bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of Botulinum Toxin Type A for the Prophylaxis of Episodic Migraine Headaches: A Meta‐analysis of Randomized, Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled Trials
Authors: Shuhendler Adam J. , Lee Soyoung , Siu Ms. Michelle , Ondovcik Ms. Stephanie , Lam Ms. Kyla , Alabdullatif Ms. Awatif , Zhang Ms. Xiaochu , Machado Márcio , Einarson Thomas R.
Published: June 2009

Study Objective. To assess the efficacy of botulinum toxin type A in lowering the frequency of migraine headaches in patients with episodic migraines.

Design. Meta‐analysis of eight randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trials.

Patients. A total of 1601 patients with a history of episodic migraine headaches classified as those experiencing headaches fewer than 15 times/month over a 3‐month period.

Measurements and Main Results. PubMed, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to October 2007 in order to locate randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trials that compared the efficacy of pericranial botulinum toxin A injections with placebo in the prevention of migraines in patients with a history of episodic migraine headaches. The primary outcome of interest was change from baseline to end point in migraine frequency (number of migraines/month). A random effects model was used to combine study results, and the standardized mean difference (Cohen's d) in migraine frequency between the placebo and botulinum toxin A groups was reported. Effect sizes (d) less than 0.2 were considered small. Quality assessment was performed by using the Downs and Black scale. Eight randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trials (1601 patients) presented a quantitative assessment of the efficacy of botulinum toxin A versus placebo. The overall treatment effect size of botulinum toxin A over placebo for 30, 60, and 90 days after injection was d −0.06 (95% confidence interval [CI] −0.14‐0.03, z=1.33, p=0.18), d −0.05 (95% CI −0.14‐0.03, z=1.22, p=0.22), and d −0.05 (95% CI −0.13‐0.04, z=1.07, p=0.28), respectively. Even after controlling for a high placebo effect, and after dose stratification, no significant effect of botulinum toxin A in reducing migraine frequency/month was seen over placebo.

Conclusion. Botulinum toxin A for the prophylactic treatment of episodic migraine headaches was not significantly different from placebo, both from a clinical and statistical perspective.
Daptomycin Therapy for Vancomycin‐Resistant Enterococcal Bacteremia: A Retrospective Case Series of 30 Patients
Authors: Gallagher Jason C. , Perez Mirza E. , Marino Elizabeth A. , LoCastro Laura G. , Abrardo Lauren A. , MacDougall Conan
Published: June 2009

Study Objective. To determine clinical and microbiologic outcomes of daptomycin for the treatment of bacteremia caused by vancomycin‐resistant enterococci (VRE).

Design. Retrospective medical record review.

Setting. Academic tertiary care hospital.

Patients. Thirty patients (median age 59 yrs, range 19–79 yrs, 50% male) who received daptomycin for the treatment of VRE bacteremia between January 2004 and July 2007.

Measurements and Main Results. Patients were included if they received daptomycin and had a blood culture positive for VRE at the time daptomycin was started. The primary end point was microbiologic cure, defined as negative blood cultures for VRE at the end of therapy. Secondary outcomes were clinical outcomes, adverse events, and occurrence of elevated creatine kinase levels. Clinical outcomes were judged as positive, negative, or indeterminate. The median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score was 17 (range 7–34), and 20 patients (67%) were in the intensive care unit. Patients received daptomycin for a median of 13 days (range 1–42 days), and the median dose administered was 6 mg/kg (range 3.7–8 mg/kg). Microbiologic cure was achieved in 24 patients (80%), and clinical success occurred in 17 patients (59% [one patient had an indeterminate clinical outcome and was excluded from this analysis]). All patients with a positive clinical outcome had microbiologic cure, six patients who died had microbiologic cure, and all patients with microbiologic failure died. On multivariable logistic regression, higher APACHE II score was associated with a lower chance of microbiologic success (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.56‐0.95). Lower APACHE II score (AOR 0.86, 95% CI 0.74‐1.0) and daptomycin dose of 6 mg/kg or more (AOR 7.29, 95% CI 1.02–52.0) were associated with clinical success. Adverse drug events possibly attributable to daptomycin were uncommon. Three patients had fever possibly related to daptomycin, and two patients had mild elevations of creatine kinase level.

Conclusion. Our experience suggests that daptomycin may be an acceptable option for VRE bacteremia; however, larger studies should be performed before this antimicrobial is routinely used for this indication.
Statin‐Associated Adverse Cognitive Effects: Survey Results from 171 Patients
Authors: Evans Marcella A. , Golomb Beatrice A.
Published: June 2009

Study Objective. To characterize the adverse cognitive effects of 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins). Design. Patient survey‐based analysis.

Patients. One hundred seventy‐one patients (age range 34–86 yrs) who self‐reported memory or other cognitive problems associated with statin therapy while participating in a previous statin effects study.

Measurements and Main Results. Patients completed a survey assessing statin‐associated, cognitive‐specific adverse drug reaction (ADR) characteristics, relation of the ADR to specific statin and dose (or potency), and time course of symptom onset and recovery. Visual analog scales were used to assess the effect of the cognitive ADRs on seven quality‐of‐life domains. Demographic and clinical data were also collected. To target cognitive ADRs with a probable or definite causal relationship to statins, the Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability scale was used: 128 patients (75%) experienced cognitive ADRs determined to be probably or definitely related to statin therapy. Of 143 patients (84%) who reported stopping statin therapy, 128 (90%) reported improvement in cognitive problems, sometimes within days of statin discontinuation (median time to first‐noted recovery 2.5 wks). Of interest, in some patients, a diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer's disease reportedly was reversed. Nineteen patients whose symptoms improved or resolved after they discontinued statin therapy and who underwent rechallenge with a statin exhibited cognitive problems again (multiple times in some). Within this vulnerable group, a powerful relationship was observed between potency of the statin and fraction of trials with that agent resulting in cognitive ADRs (p<0.00001). Quality of life was significantly adversely affected for each of the seven assessed domains (all p<0.00000001).

Conclusion. Findings from the survey suggest that cognitive problems associated with statin therapy have variable onset and recovery courses, a clear relation to statin potency, and significant negative impact on quality‐of‐life. Administration of a patient‐targeted questionnaire is a feasible approach that provides a useful complement to other ADR surveillance approaches.
Pharmacogenetics of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and Associated Adverse Drug Reactions
Authors: Thomas Kelan L. H. , Ellingrod Vicki L.
Published: June 2009

The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have become one of the most widely prescribed classes of drugs. They are relatively safe for the pharmacologic treatment of various psychiatric disorders; however, certain patients cannot tolerate some adverse drug reactions associated with this drug class. In addition, clinicians currently have no way to predict who will respond appropriately to a given SSRI, and the paradigm of trial and error is especially distressing for patients with mental illness. Pharmacogenetic association studies may provide insight into which genetic polymorphisms might be clinically relevant for individualizing pharmacotherapeutic regimens. Thus, we reviewed and summarized the literature regarding the pharmacogenomics of SSRI‐associated adverse drug reactions. This growing body of knowledge may inform subsequent design of pharmacogenetic studies with respect to adverse drug reactions. As we appreciate the many pharmacologic mechanisms related to adverse drug reactions and gain polymorphic functional data, we will have opportunities to refine hypotheses for future pharmacogenetic association analyses.
Worsening Psychosis Induced by Varenicline in a Hospitalized Psychiatric Patient
Authors: DiPaula Bethany A. , Thomas Michele D.
Published: June 2009

Varenicline is a novel treatment for smoking cessation; however, the agent has not been well studied in a population with severe mental illness. Varenicline can reportedly cause neuropsychiatric adverse effects, some resulting in hospitalizations and/or suicides. We describe a case of clinician‐observed, worsening psychotic symptoms in a patient with chronic mental illness who was receiving varenicline. A 45‐year‐old woman with bipolar disorder, mixed type with psychotic features, was admitted to a psychiatric hospital due to acute decompensation after she discontinued her drug therapy. Because of the facility's smoke‐free policy, the patient was not permitted to smoke cigarettes during her hospitalization. Over the next several weeks, her condition was stabilized with psychotropic drugs. Her symptoms improved, and plans were made for her discharge. Varenicline was prescribed to manage her nicotine cravings. After 2 days of treatment, staff members noted worsening of the patient's psychotic symptoms and agitation. Varenicline was discontinued, the patient's mental status returned to baseline, and she was subsequently discharged. Use of the Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability scale indicated a probable relationship (score of 7) between the patient's worsening psychosis and her varenicline therapy. This case report provides valuable support of previously published cases that demonstrate the risk of exacerbation of psychotic symptoms with varenicline use in patients with severe mental illness. With proper assessment and management of varenicline‐induced neuropsychiatric effects, health care professionals can provide an important role in helping to prevent and manage worsening psychiatric symptoms.
Phenobarbital Treatment in a Patient with Resistant Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome
Authors: Hayner Christopher E. , Wuestefeld Nancy L. , Bolton Pamela J.
Published: June 2009

Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the acute care setting. We describe a 28‐year‐old man who was brought to the emergency department with a new‐onset seizure and clinical signs and symptoms consistent with advanced delirium tremens. A symptom‐triggered intensive care unit treatment protocol consisting of a benzodiazepine and antiadrenergic agents was started. The manifestations of delirium tremens persisted with titration of a lorazepam infusion in excess of 40 mg/hour. Intravenous phenobarbital was administered in escalating doses of 65 mg followed by 130 mg 15 minutes later, resulting in control of severe agitation in the face of benzodiazepine resistance. Subsequent scheduled phenobarbital administration allowed for a successful and orderly weaning of the continuous benzodiazepine infusion and adjunctive agents used in AWS management. With continued clearing of consciousness, the patient was successfully discharged. The administration of phenobarbital in this patient allowed improved symptom control, minimized the potential for propylene glycol toxicity, was not associated with respiratory depression, and facilitated successful weaning of benzodiazepines. Barbiturates offer a mechanism of action that is different from that of benzodiazepines. Although the cornerstone of treatment for AWS remains benzodiazepines, this case highlights the potential utility of phenobarbital in patients with resistant AWS.
Interprofessional Education: Principles and Application A Framework for Clinical Pharmacy
Authors:   American College of Clinical Pharmacy, Page Robert Lee , Hume Anne L. , Trujillo Jennifer M. , Leader W. Greg , Vardeny Orly , Neuhauser Melinda M. , Dang Devra , Nesbit Suzanne , Cohen Lawrence J.
Published: June 2009

With the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, advancements in health care technology, and growing complexity of health care delivery, the need for coordination and integration of clinical care through a multidisciplinary approach has become essential. To address this issue, the Institute of Medicine has called for a redesign of the health professional education process to provide health care professionals, both in the academic setting and in practice, the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to work effectively in a multidisciplinary environment. Such programmatic redesign warrants the implementation of interprofessional education (IPE) across health care disciplines. Pharmacists play a critical role not only in the provision of patient care on multidisciplinary teams but also in the delivery of IPE. National pharmacy organizations have endorsed IPE, and several have articulated specific policies and/or initiatives supporting IPE. However, IPE has not yet been implemented effectively or consistently; moreover, the inability to effectively deliver IPE in the classroom and clinic has been correlated with a decrease in the quality of patient care provided. In addition, the incorporation of interprofessional patient care into daily practice has been compromised by workforce shortages within respective health care fields. This White Paper from the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) addresses terminology, levels of evidence, environment‐specific models, assessment methods, funding sources, and other important implications and barriers as they apply to IPE and clinical pharmacy. Current instruments that have been tested and validated in the assessment of IPE are reviewed, including the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale, the Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale, and the Attitudes Toward Health Care Teams Scale. Finally, strategies are suggested that ACCP might pursue to assist in the promotion and implementation of IPE both within and outside the pharmacy profession.
Thrombin Products: Economic Impact of Immune‐Mediated Coagulopathies and Practical Formulary Considerations
Authors: Voils Stacy A.
Published: June 2009

Thrombin has demonstrated utility in aiding surgical hemostasis since its introduction more than 60 years ago. It is used across a wide variety of surgical procedures by virtually every specialty. Only recently have new equally effective and safe products entered the market, causing decision makers to evaluate formulary selection among products with otherwise modest differences. This evaluation includes identifying costs beyond those of acquisition and storage, as well as indirect factors such as monitoring or specialized distribution requirements. One factor to consider specifically in selection of topical thrombin products is the potential for patients to develop an immune‐mediated coagulopathy (IMC) after exposure to bovine‐derived thrombin. Costs due to adverse drug events fall into the category of indirect costs and, in some instances, can be substantial if bleeding due to IMC occurs.
Topical Thrombins: Benefits and Risks
Authors: Lomax Christopher , Traub Oren
Published: June 2009

Whether from surgical misadventure, inherent patient factors, or iatrogenic causes, postoperative bleeding can be a consequence of any surgical procedure. There are many methods and products available to assist in managing or preventing bleeding. For each method, there may be specific benefits and indications, but they may also carry some degree of risk. Topical thrombin is used extensively in many surgical specialties, especially in the cardiovascular and neurosurgical arenas where other hemostatic modalities may not be appropriate choices. As a class, topical thrombins are generally a safe and effective method for achieving intraoperative hemostasis; however, some members of the class carry associated risks with their use. For example, the United States Food and Drug Administration required the addition of a black‐box warning to the prescribing information of bovine‐derived thrombin, the oldest member of the class, due to concerns of immune‐mediated coagulopathies developing after use. In addition, human thrombin derived from pooled plasma has its own, if theoretical, risk of transmitting infections due to viral or prion agents. We address the topical thrombin class and review each product in the context of the current literature.
Size and Chemical Composition of Heliothis virescens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Spermatophores
Authors: Blanco Carlos A , Guadalupe Rojas M , Groot Astrid T , Morales-Ramos Juan , Abel Craig A
Published: June 2009

The tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens (F.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a polyandrous species of economic importance on the American continent. This sexual behavior allows for the presence of multiple spermatophores inside a female and the possibility of different males fertilizing the female's offspring, which can make insecticide resistance management or sterile insect release programs particularly challenging. The presence of spermatophores in a female can greatly influence her behavior, physiology, and offspring production. The role that these reproductive structures have is directly influenced by their size and the amount and type of substances that they contain as they are passed into the female during copulation. In this study, we investigated the role that male feeding has on mating potential, including the basic chemical composition and coloration of three sequentially produced spermatophores by male moths that were fed nothing, water, sucrose solution, or nectar. Male moth feeding had a direct influence on spermatophore weight, which was used as an indicator of polyandrous behavior. Nectar-fed moths produced heavier spermatophores and copulated in greater proportion than moths exposed to the other treatments. The total sugar and protein content of spermatophores was not influenced by the type of male feeding. Red or pink spermatophores were more prevalent in the first-produced spermatophores, diminishing in proportion on the second, and increasing again on the third-produced spermatophore, but this coloration proportion was prevalent of males not fed or fed only water. There were no differences in the chemical composition of the different colored spermatophores. These results indicate that polygynous behavior on H. virescens can be influenced by the type of male feeding.
The Digestive System ofDiaphorina citriandBactericera cockerelli(Hemiptera: Psyllidae)
Authors: Cicero J M , Brown J K , Roberts P D , Stansly P A
Published: June 2009

The psyllids Diaphorina citri (Kuwayama) and Bactericera cockerelli (Sulc) (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) are vectors of Candidatus Liberibacter spp., bacterial agents of serious agricultural diseases. The rapidly expanding geographical distributions of these diseases dictate increasing urgency for their control. Therefore, it is important to gain a full understanding of the psyllid digestive system in which the vector—pathogen interactions begin. Their midgut is looped so that the foregut—midgut and midgut—hindgut transitional regions are grafted together to form a composite tube within a filter chamber sheath. Unwanted sap components could thus be extracted directly into the hindgut, bypassing digestion. The esophageal lumen enters the chamber axially to become the inner midgut lumen. The upper half of this midgut section is bulbous while the lower half is tubular. The tube lumen exits the chamber to become the external midgut lumen, which loops through the hemocoel and reenters the chamber, becoming the inner hindgut lumen. The inner hindgut tracks the adherent inner midgut in an antiparallel direction. The composite tube is helically wound and undergoes one hairpin turn. The inner hindgut straps diagonally across the bulb and then exits the chamber next to the esophagus as the outer hindgut to anus. The source of honeydew, whether filtrate, midgut waste, or both, is questioned. Paired, spherical, primary salivary glands each have a digitate accessory gland and a lateral duct that leads to the stylets. The accessory gland lumen is lined exclusively with intima, whereas the primary gland apical cell membranes are indicated to be more complex.
Phylogeography of Coptotermes gestroi and Coptotermes formosanus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in Taiwan
Authors: Li Hou-Feng , Ye Weimin , Su Nan-Yao , Kanzaki Natsumi
Published: June 2009

The Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), is primarily reported from subtropical and warm temperate regions, whereas Coptotermes gestroi (Wasmann) is reported from many areas of the tropics. Taiwan is one of a few areas where the distributions of the two species overlap. By analyzing partial mitochondrial sequences of COII, 12S rRNA, and 16S rRNA, we found that most Taiwanese C. formosanus populations were closely related to Japanese and some Chinese populations and that Taiwanese C. gestroi populations were most closely related to those from the Philippines and Hawaii rather than populations from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. The intraspecific variation of C. formosanus was 0.7–0.8% for three genes among seven Taiwanese populations, whereas all Taiwanese C. gestroi populations had identical sequences. The results support that Taiwan may be a center of origin for C. formosanus, but a recent introduction site for C. gestroi.
The Initial Behavioral Sequences and Strategies of Various Ant Species During Individual Interactions with Solenopsis invicta
Authors: Rao Asha , Vinson S Bradleigh
Published: June 2009

The flexibility in behavior and strategies used by ants is both individual and collective. Here, we studied the behavior of individual ants during one-on-one interactions to gain insight into how resident ant species behave when they encounter incipient red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) colonies. The one-on-one interactions revealed that the red imported fire ant and Pheidole dentata (Mayr) were more “aggressive” compared with Solenopsis molesta (Say), Forelius pruinosus (Roger), Tetramorium bicarinatum (Nylander), Monomorium minimum (Buckley), and Monomorium pharonis (L.), which were more “defensive.” All of the species displayed “disturbed” behaviors such as excessive grooming, paralysis, and restlessness after being in contact with red imported fire ant. The apparent disparity in one-on-one interactions between a particular species and red imported fire ant illustrates how variation in these behavioral strategies can influence their success in defending themselves against red imported fire ant. The ant species tested also displayed a sequential behavior during the interaction, in which, certain subsequent behaviors were dependent on the preceding behaviors.
Ambidextrous Mandibles in the Fire Ant Solenopsis invicta
Authors: Cassill Deby L , Singh Devon
Published: June 2009

The elongation and sharp teeth of ant mandibles are considered important adaptations that have contributed to ants successful colonization of terrestrial habitats worldwide. In extant ant species, mandibles function as hunting and defense weapons, as well as multipurpose tools for excavating soil, cutting leaves, capturing and butchering prey, harvesting seeds, and transporting brood. This article reports that the mandibles in the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, are functionally ambidextrous. Individuals opened and closed each mandible in synchrony or independently depending on the requirement of the task at hand. Upon completion of a task, individuals were without a preference in the orientation of mandible overlap—right overlap or left overlap. Orientation of mandible overlap before and after performing a task was also examined in nine other ant species. No overlap orientation preference was observed in any of these ant species, suggesting that ambidextrous mandibles are a universal trait in ants. These findings add an increment of knowledge to the diverse functions of ant mandibles.
Preingestive Detection of Tannins byChoristoneura fumiferana(Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)
Authors: Cardinal-Aucoin Michael , Bauce E , Albert P J
Published: June 2009

The spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is considered the most important pest threatening coniferous forests of eastern North America. Its major hosts are balsam fir [Abies balsamea (L.)], white spruce [Picea glauca (Moench) Voss], red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.), and black spruce [Picea mariana (Mill.) Britton, Sterns and Poggenb.], all of which contain antiherbivore defensive compounds, including tannins. Tannins are known to act as feeding deterrents, digestibility reducers, and toxins in numerous insects and specifically to reduce growth and survival in the spruce budworm. Using two-choice feeding assays, we show that tannic acid deters spruce budworm feeding, whereas tannins extracted from white spruce and containing 97.8% condensed tannins stimulate it. Moreover, a dose-response relationship was demonstrated for both types of tannin. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a phagostimulatory role of condensed tannins in any insect. Tannic acid only deterred feeding when in solution with sucrose but remained undetected when in solution alone, whereas the condensed spruce tannins produced a positive response alone, and this response was increased by the addition of sucrose. Based on these results, we speculate that both types of tannins produce their respective effects through different mechanisms: tannic acid seems to interfere with sucrose detection, whereas spruce tannins can evidently stimulate feeding directly in this insect. For both types of tannins, the insects do not seem to be able to detect the 0.75% tannin concentration, suggesting a possible response threshold. Rearing insects on diets containing tannic acid revealed possible effects of aversion learning and of induction when tested in feeding assays with tannic acid and spruce tannins, respectively.
RECENT RESEARCH IN REINFORCED CONCRETE, AND ITS APPLICATION TO DESIGN. STRUCTURAL PAPER NO 26. (INCLUDES PHOTOGRAPHS).
Authors: BAKER A L L
Published: June 2009

Synopsis

The Paper presents a general plastic theory for the solution of statically indeterminate reinforced-concrete frameworks, and also for calculating the ultimate strength in bending of reinforced-concrete and pre-stressed-concrete beams, of both bonded and non-bonded types.

The Author has attempted to avoid the use of complex mathematical methods by assuming that all bending strains have linear distribution. The neutral axis of members subject to bending is located by the ultimate strains at the extremities of the section for non-sustained load, and safe limiting values are determined by tests. The shape of the compression-stress distribution and the position of its centre of gravity are denoted by symbols for which safe limiting values are obtained experimentally.

A plastic theory for the ultimate longitudinal bending strength of cylindrical shells is also presented. The Author indicates the distribution of longitudinal stress which causes maximum transverse bending stress so that, again, simplification is achieved by the use of safe limiting values which may be based on experimental evidence.

Tests to destruction on pre-stressed beams and two cylindrical shells, and the methods employed for measuring strains by dial and electrical gauges, are described and also the procedure for determining, from the tests, safe limiting values of the factors which govern ultimate strength. The experimental work is not yet complete, but some of the results so far obtained are given. Final results will be given in an Addendum to the Paper.

A new method of testing is described, in which a machine referred to as a bending-simulation machine, is used to obtain the fundamental stress-strain data required for calculations within the plastic range.
FURTHER EXPERIMENTS ON WAVE PRESSURES.
Authors: DENNY D F
Published: June 2009

Snopsis

Experimental investigation of the pressures exerted by waves breaking against a vertical wall has provided further numerical information in support of the theory published in 1939 by Bagnold, who concluded that an air pocket between the wave and the wall played a dominant part in the generation of shock pressures.

Although many precautions were taken to obtain exactly constant waves, which were then allowed to break in calm water, the pressure observations varied greatly; however, by taking a large number of waves it was possible to apply statistical methods of analysis which showed that the pressures were substantially proportional to wave-height. The greatest pressures were exerted on the upper part of the wall and extended chiefly over the upper four-tenths of the wave height. Their duration was very brief, of the order of 0.001 second for the more intense shocks, and, as found by Bagnold, the product of pressure and duration tended to be constant. The impulse contained in the shock was relatively small compared with the ordinary impulse of reflexion of the whole wave, and did not exceed 0.07 of the momentum of the wave; but the pressure-rise was very rapid, and the Paper includes an estimate of the greatest rate of rise of pressure to be expected from sea-waves. The probability of true scaling-up of the model results is also discussed.
A METHOD FOR CALCULATING THE FAILURE LOAD FOR A FRAMED STRUCTURE SUBJECTED TO FLUCTUATING,LOADS.
Authors: NEAL B G , SYMONDS P S
Published: June 2009

Synopsis

When a rigidly-jointed framed structure is subjected to several loads, each of which can vary independently of the other loads between prescribed limits, a type of failure termed incremental collapse may have to be considered. As the loads vary, there is a possibility that certain peak-load combinations will follow one another in a sequence which will result in definite increments occurring in the permanent deformations of the structure. Repetition of this sequence will cause the same increments in the permanent deformations in the same sense, so that eventually large deformations will be built up, rendering the structure useless. This type of failure is distinct from the plastic collapse occurring under a single application of load which is usually considered as the basis of plastic design methods.

Incremental collapse is discussed in the Paper, and a new general method for the determination of the values of the loads which cause this kind of failure is presented.
Regional reference variation provides ecologically meaningful protection criteria for northern World Heritage Site
Authors: Bowman Michelle , Spencer Paula , Dubé Monique , West David
Published: June 2009

Unprecedented rates of resource development and climate change at northern latitudes coupled with a lack of baseline information limits our ability to set ecologically meaningful criteria needed to protect these inherently sensitive ecosystems. We surveyed water and sediment chemistry, community composition of benthic algae and invertebrates and fish, and condition of a sentinel fish species, slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus), in 2 rivers adjacent to metal mines and in 20 reference rivers in the headwaters of a World Heritage Site, the South Nahanni River Basin, NWT, Canada. The normal range (i.e., mean ± 2 standard deviations) of biological conditions in regional reference sites (grouped by community type) were used to set ecologically meaningful effect sizes. These effect sizes were used in noncentral hypotheses tests to assess the ecological condition of potentially impaired sites. Significant impairments at sites influenced by current and historical mining activity were indicative of mild enrichment (e.g., increased benthic abundance and sculpin condition) and bioaccumulation of metals (e.g., increased concentrations of Cu and Fe in muscle tissue of sculpin). Comparisons between our regional reference study and a concurrent upstream–downstream study showed that the sensitivity of biological endpoints was typically related to the impairment criteria used and not to the type of study design. Concentrations of metals such as Al, Cu, and Fe in river water at reference sites were above federal and regional guidelines, suggesting that these guidelines are not appropriate for the metal-rich headwaters of the South Nahanni River. The ephemerellid mayflies Drunella spinifera and Ephemerella maculata were present in 4 of our study sites; their occurrence had not previously been documented in the Yukon or Northwest Territories. Our results confirmed that the lack of baseline information on the physiochemical and biological composition of northern rivers is hampering our ability to evaluate changes in these understudied ecosystems. However, the use of noncentral hypotheses tests based on empirically derived effect sizes enabled us to develop ecologically meaningful protection criteria, maintain statistical rigor, and provide probabilities of impairment that can be used directly in risk assessment. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2010; 6:12–27. © 2009 SETAC
Thresholds of toxicological concern for endocrine active substances in the aquatic environment
Authors: Gross Melanie , Daginnus Klaus , Deviller Genevieve , de Wolf Watze , Dungey Stephen , Galli Corrado , Gourmelon Anne , Jacobs Miriam , Matthiessen Peter , Micheletti Christian , Nestmann Earle , Pavan Manuela , Paya-Perez Ana , Ratte Hans-Toni , Safford Bob , Sokull-Klüttgen Birgit , Stock Frauke , Stolzenberg Hans-Christian , Wheeler James , Willuhn Marc , Worth Andrew , Zaldivar Comenges Jose Manuel , Crane Mark
Published: June 2009

The threshold of toxicological concern (TTC) concept proposes that an exposure threshold value can be derived for chemicals, below which no significant risk to human health or the environment is expected. This concept goes further than setting acceptable exposure levels for individual chemicals, because it attempts to set a de minimis value for chemicals, including those of unknown toxicity, by taking the chemical's structure or mode of action (MOA) into consideration. This study examines the use of the TTC concern concept for endocrine active substances (EAS) with an estrogenic MOA. A case study formed the basis for a workshop of regulatory, industry and academic scientists held to discuss the use of the TTC in aquatic environmental risk assessment. The feasibility and acceptability, general advantages and disadvantages, and the specific issues that need to be considered when applying the TTC concept for EAS in risk assessment were addressed. Issues surrounding the statistical approaches used to derive TTCs were also discussed. This study presents discussion points and consensus findings of the workshop. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2010; 6:2–11. © 2009 SETAC
Environmental fate factors and human intake fractions for risk assessment of petroleum products
Authors: van de Meent Dik , Hollander Anne , Comber Michael , Parkerton Thomas
Published: June 2009

Petroleum products may contain up to thousands of individual hydrocarbon compounds, which vary widely in environmental behavior and ecotoxicity. Environmental risk assessment of these complex substances is facilitated by use of the hydrocarbon block method (HBM). The HBM assigns similarly behaving hydrocarbons to the same blocks and then relates release rates of petroleum products to environmental concentrations and human intake rates by means of so-called environmental fate factors and human intake fractions of the hydrocarbon blocks. We have derived such fate factors and intake fractions and associated uncertainties with a library of representative hydrocarbon structures. Fate factors and intake fractions of over 1500 individual representative hydrocarbons have been modeled according to the EU Technical Guidance Documents. Fate factors and intake fractions for the chosen hydrocarbon blocks are then estimated from average values obtained for the individual compounds in the blocks. Fate factors and intake fractions of the hydrocarbon blocks vary by up to 10 orders of magnitude for the different emission scenarios and compartments/spatial scales. The highest fate factors are obtained for the exposure scenarios with the highest emission intensity (the local emission scenarios) and for the most direct exposure chain. Uncertainties introduced by the “blocking” method are typically smaller than 30% and rarely larger than a factor of 3. Various hydrocarbon blocking schemes of different resolution were tested, and all schemes investigated appeared to perform satisfactorily. The use of the library-based HBM was illustrated by assessing the aquatic ecological risk of gas oil, emitted to water. The aquatic risk characterization ratio of gas oil hydrocarbons in regional freshwater is estimated to be 6 × 10−5 per unit of emission (1 kg/d released 1:10:100 to local, regional, and continental scales, respectively), with an uncertainty of 32%. In view of other uncertainties in environmental risk assessment, the precision achieved with the procedure presented here is judged to be reasonable. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2010; 6:135–144. © 2009 SETAC
Using data from drug discovery and development to aid the aquatic environmental risk assessment of human pharmaceuticals: Concepts, considerations, and challenges
Authors: Winter Matthew J , Owen Stewart F , Murray-Smith Richard , Panter Grace H , Hetheridge Malcolm J , Kinter Lewis B
Published: June 2009

Over recent years, human pharmaceuticals have been detected in the aquatic environment. This, combined with the fact that many are (by design) biologically active compounds, has raised concern about potential impacts in wildlife species. This concern was realized with two high-profile cases of unforeseen environmental impact (i.e., estrogens and diclofenac), which have led to a flurry of work addressing how best to predict such effects in the future. One area in which considerable research effort has been made, partially in response to regulatory requirements, has been on the potential use of preclinical and clinical pharmacological and toxicological data (generated during drug development from nonhuman mammals and humans) to predict possible effects in nontarget, environmentally relevant species: so-called read across. This approach is strengthened by the fact that many physiological systems are conserved between mammals and certain environmentally relevant species. Consequently, knowledge of how a pharmaceutical works (the “mode-of-action,” or MoA) in nonclinical species and humans could assist in the selection of appropriate test species, study designs, and endpoints, in an approach referred to as “intelligent testing.” Here we outline the data available from the human drug development process and suggest how this might be used to design a testing strategy best suited to the specific characteristics of the drug in question. In addition, we review published data that support this type of approach, discuss the potential pitfalls associated with read across, and identify knowledge gaps that require filling to ensure accuracy in the extrapolation of data from preclinical and clinical studies, for use in the environmental risk assessment of human pharmaceuticals. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2010; 6:38–51. © 2009 SETAC
Modeling Wettability Alteration by Surfactants in Naturally Fractured Reservoirs
Authors: Delshad Mojdeh , Najafabadi Nariman Fathi , Anderson Glen A. , Pope Gary A. , Sepehrnoori Kamy
Published: June 2009

Laboratory surfactant and hot-water floods have shown a great potential in increasing oil recovery for reservoirs that are naturally fractured and have low-permeability, mixed-wet matrix rocks. Fractured, mixed-wet formations usually have poor waterflood performance because the injected water tends to flow in the fractures and imbibition into the matrix is not very significant. Surfactants have been used to change the wettability for increasing the oil recovery by increased imbibition of the water into the rock matrix. The mechanisms for oil recovery are combined effects of reduced interfacial tension (IFT), reduced mobility ratio, and wettability alteration. The goal of this research is to adapt an existing numerical reservoir simulator to model chemical processes leading to wettability alteration in naturally fractured reservoirs. Surfactants have been used to change the wettability, with the goal of increasing the oil recovery by increased imbibition of the water into the rock matrix. Reservoir simulation is required to scale up the process from laboratory to field conditions, as well as to understand and interpret reservoir data. A chemical-flooding simulator is adapted to model improved-oil-recovery processes involving wettability alteration using surfactants. Multiple relative permeability and capillary pressure curves corresponding to different wetting states are used to model the wettability alteration. Simulations are performed to better understand and predict enhanced oil recovery as a function of wettability alteration, and to investigate the impact of uncertainties in the fracture and matrix properties, reservoir heterogeneity, matrix diffusion, buoyancy-driven flow, initial water saturation, and formation wettability. The proposed wettability-alteration model and its implementation were successfully validated against laboratory experiments. Upscaled simulations indicated the importance of matrix properties on the rate of imbibition. The oil recovery increases with an increase in matrix permeability and a decrease in matrix initial water saturation.
Gravity-Drainage and Oil-Reinfiltration Modeling in Naturally Fractured Reservoir Simulation
Authors: Ladron de Guevara-Torres J. Ernesto , Rodriguez-de la Garza Fernando , Galindo-Nava Agustin
Published: June 2009

The gravity-drainage and oil-reinfiltration processes that occur in the gas-cap zone of naturally fractured reservoirs (NFRs) are studied through single porosity refined grid simulations. A stack of initially oil-saturated matrix blocks in the presence of connate water surrounded by gas-saturated fractures is considered; gas is provided at the top of the stack at a constant pressure under gravity-capillary dominated flow conditions. An in-house reservoir simulator, SIMPUMA-FRAC, and two other commercial simulators were used to run the numerical experiments; the three simulators gave basically the same results.

Gravity-drainage and oil-reinfiltration rates, along with average fluid saturations, were computed in the stack of matrix blocks through time. Pseudofunctions for oil reinfiltration and gravity drainage were developed and considered in a revised formulation of the dual-porosity flow equations used in the fractured reservoir simulation.

The modified dual-porosity equations were implemented in SIMPUMA-FRAC (Galindo-Nava 1998; Galindo-Nava et al. 1998), and solutions were verified with good results against those obtained from the equivalent single porosity refined grid simulations. The same simulations—considering gravity drainage and oil reinfiltration processes—were attempted to run in the two other commercial simulators, in their dual-porosity mode and using available options. Results obtained were different among them and significantly different from those obtained from SIMPUMA-FRAC.
Stability Criteria for Thermal Adaptive Implicit Compositional Flows
Authors: Moncorgé Arthur , Tchelepi Hamdi A.
Published: June 2009

Linear stability analysis is performed for thermal/compositional displacement processes, and a concise statement of the stability limits is given. The discrete formulation is based on standard (low-order) space- and time-discretization schemes of the mass- and energy-conservation equations, which are widely used in general-purpose reservoir simulators. The analysis is applicable for thermal multicomponent multiphase flows and accounts for mass and heat convection, heat conduction, fluid compressibility, gravity, and capillarity. The derived stability limits reduce to those presented by Coats (2003a, 2003b) for isothermal compositional systems. The thermal-adaptive-implicit method (TAIM) stability criteria are tested thoroughly using a flexible thermal/compositional reservoir simulator based on the natural variable-set formulation. These numerical tests indicate that the obtained stability limits are quite sharp for a wide range of the parameter space. Specifically, small violations of these limits lead to unstable solutions for temperature and saturations. Moreover, small violations of the stability limits lead to significant deviations from reference solutions, and large persistent violations lead to completely unstable numerical results. Detailed analysis and extensive numerical testing indicate that a TAIM-based formulation, which uses the stability limits derived here as adaptive local criteria to decide whether to treat a variable as implicit or explicit, is a very promising approach for efficient simulation of thermal/compositional problems.
Use of Antimicrobial and Genotoxicity Potentiality for Evaluation of
Essential Oils as Food Preservatives
Authors: Hamedo Hend A. , Abdelmigid Hala M.
Published: June 2009

In this study, investigations were carried out to assess the efficiency of two plant essential oils; rosemary and
oregano as natural food preservatives. The effect of the plant essential oils at concentrations of 0.1%, 0.5% and 1% was
studied in the soft cheese against Salmonella enteritidis and Escherichia coli at fridge temprature over a 14-day period.
The essential oils performed well in the inhibition of S. enteritidis and E. coli. It is concluded that selected plant essential
oils can act as potent inhibitors of both microorganisms in a food product. At the same time, evaluation of their safety as
food preservatives was undertaken via monitoring the genotoxic activity of the mentioned essential oils using Vicia faba
test. Vicia faba roots were treated with the above concentrations for 3 hours. Results revealed cytotoxic and genotoxic effects
of the applied doses. Mitotic index decreased significantly when compared to control. Chromosomal abnormalities
and micronuclei were also observed and the effects were dose-dependent. Despite the efficient role of the studied oils as
antimicrobial agents, their genotoxicity potential in eukaryotic cells made them unacceptable as food preservatives, particularly
at high doses. Therefore, more research in the use of essential oils as food preservatives is needed.
Aviation Applications of the Pulsed Doppler LIDAR – Experience in Hong Kong
Authors: Chan P.W.
Published: June 2009

The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) introduced a Doppler LIDAR to the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) in 2002, the first LIDAR for aviation alerting services in the world. Since then, HKO has developed a number of weather products based on the LIDAR’s velocity and backscatter power data. LIDAR is found to provide crucial information in a wide variety of aviation applications. This paper gives a review of the experience in Hong Kong in the development of aviation-related weather products using the LIDAR data. Applications include: automatic windshear alerting from the HKO-developed glide-path scans, detection of low-level turbulence, 2D wind retrieval for intense convective events from LIDAR-radar dual Doppler analysis, 3D wind retrieval from a single LIDAR for terrain-disrupted airflow, visibility map based on backscatter power distribution in conical scans, and mixing-height monitoring in vertical scans.