bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combination Pharmacotherapy for Achievement and Maintenance of Vascular Patency
Authors: Pancioli Arthur M.
Published: December 2008

Acute ischemic stroke results from an abrupt interruption of focal cerebral blood flow. In the majority of cases, this interruption is caused by an acute thromboembolism. Arising from the clinical trials in acute myocardial infarction, combination pharmacotherapy is gaining significant interest as a potential method to improve current thrombolytic treatment in acute ischemic stroke. This article reviews the scientific rationale and available evidence for the potential options to improve current pharmacologic therapy for achieving and maintaining vascular patency in acute ischemic stroke.
Use of Imaging in Restorative Stroke Trials
Authors: Cramer Steven C.
Published: December 2008

Restorative therapies aim to improve behavioral outcome after stroke by promoting repair and restoration. Measures of CNS injury and function might be useful to evaluate such therapies in a clinical trial, for example, by optimizing patient selection or treatment dose. These issues are considered in this review, with specific examples provided.
Cell Therapy for Stroke
Authors: Borlongan Cesar V.
Published: December 2008

Background and Purpose—

Stroke remains a significant clinical unmet condition, with only 3% of ischemic patient population benefiting from the thrombolytic drug tissue plasminogen activator largely because of the drug’s narrow 3-hour therapeutic window. Extending the stroke therapeutic window will greatly impact on treatment, care, and management of patients.

Summary of Review—

Cell therapy is appealing in this regard as it widens the stroke treatment opportunity by targeting the neurorestorative phase (ie, several hours to days and even weeks or months after stroke). Although compelling preclinical evidence reveals that transplantation of stem/progenitor cells is safe and effective in animal models of stroke, the laboratory data need to be evaluated on their translational relevance for clinical application. In addressing this issue, I borrow heavily from the conference proceedings of the 2007 STEPS (Stem Cell Therapeutics as an Emerging Paradigm in Stroke).

Conclusions—

Translational research guidelines are being adapted by academic institutes, industry, National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and adhering to these preclinical criteria will provide the basis for advancing cell therapy in stroke from the laboratory to the clinic.
Astrocytes and Ischemic Injury
Authors: Takano Takahiro , Oberheim NancyAnn , Cotrina Maria Luisa , Nedergaard Maiken
Published: December 2008

Ischemic injury is traditionally viewed from an axiomatic perspective of neuronal loss. Yet the ischemic infarct encompasses all cell types, including astrocytes. This review will discuss the idea that astrocytes play a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of ischemic neuronal death. It is proposed that stroke injury is primarily a consequence of the failure of astrocytes to support the essential metabolic needs of neurons. This “gliocentric view” of stroke injury predicts that pharmacological interventions specifically targeting neurons are unlikely to succeed, because it is not feasible to preserve neuronal viability in an environment that fails to meet essential metabolic requirements. Neuroprotective efforts targeting the functional integrity of astrocytes may constitute a superior strategy for future neuroprotection.
Whole Genome Approaches in Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Meschia James F.
Published: December 2008

Background and Purpose—

The field of ischemic stroke genetics is moving beyond candidate gene studies into the realm of genomewide association studies. Such studies have resulted in discoveries in diverse, complex disorders.

Methods—

The author conducted an informal qualitative review of peer-reviewed medical literature.

Results—

The power of genomewide association studies to confirm prior associations and establish new ones is illustrated by recent work focusing on type 2 diabetes mellitus. A pilot genomewide association study of ischemic stroke failed to identify a single gene of major effect.

Conclusions—

Follow-up studies with substantially greater statistical power are essential and are being planned by the Wellcome Trust and others.
Amphetamine Trials and Tribulations
Authors: Goldstein Larry B.
Published: December 2008

Background—

Laboratory experiments conducted since the 1940s show that amphetamine combined with task-relevant experience improves postbrain injury behavioral outcomes. Several small clinical trials evaluated the approach as a means of improving poststroke recovery.

Results of Review—

In laboratory studies, the effect of amphetamine on recovery depends on the location and extent of brain injury, the dosing and timing of amphetamine, and the type, intensity, and timing of concomitant behavioral training. The small clinical trials conducted to date vary considerably in critical aspects of their designs and are largely negative.

Conclusion—

The question of whether
d
-amphetamine combined with physiotherapy is of any clinical value remains unanswered.
Dysfunctional Cell-Cell Signaling in the Neurovascular Unit as a Paradigm for Central Nervous System Disease
Authors: Guo Shuzhen , Lo Eng H.
Published: December 2008

The fundamental premise of neuroprotection has historically focused on the prevention of neuronal death. However, despite tremendous advances in the molecular biology of intraneuronal mechanisms and pathways, a clinically effective neuroprotectant does not yet exist. This problem is especially clear for stroke, for which a large number of neuroprotection trials have failed. The concept of the neurovascular unit emphasizes that cell-cell signaling among the various neuronal, glial, and vascular compartments underlies the homeostasis of normal brain function. Conversely, dysfunctional signaling within the neurovascular unit should contribute to disease. This minireview surveys recent data that support this basic idea, with examples drawn from experimental models broadly relevant to stroke and neurodegeneration.
‘Tongue Has No Bone’
Authors: Kar Bodhisattva
Published: December 2008

This article deals with the politics of envisioning a vernacular for Assam proper during the nineteenth and early twentieth century. Through a small, connected history of orthographic contests, grammarians’ debates and print-culture, it tries to understand the various ways in and through which the boundaries of a vernacular were drawn, policed and violated during this period. Rather than narrating the complexities of the question in terms of stable and ever-present languages, this article attempts to show how the metropolis-oriented production of linguistic knowledge came to hypostatize an abstract grid of standard languages within which the mutable, heterogeneous and fluctuating speech practices (and the corresponding scribal culture) of a frontier province had to be definitively mobilized. The article explores the debates regarding the alleged dialectal status of the ‘Assamese’ and traces some connections between spatial sequence, linguistic imagination and proprietorial logic.
BBC gets its numbers right
Authors: Cole John
Published: December 2008

The former BBC political editor defends the Corporation against accusations of overstaffing, especially in terms of team sent to cover major events. The BBC is nowhere near as profligate as the press would be if required to send technicians as well as journalists on assignments, he argues, and insists that broadcasters work harder: "Licence fee-payers can sleep easily in their beds. The BBC extracts its pound of flesh all right."
Sense of coherence and coping in adolescents directly affected by the 1991—5 war in Croatia
Authors: Ebina Ryoko , Yamazaki Yoshihiko
Published: December 2008

This study was guided by the salutogenic model, and aimed to: 1. describe the social contexts of stronger and weaker SOC (sense of coherence) participants who were adolescents or entering adulthood in the war-affected regions in Croatia, and 2. identify how the levels of SOC related to their responses to the stressors in their social context.

Qualitative longitudinal study design and methods were used for the analysis. In-depth semi-structured interviews, participant observations and SOC scale were carried out, and data were collected from 17 female participants twice during two years.

The general social context of the participants was summarized with published materials on the similar subjects and analysis of the field-notes and the participants' narratives. In the analysis of the qualitative data, comparisons were made between the three SOC levels (low, middle, high levels categorized with SOC scores), relating to the participants' self-described social contexts. Childhood stability, acceptance of own ethnic identity, management of uncertainty, and the meanings of work emerged as the responses and resources that may influence SOC.

How Ottawa Charter health promotion strategies can be adapted in the post-conflict regions is discussed and priorities of addressing strategies are suggested. The discussion points include: 1. the importance of re-orienting health services and creating supportive environments from the aspects of building the secure base of children and promoting health of the next generation; 2. the required personal skills that enabled adolescents to exercise control and make choices conducive to health in a social context of the a war-related turbulent society; 3. the needs for building healthy public policies to tackle unemployment and strengthening community action to rebuild social capital through work revenues. (Promot Educ, 2008; 15 (4): pp. 5-10)
A role delineation study of health educators in the United States: methodological innovations
Authors: Taub Alyson , Olsen Larry K. , Gilmore Gary D. , Connell David
Published: December 2008

This paper focuses on methodological innovations used in the National Health Educator Competencies Update Project (CUP) in the United States. The CUP was a six-year research study designed to delineate the role of the health educator in the USA. Individuals who self-identified as health educators were included in the study. To provide context, the background for the research is presented, followed by a brief overview of the research process. Some of the key methodological innovations discussed are: selecting a representative sample when the total population of those working as health educators was not easily identified or readily accessible; assessing response methodology preferences through pilot studies; enhancing the response rate through accurate, up-to-date mailing lists and incentives; and exploring new approaches to large-scale data analyses. Insights gained are included for other researchers who may wish to undertake similar studies or draw from the CUP dataset for secondary analyses. (Promot Educ, 2008; 15 (4): 38-43)
Police Relations with Black and White Youths in Different Urban Neighborhoods
Authors: Brunson Rod K. , Weitzer Ronald
Published: December 2008

Much of the research on police—citizen relations has focused on adults, not youth. Given that adolescents and particularly young males are more likely than adults to have involuntary and adversarial contacts with police officers, it is especially important to investigate their experiences with and perceptions of the police. This article examines the accounts of young Black and White males who reside in one of three disadvantaged St. Louis, Missouri, neighborhoods— one predominantly Black, one predominantly White, and the other racially mixed. In-depth interviews were conducted with the youths, and the authors' analysis centers on the ways in which both race and neighborhood context influence young males' orientations toward the police.
The lessons of `Enron'
Authors: Williams James W.
Published: December 2008

While the novelty of Enron and WorldCom as corporate scandals should not be overstated, these events are distinguished by the sheer volume of media coverage that followed in their wake. Drawing from an analysis of over 300 newspaper and magazine articles, this article argues that while this media coverage varies in its diagnosis of the scandals, it is rooted in a common set of taken-for-granted assumptions as to the nature, form, and operation of financial markets. These various points of complementarity suggest that the coverage of the scandals is less significant as an exercise in collective sense-making than as a re-investment in a particular market discourse, a form of financial intelligibility germane to the scandals themselves and instructive vis-à-vis the future study of corporate and white-collar crime.
Liar, a novel Lyn-binding nuclear/cytoplasmic shuttling protein that influences erythropoietin-induced differentiation
Authors: Samuels Amy L. , Klinken S. Peter , Ingley Evan
Published: December 2008

Erythropoiesis is primarily controlled by erythropoietin (Epo), which stimulates proliferation, differentiation, and survival of erythroid precursors. We have previously shown that the tyrosine kinase Lyn is critical for transducing differentiation signals emanating from the activated Epo receptor. A yeast 2-hybrid screen for downstream effectors of Lyn identified a novel protein, Liar (Lyn-interacting ankyrin repeat), which forms a multiprotein complex with Lyn and HS1 in erythroid cells. Interestingly, 3 of the ankyrin repeats of Liar define a novel SH3 binding region for Lyn and HS1. Liar also contains functional nuclear localization and nuclear export sequences and shuttles rapidly between the nucleus and cytoplasm. Ectopic expression of Liar inhibited the differentiation of normal erythroid progenitors, as well as immortalized erythroid cells. Significantly, Liar affected Epo-activated signaling molecules including Erk2, STAT5, Akt, and Lyn. These results show that Liar is a novel Lyn-interacting molecule that plays an important role in regulating intracellular signaling events associated with erythroid terminal differentiation.
Selective roles for antiapoptotic MCL-1 during granulocyte development and macrophage effector function
Authors: Steimer Desiree A. , Boyd Kelli , Takeuchi Osamu , Fisher Jill K. , Zambetti Gerard P. , Opferman Joseph T.
Published: December 2008

During hematopoiesis, myeloid cell leukemia-1 (MCL-1) mediates the survival of bone marrow progenitors and lymphocytes. However, its requirement during myeloid cell differentiation, development, and effector function is less clear. Lineage-specific deletion of MCL-1 in myeloid precursors results in neutropenia due to death during differentiation. The loss of mature neutrophils induced by Mcl-1 deletion was not rescued by genetic deletion of proapoptotic Bim and Puma or by exogenous cytokine treatment. However, blockade of intrinsic apoptosis by lineage-specific deletion of both multidomain proapoptotics Bax and Bak was capable of rescuing the neutropenia associated with Mcl-1 deletion. In the monocytic lineage, despite efficient Mcl-1 deletion, monocytes and macrophages undergo normal development. During the phagocytosis of extracellular bacteria, macrophages concomitantly increase the expression of both MCL-1 and BIM. However, Mcl-1–deficient macrophages exhibit increased sensitivity to death during bacterial phagocytosis that can be abolished by codeletion of Bim. These data suggest that MCL-1 may be necessary to antagonize BIM during macrophage effector responses. Thus, MCL-1 plays selective roles in myeloid development, being required for neutrophil development and setting the threshold for apoptosis during a macrophage effector response.
Loss of red cell chemokine scavenging promotes transfusion-related lung inflammation
Authors: Mangalmurti Nilam S. , Xiong Zeyu , Hulver Mei , Ranganathan Mrunalini , Liu Xiang Hong , Oriss Timothy , Fitzpatrick Meghan , Rubin Marc , Triulzi Darrell , Choi Augustine , Lee Janet S.
Published: December 2008

Red cell transfusions are associated with the development of acute lung injury in the critically ill. Recent evidence suggests that storage induced alterations of the red blood cell (RBC) collectively termed the “storage lesion” may be linked with adverse biologic consequences. Using a 2-event model of systemic endotoxemia followed by a secondary challenge of RBC transfusion, we investigated whether purified RBC concentrates from syngeneic C57BL/6 mice altered inflammatory responses in murine lungs. Transfusion of RBCs stored for 10 days increased neutrophil counts, macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and chemokine (KC) concentrations in the airspaces, and lung microvascular permeability compared with transfusion of less than 1-day-old RBCs. Because RBCs have been shown to scavenge inflammatory chemokines through the blood group Duffy antigen, we investigated the expression and function of Duffy during storage. In banked human RBCs, both Duffy expression and chemokine scavenging function were reduced with increasing duration of storage. Transfusion of Duffy knockout RBCs into Duffy wild-type en-dotoxemic mice increased airspace neutrophils, inflammatory cytokine concentrations, and lung microvascular permeability compared with transfusion of Duffy wild-type RBCs. Thus, reduction in erythrocyte chemokine scavenging is one functional consequence of the storage lesion by which RBC transfusion can augment existing lung inflammation.
Transcriptome analysis of mammary epithelial subpopulations identifies novel determinants of lineage commitment and cell fate
Authors: Kendrick Howard , Regan Joseph L , Magnay Fiona-Ann , Grigoriadis Anita , Mitsopoulos Costas , Zvelebil Marketa , Smalley Matthew J
Published: December 2008

Background

Understanding the molecular control of cell lineages and fate determination in complex tissues is key to not only understanding the developmental biology and cellular homeostasis of such tissues but also for our understanding and interpretation of the molecular pathology of diseases such as cancer. The prerequisite for such an understanding is detailed knowledge of the cell types that make up such tissues, including their comprehensive molecular characterisation. In the mammary epithelium, the bulk of the tissue is composed of three cell lineages, namely the basal/myoepithelial, luminal epithelial estrogen receptor positive and luminal epithelial estrogen receptor negative cells. However, a detailed molecular characterisation of the transcriptomic differences between these three populations has not been carried out.

Results

A whole transcriptome analysis of basal/myoepithelial cells, luminal estrogen receptor negative cells and luminal estrogen receptor positive cells isolated from the virgin mouse mammary epithelium identified 861, 326 and 488 genes as highly differentially expressed in the three cell types, respectively. Network analysis of the transcriptomic data identified a subpopulation of luminal estrogen receptor negative cells with a novel potential role as non-professional immune cells. Analysis of the data for potential paracrine interacting factors showed that the basal/myoepithelial cells, remarkably, expressed over twice as many ligands and cell surface receptors as the other two populations combined. A number of transcriptional regulators were also identified that were differentially expressed between the cell lineages. One of these,Sox6, was specifically expressed in luminal estrogen receptor negative cells and functional assays confirmed that it maintained mammary epithelial cells in a differentiated luminal cell lineage.

Conclusion

The mouse mammary epithelium is composed of three main cell types with distinct gene expression patterns. These suggest the existence of a novel functional cell type within the gland, that the basal/myoepithelial cells are key regulators of paracrine signalling and that there is a complex network of differentially expressed transcription factors controlling mammary epithelial cell fate. These data will form the basis for understanding not only cell fate determination and cellular homeostasis in the normal mammary epithelium but also the contribution of different mammary epithelial cell types to the etiology and molecular pathology of breast disease.
Congenital diaphragamatic hernia associated with aortic coarctation: a case report
Authors: Okawada Manabu , Yanai Toshihiro , Yamataka Atsuyuki , Okazaki Tadaharu , Kobayashi Hiroyuki , Kawasaki Shiori , Lane Geoffrey J , Miyano Takeshi
Published: December 2008

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia associated with cardiac anomalies is a major therapeutic challenge. We report a case of Congenital diaphragmatic hernia associated with coarctation of the aorta.
UXO detection and identification based on intrinsic target polarizabilities — A case history
Authors: Gasperikova Erika , Smith J. Torquil , Morrison H. Frank , Becker Alex , Kappler Karl
Published: December 2008

Electromagnetic induction data parameterized in time-dependent object intrinsic polarizabilities can discriminate unexploded ordnance (UXO) from false targets (scrap metal). Data from a cart-mounted system designed to discriminate UXO of [Formula: see text] in diameter are used. Discriminating UXO from irregular scrap metal is based on the principal dipole polarizabilities of a target. Nearly intact UXO displays a single major polarizability coincident with the long axis of the object and two equal, smaller transverse polarizabilities, whereas metal scraps have distinct polarizability signatures that rarely mimic those of elongated symmetric bodies. Based on a training data set of known targets, objects were identified by estimating the probability that an object is a single UXO. Our test survey took place on a military base where [Formula: see text] mortar shells and scrap metal were present. We detected and correctly discriminated all [Formula: see text] mortars, and in that process we added 7% and 17%, respectively, of dry holes (digging scrap) to the total number of excavations in two different survey modes. We also demonstrated a mode of operation that might be more cost effective than current practice.
Randomized Controlled Trial of Resistance or Aerobic Exercise in Men Receiving Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer
Authors: Segal Roanne J. , Reid Robert D. , Courneya Kerry S. , Sigal Ronald J. , Kenny Glen P. , Prud'Homme Denis G. , Malone Shawn C. , Wells George A. , Scott Chris G. , Slovinec D'Angelo Monika E.
Published: December 2008

Purpose

Radiotherapy for prostate cancer (PCa) may cause unfavorable changes in fatigue, quality of life (QOL), and physical fitness. We report results from the Prostate Cancer Radiotherapy and Exercise Versus Normal Treatment study examining the effects of 24 weeks of resistance or aerobic training versus usual care on fatigue, QOL, physical fitness, body composition, prostate-specific antigen, testosterone, hemoglobin, and lipid levels in men with PCa receiving radiotherapy.

Patients and Methods

Between 2003 and 2006, we conducted a randomized controlled trial in Ottawa, Canada, where 121 PCa patients initiating radiotherapy with or without androgen deprivation therapy were randomly assigned to usual care (n = 41), resistance (n = 40), or aerobic exercise (n = 40) for 24 weeks. Our primary end point was fatigue assessed by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Fatigue scale.

Results

The follow-up assessment rate for our primary end point of fatigue was 92.6%. Median adherence to prescribed exercise was 85.5%. Mixed-model repeated measures analyses indicated both resistance (P =.010) and aerobic exercise (P = .004) mitigated fatigue over the short term. Resistance exercise also produced longer-term improvements (P = .002). Compared with usual care, resistance training improved QOL (P = .015), aerobic fitness (P = .041), upper- (P < .001) and lower-body (P < .001) strength, and triglycerides (P = .036), while preventing an increase in body fat (P = .049). Aerobic training also improved fitness (P = .052). One serious adverse event occurred in the group that performed aerobic exercise.

Conclusion

In the short term, both resistance and aerobic exercise mitigated fatigue in men with PCa receiving radiotherapy. Resistance exercise generated longer-term improvements and additional benefits for QOL, strength, triglycerides, and body fat.
Prognostic Value of Minimal Residual Disease Quantification Before Allogeneic Stem-Cell Transplantation in Relapsed Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: The ALL-REZ BFM Study Group
Authors: Bader Peter , Kreyenberg Hermann , Henze Günter H.R. , Eckert Cornelia , Reising Miriam , Willasch Andre , Barth Andrea , Borkhardt Arndt , Peters Christina , Handgretinger Rupert , Sykora Karl-Walter , Holter Wolfgang , Kabisch Hartmut , Klingebiel Thomas , von Stackelberg Arend
Published: December 2008

Purpose

Minimal residual disease (MRD) before allogeneic stem-cell transplantation was shown to predict outcome in children with relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in retrospective analysis. To verify this, the Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Relapse Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster (ALL-REZ BFM) Study Group conducted a prospective trial.

Patients and Methods

Between March 1999 and July 2005, 91 children with relapsed ALL treated according to the ALL-REZ BFM 96 or 2002 protocols and receiving stem-cell transplantation in ≥ second remission were enrolled. MRD quantification was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction using T-cell receptor and immunoglobulin gene rearrangements.

Results

Probability of event-free survival (pEFS) and cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) in 45 patients with MRD ≥ 10−4 leukemic cells was 0.27 and 0.57 compared with 0.60 and 0.13 in 46 patients with MRD less than 10−4 leukemic cells (EFS, P = .004; CIR, P < .001). Intermediate-risk patients (strategic group S1) with MRD ≥ 10−4 leukemic cells (n = 14) had a pEFS of 0.20 and CIR of 0.73, whereas patients with MRD less than 10−4 leukemic cells (n = 21) had a pEFS of 0.68 and CIR of 0.09 (EFS, P = .020; CIR, P < .001). High-risk patients (S3/4, third complete remission) who received transplantation with an MRD load of less than 10−4 leukemic cells (n = 25) showed a pEFS and CRI of 0.53 and 0.18, respectively. In contrast, pEFS and CRI were 0.30 and 0.50 in patients who received transplantation with an MRD load of ≥ 10−4 leukemic cells. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed MRD as the only independent parameter predictive for EFS (P = .006).

Conclusion

MRD is an important predictor for post-transplantation outcome. As a result, new strategies with modified stem-cell transplantation procedures will be evaluated in ALL-BFM trials.
Ductal Carcinoma in Situ: State of the Science and Roadmap to Advance the Field
Authors: Kuerer Henry M. , Albarracin Constance T. , Yang Wei T. , Cardiff Robert D. , Brewster Abenaa M. , Symmans W. Fraser , Hylton Nola M. , Middleton Lavinia P. , Krishnamurthy Savitri , Perkins George H. , Babiera Gildy , Edgerton Mary E. , Czerniecki Brian J. , Arun Banu K. , Hortobagyi Gabriel N.
Published: December 2008

Purpose

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is the fourth leading cancer for women in the United States. Understanding of the biology and clinical behavior of DCIS is imperfect. This article highlights the current knowledge base and the scientific roadmap needed to advance the field.

Methods

This article is based on work done by and consultations obtained from leading experts in the field over a 6-month period that culminated in a full-day symposium designed to systematically review the most pertinent MEDLINE published reports and develop a roadmap to elucidate the molecular steps of carcinogenesis, reduce the extent or prevent the need for therapies, eliminate recurrences, and reduce morbidity.

Results

Expression profiling of pure DCIS will help elucidate the molecular characteristics that distinguish high-risk lesions from clinically irrelevant lesions. The development of new methods of extracting RNA from processed tissues may provide opportunities for research. Mammography often underestimates the pathologic extent of DCIS; other imaging methods need to be investigated for detection and monitoring of disease stability or progression. Novel biologic agents are being delivered in neoadjuvant clinical trials, and alternative methods for breast irradiation are being studied. Future trials of treatment versus no treatment for biologically selected cases of DCIS should be developed.

Conclusion

There is a critical need for a concerted international effort among patients with DCIS, clinicians, and basic scientists to conduct the research necessary to improve fundamental understanding of the biology and clinical behavior of DCIS and prevent development of invasive breast cancer.
Intensive Multimodality Treatment for Children With Newly Diagnosed CNS Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumor
Authors: Chi Susan N. , Zimmerman Mary Ann , Yao Xiaopan , Cohen Kenneth J. , Burger Peter , Biegel Jaclyn A. , Rorke-Adams Lucy B. , Fisher Michael J. , Janss Anna , Mazewski Claire , Goldman Stewart , Manley Peter E. , Bowers Daniel C. , Bendel Anne , Rubin Joshua , Turner Christopher D. , Marcus Karen J. , Goumnerova Liliana , Ullrich Nicole J. , Kieran Mark W.
Published: December 2008

Purpose

Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT) of the CNS is a highly malignant neoplasm primarily affecting young children, with a historic median survival ranging from 6 to 11 months. Based on a previous pilot series, a prospective multi-institutional trial was conducted for patients with newly diagnosed CNS ATRT.

Patients and Methods

Treatment was divided into five phases: preirradiation, chemoradiation, consolidation, maintenance, and continuation therapy. Intrathecal chemotherapy was administered, alternating intralumbar and intraventricular routes. Radiation therapy (RT) was prescribed, either focal (54 Gy) or craniospinal (36 Gy, plus primary boost), depending on age and extent of disease at diagnosis.

Results

Between 2004 and 2006, 25 patients were enrolled; 20 were eligible for evaluation. Median age at diagnosis was 26 months (range, 2.4 months to 19.5 years). Gross total resection of the primary tumor was achieved in 11 patients. Fourteen patients had M0 disease at diagnosis, one patient had M2 disease, and five patients had M3 disease. Fifteen patients received radiation therapy: 11 focal and four craniospinal. Significant toxicities, in addition to the expected, included radiation recall (n = 2) and transverse myelitis (n = 1). There was one toxic death. Of the 12 patients who were assessable for chemotherapeutic response (pre-RT), the objective response rate was 58%. The objective response rate observed after RT was 38%. The 2-year progression-free and overall survival rates are 53% ± 13% and 70% ± 10%, respectively. Median overall survival has not yet been reached.

Conclusion

This intensive multimodality regimen has resulted in a significant improvement in time to progression and overall survival for patients with this previously poor-prognosis tumor.
Measurement for strain distribution and material flow in forging by the lantern ring screw method
Authors: Li F , Yuan S J , Wang X S
Published: December 2008

A new method for observing material flow and measurement of plastic strain during metal forming process was proposed and validated by using a forging experiment. A specimen assembled by machined threaded screw rings was used in the experiment and the deformed specimen was cut along the cross-section. The deformed screw/matrix interfaces on the section were observed and measured by using a microscope. The plastic strain on the screw interfaces was calculated by the change of screw pitch. The experimental results and numerical simulation showed good agreement. The main advantages of this method are that it can be used to analyse metal flow behaviour without substituting matrix material and it can provide quantitative results.
Strain-rate-dependent forming limit diagrams for sheet metals
Authors: Gerdooei M , Dariani B M
Published: December 2008

Forming limit diagrams (FLDs) appear as one of the most applicable methods used for prediction of the instability in sheet metal forming. In this paper, the effects of strain rate on FLDs are analytically investigated over a wide range of strain rate (0.01/s—500/s). In order to obtain the strain-rate-dependent FLDs with the aid of imperfection concept, the motion equations (instead of equilibrium equations) are employed. Furthermore, in this study the critical strains, in plane strain loading, are numerically determined with respect to the principal strain rates at different material constants. For materials following the widely used Johnson—Cook constitutive law, the thermal softening due to the adiabatic conditions is taken into account. The results show that after a certain critical strain rate, by increasing the strain rate, localized necking is retarded and formability of sheet improves monotonically because of inertia effects. Finally, the comparison between numerical and available experimental FLDs for oxygen-free high conductivity (OFHC) copper is presented. This comparison shows that the theoretical results are in good agreement with the experimental observations.
Effect of wood species and glue type on contact stresses in a mortise and tenon joint
Authors: Smardzewski J
Published: December 2008

New technologies for wood building construction continue to employ various profile-adhesive joints, with mortise and tenon joints being the most popular. Their strength depends both on the wood species and type of the applied glue, as well as the execution accuracy of individual elements. The aim of the performed experiments was to determine the size of normal stresses in places of mutual pressures of the tenon and mortise and the impact of the change of wood species and the type of glue (or lack of glue) applied to the joint on the value of those stresses. It was established, on the basis of numerical calculations, that the phenomena of the tenon and mortise contact are caused both by the bending of the tenon as well as by the torsion of the glue bond. Stresses in the direction perpendicular to the fibre course generating pressures exceeding wood compression strength turned out to be the most dangerous for the tenon and mortise joint. The value of the linear elasticity modulus of the glue bond exerts a decisive influence on the stress values caused by the mutual pressures of the elements of the examined joint.
Efficient optimization method for noisy responses of mechanical systems
Authors: Kim M-S , Kim C-W , Kim J-H , Choi J H
Published: December 2008

To optimize the noisy and computationally expensive mechanical system, a new conservative response surface modelling method is introduced, in which the duality theory is used to directly represent the over- or underestimation behaviours of the approximated response surface models. Although, the incomplete small composite designs are newly proposed to reduce the number of experimental runs, it may induce rank-deficiency in the normal equation. Thus, the singular-value decomposition is suggested to solve the normal equation. Then a sequential approximate optimization program is developed. To show the numerical performance two design problems are solved, such as a well-known gear reducer design problem and the tracked vehicle suspension system design. The test results show the efficiency of the proposed method.
Size minimization of disc cams with roller-followers under pressure angle constraint
Authors: Ji Z , Manna Y A
Published: December 2008

This paper presents a procedure for minimizing the size of roller-follower disc cam mechanisms under the constraint of maximum pressure angle. The pressure angle constraint is realized through establishing the permissible region for the cam centre. The problem of cam-size minimization is reduced to locate the cam centre at the intersection of boundary curves of the permissible region. Its implementation is illustrated through examples.
Mechanical design and motion analysis of a pick-and-place mechanism
Authors: Chiang Chin-Lung , Fung Rong-Fong
Published: December 2008

The purpose of this research is to propose a mechanical design and kinematic analysis for a pick-and-place mechanism (PPM), which is applied to automation equipments and press fabrication industries. To obtain all the possible dimensions of gear pairs, a programming software is developed by using Visual Basic (VB) language. From the path of motion, the geometric relationship between the planetary gear and internal gear will generate an approximate square path (ASP). By intercepting some portion of this ASP and utilizing one servomotor to drive the arm of the planetary gear, a new type of PPM is designed. To verify its performance, experiments and numerical simulations of motion analyses are performed and compared. The PPM could also be combined with other mechanisms to construct new systems with one input servomotor and multiple output manipulators.
Stacking sequence optimization of a composite cylindrical shell for vibrations by hybrid continuous optimization
Authors: Yas M H , Shakeri M , Khaksar N
Published: December 2008

In this paper, stacking sequence optimization of a laminated cylindrical shell for obtaining maximum natural frequency has been studied. The anisotropic cylindrical shell has finite length with simply supported conditions at both ends. Three-dimensional elasticity approaches are used to obtain the objective function. To perform optimization, a hybrid method, combining Tabu search (TS) and simplex search (SS) is used. TS allows the solution space to be widely covered. To stimulate the search towards solutions far from the current one, and to avoid the risk of being trapped into a local maximum, SS is used to accelerate the convergence towards a maximum. The Nelder—Mead simplex algorithm is a powerful classic local descent algorithm that does not use the objective function derivative. Therefore, the exploration is performed with a TS and then exploitation is done with a Nelder—Mead SS. Finally, in the numerical results, the efficiency of this combined approach has been demonstrated for a multi-layered composite cylindrical shell and compared with the pure global method.
A numerical investigation of the regeneration characteristics of diesel particulate filters under simulated transient exhaust conditions
Authors: Khan M R , Shamim T
Published: December 2008

Particulate emissions from diesel engines, which have hazardous effects on living beings and environment, can be controlled by employing diesel particulate filters (DPFs). The DPF cleans the exhaust by physical trapping of the particulates. A major challenge in developing a DPF with wider applications is its lower durability. The filter durability may be increased by careful design of regeneration (soot oxidation) strategies, which restrict the peak filter temperature to below 900–1000°C. The regeneration characteristics of a DPF under steady state conditions are well known. However, during a typical driving cycle, a DPF is subjected to various transient conditions owing to changes in driving modes. These transients result in fluctuations of exhaust flowrate, gas composition, and temperature, which strongly influence the DPF performance and regeneration characteristics. The objective of this paper is to investigate the thermal and catalytic fuel additive-assisted regeneration characteristics of a DPF computationally under simulated time-varying exhaust conditions. The time-varying conditions were simulated by considering sinusoidal modulations in exhaust gas temperature and the mass flowrate at the filter inlet. The study employed a one-dimensional mathematical model, which was validated with experimental measurements under different operating conditions. The results showed that the filter dynamic behaviour is different from that under steady state conditions, and it is strongly influenced by the soot loading and the exhaust flow characteristics. The imposed modulation is found to initiate soot oxidation at a lower mean temperature and thus to have a positive effect on the filter regeneration efficiency (soot oxidation rate) for both thermal and catalytic fuel additive-assisted regeneration mechanisms. The modulation effects are found to be important at low frequencies, which gradually disappear at higher frequencies.
Implementation of semi-active damping on a tri-axle heavy-vehicle suspension
Authors: Roebuck R L , Cebon D
Published: December 2008

A semi-active truck damper was developed in conjunction with a commercial shock absorber manufacturer. A linearized damper model was developed for control system design purposes. Open- and closed-loop damper force tracking control was implemented, with tests showing that an open-loop approach gave the best compromise between response speed and accuracy.

A hardware-in-the-loop test facility was used to investigate performance of the damper when combined with a simulated quarter-car model. The input to the vehicle model was a set of randomly generated road profiles, each profile traversed at an appropriate speed. Modified skyhook damping tests showed a simultaneous improvement over the optimum passive case of 13 per cent in vertical body acceleration and 8 per cent in dynamic tyre forces.

Full-scale vehicle tests of the damper on a heavy tri-axle trailer were carried out. Implementation of modified skyhook damping yielded a simultaneous improvement over the optimum passive case of 8 per cent in vertical body acceleration and 8 per cent in dynamic tyre forces.
Tyre—road friction estimation — a comparative study
Authors: Patel N , Edwards C , Spurgeon S K
Published: December 2008

This paper proposes a comparative study of three observers: a second-order sliding mode observer, a third-order sliding mode observer, and an adaptive observer. The observers are designed for tyre—road friction coefficient μ estimation during a braking manoeuvre in an automotive vehicle. The second-order sliding mode observer and the third-order sliding mode observer reconstruct the friction coefficient μ using equivalent output error injection ideas, while the adaptive observer uses explicit estimates of the road condition parameter as part of the scheme. The new second-order observer that is proposed in this paper is based on a quarter-vehicle representation and is independent of the model used to represent the tyre—road friction. The paper considers a dynamic LuGre friction model, a pseudostatic LuGre friction model, and a parameter-based friction model as a basis for a comparative study.
Design environment for structural design: Application to modern multideck ships
Authors: Zanic V , Andric J , Prebeg P
Published: December 2008

This paper presents a design environment capable of embedding multiple quality criteria for structural design and to provide the decision support problem (DSP) rationale for the concept design phase. The general mathematical model contains the analysis and the synthesis modules. The analysis module can be decomposed into six meta-systems of which two basic systems provide physical and environmental definitions of the problem/process and the other four are behavioural systems for modelling of response, adequacy, reliability, and quality. Synthesis modules enable the interactive design problem definition, usage of multiple optimization solvers (Monte Carlo- and fractional factorial experiment-based evolution strategies (ES-MC and ES-FFE), sequential linear programming (SLP), multiobjective genetic algorithms (MOGA), and multiobjective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO)) and five-dimensional graphic views of the Pareto frontier in design and attribute spaces. The methodology combines the fast concept exploration of design variants using generic finite element modelling (FEM) models and a two-step decision support procedure (based on topology and scantling optimization) in the concept design phase. The benefits of using the presented approach are demonstrated on the complex problem of multideck ships with hull—superstructures interaction. The first example shows the good accuracy of the primary response analysis of the cruise ship generic three-dimensional FEM model. The second example briefly presents the complete structural optimization of the International Ship and Offshore Structures Congress (ISSC'06) passenger ship benchmark.
Potential Risk Factors for Knee Injuries in Alpine Skiers
Authors: Burtscher M. , Sommersacher R. , Ruedl G. , Nachbauer W.
Published: December 2008

Objectives: To identify potential risk factors for knee injury in female alpine skiers. Methods: Injury survey in the winter season 2005 in one big Austrian ski area. Data collection on all injured skiers who needed evacuation included demographic variables, weather and snow conditions, circumstances of the skiing accident, the type of ski used, and injury location. Results: In total, 344 injured alpine skiers (41.3 % males, 58.7 % females) who needed evacuation were recorded. Twenty six percent of the injured male skiers and 47 % of the injured female skiers had knee injury. Female skiers with knee injuries were older, reported less regular physical activity, had more injuries in the morning hours and on cold days, and were not as likely to be using newly adjusted bindings in comparison to female skiers with non-knee injuries. Conclusion: This study found a set of potential risk factors for knee injury in female skiers. This is considered to be a valuable basis for more in-depth studies evaluating causal connections between these factors and the risk for knee injuries in female skiers.
Local Phylogeny Mapping of Quantitative Traits: Higher Accuracy and Better Ranking Than Single-Marker Association in Genomewide Scans
Authors: Besenbacher Søren , Mailund Thomas , Schierup Mikkel H
Published: December 2008

We present a new method, termed QBlossoc, for linkage disequilibrium (LD) mapping of genetic variants underlying a quantitative trait. The method uses principles similar to a previously published method, Blossoc, for LD mapping of case/control studies. The method builds local genealogies along the genome and looks for a significant clustering of quantitative trait values in these trees. We analyze its efficiency in terms of localization and ranking of true positives among a large number of negatives and compare the results with single-marker approaches. Simulation results of markers at densities comparable to contemporary genotype chips show that QBlossoc is more accurate in localization of true positives as expected since it uses the additional information of LD between markers simultaneously. More importantly, however, for genomewide surveys, QBlossoc places regions with true positives higher on a ranked list than single-marker approaches, again suggesting that a true signal displays itself more strongly in a set of adjacent markers than a spurious (false) signal. The method is both memory and central processing unit (CPU) efficient. It has been tested on a real data set of height data for 5000 individuals measured at ∼317,000 markers and completed analysis within 5 CPU days.