This paper is concerned with the H∞ filtering design for discrete‐time stochastic time‐delay systems with state dependent noise. A sufficient condition for the existence of H∞ filter design is presented via linear matrix inequalities. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society
Design of a memory‐based prefilter supplementing a robust PID control system
Authors: Takao Kenji , Yamamoto Toru , Hinamoto Takao
Published: August 2008

For systems with uncertainties, lots of PID parameter tuning methods have been proposed from the view point of the robust stability theory. However, the control performance becomes conservative using robust PID controllers. In this paper, a new two‐degree‐of‐freedom (2DOF) controller, which can improve the tracking properties, is proposed for nonlinear systems. According to the proposed method, the prefilter is designed as the PD compensator whose control parameters are tuned by the idea of a memory‐based modeling (MBM) method. Since the MBM method is a type of local modeling methods for nonlinear systems, PD parameters can be tuned adequately in an online manner corresponding to nonlinear properties. Finally, the effectiveness of the newly proposed control scheme is numerically evaluated on a simulation example. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society
Experimental Investigation on the Holdup Distribution of Oil‐Water Two‐Phase Flow in Horizontal Parallel Tubes
Authors: Xu J. , Wu Y. , Chang Y. , Guo J.
Published: August 2008

An experimental investigation was conducted to study the holdup distribution of oil and water two‐phase flow in two parallel tubes with unequal tube diameter. Tests were performed using white oil (of viscosity 52 mPa s and density 860 kg/m3) and tap water as liquid phases at room temperature and atmospheric outlet pressure. Measurements were taken of water flow rates from 0.5 to 12.5  m3/h and input oil volume fractions from 3 to 94 %. Results showed that there were different flow pattern maps between the run and bypass tubes when oil‐water two‐phase flow is found in the parallel tubes. At low input fluid flow rates, a large deviation could be found on the average oil holdup between the bypass and the run tubes. However, with increased input oil fraction at constant water flow rate, the holdup at the bypass tube became close to that at the run tube. Furthermore, experimental data showed that there was no significant variation in flow pattern and holdup between the run and main tubes. In order to calculate the holdup in the form of segregated flow, the drift flux model has been used here.
Attitudes and beliefs about hypnosis: A multicultural study
Authors: Capafons Antonio , Mendoza M. Elena , Espejo Begoña , Green Joseph P. , Lopes‐Pires Carlos , Selma M. Luisa , Flores Daniela , Morariu Marcela , Cristea Ioana , David Daniel , Pestana José , Carvallho Claudia
Published: August 2008

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of having personal experience and information about hypnosis over the beliefs and attitudes toward hypnosis, using a sample of students from Spain, United States, Portugal and Romania. The factor structure of the Revised Valencia Scale of Attitudes and Beliefs toward Hypnosis‐Client Version, as well as its psychometric properties are also analyzed. An exploratory factor analysis of the scale was conducted and an 8‐factor model solution similar to the one found in other versions of this scale was obtained: Help, Personal Control, Magical Solution, Interest, Collaboration, Fear, Memory/Trance and Marginal. Results also indicated that participants who had previously experienced hypnosis and/or based their knowledge of hypnosis on scientific sources scored, in general, higher in factors indicating positive attitudes and correct beliefs about hypnosis. Copyright © 2008 British Society of Experimental & Clinical Hypnosis. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The prognostic impact of dedifferentiation in retroperitoneal liposarcoma
Authors: Mussi Chiara , Collini Paola , Miceli Rosalba , Barisella Marta , Mariani Luigi , Fiore Marco , Casali Paolo G. , Gronchi Alessandro
Published: August 2008

BACKGROUND.

A series of patients with well differentiated (WD)/dedifferentiated (DD) retroperitoneal liposarcoma (RLS) was studied to evaluate the prognostic value of the presence, extension, and grade of the DD component.

METHODS.

Among 148 patients with RLS who underwent surgery over 20 years, the authors retrieved data on patients who had localized WD/DD RLS. For the current analysis, patients were included only if they had primary disease or a first recurrence at their initial presentation. The DD component, when present, was graded according to National Federation of Centers in the Fight Against Cancer (FNCLCC) criteria, and the extension of the DD component was described as a percentage. Univariate and multivariate analyses were carried out for local recurrence‐free survival (LRFS), event‐free survival (EFS), and disease‐specific survival (DSS).

RESULTS.

Of 93 patients who were identified, 36 patients (39%) had WD RLS, and 57 patients (61%) had DD RLS. The median follow‐up was 71 months (range, 28‐132 months). Seven patients (7.5%) developed distant metastases, including 5 patients who had DD RLS. The 5‐year DSS rate was 42% in patients with DD RLS and 71.6% in patients with WD RLS (P = .018). The corresponding rates for LRFS were 22% and 43.3%, respectively (P = .007). The presence of the DD component and its FNCLCC grade were independent prognostic factors for DSS and LRFS. The administration of radiation therapy was associated independently with better LRFS.

CONCLUSIONS.

Patients with high‐grade DD RLS had a worse prognosis in terms of both DSS and LRFS. The extension of the DD component and its mitotic index were relevant for EFS. The results indicated that radiation therapy may improve LRFS. These data may help stratify the risk of recurrence for patients with RLS. Clinical studies on new multimodality approaches are warranted. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Estradiol and progesterone differentially regulate the dendritic arbor of neurons in the hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus of the female rat (Rattus norvegicus)
Authors: Griffin Gerald D. , Flanagan‐Cato Loretta M.
Published: August 2008

The ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH), with its major subdivisions, the dorsomedial and ventrolateral VMH (dmVMH and vlVMH, respectively), has been studied extensively for its role in female sexual behavior. This behavior is controlled by the vlVMH through the cellular actions of estradiol combined with progesterone. Although the effects of treatment with estradiol alone on neuronal morphology in the vlVMH have been examined, much less is known about the combined effects of estradiol and progesterone on neuronal structure. The present study employed Golgi impregnation to investigate the effects of estradiol treatment alone vs. estradiol combined with progesterone treatment on dendritic arbor of VMH neurons. The dendritic arbor of VMH neurons was somewhat different in the vlVMH vs. the dmVMH, with longer and more dendrites in the vlVMH. Estradiol treatment alone caused a marked reduction in the length of long primary dendrites in the vlVMH, but not in the dmVMH. The estradiol‐induced retraction of long primary dendrites in the vlVMH was reversed within 4 hours of progesterone treatment. The differences in the dendritic arbors of dmVMH and vlVMH provide further support for the notion that these two regions have different patterns of neural connectivity. In addition, this study is the first to report opposing effects of estradiol alone vs. estradiol plus progesterone on the dendritic arbor of neurons in the vlVMH. These results suggest a structural mechanism for estradiol alone to have a modest effect on mating behavior while setting the stage for its ample expression. J. Comp. Neurol. 510:631–640, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Self‐Assembled Au Nanoparticles as Substrates for Surface‐Enhanced Vibrational Spectroscopy: Optimization and Electrochemical Stability
Authors: Fan Meikun , Brolo Alexandre G.
Published: August 2008

Three‐dimensional nanostructured metallic substrates for enhanced vibrational spectroscopy are fabricated by self‐assembly. Nanostructures consisting of one to 20 depositions of 13 nm‐diameter Au nanoparticles (NPs) on Au films are prepared and characterized by means of AFM and UV/Vis reflection–absorption spectroscopy. Surface‐enhanced polarization modulation infrared reflection–absorption spectroscopy (PM‐IRRAS) is observed from Au NPs modified by the probe molecule 4‐hydroxythiophenol. The limitation of this kind of substrate for surface‐enhanced PM‐IRRAS is discussed. The surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) from the same probe molecule is also observed and the effect of the number of Au‐NP depositions on the SERS efficiency is studied. The SERS signal from the probe molecule maximizes after 11 Au‐NP depositions, and the absolute SERS intensities from different batches are reproducible within 20 %. In situ electrochemical SERS measurements show that these substrates are stable within the potential window between −800 and +200 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl/sat. Cl−).
Monetary costs associated with bulimia
Authors: Crow Scott J. , Frisch Maria J. , Peterson Carol B. , Croll Jillian , Raatz Susan K. , Nyman John A.
Published: August 2008

Objective:

The direct monetary costs for food and laxatives, diet pills, and diuretics used by individuals with bulimia nervosa (BN) have not been studied.

Method:

Ten participants with a presenting clinical diagnosis of BN completed a 7‐day food record at the outset of treatment in order to provide estimates of weekly and yearly monetary costs for food and associated symptoms.

Results:

Participants reported means of 3.6 purge episodes, 2.5 objective binge episodes, and 2.4 subjective binge eating episodes per week. Mean total food costs were $106.98/week (SD = $53.88) or $5,581.79/year (SD = $2,811.58). Costs associated with binge eating and purging were 32.7% of all food costs (average: $1,599.45/year).

Conclusion:

Financial costs of bulimia symptoms are significant, and appear to constitute a substantial minority of all food spending by individuals with BN. © 2008 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2009
Vomiting and feeling fat—Coincidence of achalasia and bulimia nervosa
Authors: Teufel Martin , Lamprecht Georg , Zipfel Stephan , Schrauth Markus , Rapps Nora , Martens Ute , Gross Gaby
Published: August 2008

Objective:

In clinical practice it is often difficult to distinguish between organic and psychological vomiting.

Method:

We present a case of a 34‐year‐old woman with an 18‐month history of vomiting with the initial diagnosis of bulimia nervosa (BN). However, the patient showed an unusual vomiting behavior. Therefore, further somatic diagnostic procedures were carried out leading to the additional diagnosis of achalasia. After successful interventional and surgical treatment for achalasia, further psychotherapeutic interventions were necessary because of worsening of the BN symptoms. A certain disturbed eating behavior seemed to persist at 3‐year follow‐up, while the medical condition had improved.

Conclusion:

It needs to be emphasized that careful diagnostic steps are indispensable to distinguish between psychological vomiting and organic vomiting. In case of two separate diseases a suitable treatment regime for each is required. © 2008 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2009
Rhabdomyolysis and drug abuse in a patient with bulimia nervosa
Authors: García‐Gómez María del Castañar , González Javier Ordóñez , del Barrio Andrés Gómez , García Natalia Arrechea
Published: August 2008

Objective:

Eating disorders, particularly bulimia nervosa, have long been associated with alcohol and illicit drug abuse. Impulsivity has been linked to substance abuse, but there are other explanations for this association. This comorbidity could be very harmful, even deadly, because of the medical consequences of drug abuse.

Method:

This article reports on the case of a 23‐year‐old woman with bulimia nervosa, severe alcohol and illicit drug abuse, and impulsive behavior who developed rhabdomyolysis. One of the reasons for her drug addiction was the effect of these substances in appetite suppression.

Results:

The patient successfully recovered after medical and psychological treatment.

Conclusion:

This article presents the case of a patient with bulimia nervosa and a serious medical complication of illicit drug abuse. It is important to be aware of the increased risk of morbidity and mortality for this patient group. © 2008 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2009
A probabilistic framework for quantification of aftershock ground‐motion hazard in California: Methodology and parametric study
Authors: Yeo Gee Liek , Cornell C. Allin
Published: August 2008

This paper presents a proposed method of aftershock probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (APSHA) similar to conventional ‘mainshock’ PSHA in that it estimates the likelihoods of ground motion intensity (in terms of peak ground accelerations, spectral accelerations or other ground motion intensity measures) due to aftershocks following a mainshock occurrence. This proposed methodology differs from the conventional mainshock PSHA in that mainshock occurrence rates remain constant for a conventional (homogeneous Poisson) earthquake occurrence model, whereas aftershock occurrence rates decrease with increased elapsed time from the initial occurrence of the mainshock. In addition, the aftershock ground motion hazard at a site depends on the magnitude and location of the causative mainshock, and the location of aftershocks is limited to an aftershock zone, which is also dependent on the location and magnitude of the initial mainshock. APSHA is useful for post‐earthquake safety evaluation where there is a need to quantify the rates of occurrence of ground motions caused by aftershocks following the initial rupture. This knowledge will permit, for example, more informed decisions to be made for building tagging and entry of damaged buildings for rescue, repair or normal occupancy. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High spatial resolution data acquisition for the geosciences: kite aerial photography
Authors: Smith Mike J. , Chandler Jim , Rose James
Published: August 2008

This paper highlights the requirement for very high resolution (<0·25 m) elevation data for quantitative and qualitative morphometric analyses. Traditional techniques for high resolution data capture (e.g. airborne, heliborne) are prohibitively expensive for small studies and therefore a kite‐based platform was developed, in conjunction with a consumer non‐metric digital camera, for data capture. The combination of kite and digital camera is more generally termed kite aerial photography (KAP). The accuracy of data derived by digital photogrammetry and imagery acquired using a kite based non‐metric camera is assessed by three experiments: one on smooth terrain, one on tor terrain and one on a glaciofluvial esker. Ground control targets were surveyed at all three sites, with the imagery subsequently processed using the Leica Photogrammetry Suite. The results demonstrate that the method can extract a high number of sampling points at high accuracy, provided that there is suitable image texture across the site. However, final judgment concerning the suitability of derived data is dependent upon an understanding of measurement variability and user quantification of acceptable accuracy. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Campanile trevorjacksonisp. nov. (Mollusca: Gastropoda) from the Eocene of Jamaica: at last, a name for the first fossil used in intercontinental biostratigraphic correlation (de la Beche 1827)
Authors: Portell Roger W. , Donovan Stephen K.
Published: August 2008

A new species of giant fossil gastropod belonging to the genusCampanile,Campanile trevorjacksonisp. nov., is described from the Lower Eocene Stettin Formation of the Yellow Limestone Group of Jamaica. Over 180 years ago, internal moulds of these giant gastropods were first reported from the Eocene of Jamaica and referred to asCerithium; it is only with the discovery of an external mould of the shell spire that it can now be removed from open nomenclature. The ornate shell ofC. trevorjacksonihas flat‐sided to slightly rounded whorls; straight, impressed sutures; seven beaded, spiral cords per whorl and a nodose subsutural ridge in the more adapertural part of the shell. This sculpture differentiatesC. trevorjacksonifrom other PaleogeneCampanilespecies. In 1827, de la Beche includedC. trevorjacksoni(asCerithium) in a list of over 20 taxa with which he correlated his white limestone formation (including the Yellow Limestone Group of modern use) with the (Eocene)Calcaire grossierof the Paris Basin. These specimens are lost, but re‐examination of de la Beche's list suggests his identifications were mostly reasonable. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cost and technical efficiency of German hospitals: does ownership matter?
Authors: Herr Annika
Published: August 2008

This paper is the first to investigate both the technical and cost efficiency of more than 1500 German general hospitals. More specifically, it deals with the question how hospital efficiency varies with ownership, patient structure, and other exogenous factors, which are neither inputs to nor outputs of the production process. The empirical results for the years from 2001 to 2003 indicate that private and non‐profit hospitals are on average less cost efficient and less technically efficient than publicly owned hospitals. The hospital rankings based on estimated efficiency scores turn out to be negatively correlated with average length of stay, which is highest in private hospitals. The results are derived by conducting a Stochastic Frontier Analysis assuming both Cobb–Douglas and translog production technologies and using a newly available and multifaceted administrative German data set. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.