bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and Li+ ion Migration Studies of Li6PS5X (X = Cl, Br, I)
Authors: Prasada Rao R. , Adams S.
Published: September 2011

Lithium ion conducting argyrodite-type Li6PS5X (X = Cl, Br, I) compounds were prepared using mechanical milling followed by annealing. XRD characterization reveals the formation and growth of Li6PS5X crystals in samples under varying annealing conditions. Temperature dependent XRD data showed the monotonic increase of lattice constant within the range of study. For Li6PS5Cl and Li6PS5Br an ionic conductivity of the order of 10-3 S/cm is reached at room temperature, which is close to the Li mobility in conventional liquid electrolytes and well suitable for all-solid-state safe electrochemical energy storage devices. Bond valence analysis of Li ion migration paths for the argyrodites showed the formation of low energy pathway cages around halide ion for Li6PS5Cl, around the sulfide ion for Li6PS5I. For higher activation energies these cages are interconnected to form a 3-D pathway network. In the case of Li6PS5Br cages around Cl and Br require about the same activation energy.
Decomposing the Intergenerational Disparity in Income and Obesity
Authors: Zhang Qi , Zheng Buhong , Zhang Ning , Wang Youfa
Published: September 2011

Intergenerational disparity in income and health violates the norm of equal opportunity and deserves the attention of researchers and policy makers. To understand changes in intergenerational disparity, we created the intergenerational mobility index (IMI), which can simultaneously measure changes in income rankings and in health outcomes across two generations. We selected obesity as one health outcome to illustrate the application of IMI due to its severe health and financial consequences for society and the significant changes in the distribution of obesity across income groups. Although obesity has increased in all income groups in the last four decades, higher income groups have tended to have a faster increase in obesity, which has reduced the disparity in obesity across income groups. The strength of our intergenerational approach within families is to control the genetic influence, which is one of the strongest determinants of obesity. The decomposition of the IMI illustrates that it captures changes in obesity distribution (holding constant income rankings between generations) and changes in income rankings (holding constant the obesity distribution across generations), simultaneously. We used the data of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), which have been collected since 1967, is the longest longitudinal survey in the U.S. The PSID surveyed respondents’ height and weight were recorded in 1986 and from 1999 to 2007. We selected respondents from 1986 as the parental generation and respondents from 2007 as the adult children’s generation. To make the adult children’s body weight status and income comparable to their parents’, we stratified the analysis by gender. For the pairs of fathers and adult sons, we found the intergenerational disparity in overweight, a less severe indicator of excessive fatness, across income was decreasing. This was partially due to the up-swing in the adult children’s income status. For the pairs of mothers and adult daughters, we found a similar decrease in socioeconomic disparity in obesity. However, decomposition of the IMI indicated that changes in income distributions between mothers and adult daughters contributed smaller effects than that between fathers and adult sons. Our study has demonstrated that the IMI and its decomposition are useful tools for analyzing intergenerational disparity in income and health.
Arsenic removal from aqueous solutions by sorption onto zirconium- and titanium-modified sorbents
Authors: Andjelkovic Ivan , Manojlovic Dragan , Djordjevic Dragana , Dojcinovic Biljana , Roglic Goran , Ignjatovic Ljubisa
Published: September 2011

Arsenic reduction in drinking water can include treatment by adsorption,
switching to alternative water sources, or blending with water that has a
lower arsenic concentration. Commercial sorbents MTM, Greensand and BIRM
(Clack Corporation) were modified with zirconium and titanium after
activation. The modifications were performed with titanium tetrachloride and
zirconium tetrachloride. The modified sorbents were dried at different
temperatures. The sorption of arsenate and arsenite dissolved in drinking
water (200?g L-1) onto the sorbents were tested using a batch procedure.
After removal of the sorbent, the concentration of arsenic was determined by
HG-AAS. Zirconium-modified BIRM showed the best performance for the removal
of both arsenite and arsenate. Modification of the greensand did not affect
arsenic sorption ability. Zirconium-modified BIRM diminished the
concentration of total As to below 5 ?g L-1.
TRB3 Gene Silencing Alleviates Diabetic Cardiomyopathy in a Type 2 Diabetic Rat Model
Authors: Ti Yun , Xie Guo-lu , Wang Zhi-hao , Bi Xiao-lei , Ding Wen-yuan , Wang Jia , Jiang Gui-hua , Bu Pei-li , Zhang Yun , Zhong Ming , Zhang Wei
Published: September 2011

OBJECTIVE

Tribbles 3 (TRB3) is associated with insulin resistance, an important trigger in the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). We sought to determine whether TRB3 plays a major role in modulating DCM and the mechanisms involved.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The type 2 diabetic rat model was induced by high-fat diet and low-dose streptozotocin. We evaluated the characteristics of type 2 DCM by serial echocardiography and metabolite tests, Western blot analysis for TRB3 expression, and histopathologic analyses of cardiomyocyte density, lipids accumulation, cardiac inflammation, and fibrosis area. We then used gene silencing to investigate the role of TRB3 in the pathophysiologic features of DCM.

RESULTS

Rats with DCM showed severe insulin resistance, left ventricular dysfunction, aberrant lipids deposition, cardiac inflammation, fibrosis, and TRB3 overexpression. We found that the silencing of TRB3 ameliorated metabolic disturbance and insulin resistance; myocardial hypertrophy, lipids accumulation, inflammation, fibrosis, and elevated collagen I-to-III content ratio in DCM rats were significantly decreased. These anatomic findings were accompanied by significant improvements in cardiac function. Furthermore, with TRB3 gene silencing, the inhibited phosphorylation of Akt was restored and the increased phosphorylation of extracellular signal–regulated kinase 1/2 and Jun NH2-terminal kinase in DCM was significantly decreased.

Conclusions.

TRB3 gene silencing may exert a protective effect on DCM by improving selective insulin resistance, implicating its potential role for treatment of human DCM.
Location, Location, Location: Geographic Clustering of Lower-Extremity Amputation Among Medicare Beneficiaries With Diabetes
Authors: Margolis David J. , Hoffstad Ole , Nafash Jeffrey , Leonard Charles E. , Freeman Cristin P. , Hennessy Sean , Wiebe Douglas J.
Published: September 2011

OBJECTIVE

Lower-extremity amputation (LEA) is common among persons with diabetes. The goal of this study was to identify geographic variation and the influence of location on the incidence of LEA among U.S. Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We conducted a cohort study of beneficiaries of Medicare. The geographic unit of analysis was hospital referral regions (HRRs). Tests of spatial autocorrelation and geographically weighted regression were used to evaluate the incidence of LEA by HRRs as a function of geographic location in the U.S. Evaluated covariates covered sociodemographic factors, risk factors for LEA, diabetes severity, provider access, and cost of care.

RESULTS

Among persons with diabetes, the annual incidence per 1,000 of LEA was 5.0 in 2006, 4.6 in 2007, and 4.5 in 2008 and varied by the HRR. The incidence of LEA was highly concentrated in neighboring HRRs. High rates of LEA clustered in contiguous portions of Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi. Accounting for geographic location greatly improved our ability to understand the variability in LEA. Additionally, covariates associated with LEA per HRR included socioeconomic status, prevalence of African Americans, age, diabetes, and mortality rate associated with having a foot ulcer.

CONCLUSIONS

There is profound “region-correlated” variation in the rate of LEA among Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes. In other words, location matters and whereas the likelihood of an amputation varies dramatically across the U.S. overall, neighboring locations have unexpectedly similar amputation rates, some being uniformly high and others uniformly low.
Sleep Architecture and Glucose and Insulin Homeostasis in Obese Adolescents
Authors: Koren Dorit , Levitt Katz Lorraine E. , Brar Preneet C. , Gallagher Paul R. , Berkowitz Robert I. , Brooks Lee J.
Published: September 2011

OBJECTIVE

Sleep deprivation is associated with increased risk of adult type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It is uncertain whether sleep deprivation and/or altered sleep architecture affects glycemic regulation or insulin sensitivity or secretion. We hypothesized that in obese adolescents, sleep disturbances would associate with altered glucose and insulin homeostasis.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This cross-sectional observational study of 62 obese adolescents took place at the Clinical and Translational Research Center and Sleep Laboratory in a tertiary care children’s hospital. Subjects underwent oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), anthropometric measurements, overnight polysomnography, and frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (FSIGT). Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and serial insulin and glucose levels were obtained, indices of insulin sensitivity and secretion were calculated, and sleep architecture was assessed. Correlation and regression analyses were performed to assess the association of total sleep and sleep stages with measures of insulin and glucose homeostasis, adjusted for confounding variables.

RESULTS

We found significant U-shaped (quadratic) associations between sleep duration and both HbA1c and serial glucose levels on OGTT and positive associations between slow-wave sleep (N3) duration and insulin secretory measures, independent of degree of obesity, pubertal stage, sex, and obstructive sleep apnea measures.

CONCLUSIONS

Insufficient and excessive sleep was associated with short-term and long-term hyperglycemia in our obese adolescents. Decreased N3 was associated with decreased insulin secretion. These effects may be related, with reduced insulin secretory capacity leading to hyperglycemia. We speculate that optimizing sleep may stave off the development of T2DM in obese adolescents.
Semantic concept of existential presupposition
Authors: Raclavský Jiří
Published: September 2011

Strawson’s work seems to contain both pragmatic and semantic concepts of presupposition. The former concept has largely been studied by many philosophers and linguists, while the latter has not been properly investigated (van Fraassen being an exception). The present author explicates the semantic concept of existential presupposition in relation to deriving existential statements and distinguishing their de dicto/de re variants (in the rather generalized sense following Tichý).
The Inventory of Subjective Masculinity Experiences: Development and Psychometric Properties
Authors: Wong Y. Joel , Shea Munyi , Lafollette Julie R. , Hickman Sarah J. , Cruz Nicholas , Boghokian Tamar
Published: September 2011

The purpose of this article is to describe the development of the Inventory of Subjective Masculinity Experiences (ISME) and to provide preliminary evidence for the psychometric properties of this scale. Subjective masculinity experiences are defined as men's subjective experiences of what it means to be a man (e.g., As a man, I need to be strong). Participants (220 men) completed the sentence, “As a man…” 10 times. Participants' open-ended responses were coded according to 23 dimensions of subjective masculinity experiences. Five of the twenty-three ISME dimensions included responses that comprised at least 5 percent of all participant responses: Family, Responsibility, Emotional Toughness, Work, and Physical Body. Preliminary evidence for the convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validity of these dimensions was provided. The ISME-Family and ISME-Responsibility were negatively associated with psychological distress, whereas the ISME-Work was positively related to psychological distress. The ISME-Emotional Toughness was negatively related to life satisfaction. The use of the ISME in clinical and research settings is discussed.
Type IV Monteggia fracture in a cat
Authors: Lopez T. , Autefage A. , Irubetagoyena I.
Published: September 2011

A one-year-old neutered male cat was referred for a grade IIIA open radius and ulna fracture. The mid-diaphyseal radial and ulnar fractures were associated with lateral radio-humeral and radio-ulnar dislocations. From these abnormalities, a diagnosis of type IV Monteggia fracture was made. The annular ligament was found to be intact on examination and the radial head was correctly positioned and stable after fracture reduction and plate fixation. Eighteen months postoperatively, the cat did not exhibit any signs of lameness or any signs of pain on palpation and mobilisation. Signs of mild osteoarthritis were present on radiographs.

Type IV Monteggia fractures are very rare in animals. The combination of a radial head dislocation with an intact annular ligament is uncommon. This pattern allowed a single reconstruction with two plates without a radio-ulnar screw.
Radical maxillectomy as a successful treatment for gunshot-induced maxillary and nasal cavity trauma in a dog
Authors: Franks J. N. , Currao R. L.
Published: September 2011

Objective: To report the successful treatment of gunshot-induced maxillary and nasal cavity damage with total maxillectomy in a two-year-old Labrador retriever dog.

Methods: Radical maxillectomy was performed on highly comminuted maxillary and nasal cavity fractures resulting from gunshot trauma. The procedure was performed to remove the damaged region and reconstruct the remaining tissue.

Results: Treatment of the fractures by total maxillectomy was successful in reconstruction of the remaining structures following debridement and in re-establishing return to normal activities and high owner satisfaction.

Clinical significance: The outcome in this case suggests that severe maxillary and nasal cavity trauma in other dogs may be treated with radical maxillectomy given appropriate patient and owner selection.

Online Supplementary Material Colour versions of the Figures from this paper can be found online at www.vcotonline.com.
Single cycle to failure in bending of three standard and five locking plates and plate constructs
Authors: Blake C. A. , Torrance B. S. , Tacvorian E. K. , Cabassu J. B. , Gaudette G. R. , Kowaleski M. P. , Boudrieau R. J.
Published: September 2011

Objective: To evaluate the biomechanical properties of standard and locking plates in bending. We hypothesised that titanium (Ti) constructs would have the greatest deformation and that String of Pearl (SOP) constructs would have the greatest strength and stiffness, and would behave differently compared to plates alone.

Methods: Dynamic compression plates (DCP), stainless steel (SS) limited contact (LC)-DCP®, Ti LC-DCP, locking compression plates (LCP), 10 mm and 11 mm advanced locking plate system (ALPS 10 / 11), SOP and Fixin plates were evaluated individually and as constructs applied to a validated bone model simulating a bridging osteosynthesis. Bending stiffness and strength were compared using one-way ANOVA with post hoc Tukey, and un-paired t-test (p <0.05).

Results: The SOP plates had significantly greater stiffness than all other plates Ti LCDCP, ALPS 10 and Fixin plates had significantly lower stiffness than all other plates. The SOP constructs had the highest mean bending stiffness, and strength that was significantly different from only the Ti LC-DCP, ALPS 10 and Fixin constructs. The ALPS 10 constructs had the lowest mean bending stiffness, and strength that was significantly different from only ALPS 11 and SOP constructs. Comparison of bending structural stiffness of plates versus constructs showed a significant difference in all plate pairs except for the DCP and ALPS 10.

Clinical relevance: Due to differing plate construct properties inherent to these diverse implant systems, identical approaches to fracture management and plate application cannot be applied.

Presented at the 38th Annual Conference of the Veterinary Orthopedic Society, Snowmass, CO, USA March 6, 2011 (Mark S. Bloomberg Memorial Research Award recipient).
LIETUVOS ISTORINIŲ PARKŲ RAIDOS ANALIZĖ IR KAI KURIE JŲ ATKŪRIMO PROBLEMOS ASPEKTAI
Authors: Jakovlevas-Mateckis Konstantinas
Published: September 2011

The process of protection, regulation and restoration of historic parks is influenced by many factors. Therefore, the paper briefly analyses the evolution of art style of historic garden-parks of Lithuania, the state of legal instruments for their protection, as well as positive and negative experience in relation to regulation and restoration of historic parks positive. Some suggestions for improvement or renewal of country’s historic parks are offered. Santrauka Istorinių parkų apsaugos, tvarkymo ir atkūrimo procesui įtaką daro visas veiksnių kompleksas. Todėl trumpai analizuojama Lietuvos istorinių sodų ir parkų meno stilių raida ir jų būdingų bruožų sankaupa, šalies istorinių parkų apsaugos, tvarkymo ir atkūrimo teisinės bazės būklė ir istorinių parkų atkūrimo praktikos teigiami bei neigiami aspektai. Pateikiami pasiūlymai šalies istorinių parkų atkūrimui pagerinti.
Le monde comme problème philosophique
Authors: Bernard Marion
Published: September 2011

C’est par le problème du monde que le jeune Patočka choisit de reprendre l’héritage husserlien, et c’est par le problème du monde qu’il sera conduit à en briser les cadres, en développant une phénoménologie asubjective dans laquelle le primat de la conscience transcendantale sur l’horizon du monde laisse place à la description d’une existence en mouvement dans, à partir de et vers le monde. Le problème cosmologique est celui d’une phénoménologie qui a pour ambition de se prolonger au-delà d’elle-même, de reconnaître ses conditions de possibilité asubjectives : il renvoie à l’ambition paradoxale de remonter en deçà du sujet – au projet de jeter la philosophie dans une ouverture plus originaire que la clôture du sujet transcendantal. Patočka tente ainsi d’assumer jusqu’au bout le défi de penser depuis les limites mêmes de la phénoménologie.
Vie et existence : vers une cosmologie phénoménologique
Authors: Jacquet Frédéric
Published: September 2011

La phénoménologie patočkienne répond à l’exigence constitutive de la phénoménologie, avec une rigueur sans doute inégalée. Patočka se donne pour tâche de penser l’appartenance de l’existence (Dasein) au monde sans compromettre sa différence vis-à-vis de lui : l’ existence  est essentiellement  mouvement vivant , ce qui permet de déceler une commune mesure avec le monde. La question est alors celle du statut de la différence. La philosophie patočkienne prend ainsi la forme novatrice d’une  cosmologie phénoménologique , dont il s’agit ici de préciser la logique propre.
Co-precipitation of ettringite of rapid and slow formation. Consequence: Expansive Synergic Effect. Its demonstration by mortars and concretes
Authors: Talero R.
Published: September 2011

Several prior papers have shown that enough pozzolans can bring about rapid formation ettringite (from its Al2O3r-). It has likewise been found that the formation rate of this ettringite is higher than the of slower forming ettringite originating from OPC (from its C3A). In this context: What type of effect will they ultimately produce? Addition? Synergism? Antagonism? or perhaps Inversion of final expansive action?.
To reply to these questions, 4 PC and 12 blended cements containing 20%, 30% or 40% metakaolin, were tested using the ASTM C 452-68, EN 196-1 and RT-86:ΔL tests and also concrete specimens.
The experimental results have shows that the joint precipitation in a common sulfate medium, of ettringite from pozzolan and from OPC, was always more synergic than additive, and the technical consequences of the Expansive Synergic Effect may be classified as beneficial, adverse or indifferent according to its sulfates content in excess is more or less adequate.
Aussi vite que possible…
Authors: Hennion Antoine
Published: September 2011

La virtuosité est au cœur de l’interprétation musicale, mais elle a un statut ambivalent. Elle est à la fois le comble de l’art, et une tentation dangereuse. En m’appuyant sur la comparaison entre des genres différents, je voudrais suggérer qu’au delà de l’opposition classique entre les musiques du corps, du spectacle, du collectif en transe, et les musiques de l’écrit, centrées sur la composition d’une œuvre et dans une large mesure élaborées en s’opposant à la séduction virtuose, il est possible de redonner à la virtuosité sa capacité d’exprimer une vérité de la musique, en faisant d’elle une esthétique de la performance : moins une prouesse technique qu’une inscription nécessaire de l’œuvre dans la fragilité d’un présent qu’il faut toujours reconquérir.
Entre prouesse et dérision
Authors: Stoichita Victor A.
Published: September 2011

Cet article porte sur un type de virtuosité qui consiste à imiter des sons non musicaux dans le cadre de performances musicales. Il s'attache à décrire les modalités de ces moments d'acrobatie dans le bluegrass et la country music en Amérique du Nord. Pour mettre en lumière l'évolution historique de ce régime de virtuosité, l'analyse suit les transformations d'une mélodie particulière, connue sous le nom de Orange Blossom Special, qui reste à ce jour l'une des plus fameuses imitations de trains dans la musique nord-américaine.
La virtuosité comme arme de guerre psychologique
Authors: Helmlinger Aurélie
Published: September 2011

Après avoir été traversés par des conflits violents, les steelbands se sont construits dans d’intenses rapports de rivalité où la virtuosité est devenue l’arme essentielle. Encadrés par un système de compétitions nationales, les orchestres s’affrontent désormais à travers la vitesse, la puissance sonore ou les difficultés d’exécution musicale. À une échelle plus locale, les sections — ensembles d’instruments identiques — rivalisent informellement dans des joutes de difficulté d’exécution. Pour les individus enfin, la virtuosité tient notamment à la rapidité de mémorisation du répertoire. Quels que soient les niveaux de sociabilité considérés, on observe que la virtuosité s’exprime principalement dans des innovations et des records quantifiables (nombre de notes à jouer, nombre de décibels, de musiciens, de victoires aux compétitions…), qui permettent d’établir des classements et une hiérarchisation des rivaux propices à la concorde et au renouvellement de l’ordre social.
Les coulisses du sublime
Authors: Grimaud Emmanuel
Published: September 2011

Toute cascade de cinéma peut être perçue comme une configuration expérimentale posant au spectateur un problème d’attribution. Le cinéma livre en effet depuis ses origines une course frénétique pour rendre visuellement plausibles des actions physiquement impossibles en camouflant leurs conditions de réalisation. Qui est à l’origine de quoi ? Y a-t-il procédé et lequel ? L’acteur était-il soutenu par des machines ou par des câbles ? A-t-il effectué la cascade lui-même ? etc. Or l’acte impossible que le plateau prétend réaliser n’est jamais simplement attribuable à l’acteur, aux techniciens ou à la caméra. Il n’est jamais non plus complètement réductible à du trucage. À la fois de l’ordre de la performance physique (mais pas uniquement), un brin machinique, en grande partie collective (ou distribuée), l’effet de virtuosité au cinéma reste par ailleurs toujours inachevé sans la perception d’un spectateur pour donner à la cascade sa continuité finale. En examinant comment les cascades se font, camouflent et confondent le spectateur sur leurs sources et leur processus, cet article explore les enjeux de cette virtuosité hybride et compliquée qui arrache de façon optique l’acte à ses conditions matérielles d’exécution.
Saya ou l’impossible virtuosité
Authors: Paré Zaven
Published: September 2011

Saya est le nom d’un robot anthropomorphe développé par le professeur Kobayashi de l’université de Tokyo. Le professeur fait ici la démonstration de son robot-institutrice devant une classe d’élèves. Cette démonstration qui tourne mal fournit le point de départ pour l’auteur d’une réflexion sur la virtuosité des machines. Artiste et plasticien, ce dernier s’interroge sur la filiation entretenue par la démonstration de Saya avec le test de Turing et sur l’ambiguïté entre l’homme et la machine qui hante toute démonstration en robotique. Une relation s’établit ici, durant la démonstration, avec le public où tout le monde semble s’accorder spontanément sur le fait que le faux doit faire effet de réel. L’observation d’une démonstration qui échoue est une formidable opportunité pour saisir en quoi les démonstrations en robotique ont besoin de cette confusion ontologique (entre l’homme et la machine) pour produire des effets de virtuosité.
Photoswitching of Site-Selective RNA Scission by Sequential Incorporation of Azobenzene and Acridine Residues in a DNA Oligomer
Authors: Kuzuya Akinori , Tanaka Keita , Komiyama Makoto
Published: September 2011

Photoresponsive systems for site-selective RNA scission have been prepared by combining Lu(III) ions with acridine/azobenzene dual-modified DNA. The modified DNA forms a heteroduplex with substrate RNA, and the target phosphodiester linkages in front of the acridine residue is selectively activated so that Lu(III) ion rapidly cleaves the linkage. Azobenzene residue introduced adjacent to the acridine residue acts as a photoresponsive switch, which triggers the site-selective scission upon UV irradiation. Atransisomer of azobenzene efficiently suppresses the scission, whereas the cis isomer formed by UV irradiation hardly affects the scission. As a result, 1.7–2.4-fold acceleration of the cleavage was achieved simply by irradiating UV for 3 min to the mixture prior to the reaction. Considering the yield of photoisomerization, the intrinsic activity of acisisomer is up to 14.5-fold higher than that of thetransisomer.
Striatal Hypodensities, Not White Matter Hypodensities on CT, Are Associated with Late-Onset Depression in Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Brommelhoff Jessica A. , Spann Bryan M. , Go John L. , Mack Wendy J. , Gatz Margaret
Published: September 2011

This study examined whether there were neuroanatomical differences evident on CT scans of individuals with dementia who differed on depression history. Neuroanatomical variables consisted of visual ratings of frontal lobe deep white matter, subcortical white matter, and subcortical gray matter hypodensities in the CT scans of 182 individuals from the Study of Dementia in Swedish Twins who were diagnosed with dementia and had information on depression history. Compared to individuals with Alzheimer's disease and no depression, individuals with Alzheimer's disease and late-onset depression (first depressive episode at age 60 or over) had a greater number of striatal hypodensities (gray matter hypodensities in the caudate nucleus and lentiform nucleus). There were no significant differences in frontal lobe deep white matter or subcortical white matter. These findings suggest that late-onset depression may be a process that is distinct from the neurodegenerative changes caused by Alzheimer's disease.
The Effects of Molecular Crowding on the Structure and Stability of G-Quadruplexes with an Abasic Site
Authors: Fujimoto Takeshi , Nakano Shu-ichi , Miyoshi Daisuke , Sugimoto Naoki
Published: September 2011

Both cellular environmental factors and chemical modifications critically affect the properties of nucleic acids. However, the structure and stability of DNA containing abasic sites under cell-mimicking molecular crowding conditions remain unclear. Here, we investigated the molecular crowding effects on the structure and stability of the G-quadruplexes including a single abasic site. Structural analysis by circular dichroism showed that molecular crowding by PEG200 did not affect the topology of the G-quadruplex structure with or without an abasic site. Thermodynamic analysis further demonstrated that the degree of stabilization of the G-quadruplex by molecular crowding decreased with substitution of an abasic site for a single guanine. Notably, we found that the molecular crowding effects on the enthalpy change for G-quadruplex formation had a linear relationship with the abasic site effects depending on its position. These results are useful for predicting the structure and stability of G-quadruplexes with abasic sites in the cell-mimicking conditions.
Immunogenicity Studies in Carnivores Using a Rabies Virus Construct with a Site-Directed Deletion in the Phosphoprotein
Authors: Vos Ad , Conzelmann Karl-Klaus , Finke Stefan , Müller Thomas , Teifke Jens , Fooks Anthony R. , Neubert Andreas
Published: September 2011

Different approaches have been applied to develop highly attenuated rabies virus vaccines for oral vaccination of mesocarnivores. One prototype vaccine construct is SAD dIND1, which contains a deletion in the P-gene severely limiting the inhibition of type-1 interferon induction. Immunogenicity studies in foxes and skunks were undertaken to investigate whether this highly attenuated vaccine would be more immunogenic than the parental SAD B19 vaccine strain. In foxes, it was demonstrated that SAD dIND1 protected the animals against a rabies infection after a single oral dose, although virus neutralizing antibody titres were lower than in foxes orally vaccinated with the SAD B19 virus as observed in previous experiments. In contrast, skunks receiving 107.5FFU SAD dIND1 did not develop virus neutralizing antibodies and were not protected against a subsequent rabies infection.
Exploring the needs and resources of children in a haematology-oncology unit
Authors: Oberholzer Annemarie E. , Nel Elzabe , Myburgh Chris P.H. , Poggenpoel Marie
Published: September 2011

Too often a child’s body is restored to health in the hospital, but the child is sent home with emotional wounds. This study explored the needs of children in a haematology-oncology unit as well as the resources that could be mobilised in order to address these needs by firstly carrying out a literature review. A field study was then conducted in order to prioritise the resources according to their importance for children in a haematology-oncology unit. A definite trend could be found in the way that the children responded to the request to prioritise the resources. The first three resources, as chosen by the children, all concerned the external social environment of the child. It could therefore be concluded that support from parents and other people of significance are most important to the child and should be taken into account when facilitating support for children in a haematology-oncology unit. It could also be concluded that these children do not experience sufficient control in their situation and it could therefore be suggested that children in a haematology-oncology unit should experience more control and power in their situation.OpsommingSo dikwels word ‘n kind se liggaam genees in die hospitaal, maar hierdie selfde kind gaan huis toe met emosionele wonde. Die behoeftes van kinders in ‘n hematologie-onkologie eenheid is ondersoek asook die hulpbronne wat gemobiliseer kan word om hierdie behoeftes aan te spreek deur gebruik te maak van ‘n literatuurstudie. Daarna is ‘n veldstudie gedoen om hierdie hulpbronne te prioritiseer volgens die belangrikheid daarvan vir kinders in ‘n hematologieonkologie eenheid. Die manier waarop die kinders die hulpbronne geprioritiseer het, het ‘n definitiewe tendens getoon. Die eerste drie hulpbronne wat deur die kinders gekies is, is al drie hulpbronne wat die eksterne sosiale omgewing van die kind behels. Die gevolgtrekking kan dus gemaak word dat die ondersteuning van ouers en ander persone wat belangrik is vir die kind, van uiterste belang is en in aanmerking geneem behoort te word in die fasilitering van ondersteuning van kinders in ‘n hematologie-onkologie eenheid. Die gevolgtrekking wat gemaak kan word is dat hierdie kinders nie genoeg beheer ervaar in hulle situasie nie en daarom word voorgestel dat kinders in ‘n hematologie-onkologie eenheid meer bemagtig behoort te word gegewe hulle omstandighede.
Resistance pattern in drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis
Authors: Nagaraja C , Shashibhushan BL , Sagar C , Asif M , Manjunath PH
Published: September 2011

Background:

Drug-resistant tuberculosis is an important issue for public health. There is a rise in the trend of drug-resistant tuberculosis, especially multi drug resistance (MDR), in different parts of world, India being one of the high burden countries. This study is undertaken to assess the various patterns of resistance among confirmed drug resistant pulmonary tubercular patients and to initiate second line anti tubercular treatment.

Aims and Objectives:

To assess various resistance patterns among confirmed drug resistant pulmonary tubercular patients and for the initiation of appropriate drug regimens in our setup.

Study Design:

An observational prospective study.

Materials and Methods:

This study was conducted at Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases, Bangalore between January 2005 and November 2010. A total of 309 drug resistant tuberculosis cases were studied. Sputum culture and drug sensitivity were carried out at National Tuberculosis Institute. Drug sensitivity testing done for all first line drugs, except pyrazinamide, by using LJ media.

Results:

In this study, out of 309 patients, MDR pattern was observed in 224 (72%), of which 20 (6.47%) had resistance only to isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RMP), 58 (18.7%) had resistance to INH, RMP, and either of the other first line drugs streptomycinor ethambutol and 146 (47.25%) had resistance to all first line drugs. Poly drug resistance pattern was observed in 72 (23.3%) and Mono drug resistance in 13 (4.2%).

Conclusion:

In the present study the most common pattern observed is MDR with predominant resistance to INH. There is a rise in the number of drug resistant tuberculosis cases, especially MDR. Hence close monitoring of drug resistant pattern is required to formulate designs of different regimens in the treatment of drug resistant tuberculosis; especially MDR-TB based on accredited laboratory reports, in a specialized center which is very much essential for the betterment of the patients and the community.
Relationship of body fat with insulin resistance and cardiometabolic risk factors among normal glucose-tolerant subjects
Authors: Gokulakrishnan K , Deepa M , Monickaraj F , Mohan V
Published: September 2011

Background:

The amount of body fat, rather than the amount of excess weight, determines the health risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease.

Aims:

To look at the association of body fat percentage with cardiometabolic risk factors in subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT).

Settings and Design:

Cross-section study from the Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study.

Materials and Methods:

Body fat was measured by Beurer body fat analyzer. Metabolic syndrome (MS) was diagnosed based on modified ATPIII guidelines.

Statistical Analysis:

Student's t test or one-way ANOVA (with Tukey's HSD) was used to compare groups for continuous variables.

Results:

Body mass index, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, HOMA IR, serum cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol increased significantly with increasing tertiles of body fat (P<0.001). There was a linear increase in the percentage of body fat with increase in number of components of MS (no metabolic abnormality: 25±11, one metabolic abnormality: 28±10, two metabolic abnormalities: 33±8, and three and more metabolic abnormalities: 35±7) (P<0.001). Regression models showed significant association of body fat with MS after adjusting for age, gender, insulin resistance, and glycated hemoglobin (Odds ratio: 1.04, 95% confidence interval: 1.04 - 1.08, P<0.001). In linear regression analysis, body fat showed a significant association with insulin resistance after adjusting for age, gender, and glycated hemoglobin (β=0.030, P<0.001).

Conclusions:

A significant association exists between body fat, MS, and cardiometabolic risk factors even among subjects with NGT.
Perennial impression of an emerging arbovirus on the epidemiology of rheumatic diseases in South India
Authors: Rahim A , Mathew AJ
Published: September 2011

Are rheumatic musculoskeletal diseases (RMSD) given their due recognition by the medical fraternity and policy makers in India today? Focus on lifestyle diseases has taken away the importance of morbidity caused by musculoskeletal pain, which is one of the commonest ailments in the community. Poor awareness in general regarding the upcoming field of rheumatology and lack of proper data regarding these diseases in the country are the primary causes for this debacle. The epidemiology of RMSD in the country is fast changing, especially in the wake of viral epidemics, which leave their mark for months and years together. This view point emphasizes the burden of RMSD by highlighting the findings of two Community Oriented Programme for the Control of Rheumatic Diseases studies conducted to study the prevalence of RMSD in rural communities in the southern state of Kerala, which inadvertently captured the burden of RMSD following Chikungunya viral epidemics in the regions. Both the studies have reported a high prevalence of RMSD following the epidemics. The value of including RMSD in a national programme to combat the morbidity caused and to improve the health related quality of life of patients has been stressed upon, in the background of altering epidemiology of these disorders in the country.
Imaging Findings in Chiari I Malformation with Syringomyelia in a Case of Charcot Shoulder
Authors: Kumar Shantanu , Sharma Vineet , Kumar Santosh , Jain Sonal
Published: September 2011

Neuropathic arthropathy of the shoulder is reported in only 5% of cases. Here, we report a rare case of neuropathic arthropathy of the shoulder, secondary to Chiari malformation Type I with associated syringomyelia, that remained undetected for four years. A 38-year-old female presented to our Department with a swelling over the right shoulder that had persisted for four years. X-ray of the joint showed destruction of the head of the right humerus, with typical blunt amputated appearance of the bone and increased joint space. Magnetic resonance imaging showed destruction and lateral dislocation of the head of the humerus. Large amount of fluid collection was seen in and around the right shoulder joint. Neuropathic osteoarthropathy can be defined as bone and joint changes that occurs secondary to loss of sensation. In our case, neuropathic shoulder joint was secondary to syringomyelia associated with Chiari I malformation.
Three‐dimensional internal spatial structure of young‐of‐the‐year pelagic freshwater fish provides evidence for the identification of fish school species
Authors: Jean Guillard , Paul Fernandes , Laloë Thomas , Brehmer Patrice
Published: September 2011

Active acoustic detection and characterization in three dimensions (3D) with multibeam sonars is a powerful technique for ecological studies of schooling fish. The alpine Lake Annecy provides ideal conditions for sampling fish with active acoustic methods: it has calm water, low species diversity, and the density of pelagic fish schools is high. We carried out investigations on the internal 3D morphological characteristics of young‐of‐the‐year (Y‐O‐Y) pelagic fish schools, using high resolution multibeam sonar in the vertical plane. The objective was to discriminate between the two fish species that school in the lake: perch (Perca fluviatilis) and roach (Rutilus rutilus). To discriminate between these Y‐O‐Y fish species, we used only one characteristic of their internal spatial structure: the total number of vacuoles, defined as empty volumes inside the school, relative to the school volume. Two distinct linear relationships between school volume and the total number of vacuoles were determined. These two types were consistent with the proportions of the percentage occurrence of the two different species as obtained from pelagic trawl sampling in 2004. In 2008, perch was dominant (93%) in the lake, and only one relationship was detected: this relationship corresponded closely to the one in 2004 attributed to perch. Thus, we assume that the schooling behavior is a phenotypic expression that could be used for remote fish species identification.
Simple, robust eddy correlation amplifier for aquatic dissolved oxygen and hydrogen sulfide flux measurements
Authors: McGinnis Daniel F. , Cherednichenko Sergiy , Sommer Stefan , Berg Peter , Rovelli Lorenzo , Schwarz Ralf , Glud Ronnie N. , Linke Peter
Published: September 2011

The aquatic application of the eddy correlation (EC) technique is growing more popular and is gradually becoming a standard method for resolving benthic O2 fluxes. By including the effects of the local hydrodynamics, the EC technique provides greater insight into the nature of benthic O2 exchange than traditional methods (i.e., benthic chambers and lander microprofilers). The growing popularity of the EC technique has led to a greater demand for easily accessible and robust EC instrumentation. Currently, the EC instrumentation is limited to two commercially available systems that are still in the development stage. Here, we present a robust, open source EC picoamplifier that is simple in design and can be easily adapted to both new and existing acoustic Doppler velocimeters (ADV). The picoamplifier has a response time of < 0.1 ms and features galvanic isolation that ensures very low noise contamination of the signal. It can be adjusted to accommodate varying ranges of microelectrode sensitivity as well as other types of amperometric microelectrodes. We show that the extracted flux values are not sensitive to reduced microelectrode operational ranges (i.e., lower resolution) and that no signal loss results from using either a 16‐ or 14‐bit analog‐to‐digital converter. Finally, we demonstrate the capabilities of the picoamplifier with field studies measuring both dissolved O2 and H2S EC fluxes. The picoamplifier presented here consistently acquires high‐quality EC data and provides a simple solution for those who wish to obtain EC instrumentation. The schematic of the amplifier's circuitry is given in the Web Appendix.
Evidence-based Standardized Care Plans for Use Internationally to Improve Home Care Practice and Population Health
Authors: Foster D.J. , Gomez T. , Poulsen J.K. , Mast J. , Westra B.L. , Fishman E. , Monsen K.A.
Published: September 2011

Objectives: To develop evidence-based standardized care plans (EB-SCP) for use internationally to improve home care practice and population health.

Methods: A clinical-expert and scholarly method consisting of clinical experts recruitment, identification of health concerns, literature reviews, development of EB-SCPs using the Omaha System, a public comment period, revisions and consensus.

Results: Clinical experts from Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United States participated in the project, together with University of Minnesota School of Nursing graduate students and faculty researchers. Twelve Omaha System problems were selected by the participating agencies as a basic home care assessment that should be used for all elderly and disabled patients. Interventions based on the literature and clinical expertise were compiled into EB-SCPs, and reviewed by the group. The EB-SCPs were revised and posted on-line for public comment; revised again, then approved in a public meeting by the participants. The EB-SCPs are posted on-line for international dissemination.

Conclusions: Home care EB-SCPs were successfully developed and published on-line. They provide a shared standard for use in practice and future home care research. This process is an exemplar for development of evidence-based practice standards to be used for assessment and documentation to support global population health and research.
Cloud optical thickness and liquid water path – does the k coefficient vary with droplet concentration?
Authors: Brenguier J.-L. , Burnet F. , Geoffroy O.
Published: September 2011

Abstract. Cloud radiative transfer calculations in general circulation models involve a link between cloud microphysical and optical properties. Indeed, the liquid water content expresses as a function of the mean volume droplet radius, while the light extinction is a function of their mean surface radius. There is a small difference between these two parameters because of the droplet spectrum width. This issue has been addressed by introducing an empirical multiplying correction factor to the droplet concentration. Analysis of in situ sampled data, however, revealed that the correction factor decreases when the concentration increases, hence partially mitigating the aerosol indirect effect. Five field experiments are reanalyzed here, in which standard and upgraded versions of the droplet spectrometer were used to document shallow cumulus and stratocumulus topped boundary layers. They suggest that the standard probe noticeably underestimates the correction factor compared to the upgraded versions. The analysis is further refined to demonstrate that the value of the correction factor derived by averaging values calculated locally along the flight path overestimates the value derived from liquid water path and optical thickness of a cloudy column, and that there is no detectable relationship between the correction factor and the droplet concentration. It is also shown that the droplet concentration dilution by entrainment-mixing after CCN activation is significantly stronger in shallow cumuli than in stratocumulus layers. These various effects are finally combined to produce the today best estimate of the correction factor to use in general circulation models.