bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Filoviral haemorrhagic fevers: A threat to Zambia?
Authors: Changula Katendi , Mweene A.S.
Published: July 2012

Filoviral haemorrhagic fevers (FVHF) are caused by agents belonging to Filoviridae family, Ebola and Marburg viruses. They are amongst the most lethal pathogens known to infect humans. Incidence of FVHF outbreaks are increasing, with affected number of patients on the rise. Whilst there has been no report yet of FVHF in Zambia, its proximity to Angola and Democratic Republic of Congo, which have recorded major outbreaks, as well as the open borders, increased trade and annual migration of bats between these countries, puts Zambia at present and increased risk. Previous studies have indicated bats as potential reservoir hosts for filoviruses. An increasing population with an increasing demand for resources has forced incursion into previously uninhabited land, potentially bringing them into contact with unknown pathogens, reservoir hosts and/or amplifying hosts. The recent discovery of a novel arenavirus, Lujo, highlights the potential that every region, including Zambia, has for being the epicentre or primary focus for emerging and re-emerging infections. It is therefore imperative that surveillance for potential emerging infections, such as viral haemorrhagic fevers be instituted. In order to accomplish this surveillance, rapid detection, identification and monitoring of agents in patients and potential reservoirs is needed. International co-operation is the strategy of choice for the surveillance and fight against emerging infections. Due to the extensive area in which filoviral infections can occur, a regional approach to surveillance activities is required, with regional referral centres. There is a need to adopt shared policies for the prevention and control of infectious diseases. There is also need for optimisation of currently available tests and development of new diagnostic tests, in order to have robust, highly sensitive and specific diagnostic tests that can be used even where there are inadequate laboratories and diagnostic services.
Impact of HIV and AIDS on food security in Rufiji District, Tanzania
Authors: Kayunze Kim A.
Published: July 2012

Relatively high prevalence of HIV and AIDS and food insecurity in Rufiji District whilst the linkage between the two problems was not known was the basis of this study. Data were collected amongst 225 households between November 2005 and October 2006 through participatory rural appraisal (PRA), household income and expenditure survey (HIES) and structured interviews. Binary logistic regression was used for analysis in which case the dependent variable was food security in terms of food insecure (0) and food secure (1) based on kilocalories consumed per adult equivalent per day. The independent variables included having been affected by HIV and AIDS in terms of not affected (0) and affected (1). The results reveal that the odds for households affected by HIV and AIDS to be food secure were 0.705 times as high as the odds for households not affected by HIV and AIDS to be food secure. This means that households affected by HIV and AIDS were less likely to be food secure as opposed to those not affected by HIV and AIDS. The B statistic for having been affected by HIV and AIDS was negative (B = -0.350) meaning that being affected by HIV and AIDS had negative impact on food security. However, the Wald statistic which shows the magnitude of impact was small (0.251) and not significant (p = 0.617). This shows that HIV and AIDS had little impact on food security. Based on these findings, it is concluded that although being affected by HIV and AIDS has negative impact on food security, it does not automatically make households food insecure, especially in a short run, and that some non-HIV and AIDS factors like high dependency ratio and low ability to buy food have bigger negative impact than that of HIV and AIDS on food security. On the basis of the conclusion, it is recommended that efforts to improve food security amongst households affected by HIV and AIDS should consider both HIV and AIDS and non-HIV and AIDS factors.
Zoonotic diseases and human health: The human influenza example
Authors: Schoub Barry D.
Published: July 2012

Over the past few decades a large number of new and emerging infectious diseases have been recognised in humans, partly because of improved diagnostic technologies and increased awareness and also, partly because of dynamic ecological changes between human hosts and their exposure to animals and the environment (Coker et al. 2011). Some 177 new pathogenic organisms have been recognised to be ‘emerging’, that is, have newly arisen or been newly introduced into human populations; almost three quarters of these, 130 (73%), have come from zoonotic origins (Cascio et al. 2011; Cutler, Fooks & Van Der Poel 2010; Taylor, Latham & Woolhouse 2001; Woolhouse & Gowtage-Sequeria 2005). One of the most prevalent and important human infectious disease is influenza, a disease responsible globally for a quarter million deaths annually. In the USA alone the toll from influenza is estimated at 36 000 deaths and 226 000 hospitalisations, and it ranks as the most important cause of vaccine preventable mortality in that country (CDC 2010). The epidemiological behaviour of human influenza clearly defines it as an emerging infectious disease and the recent understanding of its zoonotic origins has contributed much to the understanding of its behaviour in humans (Fauci 2006).
From ‘two medicines’ to ‘One Health’ and beyond
Authors: Zinsstag Jakob , Meisser Andrea , Schelling Esther , Bonfoh Bassirou , Tanner Marcel
Published: July 2012

We first review historic and conceptual background to integrative thinking in medicine. Lacking a general theory of ‘One Health’, we provide an operational definition of ‘One Health’ and its leverage as: any added value in terms of human and animal health, financial savings or environmental benefit from closer cooperation of human and animal health sectors at all levels of organisation. Examples of such added value of ‘One Health’ are given from the fields of health systems, nutrition and zoonoses control in Africa and Asia. ‘One Health’ must become main-stream rather than a new discipline or new association; it should just become normal that practitioners and professionals in the health, animal and environment sectors work together as closely as possible. Current and future challenges in financing clean energy, migration flows, food security and global trade further warrant rethinking of human and animal health services. A conceptual outlook relates health as an outcome of human-environment systems called ‘health in social-ecological systems’. The paper ends with an outlook on the operationalisation of ‘One Health’ and its future potential, specifically also in industrialised countries.
Safety and Efficacy of Apixaban in the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Martin Andrew , Stewart Ralph
Published: July 2012

Atrial fibrillation is a common arrhythmia that increases the risk of stroke and systemic embolism. Warfarin is a highly effective treatment in reducing this risk, but a narrow therapeutic range, drug and food interactions, required monitoring, and bleeding limit its use. We review Apixaban, an oral inhibitor of Factor Xa, which has been shown in large randomized trials to have superior efficacy in stroke reduction without an excess in bleeding events when compared with aspirin in those deemed unsuitable to receive warfarin, and demonstrates superior efficacy in reducing stroke and systemic embolism in addition to a reduction in bleeding events when compared to warfarin.
On the Unique Solvability of Certain Nonlinear Singular Partial Differential Equations
Authors: Lope Jose Ernie C. , Roque Marian P. , Tahara Hidetoshi
Published: July 2012

We study the singular nonlinear equation

tu_{t}=F(t,x,u,u_{x})

, where the function

F

is assumed to be continuous in

t

and holomorphic in the other variables. Under some growth conditions on the coefficients of the partial Taylor expansion of

F

, we show that if

F(t,x,0,0)

is of order

O(\mu(t)^{\alpha})

for some

\alpha\in[0,1]

as

t\rightarrow0

uniformly in some neighborhood of

x=0

, then the equation has a unique solution

u(t,x)

with the same growth order.
Korn-Type Inequalities in Orlicz-Sobolev Spaces Involving the Trace-Free Part of the Symmetric Gradient and Applications to Regularity Theory
Authors: Breit Dominic , Schirra Oliver D.
Published: July 2012

We prove variants of Korn's inequality involving the trace-free part of the symmetric gradient of vector fields

v:\Omega\rightarrow\mathbb{R}^n

(

\Omega\subset\mathbb{R}^n

), that is,

\int_\Omega h(|\nabla v|)dx \leqslant c\int_\Omega h(|\mathcal E^D v|)dx

for functions with zero trace as well as some further variants of this inequality. Here,

h

is an

N

-function of rather general type. As an application we prove partial

C^{1,\alpha}

-regularity of minimizers of energies of the type

\int_\Omega h(|\mathcal E^D v|)dx,

occurring, for example, in general relativity.
Local Boundedness for Vector Valued Minimizers of Anisotropic Functionals
Authors: Leonetti Francesco , Mascolo Elvira
Published: July 2012

For variational integrals

\mathcal{F}(u)= \int_{\Omega} f(x,Du) \,dx

defined on vector valued mappings

u:\Omega \subset \mathbb{R}^n \to \mathbb{R}^N

, we establish some structure conditions on

f

that enable us to prove local boundedness for minimizers

u \in W^{1,1}(\Omega;\mathbb{R}^N)

of

\mathcal{F}

. These structure conditions are satisfied in three remarkable examples:

f(x,Du)=g(x,|Du|)

,

f(x,Du) = \sum\limits_{j=1}^{n} g_j(x,|u_{x_j}|)

and

f(x,Du) = a(x, |(u_{x_1},\ldots ,u_{x_{n-1}})|) + b(x,|u_{x_n}|)

, for suitable convex functions

t \to g(x,t)

,

t \to g_j(x,t)

,

t \to a(x,t)

and

t \to b(x,t)

.
Multilingual Medical Data Models in ODM Format
Authors: Kenneweg J. , Fritz F. , Bruland P. , Doods D. , Trinczek B. , Dugas M. , Breil B.
Published: July 2012

Background: Semantic interoperability between routine healthcare and clinical research is an unsolved issue, as information systems in the healthcare domain still use proprietary and site-specific data models. However, information exchange and data harmonization are essential for physicians and scientists if they want to collect and analyze data from different hospitals in order to build up registries and perform multicenter clinical trials. Consequently, there is a need for a standardized metadata exchange based on common data models. Currently this is mainly done by informatics experts instead of medical experts.

Objectives: We propose to enable physicians to exchange, rate, comment and discuss their own medical data models in a collaborative web-based repository of medical forms in a standardized format.

Methods: Based on a comprehensive requirement analysis, a web-based portal for medical data models was specified. In this context, a data model is the technical specification (attributes, data types, value lists) of a medical form without any layout information. The CDISC Operational Data Model (ODM) was chosen as the appropriate format for the standardized representation of data models. The system was implemented with Ruby on Rails and applies web 2.0 technologies to provide a community based solution. Forms from different source systems – both routine care and clinical research – were converted into ODM format and uploaded into the portal.

Results: A portal for medical data models based on ODM-files was implemented (http://www.medical-data-models.org). Physicians are able to upload, comment, rate and download medical data models. More than 250 forms with approximately 8000 items are provided in different views (overview and detailed presentation) and in multiple languages. For instance, the portal contains forms from clinical and research information systems.

Conclusion: The portal provides a system-independent repository for multilingual data models in ODM format which can be used by physicians. It serves as a platform for discussion and enables the exchange of multilingual medical data models in a standardized way.
Copper-Induced Metal Release from Lead Pipe into Drinking Water
Authors: Hu J. , Gan F. , Triantafyllidou S. , Nguyen C.K. , Edwards M.A.
Published: July 2012

The effect of added cupric ions (0 mg/L to 5 mg/L Cu+2) on possible deposition corrosion of lead pipe was investigated in bench-scale experiments under flowing and stagnant water conditions. Under stagnation the presence of cupric ions in the water feeding lead pipes marginally increased lead release into the water, but under continuous recirculation it could increase lead release by orders of magnitude. Other bench-scale experiments investigated galvanic corrosion between lead and copper pipes under stagnation, confirming that water chemistry (particularly the chloride-to-sulfate mass ratio [CSMR]) is a controlling factor in either “strengthening” galvanic corrosion and increasing water lead contamination by orders of magnitude (high CSMR water) or “weakening” the galvanic effect with less but still significant contribution to water lead contamination (low CSMR water). Longitudinal water pH measurements along the length of the galvanic rigs revealed a significant pH drop close to the lead:copper junction at relatively short stagnation times in high CSMR water, which is consistent with the observations of higher lead leaching and higher galvanic current measured in that situation.
Hydrogen Permeation and Corrosion Fatigue Crack Growth Rates of X65 Pipeline Steel Exposed to Acid Brines Containing Thiosulfate or Hydrogen Sulfide
Authors: Kappes M. , Frankel G.S. , Thodla R. , Mueller M. , Sridhar N. , Carranza R.M.
Published: July 2012

Corrosion fatigue crack growth rates were obtained for X65 pipeline steel in acid brines containing thiosulfate (S2O32−) or hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Samples were exposed for 72 h at the open-circuit potential to allow bulk hydrogen charging. The corrosion fatigue crack growth rate increased with partial pressure of H2S and correlated with the steady-state flux of hydrogen permeation during corrosion in the same solutions. The rate of hydrogen absorption increased with increasing S2O32− concentration to a maximum at 10−3 M S2O32−, owing to a competition between increased surface concentration of H2S from S2O32− reduction and increased rate of iron sulfide film formation. Corrosion fatigue behavior in S2O32−-containing acidified brines is the same as in solutions with low partial pressures of H2S, in accordance with predictions from the hydrogen permeation results. This suggests that, for corrosion fatigue studies, S2O32− solutions are possible candidates for replacement of H2S gas, as long as the H2S partial pressure of interest is low. Also, the expected concentration of hydrogen inside the metal specimen at the end of the exposure period correlates with the rate of corrosion fatigue crack growth, suggesting that hydrogen charged during the pre-charging period controls corrosion fatigue crack growth.
Stress Corrosion Cracking of Sensitized Type 304 Stainless Steel in High-Temperature Water with Anionic Impurities Contamination
Authors: Scenini F. , Sherry A.
Published: July 2012

This paper describes some results selected from a larger program that was aimed at understanding the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) initiation of Type 304 stainless steel (UNS S30400) in high-temperature deaerated water. Out of a large number of statically loaded samples, only a small minority of the tested samples underwent SCC. The occurrence of SCC indicates a synergism between sensitization, ionic impurities (mainly chloride and sulfate), and/or superficial defects and cold work. In fact, none of the nonsensitized materials initiated cracking (within the time scale of the tests), while only three sensitized samples underwent extensive SCC. The crack morphology of the fractured sample was predominantly inter-granular with some transgranular regions. Transmission electron microscopic samples containing crack tips were, in most respect, in line with the literature: a magnetite/spinel duplex layer on the crack surfaces, a Cr-rich oxide at the crack tip, and Ni enrichment at the metal/oxide interface and oxidized deformation bands intercepting the crack flanks. Also, finger-like features protruding several hundreds of nanometers along the slip planes intersecting the intergranular crack were found on grain boundaries with a high degree of localized deformation. These results support the theory that cracking initiation and propagation might be associated with the formation of oxide on crystallographic planes inside the material.
Age of stratospheric air in the ERA-Interim
Authors: Diallo M. , Legras B. , Chedin A.
Published: July 2012

Abstract. The age of stratospheric air is calculated over 22 yr of the ERA-Interim reanalysis using an off-line Lagrangian transport model and heating rates. At low and mid-latitudes, the mean age of air is in good agreement with observed ages from aircraft flights, high altitude balloons and satellite observations of CO2 and SF6. The mid-latitude age spectrum in the lower stratosphere exhibits a long tail with a peak at 0.5 yr, which is maximum at the end of the winter, and a secondary flat maximum between 4 and 5 yr due to the combination of fast and slow branches of the Brewer-Dobson circulation and the reinforced barrier effect of the jet. At higher altitudes, the age spectrum exhibits the footprint of the annual modulation of the deep Brewer-Dobson circulation. The variability of the mean age is analysed through a decomposition in terms of annual cycle, QBO, ENSO and trend. The annual modulation is the dominating signal in the lower stratosphere and in the tropical pipe with amplitude up to one year. The phase of the oscillation is opposite in both hemisphere beyond 20° and is also reversed below and above 25 km with maximun arising in mid-March in the Northern Hemisphere and in mid-September in the Southern Hemisphere. The tropical pipe signal is in phase with the lower southern stratosphere and the mid northern stratosphere. The maximum amplitude of the QBO modulation is of about 0.5 yr and is mostly concentrated within the tropics between 25 and 35 km. It lags the QBO wind at 30 hPa by about 8 months. The ENSO signal is small and limited to the lower northen stratosphere. The trend is significant and negative, of the order of −0.3 to −0.5 yr dec−1, within the lower stratosphere in the Southern Hemisphere and under 40° N in the Northern Hemisphere below 25 km. It is positive (of the order of 0.3 yr dec−1) in the mid stratosphere but there is no region of consistent significance. This suggests that the shallow and deep Brewer-Dobson circulations may evolve in opposite directions. It is however difficult to estimate a reliable long-term trend from only 22 yr of data. For instance, a positive trend is found in the lower stratosphere if only the second half of the period is considered in agreement with MIPAS SF6 data excepted in the northern polar region and at high altitude. Finally, it is found that the long lasting influence of the Pinatubo eruption can be seen on the age of air from June 1991 until the end of 1993 and can bias the statistics encompassing this period. In our analysis, this eruption shifts the trend towards negative values by about 0.2 to 0.3 yr dec−1.
Cloud screening and quality control algorithm for star photometer data: assessment with lidar measurements and with all-sky images
Authors: Pérez-Ramírez D. , Lyamani H. , Olmo F. J. , Whiteman D. N. , Navas-Guzmán F. , Alados-Arboledas L.
Published: July 2012

Abstract. This paper presents the development and set up of a cloud screening and data quality control algorithm for a star photometer based on CCD camera as detector. These algorithms are necessary for passive remote sensing techniques to retrieve the columnar aerosol optical depth, δAe(λ), and precipitable water vapor content, W, at nighttime. This cloud screening procedure consists of calculating moving averages of δAe(λ) and W under different time-windows combined with a procedure for detecting outliers. Additionally, to avoid undesirable δAe(λ) and W fluctuations caused by the atmospheric turbulence, the data are averaged on 30 min. The algorithm is applied to the star photometer deployed in the city of Granada (37.16° N, 3.60° W, 680 m a.s.l.; South-East of Spain) for the measurements acquired between March 2007 and September 2009. The algorithm is evaluated with correlative measurements registered by a lidar system and also with all-sky images obtained at the sunset and sunrise of the previous and following days. Promising results are obtained detecting cloud-affected data. Additionally, the cloud screening algorithm has been evaluated under different aerosol conditions including Saharan dust intrusion, biomass burning and pollution events.
Site selective real-time measurements of atmospheric N2O isotopomers by laser spectroscopy
Authors: Mohn J. , Tuzson B. , Manninen A. , Yoshida N. , Toyoda S. , Brand W. A. , Emmenegger L.
Published: July 2012

Abstract. We describe the first high precision real-time analysis of the N2O site-specific isotopic composition at ambient mixing ratios. Our technique is based on mid-infrared quantum cascade laser absorption spectroscopy (QCLAS) combined with an automated preconcentration unit. The QCLAS allows for simultaneous and specific analysis of the three main stable N2O isotopic species, 14N15N16O, 15N14N16O, 14N14N16O, and the respective site-specific relative isotope ratio differences δ15Nα and δ 15Nβ. Continuous, stand-alone operation is achieved by using liquid nitrogen free N2O preconcentration, a quasi-room-temperature quantum cascade laser (QCL), quantitative sample transfer to the QCLAS and an optimized calibration algorithm. The N2O site-specific isotopic composition (δ15Nα and δ15Nβ) can be analysed with a long-term precision of 0.2‰. The potential of this analytical tool is illustrated by continuous N2O isotopomer measurements above a grassland plot over a three week period, which allowed identification of microbial source and sink processes.
Comparison of OH concentration measurements by DOAS and LIF during SAPHIR chamber experiments at high OH reactivity and low NO concentration
Authors: Fuchs H. , Dorn H.-P. , Bachner M. , Bohn B. , Brauers T. , Gomm S. , Hofzumahaus A. , Holland F. , Nehr S. , Rohrer F. , Tillmann R. , Wahner A.
Published: July 2012

Abstract. During recent field campaigns, hydroxyl radical (OH) concentrations that were measured by laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) were up to a factor of ten larger than predicted by current chemical models for conditions of high OH reactivity and low NO concentration. These discrepancies, which were observed in forests and urban-influenced rural environments, are so far not entirely understood. In summer 2011, a series of experiments was carried out in the atmosphere simulation chamber SAPHIR in Jülich, Germany, in order to investigate the photochemical degradation of isoprene, methyl-vinyl ketone (MVK), methacrolein (MACR) and aromatic compounds by OH. Conditions were similar to those experienced during the PRIDE-PRD2006 campaign in the Pearl River Delta (PRD), China, in 2006, where a large difference between OH measurements and model predictions was found. During experiments in SAPHIR, OH was simultaneously detected by two independent instruments: LIF and differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS). Because DOAS is an inherently calibration-free technique, DOAS measurements are regarded as a reference standard. The comparison of the two techniques was used to investigate potential artifacts in the LIF measurements for PRD-like conditions of OH reactivities of 10 to 30 s−1 and NO mixing ratios of 0.1 to 0.3 ppbv. The analysis of twenty experiment days shows good agreement. The linear regression of the combined data set (averaged to the DOAS time resolution, 2495 data points) yields a slope of 1.02 ± 0.01 with an intercept of (0.10 ± 0.03) × 106 cm−3 and a linear correlation coefficient of R2 = 0.86. This indicates that the sensitivity of the LIF instrument is well-defined by its calibration procedure. No hints for artifacts are observed for isoprene, MACR, and different aromatic compounds. LIF measurements were approximately 30–40% (median) larger than those by DOAS after MVK (20 ppbv) and toluene (90 ppbv) had been added. However, this discrepancy has a large uncertainty and requires further laboratory investigation. Observed differences between LIF and DOAS measurements are far too small to explain the unexpected high OH concentrations during the PRIDE-PRD2006 campaign.
Detecting anthropogenic carbon dioxide uptake and ocean acidification in the North Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Bates N. R. , Best M. H. P. , Neely K. , Garley R. , Dickson A. G. , Johnson R. J.
Published: July 2012

Abstract. Fossil fuel use, cement manufacture and land-use changes are the primary sources of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) to the atmosphere, with the ocean absorbing approximately 30% (Sabine et al., 2004). Ocean uptake and chemical equilibration of anthropogenic CO2 with seawater results in a gradual reduction in seawater pH and saturation states (Ω) for calcium carbonate (CaCO3) minerals in a process termed ocean acidification. Assessing the present and future impact of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems requires detection of the multi-decadal rate of change across ocean basins and at ocean time-series sites. Here, we show the longest continuous record of ocean CO2 changes and ocean acidification in the North Atlantic subtropical gyre near Bermuda from 1983–2011. Dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) increased in surface seawater by ~40 μmol kg−1 and ~50 μatm (~20%), respectively. Increasing Revelle factor (β) values imply that the capacity of North Atlantic surface waters to absorb CO2 has also diminished. As indicators of ocean acidification, seawater pH decreased by ~0.05 (0.0017 yr−1) and ω values by ~7–8%. Such data provide critically needed multi-decadal information for assessing the North Atlantic Ocean CO2 sink and the pH changes that determine marine ecosystem responses to ocean acidification.
Changes in growth of pristine boreal North American forests from 1950 to 2005 driven by landscape demographics and species traits
Authors: Girardin M. P. , Guo X. J. , Bernier P. Y. , Raulier F. , Gauthier S.
Published: July 2012

Abstract. In spite of the many factors that are occurring and known for positively affecting the growth of forests, some boreal forests across North America have recently felt the adverse impacts of environmental changes. Knowledge of causes for productivity declines in North American boreal forests remains limited, and this is owed to the large spatial and temporal scales involved, and the many plant processes affected. Here, the response of pristine eastern boreal North American (PEBNA) forests to ongoing climatic changes is examined using in situ data, community ecology statistics, and species-specific model simulations of carbon exchanges forced by contemporary climatic data. To examine trends in forest growth, we used a recently acquired collection of tree-ring width data from 252 sample plots distributed in PEBNA forests dominated by black spruce (Picea mariana [Mill.] B.S.P.) and jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.). Results of linear trend analysis on the tree growth data highlight a dominating forest growth decline in overmature forests (age > 120 years) from 1950 to 2005. In contrast, improving growth conditions are seen in jack pine and mature (70–120 years) black spruce stands. Multivariate analysis of climate and growth relationships suggests that responses of PEBNA forests to climate are dependent on demographic and species traits via their mediation of temperature and water stress constraints. In support of this hypothesis, the simulation experiment suggests that in old-growth black spruce stands the benefit to growth brought on by a longer growing season may have been low in comparison with the increasing moisture stress and respiration losses caused by warmer summer temperatures. Predicted increases in wildfire frequency in PEBNA forests will likely enhance the positive response of landscape-level forest growth to climate change by shifting the forest distribution to younger age classes while also enhancing the jack pine component.
How errors on meteorological variables impact simulated ecosystem fluxes: a case study for six French sites
Authors: Zhao Y. , Ciais P. , Peylin P. , Viovy N. , Longdoz B. , Bonnefond J. M. , Rambal S. , Klumpp K. , Olioso A. , Cellier P. , Maignan F. , Eglin T. , Calvet J. C.
Published: July 2012

Abstract. We analyze how biases of meteorological drivers impact the calculation of ecosystem CO2, water and energy fluxes by models. To do so, we drive the same ecosystem model by meteorology from gridded products and by meteorology from local observation at eddy-covariance flux sites. The study is focused on six flux tower sites in France spanning across a climate gradient of 7–14 °C annual mean surface air temperature and 600–1040 mm mean annual rainfall, with forest, grassland and cropland ecosystems. We evaluate the results of the ORCHIDEE process-based model driven by meteorology from four different analysis data sets against the same model driven by site-observed meteorology. The evaluation is decomposed into characteristic time scales. The main result is that there are significant differences in meteorology between analysis data sets and local observation. The phase of seasonal cycle of air temperature, humidity and shortwave downward radiation is reproduced correctly by all meteorological models (average R2 = 0.90). At sites located in altitude, the misfit of meteorological drivers from analysis data sets and tower meteorology is the largest. We show that day-to-day variations in weather are not completely well reproduced by meteorological models, with R2 between analysis data sets and measured local meteorology going from 0.35 to 0.70. The bias of meteorological driver impacts the flux simulation by ORCHIDEE, and thus would have an effect on regional and global budgets. The forcing error, defined by the simulated flux difference resulting from prescribing modeled instead of observed local meteorology drivers to ORCHIDEE, is quantified for the six studied sites at different time scales. The magnitude of this forcing error is compared to that of the model error defined as the modeled-minus-observed flux, thus containing uncertain parameterizations, parameter values, and initialization. The forcing error is on average smaller than but still comparable to model error, with the ratio of forcing error to model error being the largest on daily time scale (86%) and annual time scales (80%). The forcing error incurred from using a gridded meteorological data set to drive vegetation models is therefore an important component of the uncertainty budget of regional CO2, water and energy fluxes simulations, and should be taken into consideration in up-scaling studies.
Dissolution Medium Responsive Simvastatin Release from Biodegradable Apatite Cements and the Therapeutic Effect in Osteoporosis Rats
Authors: Hamada Hideyuki , Ohshima Hiroyuki , Otsuka Makoto
Published: July 2012

Bio-convertible artificial bone with slow release of anti-osteoporosis drug is useful to treat osteoporosis. Apatite cement containing 6% simvastatin (APD) had lower crystallinity than natural bone. In-vitro drug release tests in simulated body fluid (pH 7.8) and acetate buffer (pH 4.5) were performed at 37.0 C as physical models of osteoblast and osteoclast conditions (SOB and SOC). The device had a lower drug release rate under SOB, but significantly higher rates under SOC. The simvastatin release rate changed depending on dissolution media; drug release was repeated twice, and the rate under SOC was 15 times higher than under SOB. The device showed dissolution medium-responsive drug release. The device showed dissolution medium responsive drug release. After implantation of the APD in osteoporosis rats, the bone mineral density was evaluated by the x-ray computed tomography. The result indicated that the bone mineral density of APD implanted rat was significantly higher than that of control diseased. The result indicated that the device was therapeutically useful to bone regeneration.
Analysis of Tantalum Implants used for Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head: A Review of Five Retrieved Specimens
Authors: Fernández-Fairen Mariano , Murcia Antonio , Iglesias Roberto , Sevilla Pablo , Manero José Maria , Gil Francisco Javier
Published: July 2012

Aim

The effective results shown in the porous systems of tantalum employed for the use of osseointegrates has been demonstrated by means of animal experimentation. However, there is a total lack of any research studies on the osseointegration of tantalum implants from retrieval of the same after a period of time whereby the material had been implanted within the human body.

Materials and Methods

For this study, five rod implants used for the treatment of avascular necrosis of the femoral head were retrieved following collapse of the femoral head and conversion to total hip arthroplasty. The time of implantation ranged between six weeks and twenty months.

Results

Observation during this study has confirmed the effectiveness of osseointegration within this period of time. New bone was observed around and within the porous system of the on rod devices at retrieval date. The bone ingrowth, however, proved to be slower and less intense than that resulting within animal species during the first few months after implantation.

Conclusions

The results obtained in the quantitative assessment of this process proved to be similar to those results achieved by other authors in previous experimental work studies.
Quantitative Analysis of Upper Limbs during Gait: A Marker Set Protocol
Authors: Cimolin Veronica , Galli Manuela , Albertini Giorgio , Crivellini Marcello , Romkes Jacqueline , Brunner Reinald
Published: July 2012

Purpose

The main aim of the present study is to develop a marker set for simultaneously assessing upper and lower limb biomechanics during gait.

Methods

24 healthy young subjects (mean age: 23.80 years) were assessed quantitatively using an optoelectronic system, two force platform and a video system. Passive markers were positioned according to the proposed marker set which enables acquiring the upper and lower limb movement simultaneously during Gait Analysis. In addition to the traditional parameters obtained from Gait Analysis, the shoulder and elbow angles were computed from markers coordinates of upper limbs; then, some significant parameters were identified and calculated. From shoulder and elbow position, angles, angular velocities, angular acceleration, moments, and powers were calculated for shoulder and elbow joints.

Results

Kinematic and kinetic data were obtained in the three planes (sagittal, frontal, and transversal) for the shoulder and in the sagittal plane for the elbow. Normative ranges were obtained for these parameters from data of healthy participants.

Conclusions

The proposed experimental set-up enables simultaneous assessment of upper and lower limb movement during gait. Thus, no further trials are required in addition to those acquired during standard gait analysis in order to assess upper limb motion, which also makes the experimental set-up feasible for clinical applications.
Calcium Orthophosphate-Based Bone Cements (CPCs): Applications, Antibiotic Release and Alternatives to Antibiotics
Authors: Van Staden Anton d. , Dicks Leon M.T.
Published: July 2012

Calcium orthophosphate bone cements (CPCs) are widely used in orthopedic surgery. Implants are highly susceptible to infection and often lead to the formation of microbial biofilms. Antibiotics are often incorporated into bone cement to prevent infection. The increase in the number of microorganisms acquiring or developing resistance to antibiotics, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), is a major concern. Bacteriocins (antimicrobial peptides) offer an alternative to antibiotics. Their mode of activity involves permanent destabilization of the plasma membrane of target cells. A number of broad-spectrum bacteriocins produced by lactic acid bacteria and Bacillus spp. have recently been reported. In this review the major characteristics of calcium phosphate bone cements, prosthetic joint-associated infections, and treatment of these infections is discussed. The role of antimicrobial agents in CPCs is discussed and the possibility of incorporating bacteriocins in prosthetic devices is investigated.
Endometriosis: The gynecologist's opinion
Authors: Marana Riccardo , Lecca Antonella , Biscione Antonella , Muzii Ludovico
Published: July 2012

Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterine cavity. Endometriosis affects 7–10% of women of reproductive age, 60% of women with pelvic pain, and up to 50% of women with infertility. Etiology and pathogenesis of the disease are still unclear, with the theory of retrograde menstruation, and possibly associated cofactors, as the most important. The definitive method to diagnose endometriosis is visualization at surgery, preferably at laparoscopy with histology confirmation of disease. The revised classification of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine is used to stage the disease and determine the patient's prognosis. The treatment of the disease depends on the patient's age, associated symptoms, and disease stage. Medical or surgical therapy may be used in case of pain associated with endometriosis, whereas surgery is the mainstay of treatment in case of endometriosis-associated infertility.
Les effets Balassa-Samuelson peuvent-ils expliquer la dynamique de l’économie Tunisienne?
Authors: El Ferktaji Riadh , Mihoubi Ferhat
Published: July 2012

Pour rendre compte des chocs qui ont affecté l’économie tunisienne durant les 20 dernières années, nous montrons dans un premier temps que des effets Balassa-Samuelson sont à l’oeuvre. Afin de reproduire les principaux faits stylisés, le modèle dynamique d’équilibre général bisectoriel (exposé et abrité) construit comporte, dans un contexte de concurrence monopolistique, des négociations salariales en présence d’une parfaite mobilité intersectorielle du travail et des rigidités nominales sur les prix. Ce modèle permet d’expliquer l’évolution du taux de change réel et des principaux agrégats. La forte dépréciation du taux de change réel en 1986-1988 peut être reproduite par un choc négatif de demande mondiale et par une modération salariale durant le programme d’ajustement structurel. L’appréciation du taux de change réel qui a suivi serait pour sa part la conséquence de gains de productivité dans le secteur exposé et de la levée des quotas européens sur le textile.
Facteurs d’attractivité des investissements directs étrangers en Tunisie
Authors: Toumi Sofiane
Published: July 2012

La contribution des implantations étrangères à la croissance économique a poussé le gouvernement tunisien à placer l’attraction des investissements directs étrangers parmi les priorités économiques du pays, ce qui a permis le développement des politiques visant la séduction des firmes internationales. L’article se propose d’identifier les principaux déterminants des investissements étrangers. Il s’agit de dégager les nouvelles conditions d’investissements recherchées par les firmes multinationales et d’apprécier l’attractivité du territoire tunisien. D’abord, nous nous intéressons à l’évolution et aux caractéristiques des investissements étrangers attirés par la Tunisie. Ensuite, l’étude économétrique, réalisée sur des données qualitatives, permet de dégager les principaux facteurs sur lesquels repose l’attractivité du territoire tunisien.
Morphology Antibody Chromosome Technique for Determining Phenotype and Genetic Status of the Same Cell
Authors: Knuutila Sakari , Mustjoki Satu
Published: July 2012

The morphology antibody chromosome (MAC) technique is a combination of methods that permits analysis of both phenotypic and genetic evaluation on a single interphase or mitotic cell as a basis for lineage analysis of neoplastic and normal cells. This unit describes MAC with sequential phenotypic analysis using antibody and an alkaline phosphatase anti‐alkaline phosphatase (APAAP) complex and genotypic analysis using in situ hybridization with either enzymatic or fluorescence detection. Alternate methods for phenotypic analysis are also described, which include the use of horseradish peroxidase–conjugated antibodies, fluorochrome‐conjugated antibodies, May‐Grunwald‐Giemsa cytochemical staining, and Sudan black B cytochemical staining. An additional protocol describes G‐ and C‐banding as alternatives to in situ hybridization (ISH) for genotyping MAC specimens. Support protocols describe methods for preparing specimens, cytospin preparations, in situ cultures, paraffin‐embedded or cryostat sections, and blood and bone marrow smears. Also described is a procedure for chromosome painting of previously GTG‐banded slides. An additional protocol is included for FISH analysis on sorted hematopoietic stem cells and its application in the detection of leukemic stem cells. For overcoming the drawbacks of scarcity and variability from case to case of malignant plasma cells in multiple myeloma FISH analyses, a protocol is included for the enrichment of plasma cells by immunomagnetic beads. Curr. Protoc. Hum. Genet. 74:4.7.1‐4.7.43. © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Preparation, Culture, and Analysis of Amniotic Fluid Samples
Authors: Minehart Miron Patricia
Published: July 2012

Amniotic fluid obtained via amniocentesis provides a source of fetal material used in prenatal diagnosis. The fluid is used directly for biochemical analyses and as a source of fetal cells for biochemical assays, DNA testing, and chromosome studies. This unit describes an in situ method for the preparation, culture, and harvest of amniotic fluid samples for chromosome analysis. Cells are grown, harvested for metaphase spreads, and analyzed on glass coverslips. The unit also describes methods to obtain cells for additional studies (such as molecular genetic analyses) by growing cells in flasks either following passaging of cells from a glass coverslip culture or by directly establishing a flask culture from the amniotic fluid specimen. When cells are grown in flasks, they must be removed from the flask with trypsin before they can be used in studies. Curr. Protoc. Hum. Genet. 74:8.4.1‐8.4.14. © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Oligonucleotide Microarrays for Clinical Diagnosis of Copy Number Variation and Zygosity Status
Authors: Miller David T. , Shen Yiping , Wu Bai‐Lin
Published: July 2012

Detection of submicroscopic genomic copy number variation is now considered the first‐tier clinical test—in place of standard G‐banded karyotyping—in the evaluation of children with unexplained developmental delay, intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorders, or congenital anomalies. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was the first molecular method for detection of submicroscopic genomic copy number variants (CNVs), but microarray‐based comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH) has a much higher diagnostic yield for these patients when compared to traditional cytogenetic methods such as karyotype and FISH. This unit focuses on oligonucleotide arrays, including updated information about detection of long contiguous stretches of homozygosity (LCSH) through inclusion of single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) probes. Most clinical laboratories now offer arrays with some level of probe coverage throughout the genome, and many are offering detection of LCSH. Updated guidelines for array design and result interpretation are reviewed. Curr. Protoc. Hum. Genet. 74:8.12.1‐8.12.17. © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Oxide Catalysts for Rechargeable High‐Capacity Li–O2 Batteries
Authors: Oh Si Hyoung , Nazar Linda F.
Published: July 2012

Nano‐crystalline mixed metal oxides with an expanded pyrochlore structure are synthesized by a chemical precipitation route in alkaline media. The high concentration of surface active sites afforded by their high surface area, intrinsically variable oxidation state and good electron transport lead to promising electrocatalytic properties for oxygen evolution in Li‐O2 cells, yielding rechargeable discharge capacities over 10 000 mAh g−1 and lowering anodic overpotentials significantly. The discharge capacity of the Li‐O2 cell is increased further when a small amount of gold is deposited on the pyrochlore oxide, which serves as a more efficient oxygen reduction catalyst. The amount of catalyst necessary for oxygen evolution performance is reduced to as little as 5 wt% by supporting the highly‐divided pyrochlore oxide crystallites on carbon using in‐situ deposition methods.
Genetic studies in congenital anterior midline cervical cleft
Authors: Jakobsen L.P. , Pfeiffer P. , Andersen M. , Eiberg H. , Hansen L. , Mang Y. , Bak M. , Møller R.S. , Klitten L.L. , Tommerup N.
Published: July 2012

Congenital anterior midline cervical cleft (CAMCC) is a rare anomaly, with less than 100 cases reported. The cause of CAMCC is unknown, but genetic factors must be considered as part of the etiology. Three cases of CAMCC are presented. This is the first genetic study of isolated CAMCC. Conventional cytogenetics, array‐comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and whole exome sequencing were performed, including a search of relevant syndromes in the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database. Array CGH indicated a loss of the PAPPA gene in one of the patients, while exome sequencing showed a mutation in SIX5 in another patient. Both aberrations were inherited from unaffected parents. These results most likely imply that the identified mutations are not disease‐causing, although they may be contributing factors if CAMCC has a polygenic inheritance. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Investigation of diachronic dietary patterns on the islands of Ibiza and Formentera, Spain: Evidence from sulfur stable isotope ratio analysis
Authors: Nehlich Olaf , Fuller Benjamin T. , Márquez‐Grant Nicholas , Richards Michael P.
Published: July 2012

We present sulfur isotope ratio measurements of bone collagen from animals (n = 75) and humans (n = 120) from five sites dating to four chronological periods (Chalcolithic, Punic, Late Antiquity‐Early Byzantine, and Islamic) from the Balearic Islands of Ibiza and Formentera, Spain. This study is a follow up to previously published δ13C and δ15N values by [Fuller et al.: Am J Phys Anthropol 143 (2010) 512–522] and focuses on using δ34S values to better understand the dietary patterns of these populations through time and to possibly identify immigrants to these islands. The range of δ34S values (10.5–17.8‰) observed for the animals was relatively broad, which suggests that a significant sea spray effect has added marine sulfates to the soils of Formentera and Ibiza. The mean δ34S values of the different human populations were found to be: Chalcolithic (16.5 ± 1.4‰), Punic rural (13.6 ± 1.7‰), Punic urban (12.9 ± 1.8‰), Late Antiquity‐Early Byzantine (12.3 ± 2.1‰), and Islamic (9.1 ± 2.7‰). These human δ34S results are similar to the animal data, a finding that supports the notion that there was little marine protein consumption by these societies and that the diet was mainly based on terrestrial resources. During the Punic and Late Antiquity‐Early Byzantine periods the δ34S values were used to identify individuals in the population who likely were not born or raised on the islands. In addition, 18 of the 20 individuals analyzed from the Islamic period have δ34S values that indicate that they were immigrants to Ibiza who died before acquiring the new local sulfur isotopic signature. Am J Phys Anthropol 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.