bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PRAEITIES SUPREKINIMAS URBANISTINĖSE ERDVĖSE
Authors: Čepaitienė Rasa
Published: June 2011

The article deals with several problematical units concerned with commercialization of the past in the postindustrial, postmodern consumer societies. Primarily, the process of the commercialization of urban centres – especially old historical cities and their images – is analysed in the context of contemporary global culture economics; also, questions regarding forms and shapes this process assumes are raised. Secondly, the consideration regarding the meaning of this process is given, in other words, what is it telling about the condition of our society and attitudes towards the past? Undoubtedly, an adequate assessment of the knowledge of socio-economic tendencies, which have to cope with cities influenced by neoliberalism, is very important and relevant to post-colonial and post-communist countries, which, like Lithuania, are still seeking for their identity in the face of economical and cultural globalization challenges. Santrauka Straipsnyje siekiama panagrinėti keletą su praeities suprekinimu susijusių probleminių blokų postindustrinėse, postmoderniose vartotojiškose visuomenėse. Pirma, analizuojama, kaip šiuolaikinės globaliosios kultūros ekonomikos kontekste vyksta urbanistinių centrų ir ypač senųjų istorinių miestų bei jų įvaizdžių komercializacijos procesas, kokias formas bei pavidalus jis įgauna. Ir, antra, svarstoma, ką tai galėtų reikšti, kitaip tariant, ką tai sako apie pačią mūsų visuomenės būklę ir požiūrį į praeitį. Neabejojama, kad adekvatus socioekonominių tendencijų, su kuriomis susiduria neoliberalizmo veikiami miestai, pažinimas yra itin aktualus pokolonijinių ir pokomunistinių šalių visuomenėms, kurios, kaip kad Lietuva, vis dar ieško savojo tapatumo susidurdamos su ekonominės ir kultūrinės globalizacijos iššūkiais.
Immunological and Pathogenic Properties of Poliovirus Variants Selected for Resistance to Antiviral Drug V-073
Authors: Kouiavskaia Diana V , Dragunsky Eugenia M , Liu Hong-Mei , Oberste M Steven , Collett Marc S , Chumakov Konstantin M
Published: June 2011

Background

The National Research Council has recommended development of polio antiviral drugs to assist in management of outbreaks and to mitigate adverse consequences of vaccination. V-073 is a small molecule poliovirus capsid inhibitor that is being developed for these purposes. Antiviral use raises the potential of treatment-emergent resistance. Understanding virological consequences of resistance is important.

Methods

Six independent laboratory-derived V-073-resistant poliovirus variants were characterized for their ability to be neutralized by conventional vaccine-induced immune sera, to elicit serum neutralizing antibodies upon CD-1 mouse immunization, and to replicate in and to cause paralysis of TgPVR21 mice.

Results

V-073-resistant variants were effectively neutralized by oral poliovirus vaccine and inactivated poliovirus vaccine human immune sera. All variants elicited virus neutralizing antibody titres in CD-1 mice that were comparable to drug-susceptible parental and Sabin vaccine strain viruses. Infection efficiency of TgPVR21 mice by variants was comparable to (1 of 6 variants) or considerably lower than (5 of 6 variants) parental viruses. Drug-resistant variants replicated to levels comparable to (1 of 6 variants) or substantially less than (5 of 6 variants) their drug-susceptible parental viruses and were on average 1.4 log10 (range 0.3 to >2.8 log10) less neurovirulent.

Conclusions

Laboratory-derived V-073-resistant variants exhibit clear attenuation of pathogenic properties while maintaining immunological features of drug-susceptible viruses.
Endorsement of Definitions of Disease Activity States and Improvement Scores for the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score: Results from OMERACT 10
Authors: MACHADO PEDRO M.M.C. , LANDEWÉ ROBERT B.M. , van der HEIJDE DÉSIRÉE M.
Published: July 2011

The Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) is a new composite index to assess disease activity in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Criteria for disease activity states and improvement scores are important for use in clinical practice, observational studies, and clinical trials, and have been proposed by the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS). At OMERACT 10, our aim was to obtain endorsement from OMERACT for the ASDAS disease activity states and response criteria proposed by the ASAS membership. This article summarizes the associated discussions, the scientific basis of the validation process, and the results from the voting sessions, and identifies areas for research using the ASDAS. OMERACT participants agreed with the selection of cutoff values, which now have the combined endorsement of ASAS and OMERACT and are ready to be used in clinical practice and in research settings.
De la psychothérapie familiale à l'entretien familial systémique. De la demande intrafamiliale à la demande d'un tiers professionnel extérieur
Authors: Maestre Michel
Published: June 2011

Résumé Les professionnels de la relation d’aide, qu’ils exercent dans le champ psychiatrique, social, judiciaire de la protection de l’enfance, ou dans des structures spécialisées pour enfants ou adultes handicapés, sont presque toujours confrontés à une situation paradoxale. En effet, leur mission professionnelle, leur mandat ou ceux du service dans lequel ils travaillent leur enjoignent de proposer une « aide contrainte » à des personnes qui n’ont pas demandé cette aide, ou qui la refusent avec véhémence. Comment est-il possible de recourir à l’aide contrainte voire même à l’injonction thérapeutique, tout en respectant le patient, sa famille et son entourage ? Au cours de cet article nous détaillerons plusieurs contextes d’intervention issus de l’approche familiale systémique, qui permettent de répondre à ces questions.
Du diabolique au symbolique, dans quel monde vivons-nous ?
Authors: Mugnier Jean-Paul
Published: June 2011

Résumé La prise en charge de familles sous contrainte judiciaire oblige les intervenants à s’interroger sans cesse sur les stratégies, les processus relationnels à mettre en œuvre pour tenter de les convaincre d’accepter les aides qui leurs sont imposées. Dans cet article, je propose dans un premier temps d’envisager trois étapes susceptibles de favoriser cette affiliation en lien avec trois concepts ou apports théoriques : la théorie du common knowledge, le concept d’intersubjectivité et la notion d’attachement désorganisé. Dans un deuxième temps, nous verrons comment l’utilisation de certains objets flottants, en particulier le jeu de l’oie, peut favoriser l’élaboration d’un récit dans lequel inscrire les faits de violence qui ont nécessité l’intervention du magistrat. Ainsi, au-delà des aspects techniques, l’idée générale présentée dans cet article est que les intervenants doivent avant tout considérer leur fonction symbolique de passeurs d’humanité auprès de personnes qui bien souvent luttent pour garder leur place dans la communauté.
L'enfant abusé devient adulte : réflexions à partir de plusieurs situations traitées
Authors: Cirillo Stefano
Published: June 2011

Résumé L’auteur analyse plusieurs cas cliniques pour réfléchir aux différentes conséquences d’un abus sexuel subi dans l’enfance sur le développement ultérieur de sujets masculins. Trois types d’évolution sont observés : la transformation classique de la victime en agresseur, son maintien dans une position de victime, et l’attitude de spectateur qui concerne les frères des victimes de sexe féminin. Les ressources du système d’attachement (fournies par le parent protecteur mais aussi par le parent abuseur) jouent un rôle déterminant dans l’évolution de l’enfant abusé, de même que l’impact terrorisant de l’événement traumatique.
Le cas des vendeurs adaptatifs dans le secteur automobile
Authors: Barbier Jean-Yves
Published: June 2011

Résumé La modélisation de l’efficacité d’une négociation commerciale propose, avec le paradigme cognitif de la vente, une vision de la négociation commerciale basée sur l’utilisation plus ou moins contingente de scripts de vente. En nous appuyant sur notre expérience directe de vendeur de véhicules d’occasion, nous montrerons que cette approche se limite à un cas particulier des ressorts de l’efficacité commerciale et qu’il est possible de construire un modèle plus général où l’improvisation, a contrario de la notion de script, occupe une place importante.
La guerre contre le terrorisme : un succès incertain et coûteux
Authors: Andréani Gilles
Published: June 2011

L’échec d’Al-Qaida était inscrit dans l’irréalisme de ses objectifs. Il fut accéléré par la « guerre contre le terrorisme » lancée par l’Administration Bush, la coopération internationale impulsée par Washington et la destruction d’Al-Qaida « central » en Afghanistan. L’échec irakien et l’enlisement de l’intervention en Afghanistan constituent pourtant une autre face de cette guerre, avec un coût financier, politique et moral lourd, qui découle sans doute d’une surestimation de la menace. politique étrangère
La Politique agricole commune comme facteur d'intégration : un point de vue polonais
Authors: Sawicki Marek
Published: June 2011

La Pologne a considérablement modernisé son agriculture grâce au soutien financier de l’Union européenne, à laquelle elle a adhéré en 2004. La Politique agricole commune (PAC), dont les limites sont désormais criantes, doit être réformée. Les changements proposés par la Commission ne sont pas suffisants et certains États membres doivent se montrer plus coopératifs, en faisant fi de leurs échéances électorales. Une PAC simplifiée et une agriculture plus productive sont dans l’intérêt de tous. politique étrangère
L'Europe et l'évolution du modèle chinois
Authors: Flouzat-Osmont d’Amilly Denise
Published: June 2011

La relance de l’économie chinoise en 2008 se traduit par une prédominance nouvelle du capitalisme d’État et un recentrage sur la consommation intérieure. Ouverte sur l’extérieur mais pourtant protectionniste, la Chine est désormais un acteur majeur du système financier mondial. Et ses investissements intéressent directement les pays européens. Dans un tel contexte, l’Europe doit obtenir une réciprocité plus claire, mais elle peut aussi bénéficier de la puissance financière chinoise. politique étrangère
L'Allemagne, la Libye et l'Union européenne
Authors: Göler Daniel , Jopp Mathias , Cornet Anne-Céline
Published: June 2011

L’abstention allemande face à la résolution 1973 du Conseil de sécurité des Nations unies découle des fondamentaux mêmes de la politique étrangère du pays. L’UE a néanmoins démontré dans la crise libyenne sa capacité à adopter des politiques communes en matière de sanctions et dans le domaine humanitaire, avec engagement allemand. Le développement de la Politique de sécurité et de défense de l’UE ne peut se faire qu’autour de missions militaires de faible ou de moyenne intensité, et avec accord entre Paris et Berlin. politique étrangère
Regards sur la crise irlandaise
Authors: Considère-Charon Marie-Claire
Published: June 2011

La crise de 2007, aggravée des effets de la bulle immobilière et des dérives du système bancaire irlandais, a violemment frappé un pays réputé modèle de réussite économique. D’où de rudes plans d’austérité, une mise sous surveillance du pays et un changement politique aux dernières législatives. La reprise économique sera longue et les marges de manœuvre sociales demeurent étroites, comme semble l’indiquer la reprise d’une émigration qu’on pensait appartenir au passé. politique étrangère
Engagements soixante-huitards sous le regard croisé des statistiques et des récits de vie
Authors: Pagis Julie
Published: July 2011

Résumé À partir de récits de vie et de données recueillies par questionnaire auprès d’un corpus de soixante-huitards ayant scolarisé leurs enfants dans deux écoles expérimentales, cet article pose la question des méthodes à mobiliser pour appréhender les registres de participation à Mai 68. Le recours à l’analyse factorielle, suivi d’une classification du corpus, permet dans un premier temps de déconstruire la catégorie de soixante-huitards en rapportant les différentes formes d’engagement aux caractéristiques sociologiques des enquêtés. La confrontation de cette classification statistique aux récits de participation des enquêtés permet ensuite de l’enrichir, mais également d’en souligner certaines limites, notamment l’impossibilité de dissocier les variables dispositionnelles (relatives au temps long des trajectoires antérieures à l’événement) des variables situationnelles (relatives au temps court de l’événement). Enfin, l’articulation des résultats obtenus par l’approche statistique et des hypothèses issues de l’analyse des récits de vie permet de proposer une classification alternative qui réintroduit le temps des événements dans celui des trajectoires. Cette dernière est ainsi plus attentive aux formes de politisation induites par la participation aux événements.
Toxicity of Polyhexanide and Hydrogen Peroxide on Human Chondrocytes In Vitro
Authors: Röhner Eric , Seeger Joern B. , Hoff Paula , Dähn-Wollenberg Stephanie , Perka Carsten , Matziolis Georg
Published: June 2011

The treatment of acute joint infections has an important impact on long-term outcome and remains an unsolved problem. The most frequent bacteria are staphylococci, streptococci, and gram-negative bacteria. In septic surgery, polyhexanide and hydrogen peroxide are the most frequently used local antiseptics. The aim of this study was to examine the hypothesis that antiseptics induce cell death of human chondrocytes after a short incubation time.

Human chondrocytes were treated with different concentrations of polyhexanide and hydrogen peroxide. Toxicity analysis was determined by visualization of cell structure using light microscopy, lactate dehydrogenase release, and determination of living and total cell numbers after addition of polyhexanide and hydrogen peroxide. Light microscopic data revealed a defect cell structure after addition of both antiseptics. Lactate dehydrogenase activity showed a significant increase of enzyme expression after a short incubation with polyhexanide. The determination of vital chondrocytes showed a significant decrease of vital and total cell numbers after addition with polyhexanide and hydrogen peroxide.

Both antiseptic solutions induce significant cell death of human chondrocytes after a short incubation time. Polyhexanide possibly has more toxic potential than hydrogen peroxide against human chondrocytes after an application >15 minutes. Therefore, both substances should only be applied for a short time (<15 minutes) and the joint irrigated to wash out the antiseptic substance prior to wound closure.
Evaluation of Knowledge of Common Hand Surgery Problems in Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine Residents
Authors: Scher Danielle L. , Boyer Martin I. , Hammert Warren C. , Wolf Jennifer Moriatis
Published: June 2011

Musculoskeletal disorders are the principal reason for primary care outpatient visits and make up 14% of visits to emergency departments, with the upper extremity as the most common site affected. However, formal musculoskeletal education is inconsistent in medical school and primary care residencies, with many first-year residents reporting a lack of confidence in examination and diagnosis of musculoskeletal conditions. The authors evaluated the level of knowledge of common upper-extremity conditions with a validated examination taken by internal medicine and emergency medicine residents. A 38-question upper-extremity examination was created by a group of hand and upper-extremity surgeons from the Resident Education Committee of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. The examination was reviewed by 30 hand fellowship directors, who rated each question on a Likert scale and determined a recommended passing percentage. The Web-based examination was taken by emergency and internal medicine residents from multiple institutions. The fellowship directors’ recommended passing grade averaged 73%. The majority of respondents were in their first (33%) or second (33%) year of training. The average scores were 56% and 46% for the internal and emergency medicine residents, respectively. This evaluation of a cross-section of internal and emergency residents indicates a deficiency in knowledge of common upper-extremity conditions.
Arthroscopic Medial Retinacular Imbrication for the Treatment of Recurrent Patellar Instability: A Simple and All-Inside Technique
Authors: Xu Hu , Zhang Chunli , Pei Guoxian , Zhu Qinsheng , Han Yisheng
Published: June 2011

Proximal soft tissue realignment is the main surgical intervention for recurrent patellar instability. In recent years, all-inside arthroscopic procedures or mini-open surgeries have replaced traditional surgeries, which have more associated morbidity and poor cosmetic results. This article describes a simple and all-inside arthroscopic technique for the operative treatment of recurrent patellar instability. Using 2 epidural needles in several steps and no accessory portals required, the medial patellar retinaculum is imbricated to the desired tension. The combination of lateral release and medial retinacular placation obviously improves the patellar tracking compared with preoperatively.
Intramedullary Nailing of Proximal Third Tibial Fractures: Techniques to Improve Reduction
Authors: Hak David J.
Published: June 2011

Obtaining and maintaining an acceptable reduction of proximal third tibial fractures can be problematic. Deforming forces acting on the proximal fragment and the spaciousness of the intramedullary canal at this level contribute to this challenge during intramedullary nailing. Several surgical techniques have been developed to address this problem, including the use of a more lateral and proximal starting point, adjunctive plate fixation, blocking screws, semiextended nailing, and most recently the use of a retropatellar portal approach. Familiarity with these techniques is critical to achieve satisfactory results when nailing proximal third tibial fractures.
Lumbar Ligamentum Flavum Hematoma Treated With Endoscopy
Authors: Ohba Tetsuro , Ebata Shigeto , Ando Takashi , Ichikawa Jiro , Clinton Devin , Haro Hirotaka
Published: June 2011

Hematoma of the ligamentum flavum is a rare cause of neural compression, for which treatment has consisted of excising the hematoma via open surgical approaches, including total laminectomy or bilateral partial laminectomy. This article presents the first report of a microscope-assisted endoscopic decompression to resect a hematoma of the ligamentum flavum.

A 52-year-old man presented with back and leg pain, as well as difficulty initiating micturation. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an epidural mass at L5/S1 that was continuous with the facet joint. Visualization was obtained via an endoscope, and a reddish tan-brown solid mass was found beneath the ligamentum flavum. Thorough decompression of the cauda equine and nerve roots was undertaken. The patient’s radicular leg pain and bladder function improved soon after the decompression. Histological examination of the ligamentum flavum revealed a consolidated hematoma with granulomatous change.

A review of the English literature revealed 29 cases of hematoma in the lumbar ligamentum flavum. Surgical decompression in these patients was accomplished with a standard open approach through hemilaminectomy (n=11), total laminectomy (n=10), or laminectomy followed by posterior fixation (n=3). The literature review did not identify any case of hematoma of the lumbar ligamentum flavum that was treated endoscopically. We expect our case may expand the indications for the endoscope in spine surgery.
La « brutalisation » de la guerre. Des guerres d’Italie aux guerres de Religion
Authors: Fournel Jean-Louis
Published: June 2011

Jean-Louis Fournel, abordant la période des guerres d’Italie, tente de montrer comment ces nouvelles guerres modifient l’intensité et le rythme de la guerre guerroyée : la conscience d’une violence et d’une rapidité inédites fait planer une menace de mort sur les États eux-mêmes et la question de la guerre est dès lors placée au cœur de la pensée politique. Trois manifestations de ces « nouvelles » guerres marquent particulièrement les contemporains et autorisent l’analyste à évoquer ici une « brutalisation » ou un ensauvagement des conflits, bien avant la Première Guerre mondiale qui a fondé récemment le développement d’une telle problématique : les sacs de ville, la mise en coupe réglée des territoires conquis avec le développement d’une véritable guerre contre les civils et, enfin, l’augmentation exponentielle du nombre de morts durant les batailles (du fait entre autres des modifications dans l’armement et du nombre de soldats constituant les nouvelles armées « nationales »). S’ensuivent des tentatives d’une nouvelle « humanisation », très relative des conflits armés fondée sur un nouvel examen du jus in bello (par opposition à une quasi disparition de la question du jus ad bellum). Il est notable à cet égard que le lexique de la « barbarie » est très peu utilisé chez les chroniqueurs et historiens des guerres d’Italie alors même qu’il a une forte présence chez les historiens et témoins des guerres de Religion en France. On peut se poser la question de savoir s’il ne faudrait pas voir là une certaine « rechristianisation » du discours sur la guerre. De la sorte, cette « rechristianisation » d’une partie de la réflexion sur la violence de guerre, au croisement du déclin de l’idéologie chevaleresque, des réflexions philosophiques, théologiques ou juridiques nées des massacres commis par les conquistadores dans le « nouveau monde » (Cortez avait fait ses premières armes sur les champs de bataille italiens) et des réactions face aux atrocités de la guerre civile, permettrait peut-être tout à la fois d’inscrire la barbarie dans le présent des conflits, de permettre un nouveau discours pacifiste, de confier paradoxalement au souverain comme instance laïque, au-dessus des choix religieux personnels, le rôle d’arbitre et de régulateur des guerres (cf. les politiques), et, enfin, de relancer la question du jus in bello (le jus ad bellum n’étant plus vraiment opératoire, pas plus que le rôle d’arbitre du pape qui s’effondrera bientôt définitivement dans l’Europe née du traité de Westphalie).
Industrialisation et mécanisation de la guerre, sources majeures du totalitarisme (XIXe-XXe siècles)
Authors: Henninger Laurent
Published: June 2011

Laurent Henninger intervenant sur les « révolutions militaires » (notion située au carrefour du débat historique lancé dans les années 1980 par Geoffrey Parker – en polémique avec Jeremy Black – et du débat stratégique américain dans les années 1990) souligne que les avancées dans l’art de la guerre ont été depuis cinq siècles une des composantes majeures de la barbarisation et du totalitarisme. La notion de « révolution militaire » est aujourd’hui contestée par ceux qui y voient un outil interprétatif de trop longue durée et lui préfèrent l’idée de « mutations militaires » (selon laquelle l’accumulation de changements millimétriques sur la longue durée débouche sur des ruptures). Après avoir passé en revue la première révolution militaire – XVe-XVIIe siècles – fondée sur la mise à distance de la cavalerie grâce à l’infanterie nouvelle, à l’artillerie du champ de bataille, Henninger s’interroge sur le critère discriminant pour qualifier les nouvelles guerres de la Renaissance (l’hyperviolence n’en est pas un à ses yeux) et voit dans les armes à feu la vraie rupture car elles influent de façon radicale sur la peur et le courage des combattants et sont source d’une véritable « inhumanité » dans la mesure où leur feu est « imparable ». Il insiste sur l’émergence d’un nouveau type de courage guerrier non archaïque et plus « stoïcien » marqué par l’acceptation de la mort. Dans cette perspective, l’« inhumanisation » technique porterait en elle la possibilité de la barbarisation. L. Henninger développe ensuite cette thèse à partir de l’examen des guerres mécanisées de la période 1860-1950 en s’attardant sur la guerre de Sécession puis sur la Grande Guerre. Il relie aussi la question du totalitarisme à la réflexion sur les « bombardements stratégiques massifs » et les débuts de la dissuasion nucléaire (terme qui ne s’impose que vers 1960). Il conclut en insistant sur le fait que, selon lui, la brutalisation des conflits naît toujours d’un retard de la pensée de la guerre et sur le paradoxe d’une culture occidentale qui produit en même temps barbarie de la guerre et codes qui tentent de l’enrayer.
La lettre de Nusreta Sivac
Authors: Sivac Nusreta
Published: June 2011

Nusreta Sivac, ancienne juge à Prijedor, détenue au camp d’Omarska en 1992, retrace quant à elle le processus qui conduit de l’occupation de la ville par l’armée nationaliste serbe au licenciement des non Serbes, à l’expulsion des logements, à l’arrestation et enfin à l’emprisonnement dans le camp d’Omarska, proche de la ville, processus auquel ont participé aussi bien ses anciennes collègues – femmes – dans une forme de barbarie ordinaire qui va au-delà des combats. Elle décrit les conditions de vie dans ce camp, où les diverses lois et conventions juridiques ne lui sont plus apparues que comme du papier, et les circonstances de sa libération fin 1992. Réfugiée puis personne déplacée de 1993 à 1996, elle a récupéré son appartement, toujours occupé par une ancienne collègue, en 2001, mais ne peut y résider (tout y a été détruit et l’hostilité de ses voisins est manifeste). N. Sivac caractérise la situation actuelle par l’absence d’affrontement et l’absence de remords. Face à sa totale impuissance dans le camp devant les exactions commises, le témoignage pour la justice internationale lui est dès lors apparu comme une évidence, même si les effets de cette justice restent à Prijedor, en dépit d’un nombre important de procès, bien minces.
Hobbes, les pirates et les corsaires. Le « Léviathan échoué » selon Carl Schmitt
Authors: Weber Dominique
Published: June 2011

Parmi les nombreux problèmes que pose l’ouvrage de Carl Schmitt Le Léviathan dans la doctrine de l’État de Thomas Hobbes, il en est un, majeur, qui concerne l’utilisation de la « mythologie politique » pour expliquer la réalité ou les doctrines politiques. Il y a là, à n’en pas douter, l’expression de l’un des versants de l’irrationalisme de Schmitt. La thèse de l’auteur est très claire : parce que Hobbes ne possédait aucun « sens mythologique », il s’est trompé de monstre biblique, appelant Leviathan son traité consacré au pouvoir d’État, alors qu’il aurait dû l’appeler plus adéquatement Behemoth, manquant du coup la Meeresbild caractérisant l’Angleterre de son temps. La thèse peut paraître séduisante, elle s’appuie néanmoins sur un présupposé fort contestable, car Hobbes ne vise nullement à créer des mythes. Il s’agit donc d’interroger la théorisation hobbesienne de la piraterie, d’une part, et de la dissidence religieuse « sauvage », d’autre part, afin de montrer que le choix par Hobbes des monstres du Livre de Job est un choix rationnellement assumé.
AUTOMATIC DETECTION AND GRADING OF SEVERITY LEVEL IN EXUDATIVE MACULOPATHY
Authors: Siddalingaswamy P. C. , Prabhu K. Gopalakrishna , Jain Vikram
Published: July 2011

Diabetic maculopathy is one of the complications of diabetes mellitus that is considered as one of the major cause of vision loss among people around the world. Compulsory screening of eye will help to identify the maculopathy at early stage and reduce the risk of severe vision loss. A new automated method for the detection and grading of diabetic maculopathy severity level without any manual intervention is presented. Based on the location of exudates in marked macular region the severity level is classified into mild, moderate and severe. Digital color retinal images at different levels of maculopathy were used to evaluate the method. An overall sensitivity of 95.6% and specificity of 96.15% were achieved by the method.
CD28 Expressed on Malignant Plasma Cells Induces a Prosurvival and Immunosuppressive Microenvironment
Authors: Nair Jayakumar R. , Carlson Louise M. , Koorella Chandana , Rozanski Cheryl H. , Byrne Gerald E. , Bergsagel P. Leif , Shaughnessy John P. , Boise Lawrence H. , Chanan-Khan Asher , Lee Kelvin P.
Published: June 2011

Interactions between the malignant plasma cells of multiple myeloma and stromal cells within the bone marrow microenvironment are essential for myeloma cell survival, mirroring the same dependence of normal bone marrow-resident long-lived plasma cells on specific marrow niches. These interactions directly transduce prosurvival signals to the myeloma cells and also induce niche production of supportive soluble factors. However, despite their central importance, the specific molecular and cellular components involved remain poorly characterized. We now report that the prototypic T cell costimulatory receptor CD28 is overexpressed on myeloma cells during disease progression and in the poor-prognosis subgroups and plays a previously unrecognized role as a two-way molecular bridge to support myeloid stromal cells in the microenvironment. Engagement by CD28 to its ligand CD80/CD86 on stromal dendritic cell directly transduces a prosurvival signal to myeloma cell, protecting it against chemotherapy and growth factor withdrawal-induced death. Simultaneously, CD28-mediated ligation of CD80/CD86 induces the stromal dendritic cell to produce the prosurvival cytokine IL-6 (involving novel cross-talk with the Notch pathway) and the immunosuppressive enzyme IDO. These findings identify CD28 and CD80/CD86 as important molecular components of the interaction between myeloma cells and the bone marrow microenvironment, point to similar interaction for normal plasma cells, and suggest novel therapeutic strategies to target malignant and pathogenic (e.g., in allergy and autoimmunity) plasma cells.
Importance of the CCR5–CCL5 Axis for MucosalTrypanosoma cruziProtection and B Cell Activation
Authors: Sullivan Nicole L. , Eickhoff Christopher S. , Zhang Xiuli , Giddings Olivia K. , Lane Thomas E. , Hoft Daniel F.
Published: June 2011

Trypanosoma cruzi is an intracellular parasite and the causative agent of Chagas disease. Previous work has shown that the chemokine receptor CCR5 plays a role in systemic T. cruzi protection. We evaluated the importance of CCR5 and CCL5 for mucosal protection against natural oral and conjunctival T. cruzi challenges. T. cruzi-immune CCR5−/− and wild-type C57BL/6 mice were generated by repeated infectious challenges with T. cruzi. CCR5−/− and wild-type mice developed equivalent levels of cellular, humoral, and protective mucosal responses. However, CCR5−/−-immune mice produced increased levels of CCL5 in protected gastric tissues, suggesting compensatory signaling through additional receptors. Neutralization of CCL5 in CCR5−/−-immune mice resulted in decreased mucosal inflammatory responses, reduced T. cruzi-specific Ab-secreting cells, and significantly less mucosal T. cruzi protection, confirming an important role for CCL5 in optimal immune control of T. cruzi replication at the point of initial mucosal invasion. To investigate further the mechanism responsible for mucosal protection mediated by CCL5–CCR5 signaling, we evaluated the effects of CCL5 on B cells. CCL5 enhanced proliferation and IgM secretion in highly purified B cells triggered by suboptimal doses of LPS. In addition, neutralization of endogenous CCL5 inhibited B cell proliferation and IgM secretion during stimulation of highly purified B cells, indicating that B cell production of CCL5 has important autocrine effects. These findings demonstrate direct effects of CCL5 on B cells, with significant implications for the development of mucosal adjuvants, and further suggest that CCL5 may be important as a general B cell coactivator.
CD8+ T Effector Memory Cells Protect against Liver-Stage Malaria
Authors: Reyes-Sandoval Arturo , Wyllie David H. , Bauza Karolis , Milicic Anita , Forbes Emily K. , Rollier Christine S. , Hill Adrian V. S.
Published: June 2011

Identification of correlates of protection for infectious diseases including malaria is a major challenge and has become one of the main obstacles in developing effective vaccines. We investigated protection against liver-stage malaria conferred by vaccination with adenoviral (Ad) and modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vectors expressing pre-erythrocytic malaria Ags. By classifying CD8+ T cells into effector, effector memory (TEM), and central memory subsets using CD62L and CD127 markers, we found striking differences in T cell memory generation. Although MVA induced accelerated central memory T cell generation, which could be efficiently boosted by subsequent Ad administration, it failed to protect against malaria. In contrast, Ad vectors, which permit persistent Ag delivery, elicit a prolonged effector T cell and TEM response that requires long intervals for an efficient boost. A preferential TEM phenotype was maintained in liver, blood, and spleen after Ad/MVA prime–boost regimens, and animals were protected against malaria sporozoite challenge. Blood CD8+ TEM cells correlated with protection against malaria liver-stage infection, assessed by estimation of number of parasites emerging from the liver into the blood. The protective ability of Ag-specific TEM cells was confirmed by transfer experiments into naive recipient mice. Thus, we identify persistent CD8 TEM populations as essential for vaccine-induced pre-erythrocytic protection against malaria, a finding that has important implications for vaccine design.
Ensuring Mobility-Supporting Environments for an Aging Population: Critical Actors and Collaborations
Authors: Kochtitzky Chris S. , Freeland Amy L. , Yen Irene H.
Published: June 2011

Successful aging takes on an array of attributes, including optimal health and community participation. Research indicates that (1) persons with disabilities, including age-related disabilities, report frequent barriers to community participation, including unsuitable building design (43%), transportation (32%), and sidewalks/curbs (31%), and (2) many seniors report an inability to cross roads safely near their homes. This paper attempts to define mobility-related elements that contribute to optimal health and quality of life, within the context of successful aging. It then examines the impacts of community design on individual mobility, delving into which traditional and nontraditional actors—including architects, urban planners, transportation engineers, occupational therapists, and housing authorities—play critical roles in ensuring that community environments serve as facilitators (rather than barriers) to mobility. As America ages, mobility challenges for seniors will only increase unless both traditional aging specialists and many nontraditional actors make a concerted effort to address the challenges.
Liver Cancer Stem Cells
Authors: Mikhail Sameh , He Aiwu Ruth
Published: June 2011

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common primary malignancy of the liver in adults. It is also the fifth most common solid cancer worldwide and the third leading cause of cancer-related death. Recent research supports that liver cancer is a disease of adult stem cells. From the models of experimental hepatocarcinogenesis, there may be at least three distinct cell lineages with progenitor properties susceptible to neoplastic transformation. Identification of specific cell surface markers for each of the liver cell types, production of corresponding monoclonal antibodies and cell sorting techniques have together revolutionized the characteristics of normal stem cells. In hepatocarcinogenesis, multiple signaling transduction pathways, important for stem cell proliferation and differentiations, are deregulated. Strategies are being developed to identify and characterize the liver cancer stem cells. Targeting liver cancer stem cells may bring hope to curing hepatocellular carcinoma.
Prolonged Airway Obstruction after Posterior Occipitocervical Fusion: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Morita Masahiro , Nobuta Masuhiro , Naruse Hirotsune , Nakamura Hiroaki
Published: June 2011

The purpose of this paper was to inform the reader that prolonged upper airway obstruction after posterior cervical spine surgery is a possible complication for patients with metastatic tumor of upper cervical spine. A 49-year-old man presented severe neck pain during posture changes due to metastatic spinal tumor of C2. Occipitocervical fusion following removal of the posterior arch of C1 and laminectomy of C2 via the single posterior approach was performed 2 weeks after radiation therapy. After the surgery, life-threatening airway obstruction due to pharyngeal oedema occurred immediately after extubation that required emergency tracheostomy. The airway obstruction did not improve well during the patient's postoperative course. Once pharyngeal oedema occurs in patients with metastatic tumor of upper cervical spine who undergo posterior cervical spine surgery following radiation therapy to the neck, the pharyngeal oedema may be constant for a long period of time.
The Urban Built Environment and Mobility in Older Adults: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Rosso Andrea L. , Auchincloss Amy H. , Michael Yvonne L.
Published: June 2011

Mobility restrictions in older adults are common and increase the likelihood of negative health outcomes and premature mortality. The effect of built environment on mobility in older populations, among whom environmental effects may be strongest, is the focus of a growing body of the literature. We reviewed recent research (1990–2010) that examined associations of objective measures of the built environment with mobility and disability in adults aged 60 years or older. Seventeen empirical articles were identified. The existing literature suggests that mobility is associated with higher street connectivity leading to shorter pedestrian distances, street and traffic conditions such as safety measures, and proximity to destinations such as retail establishments, parks, and green spaces. Existing research is limited by differences in exposure and outcome assessments and use of cross-sectional study designs. This research could lead to policy interventions that allow older adults to live more healthy and active lives in their communities.
Factors Influencing the Future of Paediatric Private Practice in Malta
Authors: Grech Victor , Savona-Ventura Charles , Gatt Miriam , Attard-Montalto Simon
Published: July 2011

In Malta, the health system is hybrid, with similarities to both UK system and the US system, where the National Health Service is supplemented by private practice. This is widely performed either as a primary job or as a supplement to a government salary. This article reviews unfavourable secular trends in Maltese fertility, births, marriages, separations, single parenthood and loans incurred after marriage, and relates them to (equally unfavourable in terms of private practice) escalating numbers of paediatricians working in private practice. Overall, future prospects appear bleak for private practice in this branch of medicine, with a dwindling patient pool being shared by an ever-increasing number of paediatricians. The only identifiable factor that may mitigate is the potential for more private health insurance uptake. This must be coupled with a movement to improve the perception of a substantial proportion of the public that facilities are poorer in the private health sector than in the NHS service. Since Malta is a developed, EU country, these results may (cautiously) be extrapolated to other, larger developed countries.
Effect of Heat Treatment and Boron Addition on Corrosion Behavior of Ti-35Nb-7.2Zr-5.7Ta (wt%) β-Titanium Alloy in Simulated Body Fluid
Authors: Majumdar P. , Singh S.B. , Chatterjee U.K. , Chakraborty M.
Published: June 2011

The corrosion behavior of Ti-35Nb-7.2Zr-5.7Ta (TNZT) and Ti-35Nb-7.2Zr-5.7Ta-0.5B (TNZTB) alloys subjected to different heat treatment conditions was investigated in Hank's solution. Depending on the heat treatment conditions, the microstructure of the water-quenched, single-stage aged or duplex aged samples consists of very small amounts of ω or α precipitates in equiaxed β grains. Addition of boron to the TNZT alloy results in the formation of dispersed precipitates of titanium boride (TiB) in the β matrix. The other features present in the TNZTB alloy are similar to those in the TNZT alloy. Compared with single aging, duplex aging decreases the corrosion potential (Ecorr) and substantially decreases corrosion current density (icorr) and passive current density (ipass) values. Addition of boron to the TNZT alloy shifts the Ecorr value toward a more active direction and increases the icorr as well as ipass values significantly, and therefore deteriorates the corrosion resistance of the titanium alloys. In general, duplex aged TNZT samples show better corrosion resistance than other heat-treated TNZT or TNZTB samples.
Senior Acitivity Rate, Retirement Incentives, and Labor Relations
Authors: Blake Hélène , Sangnier Marc
Published: June 2011

In order to face the aging of their populations governments of developed countries reformed their retirement systems during the last two decades, by discouraging early retirement and increasing incentives to work for older workers. Senior participation rates to the labor force not only differ strikingly in level from one country to another, they also differ in their reaction to retirement incentives set by governments. This paper highlights how disutility to work can influence the effectiveness of such reforms. The authors build a highly stylized model according to which the reaction of senior activity rate to monetary incentives to work depends on the properties of the specific distribution of working conditions in the country. Second, taking the quality of labor relations as a proxy for working conditions, the authors show empirically that aggregate reactions to retirement incentives depend on the distribution of labor relations at country level. They use panel data for nineteen OECD countries from 1980 to 2004. They show that the elasticity of senior male labor force participation rate to retirement incentives is stronger in countries with better and more homogeneously distributed labor relations.
Atmospheric acidification of mineral aerosols: a source of bioavailable phosphorus for the oceans
Authors: Nenes A. , Krom M. D. , Mihalopoulos N. , Van Cappellen P. , Shi Z. , Bougiatioti A. , Zarmpas P. , Herut B.
Published: July 2011

Abstract. Primary productivity of continental and marine ecosystems is often limited or co-limited by phosphorus. Deposition of atmospheric aerosols provides the major external source of phosphorus to marine surface waters. However, only a fraction of deposited aerosol phosphorus is water soluble and available for uptake by phytoplankton. We propose that atmospheric acidification of aerosols is a prime mechanism producing soluble phosphorus from soil-derived minerals. Acid mobilization is expected to be pronounced where polluted and dust-laden air masses mix. Our hypothesis is supported by the soluble compositions and reconstructed pH values for atmospheric particulate matter samples collected over a 5-yr period at Finokalia, Crete. In addition, at least tenfold increase in soluble phosphorus was observed when Saharan soil and dust were acidified in laboratory experiments which simulate atmospheric conditions. Aerosol acidification links bioavailable phosphorus supply to anthropogenic and natural acidic gas emissions, and may be a key regulator of ocean biogeochemistry.
The first estimates of global nucleation mode aerosol concentrations based on satellite measurements
Authors: Kulmala M. , Arola A. , Nieminen T. , Riuttanen L. , Sogacheva L. , de Leeuw G. , Kerminen V.-M. , Lehtinen K. E. J.
Published: July 2011

Abstract. Atmospheric aerosols play a key role in the Earth's climate system by scattering and absorbing solar radiation and by acting as cloud condensation nuclei. Satellites are increasingly used to obtain information on properties of aerosol particles with a diameter larger than about 100 nm. However, new aerosol particles formed by nucleation are initially much smaller and grow into the optically active size range on time scales of many hours. In this paper we derive proxies, based on process understanding and ground-based observations, to determine the concentrations of these new particles and their spatial distribution using satellite data. The results are applied to provide seasonal variation of nucleation mode concentration. The proxies describe the concentration of nucleation mode particles over continents. The source rates are related to both regional nucleation and nucleation associated with primary emissions. The global pattern of nucleation mode particle number concentration predicted by satellite data using our proxies compares fairly well with both observations and global model simulations.
Towards orbital dating of the EPICA Dome C ice core using δO2/N2
Authors: Landais A. , Dreyfus G. , Capron E. , Pol K. , Loutre M. F. , Raynaud D. , Lipenkov V. Y. , Arnaud L. , Masson-Delmotte V. , Paillard D. , Jouzel J. , Leuenberger M.
Published: June 2011

Abstract. Based on a composite of several measurement series performed on ice samples stored at −25 °C or −50 °C, we present and discuss the first δO2/N2 record of trapped air from the EPICA Dome C (EDC) ice core covering the period between 300 and 800 ka (thousands of years before present). The samples stored at −25 °C show clear gas loss affecting the precision and mean level of the δO2/N2 record. Two different gas loss corrections are proposed to account for this effect, without altering the spectral properties of the original datasets. Although processes at play remain to be fully understood, previous studies have proposed a link between surface insolation, ice grain properties at close-off and δO2/N2 in air bubbles, from which an orbitally tuned chronologies of the Vostok and Dome Fuji ice core records have been derived over the last four climatic cycles. Here, we show that limitations caused by data quality and resolution, data filtering and uncertainties in the orbital tuning target limit the precision of this tuning method for EDC to at least 2.5 kyrs (thousands of years). Moreover, our extended record includes two periods of low eccentricity. During these intervals (around 400 ka and 750 ka), the matching between δO2/N2 and the different insolation curves is ambiguous because some local insolation maxima cannot be identified in the δO2/N2 record (and vice versa). Recognizing these limitations, we restrict the use of our δO2/N2 record to show that the EDC3 age scale is generally correct within its published uncertainty (6 kyrs) over the 300–800 ka period. We illustrate the uncertainties associated with data quality, filtering and tuning target for periods of low eccentricity by highlighting the difficulty to constrain the duration of Marine Isotopic Stage 11 based on the EDC δO2/N2 information.