bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prisoners and their victims: Techniques of neutralization, techniques of the self
Authors: Ugelvik Thomas
Published: February 2012

‘Denial of the victim’ is one of the five classic techniques described by Sykes and Matza in their seminal work on techniques of neutralization. Based on ethnographic field work in a Norwegian remand prison, this article explores this particular technique as it is employed by prisoners in their narratives about how they came to be imprisoned. I will argue that this particular technique of neutralization, understood by Sykes and Matza as part of the etiology of crime, might fruitfully be re-conceptualized as a Foucauldian technique of the self tailored to the specific context of the prison. As both moral space and rehabilitation technology, a prison positions its prisoners as ‘immoral others’ who should confess and repent. This ascription of low morality may in fact be seen as one of the pains of imprisonment. Given this, victims represent problems for prisoners, as ‘having’ a victim equals being someone who has hurt another. I will show the narrative strategies prisoners employ when they reconstruct themselves as moral subjects in relation to their victims.
Women and Leadership in Higher Education
Authors: Madsen Susan R.
Published: February 2012

The Problem.

There continues to be concern about the need to develop more women leaders in all sectors and industries in most countries around the world. This includes the need for more women to be positioned to take on critical leadership roles within higher education.

The Solution.

This preface article highlights the Issue’s overall problem, purpose, the approach used, and its relevance to human resource development (HRD) and practice. It introduces relevant literature and provides a brief introduction of each Issue article. The Issue in general explores various topics that directly influence the career decisions, challenges, experiences, and opportunities of women in postsecondary settings. Each article shares results of research studies or conceptual frameworks and also outlines specific implications for practice.

The Stakeholders.

This Issue will provide researchers and practitioners in various fields of study with foundations and strategic frameworks to be used for more reflective teaching, research, and practice around the topic of women and leadership.
Longitudinal Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy as Marker of Cognitive Deterioration in Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Modrego Pedro J. , Fayed Nicolás
Published: February 2012

Objective: Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is highly predictive of Alzheimer’s disease but the pace of deterioration varies across patients. We hypothesize that magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) could be a useful surrogate marker to monitor progression of cognitive impairment in patients with amnestic MCI. Methods. A cohort of patients with amnestic MCI underwent single-voxel 1H-MRS at baseline and at 2-year follow-up. We included 16 patients who converted to dementia of Alzheimer type and other 16 who did not. Changes in cognitive function were compared with the changes in the metabolite levels assessed in vivo. Results. At baseline the converters had lower mean N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA)/creatine (Cr) ratios in the posteromedial parietal cortex (1.41) than nonconverters (1.47). Most patients tended to lose points in the Mini-Mental test after 2-year follow-up in parallel with decreases in NAA levels ( r = .53; P = .002) in the posteromedial parietal cortex as well. The converters showed significant decreases in NAA levels and Cr ratios, whereas the nonconverters did not ( P = .001 and .02, respectively) in this area. Conclusion. We conclude that MRS is a technique sensitive enough to monitor cognitive changes and progression to dementia in patients with amnestic MCI.
A novel electrohydrodynamic printing jet head with retractable needle
Authors: Wang Linyun , Qiu Yongrong , Pei Yanbo , Su Yuanzhe , Zhan Zhan , Lv Wenlong , Sun Daoheng
Published: February 2012

This paper presents a novel electrohydrodynamic printing system with a retractable needle, by which both dots and bead-on-string structures can be fabricated. Solution concentration is the key element defining the ejection mode. Dots can be gained when solution concentration is lower, otherwise bead-on-string structures would be fabricated. Experimental results show that the diameter of the deposition dots increases with the increasing of supply rate and the decreasing of polyethylene oxide solution concentration. In addition, the deposition frequency has a fine synchronization with the retractable frequency of the needle.
Development and Standardization of Mysore Triguna Scale
Authors: S. Shilpa , Murthy C. G. Venkatesha
Published: February 2012

The authors have developed a personality tool to assess Trigunas, that is, Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas. The Trigunas are composed of the Pancha Mahabhutas, but one or the other guna is dominant singularly or in combination. There can never be a state when one or the other Pancha Mahabhutas, and consequently the Trigunas, is absent totally. One or the other guna is in dominance and is responsible for the behavior expressed by an individual. The present authors have tried to validate the same in psychology, taking into account the descriptions as delineated in Indian tradition and classical textual scriptures. In this process, the psychometric properties of the scale are established.
Early matched sibling hematopoietic cell transplantation for adult AML in first remission using an age-adapted strategy: long-term results of a prospective GOELAMS study
Authors: Lioure Bruno , Béné Marie C. , Pigneux Arnaud , Huynh Anne , Chevallier Patrice , Fegueux Nathalie , Blaise Didier , Witz Brigitte , Delain Martine , Cornillon Jérôme , Luquet Isabelle , Blanchet Odile , Cornillet-Lefebvre Pascale , Carré Martin , Hunault Mathilde , Larosa Fabrice , Lamy Thierry , Randriamalala Edouard , Ojeda-Uribe Mario , Berthou Christian , Fornecker Luc , Harousseau Jean-Luc , Bouscary Didier , Ifrah Norbert , Cahn Jean-Yves
Published: February 2012

The LAM2001 phase 3 trial, involving 832 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML; median: 46 years) proposed HLA-identical sibling allograft HSCT for all patients with an identified donor. The trial compared reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) for patients older than 50 years of age (N = 47) and myeloablative conditioning for younger patients (N = 117). BM HSCT was performed in the younger patients, while the older ones received a consolidation course, followed by peripheral blood allo-HSCT using RIC. The incidence of grade II-IV acute GVHD, was 51.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 42.1-61.8) and 11.3% (1.6-21.2) after myeloablative or RIC, respectively (P < .0001) and that of chronic GVHD 45.8% (95% CI: 34.8-56.7) and 41.7% (24.7-58.6; NS). Cumulative incidence of nonrelapse mortality at 108 months was 15.8% (95% CI: 9.8-23.2) for myeloablative, and 6.5% (0.2-16.2) for RIC (NS). CI of relapse at 108 months was 21.7% (95% CI: 13.9-28.6) and 28.6% (16.5-43.4; NS). Overall survival at 108 months was 63.4% (95% CI: 54.6-72.2) and 65.8% (52.2-72.2), respectively, after myeloablative or RIC (NS). RIC peripheral blood stem cell allo-HSCT is prospectively feasible for patients between the ages of 51 and 60 years without excess of relapse or nonrelapse mortality, and compares favorably with myeloablative marrow allo-HSCT proposed to younger patients. This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as no. NCT01015196.
Genome-wide analysis of STAT3 binding in vivo predicts effectors of the anti-inflammatory response in macrophages
Authors: Hutchins Andrew Paul , Poulain Stéphane , Miranda-Saavedra Diego
Published: February 2012

Inflammation is a powerful response of the immune system against invading pathogens, and must be cancelled when unneeded or otherwise death inevitably follows. In macrophages, the anti-inflammatory response (AIR) is driven by STAT3 upon IL-10 signaling. The role of STAT3 is to stimulate the expression of specific genes that in-turn suppress the transcription of proinflammatory genes. Here we describe a systematic approach to identify the elusive STAT3-controlled effectors of the AIR. In vivo STAT3-binding sites were identified by ChIP-seq, coupled to expression analysis by RNA-seq, both in resting and IL-10–treated peritoneal macrophages. We report the genomic targets of STAT3 and show that STAT3's transcriptional program during the AIR is highly specific to IL-10–stimulated macrophages, that STAT3 is a positive transcriptional regulator, and we predict severalputative AIR factors that merit further investigation. This is the first in-depth study of the AIR by next-generation sequencing and provides an unprecedented degree of detail into this fundamental physiologic response.
Interobserver agreement in determining non-small cell lung cancer subtype in specimens acquired by EBUS-TBNA
Authors: Steinfort Daniel P. , Russell Prudence A. , Tsui Alpha , White Gordon , Wright Gavin , Irving Louis B.
Published: February 2012

Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) may diagnose suspected lung cancer. Determination of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) subtype may guide therapy in select patients. Small-volume biopsies may be subject to significant interobserver variability in subtype determination.

Three pathologists independently reviewed specimens from 60 patients who underwent EBUS-TBNA for diagnosis/staging of suspected/known NSCLC. Smear, haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) specimens were reviewed without reference to other specimen types obtained from the same patient. Final diagnoses, and degree of confidence in the diagnosis, were recorded for each specimen.

Almost perfect agreement was seen for distinguishing between small cell lung cancer and NSCLC for all specimen types. Agreement in determination of NSCLC subtype for smear, H&E and IHC specimens was slight (κ=0.095, 95% CI -0.164–0.355), fair (κ=0.278, 95% CI 0.075–0.481) and moderate (κ=0.564, 95% CI 0.338–0.740), respectively. Perfect agreement was seen when all three observers were confident of diagnoses made on IHC specimens.

Interobserver agreement in interpretation of EBUS-TBNA specimens is moderate for determination of NSCLC subtype. Agreement is highest following examination of IHC specimens. Clinicians should be aware of the degree of pathologist confidence in the tissue diagnosis prior to commencement of subtype-specific therapy for NSCLC.
Efficacy of a nicotine mouth spray in smoking cessation: a randomised, double-blind trial
Authors: Tønnesen Philip , Lauri Hans , Perfekt Roland , Mann Karl , Batra Anil
Published: February 2012

A nicotine mouth spray has advantages over other acute forms of nicotine replacement therapy, such as a faster uptake of nicotine and faster relief of craving.

This multicentre, randomised (2:1), double-blind, placebo-controlled efficacy and safety study evaluated self-reported, carbon monoxide-verified continuous abstinence from smoking from week 2 until weeks 6, 24, and 52 in 479 smokers (≥1 cigarette per day) who were treated with either active (n=318) or placebo (n=161) spray for 12 weeks and low-intensity counselling at three smoking cessation clinics in Denmark and Germany.

Active treatment yielded significantly higher continuous abstinence rates than placebo from week 2 until week 6 (26.1%versus16.1%; relative success rate (RR) 1.62, 95% CI 1.09–2.41), week 24 (15.7%versus6.8%; RR 2.30, 95% CI 1.23–4.30), and week 52 (13.8%versus5.6%; RR 2.48, 95% CI 1.24–4.94). Most adverse events were mild to moderate, and 9.1% of subjects on active spray withdrew due to adverse events, compared to 7.5% on placebo. The overall rate of treatment-related adverse events was 87.4% with active sprayversus71.4% with placebo spray.

Nicotine mouth spray delivered significantly higher 6-, 24- and 52-week continuous abstinence rates than placebo.
TB and MDR/XDR-TB in European Union and European Economic Area countries: managed or mismanaged?
Authors: Migliori G.B. , Sotgiu G. , D’Ambrosio L. , Centis R. , Lange C. , Bothamley G. , Cirillo D.M. , De Lorenzo S. , Guenther G. , Kliiman K. , Muetterlein R. , Spinu V. , Villar M. , Zellweger J.P. , Sandgren A. , Huitric E. , Manissero D.
Published: February 2012

In spite of the growing awareness of emerging drug-resistantMycobacterium tuberculosis, the extent of inappropriate tuberculosis (TB) case management may be underestimated, even in Europe. We evaluated TB case management in the European Union/European Economic Area countries, with special focus on multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR)-TB, using a purposely developed, standardised survey tool.

National reference centres in five countries representing different geographical, socioeconomic and epidemiological patterns of TB in Europe were surveyed. 40 consecutive, original clinical TB case records (30 MDR/XDR-TB cases) were reviewed in each of the five countries. The findings were recorded and, through the survey tool, compared with previously agreed and identified international standards.

Deviations from international standards of TB care were observed in the following areas: surveillance (no information available on patient outcomes); infection control (lack of respiratory isolation rooms/procedures and negative-pressure ventilation rooms); clinical management of TB, MDR-TB and HIV co-infection (inadequate bacteriological diagnosis, regimen selection and treatment duration); laboratory support; and diagnostic/treatment algorithms.

Gaps between present international standards of care and the management of MDR/XDR-TB patients were identified. Training, increased awareness, promotion of standards and allocation of appropriate resources are necessary to ensure appropriate care and management as well as to prevent further emergence of drug resistance.
Detrended fluctuation analysis of peak expiratory flow and exacerbation frequency in COPD
Authors: Donaldson Gavin C. , Seemungal Terence A.R. , Hurst John R. , Wedzicha Jadwiga A.
Published: February 2012

We investigated whether exacerbation frequency in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was related to an exponent α which quantifies self-similarity in daily peak expiratory flow (PEF) and is calculated using detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA).

We examined data from COPD patients who recorded an increase in respiratory symptoms and post-bronchodilator PEF on daily diary cards. We also investigated PEF data from a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the anti-cholinergic agent, tiotropium.

In the observational study there were 308 patients with COPD (195 males; mean±sdage 68.3±8.4 yrs, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) 1.12±0.46 L, FEV1% predicted 44.5±16.4%). The mean±sdα over the first year was 0.944±0.19 and it was positively related to the frequency of exacerbations per year (p=0.009). In the clinical trial, α was lower in COPD patients randomised to tiotropium, mean±sd0.87±0.21 (n=48) than on placebo, mean±sd0.95±0.19 (n=52; p=0.035). Power analysis showed that fewer patients would be required for clinical studies with α as the outcome measure than exacerbation frequency.

DFA shows that daily PEF in COPD has long-term correlations which are related to exacerbation frequency. Monitoring of PEF and use of α may result in smaller COPD patient sample sizes in trials.
Peptide markers of aminoacyl tRNA synthetases facilitate taxa counting in metagenomic data
Authors: Persi Erez , Weingart Uri , Freilich Shiri , Horn David
Published: February 2012

Background

Taxa counting is a major problem faced by analysis of metagenomic data. The most popular method relies on analysis of 16S rRNA sequences, but some studies employ also protein based analyses. It would be advantageous to have a method that is applicable directly to short sequences, of the kind extracted from samples in modern metagenomic research. This is achieved by the technique proposed here.

Results

We employ specific peptides, deduced from aminoacyl tRNA synthetases, as markers for the occurrence of single genes in data. Sequences carrying these markers are aligned and compared with each other to provide a lower limit for taxa counts in metagenomic data. The method is compared with 16S rRNA searches on a set of known genomes. The taxa counting problem is analyzed mathematically and a heuristic algorithm is proposed. When applied to genomic contigs of a recent human gut microbiome study, the taxa counting method provides information on numbers of different species and strains. We then apply our method to short read data and demonstrate how it can be calibrated to cope with errors. Comparison to known databases leads to estimates of the percentage of novelties, and the type of phyla involved.

Conclusions

A major advantage of our method is its simplicity: it relies on searching sequences for the occurrence of just 4000 specific peptides belonging to the S61 subgroup of aaRS enzymes. When compared to other methods, it provides additional insight into the taxonomic contents of metagenomic data. Furthermore, it can be directly applied to short read data, avoiding the need for genomic contig reconstruction, and taking into account short reads that are otherwise discarded as singletons. Hence it is very suitable for a fast analysis of next generation sequencing data.
Phase I clinical trial of HER2-specific immunotherapy with concomitant HER2 kinase inhibtion
Authors: Hamilton Erika , Blackwell Kimberly , Hobeika Amy C , Clay Timothy M , Broadwater Gloria , Ren Xiu-Rong , Chen Wei , Castro Henry , Lehmann Frederic , Spector Neil , Wei Junping , Osada Takuya , Lyerly H Kim
Published: February 2012

Background

Patients with HER2-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer, despite initially benefiting from the monoclonal antibody trastuzumab and the EGFR/HER2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor lapatinib, will eventually have progressive disease. HER2-based vaccines induce polyclonal antibody responses against HER2 that demonstrate enhanced anti-tumor activity when combined with lapatinib in murine models. We wished to test the clinical safety, immunogenicity, and activity of a HER2-based cancer vaccine, when combined with lapatinib.

Methods

We immunized women (n = 12) with metastatic, trastuzumab-refractory, HER2-overexpressing breast cancer with dHER2, a recombinant protein consisting of extracellular domain (ECD) and a portion of the intracellular domain (ICD) of HER2 combined with the adjuvant AS15, containing MPL, QS21, CpG and liposome. Lapatinib (1250 mg/day) was administered concurrently. Peripheral blood antibody and T cell responses were measured.

Results

This regimen was well tolerated, with no cardiotoxicity. Anti-HER2-specific antibody was induced in all patients whereas HER2-specific T cells were detected in one patient. Preliminary analyses of patient serum demonstrated downstream signaling inhibition in HER2 expressing tumor cells. The median time to progression was 55 days, with the majority of patients progressing prior to induction of peak anti-HER2 immune responses; however, 300-day overall survival was 92% (95% CI: 77-100%).

Conclusions

dHER2 combined with lapatinib was safe and immunogenic with promising long term survival in those with HER2-overexpressing breast cancers refractory to trastuzumab. Further studies to define the anticancer activity of the antibodies induced by HER2 vaccines along with lapatinib are underway.

Trial registry

ClinicalTrials.govNCT00952692
Cryptorchidism in Mice with an Androgen Receptor Ablation in Gubernaculum Testis
Authors: Kaftanovskaya Elena M. , Huang Zaohua , Barbara Agustin M. , De Gendt Karel , Verhoeven Guido , Gorlov Ivan P. , Agoulnik Alexander I.
Published: February 2012

Androgens play a critical role in the development of the male reproductive system, including the positioning of the gonads. It is not clear, however, which developmental processes are influenced by androgens and what are the target tissues and cells mediating androgen signaling during testicular descent. Using a Cre-loxP approach, we have produced male mice (GU-ARKO) with conditional inactivation of the androgen receptor (Ar) gene in the gubernacular ligament connecting the epididymis to the caudal abdominal wall. The GU-ARKO males had normal testosterone levels but developed cryptorchidism with the testes located in a suprascrotal position. Although initially subfertile, the GU-ARKO males became sterile with age. We have shown that during development, the mutant gubernaculum failed to undergo eversion, a process giving rise to the processus vaginalis, a peritoneal outpouching inside the scrotum. As a result, the cremasteric sac did not form properly, and the testes remained in the low abdominal position. Abnormal development of the cremaster muscles in the GU-ARKO males suggested the participation of androgens in myogenic differentiation; however, males with conditional AR inactivation in the striated or smooth muscle cells had a normal testicular descent. Gene expression analysis showed that AR deficiency in GU-ARKO males led to the misexpression of genes involved in muscle differentiation, cell signaling, and extracellular space remodeling. We therefore conclude that AR signaling in gubernacular cells is required for gubernaculum eversion and outgrowth. The GU-ARKO mice provide a valuable model of isolated cryptorchidism, one of the most common birth defects in newborn boys.
Negotiating Authority: A Comparative Study of Reform in Medical Training Regimes
Authors: Wallenburg Iris , Helderman Jan-Kees , de Bont Antoinette , Scheele Fedde , Meurs Pauline
Published: February 2012

Recently the medical profession has faced increased outside pressure to reform postgraduate medical training programs to better equip young doctors for changing health care needs and public expectations. In this article we explore the impact of reform on professional self-governance by conducting a comparative historical-institutional analysis of postgraduate medical training reform in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. In both countries the medical training regime has shifted from professional self-regulation to coregulation. Yet there are notable differences in each country that cannot be explained solely by diverging institutional contexts. They also result from the strategic actions by the actors involved. Based on an assessment of the recent literature on institutional transformation, this article shows how strategic actions set negotiating authority processes into motion, producing new and sometimes surprising institutional arrangements that can have profound effects on the distribution and allocation of authority in the medical training regime. It stresses the need to study the interactions among political context, the properties of institutions, and negotiating authority processes, as they are crucially important to understanding institutional transformation.
Evaluation of Optimum Room Entry Times for Radiation Therapists after High Energy Whole Pelvic Photon Treatments
Authors: Ho Lavine , White Peter , Chan Edward , Chan Kim , Ng Janet , Tam Timothy
Published: February 2012

Evaluation of Optimum Room Entry Times for Radiation Therapists after High Energy Whole Pelvic Photon Treatments: Lavine HO, et al. Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong—

Objectives

Linear accelerators operating at or above 10 MV produce neutrons by photonuclear reactions and induce activation in machine components, which are a source of potential exposure for radiation therapists. This study estimated gamma dose contributions to radiation therapists during high energy, whole pelvic, photon beam treatments and determined the optimum room entry times, in terms of safety of radiation therapists.

Methods

Two types of technique (anteriorposterior opposing and 3‐field technique) were studied. An Elekta Precise treatment system, operating up to 18 MV, was investigated. Measurements with an area monitoring device (a Mini 900R radiation monitor) were performed, to calculate gamma dose rates around the radiotherapy facility. Measurements inside the treatment room were performed when the linear accelerator was in use. The doses Received by radiation therapists were estimated, and optimum room entry times were determined.

Results

The highest gamma dose rates were approximately 7 μSv/h inside the treatment room, while the doses in the control room were close to background (~0 μSv/h) for all techniques. The highest personal dose Received by radiation therapists was estimated at 5 mSv/yr. To optimize protection, radiation therapists should wait for up to11 min after beam‐off prior to room entry.

Conclusions

The potential risks to radiation therapists with standard safety procedures were well below internationally recommended values, but risks could be further decreased by delaying room entry times. Dependent on the technique used, optimum entry times ranged between 7 to 11 min. A balance between moderate treatment times versus reduction in measured equivalent doses should be considered.
Hydrothermal Synthesis of Bioinert Oxide Film on Pure Ti: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies
Authors: Ueda Masato , Ikeda Masahiko , Langford Richard , Skepper Jeremy , Cameron Ruth E. , Best Serena M.
Published: February 2012

Titanium and its alloys have been employed in bone plates/screws, and these are often designed to be removed after recovery. Bone is known to bond to the surface of Ti alloys. This can lead to re-fracture of newly repaired bone during operations to remove the implants, however bone does not bond to Zr-based alloys. The inhibition of bone conduction on the surface of Zr-based alloys is thought to be due to the presence of a thin layer of zirconia (ZrO2) on the surface. The purpose of the present study was to synthesize bioinert films, including ZrO2 on pure Ti surfaces. In vitro apatite (HAp) formation and in vivo bone conduction in the tibiae of rats on the films were also investigated.

Commercial purity Ti was chemically treated with aqueous H2O2/HNO3 at 353 K for 20 min. The disks were hydrothermally treated with aqueous ZrOCl2/NH3/C6H8O7 (citric acid) in an autoclave at 453 K for 12 h. Simulated body fluid (SBF) immersion test and implantation into tibiae of rats were carried out.

In the hydrothermal treatment with aqueous ZrOCl2/NH3, the surface product was anatase-type TiO2. On the other hand, when citric acid was added the surface of Ti was covered homogeneously with a TiO2–ZrO2 composite film though the amount of ZrO2 was very small. HAp began to form on the non-modified Ti and TiO2 surfaces after 6 days and 4 days immersion in Hank’s solution, respectively. On the surfaces of TiO2–ZrO2, the presence of precipitates was confirmed after 6-8 days. The HAp formation was suppressed on the surfaces of TiO2–ZrO2.The present TiO2-ZrO2 surface also showed significantly lower bone-implant contact ratio in cortical bone compared with TiO2.
The Role of Stacking Fault Energy on the Indentation Size Effect of FCC Pure Metals and Alloys
Authors: Stegall D.E. , Mamun M.A. , Elmustafa A.A.
Published: February 2012

We investigated the effect of stacking fault free energy (SFE), on the magnitude of the indentation size effect (ISE) of several pure FCC metals using nanoindentation. The metals chosen were 99.999% Aluminum, 99.95% Nickel, 99.95% Silver, and 70/30 Copper Zinc (α-brass). Aluminum has a high SFE of about 200 mJ/ m2, whereas α -brass has a low SFE of less than 10 mJ/ m2. Nickel and Silver have intermediate SFE of about 128 mJ/ m2 and 22 mJ/m2 respectively. The SFE is an important interfacial characteristic and plays a significant role in the deformation of FCC metals due to its influence on dislocation movement and morphology. The SFE is a measure of the distance between partial dislocations and has a direct impact on the ability of dislocations to cross slip during plastic deformation. The lower the SFE the larger the separation between partial dislocations and thus cross slip and dynamic recovery are inhibited. The SFE impacts pure metals differently from alloys. It was discovered that the characteristic ISE behavior for the pure metals was different when compared to the α-brass which is an alloy. Several additional alloys were chosen for comparison including 7075 Aluminum and 70/30 Nickel Copper.
Validation of soil parameters for deep tube tunnel assessment
Authors: Wright Peter J.
Published: February 2012

The paper presents the results of a desk study on London Clay and a soil investigation carried out from inside London Underground deep tube tunnels, as part of the obligations of the Public–Private Partnership contract to assess the deep tube tunnels. The desk study considers the geological and drainage factors affecting the coefficient of earth pressure K0, and its relationship with depth below ground, and some evidence from tunnel circularity data is presented to support this. The resulting model is extended with considerations of how undrained strength varies with depth. A site investigation conducted from inside the tunnels is described, and the results are presented and discussed in the light of expectations from the desk study. Results for strength and stiffness testing are in general similar to those predicted. Of particular interest are the results from piezometers installed adjacent to the tunnels.
Stable inversion of measured VP and VS to estimate porosity in fluid-saturated soils
Authors: LAI C.G. , CREMPIEN DE LA CARRERA J.G.F.
Published: February 2012

Porosity is an important state parameter which controls the response of porous materials under both static and dynamic loading. The possibility of determining porosity from direct inversion of VP and VS, which are routinely measured in geophysical prospecting, is appealing. A methodology has been recently proposed and successfully applied to a number of sites and it is based on the apparent insensitivity of porosity on Poisson ratio of the soil skeleton νSK, which is a priori an unknown quantity. So far, however, the functional dependence of porosity on νSK has only marginally been investigated and doubts arise regarding whether the method is always applicable. This study attempts to investigate thoroughly the stability of the inversion of measured VS and VP to estimate porosity and to assess the degree of well-posedness of the procedure for all the combinations of VP and VS relevant in real soils.
Stormwater treatment using permeable pavements
Authors: Beecham Simon , Pezzaniti David , Kandasamy Jaya
Published: February 2012

Permeable pavements are generally used in water-sensitive urban design as a component of a treatment train and as a source control measure for reducing stormwater flows and pollutant loads. In Australia, permeable pavement systems are an emerging technology and consequently there are few installations more than 10 years old. The performance of permeable pavements in terms of treatment of urban stormwater runoff from a number of typical, but different urban catchments is discussed. Water quality monitoring was carried out in the field to quantify the improvement that permeable pavement systems can make to runoff quality at a car park located at North Haven in Adelaide, South Australia, that utilise both conventional and permeable pavement systems. Extensive laboratory analysis using stormwater collected from four sites was carried out to assess the effectiveness of permeable pavement systems for reducing pollutant discharges. In general, the permeable pavement systems were found to improve stormwater quality when tested at a 5% significance level. The results show that, on average, permeable pavements were able to reduce nutrient concentrations (total nitrogen and total phosphorus), heavy metals (zinc, lead, copper, cadmium and nickel) and total suspended solids. The reductions in pollutant concentrations can be mainly attributed to mechanical filtration by various components of the permeable pavement system.
Impact of Periodontal Therapy on the Subgingival Microbiota of Severe Periodontitis: Comparison Between Good Responders and Individuals With Refractory Periodontitis Using the Human Oral Microbe Identification Microarray
Authors: Colombo Ana Paula V. , Bennet Susan , Cotton Sean L. , Goodson J. Max , Kent Ralph , Haffajee Anne D. , Socransky Sigmund S. , Hasturk Hatice , Van Dyke Thomas E. , Dewhirst Floyd E. , Paster Bruce J.
Published: February 2012

Background: This study compares the changes to the subgingival microbiota of individuals with “refractory” periodontitis (RP) or treatable periodontitis (good responders [GR]) before and after periodontal therapy by using the Human Oral Microbe Identification Microarray (HOMIM) analysis.

Methods: Individuals with chronic periodontitis were classified as RP (n = 17) based on mean attachment loss (AL) and/or >3 sites with AL ≥2.5 mm after scaling and root planing, surgery, and systemically administered amoxicillin and metronidazole or as GR (n = 30) based on mean attachment gain and no sites with AL ≥2.5 mm after treatment. Subgingival plaque samples were taken at baseline and 15 months after treatment and analyzed for the presence of 300 species by HOMIM analysis. Significant differences in taxa before and post‐therapy were sought using the Wilcoxon test.

Results: The majority of species evaluated decreased in prevalence in both groups after treatment; however, only a small subset of organisms was significantly affected. Species that increased or persisted in high frequency in RP but were significantly reduced in GR included Bacteroidetes sp., Porphyromonas endodontalis, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella spp., Tannerella forsythia, Dialister spp., Selenomonas spp., Catonella morbi, Eubacterium spp., Filifactor alocis, Parvimonas micra, Peptostreptococcus sp. OT113, Fusobacterium sp. OT203, Pseudoramibacter alactolyticus, Streptococcus intermedius or Streptococcus constellatus, and Shuttlesworthia satelles. In contrast, Capnocytophaga sputigena, Cardiobacterium hominis, Gemella haemolysans, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, Kingella oralis, Lautropia mirabilis, Neisseria elongata, Rothia dentocariosa, Streptococcus australis, and Veillonella spp. were more associated with therapeutic success.

Conclusion: Persistence of putative and novel periodontal pathogens, as well as low prevalence of beneficial species was associated with chronic refractory periodontitis.
Suicide Mortality Among Patients Treated by the Veterans Health Administration From 2000 to 2007
Authors: Blow Frederic C. , Bohnert Amy S. B. , Ilgen Mark A. , Ignacio Rosalinda , McCarthy John F. , Valenstein Marcia M. , Knox Kerry L.
Published: February 2012

Objectives. We sought to examine rates of suicide among individuals receiving health care services in Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities over an 8-year period.

Methods. We included annual cohorts of all individuals who received VHA health care services from fiscal year (FY) 2000 through FY 2007 (October 1, 1999–September 30, 2007; N = 8 855 655). Vital status and cause of death were obtained from the National Death Index.

Results. Suicide was more common among VHA patients than members of the general US population. The overall rates of suicide among VHA patients decreased slightly but significantly from 2000 to 2007 (P < .001). Male veterans between the ages of 30 and 64 years were at the highest risk of suicide.

Conclusions. VHA health care system patients are at elevated risk for suicide and are appropriate for suicide reduction services, although the rate of suicide has decreased in recent years for this group. Comprehensive approaches to suicide prevention in the VHA focus not only on recent returnees from Iraq and Afghanistan but also on middle-aged and older Veterans.
Addressing the Surveillance Goal in the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention: The Department of Defense Suicide Event Report
Authors: Gahm Gregory A. , Reger Mark A. , Kinn Julie T. , Luxton David D. , Skopp Nancy A. , Bush Nigel E.
Published: February 2012

The US National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (National Strategy) described 11 goals across multiple areas, including suicide surveillance. Consistent with these goals, the Department of Defense (DoD) has engaged aggressively in the area of suicide surveillance.

The DoD's population-based surveillance system, the DoD Suicide Event Report (DoDSER) collects information on suicides and suicide attempts for all branches of the military. Data collected includes suicide event details, treatment history, military and psychosocial history, and psychosocial stressors at the time of the event.

Lessons learned from the DoDSER program are shared to assist other public health professionals working to address the National Strategy objectives.
Political orientation and images of the United States in Italy
Authors: Trifiletti Elena , Falvo Rossella , Dazzi Carla , Capozza Dora
Published: February 2012

Image theory was used in this study to assess the images that Italian adults with different political ideologies have of the United States. In addition to the ally, barbarian, enemy, and imperialist images, a new image, that of the father, was introduced. It was found that right-wing
respondents endorsed the father and ally images of Americans, while left-wing respondents perceived Americans as barbarians. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.
Perceptual Learning in Visual Backward Pattern Masking
Authors: Maehara Goro , Goryo Ken
Published: February 2012

The present study examined the practice effect of backward pattern masking in the context of recent researches on perceptual learning. On the discrimination task, thresholds decreased substantially with practice. In addition, the practice effect was specific to the mask pattern. In contrast, it cannot reasonably be assumed that the practice effect was specific to the eye and the retinal position. These findings suggest that practice diminished the interruption of processing in capacity-limited processing. In addition, the specificity of the practice effect to the mask pattern suggests that participants learned to filter out the specific type of mask from capacity-limited processing. On the detection task, thresholds decreased with practice. But the improvement was smaller on the detection task than on the discrimination task. It may be assumed that the practice effect on the detection task does not involve a decrease in the effect of the interruption in capacity-limited processing.
Pressure-derived versus pressure wave amplitude–derived indices of cerebrovascular pressure reactivity in relation to early clinical state and 12-month outcome following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage
Authors: Eide Per Kristian , Sorteberg Angelika , Bentsen Gunnar , Marthinsen Pål Bache , Stubhaug Audun , Sorteberg Wilhelm
Published: February 2012

Object

Indices of cerebrovascular pressure reactivity (CPR) represent surrogate markers of cerebral autoregulation. Given that intracranial pressure (ICP) wave amplitude–guided management, as compared with static ICP-guided management, improves outcome following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), indices of CPR derived from pressure wave amplitudes should be further explored. This study was undertaken to investigate the value of CPR indices derived from static ICP–arterial blood pressure (ABP) values (pressure reactivity index [PRx]) versus ICP-ABP wave amplitudes (ICP-ABP wave amplitude correlation [IAAC]) in relation to the early clinical state and 12-month outcome in patients with aneurysmal SAH.

Methods

The authors conducted a single-center clinical trial enrolling patients with aneurysmal SAH. The CPR indices of PRx and IAAC of Week 1 after hemorrhage were related to the early clinical state (Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] score) and 12-month outcome (modified Rankin Scale score).

Results

Ninety-four patients were included in the study. The IAAC, but not the PRx, increased with decreasing GCS score; that is, the higher the IAAC, the worse the clinical state. The PRx could differentiate between survivors and nonsurvivors only, whereas the IAAC clearly distinguished the groups “independent,” “dependent,” and “dead.” In patients with an average IAAC ≥ 0.2, mortality was approximately 3-fold higher than in those with an IAAC < 0.2.

Conclusions

The IAAC, which is based on single ICP-ABP wave identification, relates significantly to the early clinical state and 12-month outcome following aneurysmal SAH. Impaired cerebrovascular pressure regulation during the 1st week after a bleed relates to a worse outcome. Clinical trial registration no.: NCT00248690.
Synthesis of 1H-indazolo[2,1-b]phthalazine-triones catalysed by proline triflate under solvent-free conditions
Authors: Shi Xiangjun , Li Jia , Zhong Weihui , Li Jianjun
Published: February 2012

An efficient procedure has been developed for the synthesis of 1 H-indazolo[2,1-b]phthalazine-triones by the one-pot condensation of cyclohexane-1,3-dione, aromatic aldehydes and phthalhydrazides catalysed by proline triflate under solvent-free conditions. The reaction proceeds in good to excellent yields.
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of New Thiosubstituted Oxadiazole Derivatives of Coumarin under Solvent-Free Conditionss
Authors: Bobade Vivek D. , Patil Sachin V. , Gaikwad Nitin D.
Published: February 2012

A series of new thiosubstituted 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives of coumarin were synthesised by reaction of 7-((5-mercapto-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)methoxy)-4-methyl-2H-chromen-2-one and α-haloketones by grinding, in solvent-free conditions at room temperature. The reaction was also carried out in ethanol in reflux conditions. Shorter reaction time and better yields were observed in solvent-free conditions. The structures of the compounds were characterised by IR, NMR, elemental analysis and mass spectral data. The synthesised compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antimicrobial screening on different strains of bacteria and fungi. Most of the compounds showed good to moderate activities.
Antituberculosis, Antifungal and Photoluminescence Studies on a Mn(II)–Neocuproine Complex
Authors: Kharat Ali Nemati , Rahbari Zahra Vosoughi
Published: February 2012

The complex [Mn(Me2phen)(H2O)3(MeOH)][NO3]2, (Me2phen = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, neocuproine) has been prepared. Structural studies show that the [Mn (Me2phen) (H2O)3(MeOH)] cation is a six coordinate octahedral species with bidentate Me2phen and monodentate water and methanol ligands. The water molecules are hydrogen bonded to a Me2phen free ligand, which is co-crystallised in a position adjacent to the Mn complex. Face-to-face π···π stacking interactions between coordinated and free Me2phen ligand molecules generate an efficient parallel packing system in the complex, which also shows antituberculosis and antifungal activity. Photoluminescence properties are also reported.
Sulfamic acid Functionalised Magnetic Nanoparticles: An Efficient Solid Acid for the Multicomponent Condensations
Authors: Yarahmadi Hossein , Shaterian Hamid Reza
Published: February 2012

Sulfamic acid-functionalised magnetic nanoparticles have been synthesised and used as efficient heterogeneous solid acid catalysts for the condensation of aromatic aldehydes with 2-naphthol and amides (or carbamates) via three-component reactions under solvent-free conditions at 80°C. Quantitative conversion of the reactants is achieved under mild conditions. Recovery of the catalyst is easily achieved by ‘magnetic decantation’. The supported catalyst is reused four times without any significant degradation in catalytic activity.
Mosses Like It Rough—Growth Form Specific Responses of Mosses, Herbaceous and Woody Plants to Micro-Relief Heterogeneity
Authors: Leutner Benjamin F. , Steinbauer Manuel J. , Müller Carina M. , Früh Andrea J. , Irl Severin , Jentsch Anke , Beierkuhnlein Carl
Published: February 2012

Micro-relief heterogeneity can lead to substantial variability in microclimate and hence niche opportunities on a small scale. We explored the relationship between plant species richness and small-scale heterogeneity of micro-relief on the subtropical island of La Palma, Canary Islands. Overall, we sampled 40 plots in laurel and pine forests at four altitudinal bands. Species richness was recorded separately for various growth forms (i.e., mosses, herbaceous and woody plants). Site conditions such as altitude, slope, aspect, and tree density were measured. Micro-relief heterogeneity was characterized by surface structure and a subsequently derived surface heterogeneity index. The effect of micro-relief heterogeneity on species richness was analysed by means of linear mixed effect models and variance partitioning. Effects of micro-relief heterogeneity on species richness varied considerably between growth forms. While moss richness was affected significantly by micro-relief heterogeneity, herbaceous and woody plants richness responded mainly to larger-scale site conditions such as aspect and tree density. Our results stress the importance of small-scale relief heterogeneity for the explanation of spatial patterns of species richness. This poses new challenges as small-scale heterogeneity is largely underrepresented, e.g. with regard to its application in species distribution models.
Genomic Distribution and Divergence of Levansucrase-Coding Genes in Pseudomonas syringae
Authors: Srivastava Abhishek , Al-Karablieh Nehaya , Khandekar Shaunak , Sharmin Arifa , Weingart Helge , Ullrich Matthias S.
Published: February 2012

In the plant pathogenic bacterium, Pseudomonas syringae, the exopolysaccharide levan is synthesized by extracellular levansucrase (Lsc), which is encoded by two conserved 1,296-bp genes termed lscB and lscC in P. syringae strain PG4180. A third gene, lscA, is homologous to the 1,248-bp lsc gene of the bacterium Erwinia amylovora, causing fire blight. However, lscA is not expressed in P. syringae strain PG4180. Herein, PG4180 lscA was shown to be expressed from its native promoter in the Lsc-deficient E. amylovora mutant, Ea7/74-LS6, suggesting that lscA might be closely related to the E. amylovora lsc gene. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that lscB and lscC homologs in several P. syringae strains are part of a highly conserved 1.8-kb region containing the ORF, flanked by 450-452-bp and 49-51-bp up- and downstream sequences, respectively. Interestingly, the 450-452-bp upstream sequence, along with the initial 48-bp ORF sequence encoding for the N-terminal 16 amino acid residues of Lsc, were found to be highly similar to the respective sequence of a putatively prophage-borne glycosyl hydrolase-encoding gene in several P. syringae genomes. Minimal promoter regions of lscB and lscC were mapped in PG4180 by deletion analysis and were found to be located in similar positions upstream of lsc genes in three P. syringae genomes. Thus, a putative 498-500-bp promoter element was identified, which possesses the prophage-associated com gene and DNA encoding common N-terminal sequences of all 1,296-bp Lsc and two glycosyl hydrolases. Since the gene product of the non-expressed 1,248-bp lscA is lacking this conserved N-terminal region but is otherwise highly homologous to those of lscB and lscC, it was concluded that lscA might have been the ancestral lsc gene in E. amylovora and P. syringae. Our data indicated that its highly expressed paralogs in P. syringae are probably derived from subsequent recombination events initiated by insertion of the 498-500-bp promoter element, described herein, containing a translational start site.