bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Infantile fibrosarcoma: Clinical and histologic responses to cytotoxic chemotherapy
Authors: Russell Heidi , Hicks M. John , Bertuch Alison A. , Chintagumpala Murali
Published: April 2009

Background

Infantile fibrosarcoma (IF) is a rare soft tissue sarcoma that presents either at birth or in the first year of life. Complete surgical resection is usually curative but chemotherapy may shrink the tumor to facilitate complete resection. This report describes the histologic changes and outcomes in four patients with IF treated with chemotherapy and surgical resection.

Procedure

A retrospective review was performed of patients treated between 2000 and 2007.

Results

All four patients are alive with excellent functional outcomes. The patients were diagnosed from birth up to 7 months of age; three had lower extremity tumors and one had a neck tumor. All patients received vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and actinomycin; one patient also received ifosfamide and etoposide after tumor progression. One tumor, arising from the neck, had rapid shrinkage. Two lower extremity tumors had only modest changes in dimensions but upon resection, the tumor bed contained fibrous tissue with exaggerated small caliber vessels. The fourth infant developed metastatic lesions in the central nervous system, orbits, lungs, and kidney after complete removal of the primary tumor. The metastatic lesions responded to chemotherapy and have remained stable for over 3 years.

Conclusions

IF is a chemosensitive tumor. In patients where a clinical response is not apparent, cytoreduction of the tumor and replacement with fibrotic and fibrovascular tissue may facilitate gross‐total resection. The chemotherapy‐responsiveness of this tumor may abrogate unfavorable features such as metastatic or residual tumor. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009;53:23–27. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Diversity and composition of Amazonian moths in primary, secondary and plantation forests
Authors: Hawes Joseph , da Silva Motta Catarina , Overal William L. , Barlow Jos , Gardner Toby A. , Peres Carlos A.
Published: April 2009

The response of tropical fauna to landscape-level habitat change is poorly understood. Increased conversion of native primary forest to alternative land-uses, including secondary forest and exotic tree plantations, highlights the importance of assessing diversity patterns within these forest types. We sampled 1848 moths from 335 species of Arctiidae, Saturniidae and Sphingidae, over a total of 30 trap-nights. Sampling was conducted during the wet season 2005, using three light-traps at 15 sites within areas of primary forest, secondary forest andEucalyptus urograndisplantations in northern Brazilian Amazonia. The Jari study region provides one of the best opportunities to investigate the ecological consequences of land-use change, and this study is one of the first to examine patterns of diversity for a neotropical moth assemblage in a human-dominated landscape in lowland Amazonia. We found that the three moth families responded consistently to disturbance in terms of abundance and community structure but variably in terms of species richness, in a manner apparently supporting a life-history hypothesis. Our results suggest that secondary forests andEucalyptusplantations can support a substantial level of moth diversity but also show that these forest types hold assemblages with significantly distinct community structures and composition from primary forest. In addition, the ability of these converted land-uses to support primary forest species may be enhanced by proximity to surrounding primary forest, an issue which requires consideration when assessing the diversity and composition of mobile taxa in human-dominated landscapes.
Improvements in maternal depression as a mediator of intervention effects on early childhood problem behavior
Authors: Shaw Daniel S. , Connell Arin , Dishion Thomas J. , Wilson Melvin N. , Gardner Frances
Published: April 2009

Maternal depression has been consistently linked to the development of child problem behavior, particularly in early childhood, but few studies have examined whether reductions in maternal depression serve as a mediator in relation to changes associated with a family-based intervention. The current study addressed this issue with a sample of 731 families receiving services from a national food supplement and nutrition program. Families with toddlers between ages 2 and 3 were screened and then randomized to a brief family intervention, the Family Check-Up, which included linked interventions that were tailored and adapted to the families needs. Follow-up intervention services were provided at age 3 and follow-up of child outcomes occurred at ages 3 and 4. Latent growth models revealed intervention effects for early externalizing and internalizing problems from 2 to 4, and reductions in maternal depression from ages 2 to 3. In addition, reductions in maternal depression mediated improvements in both child externalizing and internalizing problem behavior after accounting for the potential mediating effects of improvements in positive parenting. The results are discussed with respect to targeting maternal depression in future intervention studies aimed at improving early child problem behavior.
Inhibitory deficits in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Intentional versus automatic mechanisms of attention
Authors: Fillmore Mark T. , Milich Richard , Lorch Elizabeth P.
Published: April 2009

Application of theoretically based tasks to the study of the development of selective attention has led to intriguing new findings concerning the role of inhibitory mechanisms. This study examined inhibitory mechanisms using a countermanding task and an inhibition of return task to compare deficits in intentionally, versus reflexively, controlled inhibition of attention in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Fifty children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were classified into one of three subtypes: predominantly inattentive (ADHD/PI), combined (ADHD/C), and those children with ADHD/C who also met criteria for comorbid oppositional defiant disorder (ADHD/C + ODD). The groups were compared to a comparison group of children (n= 21). The countermanding task showed that the ADHD groups required more time to inhibit responses and this impairment did not differ among subtypes. With respect to reflexively controlled inhibition, compared with controls ADHD/C and ADHD/C + ODD groups showed impaired reflexive inhibition, whereas the ADHD/PI group was considerably less impaired. The findings highlight a dissociation between the two forms of inhibitory deficits among children with the inattentive subtype, and raise the possibility that the efficient operation of reflexive inhibitory mechanisms might be necessary for the development of effective intentional control of inhibition.
Testing the Oregon delinquency model with 9-year follow-up of the Oregon Divorce Study
Authors: Forgatch Marion S. , Patterson Gerald R. , Degarmo David S. , Beldavs Zintars G.
Published: April 2009

This paper presents experimental tests of the Oregon delinquency model applied within a randomized design of an at-risk sample of single mothers and their elementary school-aged sons. In the theoretical model, ineffective parenting practices and deviant peer association serve as the primary mechanisms for growth in adolescent delinquent behavior and early arrests. Multiple-method assessments of 238 mothers and sons include delinquency as measured by teacher reports and official arrest records, parenting skills measured by observations of parent–child interactions, and deviant peer association as reported by focal boys. Analyses of the 9-year follow-up data indicate that the Oregon model of parent management training significantly reduced teacher-reported delinquency and police arrests for focal boys. As hypothesized, the experiments demonstrated that improving parenting practices and reducing contacts with deviant peers served as mediating mechanisms for reducing rates of adolescent delinquency. As predicted, there was also a significant delay in the timing of police arrests for youth in the experimental as compared to the control group.
Evaluation of the effectiveness of stainless steel cooking pots in reducing iron-deficiency anaemia in food aid-dependent populations
Authors: Talley Leisel , Woodruff Bradley A , Seal Andrew , Tripp Kathryn , Mselle Laurent Sadikiel , Abdalla Fathia , Bhatia Rita , Mirghani Zhara
Published: April 2009

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of stainless steel (Fe alloy) cooking pots in reducing Fe-deficiency anaemia in food aid-dependent populations.

Design

Repeated cross-sectional surveys. Between December 2001 and January 2003, three surveys among children aged 6–59 months and their mothers were conducted in 110 households randomly selected from each camp. The primary outcomes were changes in Hb concentration and Fe status.

Setting

Two long-term refugee camps in western Tanzania.

Subjects

Children (6–59 months) and their mothers were surveyed at 0, 6 and 12 months post-intervention. Stainless steel pots were distributed to all households in Nduta camp (intervention); households in Mtendeli camp (control) continued to cook with aluminium or clay pots.

Results

Among children, there was no change in Hb concentration at 1 year; however, Fe status was lower in the intervention camp than the control camp (serum transferrin receptor (sTfR) concentration: 6·8v. 5·9 μg/ml;P< 0·001). There was no change in Hb concentration among non-pregnant mothers at 1 year. Subjects in the intervention camp had lower Fe status than those in the control camp (sTfR concentration: 5·8v. 4·7 μg/ml;P= 0·003).

Conclusions

Distribution of stainless steel pots did not increase Hb concentration or improve Fe status in children or their mothers. The use of stainless steel prevents rusting but may not provide sufficient amounts of Fe and strong educational campaigns may be required to maximize use. The distribution of stainless steel pots in refugee contexts is not recommended as a strategy to control Fe deficiency.
LOCALLY PRIMITIVE GRAPHS OF PRIME-POWER ORDER
Authors: LI CAI HENG , PAN JIANGMIN , MA LI
Published: April 2009

Let Γ be a finite connected undirected vertex transitive locally primitive graph of prime-power order. It is shown that either Γ is a normal Cayley graph of a 2-group, or Γ is a normal cover of a complete graph, a complete bipartite graph, or Σ×l, where Σ=Kpm with p prime or Σ is the Schläfli graph (of order 27). In particular, either Γ is a Cayley graph, or Γ is a normal cover of a complete bipartite graph.
Geochemical characteristics of the Miocene eolian deposits in China: Their provenance and climate implications
Authors: Liang Meiyan , Guo Zhengtang , Kahmann A. Julia , Oldfield Frank
Published: April 2009

In the Loess Plateau in northern China, the Quaternary loess‐soil sequences, the Hipparion Red Earth of eolian origin (Red Clay), and the Miocene loess‐soil sequences constitute a near‐continuous terrestrial record of paleoclimates for the past 22 Ma. In this study, Miocene loess and paleosol samples from Qinan (QA‐I) were analyzed for their major, trace, and rare earth element chemistry and compared with the Plio‐Pleistocene samples from Xifeng with emphasis on their provenance and paleoclimatic implications. The results show similar geochemical signatures for the eolian deposits of different ages, and they are also comparable to the average composition of the upper continental crust. These suggest that the dust materials were all derived from well‐mixed sedimentary protoliths which had undergone numerous upper crustal recycling processes. They also support the notion of broadly similar source areas and dust‐transporting trajectories for different periods since the early Neogene. The slightly higher K2O, Fe2O3, and MgO concentrations and loss on ignition values and the lower Na2O content in the Miocene loess samples compared to their Quaternary counterparts are attributable to the finer grain size of the Miocene loess associated with weaker dust‐carrying winds. In comparison with some loess in Europe and America with less extensive sources, eolian deposits from northern China show higher Cs and lower Zr and Hf content. This is attributable to the sorting processes from remoter sources during transportation and could be regarded as an indication of the desert origin of the loess deposits. Miocene paleosol samples show higher chemical index of alteration values and lower CaO, MgO, and Na2O concentrations than does the intervening loess, indicating stronger weathering of the paleosols. However, the moderate chemical weathering of the paleosol samples indicates a constant semiarid and subhumid climatic range in northern China since the early Miocene.
Variability of submicron aerosol observed at a rural site in Beijing in the summer of 2006
Authors: Takegawa N. , Miyakawa T. , Kuwata M. , Kondo Y. , Zhao Y. , Han S. , Kita K. , Miyazaki Y. , Deng Z. , Xiao R. , Hu M. , van Pinxteren D. , Herrmann H. , Hofzumahaus A. , Holland F. , Wahner A. , Blake D. R. , Sugimoto N. , Zhu T.
Published: April 2009

Ground‐based measurements of aerosol and trace gases were conducted at a rural site in Beijing in the summer of 2006 as a part of the Campaigns of Air Quality Research in Beijing and Surrounding Region 2006 (CAREBeijing 2006). The size‐resolved chemical composition of submicron aerosol was measured using an Aerodyne quadrupole aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS). The data obtained from 15 August to 10 September 2006 are presented. Meteorological analysis shows that the measurement period can be characterized as a cycle of low wind speed periods over the course of a few days (stagnant periods) followed by rapid advection of clean air from the north/northwest mostly due to passage of a midlatitude cyclone. Mass concentrations of total measured aerosol with diameters less than 1 μm (total PM1), which is defined as the sum of elemental carbon and nonrefractory components measured by the AMS, were highly variable, ranging from ∼2 to ∼100 μg m−3. Large variability of the PM1 composition and drastic changes in the sulfate (SO42−) size distribution were observed to be associated with the cycle of stagnant periods and advection of clean air, indicating that both chemical and physical properties of aerosols were significantly altered on a time scale of a few days. We have found the dominance of organic aerosol at lower total PM1 mass loadings and that of SO42− at higher mass loadings, which may have important implications for the PM control strategy in Beijing. Possible factors affecting the evolution of the mass concentration and size distribution of SO42− are discussed.
A combined method to estimate parameters of neuron from a heavily noise-corrupted time series of active potential
Authors: Deng Bin , Wang Jiang , Che Yenqiu
Published: April 2009

A method that combines the means of unscented Kalman filter (UKF) with the technique of synchronization-based parameter estimation is introduced for estimating unknown parameters of neuron when only a heavily noise-corrupted time series of active potential is given. Compared with other synchronization-based methods, this approach uses the state variables estimated by UKF instead of the measured data to drive the auxiliary system. The synchronization-based approach supplies a systematic and analytical procedure for estimating parameters from time series; however, it is only robust against weak noise of measurement, so the UKF is employed to estimate state variables which are used by the synchronization-based method to estimate all unknown parameters of neuron model. It is found out that the estimation accuracy of this combined method is much higher than only using UKF or synchronization-based method when the data of measurement were heavily noise corrupted.
Direct observation of two-step polarization reversal by an opposite field in a substrate-free piezoelectric thin sheet
Authors: Hsieh Chun-Yi , Chen Yang-Fang , Shih Wan Y. , Zhu Qing , Shih Wei-Heng
Published: April 2009

The domain switching behavior of a substrate-free lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate thin sheet by an opposite electric field (E) was examined by piezoresponse force microscopy. It is shown that the polarization reversal process involved two steps. First, the polarization switched from the initial normal direction to an in-plane direction at −E<5 kV/cm. Second, at −E>5 kV/cm, the polarization was further switched from the in-plane direction to the opposite field direction. The preference of the in-plane polarization at −5 kV/cm was attributed to the thin-sheet geometry, which also manifested itself as a maximum in dielectric constant at the same field.
Automatic measurement of syntactic complexity in child language acquisition
Authors: Lu Xiaofei
Published: April 2009

We describe a heuristics-based system for automatic measurement of syntactic complexity using the revised Developmental Level (D-Level) scale (Rosenberg & Abbeduto 1987; Covington et al. 2006). The system takes a raw sentence as input and assigns it to an appropriate developmental level on the scale. The system is designed with child language acquisition and psycholinguistic research in mind, and is therefore developed and evaluated using both written data from the Penn Treebank (Marcus et al. 1993) and spoken child language acquisition data from the CHILDES database (MacWhinney 2000). Experiment results show that the model achieves an accuracy of 94.0% and 93.2% on unseen test data from the Penn Treebank and the CHILDES database respectively. We illustrate how the system is used in an example application to investigate the correlation of average D-Level score and speaker age.
Pathways from Adolescent Parent‐Child Conflict to Substance Use Disorders in the Fourth Decade of Life
Authors: Brook Judith S. , Brook David W. , Zhang Chenshu , Cohen Patricia
Published: April 2009

This 24‐year community longitudinal study provides important information regarding parent‐child conflict in adolescence (mean ages 14–16), vulnerable personality attributes and peer deviance in the twenties (mean age 22), and marital conflict and partner's illicit drug use in the late twenties and early thirties (mean ages 27–32) as related to a later diagnosis of substance use disorders (SUDs) in the thirties (mean ages 32–37). A community‐based sample was interviewed between 1975 and 2007. Results based in structural equation modeling indicated that a weak parent‐child bond was related to the development of drug‐conducive personality traits, which was associated with the selection of drug‐using peers and partners, which in turn, predicted SUDs. Both peer deviance and partner's illicit drug use had the greatest effects on SUDs. The findings should aid in formulating prevention and treatment programs targeting specific risk factors in adolescents, young adults, and adults.
Maternal effects in cooperative breeders: from hymenopterans to humans
Authors: Russell Andrew F , Lummaa Virpi
Published: April 2009

The environment that an offspring experiences during its development can have lifelong consequences for its morphology, anatomy, physiology and behaviour that are strong enough to span generations. One aspect of an offspring's environment that can have particularly pronounced and long-lasting effects is that provided by its parent(s) (maternal effects). Some disciplines in biology have been quicker to appreciate maternal effects than others, and some organisms provide better model systems for understanding the causes and consequences of the maternal environment for ecology and evolution than others. One field in which maternal effects has been poorly represented, and yet is likely to represent a particularly fruitful area for research, is the field of cooperative breeding (i.e. systems where offspring are reared by carers in addition to parent(s)). Here, we attempt to illustrate the scope of cooperative breeding systems for maternal effects research and, conversely, highlight the importance of maternal effects research for understanding cooperative breeding systems. To this end, we first outline why mothers will commonly benefit from affecting the phenotype of their offspring in cooperative breeding systems, present potential strategies that mothers could employ in order to do so and offer predictions regarding the circumstances under which different types of maternal effects might be expected. Second, we highlight why a neglect of maternal strategies and the effects that they have on their offspring could lead to miscalculations of helper/worker fitness gains and a misunderstanding of the factors selecting for the evolution and maintenance of cooperative breeding. Finally, we introduce the possibility that maternal effects could have significant consequences for our understanding of both the evolutionary origins of cooperative breeding and the rise of social complexity in cooperative systems.
Cyclin E correlates with manganese superoxide dismutase expression and predicts survival in early breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant epirubicin‐based chemotherapy
Authors: Sgambato Alessandro , Camerini Andrea , Collecchi Paola , Graziani Cristina , Bevilacqua Generoso , Capodanno Alessandra , Migaldi Mario , Masciullo Valeria , Scambia Giovanni , Rossi Giulio , Cittadini Achille , Amoroso Domenico
Published: April 2009

Anthracycline‐based chemotherapy represents a milestone in the treatment of breast cancer. We previously demonstrated in an in vitro model that cyclin E overexpression is associated with increased expression of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and resistance to doxorubicin. In the present study, immunohistochemical expression of cyclin E and MnSOD was evaluated in 134 early breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant epirubicin‐based chemotherapy regimens containing epirubicin. Both parameters were correlated with the available clinicopathological parameters and with the outcome of patients. Overexpression of cyclin E and MnSOD was detected in 46 (34.3%) and 56 (41.8%) patients, respectively, and expression levels of the two proteins were related. Disease‐free and alive patients displayed a lower mean percentage of cyclin E‐expressing cells than relapsed and dead patients, respectively. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis demonstrated a significant separation between high versus low cyclin E‐expressing tumors in terms of overall survival (P = 0.038 by log‐rank). Similar results were obtained considering the subset of node‐negative patients separately. No significant relationship with patient outcome was observed for MnSOD expression levels. At multivariate analysis cyclin E failed to demonstrate an independent prognostic value. In conclusion, the results of the present study support previous evidence that increased cyclin E expression is associated with higher MnSOD expression levels and poorer outcome, at least as evaluated in terms of overall survival. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the usefulness of cyclin E as a prognostic marker to identify breast cancer patients at higher risk of death from the disease when treated with adjuvant anthracycline‐based therapy. (Cancer Sci 2009; 100: 1026–1033)
Strong effects of heterosis on the evolution of dispersal rates
Authors: ROZE D. , ROUSSET F.
Published: April 2009

When dispersal is limited, crosses between different regions may generate progeny of higher fitness than crosses within regions, due to the fact that individuals from the same region are more likely to share the same recessive deleterious alleles. This phenomenon (termed heterosis) generates a selective force favouring dispersal; however, the importance of heterosis on dispersal evolution has been a subject for debate. In this paper, we use computer simulations representing deleterious mutations occurring over a whole genome (of arbitrary map lengthR) to explore the magnitude of heterosis, and its effect on the evolution of dispersal. These results show that heterosis may have important effects on dispersal when it is in the upper range of values observed in natural populations, which occurs in our simulations when the genomic deleterious mutation rateUis also in the upper range of observed values. Comparing the results with extrapolations from an analytical two‐locus model indicates that the effect of heterosis is mainly driven by pairwise associations between the locus affecting dispersal and selected loci whenUis not too high (roughly,U < 0.5), whereas higher order associations become important for higher values ofU.
Collective Action and Property Rights for Poverty Reduction: A Review of Methods and Approaches
Authors: Mwangi Esther , Markelova Helen
Published: April 2009

This article provides a review of literature on the relationship between poverty and the institutions of collective action and property rights, as outlined in the conceptual framework of Di Gregorio et al. (2008). Using the elements of the framework as a guide, it offers an overview of how researchers and practitioners identify and evaluate these concepts. The article emphasises the multidimensionality of poverty and the necessity of applying various approaches and tools to conceptualising and measuring it. In addition to highlighting the crucial role that institutions play in poverty reduction, it shows power relations and the political context to be of fundamental importance in poverty‐related studies.
Intermittent versus continuous physiotherapy in children with cerebral palsy
Authors: Christiansen Annette Sandahl , Lange Christa
Published: April 2009

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of the delivery of the same amount of intermittent versus continuous physiotherapy given to children with cerebral palsy (CP). This was organized either in an intermittent regime four times a week for 4 weeks alternating with a 6‐week treatment pause, or a continuous once or twice a week regime, both for a total of 30 weeks. Therapy was administered according to generally accepted physiotherapeutic principles. A prospective, randomized controlled design was used. Twenty‐five children (16 males, nine females; median age 3y, range 1y‐8y 1mo) participated. The children were stratified by age and function level (all levels represented) using the Gross Motor Function Classification System and assigned to continuous or intermittent treatment. The Gross Motor Function Measure 66 (GMFM‐66) was used as the outcome measure before and after intervention. Statistical analysis revealed that both groups increased their GMFM scores during intervention (intermittent group p=0.028; continuous group p=0.038), while there was no significant difference comparing delta scores between groups (p=0.81). Compliance was significantly higher in the intermittent group (p=0.005), but there was no association between GMFM score and compliance. The study shows that organizing physiotherapy in two markedly different ways yields identical outcome measures for children with CP.
Teaching anaesthetic nurses optimal force for effective cricoid pressure: a literature review
Authors: Parry Andrew
Published: April 2009

Aims and Objectives:  This literature review explores the role of force and education in cricoid pressure, an essential aspect of practice for any nurse within a critical care environment.

Background:  Cricoid pressure is utilized in everyday practice during rapid sequence induction (RSI) of anaesthesia. The purpose of cricoid pressure is to occlude the oesophagus in order to reduce the risk of acid aspiration during emergency induction of anaesthesia. The importance of best practice cannot be overstated because of high rates of mortality following acid aspiration.

Methods:  Literature searches were conducted using the key words cricoid pressure, Sellick manoeuvre, rapid sequence induction and acid aspiration syndrome. Articles were obtained from online searches, with literature published in the last 10 years being used; some seminal literature and textbooks were incorporated for definition purposes.

Results:  The literature displayed a disparity in practice and differing opinions on the optimal force to occlude the oesophagus. The role of education in correct application of cricoid pressure was explored, with unanimous conclusions that education plays a role in ensuring best practice.

Conclusions:  Forces of 20–30 N are adequate to occlude the oesophagus and minimize the risk of acid aspiration. However, it is difficult for practitioners to accurately estimate this force in everyday practice. Various methods of assessing force were discussed, with the use of a 50‐mL syringe suggested as a cost‐effective and simple method to utilize in practice.

Relevance to clinical practice:  The literature review demonstrated that the subject of cricoid pressure is relevant in critical care practice in order to ensure patient safety during RSI. Thus, all critical care nurses have a duty to gain a working knowledge on the subject if patient safety is to be maintained. This paper provides a source of information on cricoid pressure and realistic methods of maintaining best practice.
Safety of Long‐Term Propafenone Therapy for Cardiac Arrhythmia ‐ Experience with 774 Patients
Authors: RAVID SHMUEL , PODRID PHILIP J. , NOVRIT BEVERLY
Published: April 2009

Long term propafenone therapy was initiated in 774 patients who were evaluated at 27 centers in the United States. The average duration of therapy was 183 days. During the treatment period, at least one toxic side effect occurred in 448 patients (58%). The most common reported adverse reactions were cardiovascular in 209 patients (27%), central nervous system in 160 patients (21%), and gastrointestinal in 159 patients (21%). Of those with cardiovascular side effects, 41 (5.3%) had aggravation of arrhythmia, 26 (3.4%) had the induction or worsening of congestive heart failure, and 65 (8.4%) had new conduction abnormalities. Although side effects were frequent, drug discontinuation due to the adverse reaction was necessary in only 114 patients (14.7%). The majority of side effects were dose related especially when 900 mg/day was administered. Additionally, the incidence of toxicity was directly related to age.

We conclude that side effects are frequent during long‐term propafenone therapy, but most are mild, dose related, and do not limit the use of the drug. Drug discontinuation because of an adverse reaction is only infrequently required. It is recommended that drug therapy begin with low doses (150 mg t.i.d) with careful and slow titration up to a maximum of 900 mg/day.
Use of an Embalming Machine to Create a Central Venous Access Model in Human Cadavers
Authors: Wilbur Lee , Messina Frank , Cooper Dylan , Barroso Eric
Published: April 2009

Background:  Human cadavers provide an effective model for procedural training; however, inconsistent blood return during central venous cannulation compromises the overall reliability of this procedure. Objective:  To create and quantitatively assess a human cadaver central venous access model using a continuously‐run embalming machine. Curriculum:  Emergency medicine (EM) faculty at Indiana University created this model for a procedure lab designed for EM residents. The right femoral artery was identified by superficial dissection and cannulated distally towards the lower leg. This cannula was connected to a Duotronic embalming machine with a solution composed of 16 oz of 24‐index fluid and 3 gallons of tap water at a fixed output of 13 pounds per square inch (psi). Next, the left subclavian vein and artery were identified by dissection and each was cannulated with an 18 gauge angiocath connected to a continuous pressure monitor. Pressures (mmHg) in the subclavian vein and artery were measured continuously while study personnel cannulated the left femoral, right subclavian, right supraclavicular, and right internal jugular veins. This model was assessed for dual sessions lasting two hours each with a two hour break in‐between. Results:  During the first session, subclavian pressures were measured at 3 mmHg venous and 22 mmHg arterial, increasing to 11 mmHg venous and 27 mmHg arterial during the second session. Residents were able to withdraw at least 5 milliliters at each central venous site in the embalmed cadaver. Conclusions:  We created a reliable and measurable central venous access model in a fresh‐frozen human cadaver using a standard embalming machine.
Detection of unknown deletions in β‐globin gene cluster using relative quantitative PCR methods
Authors: Babashah Sadegh , Jamali Somayeh , Mahdian Reza , Nosaeid Mina Hayat , Karimipoor Morteza , Alimohammadi Raheleh , Raeisi Marzieh , Maryami Fereshteh , Masoudifar Mahboubeh , Zeinali Sirous
Published: April 2009

β‐Thalassemia is mainly caused by mutations involving single base substitution and small deletions. However, a considerable number of carriers are suspected to have large deletions in β‐globin gene cluster. Common strategy for identifying deletions with definite breakpoints is based on Gap PCR. There are, however, some cases with indefinite breakpoints which usually cannot be detected by this method. We developed and optimized a quantitative real‐time PCR assay for copy number analysis of β‐globin gene cluster. The copy number of target fragments (i.e. β, δ or Gγ‐globin genes) was determined using comparative threshold cycle method. In addition, gene dosage was analyzed using multiplex ligation‐dependent probe amplification (MLPA) method in all suspected carriers. Using these relative quantitative assays, normal or carrier statuses of all 26 unknown samples were successfully determined according to the ranges obtained from the ratios of normal and definite carrier samples. Interestingly, large deletions involving the entire β‐globin gene cluster were observed in six carrier individuals. This study showed that the MLPA as a preliminary screening test can be followed by SYBR Green real‐time PCR for analysis of copy number variations in β‐globin gene cluster. Combination of these relative quantitative PCR methods could be an appropriate approach for accurate diagnosis of unknown β‐thalassemia deletions in routine diagnosis of β‐thalassemia mutations.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Abnormal Pattern of Lymphocyte Subpopulations in the Endometrium of Infertile Women with Chronic Endometritis
Authors: Matteo Maria , Cicinelli Ettore , Greco Pantaleo , Massenzio Francesca , Baldini Domenico , Falagario Teresa , Rosenberg Piergiorgio , Castellana Laura , Specchia Giorgina , Liso Arcangelo
Published: April 2009

Problem  Endometrial lymphocytes play a critical role in endometrial receptivity. This study aimed at evaluating the variations induced by chronic endometritis (CE) on endometrial lymphocyte subsets. We compared the results in infertile women diagnosed with CE with those in unexplained infertile women without any sign of CE.

Method of study  Twenty‐three women referring for unexplained infertility had hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy in the follicular phase; in nine women, CE was diagnosed (group CE+), while in 14 it was not (group CE−). All patients in the late secretory phase of the subsequent cycle underwent endometrial biopsy. By flow cytometry, the percentage and phenotype of the endometrial lymphocyte subpopulations were analyzed.

Results  The secretory endometrium of patients with CE displayed significantly lower percentage of CD56+ CD16− and of CD56bright CD16− cells (47.8% ± 18.6 and 30.1% ± 20.5 versus 79.5% ± 3.9 and 67.3% ± 8.1, respectively; P < 0.01) as compared with group CE(−), while the percentage of CD3+ cells was significantly higher (25% ± 12.2 versus 10.5 ± 5; P < 0.01).

Conclusion  Infertile women with CE showed an abnormal percentage of endometrial lymphocyte subsets compared with unexplained infertile women suggesting that different mechanisms underlie the adverse pregnancy outcome of the two groups of patients.
A Profile of Financially At‐Risk College Students
Authors: LYONS ANGELA C.
Published: April 2009

Using a random sample of college students, this study identifies the factors that significantly affect the probability a college student is financially at risk for mismanaging/misusing credit. Financially at‐risk students are more likely to be financially independent, to receive need‐based financial aid, to hold $1000 or more in other debt, and to have acquired their credit card(s) by mail, at a retail store, and/or at a campus table. Students having difficulty making credit card payments are also more likely to be female, black, and/or Hispanic. Campus administrators and financial professionals can use this information to better allocate their resources and develop materials that specifically target those students who need them most.
What Consumers Don't Know Can Hurt Them: Consumer Evaluations and Disease Risk Perceptions of Restaurant Menu Items
Authors: BURTON SCOT , CREYER ELIZABETH H.
Published: April 2009

Legislation that mandates the provision of nutrition information on restaurant meanus has been proposed in several states. This research presents findings from an experiment that investigates how the provision of nutrition information and a health claim influence consumers’ attitudes towards the product, nutrition‐related attitudes, disease risk perceptions, source credibility judgements, and nutrient value estimates for restaurant menu items. In addition, how the nutrition frame (or context) within which a menu item is evaluated moderates these effects is examined. The results indicate that providing target item nutrition information, as well as a nutritional context, affects consumers’ attitudes, perceptions, and judgments. In addition, the context interacts with the provision of both a health claim and nutrition information for the target item. The theoretical, managerial, consumer welfare, and public policy implications of our research findings are discussed.
SOURCE‐DERIVED OLEANENES IDENTIFIED IN NIGER DELTA OILS
Authors: Eneogwe C. , Ekundayo O. , Patterson B.
Published: April 2009

Fifty‐eight out of sixty‐six oils from eleven onshore and offshore oilfields in the Niger Delta were found to contain three oleanene isomers: olean‐13(18)‐ene, olean‐12‐ene and 18α‐olean‐12‐ene. The geochemistry of these compounds reveals that the secondary isomers (olean‐13(18)‐ene and 18α‐olean‐12‐ene) form during diagenesis from the precursor isomer (olean‐12‐ene). The presence of other angiosperm markers such as oleananes, the absence of measurable amounts of other olefins characteristic of immature organic matter, and the thermal maturity of the oils analyzed are consistent with the hypothesis that the oleanenes were inherited directly from the source rock, and that they migrated with the rest of the oil. A good correlation exists between the abundance of oleanenes and the maturity status of the oils: oils generated at an early stage of hydrocarbon generation contain oleanenes, while those generated at peak of hydrocarbon generation do not contain oleanenes in identifiable quantities.
How Self Psychology Found Me
Authors: Fuqua Paula B.
Published: April 2009

The author describes the evolution of self psychology from Kohut's early work to the present through the lens of her own life and work.
Current Approaches to Multispecies Analyses of Marine Fisheries
Authors: Kerr S. R. , Ryder R. A.
Published: April 2009

There is an increasing tendency to recognize that the dynamics of a fishery are not solely determined by intrinsic population factors, but that the external environment, which can include the effects of other species in the biotic community, plays an important role in determining the yield performances of marine fish stocks. Recognition of the role of external factors represents an important departure from the single-stock concepts of fishing theory, which have traditionally been used to manage marine stocks. We review a variety of examples of recent initiatives in the application of community concepts in marine fisheries, setting these in the context of four arbitrary categories which range from statistical description through multispecies extensions of single-stock fishing theory, to integral applications of community theory. Taken together, there is substantial evidence that the application of multispecies concepts to marine fisheries is now a major focus of international effort. The multispecies approach offers identifiable promise in resolving some outstanding problems, but it is not clear yet what the major consequences will be, in terms of changes in the ways that fisheries will be managed in the future.
CDF MULTI-MUON EVENTS AND SINGLET EXTENSIONS OF THE MSSM
Authors: DOMINGO FLORIAN , ELLWANGER ULRICH
Published: April 2009

We discuss a generalization of the minimal supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model in the form of three additional singlet superfields, which would explain the essential features of the CDF multi-muon events presented recently: a large production cross section of ~ 100 pb originates from the production of a CP-odd scalar A with a mass in the 70–80 GeV range and a large value of tan β ~ 40. The CP-odd scalar A decays dominantly into CP-odd and CP-even scalars a1 and h1, which generate decay cascades h1 → 2h2 → 4a2 → 8τ, and a1 → h1 a2 with h1 decaying as above. The decay a2 → τ+τ- is slow, leading to a lifetime of [Formula: see text]. The phenomenology of the model differs from similar scenarios presented before in that one of the two cascades leads to 10 instead of 8 τ-leptons, and additional production processes like associate A production with [Formula: see text] pairs are relevant.
ULTRASLOW SOLITONS VIA FOUR-WAVE MIXING IN A CRYSTAL OF MOLECULAR MAGNETS
Authors: SI LIUGANG , LÜ XINYOU , SONG PEIJUN , LIU JIBING
Published: April 2009

The authors theoretically investigate the formation of ultraslow dark and bright solitons via four-wave mixing (FWM) in a crystal of molecular magnets in the presence of a uniform d.c. magnetic field, where two strong continuous wave pump electromagnetic fields and a weak-pulsed probe electromagnetic field produce a pulsed FWM electromagnetic field. By solving the Maxwell–Schrödinger equations under the slowly varying envelope approximation and rotating-wave approximations, we demonstrate that both the weak-pulsed probe and FWM electromagnetic fields can evolve into dark and bright solitons with the same shape and the same ultraslow group velocity.
Neurochemical Effects of Theta Burst Stimulation as Assessed by Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Authors: Stagg C. J. , Wylezinska M. , Matthews P. M. , Johansen-Berg H. , Jezzard P. , Rothwell J. C. , Bestmann S.
Published: April 2009

Continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) is a novel transcranial stimulation technique that causes significant inhibition of synaptic transmission for ≤1 h when applied over the primary motor cortex (M1) in humans. Here we use magnetic resonance spectroscopy to define mechanisms mediating this inhibition by noninvasively measuring local changes in the cortical concentrations of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate/glutamine (Glx). cTBS to the left M1 led to an increase in GABA compared with stimulation at a control site without significant change in Glx. This direct evidence for increased GABAergic interneuronal activity is framed in terms of a new hypothesis regarding mechanisms underlying cTBS.
Genetic dissection of a major mouse obesity QTL (Carfhg2): integration of gene expression and causality modeling
Authors: Farber Charles R. , Aten Jason E. , Farber Emily A. , de Vera Vincent , Gularte Rodrigo , Islas-Trejo Alma , Wen Pengzi , Horvath Steve , Lucero Michael , Lusis Aldons J. , Medrano Juan F.
Published: April 2009

HG.CAST-( D9Mit249-D9Mit133) (HG9) congenic mice are homozygous for CAST/EiJ chromosome (Chr) 9 alleles from ∼9 to 84 Mbp on a C57BL6/J- hg/hg (HG) background. This region contains the carcass fat in high growth mice ( Carfhg2) quantitative trait locus (QTL), and while its obesity-promoting effects have been confirmed in HG9 mice, its underlying genetic basis remains elusive. To refine the location of Carfhg2, we preformed a linkage analysis in two congenic F2 intercrosses and progeny-tested a recombinant F2 male. These analyses narrowed Carfhg2 to between 33.0 and 40.8 Mbp on Chr 9. To identify candidate genes we measured the expression of 44 transcripts surrounding the Carfhg2 peak in adipose, brain, liver, and muscle tissues from F2 mice using Biomark 48.48 Dynamic Arrays. In total, 68% (30 of the 44) of genes were regulated by a significant expression QTL (eQTL) in at least one tissue. To prioritize genes with eQTL we used Network Edge Orienting, a causality modeling tool. These analyses advance our goal of identifying the molecular basis of Carfhg2.
Gene expression profiles in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of chronic heart failure patients
Authors: Cappuzzello Claudia , Napolitano Monica , Arcelli Diego , Melillo Guido , Melchionna Roberta , Di Vito Luca , Carlini Daniele , Silvestri Lorena , Brugaletta Salvatore , Liuzzo Giovanna , Crea Filippo , Capogrossi Maurizio C.
Published: April 2009

The present study was aimed at identifying chronic heart failure (CHF) biomarkers from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in patients with ischemic (ICM) and nonischemic dilated (NIDCM) cardiomyopathy. PBMC gene expression profiling was performed by Affymetrix in two patient groups, 1) ICM ( n = 12) and 2) NIDCM ( n = 12) New York Heart Association (NYHA) III/IV CHF patients, vs. 3) age- and sex-matched control subjects ( n = 12). Extracted RNAs were then pooled and hybridized to a total of 11 microarrays. Gene ontology (GO) analysis separated gene profiling into functional classes. Prediction analysis of microarrays (PAM) and significance analysis of microarrays (SAM) were utilized in order to identify a molecular signature. Candidate markers were validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. We identified a gene expression profiling that distinguished between CHF patients and control subjects. Interestingly, among the set of genes constituting the signature, chemokine receptor (CCR2, CX3CR1) and early growth response (EGR1, 2, 3) family members were found to be upregulated in CHF patients vs. control subjects and to be part of a gene network. Such findings were strengthened by the analysis of an additional 26 CHF patients ( n = 14 ICM and n = 12 NIDCM), which yielded similar results. The present study represents the first large-scale gene expression analysis of CHF patient PBMCs that identified a molecular signature of CHF and putative biomarkers of CHF, i.e., chemokine receptor and EGR family members. Furthermore, EGR1 expression levels can discriminate between ICM and NIDCM CHF patients.
OFDM Synchronization Errors and Effects of Phase Noise on WLAN Transceivers
Authors: Melliti Mourad , Hasnaoui Salem , Bouallegue Ridha
Published: April 2009

This work aims at frequency synchronization in OFDM IEEE 802.11g Transceivers. The degradation of performance results from the detrimental effects introduced by frequency offset and phase noise. First, we present a robust method to detect and synchronize the OFDM signal with severe noise and interference corruption based on calculating the accumulated phase difference for each subcarrier. Then, we present a simple architecture to implement the proposed methods. These methods are simulated and analyzed by computer. Finally, we propose many algorithms to correct the common phase error (CPE) of the phase noise and track well its variation.