bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validation of a Commercially Available Immunoassay for the Measurement of Bovine Cardiac Troponin I
Authors: Varga A. , Schober K.E. , Walker W.L. , Lakritz J. , Michael Rings D.
Published: February 2009

Background: Commercially available cardiac troponin I (cTnI) assays developed for use in humans have not yet been validated for use in cattle.

Hypotheses: The ADVIA Centaur TnI‐Ultra immunoassay can be used for the detection of bovine cTnI. In healthy cattle, serum cTnI is undetectable or is present only in trace amounts.

Methods: Purified bovine cTnI and cTnI‐free bovine serum were used for the evaluation of assay performance including intra‐ and inter‐assay precision, sensitivity, interference, linearity, and recovery. Effects of storage at 23, 4, −20, and −80 °C for 2 days, and at −20 and −80 °C for 7 and 14 days and repeated freeze‐thaw cycles on recovery of cTnI were analyzed. Serum cTnI concentrations in 30 healthy dairy cows were determined.

Results: Intra‐ and inter‐assay precisions (mean ± SD) were 4.48 ± 2.26 and 13.36 ± 6.59%, respectively. The assay demonstrated linearity at 0.5, 2, 15, and 30 ng/mL cTnI. Mean recovery was 100.81, 85.26, 87.72, and 114.42%, respectively. Skeletal muscle homogenate added to serum of known cTnI concentration did not alter the concentration of the analyte (P > .05). Concentration of cTnI significantly decreased when samples were stored at 4 and 23 °C for 2 days (P < .05). Repeated freeze‐thaw cycles and storage at −20 °C for 7 days had no significant influence on cTnI concentration (P > .05). Serum cTnI concentration in healthy cattle was ≤0.03 ng/mL.

Conclusion and Clinical Importance: ADVIA Centaur can be used reliably for the detection of serum cTnI concentration in cattle.
Bradykinin‐induced astrocyte–neuron signalling: glutamate release is mediated by ROS‐activated volume‐sensitive outwardly rectifying anion channels
Authors: Liu Hong‐Tao , Akita Tenpei , Shimizu Takahiro , Sabirov Ravshan Z. , Okada Yasunobu
Published: February 2009

Glial cells release gliotransmitters which signal to adjacent neurons and glial cells. Previous studies showed that in response to stimulation with bradykinin, glutamate is released from rat astrocytes and causes NMDA receptor‐mediated elevation of intracellular Ca2+in adjacent neurons. Here, we investigate how bradykinin‐induced glutamate release from mouse astrocytes signals to neighbouring neurons in co‐cultures. Astrocyte‐to‐neuron signalling and bradykinin‐induced glutamate release from mouse astrocytes were both inhibited by the anion channel blocker 4,4′‐diisothiocyanatostilbene‐2,2′‐disulfonic acid (DIDS) and phloretin. Glutamate release was also sensitive to 4‐(2‐Butyl‐6,7‐dichlor‐2‐cyclopentylindan‐1‐on‐5‐yl) oxybutyric acid (DCPIB), a specific blocker of the volume‐sensitive outwardly rectifying anion channel (VSOR). Astrocytes, but not neurons, responded to bradykinin with activation of whole‐cell Cl−currents. Although astrocytes stimulated with bradykinin did not undergo cell swelling, the bradykinin‐activated current exhibited properties typical of VSOR: outward rectification, inhibition by osmotic shrinkage, sensitivity to DIDS, phloretin and DCPIB, dependence on intracellular ATP, and permeability to glutamate. Bradykinin increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in mouse astrocytes. Pretreatment of mouse astrocytes with either a ROS scavenger or an NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitor blocked bradykinin‐induced activation of VSOR, glutamate release and astrocyte‐to‐neuron signalling. By contrast, pretreatment with BAPTA‐AM or tetanus neurotoxin A failed to suppress bradykinin‐induced glutamate release. Thus, VSOR activated by ROS in mouse astrocytes in response to stimulation with bradykinin, serves as the pathway for glutamate release to mediate astrocyte‐to‐neuron signalling. Since bradykinin is an initial mediator of inflammation, VSOR might play a role in glia–neuron communication in the brain during inflammation.
Experimental
Investigation of the Clocking Effect in a 1.5-Stage Axial Turbine—Part I: Time-Averaged
Results
Authors: König Sven , Stoffel Bernd , Taher
Schobeiri M.
Published: February 2009

Comprehensive experimental investigations were conducted to get deeper insight into the physics of stator clocking in turbomachines. Different measurement techniques were used to investigate the influence of varying clocking positions on the highly unsteady flow field in a 1.5-stage axial low-pressure (LP) turbine. A Reynolds number typical for LP turbines as well as a two-dimensional blade design were chosen. Stator 2 was developed as a high-lift profile with a separation bubble on the suction side. This paper presents the results that were obtained by means of static pressure tappings and five-hole probes as well as the time-averaged results of unsteady x-wire measurements. The probes were traversed in different measuring planes for ten clocking positions. Depending on the clocking position, a variation in total pressure loss for Stator 2, a change of the rotor exit flow angle, and a dependency of the Stator 2 exit flow angle were found. The influence of these parameters on turbine efficiency was studied. Three main factors affecting the total pressure loss could be separated: the size of the separation bubble, the production of turbulent kinetic energy, and the strength of the periodic fluctuations downstream of Stator 2.
A Method for Estimating the Influence of Time-Dependent Vane and Blade Pressure Fields on Turbine Rim Seal Ingestion
Authors: Johnson Bruce V. , Jakoby Ralf , Bohn Dieter E. , Cunat Didier
Published: February 2009

A method of estimating the turbine rim seal ingestion rates was developed using the time-dependent pressure distributions on the hub of turbines and a simple-orifice model. Previous methods use the time-averaged pressure distribution downstream of the vanes to estimate seal ingestion. The present model uses the pressure distribution near the turbine hub, obtained from 2D time-dependent stage calculations, and a simple-orifice model to estimate the pressure-driven ingress of gas-path fluid into the turbine disk cavity and the egress of cavity fluid to the gas path. The time-dependent pressure distribution provides the influence of both the vane wakes and the bow wave from the blade on the pressure difference between the hub pressure at an azimuthal location and the cavity pressure. Results from the simple-orifice model are used to determine the effective Cd that matches the cooling effectiveness at radii near the rim seal with the amount of gas-path-ingested flow required to mix with the coolant flow. Cavity ingestion data from rim seal ingestion experiments in a 1.5-stage turbine and numerical simulations for a 1 vane, 2-blade sector of the 16-vane, 32-blade turbine were used to evaluate the method. The experiments and simulations were performed for close-spaced and wide-spaced half stages between both the vane and blade and between the blade and a trailing teardrop-shaped strut. The comparison of the model with a single Cd for axial gap seals and the experiments showed a reasonable agreement for both close- and wide-spaced stages.
Experiments on the Physical Mechanism of Heat Transfer Augmentation by Freestream Turbulence at a Cylinder Stagnation Point
Authors: Nix A. C. , Diller T. E.
Published: February 2009

Detailed time records of velocity and heat flux were measured near the stagnation point of a cylinder in low-speed airflow. The freestream turbulence was controlled using five different grids positioned to match the characteristics from previous heat flux experiments at NASA Glenn using the same wind tunnel. A hot wire was used to measure the cross-flow velocity at a range of positions in front of the stagnation point. This gave the average velocity and fluctuating component including the turbulence intensity and integral length scale. The heat flux was measured with a heat flux microsensor located on the stagnation line underneath the hot-wire probe. This gave the average heat flux and the fluctuating component simultaneous with the velocity signal, including the heat flux turbulence intensity and the coherence with the velocity. The coherence between the signals allowed identification of the crucial positions for measurement of the integral length scale and turbulence intensity for prediction of the time-averaged surface heat flux. The frequencies corresponded to the most energetic frequencies of the turbulence, indicating the importance of the penetration of the turbulent eddies from the freestream through the boundary layer to the surface. The distance from the surface was slightly less than the local value of length scale, indicating the crucial role of the turbulence in augmenting the heat flux. The resulting predictions of the analytical model matched well with the measured heat transfer augmentation.
Effect of Upstream Wake With Vortex on Turbine Blade Platform Film Cooling With Simulated Stator-Rotor Purge Flow
Authors: Wright Lesley M. , Blake Sarah A. , Rhee Dong-Ho , Han Je-Chin
Published: February 2009

Detailed film cooling effectiveness distributions were experimentally obtained on a turbine blade platform within a linear cascade. The film cooling effectiveness distributions were obtained on the platform with upstream disturbances used to simulate the passing vanes. Cylindrical rods, placed upstream of the blades, simulated the wake created by the trailing edge of the stator vanes. The rods were placed at four locations to show how the film cooling effectiveness was affected relative to the vane location. In addition, delta wings were placed upstream of the blades to model the effect of the passage vortex (generated in the vane passage) on the platform film cooling effectiveness. The delta wings create a vortex similar to the passage vortex as it exits the upstream vane passage. The film cooling effectiveness was measured with the delta wings placed at four location, to investigate the effect of the passing vanes. Finally, the delta wings were coupled with the cylindrical rods to examine the combined effect of the upstream wake and passage vortex on the platform film cooling effectiveness. The detailed film cooling effectiveness distributions were obtained using pressure sensitive paint in the five blade linear cascade. An advanced labyrinth seal was placed upstream of the blades to simulate purge flow from a stator-rotor seal. The coolant flow rate varied from 0.5% to 2.0% of the mainstream flow, while the Reynolds number of the mainstream flow remained constant at 3.1×105 (based on the inlet velocity and chord length of the blade). The film cooling effectiveness was not significantly affected with the upstream rod. However, the vortex generated by the delta wings had a profound impact on the film cooling effectiveness. The vortex created more turbulent mixing within the blade passage, and the result is reduced film cooling effectiveness through the entire passage. When the vane induced secondary flow is included, the need for additional platform cooling becomes very obvious.
Heat Transfer Measurements and Predictions for a Modern, High-Pressure, Transonic Turbine, Including Endwalls
Authors: Tallman James A. , Haldeman Charles W. , Dunn Michael G. , Tolpadi Anil K. , Bergholz Robert F.
Published: February 2009

This paper presents both measurements and predictions of the hot-gas-side heat transfer to a modern, 112 stage high-pressure, transonic turbine. Comparisons of the predicted and measured heat transfer are presented for each airfoil at three locations, as well as on the various endwalls and rotor tip. The measurements were performed using the Ohio State University Gas Turbine Laboratory Test Facility (TTF). The research program utilized an uncooled turbine stage at a range of operating conditions representative of the engine: in terms of corrected speed, flow function, stage pressure ratio, and gas-to-metal temperature ratio. All three airfoils were heavily instrumented for both pressure and heat transfer measurements at multiple locations. A 3D, compressible, Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solver with k-ω turbulence modeling was used for the CFD predictions. The entire 112 stage turbine was solved using a single computation, at two different Reynolds numbers. The CFD solutions were steady, with tangentially mass-averaged inlet/exit boundary condition profiles exchanged between adjacent airfoil-rows. Overall, the CFD heat transfer predictions compared very favorably with both the global operation of the turbine and with the local measurements of heat transfer. A discussion of the features of the turbine heat transfer distributions, and their association with the corresponding flow-physics, has been included.
Analysis of Turbulent Flow in 180 deg Turning Ducts With and Without Guide Vanes
Authors: Luo Jiang , Razinsky Eli H.
Published: February 2009

This paper presents a numerical study of the turbulent flows through a number of 2D and 3D 180 deg U-ducts, with and without guide vanes, using the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes method. Computations have been first carried out for a 2D U-duct flow (W/H=1.0) with four turbulence models (V2F, k-ε, shear stress transport (SST), and Reynolds stress). The models’ capability for predicting streamline curvature effects on turbulence and separation has been assessed, using flow and turbulence data. The effects of adding a guide vane inside the bend have been analyzed to reduce/avoid flow separation. Three vanes with different radial locations have been studied, and the mechanism for pressure loss reduction has been examined. Analyses have been performed for turbulent flows in 3D U-ducts with square cross section and sharp 180 deg turning (W/D=0.2), similar to the U-bends in typical turbine blade cooling passages. The predictions are compared with the data of outer-wall pressure. The effects of the guide vane and outer-wall shape on the flow separation, secondary-flow vortices, and pressure loss have been evaluated. The combined vane and uniform cross section area are found to improve the flow distribution and reduce the pressure loss significantly.
New High-Throughput Screening Assay To Reveal Similarities and Differences in Inhibitory Sensitivities of Multidrug ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters
Authors: Kolaczkowski Marcin , Kolaczkowska Anna , Motohashi Noboru , Michalak Krystyna
Published: February 2009

Cdr1p is the major ATP-binding cassette multidrug transporter conferring resistance to azoles and other antifungals inCandida albicans. In this study, the identification of new Cdr1p inhibitors by use of a newly developed high-throughput fluorescence-based assay is reported. The assay also allowed monitoring of the activity and inhibition of the related transporters Pdr5p and Snq2p ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae, which made it possible to compare its performance with those of previously established procedures. A high sensitivity, resulting from a wide dynamic range, was achieved upon high-level expression of the Cdr1p, Pdr5p, and Snq2p transporters in anS. cerevisiaestrain in which the endogenous interfering activities were further reduced by genetic manipulation. An analysis of a set of therapeutically used and newly synthesized phenothiazine derivatives revealed different pharmacological profiles for Cdr1p, Pdr5p, and Snq2p. All transporters showed similar sensitivities to M961 inhibition. In contrast, Cdr1p was less sensitive to inhibition by fluphenazine, whereas phenothiazine selectively inhibited Snq2p. The inhibition potencies measured by the new assay reflected the ability of the compounds to potentiate the antifungal effect of ketoconazole (KTC), which was detoxified by the overproduced transporters. They also correlated with the 50% inhibitory concentration for inhibition of Pdr5p-mediated transport of rhodamine 6G in isolated plasma membranes. The most active derivative, M961, potentiated the activity of KTC against an azole-resistantCDR1-overexpressingC. albicansisolate.
Antibiotic Susceptibility and Characteristics of
Neisseria meningitidis
Isolates from the African Meningitis Belt, 2000 to 2006: Phenotypic and Genotypic Perspectives
Authors: Hedberg Sara Thulin , Fredlund Hans , Nicolas Pierre , Caugant Dominique A. , Olcén Per , Unemo Magnus
Published: February 2009

Up-to-date information regarding the antibiotic susceptibility of
Neisseria meningitidis
strains from African countries is highly limited. Our aim was to comprehensively describe the antibiotic susceptibilities of a selection of
N. meningitidis
isolates recovered between 2000 and 2006 from 18 African countries, mainly those within the meningitis belt. Susceptibilities to 11 antibiotics were determined using Etest for 137
N. meningitidis
isolates (stringently selected from 693 available isolates). The isolates were also characterized by serogrouping, multilocus sequence typing, genosubtyping, and
penA
allele identification. All
N. meningitidis
isolates were susceptible to ceftriaxone, chloramphenicol, and ciprofloxacin. No isolate produced β-lactamase. Only three isolates (2%) displayed reduced susceptibility to penicillin G. The two isolates with the highest penicillin G MICs were the only isolates showing reduced susceptibility to ampicillin and cefuroxime. One of these isolates was also resistant to penicillin V. One percent of isolates displayed reduced susceptibility to rifampin, while 52% of the isolates were resistant to tetracycline, 74% were resistant to erythromycin, and 94% were resistant to sulfadiazine. The MICs of rifampin and tetracycline seemed to be associated with the serogroup of the isolates. In total, 18 sequence types (STs), 10 genosubtypes, and 8 different
penA
alleles were identified; the most common were ST-7, P1.20,9,35-1, and
penA4
, respectively. A high level of correlation was found between ST, genosubtype, and
penA
allele. In conclusion,
N. meningitidis
isolates from the African meningitis belt remain highly susceptible to the antibiotics used. Regarding β-lactam antibiotics, rare isolates showed a reduced susceptibility to penicillins, but the expanded-spectrum cephalosporins are not affected at present.
Surveillance of Carbapenem-Resistant
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Isolates from Puerto Rican Medical Center Hospitals: Dissemination of KPC and IMP-18 β-Lactamases
Authors: Wolter Daniel J. , Khalaf Noha , Robledo Iraida E. , Vázquez Guillermo J. , Santé Maria I. , Aquino Edna E. , Goering Richard V. , Hanson Nancy D.
Published: February 2009

During a 6-month period, 37/513 (7.2%)
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
isolates belonging to 13 pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) groups from Puerto Rican hospitals were carbapenem nonsusceptible. Seven of 37 isolates from four PFGE groups carried
bla
IMP-18
, and 25/37 isolates from seven PFGE groups carried
bla
KPC
. The results indicated the clonal spread of
bla
KPC
-positive
P. aeruginosa
isolates into several Puerto Rican hospitals and the dissemination of
bla
IMP-18
and
bla
KPC
into genetically unrelated isolates.
bla
CTX-M
Genes in
Escherichia coli
Strains from Croatian Hospitals Are Located in New (
bla
CTX-M-3a
) and Widely Spread (
bla
CTX-M-3a
and
bla
CTX-M-15
) Genetic Structures
Authors: Literacka Elżbieta , Bedenic Branka , Baraniak Anna , Fiett Janusz , Tonkic Marija , Jajic-Bencic Ines , Gniadkowski Marek
Published: February 2009

CTX-M-producing
Escherichia coli
isolates from three Croatian hospitals were analyzed. All
bla
CTX-M-15
genes and one
bla
CTX-M-3a
gene resided in widely spread IS
Ecp1
transposition modules, but other
bla
CTX-M-3a
genes were in a new configuration with two IS
26
copies, indicating a new event of gene mobilization from a
Kluyvera ascorbata
genome. The study confirmed the role of the
E. coli
ST131 clonal group with IncFII-type plasmids in the spread of
bla
CTX-M-15
and of IncL/M pCTX-M3-type plasmids in the dissemination of
bla
CTX-M-3a
.
Efficacy of Piperacillin Combined with the Penem β-Lactamase Inhibitor BLI-489 in Murine Models of Systemic Infection
Authors: Petersen Peter J. , Jones C. Hal , Venkatesan Aranapakam M. , Bradford Patricia A.
Published: February 2009

The in vivo efficacy of piperacillin in combination with the penem inhibitor BLI-489 was determined using acute lethal systemic infections in mice. On the basis of preliminary results with various ratios, a dosing ratio of 8:1 was found to be optimal for retention of enhanced efficacy. Piperacillin-BLI-489 dosed at an 8:1 ratio was efficacious against murine infections caused by class A (including extended-spectrum β-lactamases), class C (AmpC), and class D β-lactamase-expressing pathogens.
Breakpoints for Susceptibility Testing Should Not Divide Wild-Type Distributions of Important Target Species
Authors: Arendrup Maiken Cavling , Kahlmeter Gunnar , Rodriguez-Tudela Juan Luis , Donnelly J. Peter
Published: February 2009

The fluconazole MIC distributions for
Candida glabrata
from testing 34 different clinical isolates and performing 51 tests on a single isolate mirrored each other. Since what is perceived as biological variation in isolates without resistance mechanisms is mainly methodological variation, breakpoints which divide this distribution not only lack a sound biological basis but also result in poor reproducibility of susceptibility characterization. This makes 2, 4, 8, and possibly 16 μg/ml unsuitable breakpoints for
C. glabrata
and fluconazole.
Independence ofAnaplasma marginaleStrains with High and Low Transmission Efficiencies in the Tick Vector following Simultaneous Acquisition by Feeding on a Superinfected Mammalian Reservoir Host
Authors: Galletti Maria F. B. M. , Ueti Massaro W. , Knowles Donald P. , Brayton Kelly A. , Palmer Guy H.
Published: February 2009

Strain superinfection occurs when a second pathogen strain infects a host already carrying a primary strain.Anaplasma marginalesuperinfection occurs when the second strain carries a variant repertoire different from that of the primary strain, and the epidemiologic consequences depend on the relative efficiencies of tick-borne transmission of the two strains. Following strain superinfection in the reservoir host, we tested whether the presence of twoA. marginale(sensu lato) strains that differed in transmission efficiency altered the transmission phenotypes in comparison to those for single-strain infections.Dermacentor andersoniticks were fed on animals superinfected with theAnaplasma marginalesubsp.centralevaccine strain (low transmission efficiency) and theA. marginaleSt. Maries strain (high transmission efficiency). Within ticks that acquired both strains, the St. Maries strain had a competitive advantage and replicated to significantly higher levels than the vaccine strain. The St. Maries strain was subsequently transmitted to naïve hosts by ticks previously fed either on superinfected animals or on animals singly infected with the St. Maries strain, consistent with the predicted transmission phenotype of this strain and the lack of interference due to the presence of a competing low-efficiency strain. The vaccine strain was not transmitted by either singly infected or coinfected ticks, consistent with the predicted transmission phenotype and the lack of enhancement due to the presence of a high-efficiency strain. These results support the idea that the strain predominance in regions of endemicity is mediated by the intrinsic transmission efficiency of specific strains regardless of occurrence of superinfection.
Asphyxial games or “the choking game”: a potentially fatal risk behaviour
Authors: Macnab A J , Deevska M , Gagnon F , Cannon W G , Andrew T
Published: February 2009

Objectives:

To determine the prevalence of knowledge about and participation in asphyxial games, sometimes called “the choking game”, and how best to raise awareness of this risk-taking behaviour and provide preventive education.

Design:

Questionnaire; collaborative research model; lay advocacy group/university researchers.

Setting:

8 middle and high schools in Texas (six) and Ontario (two). A recent death from playing the choking game had occurred in one Texas school, and two other fatalities had occurred within the state.

Subjects:

Students in grades 4–12, aged 9–18 years.

Intervention:

None.

Outcome measures:

None.

Results:

Of 2762 surveys distributed, 2504 (90.7%) were completed. The mean (SD) age of the responders was 13.7 (2.2) years. 68% of children had heard about the game, 45% knew somebody who played it, and 6.6% had tried it, 93.9% of those with someone else. Forty percent of children perceived no risk. Information that playing the game could result in death or brain damage was reported as most likely to influence behaviour. The most respected source of a preventive education message was parents for pre-adolescents (43%) or victim/victim’s family (36%) for older adolescents.

Conclusions:

Knowledge of and participation in self-asphyxial behaviour is not unusual among schoolchildren. The age of the child probably determines the best source (parents or victim/victim’s family) of preventive education.
Teen perceptions of good drivers and safe drivers: implications for reaching adolescents
Authors: Barg F K , Keddem S , Ginsburg K R , Winston F K
Published: February 2009

Objective:

To understand definitions of the phrases “good driver” and “safe driver” among teen pre-drivers and early drivers in order to appropriately tailor messages about driving safety.

Design:

Qualitative study using freelisting, an anthropological research technique, to explore nuances in the ways that teens define a good driver and a safe driver

Setting:

Classes in six high schools each in a different state in the USA.

Subjects:

193 adolescent pre-drivers and early drivers, aged 15–17.

Main outcome measures:

Meaning of the phrase good driver and safe driver was identified for subgroups of adolescents.

Results:

Teen pre-drivers and early drivers define a good driver and a safe driver as one who is cautious, alert, responsible, does not speed, obeys the law, uses seatbelts, and concentrates. There are subtle and potentially important differences in the way that subgroups define a good driver and a safe driver.

Conclusions:

Injury prevention experts need to attend closely to the implicit meanings that teens attach to everyday terms. Freelisting is a method that identifies perceptions about the meaning of health communication messages and suggests differences in meaning among subgroups.
Injuries from interpersonal violence presenting to a rural health center in Western Kenya: characteristics and correlates
Authors: Ranney M L , Odero W , Mello M J , Waxman M , Fife R S
Published: February 2009

Objective:

To define the scope of injury due to interpersonal violence in a medium-sized town in Western Kenya.

Design:

Prospective, cross-sectional data collection and analysis.

Setting/subjects:

Data were prospectively collected on all injured patients (n = 562) presenting to a health center in Western Kenya, 2002–2004. Age, gender, type, and severity of injury, relationship to assailant, disposition, and clinician’s suspicion of alcohol use were recorded.

Main outcome measures:

Number of injuries due to interpersonal violence; correlation of gender, alcohol use, relationship to assailant, and type of injury.

Results:

Interpersonal violence caused 43% of all injuries. Men and women were equally likely to suffer violent injuries (42% vs 45%); however, women were more likely to suffer injury from domestic violence (4.7% vs 7.0%) and sexual assault (0% vs 3.5%). Men and women were equally likely to know their assailant. Women were more likely to be injured by a spouse/partner (19% vs 1.3%), whereas men were more likely to be injured by an acquaintance (29% vs 16%). Alcohol use was more often suspected for victims of violent, as opposed to unintentional, injury (45% vs 16%). Men with violent injuries were more likely than women to be suspected of having used alcohol (51% vs 35%).

Conclusions:

Interpersonal violence is a leading cause of injury in Western Kenya. Although men and women are equally likely to be assaulted, women are more likely to be injured by a spouse, and men by an acquaintance. Alcohol use is common among those who suffer violent injuries in this population.
Safety behaviours among Alaskan Native and American Indian people living in Alaska
Authors: Redwood D G , Hagan K D , Perkins R D , Stafford H B , Orell L J , Lanier A P
Published: February 2009

Objective:

To examine self-reported safety behaviours among 3828 Alaskan Native and American Indian people enrolled in the Alaska Education and Research Towards Health (EARTH) Study, 2004–2006.

Design:

A cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from a cohort study. A non-random sample of participants (2322 women and 1506 men) aged ⩾18 years from three regions of Alaska completed questions on safety behaviours as part of a comprehensive health and lifestyle computer-assisted self-administered questionnaire.

Results:

Most participants reported never driving after drinking (94.1%) or riding with a driver who had been drinking (91.3%). Fewer (74.1%) participants reported using a seatbelt always or almost always when riding in a vehicle. Only about half (55%) always kept to the speed limit when driving or used a personal flotation device when boating (51.5%). Even fewer (20.5%) reported using a helmet when riding on off-road vehicles, including four-wheelers and snowmobiles. Factors identified among those least likely to use safety devices and practise good safety behaviours are: younger age, lower household income and education, non-married, speaking only English at home, and a self-reported health status of poor to fair (p<0.05).

Conclusions:

Recommendations for future injury prevention efforts in this population are to increase use of personal flotation devices while boating and address the underuse of helmets with off-road vehicles. Limited prevention resources should be used to target those who engage in risky behaviours to maximise programme impact.
Don’t throw your blood clots away: use of blood clot may improve sensitivity of PCR diagnosis in invasive aspergillosis
Authors: McCulloch E , Ramage G , Jones B , Warn P , Kirkpatrick W R , Patterson T F , Williams C
Published: February 2009

Background:

The diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis (IA) remains challenging and frequently is not made until after death. Histopathological examination remains central to confirmation of diagnosis but often requires invasive procedures to obtain tissue for the examination. Detection of aspergillus DNA by quantitative PCR (qPCR) offers the potential for earlier diagnosis due to higher sensitivity, but PCR in clinical use is poorly reproducible, with different centres reporting variable results and often using different extraction and analytical methods.

Aims:

To optimise the performance of aspergillus PCR as a diagnostic modality.

Methods:

A rat inhalation model of invasive aspergillosis was used to optimise the methodology of diagnostic aspergillus PCR. Infected animals were terminally bled at 4 days post-infection; samples of EDTA blood, serum and the residual clot were pooled for subsequent analysis. DNA was extracted from each fraction using a variety of methods and an optimised qPCR reaction using anAspergillus fumigatusprimer set performed.

Results:

Significantly more aspergillus DNA was detected from the clot than EDTA and serum samples. Enzymatic and mechanical pretreatment reduced the yield of fungal DNA. There was some evidence that the average Ct values were greater for the EZ1 BioRobot than the MagNA Pure automated extractor, but this did not reach statistical significance at the 5% level (p = 0.078).

Conclusions:

Automated extraction from the clot present in a blood sample will increase DNA yield and improve the diagnostic sensitivity of the test.
Tobacco in prisons: a focus group study
Authors: Richmond R , Butler T , Wilhelm K , Wodak A , Cunningham M , Anderson I
Published: February 2009

Objective:

To examine the role of tobacco use in prison and possible influences of the prison environment on smoking among inmates in the context of developing inmate smoking cessation programmes.

Method:

Qualitative study based on seven focus groups with prisoners and ex-prisoners.

Settings:

A maximum security prison in rural New South Wales (NSW), Australia, and a community justice restorative centre and accommodation service for ex-prisoners in Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Participants:

40 participants (28 men and 12 women) comprising nine prisoners (including four Indigenous inmates) and 31 ex-prisoners.

Results:

Prisoners reported that tobacco serves as a de facto currency in correctional settings and can be exchanged for goods, used to pay debts and for gambling. Smoking helps manage the stressful situations such as transfers, court appearances and prison visits. Inmate smoking cessation programmes need to address the enmeshment of tobacco in prison life, improve availability of pharmacotherapies (for example, nicotine patches, bupropion) and the quitline (a free telephone helpline providing information on stopping smoking), provide non-smoking cells and areas within prisons, encourage physical activity for inmates and maintain monitoring of smoking cessation status after release.

Conclusions:

Tobacco is integrally bound up in the prison “culture”. Our findings are relevant to inform prison health authorities concerned with improving the health of prisoners, and for support organisations attempting to facilitate smoking cessation both in prison and after release. Smoking cessation programmes in prisons should be tailored to the unique stresses of the prison environment. Programmes need to acknowledge the difficulties of quitting smoking in prison arising from the stresses posed by this setting.
Terrestrial carbon contribution to lake food webs: could the classical stable isotope approach be misleading?
Authors: Perga Marie-Elodie , Kainz Martin , Mazumder Asit
Published: February 2009

Carbon stable isotope analyses have been widely used to estimate terrestrial carbon contribution to lake secondary production. In such approaches, phytoplankton is tacitly assumed as a single, isotopically homogenous source. Such assumption might be valid if (i) zooplankton do not feed selectively on specific algal taxa within bulk phytoplankton, or (ii) although zooplankton do feed selectively, the variability in the δ13C values amongst the different algal taxa is small compared with the variability between the δ13C values of bulk phytoplankton and terrestrial end-members. In a summer field study of six coastal lakes of British Columbia, Canada, we tested these assumptions using gut pigments and stable isotope measures on zooplankton and particulate organic matter. Results revealed that filter-feeding cladocerans positively selected cryptophytes, shown to be substantially 13C-enriched compared with bulk phytoplankton and even with the terrestrial end-member. Comparing a classical two-source mixing model and a model that accounted for algal isotopic heterogeneity, we showed that the use of a classical two-source model can result in an overestimation of terrestrial contribution to zooplankton secondary production.
Change-in-Ratio and Index-Removal Methods for Population Assessment and Their Application to Snow Crab (Chionoecetes opilio)
Authors: Dawe Earl G. , Hoenig John M. , Xu Xucai
Published: February 2009

Change-in-ratio and index-removal estimators are presented in a general form suitable for fisheries studies of closed populations. We also show how to combine the two approaches in a single estimator. In order to use these methods, it is necessary to sample the population before and after the fishery and to determine the total harvest and its composition. We used the methods to estimate the population of legal-size snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) in St. Mary's Bay, Newfoundland, before and after the fishery and to estimate the catchability coefficient and exploitation rate. It is also possible to estimate the abundance of prerecruits but this requires the assumption of equal catchability of all animals, a condition that may not be met. These methods have been largely neglected by fishery scientists; however, they seem to be ideally suited for studies of many temperate populations of large sedentary crustaceans, particularly those subjected to fisheries of short duration.
Site investigations for unretained excavations in a soft peaty deposit
Authors: Sandroni Sandro S. , Silva José Maria J. , Pinheiro José Carlos Novello
Published: February 2009

As part of an urbanization scheme, artificial islands are being created on the swampy land around the Itaipu lagoon, close to Rio de Janeiro. The islands are being formed by hydraulic filling with sand and their periphery consists of retaining walls resting on sand cushions. The very soft local soils pose settlement and stability problems in execution and operation.A site and laboratory investigation program, involving several types of triaxial, consolidation, and in-situ vane tests, has been carried out and is described. A full-scale instrumented settlement fill has been built and is mentioned. An instrumented 5 m deep trial trench has been carried out and monitored during the excavation stage which took 5 days and during a 45 day long repose stage. In both these stages failure was avoided by keeping water inside the trench at its original level. Finally, failure was induced by pumping water out of the trench. The observations at the trial trench are presented and discussed in some detail. Keywords: soft organic deposit, unretained excavation, field tests, laboratory tests, displacements, pore pressures, failure.
Geotechnical sampling in deep water using a tensioned conductor pipe-casing and weighted footblock
Authors: Yan H. T.
Published: February 2009

A drilling system is described for geotechnical exploration and soil sampling in the seabed, modelled after the concept of the marine riser pipe. The system derives its stability from a "tensioning weight," in the form of a cylindrical concrete block at the bottom, which keeps the conductor pipe in tension at all times. The axial tension from the tensioning weight and the self-weight of the conductor pipe substantially reduce the bending effects in the conductor pipe resulting from current and wave forces, as well as from the drift of the drilling vessel. The lateral reaction required to keep the pipe in place at the sea floor is provided by a concrete footblock. The bottom end of the conductor pipe slides into the footblock, which has a doughnut-shaped cross section that allows for the vertical movement or heave of the drilling vessel. The Hermitian equation is used to solve for the secondary effects due to the deformation of the flexible conductor under wave or current forces and the self-weight of the conductor pipe. The system has been used successfully on the Grand Banks in 122 m of water. Keywords: geotechnical exploration, sampling, deep water drilling, marine riser analogy, tensioning weight.
Effect of air-drying and critical point drying on the porosity of clay soils
Authors: Kimpe C. R. De
Published: February 2009

Samples from four surface and one subsurface horizons of clay-rich soils from Quebec were air-dried and critical point dried. In the latter samples, the total pore volume was 19–84% larger than in the former samples. The total pore volume, determined by mercury intrusion porosimetry and density measurements, was subdivided into large (> 8.8 μm), medium, and small (< 0.19 μm) pores. The effect of drying on these pores was estimated. Medium-sized pores were affected most by the drying technique, followed next by the large pores, and finally by the small pores. The modifications due to drying could not be explained adequately by shrinkage and it was assumed, from the pore-size distribution curves, that organic matter content had a buffer effect on particle reorganization. Keywords: critical point drying, clay soils, pore volume, pore-size distribution, organic matter.
Microbial genesis, life and death in glacial iceThis article is one of a selection of papers in the Special Issue on Polar and Alpine Microbiology.
Authors: Price P. Buford
Published: February 2009

Arguments are given that terrestrial RNA and DNA may have originated in a frozen environment more than 4 billion years ago. Scenarios are developed for atmospheric transport of microbes onto glacial ice, their adaptation to subzero temperatures in the ice, and their incorporation into one of three habitats — liquid veins, mineral grain surfaces, or isolated inside 1 of the crystals that make up polycrystalline ice. The Arrhenius dependence of microbial metabolic rate on temperature is shown to match that required to repair damage owing to spontaneous DNA depurination and amino acid racemization. Even for the oldest glacial ice, microbial lifetime is shown not to be shortened by radiation damage from 238U, 232Th, or 40K in mineral dust in ice, by phage-induced lysis, or by penetrating cosmic radiation. Instead, death of those cells adapted to the hostile conditions in glacial ice is probably due to exhaustion of available nutrients. By contrast, in permafrost microbial death is more likely due to α-particle radiation damage from U and Th in the soil and rocks intermixed with ice. For residence times in ice longer than a million years, spore formers may be unable to compete in longevity with vegetative cells that are able to repair DNA damage via survival metabolism.
Evidence Based Acupuncture Practice Recommendations for Peripheral Facial Paralysis
Authors: Zheng Hui , Li Ying , Chen Min
Published: February 2009

The objective is to analyze the treatment used in relatively high quality randomized controlled trials to identify any similarities of therapeutic approaches and subsequently present recommendations for a standard acupuncture procedure for the treatment of peripheral facial paralysis (PFP). We searched Chinese and English language literatures through MEDLINE (January 1966 to October 2007), EMbase (January 1980 to October 2007), Chinese Biomedical Database (January 1978 to October 2007) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (January 1979 to October 2007) for randomized controlled trials. With independent assessment by 2 observers, 33 of 386 originally identified articles were finally included. The extracted information from these articles was focused on the selection of meridians and acupoints, types of stimulation and duration of treatment. On the whole, when treating PFP, the best acupoints options are Dicang (ST4), Xiaguan (ST7), Jiache (ST6), Chengjiang (CV24), Yingxiang (LI20), Quanliao (SI18), Yifeng (TE17), Yangbai (GB14), Sibai (ST2), Fengchi (GB20), Shuigou (GV26), Yuyao (EX-HN4) and Hegu (LI4). Manual stimulation or electro-acupuncture combined with moxibustion is recommended. Moreover, the suggested duration of acupuncture treatment refers to once a day, 10 times for each course, 2 to 5 days as courses interval, and 20 to 40 treatments in total.
In vitro Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and Anti-Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Activity of Phellodendron amurense Rupr. from China
Authors: Wang Wei , Zu Yuangang , Fu Yujie , Reichling Jürgen , Suschke Ulrike , Nokemper Silke , Zhang Yuhong
Published: February 2009

Phellodendron amurense Rupr. bark extracts were examined for antioxidant activity, antimicrobial activity and antiviral activity on herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Ethanol extract showed higher content of both total phenolic and flavonoid than aqueous extract. In DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay, the concentration providing 50% inhibition (IC50) values were 6.73 ± 0.87 mg/ml and 4.26 ± 0.59 mg/ml for aqueous and ethanol extracts respectively. Ethanol extract had a much higher antimicrobial activity than aqueous extract. Furthermore, the antiviral activity of the ethanol extract on HSV-1 was also tested. The maximum noncytotoxic concentration was 44.12 μg/ml for RC-37 cells. Plaque formation was inhibited by 74±6% when HSV-1 was pretreated with the extract prior to adsorption, whereas pretreatment of the cells with the extract, added during adsorption or after the adsorption only exhibited above 10% antiviral effect. This study has to some extent validated the medicinal potential of P. amurense bark.
Therapeutic Effect of Puerarin on Non-Alcoholic Rat Fatty Liver by Improving Leptin Signal Transduction through JAK2/STAT3 Pathways
Authors: Zheng Peiyong , Ji Guang , Ma Zansong , Liu Tao , Xin Lianjun , Wu Hongzhong , Liang Xin , Liu Jianwen
Published: February 2009

In order to investigate the mechanism of the therapeutic effect of puerarin on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a non-alcoholic fatty disease male rat model was induced by a high fat diet, all rats were randomly divided into a blank group, model group, simavastatin group and puerarin group. After 4 weeks of drug treatment, the liver was slided to investigate pathological morphology. Elisa was used to measure the total cholesterol (TC), triglyeride (TG) in liver, and leptin content in serum. RT-PCR and Western blotting were employed to detect liver leptin mRNA receptor expression and P-JAK2, P-STAT3 expression levels in the liver respectively. The results showed that puerarin significantly decreased the TG, TC content in liver of the non-alcoholic fatty disease rats, ameliorated steatosis in liver, lowered liver inflammatory reaction, decreased leptin level in serum, and enhanced the expression of leptin receptor mRNA and P-JAK2/P-STAT3 level. All the results demonstrated that puerarin can exhibit therapeutic effect on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by improving leptin signal transduction through JAK2/STAT3 pathways.
Anti-Enterovirus 71 Activity Screening of Chinese Herbs with Anti-Infection and Inflammation Activities
Authors: Lin Tzou-Yien , Liu Yi-Chun , Jheng Jia-Rong , Tsai Hui-Ping , Jan Jia-Tsrong , Wong Wen-Rou , Horng Jim-Tong
Published: February 2009

Antipyretic and toxin-eliminating traditional Chinese herbs are believed to possess antiviral activity. In this study, we screened extracts of 22 herbs for activity against enterovirus 71 (EV71). We found that only extracts of Houttuynia cordata Thunb. could neutralize EV71-induced cytopathic effects in Vero cells. The 50% inhibitory concentration of H. cordata extract for EV71 was 125.92 ± 27.84 μg/ml. Antiviral screening of herb extracts was also conducted on 3 genotypes of EV71, coxsackievirus A16 and echovirus 9. H. cordata extract had the highest activity against genotype A of EV71. A plaque reduction assay showed that H. cordata extract significantly reduced plaque formation. Viral protein expression, viral RNA synthesis and virus-induced caspase 3 activation were inhibited in the presence of H. cordata extract, suggesting that it affected apoptotic processes in EV71-infected Vero cells by inhibiting viral replication. The antiviral activity of H. cordata extract was greater in cells pretreated with extract than those treated after infection. We conclude that H. cordata extract has antiviral activity, and it offers a potential to develop a new anti-EV71 agent.
Estrogen Activities and the Cellular Effects of Natural Progesterone from Wild Yam Extract in MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Park Mi-Kyung , Kwon Hyeok-Yi , Ahn Woong-Shick , Bae Sumi , Rhyu Mee-Ra , Lee YoungJoo
Published: February 2009

We studied the estrogenic activity and cellular effect of wild yam extract in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. The extract increased the activity of the progesterone receptor and pS2 genes at the mRNA levels in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells, although the effects were not as prominent as those of 17β-estradiol (E2). Western blot analysis showed that the level of estrogen receptor α protein was down-regulated after treatment with E2 or wild yam extract. Wild yam extract also inhibited proliferation of MCF-7 cells. These data indicate that wild yam extract acts as a weak phytoestrogen and protects against proliferation in human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells.