bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mathematical modelling of transport phenomena in concrete matrix
Authors: Plecas I. , Dimovic S.
Published: June 2012

Two fundamental concerns must be addressed when attempting to isolate
low-level waste in a disposal facility on land. The first concern is
isolating the waste from water, or hydrologic isolation. The second is
preventing movement of the radionuclides out of the disposal facility, or
radionuclide migration. Particularly, we have investigated the latter
modified scenario. To assess the safety for disposal of radioactive
waste-concrete composition, the leakage of 60Co from a waste composite into a
surrounding fluid has been studied. Leakage tests were carried out by
original method, developed in Vinca Institute. Transport phenomena involved
in the leaching of a radioactive material from a cement composite matrix are
investigated using three methods based on theoretical equations. These are:
the diffusion equation for a plane source an equation for diffusion coupled
to a first-order equation, and an empirical method employing a polynomial
equation. The results presented in this paper are from a 25-year mortar and
concrete testing project that will influence the design choices for
radioactive waste packaging for a future Serbian radioactive waste disposal
center.
Quick-dip and contact method of cutting rooting of Zelkova carpinifolia (Pall.) K. Koch as an alternative non-invasive species
Authors: Grbic Mihailo , Skocajic Dragana , Djukic Matilda , Djunisijevic-Bojovic Danijela , Obratov-Petkovic Dragica , Bjedov Ivana
Published: June 2012

Two methods of rooting of Zelkova softwood cuttings were analyzed: (1)
quick-dip method and (2) contact method - the thin polyethylene film (20 mm)
laid directly over the cuttings during the rooting process. The control for
contact method was a low tunnel with a thick polyethylene film. One group of
cuttings in the contact method was treated with quick-dip (IBA 2,500
?g?mL-1, carrier-ethyl alcohol) during 5 sec, and the other group was
treated with water solution of IBA (50 ?g?mL-1) in 24-hour treatment. The
third group was control - untreated cuttings. The same groups of cuttings
were also used in low tunnels. The number and length of primary and
secondary roots were measured on rooted cuttings. The results of all
treatments show that contact method in combination with water solution of
IBA was the best with 92% of rooted cuttings. No significant differences
were obtained between this treatment and quick-dip + contact method (85.3%).
Rooting of cuttings under low tunnel was significantly lower. In general,
contact method was better than low tunnel, disregarding the carrier used.
These results recommend the almost unknown contact method in nursery
propagation of Zelkova, as an alternative, non-invasive species for the
conditions in Serbia.
Ehresmann connection in the geometry of nonholonomic systems
Authors: Baksa Aleksandar
Published: June 2012

This article deals with a dynamic system whose motion is constrained by
nonholonomic, reonomic, affine constraints. The article analyses the
geometrical properties of the ?reactions" of nonholonomic constraints in
Voronets?s equations of motion. The analysis shows their link with the
torsion of the Ehresmann connection, which is defined by the nonholonomic
constraints.
On Gauss-Bonnet theorem
Authors: Jaric Jovo
Published: June 2012

A very simple proof of the Gauss-Bonnet theorem is given in invariant form,
i.e., independent of the coordinate system of a surface.
On the principle of stationary isoenergetic action
Authors: Jovanovic Bozidar
Published: June 2012

We present several variants of the Maupertuis principle, both on the exact
and the nonexact symplectic manifolds.
In vitro Shoot Proliferation and Plant Regeneration of Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus Nees. a Rare Medicinal Shrub of Bangladesh
Authors: Hassan A.K. M. Sayeed , Begum Nadira , Sultana Rebeka , Khatun Rahima
Published: June 2012

An efficient protocol was developed for shoot proliferation and plant regeneration of Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus Nees. (Acanthaceae) - a rare medicinal shrub of Bangladesh, through in vitro culture using shoot tip and nodal explants. Best shoot induction was observed on MS with 1.0 mg/l BAP + 0.5 mg/l NAA, in which 84.2% of nodal explants responded to produce maximum number (12.4 ± 0.66) of shoots per culture. In vitro raised shoots rooted on half-strength MS with 0.5 mg/l IBA + 0.5 mg/l NAA. For acclimation and transplantation, the plantlets in the rooting culture tubes were kept in normal room temperature for 7 days before transplanting in pots where plantlets were reared for three weeks. The survival rate of regenerated plantlets was 85%. Key words: Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus, Shoot proliferation, Plant regeneration   D. O. I. 10.3329/ptcb.v21i2.10236   Plant Tissue Cult. & Biotech. 21(2): 135-141, 2011 (December)
Lentil Regeneration from Cotyledon Explant Bearing a Small Part of the Embryo Axis
Authors: Tavallaie F. Zaker , Ghareyazie B. , Bagheri A. , Sharma K.K.
Published: June 2012

The effect of external BAP on explants including leaflets, stems, cotyledons with and without embryo axis of lentil (Lens culinaris Medic.) were tested on the frequency of shoot induction. The effect of different levels and combinations of various cytokinins on multiple shoot induction and elongation of shoots were compared. The effect of explant age and pH of media were also tested on shoot induction from various explants. Finally, the effect of IBA, IAA, and NAA on root induction of elongated shoots were examined. Optimum conditions for root emergence and growth and the hardening of seedlings were determined. Cotyledon with small part of the embryo axis was the superior explant. Shoot induction from the explants was enhanced by inclusion of BAP in the seed germination medium. The highest shoot induction (up to 96%) was obtained on MS with 7.5 µM 2-ip, 4 µM kn, and 2 µM TDZ. Over 80% of the elongated shoots produced roots in solid 1/4 BS media with 50 µM NAA for 3 days followed by 10 days in a mixture of liquid 1/4 BS, vermiculite and sand. Root development and hardening of the seedlings was achieved by using a hydroponics system containing Arnons solution. Tissue culture derived plants were transplanted to the greenhouse where the seeds were harvested after about 4 months.   Key words: regeneration, Cotyledon, Embryo axis, Lentil, Lens culinaris   D. O. I. 10.3329/ptcb.v21i2.10240   Plant Tissue Cult. & Biotech. 21(2): 169-180, 2011 (December)
A High Performance Real-Time Simulator for Controllers Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing
Authors: Matar Mahmoud , Karimi Houshang , Etemadi Amir , Iravani Reza
Published: June 2012

This paper presents a high performance real-time simulator for power electronic systems applications and primarily intended for controller hardware-in-the-loop (CHIL) testing. The novelty of the proposed simulator resides in the massively parallel hardware architecture that efficiently exploits fine-grained parallelism without imposing severe communication overhead time that can limit the performance. The simulator enables the use of a nanosecond range simulation timestep to simulate power electronic systems. Through the use of this nanosecond range simulation timestep, the simulator minimizes the error arising from the intersimulation timestep switching phenomenon associated with CHIL. The proposed hardware architecture is realized based on the FPGA technology. The simulator is tested and its CHIL capability verified based on the closed-loop testing of a robust multivariable servomechanism controller for autonomous operation of a distributed generation unit.
Using Silviculture to Influence Carbon Sequestration in Southern Appalachian Spruce-Fir Forests
Authors: Moore Patrick T. , DeRose R. Justin , Long James N. , Van Miegroet Helga
Published: June 2012

Enhancement of forest growth through silvicultural modification of stand density is one strategy for increasing carbon (C) sequestration. Using the Fire and Fuels Extension of the Forest Vegetation Simulator, the effects of even-aged, uneven-aged and no-action management scenarios on C sequestration in a southern Appalachian red spruce-Fraser fir forest were modeled. We explicitly considered C stored in standing forest stocks and the fate of forest products derived from harvesting. Over a 100-year simulation period the even-aged scenario (250 Mg C ha−1) outperformed the no-action scenario (241 Mg C ha−1) in total carbon (TC) sequestered. The uneven-aged scenario approached 220 Mg C ha−1, but did not outperform the no-action scenario within the simulation period. While the average annual change in C (AAC) of the no-action scenario approached zero, or carbon neutral, during the simulation, both the even-aged and uneven-aged scenarios surpassed the no-action by year 30 and maintained positive AAC throughout the 100-year simulation. This study demonstrates that silvicultural treatment of forest stands can increase potential C storage, but that careful consideration of: (1) accounting method (i.e., TC versus AAC); (2) fate of harvested products and; (3) length of the planning horizon (e.g., 100 years) will strongly influence the evaluation of C sequestration.
Nurses’ Critical Role in Identifying Sepsis and Implementing Early Goal-Directed Therapy
Authors: Winterbottom Fiona
Published: June 2012

Nurses play a critical role in detecting early sepsis-related manifestations and improving adherence to implementation of early goal-directed therapy. Educating staff about sepsis management through translation of best practices is critical to improving sepsis-related outcomes.
Nonunion of Humeral Shaft Fractures Following Flexible Nailing Fixation
Authors: Rosenbaum Andrew , Uhl Richard
Published: June 2012

The treatment of humeral shaft fractures ranges from conservative modalities to operative fixation, including plate osteosynthesis and intramedullary fixation. Nonunion is a complication of conservative and operative interventions but is more often associated with elastic nailing. This article discusses elucidates the successful outcomes achieved with flexible nailing of humeral shaft fractures.
Etiology and Severity of Impingement Injuries of the Acetabular Labrum: What Is the Role of Femoral Morphology?
Authors: Dy Christopher J. , Schroder Steven J. , Thompson Matthew T. , Alexander Jerry W. , Noble Philip C.
Published: June 2012

Injuries to the acetabular labrum have been seen in association with femoroacetabular impingement, but recent studies have reported labral pathology in patients with normal hip morphology. The hypothesis of the current study was that labral lesions could occur without femoroacetabular impingement but that labral pathology would occur more commonly and more severely in hip joints that exhibit reduced head–neck offset. The presence, location, and severity of labral injury were recorded in 22 cadaveric specimens. Computed tomography was used to define the anatomic parameters of proximal femoral morphology. Three-dimensional modeling was used to simulate hip positions that typically cause labral impingement, including high flexion and internal rotation. Femoral morphology was compared between specimens with and without labral pathology using descriptive statistics. Labral pathology was seen in 15 of 22 specimens and was located in the anterosuperior portion of the labrum. No difference existed in age, femoral neck shaft angle, anteversion, acetabular depth, head diameter, alpha angle, or beta angle between specimens with and without labral pathology. The severity of labral pathology correlated with the alpha angle of the proximal femur. This study demonstrates that damage to the labrum may occur in hips with normal proximal femur morphology. However, the findings also indicate that the presence of morphologic features that increase the risk of impingement may predispose the hip joint to a characteristic pattern or severity of labral pathology. The results confirm the importance of considering both femoral morphology and athletic-type activities of the hip when determining the mechanism responsible for injury of the acetabular labrum.
Operative Treatment of Isolated Greater Tuberosity Fractures: Retrospective Review of Clinical and Functional Outcomes
Authors: Yin Bob , Moen Todd C. , Thompson Scott A. , Bigliani Louis U. , Ahmad Christopher S. , Levine William N.
Published: June 2012

Displaced isolated greater tuberosity fractures are rare injuries that require operative treatment to optimize rotator cuff function and prevent painful subacromial impingement. A lack of consensus exists regarding ideal management of these injuries because of the paucity of literature on the subject.

The outcomes of 17 patients treated with open (n=15) or arthroscopic (n=2) fixation at the authors’ institution between 2001 and 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. Postoperative range of motion, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, visual analog scale (VAS) score, and overall patient satisfaction were recorded at final follow-up. At a mean of 5.2 years (range 1.5–9.7 years), average postoperative active forward elevation was 150.3° (range, 60°–180°), ASES score was 82.9 (range, 46.7–100), and VAS score was 1.4 (range, 0–5). According to Neer’s criteria, the overall outcome was excellent in 11 (65%) patients, satisfactory in 5 (29%) patients, and unsatisfactory in 1 (6%) patient. Final postoperative radiographs were available for 15 patients at a mean of 6.64 months. Radiographic union with near-anatomic position of the greater tuberosity was achieved in 13 (87%) of 15 patients. The presence of rotator cuff and rotator interval tears requiring repair, history of dislocation, age 60 years or older, and delayed time to surgery ⩾10 days did not significantly (
P
>.05) influence the patients’ final active forward elevation and ASES scores.

Favorable patient outcomes can be achieved when fractures with >5 mm of displacement are treated with anatomic reduction and secure fixation. For a specific injury, the ideal surgical approach and method of fixation is dictated by patient characteristics and fracture pattern.
Prophylactic Intramedullary Fixation for Bisphosphonate-related Subtrochanteric Stress Fracture
Authors: Fowler John R. , Criner Katharine , Craig Matthew R.
Published: June 2012

Bisphosphonates are the most widely used medication to treat osteoporosis. Recent reports have documented an association between chronic bisphosphonate use and femoral insufficiency fractures. This article describes an 84-year-old woman with a diagnosis of osteoporosis treated with bisphosphonate medications for 9 years. She presented with left groin pain, and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a subtrochanteric femoral stress fracture. Operative and nonoperative management was discussed with the patient, and she chose to undergo prophylactic intramedullary nailing of the left femur. Six months postoperatively, she was asymptomatic and ambulating without assistive devices.

This article describes successful management of a bisphosphonate-related femoral insufficiency fracture. The presence of groin or thigh pain in a patient taking bisphosphonates should alert the physician to the possibility of insufficiency fracture of the proximal femur, and plain radiographs should be obtained. If these radiographs show lateral cortical thickening, consideration should be given to prophylactic intramedullary femoral nailing. The risks and benefits of prophylactic fixation vs conservative management should be discussed with the patient. A recent series showed a high failure rate with conservative treatment of these fractures. A dialogue with the primary care physician should be initiated to determine the necessity of bisphosphonate therapy, and, if deemed necessary, an alternative class of medications should be considered.
Rapidly Destructive Arthropathy of the Hip Joint in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Yun Ho Hyun , Song Seung Yeop , Park Sung Bum , Lee Jee Wun
Published: June 2012

This article describes 3 patients with rheumatoid arthritis in which hip joint conditions were similar to rapidly destructive arthropathy of the hip joint. The patients had the following additional characteristics: (1) age at diagnosis was comparatively older; (2) rheumatoid arthritis had an onset after age 40 years; (3) severe rheumatoid arthritis was present in >4 major joints; (4) long-term steroids and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs were taken due to the high activity of rheumatoid arthritis; and (5) patients were underweight, with body mass indexes <20 kg/m
2
.

Rapidly destructive arthropathy of the hip joint rarely occurs in osteoarthritis, avascular necrosis of the femoral head, and rheumatoid arthritis. Clinically, rapidly destructive arthropathy of the hip joint occurs in elderly patients who report severe pain but have a relatively preserved range of motion. Typical radiologic changes in rapidly destructive arthropathy of the hip joint are rapid destruction, resorption, or subluxation of the femoral head, destruction of the acetabulum, and minimal spur formation developing 6 to 12 months after symptom onset. Destruction of the hip joint in rheumatoid arthritis occurs in the sequence of depression, flattening, and loss, and commonly progresses gradually. When patients with rheumatoid arthritis report persistent and severe pain in the hip joint with no specific cause, rapidly destructive arthropathy of the hip joint must be identified through repetitive follow-up radiographic observations.
Distal Radioulnar Joint Volar Instability After Ligament Reconstruction Failure Treated with Sigmoid Notch Osteotomy
Authors: Kim Byung-Sung , Song Hyun-Seok , Jung Koo-Hwang , Kim Hyung-Tae
Published: June 2012

Because osseous abnormalities result in distal radioulnar joint instability, a sigmoid notch osteotomy is used to restore stability. This article describes a case of distal radioulnar joint volar instability treated with sigmoid notch osteotomy of the volar rim.

A 22-year-old man presented with a 9-month history of right wrist pain with volar instability after a fall, which was treated conservatively. He reported a history of remote trauma when he was 7 years old but had been asymptomatic since then. Four months later, he underwent anatomical distal radioulnar joint ligament reconstruction at another hospital after a diagnosis of distal radioulnar joint instability, but the instability had persisted.

Computed tomography revealed dynamic volar subluxation of the ulnar head with hypoplasia and a flattened volar lip of the sigmoid notch. Therefore, a sigmoid notch osteotomy of the volar rim was performed. Postoperatively, an above-elbow cast was applied with forearm pronation for 6 weeks. Six months later, the patient had regained 60° of supination and 70° of pronation. He reported minor pain and no instability. Computed tomography scan at 6 months postoperatively revealed union of the osteotomy site and confirmed the maintenance of reduction. The patient returned to work.
Treatment of Femoral Fracture Nonunion After Long-term Bisphosphonate Use
Authors: Grady Mary K. , Watson J. Tracy , Cannada Lisa K.
Published: June 2012

Bisphosphonates are a class of drugs that prevent bone loss by decreasing bone resorption. They represent a major treatment for osteoporosis and other metabolic bone diseases. Recent reports suggest that a potential complication of long-term bisphosphonate therapy may be atypical insufficiency fractures of the femur. Concern exists about delayed union after fracture stabilization in patients taking bisphosphonates.

This article describes 2 patients on long-term bisphosphonate therapy treated for atypical femur fractures that failed to heal with intramedullary nailing. Both patients’ fractures occurred after at least 4.5 years of bisphosphonate use and displayed classic findings of bisphosphonate fractures reported in the literature, including a subtrochanteric location, presentation after minimal trauma, transverse fracture, no comminution, and cortical beaking. The original fractures were treated at other institutions with intramedullary nails. Subsequently, both patients presented with pain and atrophic nonunion of their fractures. Evaluation included a computed tomography scan of the fracture and a metabolic workup. The patients discontinued bisphosphonate therapy. They were treated with nail removal and definitive plating to achieve compression across the fracture site. Both fractures went on to heal after this treatment with no further complications.

The literature currently recommends treating bisphosphonate fractures with an intramedullary nail. Perhaps initial treatment of these fractures should be similar to an atrophic nonunion, involving compression plating to obtain bone-on-bone contact and promote healing. This would address the biologic and mechanical etiologies of the bisphosphonate fracture.
Thoracic Vertebral Body Fracture After Total Hip Replacement in Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis
Authors: Königshausen Matthias , Dudda Marcel , Merle Christian , Schildhauer Thomas Armin , Fehmer Tobias
Published: June 2012

This article describes the critical clinical sequelae of a patient with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis who sustained an acute iatrogenic thoracic vertebral body fracture with subsequent spinal cord injury after a total hip replacement, with a final lethal course.

A 57-year-old woman was referred to the authors’ institution after undergoing a total hip replacement in the supine position for secondary osteoarthritis. Postoperatively, the patient had symptoms of an incomplete paraplegia. Computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging revealed diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis and an acute unstable fracture of T11 with spinal contusion. A posterior spinal fusion of T10-L1 with laminectomy of T11 was performed immediately on admission. Postoperatively, no improvement of the neurological deficit was observed. After developing multiorgan failure while in intensive care, the patient died 2 months after the total hip replacement.

The morphological and functional symptoms of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis with the typical ossification of the longitudinal ligaments and the associated loss of bending forces of the spine were detected postoperatively. This severe case demonstrates that the surgeon must be alert to possible complications due to intraoperative maneuvers in patients with stiffened spinal disorders undergoing total hip replacement.
Vertebral Locking Lesion Following Cervical Spine Fracture in Ankylosing Spondylitis
Authors: Kuroiwa Tomoyuki , Yoshii Toshitaka , Sakaki Kyohei , Inose Hiroyuki , Tomizawa Shoji , Kato Tsuyoshi , Kawabata Shigenori , Shinomiya Kenichi , Okawa Atsushi
Published: June 2012

Spine fractures in patients with ankylosing spondylitis frequently extend to all 3 columns, which can lead to displacement and deformity with severe instability. Cervical spine fractures occasionally cause severe kyphotic deformities, such as chin-on-chest deformities. In such cases, the patients typically exhibit a chronic progression of hyperkyphosis after the traumatic event. This article describes a unique case of ankylosing spondylitis associated with an acute chin-on-chest deformity following a spine fracture due to a vertebral locking lesion.

A 60-year-old man fell while walking and sustained a compression fracture of the C6 vertebra. Two weeks later, the patient acutely developed an inability to raise his head, difficulties with chewing and swallowing, and a horizontal gaze. Radiographs demonstrated a severe kyphosis in the cervical spine with a locking lesion between the anterior wall of the C5 and C6 vertebrae. The patient also presented with neurological impairment in his hands. Because the anterior approach to the spine was anatomically impossible, halo traction was initially applied under a close observation of neurological symptoms. Three days after halo traction, release of the vertebral locking lesion and realignment of the spine were seen. The patient subsequently underwent spinal fusion using a combined anterior–posterior approach.

Postoperatively, neurological dysfunction improved, and solid fusion was confirmed at 6 months. In cases of acute kyphotic deformity following cervical spine fracture in ankylosing spondylitis patients, halo traction followed by circumferential spine fusion is a safe and effective approach for improving the alignment and stability of the spine.
Intraocular Lens Explantation Technique for One-piece Acrylic Lenses
Authors: Henderson Bonnie A. , Yang E. Bo
Published: June 2012

PURPOSE:

To present a simple technique to remove a one-piece, acrylic AcrySof (Alcon Laboratories Inc) intraocular lens (IOL) via the original incision.

METHODS:

The AcrySof IOL is removed via the original (2.75-mm) incision, without cutting or folding the IOL or widening the incision. After the IOL is viscodissected from the capsular bag and brought into the anterior chamber, toothed forceps hold the optic through the incision while the manipulator enters the side-port incision and hooks onto the optic 180° away.

RESULTS:

With the forceps pulling and the lens manipulator pushing the IOL toward the incision, the IOL will fold and be delivered.

CONCLUSIONS:

A one-piece, acrylic (Acrysof) IOL can be removed without cutting or folding the lens and without widening the original 2.75-mm incision.
Abnormal Histone Methylation Is Responsible for Increased Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor 165a Secretion from Airway Smooth Muscle Cells in Asthma
Authors: Clifford Rachel L. , John Alison E. , Brightling Christopher E. , Knox Alan J.
Published: June 2012

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a key angiogenic molecule, is aberrantly expressed in several diseases including asthma where it contributes to bronchial vascular remodeling and chronic inflammation. Asthmatic human airway smooth muscle cells hypersecrete VEGF, but the mechanism is unclear. In this study, we defined the mechanism in human airway smooth muscle cells from nonasthmatic and asthmatic patients. We found that asthmatic cells lacked a repression complex at the VEGF promoter, which was present in nonasthmatic cells. Recruitment of G9A, trimethylation of histone H3 at lysine 9 (H3K9me3), and a resultant decrease in RNA polymerase II at the VEGF promoter was critical to repression of VEGF secretion in nonasthmatic cells. At the asthmatic promoter, H3K9me3 was absent because of failed recruitment of G9a; RNA polymerase II binding, in association with TATA-binding protein-associated factor 1, was increased; H3K4me3 was present; and Sp1 binding was exaggerated and sustained. In contrast, DNA methylation and histone acetylation were similar in asthmatic and nonasthmatic cells. This is the first study, to our knowledge, to show that airway cells in asthma have altered epigenetic regulation of remodeling gene(s). Histone methylation at genes such as VEGF may be an important new therapeutic target.
Tratamiento del consumo de alcohol y su prevención en prensa española desde la perspectiva del framing: El País, El Mundo, Abc y La Razón
Authors: Paricio-Esteban Pilar , Rodríguez-Luque Cristina , Rabadán-Zaragoza María-José
Published: June 2012

En este artículo, se presentan los resultados tras analizar 103 textos que versaban sobre el alcohol en los diarios El País (22) , El Mundo (35), Abc (24) y La Razón (22) en los meses de enero a junio de 2009. La metodología aplicada es doble, por un lado el análisis hemerográfico estructural siguiendo el modelo de Kayser (1982) y por otro el análisis de contenido basado en la teoría del framing ya aplicado en tratamiento periodístico de la biotecnología (Durant, Bauer, y Gaskell, 1998; Nisbet, M.C., Brossard, y Kroepsch, 2003; Rodríguez Luque, 2009) y adaptado al tema de las drogas (Paricio, 2010) para lo cual se ha obtenido una fiabilidad en las 67 variables de un 90% en el coeficiente Kappa de Cohen. Los textos se dedican al alcohol suelen ser noticias (66,9%) cuyo tema principal está relacionado con el conflicto (19 textos) destacando los textos que lo relacionan con la conducción (9). El encuadre o frame más representativo usado por los periodistas es el delito en 62 textos y hay también una proporción considerable dedicada a nuevas investigaciones (11 textos) y a epidemiología (15 textos). Sin embargo, se aprecian pocos de textos dedicados a la prevención (4,85%) o a la presencia de instituciones dedicadas a ello (2,91%).
Renewed methane increase for five years (2007–2011) observed by solar FTIR spectrometry
Authors: Sussmann R. , Forster F. , Rettinger M. , Bousquet P.
Published: June 2012

Abstract. Trends of column-averaged methane for the time period (1996, Sep 2011) are derived from the mid-infrared (mid-IR) solar FTIR time series at the Zugspitze (47.42° N, 10.98° E, 2964 m a.s.l.) and Garmisch (47.48° N, 11.06° E, 743 m a.s.l.). Trend analysis comprises a fit to the de-seasonalized time series along with bootstrap resampling for quantifying trend uncertainties. We find a positive trend during [1996, 1998] of 9.0 [3.2, 14.7] ppb yr−1 for Zugspitze (95% confidence interval), an insignificant growth during [1999, mid 2006] of 0.8 [−0.1, 1.7] ppb yr−1 (Zugspitze), and a significant renewed increase during [mid 2006, Sep 2011] of 5.1 [4.2, 6.0] ppb yr−1 for Garmisch, which is in agreement with 4.8 [3.8, 5.9] ppb yr−1 for Zugspitze. The agreement of methane trends at the two closely neighboring FTIR sites Zugspitze and Garmisch within the uncertainties indicates a good station-to-station consistency as a basis for future trend analyses by the ground-based mid-IR FTIR network on the global scale. Furthermore, the Zugspitze FTIR trend for the time interval [Jul 2006, Jun 2009] is found to agree with the trend derived from SCIAMACHY (WFM-DOAS v2.0.2) data within the 95% confidence intervals. In case a 1000-km pixel selection radius around the Zugspitze is used, the confidence interval is narrower for the FTIR trend (6.9 [4.2, 9.5] ppb yr−1) compared to SCIAMACHY (7.1 [5.1, 8.6] ppb yr−1). If, however, a loosened pixel selection is used (≈1000-km half-width latitudinal band), the SCIAMACHY trend significance interval is narrower (6.8 [5.1, 8.6] ppb yr−1) compared to Zugspitze FTIR (5.7 [3.0, 8.3] ppb yr−1). While earlier studies using surface network data revealed changes of 8.0 ± 0.6 ppb in 2007, 6.4 ± 0.6 ppb in 2008, and 4.7 ± 0.6 ppb in 2009 (Dlugokencky et al., 2011), our updated result proves that the renewed methane increase meanwhile has been persisting for >5 years [mid 2006, Sep 2011]. This is either the longest and largest positive trend anomaly since the beginning of systematic observations more than 25 years ago or the onset of a new period of strongly increasing CH4 levels in the atmosphere. Several scenarios have been developed to explain the persistent increase observed, mainly invoking an increase in emissions from natural wetlands, an increase in fossil fuel-related emissions or a decrease in OH concentrations. However, more work is needed to fully attribute this increase to a particular source or sink.
FTIR time-series of biomass burning products (HCN, C2H6, C2H2, CH3OH, and HCOOH) at Reunion Island (21° S, 55° E) and comparisons with model data
Authors: Vigouroux C. , Stavrakou T. , Whaley C. , Dils B. , Duflot V. , Hermans C. , Kumps N. , Metzger J.-M. , Scolas F. , Vanhaelewyn G. , Müller J.-F. , Jones D. B. A. , Li Q. , De Mazière M.
Published: June 2012

Abstract. Reunion Island (21° S, 55° E), situated in the Indian Ocean at about 800 km east of Madagascar, is appropriately located to monitor the outflow of biomass burning pollution from Southern Africa and Madagascar, in the case of short-lived compounds, and from other Southern Hemispheric landmasses such as South America, in the case of longer-lived species. Ground-based Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) solar absorption observations are sensitive to a large number of biomass burning products. We present in this work the FTIR retrieval strategies, suitable for very humid sites such as Reunion Island, for hydrogen cyanide (HCN), ethane (C2H6), acetylene (C2H2), methanol (CH3OH), and formic acid (HCOOH). We provide their total columns time-series obtained from the measurements during August–October 2004, May–October 2007, and May 2009–December 2010. We show that biomass burning explains a large part of the observed seasonal and interannual variability of the chemical species. The correlations between the daily mean total columns of each of the species and those of CO, also measured with our FTIR spectrometer at Reunion Island, are very good from August to November (R≥0.86). This allows us to derive, for that period, the following enhancement ratios with respect to CO: 0.0047, 0.0078, 0.0020, 0.012, and 0.0046 for HCN, C2H6, C2H2, CH3OH, and HCOOH, respectively. The HCN ground-based data are compared to the chemical transport model GEOS-Chem, while the data for the other species are compared to the IMAGESv2 model. We show that using the HCN/CO ratio derived from our measurements (0.0047) in GEOS-Chem reduces the underestimation of the modelled HCN columns compared with the FTIR measurements. The comparisons between IMAGESv2 and the long-lived species C2H6 and C2H2 indicate that the biomass burning emissions used in the model (from the GFED3 inventory) are probably underestimated in the late September–October period for all years of measurements, and especially in 2004. The comparisons with the short-lived species, CH3OH and HCOOH, with lifetimes of around 5 days, suggest that the emission underestimation in late September–October 2004, occurs more specifically in the Southeastern Africa-Madagascar region. The very good correlation of CH3OH and HCOOH with CO suggests that, despite the dominance of the biogenic source of these compounds on the global scale, biomass burning is their major source at Reunion Island between August and November.
Organic matter dynamics and stable isotope signature as tracers of the sources of suspended sediment
Authors: Schindler Wildhaber Y. , Liechti R. , Alewell C.
Published: June 2012

Abstract. Suspended sediment (SS) and organic matter in rivers can harm brown trout Salmo trutta by affecting the health and fitness of free swimming fish and by causing siltation of the riverbed. The temporal and spatial dynamics of sediment, carbon (C), and nitrogen (N) during the brown trout spawning season in a small river of the Swiss Plateau were assessed and C isotopes as well as the C/N atomic ratio were used to distinguish autochthonous and allochthonous sources of organic matter in SS loads. The visual basic program IsoSource with 13Ctot and 15N as input isotopes was used to quantify the temporal and spatial sources of SS. Organic matter concentrations in the infiltrated and suspended sediment were highest during low flow periods with small sediment loads and lowest during high flow periods with high sediment loads. Peak values in nitrate and dissolved organic C were measured during high flow and high rainfall, probably due to leaching from pasture and arable land. The organic matter was of allochthonous sources as indicated by the C/N atomic ratio and δ13Corg. Organic matter in SS increased from up- to downstream due to an increase of pasture and arable land downstream of the river. The mean fraction of SS originating from upper watershed riverbed sediment decreased from up to downstream and increased during high flow at all measuring sites along the course of the river. During base flow conditions, the major sources of SS are pasture, forest and arable land. The latter increased during rainy and warmer winter periods, most likely because both triggered snow melt and thus erosion. The measured increase in DOC and nitrate concentrations during high flow support these modeling results. Enhanced soil erosion processes on pasture and arable land are expected with increasing heavy rain events and less snow during winter seasons due to climate change. Consequently, SS and organic matter in the river will increase, which will possibly affect brown trout negatively.
Ibp, Inc. V. Alvarez: Has the Supreme Court Placed Employers on the Cutting Block?
Authors: Felton Rachel
Published: June 2012

According to the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in IBP, Inc. v. Alvarez, walking that takes place during the workday may not only be good for employees’ health, but may also be good for their paychecks as any time employees spend walking after the donning of and prior to the doffing of required safety equipment must now be compensated under the Fair LaborStandards Act. While this is good news for employees, it is not good news to numerous employers for a several reasons. Based on the Supreme Court’s decision, employers are likely to face increases in liability and expenditures; increases in expenditures are most likely to take the form of litigation, labor, and restructuring costs, and will also include costs associated withimplementing new workplace rules and policies regarding the donning and doffing of protective equipment and any related walking, and new timekeeping policies. Additionally, while not employer-specific problems, the application of the decision to the reality of the workplace creates opportunities for different compensation treatment of relatively similarly situated employees.
Application of the CISG Before the Foreign Trade Court of Arbitration at the Serbian Chamber of Commerce—Looking Back at the Latest 100 Cases
Authors: Paviæ Vladimir , Djordjeviæ Milena
Published: June 2012

Although former Yugoslavia had been active in the drafting process of the 1980 UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) and was one of the first countries to ratify the CISG,1 the subsequent application of the CISG before national courts and arbitral tribunals based in Serbia has not been monitored on a regular basis. This survey attempts to bridge a serious gap which has occurred in reporting cases on the CISG originating from Serbia.
Protecting a Client’s Confidences: Recent Developments in Privileged Communication Between Attorneys and Accountants
Authors: Barsky Noah P. , Catanach Anthony H. , Lipin Ilya A. , Rhoades-Catanach Shelley C.
Published: June 2012

The attorney-client privilege is one of the foundations of ourjurisprudence. Originally, designed to prevent attorneys from testifying against their clients, the privilege eventually evolved to reflect legal, societal, and financial complexities. This privilege depends on full disclosure and open communication between attorney and the client in order to provide competent and adequate representation. Today, attorneys often require and rely on expert guidance of accountants for various issues pertaining to litigation and transactional work.This article illustrates how the recent cases of Commissioner v. Comcast Corp. and United States v. Textron affect privileged communications in complex tax and transactional matters between attorneys and accountants retained for the purposes of client representation. The article also offers guidance on how to preserve privilege in communication between attorneys and accountants as waiver of such privilege may have significant and costly implications. At conclusion, unresolved issues pertaining to privileged communication are discussed and solutions are offered.
Legislative Intervention in Corporate Governance is Not a Necessary Response to Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission
Authors: Yoder Stephen A.
Published: June 2012

Few recent decisions of the United States Supreme Court have created quite the stir as did Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. One reason the opinion had such an effect is that it contains a smorgasbord of business-related legal and political issues, including issues relating to election law, ethics, social responsibility, stare decisis, judicial review, selection of Supreme Court Justices, the definition of free speech, and corporate “personhood” for purposes of the First Amendment. Perhaps surprising for a case involving a lawsuit brought by a nonprofit public advocacy organization against the federal agency charged with enforcing federal election laws, the opinion also ventures into one of the most important current issues in corporate governance, the role of shareholders in the business and affairs of a corporation.
H19-Promoter-Targeted Therapy Combined with Gemcitabine in the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Sorin Vladimir , Ohana Patricia , Gallula Jennifer , Birman Tatiana , Matouk Imad , Hubert Ayala , Gilon Michal , Hochberg Avraham , Czerniak Abraham
Published: June 2012

Pancreatic cancer is the eighth cancer leading cause of cancer-related death in the world and has a 5-year survival rate of 1–4% only. Gemcitabine is a first line agent for advanced pancreatic therapy; however, its efficacy is limited by its poor intracellular metabolism and chemoresistance. Studies have been conducted in an effort to improve gemcitabine treatment results by adding other chemotherapeutic agents, but none of them showed any significant advantage over gemcitabine monotherapy. We found that 85% of human pancreatic tumors analyzed by in situ hybridization analyses showed moderated to strong expression of the H19 gene. We designed a preclinical study combining gemcitabine treatment and a DNA-based therapy for pancreatic cancer using a non viral vector BC-819 (also known as DTA-H19), expressing the diphtheria toxin A chain under the control of the H19 gene regulatory sequences. The experiments conducted either in an orthotopic and heterotopic pancreatic carcinoma animal model showed better antitumor activity following the sequential administration of the vector BC-819 and gemcitabine as compared to the effect of each of them alone. The results presented in the current study indicate that treatment with BC-819 in combination with gemcitabine might be a viable new therapeutic option for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.
Racial/Ethnic Variability in Diabetes Mellitus among United States Residents Is Unexplained by Lifestyle, Sociodemographics and Prognostic Factors
Authors: Holmes Laurens , Hossain Jobayer , Ward Doriel , Opara Franklin
Published: June 2012

Background. The mortality and prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) vary across racial/ethnic groups with African Americans/blacks being disproportionately affected. However, it is unclear to what extent such disparities persist after the adjustment for covariates related to race/ethnicity and/or DM in the population. We aimed to assess racial/ethnic disparities in DM and to determine which covariates account for the observed racial/ethnic variabilities. Materials and Methods. We utilized a large cross-sectional survey of the US noninstitutionalized residents (n=30,852) to investigate the racial/ethnic disparities in diabetes mellitus, and the degree in which the disparities are explained by the relevant covariates. Pearson’s chi-square was used to examine study variables by race/ethnicity, while logistic regression was used to assess the effect of race/ethnicity and other covariates on DM prevalence. Results. There were statistically significant ethnic/racial differences with respect to income, education, marital status, smoking, alcohol, physical activities, body mass index, and age, P<0.05, but not insurance coverage, P>0.05. Race/ethnicity was a single independent predictor of DM, with African Americans (non-Hispanic blacks) more likely to be diagnosed for DM compared with non-Hispanic whites, prevalence odds ratio (POR) 1.45, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.30–1.62, while Hispanics were less likely to be diagnosed, POR = 0.98, 95% CI 0.87–1.09. Similarly, after controlling for potential confounders, the racial/ethnic variability in DM between AA/blacks and non-Hispanic whites persisted, adjusted POR = 1.30, 95% CI 1.15–1.47. Conclusions. Racial/ethnic variability exists in DM prevalence and is unexplained by racial/ethnic variance in education, income, marital status, smoking, alcohol, physical activities, age, and sex.
Between a rock and a hard place: stigma and the desire to have children among people living with HIV in northern Uganda
Authors: Nattabi Barbara , Li Jianghong , Thompson Sandra C , Orach Christopher G , Earnest Jaya
Published: June 2012

Background

HIV‐related stigma, among other factors, has been shown to have an impact on the desire to have children among people living with HIV (PLHIV). Our objective was to explore the experiences of HIV‐related stigma among PLHIV in post‐conflict northern Uganda, a region of high HIV prevalence, high infant and child mortality and low contraception use, and to describe how stigma affected the desires of PLHIV to have children in the future.

Methods

Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 26 PLHIV in Gulu district, northern Uganda. The interviews, conducted in Luo, the local language, were audio recorded, transcribed and then translated into English. Thematic data analysis was undertaken using NVivo8 and was underpinned by the “Conceptual Model of HIV/AIDS Stigma”.

Results

HIV‐related stigma continues to affect the quality of life of PLHIV in Gulu district, northern Uganda, and also influences PLHIV's desire to have children. PLHIV in northern Uganda continue to experience stigma in various forms, including internal stigma and verbal abuse from community members. While many PLHIV desire to have children and are strongly influenced by several factors including societal and cultural obligations, stigma and discrimination also affect this desire. Several dimensions of stigma, such as types of stigma (received, internal and associated stigma), stigmatizing behaviours (abusing and desertion) and agents of stigmatization (families, communities and health systems), either directly, or indirectly, enhanced or reduced PLHIV's desire to have more children.

Conclusion

The social‐cultural context within which PLHIV continue to desire to have children must be better understood by all health professionals who hope to improve the quality of PLHIV's lives. By delineating the stigma process, the paper proposes interventions for reducing stigmatization of PLHIV in northern Uganda in order to improve the quality of life and health outcomes for PLHIV and their children.