bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nifedipine for the Treatment of High Altitude Pulmonary Edema
Authors: Deshwal Rajesh , Iqbal Mohd , Basnet Sidhant
Published: March 2012

Objective

The purpose of this study was to assess the risk factors, patient profile, clinical features, and oral nifedipine as a treatment option for a series of 110 patients with high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) in a military hospital in India.

Methods

This was a prospective cross-sectional study in a military hospital. In all, 110 patients with HAPE admitted and treated over a period of 3 years are reported. The following measurements were noted: dyspnea, cough, chest pain, cyanosis, pulse rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, crepitations, radiographic abnormalities, electrocardiogram, peripheral pulse oximetry (Spo2) at admission, Spo2 normalization time, total leukocyte count, and length of hospital stay.

Results

The risk factors identified for development of HAPE in our patients were improper acclimatization/faster rates of ascent, higher defined height (10 500 feet [3200 m]) for first stage acclimatization due to logistic reasons (usually 9000 feet [2743 m]), cold exposure, severe exercise, and respiratory infection. All patients were treated with reduction of altitude, supplemental oxygen therapy with nasal prongs, and bed rest. Oral nifedipine or placebo was administered to alternating patients. None of the patients deteriorated during their hospital stay, and all recovered fully to be discharged an average of 4.01 days (range 2–6 days) after admission. Patients were monitored for time taken for normalization of oxygen saturation, duration of hospital stay, time needed for resolution of lung crepitations, and radiographic infiltrates. Nifedipine administration was not found to be better than placebo for any of these variables ( P > .05).

Conclusions

Improper acclimatization remains the foremost risk factor for HAPE. In addition to descent and supplemental oxygen, nifedipine appears to provide no additional benefit in the resolution of HAPE.
Homemade Thermometry Instruments in the Field
Authors: Pasquier Mathieu , Rousson Valentin , Zen Ruffinen Grégoire , Hugli Olivier
Published: March 2012

Objective

Esophageal temperature is the gold standard for in-the-field temperature monitoring in hypothermic victims with cardiac arrest. For practical reasons, some mountain rescue teams use homemade esophageal thermometers to measure esophageal temperature; these consist of nonmedical inside/outside temperature monitoring instruments that have been modified to allow for esophageal insertion. We planned a study to determine the accuracy of such thermometers.

Methods

Two of the same model of digital cabled indoor/outdoor thermometer were modified and tested in comparison with a reference thermometer. The thermometers were tested in a water bath at different temperatures between 10°C and 35.2°C. Three hundred measurements were taken with each thermometer.

Results

Our experimental study showed that both homemade thermometers provided a good correlation and a clinically acceptable agreement in comparison with the reference thermometer. Measurements were within 0.5°C in comparison with the reference thermometer 97.5% of the time.

Conclusions

The homemade thermometers performed well in vitro, in comparison with a reference thermometer. However, because these devices in their original form are not designed for clinical use, their use should be restricted to situations when the use of a conventional esophageal thermometer is impossible.
Snow Blindness and Other Eye Problems During the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration
Authors: Guly Henry R.
Published: March 2012

During the heroic age of Antarctic exploration, snow blindness was a common problem, but not all the descriptions of it fit the modern view of the disease, and some of the explorers complained of long-term problems. This article describes the snow blindness and other eye problems that occurred during this era. It also describes how snow blindness was prevented and treated.
Increasing Creatine Kinase Concentrations at the 161-km Western States Endurance Run
Authors: Hoffman Martin D. , Ingwerson Julie L. , Rogers Ian R. , Hew-Butler Tamara , Stuempfle Kristin J.
Published: March 2012

Objective

Very high blood creatine kinase (CK) concentrations have been observed among recent finishers of the 161-km Western States Endurance Run (WSER), and it has been suggested that there is a link between rhabdomyolysis and hyponatremia. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare CK concentrations of finishers in the 2010 WSER with past values, and to determine whether there was an association between blood CK and sodium concentrations.

Methods

Consenting 2010 WSER finishers provided blood samples at the finish for determination of blood CK and sodium concentrations. Finish time, age, and gender were obtained from official race results, and running experience was determined from our database as number of prior 161-km ultramarathon finishes.

Results

From 216 (66%) of the 328 finishers, median and mean CK concentrations were found to be 20 850 IU/L and 32 956 IU/L, respectively (range 1500–264 300 IU/L), and 13 (6%) had values greater than 100 000 IU/L. These values were statistically higher ( P < .0001) than those reported from the 1995 WSER. The CK concentration was not significantly associated with finish time, age, gender, or running experience. Blood sodium concentrations were obtained from a subgroup of 159 runners, and the relationship between blood CK and sodium concentrations did not reach statistical significance ( P = .06, r = −0.12).

Conclusions

Creatine kinase concentrations of 2010 WSER finishers are higher than values previously reported. More research should focus on explaining this observation and on whether there is a possible link between higher CK concentrations and hyponatremia.
Wolf Spider Envenomation
Authors: Livshits Zhanna , Bernstein Benjamin , Sorkin Louis N. , Smith Silas W. , Hoffman Robert S.
Published: March 2012

Although wolf spider venom has been implicated in necrotic arachnidism without acceptably documented verification, limited, prospectively collected data demonstrate a lack of cutaneous necrosis. The infrequent nature of exposure and inherent difficulty in confirming wolf spider bites in humans makes it challenging to study such envenomations. We present the case of a 20 year-old man with confirmed exposure to the wolf spider who developed cutaneous erythema with ulceration following the bite. There was no evidence of skin necrosis. He was treated with aggressive wound care and systemic antibiotics for wound infection, with subsequent resolution of symptoms. This case adds to the limited knowledge regarding wolf spider envenomations and describes the clinical effects and management of wolf spider envenomation.
Managing Anaphylaxis in a Jungle Environment
Authors: Stokes Suzy , Hudson Sean
Published: March 2012

Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency requiring prompt action to prevent death from cardio-respiratory collapse. It can be a biphasic, unpredictable, and challenging reaction to deal with even in a hospital environment. The wilderness environments afforded by expeditions, remote health posts, and military exercises pose additional challenges often involving casualty evacuation. This article identifies and addresses some of these points using a case report from the Costa Rican jungle.
Physiological Bone Responses in the Fingers After More Than 10 Years of High-Level Sport Climbing: Analysis of Cortical Parameters
Authors: Hahn Frederik , Erschbaumer Matthias , Allenspach Philipp , Rufibach Kaspar , Schweizer Andreas
Published: March 2012

Objective

Sports activity can induce bone modeling processes with apposition of new bone and changes in bone morphology. Sport climbing places extreme forces and stress on the hands, especially on the bones of the fingers. This study examines sports-induced physiological adaptations of the finger bones of climbers.

Methods

In this cohort study, the radiographs of 31 high-level (Union Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme [UIAA] metric scale range 8.33 to 11.33), experienced (median 20 years climbing time) adult climbers were compared with those of a control group of 67 patients. Cortical dimensions and variables were measured and analyzed in a total of 330 fingers. An association analysis of climbing-related variables was also performed.

Results

The climber's bones showed a 25% higher cortical proportion than those of the control group. On average, the outer cortical width of the climbers' bones was 6% larger and the medullary canal was 20% narrower than in the control group ( P < .05). The differences between groups were more pronounced in the sagittal plane and more pronounced distally in the fingers. No associations were found between age, climbing experience, climbing level, and the cortical hypertrophy.

Conclusions

Differences in bone morphology can be observed in the finger bones of adult climbers when compared with controls. Because the differences are more pronounced at the palmar and dorsal cortices, the analysis of the sagittal plane should always be included in future investigations. To evaluate climbing-related factors influencing these adaptive morphologic differences, further studies with larger, more specific study cohorts are needed.
Peripheral Arterial Desaturation Is Further Exacerbated by Exercise in Adolescents With Acute Mountain Sickness
Authors: Major Sarah A. , Hogan Ryan J.K. , Yeates Elizabeth , Imray Chris H.E.
Published: March 2012

Objective

Rapid ascent to altitude can result in the development of high altitude illnesses such as acute mountain sickness (AMS). This study aimed to investigate AMS symptoms in adolescents and study basic cardiopulmonary measurements at altitude.

Methods

Thirty-eight adolescents aged 16 to 19 years flew to 3500 m from 215 m and continued over a 23-day period to ascend to a maximum altitude of 5200 m. Each member of the expedition completed a Lake Louise Self-Assessment Questionnaire (LLSAQ) on a daily basis, and AMS was defined as a score of ≥3, with an associated headache. Physiology measurements included a step test, and both before and after exercise pulse oximetry, blood pressure, and pulse rate.

Results

Oxygen saturation inversely correlated with altitude ( P = .001). Mean pulse rate increased from 70 beats/min (±6.5) at 215 m to 83 beats/min (±2.2) at 3500 m ( P = .01), and a rise in blood pressure with ascent was highlighted ( P = .004). The majority of subjects (84%) had an LLSAQ of 3 or more on at least 1 occasion, and they tended to record higher pulse rates ( P = .005) and lower oxygen saturations ( P = .001). Exercise-induced drops in oxygen saturation and raised pulse rates were more prolonged in subjects with severe AMS compared with subjects not having AMS ( P = .046 and P = .005, respectively).

Conclusions

The LLSAQ scoring system appeared to be a simple and effective technique to aid the diagnosis of adolescents who have AMS, and it may help improve the safety of large groups traveling to altitude. The AMS subjects tended to have low oxygen saturations and high pulse rates, highlighting potential areas for further research.
From ciphers to confidentiality: secrecy, openness and priority in science
Authors: BIAGIOLI MARIO
Published: March 2012

I make three related claims. First, certain seemingly secretive behaviours displayed by scientists and inventors are expression neither of socio-professional values nor of strategies for the maximization of the economic value of their knowledge. They are, instead, protective responses to unavoidable risks inherent in the process of publication and priority claiming. Scientists and inventors fear being scooped by direct competitors, but have also worried about people who publish their claims or determine their priority: journal editors or referees who may appropriate the claims in the manuscript they review or patent clerks who may claim or leak the inventions contained in the applications that cross their desks. Second, these protective responses point to the existence of an unavoidable moment of instability in any procedure aimed at establishing priority. Making things public is an inherently risky business and it is impossible, I argue, to ensure that priority may not be lost in the very process that is supposed to establish it. Third, I offer a brief archaeology of regimes and techniques of priority registration, showing the distinctly different definitions of priority developed by each system.
MORALITY, LAW AND CONFLICTING REASONS FOR ACTION
Authors: Cane Peter
Published: March 2012

In The Concept of Law, H.L.A. Hart suggested that four formal features of morality distinguish it from law: importance, immunity from deliberate change, the nature of moral offences and the form of moral pressure. On closer examination, none of these supposed features clearly distinguishes morality from law, at least in the broad sense of ‘morality’ that Hart adopted. However, a fifth feature of morality mentioned by Hart – namely the role that morality plays in practical reasoning as a source of ultimate standards for assessing human conduct – does illuminate the relationship between law as conceptualised by Hart and morality variously understood. Because morality has this feature, law is always subject to moral assessment, and moral reasons trump legal reasons. It does not follow, however, that law is irrelevant to moral reasoning.
SECTION 30(1)(g) OF THE LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT 1954: THE UNJUST RELEGATION OF RENEWAL RIGHTS
Authors: Haley Michael
Published: March 2012

Part II of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 regulates the renewal of business tenancies. Within highly technical confines, it promotes the continuation of the tenant's business and addresses the risk of tenant exploitation. Nevertheless, it is argued that section 30(1)(g) unnecessarily prioritises the occupation needs of the landlord over the tenant's renewal rights and without imposing effective procedural safeguards. Although compensation for loss of renewal rights may be available, the award disregards any loss of established goodwill. This inadequacy of compensation undermines the anti-profiteering ethos of the Act and contravenes Article 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Using a sensitivity analysis of a weed dynamics model to develop sustainable cropping systems. I. Annual interactions between crop management techniques and biophysical field state variables
Authors: COLBACH N. , MÉZIÈRE D.
Published: March 2012

Environmental problems mean that herbicide applications must be drastically reduced and optimized. Models that quantify the effects of crop management techniques on weed dynamics are valuable tools for designing weed management strategies. Indeed, the techniques to be optimized are numerous and diverse, and their effects vary considerably with environmental conditions and the state of the weed flora. In the present study, a mechanistic weed dynamics model,AlomySys, was used to carry outin silicoexperiments in order to: (1) rank crop management components according to the resulting decrease in weed infestation, and (2) study the sensitivity of the major component effects to biophysical field state variables in order to identify indicators and thresholds that could serve for future decision-rules for farmers. The various results were compiled into rules for optimizing timing and other options (tillage tools, herbicide types) for the different crop management techniques. The rules were based on a series of biophysical field state variables, i.e. cumulated rainfall, thermal time, soil moisture and weed densities prior to the operation, in the previous and pre-previous crops. For instance, the first tillage should be delayed until the cumulated rainfall since harvest exceeds 50 mm and be carried out in moist conditions. Mouldboard ploughing is advised if the infestation of the previous crop exceeds 20 weeds/m2and particularly if this exceeds 0·3 times that of the pre-previous crop. Ploughing should occur when the cumulated rainfall since harvest reaches 100–200 mm. The effects of crop succession and long-term effects of management techniques have been studied in a companion paper (Colbachet al. 2012).
Childhood trajectories of anxiousness and disruptiveness explain the association between early-life adversity and attempted suicide
Authors: Wanner B. , Vitaro F. , Tremblay R. E. , Turecki G.
Published: March 2012

Background

Suicidal behavior is frequently associated with a history of childhood abuse yet it remains unclear precisely how early life adversity may increase suicide risk later in life. As such, our aim was to examine whether lifetime trajectories of disruptiveness and anxiousness trait dysregulation explain the association between childhood adversity and suicidal behavior; and moreover, to test the potential modifying effects of mental disorders on these associations.

Method

A sample of 1776 individuals from a prospective school-based cohort followed longitudinally for over 22 years was investigated. We tested the influence of disruptiveness and anxiousness trajectories from age 6 to 12 years on the association between childhood adversity (i.e. sexual and physical abuse) and history of suicide attempts (SA) using logistic regression models. Both adolescent externalizing and internalizing Axis I disorders and gender were tested as potential modifiers of these associations.

Results

Four distinct longitudinal trajectories were identified for both disruptiveness and anxiousness. The high disruptiveness trajectory accounted for the association between childhood adversity and SA, but only for females. The high anxiousness trajectory also explained the association between adversity and SA; however, in this case it was not sex but mental disorders that influenced the potency of the mediating effect. More specifically, anxiousness fully explained the effect of adversity on SA in the presence of externalizing disorders, whereas in the absence of these disorders, this effect was significantly attenuated.

Conclusions

This study provides evidence that both disruptiveness and anxiousness play an important role in explaining the relationship between childhood adversity and SA.
Does language proficiency modulate oculomotor control? Evidence from Hindi–English bilinguals
Authors: SINGH NIHARIKA , MISHRA RAMESH KUMAR
Published: March 2012

Though many previous studies have reported enhanced cognitive control in bilinguals, few have investigated if such control is modulated by language proficiency. Here, we examined the inhibitory control of high and low proficient Hindi–English bilinguals on an oculomotor Stroop task. Subjects were asked to make a saccade as fast as possible towards the appropriate colour patch among competitors and distractors suppressing an eye movement evoked by the meaning of the word. High proficient bilinguals quickly oriented their attention towards the correct colour patch while effectively controlling the Stroop interference compared with low proficient subjects, on both colour and direction words. High proficient bilinguals also had fewer saccadic errors and demonstrated overall faster saccadic latency on all trial types. The results provide strong evidence for enhanced oculomotor control in proficient bilinguals compared with the less proficient ones.
Lack of efficacy of L-759274, a novel neurokinin 1 (substance P) receptor antagonist, for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder
Authors: Michelson David , Hargreaves Richard , Alexander Robert , Ceesay Paulette , Hietala Jarmo , Lines Christopher , Reines Scott
Published: March 2012

Preclinical studies suggest that substance P acting at neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptors may be involved in stress responses and NK1 receptor antagonists show activity in tests of anxiety. These data raise the possibility that NK1 receptor antagonists could be potential anxiolytic treatments in humans. We evaluated this hypothesis clinically using the NK1 antagonist L-759274. This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo- and active-controlled, multicentre, proof-of-concept trial. Patients with generalized anxiety disorder were randomized 1:1:1 to 6 wk of treatment with 40 mg L-759274 (n = 73), 1–6 mg lorazepam (n = 69) or placebo (n = 71). Efficacy was assessed using the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA). A positron emission tomography (PET) study was also performed in 16 healthy subjects to determine the relationship between NK1 receptor occupancy and plasma levels of L-759274 to verify adequate target engagement by the doses tested during the clinical trial. No statistically significant difference in mean change from baseline HAMA score at 6 wk was seen for L-759274 vs. placebo [difference = 1.0 (95% confidence intervals (CI) −1.2 to 3.2), p = 0.359] whereas the lorazepam group did show a significant improvement vs. placebo (difference = −2.7, 95% CI −5.0 to −0.4, p = 0.020) and L-759274 (difference = 3.7, 95% CI 1.5–6.0, p = 0.001]. Results from the PET study indicated that the L-759274 dosing regimen used in the clinical trial likely provided high levels of NK1 receptor occupancy (>90%), supporting the view that it was an adequate proof-of-concept trial. The NK1 receptor antagonist L-759274 does not appear to be efficacious for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder.
The differential impact of social defeat on mice living in isolation or groups in an enriched environment: plasma corticosterone and monoamine variations
Authors: McQuaid Robyn J. , Audet Marie-Claude , Jacobson-Pick Shlomit , Anisman Hymie
Published: March 2012

Social defeat in mice is a potent stressor that promotes the development of depressive- and anxiety-like behaviours, as well as variations of neuroendocrine and brain neurotransmitter activity. Although environmental enrichment may protect against some of the adverse behavioural and biological effects of social defeat, it seems that, among male group-housed mice maintained in an enriched environment (EE), aggressive behaviours may be more readily instigated, thus promoting distress and exacerbating psychopathological features. Thus, although an EE can potentially have numerous beneficial effects, these may depend on the general conditions in which mice were raised. It was observed in the current investigations that EE group-housed BALB/cByJ mice displayed increased anxiety-like behaviours compared to their counterparts maintained in a standard environment (SE). Furthermore, in response to social defeat, EE group-housed male mice exhibited decreased weight gain, exaggerated corticosterone elevations and altered hippocampal norepinephrine utilization compared to their SE counterparts. These effects were not apparent in the individually housed EE mice and, in fact, enrichment among these mice appeared to buffer against serotonin changes induced by social defeat. It is possible that some potentially beneficial effects of enrichment were precluded among group-housed mice, possibly owing to social disturbances that might occur in these conditions. In fact, even if social interaction is an essential feature of enrichment, it seems that some of the positive effects of this housing condition might be optimal when mice are housed individually, particularly with regard to buffering the effects of social defeat.
The Impact of Mood on Affect Regulation
Authors: Gendolla Guido H. E.
Published: March 2012

Drawing on the mood-behavior model ( Gendolla, 2000 ), I predicted that both negative and positive moods evoke a stronger need for hedonic affect regulation than a so-called neutral mood. To test this hypothesis, participants were induced into a positive, neutral, or negative mood by autobiographical recollection and then selected which of three films they wanted to watch. The films varied in the extent of their potential for hedonic affect regulation. As expected, preferences for a pleasant film were higher in both positive and negative moods than in a neutral mood and the positive and negative mood conditions did not differ. Furthermore, a regression analysis found that the preference for a pleasant film was related to mood intensity. Implications for other models of affect regulation are discussed.
Promoting Coping Competence in Young Children
Authors: Dumas Jean E. , Lucia Sonia
Published: March 2012

This brief report describes the French adaptation of PACE – Parenting Our Children to Excellence. Successfully offered in both English and Spanish in preschools and daycare centers in the United States, PACE is a research-based preventive intervention to support families in their parenting task through discussions and activities that address practical childrearing issues and promote child coping competence. A pilot study of its French equivalent, known as Entre-Parents, is underway in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. The report makes the processes linking original and adapted versions explicit by accounting for the conceptual and practical decisions that were made as Entre-Parents was being developed. A detailed account of the adaptation itself and of its results is then presented. Specifically, we describe (1) the consultation process at the origin of this adaptation, (2) the adaptation of the manual and the steps taken to establish the extent to which the English and French versions correspond (adaptation fidelity), and (3) the translation of the manual and the crosslanguage comparison of measures to demonstrate that they yield comparable data when administered in English and French.
The Picture Anxiety Test (PAT)
Authors: Dubi Kathrin , Lavallee Kristen L. , Schneider Silvia
Published: March 2012

This study extends prior research on the Picture Anxiety Test (PAT; Dubi & Schneider, 2009 ) in clinical samples, by examining psychometric properties and acceptance in a community sample of 153 4–8-year-old children. Children completed the PAT and the RCMAS, a well-established questionnaire measuring anxiety. Parents and teachers completed questionnaires on anxiety and externalizing behavior. In addition, a panel of psychologists and psychiatrists evaluated the PAT for quality and utility. Results indicated high internal consistencies for the subscales and composite scale, very high interrater reliability, and moderate to high test-retest reliability. Substantial correlations between the PAT and the RCMAS indicated good convergent validity. Sex and age differences were found for some subscales. Agreement between children and their parents and teachers was generally low. Children reported high acceptance of the PAT, and the panel of psychologists and psychiatrists rated the PAT as high in both quality and utility. Results were consistent with prior research on the PAT in clinical samples and indicate reliability and validity for assessing anxiety in a subclinical community sample.
The Functional Quality of Life (fQOL)-Model
Authors: Martin Mike , Schneider Roger , Eicher Stefanie , Moor Caroline
Published: March 2012

Quality of life (QOL) is increasingly being suggested as a crucial outcome variable for interventions that aim to maintain or improve health and psychological resources in old age. Currently, two main approaches to measuring QOL can be distinguished: (1) the sQOL approach which measures an individual’s subjective evaluation of his or her overall life situation and QOL; (2) the oQOL approach that infers QOL of an individual from the outside, e.g., via measurement of health impairments. Both approaches, however, are problematic: In the first case, a large majority of individuals report relatively high levels of sQOL that are sometimes in stark contrast to observable impairments (known as the well-being paradox; Staudinger, 2000 ). This suggests that improving impaired resources does not necessarily lead to improved sQOL (although there may be positive effects on the autonomy of these individuals). The second approach is problematic because improved oQOL leads only to an increase in self-reported overall sQOL under very rare conditions – and one cannot assume that an increase in resources necessarily has led or will lead to higher levels of sQOL. Therefore, we propose a new, functional quality of life (fQOL) approach to determine quality of life. It combines the existing approaches by linking the subjective representations of objectively measurable resources to their functional value for pursuing individually meaningful activities and goals. From this model, fQOL-improving interventions as well as methods to evaluate the effectiveness of QOL-interventions can be derived.
Das Squiggle-Spiel in der therapeutischen Arbeit mit chronisch kranken Kindern
Authors: Günter Michael
Published: March 2012

Zusammenfassung. Chronische körperliche Erkrankungen stellen eine Belastung für die betroffenen Kinder wie auch für ihre Familien dar. Chronisch kranke Kinder haben ein erhöhtes Risiko, eine psychische Erkrankung zu entwickeln. Im Unterschied zu Erwachsenen wird bei den Kindern häufig auch die psychosoziale Entwicklung beeinträchtigt. Anhand der Kasuistik eines 13-jährigen Mädchens mit Typ-I-Diabetes wird verdeutlicht, wie im Einzelfall vorbestehende Belastungen und durch die Erkrankung bedingte Beeinträchtigungen miteinander interagieren. Im konkreten Fall kam es gegen Ende der Behandlung zu einem heftigen Konflikt über den weiteren Aufenthalt der Patientin, bei dem das Mädchen Gesprächen kaum mehr zugänglich war. Dargestellt wird, wie mit Hilfe der von Winnicott entwickelten Squiggle-Technik, bei der Kind und Therapeut wechselnd aus Kritzeln Zeichnungen verfertigen, ein Zugang zur konflikthaften inneren Welt des Mädchens gewonnen werden konnte. Dabei kam sowohl die Beschäftigung mit der Erkrankung und der damit verknüpften Beeinträchtigung des Selbst- und Körpergefühls, als auch ihr Loyalitäts- und Ablösungskonflikt von den Eltern zur Darstellung.
Veränderung von Beschwerdedruck, Kohärenzsinn und Depressivität nach dem gestaltpädagogischen Seminar „Die Heldenreise”
Authors: Mittermair Franz , Singer Susanne
Published: March 2012

Zusammenfassung. Ziel: Empirische Überprüfung eines Intensivseminars mit theaterpädagogischen, gestalttherapeutischen, tanztherapeutischen und imaginativen Elementen, das sich auf das Konzept der „Heldenreise” nach Rebillot stützt. Methode: In einer naturalistischen prospektiven Studie wurden 124 TeilnehmerInnen der Seminare hinsichtlich ihres Kohärenzerlebens (gemessen mit dem SOC-L9), des Beschwerdedrucks (gemessen mit SCL-9) und ihrer Depressivität (gemessen mit der ADS) untersucht. Erhebungszeitpunkte waren: t1 = vor dem Seminar, t2 = unmittelbar nach dem Seminar, t3 = 1 Jahr nach dem Seminar. Die Ergebnisse wurden mit Normdaten aus der bundesdeutschen Allgemeinbevölkerung verglichen. Die Veränderungen über die Zeit wurden mittels Varianzanalysen mit Messwertwiederholung unter Adjustierung von Confoundern überprüft. Ergebnisse: Die Teilnehmer waren vor Beginn der Seminare (t1) im Durchschnitt psychisch stärker belastet als die Allgemeinbevölkerung, nach dem Seminar (t2) waren das Kohärenzerleben erhöht (p < 0,001), die Depressivität und der Beschwerdedruck hatten abgenommen (jeweils p < 0,001). Auch ein Jahr nach dem Seminar (t3) war dieser Effekt noch nachzuweisen. Schlussfolgerungen: Die „Heldenreise” stellt eine geeignete Möglichkeit der Selbsterfahrung und der Bewältigung innerer Konflikte dar.
Zeichentests in der Evaluation kunsttherapeutischer Prozesse
Authors: Wichelhaus Barbara
Published: March 2012

Zusammenfassung. Zeichentests sind als Instrumente psychologischer Diagnostik entwickelt worden. Sie werden als Entwicklungs-, Reife-, Leistungs- und Persönlichkeitstests in Anfangs- und Verlaufsdiagnosen vor allem in klinischen und sozialpädagogischen Feldern eingesetzt. Mit der wachsenden Bedeutung von evaluativen Verfahren zur Qualitätsverbesserung und Qualitätssicherung in den Künstlerischen Therapien gewinnen Zeichentests als disziplinnahe Verfahren für diese Aufgabe eine verstärkte Bedeutung. Dieser Verwendungszweck wird unter Berücksichtigung von Testgütekriterien, einem konstruktivistisch und systemisch orientierten Wissenschaftsverständnis sowie exemplarischen Beispielen einer kritischen Betrachtung und Analyse unterzogen.
Historical land use change and associated carbon emissions in Brazil from 1940 to 1995
Authors: Leite Christiane Cavalcante , Costa Marcos Heil , Soares‐Filho Britaldo Silveira , de Barros Viana Hissa Letícia
Published: March 2012

The evaluation of impacts of land use change is in general limited by the knowledge of past land use conditions. Most publications on the field present only a vague description of the earlier patterns of land use, which is usually insufficient for more comprehensive studies. Here we present the first spatially explicit reconstruction of historical land use patterns in Brazil, including both croplands and pasturelands, for the period between 1940 and 1995. This reconstruction was obtained by merging satellite imagery with census data, and provides a 5′ × 5′ yearly data set of land use for three different categories (cropland, natural pastureland and planted pastureland) for Brazil. The results show that important land use changes occurred in Brazil. Natural pasture dominated in the 1950s and 1960s, but since the beginning of 1970s it has been gradually replaced by planted pasture, especially in southeast and center west of Brazil. The croplands began its expansion in the 1960s reaching extensive areas in almost all states in 1980. Carbon emissions from historical land use changes were calculated by superimposing a composite biomass map on grids of a weighted average of the fractions of the vegetation types and the replacement land uses. Net emissions from land use changes between 1940 and 1995 totaled 17.2 ± 9.0 Pg‐C (90% confidence range), averaging 0.31 ± 0.16 Pg‐C yr−1, but reaching up to 0.47 ± 0.25 Pg‐C yr−1 during the 1960s and through 1986–1995. Despite international concerns about Amazon deforestation emissions, 72% of Brazil's carbon emissions during the period actually came from deforestation in the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes. Brazil's carbon emissions from land use change are about 11 times larger than its emissions from fossil fuel burning, although only about 18.1% of the native biomass has been lost due to agricultural expansion, which is similar to the global mean (17.7%).
The event‐to‐event variability of the boreal winter MJO
Authors: Bellenger H. , Duvel J. P.
Published: March 2012

During boreal winters, perturbations of the convection by the Madden‐Julian Oscillation (MJO) peak over three basins distributed in longitude south of the Equator: the eastern Indian Ocean (IO), the south of the Maritime Continent (MC) and the western Pacific Ocean (PO). We use the observed Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR) and low‐level wind to identify and characterize all wintertime MJO events between 1979 and 2010. There is a large event‐to‐event variability with some MJO events organized at the planetary‐scale having their amplitude well distributed over the 3 basins and some showing only basin‐scale organization with a convective perturbation peaking over one or two basins. The average of the MJO amplitude for the three basins shows an intriguing decadal variability consistent for both OLR and low‐level wind. The disparity between the 3 basins is dominated by an alternation between MJO amplitude peaking on either the Indian or the Pacific Ocean. This Indo‐Pacific alternation, depicted by an Indo‐Pacific Index (IPI), is partly related to ENSO. In El Niño conditions, there is not only an extension of the MJO perturbation further east, but also an increase of the MJO perturbation over the western Pacific and a diminution of the MJO perturbation over the eastern Indian Ocean.
A non‐canonical UBA–UBL interaction forms the linear‐ubiquitin‐chain assembly complex
Authors: Yagi Hirokazu , Ishimoto Kazuhiro , Hiromoto Takeshi , Fujita Hiroaki , Mizushima Tsunehiro , Uekusa Yoshinori , Yagi‐Utsumi Maho , Kurimoto Eiji , Noda Masanori , Uchiyama Susumu , Tokunaga Fuminori , Iwai Kazuhiro , Kato Koichi
Published: March 2012

HOIL‐1L and its binding partner HOIP are essential components of the E3‐ligase complex that generates linear ubiquitin (Ub) chains, which are critical regulators of NF‐κB activation. Using crystallographic and mutational approaches, we characterize the unexpected structural basis for the specific interaction between the Ub‐like domain (UBL) of HOIL‐1L and the Ub‐associated domain (UBA) of HOIP. Our data indicate the functional significance of this non‐canonical mode of UBA–UBL interaction in E3 complex formation and subsequent NF‐κB activation. This study highlights the versatility and specificity of protein–protein interactions involving Ub/UBLs and their cognate proteins.
IL‐27 induction of IL‐21 from human CD8+ T cells induces granzyme B in an autocrine manner
Authors: Mittal Akanksha , Murugaiyan Gopal , Beynon Vanessa , Hu Dan , Weiner Howard L
Published: March 2012

Interleukin (IL)‐27 exerts an anti‐inflammatory effect on human and mice CD4+ T cells by inducing IL‐10‐producing T regulatory 1 cells through induction of IL‐21. However, the role of IL‐27 and how it regulates IL‐21 from human CD8+ T cells is unclear. Here, we show that the IL‐27 receptor is expressed on human CD8+ T cells and stimulation of human naïve CD8+ T cells in the presence of IL‐27 leads to an increase in IL‐21 and interferon (IFN)‐γ production. IL‐21 induction in IL‐27‐stimulated human CD8+ T cells correlates specifically with expression of the transcription factor T‐bet. IL‐27 stimulation of naïve CD8+ T cells induces a double‐positive T‐bet+ IL‐21+ expressing CD8+ T‐cell population. Furthermore, IL‐27 stimulation of human naïve CD8+ T cells greatly increases expression of granzyme B. Antibody‐mediated neutralization of IL‐21 abrogates IL‐27‐induced granzyme B expression. Moreover, direct addition of IL‐21 greatly amplifies granzyme B expression in human naïve CD8+ T cells. Our findings identify IL‐27‐induced IL‐21 as a key autocrine regulator of granzyme B expression in human CD8+ T cells.
The disordered N-terminal region of dengue virus capsid protein contains a lipid-droplet-binding motif
Authors: Martins Ivo C. , Gomes-Neto Francisco , Faustino André F. , Carvalho Filomena A. , Carneiro Fabiana A. , Bozza Patricia T. , Mohana-Borges Ronaldo , Castanho Miguel A. R. B. , Almeida Fábio C. L. , Santos Nuno C. , Da Poian Andrea T.
Published: March 2012

Dengue is the major arthropod-borne human viral disease, for which no vaccine or specific treatment is available. We used NMR, zeta potential measurements and atomic force microscopy to study the structural features of the interaction between dengue virus C (capsid) protein and LDs (lipid droplets), organelles crucial for infectious particle formation. C protein-binding sites to LD were mapped, revealing a new function for a conserved segment in the N-terminal disordered region and indicating that conformational selection is involved in recognition. The results suggest that the positively charged N-terminal region of C protein prompts the interaction with negatively charged LDs, after which a conformational rearrangement enables the access of the central hydrophobic patch to the LD surface. Taken together, the results allowed the design of a peptide with inhibitory activity of C protein–LD binding, paving the way for new drug development approaches against dengue.
Muscle-fibre types in porcine longissimus muscle of different genotypes and their association with the status of energy metabolism
Authors: Men Xiao-Ming , Deng Bo , Xu Zi-Wei , Tao Xin
Published: March 2012

To study the difference in muscle-fibre types in porcine muscle among different genotypes and its association with energy metabolism, composition of myosin heavy chain (MyHC) mRNA and energy metabolism indices were determined in the longissimus muscle (LM). Pig breeds included Jinhua (JHP), Zhongbai (ZBP), Duroc × Zhongbai cross (DZP) and Duroc × Yorkshire × Landrace cross (DYL). JHP pigs were found to have the highest proportions of MyHC I, IIa and IIx mRNA (P < 0.05), creatine kinase (CK) activity (P < 0.05) and the lowest glycolytic potential (GP) compared with the other genotypes. The proportions of MyHC I and IIa mRNA increased in the order of DYL < DZP < ZBP < JHP, whereas the trend was opposite for MyHC IIb mRNA. The proportions of MyHC I, IIa and IIx mRNA were positively correlated with CK activity and the turnover ratio of creatine phosphate (CP) (P < 0.01), and negatively correlated with GP, glucose-6-phosphate (G-6-P) and lactate (LA) contents (P < 0.01), with the trends being opposite for MyHC IIb mRNA. The results indicate that muscle-fibre type in porcine LM is influenced by the genetic background of pigs. For example, JHP pigs had more of Types I, IIa and IIx fibres than did other genotypes. Proportions of Types I, IIa and IIx fibres were positively correlated with CK reaction (ATP-CP) capacity and negatively correlated with GP. These data provide some evidence for exploring the effective mechanism of muscle-fibre type on pork quality.
Low-cost Hollow Silica Supports for Environmental Pollution: High Removal Capacity and Low Desorption Rate of Neutral Red
Authors: Wu Weiwei , Fang Long , Cao Shunsheng , Zhao Zhiyuan
Published: March 2012

Silica-based porous materials are popular adsorbents and have achieved marked success. However, one of the main challenges is surface functionalization for obtaining better removal performances. Therefore, in this paper we developed a hollow silica adsorbent with a well-defined morphology via a sodium silicate route. Compared with the conventional silica-based porous adsorbents prepared by the modified Stöber method, the synthesized hollow silica support exhibits many advantages such as low-cost silica source, and using only industrial commodities as starting materials and water as solvent. Excitedly, the resulting matrix can be used as a powerful separation tool to deal with environmental pollution because it is easy to separate from wastewater simply by centrifugation without any modification. The experimental results of absorption and separation on the neutral red indicate that low-cost hollow silica supports can evidently increase dye loading and decrease the rate of dye desorbed in comparison to conventional hollow silica adsorbents obtained via the Stöber method.
Neonatal immunisation against a novel gonadotrophin-releasing hormone construct delays the onset of gonadal growth and puberty in bull calves
Authors: Hernandez-Medrano J. H. , Williams R. W. , Peters A. R. , Hannant D. , Campbell B. K. , Webb R.
Published: March 2012

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of the neonatal immunisation of bull calves against a novel gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) construct, comprised of GnRH coupled to the glycoprotein D subunit of the bovine herpes virus-1 (GnRH–BHV1 gD), on endocrine status, reproductive organ development and carcass quality. Eighteen bull calves received either GnRH construct (n = 9) or saline (control; n = 9) at 2, 6 and 13.5 weeks of age. Blood samples were taken to determine antibody titres against GnRH, FSH and testosterone (T) concentrations and LH pulse characteristics, with testicular circumference monitored monthly. Immunisation reduced LH pulse amplitude (P < 0.05) and T concentrations (P < 0.05), particularly at the peak in anti-GnRH titres after the second booster at 16 weeks of age (P < 0.001), but not when titres fell. Despite antibody titres decreasing after 16 weeks, immunisation reduced testicular size between 16 to 57 weeks of age (P < 0.05), provoking an 8-week delay in puberty onset, defined as testicular circumference ≥14 cm. In conclusion, neonatal immunisation induced a significant immune response against GnRH, provoking a temporary endocrine disturbance that had a long-term effect on testicular development, delaying the onset of puberty. These results support the hypothesis that a developmental window exists during testicular development, such that disturbance of the endocrine drive to the gonads during this period results in a longer-term impairment of gonadal function.
High-throughput genotoxicity assay identifies antioxidants as inducers of DNA damage response and cell death
Authors: Fox Jennifer T. , Sakamuru Srilatha , Huang Ruili , Teneva Nedelina , Simmons Steven O. , Xia Menghang , Tice Raymond R. , Austin Christopher P. , Myung Kyungjae
Published: March 2012

Human ATAD5 is a biomarker for identifying genotoxic compounds because ATAD5 protein levels increase posttranscriptionally in response to DNA damage. We screened over 4,000 compounds with a cell-based quantitative high-throughput ATAD5-luciferase assay detecting genotoxic compounds. We identified 22 antioxidants, including resveratrol, genistein, and baicalein, that are currently used or investigated for the treatment of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, osteopenia, osteoporosis, and chronic hepatitis, as well as for antiaging. Treatment of dividing cells with these compounds induced DNA damage and resulted in cell death. Despite their genotoxic effects, resveratrol, genistein, and baicalein did not cause mutagenesis, which is a major side effect of conventional anticancer drugs. Furthermore, resveratrol and genistein killed multidrug-resistant cancer cells. We therefore propose that resveratrol, genistein, and baicalein are attractive candidates for improved chemotherapeutic agents.
Lifetime of carbon capture and storage as a climate-change mitigation technology
Authors: Szulczewski Michael L. , MacMinn Christopher W. , Herzog Howard J. , Juanes Ruben
Published: March 2012

In carbon capture and storage (CCS), CO
2
is captured at power plants and then injected underground into reservoirs like deep saline aquifers for long-term storage. While CCS may be critical for the continued use of fossil fuels in a carbon-constrained world, the deployment of CCS has been hindered by uncertainty in geologic storage capacities and sustainable injection rates, which has contributed to the absence of concerted government policy. Here, we clarify the potential of CCS to mitigate emissions in the United States by developing a storage-capacity supply curve that, unlike current large-scale capacity estimates, is derived from the fluid mechanics of CO
2
injection and trapping and incorporates injection-rate constraints. We show that storage supply is a dynamic quantity that grows with the duration of CCS, and we interpret the lifetime of CCS as the time for which the storage supply curve exceeds the storage demand curve from CO
2
production. We show that in the United States, if CO
2
production from power generation continues to rise at recent rates, then CCS can store enough CO
2
to stabilize emissions at current levels for at least 100 y. This result suggests that the large-scale implementation of CCS is a geologically viable climate-change mitigation option in the United States over the next century.
Carotenoid oxidation products are stress signals that mediate gene responses to singlet oxygen in plants
Authors: Ramel Fanny , Birtic Simona , Ginies Christian , Soubigou-Taconnat Ludivine , Triantaphylidès Christian , Havaux Michel
Published: March 2012

1
O
2
(singlet oxygen) is a reactive O
2
species produced from triplet excited chlorophylls in the chloroplasts, especially when plants are exposed to excess light energy. Similarly to other active O
2
species,
1
O
2
has a dual effect: It is toxic, causing oxidation of biomolecules, and it can act as a signal molecule that leads to cell death or to acclimation. Carotenoids are considered to be the main
1
O
2
quenchers in chloroplasts, and we show here that light stress induces the oxidation of the carotenoid β-carotene in
Arabidopsis
plants, leading to the accumulation of different volatile derivatives. One such compound, β-cyclocitral, was found to induce changes in the expression of a large set of genes that have been identified as
1
O
2
responsive genes. In contrast, β-cyclocitral had little effect on the expression of H
2
O
2
gene markers. β-Cyclocitral–induced reprogramming of gene expression was associated with an increased tolerance to photooxidative stress. The results indicate that β-cyclocitral is a stress signal produced in high light that is able to induce defense mechanisms and represents a likely messenger involved in the
1
O
2
signaling pathway in plants.