bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dose-Dependent Effects of IL-17 on IL-13–Induced Airway Inflammatory Responses and Airway Hyperresponsiveness
Authors: Kinyanjui Margaret W. , Shan Jichuan , Nakada Emily M. , Qureshi Salman T. , Fixman Elizabeth D.
Published: March 2013

The Th2 cytokine IL-13 regulates several aspects of the asthmatic phenotype, including airway inflammation, airway hyperresponsiveness, and mucus production. The Th17 cytokine IL-17A is also implicated in asthma and has been shown to both positively and negatively regulate Th2-dependent responses in murine models of allergic airways disease. Our objective in this study was to better understand the role of IL-17 in airway inflammation by examining how IL-17 modifies IL-13–induced airway inflammatory responses. We treated BALB/c mice intranasally with IL-13 or IL-17 alone or in combination for 8 consecutive days, after which airway hyperresponsiveness, inflammatory cell influx into the lung, and lung chemokine/cytokine expression were assessed. As expected, IL-13 increased airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness. IL-13 also increased numbers of IL-17–producing CD4+ and γδ T cells. Treating mice with a combination of IL-13 and IL-17 reduced infiltration of IL-17+ γδ T cells, but increased the number of infiltrating eosinophils. In contrast, coadministration of IL-13 with a higher dose of IL-17 decreased all IL-13–induced inflammatory responses, including infiltration of both IL-17+CD4+ and γδ T cells. To examine the inhibitory activity of IL-17–expressing γδ T cells in this model, these cells were adoptively transferred into naive recipients. Consistent with an inhibitory role for γδ T cells, IL-13–induced infiltration of eosinophils, lymphocytes, and IL-17+CD4+ T cells was diminished in recipients of the γδ T cells. Collectively, our data indicate that allergic airway inflammatory responses induced by IL-13 are modulated by both the quantity and the cellular source of IL-17.
Coordinated Changes in DNA Methylation in Antigen-Specific Memory CD4 T Cells
Authors: Hashimoto Shin-ichi , Ogoshi Katsumi , Sasaki Atsushi , Abe Jun , Qu Wei , Nakatani Yoichiro , Ahsan Budrul , Oshima Kenshiro , Shand Francis H. W. , Ametani Akio , Suzuki Yutaka , Kaneko Shuichi , Wada Takashi , Hattori Masahira , Sugano Sumio , Morishita Shinichi , Matsushima Kouji
Published: March 2013

Memory CD4+ T cells are central regulators of both humoral and cellular immune responses. T cell differentiation results in specific changes in chromatin structure and DNA methylation of cytokine genes. Although the methylation status of a limited number of gene loci in T cells has been examined, the genome-wide DNA methylation status of memory CD4+ T cells remains unexplored. To further elucidate the molecular signature of memory T cells, we conducted methylome and transcriptome analyses of memory CD4+ T cells generated using T cells from TCR-transgenic mice. The resulting genome-wide DNA methylation profile revealed 1144 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) across the murine genome during the process of T cell differentiation, 552 of which were associated with gene loci. Interestingly, the majority of these DMRs were located in introns. These DMRs included genes such as CXCR6, Tbox21, Chsy1, and Cish, which are associated with cytokine production, homing to bone marrow, and immune responses. Methylation changes in memory T cells exposed to specific Ag appeared to regulate enhancer activity rather than promoter activity of immunologically relevant genes. In addition, methylation profiles differed between memory T cell subsets, demonstrating a link between T cell methylation status and T cell differentiation. By comparing DMRs between naive and Ag-specific memory T cells, this study provides new insights into the functional status of memory T cells.
CD62L Is Critical for Maturation and Accumulation of Murine Hepatic NK Cells in Response to Viral Infection
Authors: Peng Hui , Sun Rui , Tang Ling , Wei Haiming , Tian Zhigang
Published: March 2013

NK cells play critical roles in the first line of defense against viruses and other pathogens. However, the factors that control NK cell recruitment into local sites to exert effector functions during viral infection remain poorly understood. In this study, we found that murine NK cells in various organs could be divided into CD62L− and CD62L+ subsets, the latter of which were less abundant in the liver and exhibited a relatively mature NK cell phenotype and a stronger cytotoxic function. Moreover, NK cells acquired CD62L expression after birth, and the frequency of CD62L+ NK cells gradually increased during postnatal development. In models of polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid administration and adenovirus infection in vivo, CD62L+ NK cell frequency and absolute numbers in the liver rapidly and markedly increased as a result of the augmented differentiation of CD62L− to CD62L+ NK cells and recruitment of peripheral mature NK cells to the liver. However, blocking CD62L prior to administering viral stimuli in vivo abolished viral stimulation–induced NK cell accumulation and maturation in the liver. Collectively, these data suggest that CD62L marks a mature NK cell subset, as well as affects the magnitude of the local NK cell response to viral infection.
Altered T-bet Dominance in IFN-γ–Decoupled CD4+ T Cells with Attenuated Cytokine Storm and Preserved Memory in Influenza
Authors: Dutta Avijit , Miaw Shi-Chuen , Yu Jhang-Sian , Chen Tse-Ching , Lin Chun-Yen , Lin Yung-Chang , Chang Chia-Shiang , He Yueh-Chia , Chuang Sheng-Hao , Yen Ming-I , Huang Ching-Tai
Published: March 2013

Cytokine storm has been postulated as one of the major causes of mortality in patients with severe respiratory viral infections such as influenza. With the help of an influenza Ag- specific mouse experimental system, we report that CD4+ T cells contribute effector cytokines leading to lung inflammation in acute influenza. Although virus can no longer be detected from tissues 14 d postinfection, virus-derived Ag continues to drive a CD4+ T cell response after viral clearance. Ag-specific CD4+ T cells proliferate and evolve into memory CD4+ T cells efficiently, but the production of effector cytokines is seriously hampered during this phase. This decoupling of proliferation and effector cytokine production doesn’t appear in conjunction with increased suppression by regulatory T cells or decreased induction of transcription factors. Rather, GATA-3 and ROR-γt levels are elevated when compared with cells that have effector cytokine production. T-bet dominance over GATA-3 and ROR-γt decreases with the disarmament of effector cytokine production. Importantly, upon reinfection, these decoupled cells produce elevated levels of IFN-γ and were effective in virus eradication. These results provide a mechanism through altered T-bet dominance to dampen the cytokine storm without impeding the generation of memory T cells in influenza virus infection.
Stepwise Epigenetic and Phenotypic Alterations Poise CD8+ T Cells To Mediate Airway Hyperresponsiveness and Inflammation
Authors: Jia Yi , Takeda Katsuyuki , Han Junyan , Joetham Anthony , Marcus Roland A. , Lucas Joseph J. , O’Connor Brian P. , Gelfand Erwin W.
Published: March 2013

The functional plasticity of CD8+ T cells in an atopic environment, encompassing a spectrum from IFN-γ– to IL-13–producing cells, is pivotal in the development of allergic airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammation, and yet remains mechanistically undefined. We demonstrate that CD8+ T cell IL-13 induction proceeded through a series of distinct IL-4/GATA3–regulated stages characterized by gene expression and epigenetic changes. In vivo, CD8+ T cells exposed to an environment rich in IL-4 displayed epigenetic changes at the GATA3 and IL-13 promoter indicative of transcriptional activation and IL-13 production. In vitro, IL-4 triggered the stepwise molecular conversion of CD8+ T cells from IFN-γ to IL-13 production. During the initial stage, IL-4 suppressed T-bet and induced GATA3 expression, characterized by enhanced activating histone modifications and RNA polymerase II (Pol II) recruitment to the GATA3 locus. Notably, recruitment of GATA3 and RNA Pol II to the IL-13 promoter was also detected at this initial stage. However, enhanced IL-13 transcription only occurred at a later stage after TCR stimulation, indicating that IL-4–induced GATA3 recruitment poises the IL-13 locus for TCR-mediated transcription. Thus, both in vivo and in vitro, an atopic (IL-4) environment poises CD8+ T cells via stepwise epigenetic and phenotypic mechanisms for pathogenic conversion to IL-13 production, which is ultimately triggered via an allergen-mediated TCR stimulus.
A New Model for CD8+ T Cell Memory Inflation Based upon a Recombinant Adenoviral Vector
Authors: Bolinger Beatrice , Sims Stuart , O’Hara Geraldine , de Lara Catherine , Tchilian Elma , Firner Sonja , Engeler Daniel , Ludewig Burkhard , Klenerman Paul
Published: March 2013

CD8+ T cell memory inflation, first described in murine CMV (MCMV) infection, is characterized by the accumulation of high-frequency, functional Ag-specific CD8+ T cell pools with an effector-memory phenotype and enrichment in peripheral organs. Although persistence of Ag is considered essential, the rules underpinning memory inflation are still unclear. The MCMV model is, however, complicated by the virus’s low-level persistence and stochastic reactivation. We developed a new model of memory inflation based on a β-galactosidase (βgal)–recombinant adenovirus vector. After i.v. administration in C57BL/6 mice, we observed marked memory inflation in the βgal96 epitope, whereas a second epitope, βgal497, undergoes classical memory formation. The inflationary T cell responses show kinetics, distribution, phenotype, and functions similar to those seen in MCMV and are reproduced using alternative routes of administration. Memory inflation in this model is dependent on MHC class II. As in MCMV, only the inflating epitope showed immunoproteasome independence. These data define a new model for memory inflation, which is fully replication independent, internally controlled, and reproduces the key immunologic features of the CD8+ T cell response. This model provides insight into the mechanisms responsible for memory inflation and, because it is based on a vaccine vector, also is relevant to novel T cell–inducing vaccines in humans.
Emergence of Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae of Sequence Type 258 in Michigan, USA
Authors: Jain Ruchika , Walk Seth T. , Aronoff David M. , Young Vincent B. , Newton Duane W. , Chenoweth Carol E. , Washer Laraine L.
Published: March 2013

The prevalence of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) in our hospital increased beginning in 2009. We aimed to study the clinical and molecular epidemiology of these emerging isolates. We performed a retrospective review of all adult patients with clinical cultures confirmed as CPE by positive modified Hodge test from 5/2009-5/2010 at the University of Michigan Health System (UMHS). Clinical information was obtained from electronic medical records. Available CPE isolates were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing of the 16S rRNA encoding gene and blaKPC locus. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was used to characterize Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates. Twenty six unique CPE isolates were obtained from 25 adult patients. The majority were Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=17). Other isolates included K. oxytoca (n=3), Citrobacter freundii (n=2), Enterobacter cloacae (n=2), Enterobacter aerogenes (n=1) and Escherichia coli (n=1). Molecular characterization of 19 available CPE isolates showed that 13 (68%) carried the KPC-3 allele and 6 (32%) carried the KPC-2 allele. Among 14 available K. pneumoniae strains, 12 (86%) carried the KPC-3 allele and belonged to a common lineage, sequence type (ST) 258. The other 2 (14%) K. pneumoniae isolates carried the KPC-2 allele and belonged to two unique STs. Among these ST 258 strains, 67% were isolated from patients with prior exposures to health care settings outside of our institution. In contrast, all CPE isolates carrying the KPC-2 allele and all non ST 258 CPE isolates had acquisition attributable to our hospital. Molecular epidemiology of carbapenemase producing K. pneumoniae suggests that KPC-3 producing K. pneumoniae isolates of a common lineage, sequence type (ST 258), are emerging in our hospital. While ST 258 is a dominant sequence type throughout the United States, this study is the first to report its presence in Michigan.
Military Exercises, Knee and Ankle Joint Position Sense, and Injury in Male Conscripts: A Pilot Study
Authors: Mohammadi Farshid , Azma Kamran , Naseh Iman , Emadifard Reza , Etemadi Yasaman
Published: March 2013

Context:

The high incidence of lower limb injuries associated with physical exercises in military conscripts suggests that fatigue may be a risk factor for injuries. Researchers have hypothesized that lower limb injuries may be related to altered ankle and knee joint position sense (JPS) due to fatigue.

Objective:

To evaluate if military exercises could alter JPS and to examine the possible relation of JPS to future lower extremity injuries in military service.

Design:

Cohort study.

Setting:

Laboratory.

Patients or Other Participants:

A total of 50 male conscripts (age = 21.4 ± 2.3 years, height = 174.5 ± 6.4 cm, mass = 73.1 ± 6.3 kg) from a unique military base were recruited randomly.

Main Outcome Measure(s):

Participants performed 8 weeks of physical activities at the beginning of a military course. In the first part of the study, we instructed participants to recognize predetermined positions before and after military exercises so we could examine the effects of military exercise on JPS. The averages of the absolute error and the variable error of 3 trials were recorded. We collected data on the frequency of lower extremity injuries over 8 weeks. Next, the participants were divided into 2 groups: injured and uninjured. Separate 2 × 2 × 2 (group-by-time-by-joint) mixed-model analyses of variance were used to determine main effects and interactions of these factors for each JPS measure. In the second part of the study, we examined whether the effects of fatigue on JPS were related to the development of injury during an 8-week training program. We calculated Hedges effect sizes for JPS changes postexercise in each group and compared change scores between groups.

Results:

We found group-by-time interactions for all JPS variables (F range = 2.86–4.05, P < .01). All participants showed increases in JPS errors postexercise (P < .01), but the injured group had greater changes for all the variables (P < .01).

Conclusions:

Military conscripts who sustained lower extremity injuries during an 8-week military exercise program had greater loss of JPS acuity than conscripts who did not sustain injuries. The changes in JPS found after 1 bout of exercise may have predictive ability for future musculoskeletal injuries.
On Diffuse Interface Modeling and Simulation of Surfactants in Two-Phase Fluid Flow
Authors: Engblom Stefan , Do-Quang Minh , Amberg Gustav , Tornberg Anna-Karin
Published: March 2013

An existing phase-fieldmodel of two immiscible fluids with a single soluble surfactant present is discussed in detail. We analyze the well-posedness of the model and provide strong evidence that it is mathematically ill-posed for a large set of physically relevant parameters. As a consequence, critical modifications to the model are suggested that substantially increase the domain of validity. Carefully designed numerical simulations offer informative demonstrations as to the sharpness of our theoretical results and the qualities of the physical model. A fully coupled hydrodynamic test-case demonstrates the potential to capture also non-trivial effects on the overall flow.
Plasmodium vivax Isolates from Cambodia and Thailand Show High Genetic Complexity and Distinct Patterns of P. vivax Multidrug Resistance Gene 1 (pvmdr1) Polymorphisms
Authors: Lin Jessica T. , Patel Jaymin C. , Kharabora Oksana , Sattabongkot Jetsumon , Muth Sinuon , Ubalee Ratawan , Schuster Anthony L. , Rogers William O. , Wongsrichanalai Chansuda , Juliano Jonathan J.
Published: March 2013

Plasmodium vivax accounts for an increasing fraction of malaria infections in Thailand and Cambodia. We compared P. vivax genetic complexity and antimalarial resistance patterns in the two countries. Use of a heteroduplex tracking assay targeting the merozoite surface protein 1 gene revealed that vivax infections in both countries are frequently polyclonal (84%), with parasites that are highly diverse (HE = 0.86) but closely related (GST = 0.18). Following a history of different drug policies in Thailand and Cambodia, distinct patterns of antimalarial resistance have emerged: most Cambodian isolates harbor the P. vivax multidrug resistance gene 1 (pvmdr1) 976F mutation associated with chloroquine resistance (89% versus 8%, P < 0.001), whereas Thai isolates more often display increased pvmdr1 copy number (39% versus 4%, P < 0.001). Finally, genotyping of paired isolates from individuals suspected of suffering relapse supports a complex scheme of relapse whereby recurrence of multiple identical variants is sometimes accompanied by the appearance of novel variants.
A Novel, Multi-Parallel, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Approach for Eight Gastrointestinal Parasites Provides Improved Diagnostic Capabilities to Resource-Limited At-Risk Populations
Authors: Mejia Rojelio , Vicuña Yosselin , Broncano Nely , Sandoval Carlos , Vaca Maritza , Chico Martha , Cooper Philip J. , Nutman Thomas B.
Published: March 2013

Diagnosis of gastrointestinal parasites has traditionally relied on stool microscopy, which has low diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. We have developed a novel, rapid, high-throughput quantitative multi-parallel real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) platform. Species-specific primers/probes were used for eight common gastrointestinal parasite pathogens: Ascaris lumbricoides, Necator americanus, Ancylostoma duodenale, Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium spp., Entamoeba histolytica, Trichuris trichiura, and Strongyloides stercoralis. Stool samples from 400 13-month-old children in rural Ecuador were analyzed and the qPCR was compared with a standard direct wet mount slide for stool microscopy, as were 125 8–14-year-old children before and after anthelmintic treatment. The qPCR showed higher detection rates for all parasites compared with direct microscopy, Ascaris (7.0% versus 5.5%) and for Giardia (31.5% versus 5.8%). Using an enhanced DNA extraction method, we were able to detect T. trichiura DNA. These assays will be useful to refine treatment options for affected populations, ultimately leading to better health outcomes.
Halicephalobus gingivalis: A Rare Cause of Fatal Meningoencephalomyelitis in Humans
Authors: Papadi Bhavesh , Boudreaux Carole , Tucker J. Allan , Mathison Blaine , Bishop Henry , Eberhard Mark E.
Published: March 2013

The genus Halicephalobus consists of eight species of free-living nematodes. Only one species (H. gingivalis) has been reported to infect vertebrates. Human infection is extremely rare, and only four cases have been reported in the literature. These nematodes seem to exhibit neurotropism, but their life cycle, mode of infection, and risk factors are poorly understood. Neurohelminthiases are not commonly recognized in the United States and when they do occur, pose great diagnostic challenges because of lack of appropriate non-invasive screening and/or confirmatory tests. We report a challenging case of meningoencephalomyelitis caused by a Halicephalobus sp., in which the patient had a rapidly deteriorating clinical course. The case did not raise any clinical suspicion of neurohelminthiases, although increased eosinophils were present in the cerebrospinal fluid. This case presents an opportunity to highlight the importance of considering parasitic infection in meningoencephalitis or meningoencephalomyelitis presenting atypically.
Averaging kernel prediction from atmospheric and surface state parameters based on multiple regression with MOPITT CO and TES-OMI O3 multispectral observations
Authors: Worden H. M. , Edwards D. P. , Deeter M. N. , Fu D. , Kulawik S. S. , Worden J. R. , Arellano A.
Published: March 2013

Abstract. A current obstacle to the Observation System Simulation Experiments (OSSEs) used to quantify the potential performance of future atmospheric composition remote sensing systems is a computationally efficient method to define the scene-dependent vertical sensitivity of measurements as expressed by the retrieval averaging kernels (AKs). We present a method for the efficient prediction of AKs for multispectral retrievals of carbon monoxide (CO) and ozone (O3) based on actual retrievals from MOPITT on EOS-Terra and TES and OMI on EOS-Aura, respectively. This employs a multiple regression approach for deriving scene-dependent AKs using predictors based on state parameters such as the thermal contrast between the surface and lower atmospheric layers, trace gas volume mixing ratios (VMR), solar zenith angle, water vapor amount, etc. We first compute the singular vector decomposition (SVD) for individual cloud-free AKs and retain the 1st three ranked singular vectors in order to fit the most significant, orthogonal components of the AK in the subsequent multiple regression on a training set of retrieval cases. The resulting fit coefficients are applied to the predictors from a different test set of retrievals cased to reconstruct predicted AKs, which can then be evaluated against the true test set retrieval AKs. By comparing the VMR profile adjustment resulting from the use of the predicted vs. true AKs, we quantify the CO and O3 VMR profile errors associated with the use of the predicted AKs compared to the true AKs that might be obtained from a computationally expensive full retrieval calculation as part of an OSSE. Similarly, we estimate the errors in CO and O3 VMRs from using a single regional average AK to represent all retrievals, which has been a common approximation in chemical OSSEs performed to-date. For both CO and O3 in the lower troposphere, we find a significant reduction in error when using the predicted AKs as compared to a single average AK. This study examined data from the continental United States (CONUS) for 2006, but the approach could be applied to other regions and times.
Exospheric hydrogen density distributions for equinox and summer solstice observed with TWINS1/2 during solar minimum
Authors: Zoennchen J. H. , Nass U. , Fahr H. J.
Published: March 2013

Abstract. The Lyman-α Detectors (LAD) on board the two TWINS 1/2-satellites allow for the simultaneous stereo imaging of the resonant emission glow of the H-geocorona from very different orbital positions. Terrestrial exospheric atomic hydrogen (H) resonantly scatters solar Lyman-α (121.567 nm) radiation. During the past solar minimum, relevant solar parameters that influence these emissions were quite stable. Here, we use simultaneous LAD1/2-observations from TWINS1 and TWINS2 between June 2008 and June 2010 to study seasonal variations in the H-geocorona. Data are combined to produce two datasets containing (summer) solstice and (combined spring and fall) equinox emissions. In the range from 3 to 10 Earth radii (RE), a three-dimensional (3-D) mathematical model is used that allows for density asymmetries in longitude and latitude. At lower geocentric distances (< 3 RE), a best fitting r-dependent (Chamberlain, 1963)-like model is adapted to enable extrapolation of our information to lower heights. We find that dawn and dusk H-geocoronal densities differ by up to a factor of 1.3 with higher densities on the dawn side. Also, noon densities are greater by up to a factor of 2 compared to the dawn and dusk densities. The density profiles are aligned well with the Earth–Sun line and there are clear density depletions over both poles that show additional seasonal effects. These solstice and equinox empirical fits can be used to determine H-geocoronal densities for any day of the year for solar minimum conditions.
Direct linking of Greenland and Antarctic ice cores at the Toba eruption (74 ka BP)
Authors: Svensson A. , Bigler M. , Blunier T. , Clausen H. B. , Dahl-Jensen D. , Fischer H. , Fujita S. , Goto-Azuma K. , Johnsen S. J. , Kawamura K. , Kipfstuhl S. , Kohno M. , Parrenin F. , Popp T. , Rasmussen S. O. , Schwander J. , Seierstad I. , Severi M. , Steffensen J. P. , Udisti R. , Uemura R. , Vallelonga P. , Vinther B. M. , Wegner A. , Wilhelms F. , Winstrup M.
Published: March 2013

Abstract. The Toba eruption that occurred some 74 ka ago in Sumatra, Indonesia, is among the largest volcanic events on Earth over the last 2 million years. Tephra from this eruption has been spread over vast areas in Asia, where it constitutes a major time marker close to the Marine Isotope Stage 4/5 boundary. As yet, no tephra associated with Toba has been identified in Greenland or Antarctic ice cores. Based on new accurate dating of Toba tephra and on accurately dated European stalagmites, the Toba event is known to occur between the onsets of Greenland interstadials (GI) 19 and 20. Furthermore, the existing linking of Greenland and Antarctic ice cores by gas records and by the bipolar seesaw hypothesis suggests that the Antarctic counterpart is situated between Antarctic Isotope Maxima (AIM) 19 and 20. In this work we suggest a direct synchronization of Greenland (NGRIP) and Antarctic (EDML) ice cores at the Toba eruption based on matching of a pattern of bipolar volcanic spikes. Annual layer counting between volcanic spikes in both cores allows for a unique match. We first demonstrate this bipolar matching technique at the already synchronized Laschamp geomagnetic excursion (41 ka BP) before we apply it to the suggested Toba interval. The Toba synchronization pattern covers some 2000 yr in GI-20 and AIM-19/20 and includes nine acidity peaks that are recognized in both ice cores. The suggested bipolar Toba synchronization has decadal precision. It thus allows a determination of the exact phasing of inter-hemispheric climate in a time interval of poorly constrained ice core records, and it allows for a discussion of the climatic impact of the Toba eruption in a global perspective. The bipolar linking gives no support for a long-term global cooling caused by the Toba eruption as Antarctica experiences a major warming shortly after the event. Furthermore, our bipolar match provides a way to place palaeo-environmental records other than ice cores into a precise climatic context.
Spatial variability and its scale dependency of observed and modeled soil moisture over different climate regions
Authors: Li B. , Rodell M.
Published: March 2013

Abstract. Past studies on soil moisture spatial variability have been mainly conducted at catchment scales where soil moisture is often sampled over a short time period; as a result, the observed soil moisture often exhibited smaller dynamic ranges, which prevented the complete revelation of soil moisture spatial variability as a function of mean soil moisture. In this study, spatial statistics (mean, spatial variability and skewness) of in situ soil moisture, modeled and satellite-retrieved soil moisture obtained in a warm season (198 days) were examined over three large climate regions in the US. The study found that spatial moments of in situ measurements strongly depend on climates, with distinct mean, spatial variability and skewness observed in each climate zone. In addition, an upward convex shape, which was revealed in several smaller scale studies, was observed for the relationship between spatial variability of in situ soil moisture and its spatial mean when statistics from dry, intermediate, and wet climates were combined. This upward convex shape was vaguely or partially observable in modeled and satellite-retrieved soil moisture estimates due to their smaller dynamic ranges. Despite different environmental controls on large-scale soil moisture spatial variability, the correlation between spatial variability and mean soil moisture remained similar to that observed at small scales, which is attributed to the boundedness of soil moisture. From the smaller support (effective area or volume represented by a measurement or estimate) to larger ones, soil moisture spatial variability decreased in each climate region. The scale dependency of spatial variability all followed the power law, but data with large supports showed stronger scale dependency than those with smaller supports. The scale dependency of soil moisture variability also varied with climates, which may be linked to the scale dependency of precipitation spatial variability. Influences of environmental controls on soil moisture spatial variability at large scales are discussed. The results of this study should be useful for diagnosing large scale soil moisture estimates and for improving the estimation of land surface processes.
Ambiguities in the classification of Cochin Estuary, West Coast of India
Authors: Shivaprasad A. , Vinita J. , Revichandran C. , Manoj N. T. , Jayalakshmy K. V. , Muraleedharan K. R.
Published: March 2013

Abstract. Cochin Estuary is a unique complex system along Indian coastline with a widespread area at the upstream. The fluctuations in salinity are of extreme kind ranging from entirely riverine to entirely saline. The high runoff months are characterized by monsoonal spells causing intense flushing. During the peak dry period, the runoff is less but steady providing a stable environment. River runoff is controlled by short term variations rather than long term variations. Using large comprehensive data sets, an attempt is made to evaluate several classification schemes for the estuary. The existing methods proved to be insufficient to represent the real salient features of this typical estuary. Arguments are also presented to illustrate the confusion in the names by which the estuary is commonly known. Therefore, a new nomenclature is proposed as "Cochin Monsoonal Estuarine Bay" embodying the physiographic, hydrographic and biological features of the estuary.
Earthquake traces
Authors: Devilat Bernadette
Published: March 2013

The built environment possesses the intrinsic property to accumulate history, stories, processes and events. Its materials not only demonstrate a specific stage of history and building technique, but the marks, colours, degradations and cracks tell a deeper story about every built element. The photograph shows a wall seen from the street in Lolol, a heritage village located in the central valley of Chile. The cracks reflect the magnitude of the most recent major earthquake in the country in February 2010 and currently remain there a trace of that event.
After the earthquake
Authors: Devilat Bernadette
Published: March 2013

Chile is a country that regularly experiences earthquakes that lead to high levels of destruction in the built environment. The most recent large earthquake occurred on February 27, 2010, with a magnitude of 8.8 on the Richter scale. Many times in history urban and rural areas have experienced devastations and undergone reconstructions. Such renovation processes are often large in scale, something that can negatively affect the quality of the new housing being built, particularly when historic settlements are concerned. Beyond monumental heritage, the emphasis is on housing in historic settlements as these represent a sustainable answer to environmental conditions by using vernacular building techniques. They also physically preserve their inhabitants’ cultural expressions. The photograph shows one such dwelling in San Pedro de Alcántara, a heritage settlement located in the central valley of Chile, which was particularly affected by the 2010 earthquake due to its old age and the lack of maintenance prior to the event.
Comportamento eletromiográfico da musculatura cervical e do ombro durante corrida de kart
Authors: Dantas Glauko André Figueirêdo , Ferreira José Jamacy de Almeida , Santos Heleodório Honorato dos
Published: March 2013

Introdução: No kart, uma modalidade do automobilismo, é comum pilotos se queixarem de dores cervicais e/ou nos membros superiores. Objetivo: Analisar o comportamento eletromiográfico da musculatura cervical e do ombro em pilotos de kart. Métodos: Analisaram-se os músculos TS, EA, ECM, e DA de 21 homens, com pelo menos seis meses de prática no kart, sendo comparada a Root Mean Square (RMS) normalizada pelo pico do sinal EMG entre os lados direito e esquerdo, com e sem uso de colete cervical (testes “t” Student e Wilcoxon) e entre músculos do mesmo lado (ANOVA One-way), normalizados pelo pico. Resultados: O DA esquerdo mostrou maior ativação comparado ao DA direito, entre os músculos de mesmo lado e com e sem uso de colete (P
Optical Magnification Should Be Mandatory for Microsurgery: Scientific Basis and Clinical Data Contributing to Quality Assurance
Authors: Schoeffl Harald , Lazzeri Davide , Schnelzer Richard , Froschauer Stefan M. , Huemer Georg M.
Published: March 2013

Background Microsurgical techniques are considered standard procedures in reconstructive surgery. Although microsurgery by itself is defined as surgery aided by optical magnification, there are no guidelines for determining in which clinical situations a microscope or loupe should be used. Therefore, we conducted standardized experiments to objectively assess the impact of optical magnification in microsurgery.

Methods Sixteen participants of microsurgical training courses had to complete 2 sets of experiments. Each set had to be performed with an unaided eye, surgical loupes, and a regular operating microscope. The first set of experiments included coaptation of a chicken femoral nerve, and the second set consisted of anastomosing porcine coronary arteries. Evaluation of the sutured nerves and vessels were performed by 2 experienced microsurgeons using an operating microscope.

Results The 16 participants of the study completed all of the experiments. The nerve coaptation and vascular anastomoses exercises showed a direct relationship of error frequency and lower optical magnification, meaning that the highest number of microsurgical errors occurred with the unaided eye. For nerve coaptation, there was a strong relationship (P<0.05) between the number of mistakes and magnification, and this relationship was very strong (P<0.01) for vascular anastomoses.

Conclusions We were able to prove that microsurgical success is directly related to optical magnification. The human eye's ability to discriminate potentially important anatomical structures is limited, which might be detrimental for clinical results. Although not legally mandatory, surgeries such as reparative surgery after hand trauma should be conducted with magnifying devices for achieving optimal patient outcomes.
Patient costs associated with accessing HIV/AIDS care in Malawi
Authors: Pinto Andrew D , van Lettow Monique , Rachlis Beth , Chan Adrienne K , Sodhi Sumeet K
Published: March 2013

Introduction

The decentralization of HIV services has been shown to improve equity in access to care for the rural poor of sub‐Saharan Africa. This study aims to contribute to our understanding of the impact of decentralization on costs borne by patients. Such information is valuable for economic evaluations of anti‐retroviral therapy programmes that take a societal perspective. We compared costs reported by patients who received care in an urban centralized programme to those in the same district who received care through rural decentralized care (DC).

Methods

A cross‐sectional survey on patient characteristics and costs associated with accessing HIV care was conducted, in May 2010, on 120 patients in centralized care (CC) at a tertiary referral hospital and 120 patients in DC at five rural health centres in Zomba District, Malawi. Differences in costs borne by each group were compared using χ2 and t‐tests, and a regression model was developed to adjust for confounders, using bootstrapping to address skewed cost data.

Results

There was no significant difference between the groups with respect to sex and age. However, there were significant differences in socio‐economic status, with higher educational attainment (p<0.001), personal income (p=0.007) and household income per person (p=0.005) in CC. Travel times were similar (p=0.65), as was time waiting at the clinic (p=0.63) and total time spent seeking care (p=0.65). There was a significant difference in travel‐related expenses (p<0.001) related to the type of travel participants noted that they used. In CC, 60% of participants reported using a mini‐bus to reach the clinic; in DC only 4% reported using a mini‐bus, and the remainder reported travelling on foot or by bicycle. There were no significant differences between the groups in the amount of lost income reported or other out‐of‐pocket costs. Approximately 91 Malawi Kwacha (95% confidence intervals: 1–182 MKW) or US$0.59 represents the adjusted difference in total costs per visit between CC and DC.

Conclusions

Even within a system of HIV/AIDS care where patients do not pay to see clinicians or for most medications, they still incur costs. We found that most costs are travel related. This has important implications for poorer patients who live at a distance from health facilities for whom these costs may be significant.
Spectral properties and low‐dimensional description of loop and recycle reactors
Authors: Alam Imran , Balakotaiah Vemuri
Published: March 2013

The spectral properties of the discrete and continuous convection and convection‐diffusion operators with loop or recycle boundary condition are analyzed. It is shown that the spectral properties of these nonsymmetric operators are closely related to the theory of circulant (Toeplitz) matrices and the complex Fourier series, respectively. Although there may be many complex eigenvalues, the smallest eigenvalue is real and approaches zero as the loop circulation or recycle ratio increases. This property is used to simplify nonlinear diffusion‐convection‐reaction models of loop and recycle reactors to obtain two‐mode low‐dimensional averaged models that are accurate in the limit of large recycle ratio. Explicit expressions for the two mixing coefficients that relate the two concentration modes and their dependence on various inlet conditions are also derived. Finally, the application of the low‐dimensional models to determine the impact of macromixing on the conversion, yield, and selectivity for the case of nonlinear kinetics is illustrated. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 3365–3377, 2013
Clinical Decision Support and Closed‐Loop Control for Intensive Care Unit Sedation
Authors: Haddad Wassim M. , Bailey James M. , Gholami Behnood , Tannenbaum Allen R.
Published: March 2013

Critical care patients undergoing surgery require drug administration to regulate physiological variables such as blood pressure, cardiac output, heart rate, and degree of consciousness. The rate of infusion of each administered drug is critical, requiring constant monitoring and frequent adjustments. Patients in the intensive care unit who require mechanical ventilation due to acute respiratory failure also frequently require the administration of sedative agents. Open‐loop control (manual control) by clinical personnel can be tedious, imprecise, time‐consuming, and sometimes of poor quality, depending on the skills and judgment of the clinician. Dynamical system pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modeling and closed‐loop control system design methodologies can significantly advance our understanding of the wide effects of pharmacological agents and anesthetics, as well as advance the state‐of‐the‐art in active control of drug delivery systems for clinical pharmacology. In this paper, we discuss the challenges and opportunities of clinical decision support and closed‐loop control for intensive care unit sedation.
Crucifixion and median neuropathy
Authors: Regan Jacqueline M. , Shahlaie Kiarash , Watson Joseph C.
Published: March 2013

Crucifixion as a means of torture and execution was first developed in the 6th century B.C. and remained popular for over 1000 years. Details of the practice, which claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, have intrigued scholars as historical records and archaeological findings from the era are limited. As a result, various aspects of crucifixion, including the type of crosses used, methods of securing victims to crosses, the length of time victims survived on the cross, and the exact mechanisms of death, remain topics of debate. One aspect of crucifixion not previously explored in detail is the characteristic hand posture often depicted in artistic renditions of crucifixion. In this posture, the hand is clenched in a peculiar and characteristic fashion: there is complete failure of flexion of the thumb and index finger with partial failure of flexion of the middle finger. Such a “crucified clench” is depicted across different cultures and from different eras. A review of crucifixion history and techniques, median nerve anatomy and function, and the historical artistic depiction of crucifixion was performed to support the hypothesis that the “crucified clench” results from proximal median neuropathy due to positioning on the cross, rather than from direct trauma of impalement of the hand or wrist.
Nucleophile‐Directed Selective Transformation of cis‐1‐Tosyl‐2‐tosyloxymethyl‐3‐(trifluoromethyl)aziridine into Aziridines, Azetidines, and Benzo‐Fused Dithianes, Oxathianes, Dioxanes, and (Thio)morpholines
Authors: Kenis Sara , D'hooghe Matthias , Verniest Guido , Reybroeck Maaike , Dang Thi Tuyet Anh , Pham The Chinh , Thi Pham Tham , Törnroos Karl W. , Van Tuyen Nguyen , De Kimpe Norbert
Published: March 2013

A five‐step procedure for the synthesis of cis‐1‐tosyl‐2‐tosyloxymethyl‐3‐(trifluoromethyl)aziridine was developed, starting from 1‐ethoxy‐2,2,2‐trifluoroethanol, involving imination, aziridination, ester reduction, hydrogenation, and N‐,O‐ditosylation steps. Further synthetic elaborations revealed a remarkable difference in the reactivity of cis‐1‐tosyl‐2‐tosyloxymethyl‐3‐(trifluoromethyl)aziridine with respect to aromatic sulfur and oxygen nucleophiles, thus enabling the selective deployment of this versatile substrate as a building block for the synthesis of functionalized aziridines, azetidines, and benzo‐fused dithianes, oxathianes, dioxanes, and (thio)morpholines.
An Array of Bengamide E Analogues Modified at the Terminal Olefinic Position: Synthesis and Antitumor Properties
Authors: Martín‐Gálvez Francisca , García‐Ruiz Cristina , Sánchez‐Ruiz Antonio , Valeriote Frederick A. , Sarabia Francisco
Published: March 2013

Based on our previously described synthetic strategy for bengamide E, a natural product of marine origin with antitumor activity, a small library of analogues modified at the terminal olefinic position was generated with the objective of investigating the effect of structural modifications on antitumor properties. Biological evaluation of these analogues, consisting of IC50 determinations against various tumor cell lines, revealed important aspects with respect to the structural requirements of this olefinic position for activity. Interestingly, the analogue possessing a cyclopentyl group displayed greater potency than the parent bengamide E, representing a key finding upon which to base further investigations into the design of new analogues with promising biological activities.
NMR quadrupole liouvillians for arbitrary spin: Exact symbolic expressions and perturbation solutions
Authors: Bain Alex D.
Published: March 2013

The NMR of quadrupolar nuclei with half‐integer spins is almost always described by treating the quadrupole interaction with second‐order perturbation theory. The standard practice is to perturb the wave functions, then calculate the transitions. In this article, we elaborate on the so‐called direct method in which the transitions are calculated directly without the requirement of knowing the operators and the wavefunctions. The method is set up using a set of formulae giving fully symbolic expressions. First of all, this provides a convenient way for a full and exact numerical solution that goes beyond perturbation theory. The other possibility is that it allows us to see the effect of the quadrupole perturbation on the unperturbed transitions. The results are the same, as they must be, but this approach reveals a number of important symmetries. Perturbations will mix the unperturbed transitions, but despite the use of high‐order perturbation theory, the mixing is very simple, specific, and controlled by selection rules. This gives a clear physical picture of the physical basis of the effects of perturbation theory. The approach is systematic and general and is easily extended to an arbitrary half‐integral spin. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Concepts Magn Reson Part 42A: 45–358, 2013.
Increase of suicide and accidental death after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Tichelli André , Labopin Myriam , Rovó Alicia , Badoglio Manuela , Arat Mutlu , van Lint Maria Teresa , Lawitschka Anita , Schwarze Carl Philipp , Passweg Jakob , Socié Gérard
Published: March 2013

BACKGROUND

Relapse and transplant‐related complications are leading causes of mortality after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Suicides and accidents have not been studied in these patients. This study sought to determine whether there is an excess of suicide and accidental deaths after HSCT, and to determine risk factors.

METHODS

The incidence of suicidal and accidental death in patients after undergoing HSCT, standardized mortality ratio (SMR), and absolute excess risk (AER) of suicide and accidental deaths was determined, compared with the general European population. A case‐control analysis was done to define factors associated with suicide and accidental deaths. Data were derived from the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation Registry, including 294,922 patients who underwent autologous or allogeneic HSCT from 1980 to 2009.

RESULTS

The 10‐year cumulative incidence of suicide and accidental deaths was 101.8 and 55.6 per 100,000 patients, respectively. SMR and AER of suicide after HSCT were 2.12 (P < .001) and 10.91, higher than in the European general population for 100,000 deaths, respectively. SMR and AER of accidental death were 1.23 (P < .05) and 2.54, respectively. In the case‐control study, relapses were more frequent among patients who committed suicide after autologous HSCT (37% versus 18%; P < .0001). Chronic graft‐versus‐host disease was higher among patients who committed suicide after allogeneic HSCT (64% versus 37%; P = .001).

CONCLUSIONS

There is an excess of deaths due to suicide and accidents in patients after undergoing HSCT as compared with the European general population. Relapse was associated with more suicide and accidental deaths after autologous HSCT, and chronic graft‐versus‐host disease was associated with more deaths by suicide after allogeneic HSCT. Cancer 2013;119:2012–2021. © 2013 American Cancer Society.