bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Invasiveness potential of Miscanthus sinensis: implications for bioenergy production in the United States
Authors: QUINN LAUREN D. , ALLEN DAMIAN J. , STEWART J. RYAN
Published: July 2010

Miscanthus sinensis (Anderss.) is a perennial grass species that has been grown widely as an ornamental since the late 1800s and is now being considered for bioenergy production in the United States. With its ability to be grown from seed and tolerate cold climates, this species offers practical advantages over current cultivars of the higher‐yielding hybrid species, M.×giganteus. Yet a large‐scale release of M. sinensis for bioenergy production in colder northern regions could result in new invasions into natural areas. We show, with reference to historical records and data collected in six wild US populations of M. sinensis in 2009, that ornamental varieties of this species have a long history of localized escape in the Eastern United States, primarily within the Appalachian region. To prevent further escape and gene flow, we recommend the development of sterile or functionally sterile varieties of M. sinensis or the restriction of its usage as a donor of genetic material to new sterile cultivars of M. ×giganteus. Other appropriate precautions for new biomass varieties include experimental demonstration of low invasiveness in the target region ahead of commercial production, along with postintroduction stewardship programs.
Influence of light and anoxia on chemiosmotic energy conservation in Dinoroseobacter shibae
Authors: Holert Johannes , Hahnke Sarah , Cypionka Heribert
Published: July 2010

In the present study we have investigated the influence of light and anoxia on the energetic state of the aerobic anoxygenic phototroph (AAP) Dinoroseobacter shibae. Respiration, chemiosmotic proton translocation and the adenylate energy charge (AEC) of the cells were measured comparing light versus dark and oxic versus anoxic conditions. Light caused a decrease of the respiration rates of washed cells. This might be a substitution rather than a direct inhibitory effect, because both photosynthesis and respiration contribute to the proton‐motive force. As known from other AAPs, light alone did not induce proton translocation if applied to anoxic cell suspensions. However, additions of small oxygen pulses to anoxic cell suspensions caused two times more proton translocation in the light than in the dark. The AEC of the cells was measured by means of a modified luciferin‐luciferase method. Growing cells of D. shibae kept an AEC of 0.93, indicating that the adenylate pool was highly phosphorylated. After harvesting and storing the cells under anoxic conditions for 2 h, the AEC dropped to 0.12. However, the cells remained reactive. Upon addition of oxygen, the AEC increased to its original value within 40 s by the formation of about 12 mM of intracellular ATP. There were no differences whether this recovery experiment was carried out in the dark or in the light. We conclude that D. shibae is able to change its energetic state not only in response to the light regime but also during oxic–anoxic transitions. Both responses appear suited to save in situ organic substrates and endogenous electron donors, thus enhancing the role of photosynthetic energy conservation.
A TUTORIAL ON BOTTLENECK DYNAMICS: A HEURISTIC SCHEDULING METHODOLOGY
Authors: MORTON THOMAS , NARAYAN VENKATESH , RAMNATH PRASAD
Published: July 2010

We give a tutorial on bottleneck dynamics. Bottleneck dynamics is a scheduling framework that uses approximate dual resource prices to make decentralized decisions. The basic idea is to establish a price for a resource as a function of the set of jobs that need to be processed by the resource. Tasks are then sequenced according to a cost/benefit ratio. Starting with one resource sequencing problems, we describe how priorities for jobs can be developed and how they translate into resource prices. We then describe how resource prices can be approximated in a multiresource situation and how lead times which are critical for these approximations can be accurately computed. We also describe a number of studies that have shown bottleneck dynamics to be an effective approach in several different problem areas.
THE IMPACT OF HUMAN ERROR ON DELIVERING SERVICE QUALITY
Authors: Stewart Douglas M. , Chase Richard B.
Published: July 2010

This paper opens a new avenue for investigation of quality issues in services. We take the viewpoint that a substantial portion of service failures is the result of human error in the delivery process. Drawing upon the Generic Error Modeling System (gems) from the cognitive science literature, we develop a framework for understanding the role of human error in service failures. An empirical investigation assesses the applicability of this framework to services, identifies which error mechanisms are important sources of service failure, and clarifies how the different roles of customers and providers affect the errors made by each.
LOT‐SIZING RULE AND FREEZING THE MASTER PRODUCTION SCHEDULE UNDER CAPACITY CONSTRAINT AND DETERMINISTIC DEMAND
Authors: ZHAO XIANDE , XIE JINXING , JIANG QIYUAN
Published: July 2010

This paper investigates the performance impact of lot‐sizing rule (LSR) selection and freezing of the master production schedule (MPS) in multi‐item single‐level systems with a single resource constraint under deterministic demand. The results of the study show that the selection of LSRS and the parameters for freezing the MPS have a significant impact on total cost, schedule instability, and the service level of the system. However, the selection of LSRS does not significantly influence the selection of the MPS freezing parameters. The basic conclusions concerning the performance of the freezing parameters under a capacity constraint agreed with previous research findings without consideration of capacity constraints.
A NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF CAPACITATED POSTPONEMENT
Authors: GRAMAN GREGORY A. , MAGAZINE MICHAEL J.
Published: July 2010

Customer satisfaction can be achieved by providing rapid delivery of a wide variety of products. High levels of product variety require correspondingly high levels of inventory of each item to quickly respond to customer demand. Delayed product differentiation has been identified as a strategy to reduce final product inventories while providing the required customer service levels. However, it is done so at the cost of devoting large production capacities to the differentiation stage. We study the impact of this postponement capacity on the ability to achieve the benefits of delayed product differentiation. We examine a single‐period capacitated inventory model and consider a manufacturing system that produces a single item that is finished into multiple products. After assembly, some amount of the common generic item is completed as non‐postponed products, whereas some of the common item is kept as in‐process inventory, thereby postponing the commitment to a specific product. The non‐postponed finished‐goods inventory is used first to meet demand. Demand in excess of this inventory is met, if possible, through the completion of the common items. Our results indicate that a relatively small amount of postponement capacity is needed to achieve all of the benefits of completely delaying product differentiation for all customer demand. This important result will permit many firms to adopt this delaying strategy who previously thought it to be either technologically impossible or prohibitively expensive to do so.
MODELING CUSTOMER SATISFACTION IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS: ASSESSING THE EFFECTS OF MULTIPLE TRANSACTION POINTS ON THE PERCEIVED OVERALL PERFORMANCE OF THE PROVIDER
Authors: ATHANASSOPOULOS ANTREAS D. , ILIAKOPOULOS ANASTASIOS
Published: July 2010

The ability of telecommunication operators to focus successfully on the customer has proven to be one of the most competitive issues toward the end of the 20th century. The services management literature is short of theoretical and empirical studies on customer satisfaction measurement in the telecommunications industry. This, however, is contrary to the industry practice since almost all major telecommunications companies around the world gather information about customer satisfaction and other related information about the quality of their services. Our research focuses on the customer satisfaction function of residential customers of a major European telecommunications company. Customer satisfaction is seen as the overall performance of the telecommunications company stemming from adequate service provision, value for money, loyalty, and relationship management. The antecedents of the performance of the organization are obtained from the contact points between the customers and the service points of the telecommunications company.
Economic Evaluation of Scale Dependent Technology Investments
Authors: Lederer Phillip J. , Mehta Tushar D.
Published: July 2010

We study the effect of financial risk on the economic evaluation of a project with capacity decisions. Capacity decisions have an important effect on the project̂s value through the up‐front investment, the associated operating cost, and constraints on output. However, increased scale also affects the financial risk of the project through its effect on the operating leverage of the investment. Although it has long been recognized in the finance literature that operating leverage affects project risk, this result has not been incorporated in the operations management literature when evaluating projects.

We study the decision problem of a firm that must choose project scale. Future cash flow uncertainty is introduced by uncertain future market prices. The firm's capacity decision affects the firm's potential sales, its expected price for output, and its costs. We study the firm's profit maximizing scale decision using the CAPM model for risk adjustment.

Our results include that project risk, as measured by the required rate of return, is related to the inverse of the expected profit per unit sold. We also show that project risk is related to the scale choice. In contrast, in traditional discounted cash flow analysis (DCF), a fixed prescribed rate is used to evaluate the project and choose its scale. When a fixed rate is used with DCF, a manager will ignore the effect of scale on risk and choose suboptimal capacity that reduces project value. S/he will also misestimate project value.

Use of DCF for choosing scale is studied for two special cases. It is shown that if the manager is directed to use a prescribed discount rate that induces the optimal scale decision, then the manager will greatly undervalue the project. In contrast, if the discount rate is set to the risk of the optimally‐scaled project, the manager will undersize the project by a small amount, and slightly undervalue the project with the economic impact of the error being small. These results underline the importance of understanding the source of financial risk in projects where risk is endogenous to the project design.
A Note on the Growth of Research in Service Operations Management
Authors: Smith Jeffery S. , Karwan Kirk R. , Markland Robert E.
Published: July 2010

We present an empirical assessment of the productivity of individuals and institutions in terms of service operations management (SOM) research. We reviewed five mainstream operations management journals over a 17‐year time period to generate a sample of 463 articles related to service operations. The results indicate that SOM research has been growing and key contributions are being made by an array of researchers and institutions.
Automobile, Information and Communication Technology and Space Industries as Icons of South Korean Economic Nationalism
Authors: Lopez‐Aymes Juan Felipe
Published: July 2010

South Korea is one of the most successful newly industrialized countries in recent history in terms of sustained growth and wealth distribution where poverty has been mostly eradicated. This paper joins the argument that economic growth and development in Korea would have been unlikely to take off and develop without economic nationalism as a binding ingredient – or force – that has given direction to modernization policies. This paper asserts that economic nationalism in Korea is not necessarily a negative force and that it remains effective despite globalization and the neoliberal influence, which apparently undervalues it. In order to demonstrate the validity of the argument, three industries are compared and analyzed: the automotive, information and communication technology, and aerospace industries. The paper reviews the trajectories of these industries in accordance with the present and past stages of economic development in Korea. The relevance of the paper to the current scholarship is that in order to understand the contemporary political and economic developments in South Korea and their implications for the regional political economy it is necessary to recognize the issue of economic nationalism as explained here. The comparative method used to analyze the case studies provides a clearer picture of the evolutionary process and, hopefully, it helps the reader to discern likely future trends in Korean economic policy.
No Evidence for Induction of ABC Transporters in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Humans after 14 Days of Efavirenz Treatment
Authors: Burhenne Jürgen , Matthée Anne-Kathrin , Pasáková Ivana , Röder Claudia , Heinrich Tilman , Haefeli Walter Emil , Mikus Gerd , Weiss Johanna
Published: July 2010

Intracellular concentrations of antiretroviral drugs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are an important determinant of therapeutic success.In vitrodata indicate that efavirenz induces several ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, and pharmacogenetic studies found an association betweenABCB1(C3435T) and efavirenz exposure and between this polymorphism and improved virological outcomes. We therefore aimed to clarify whether efavirenz also induces ABC transportersin vivoin PBMCs and whether intracellular concentrations might be altered after induction. Twelve healthy individuals received multiple oral doses of efavirenz over 14 days (400 mg once daily). Blood samples were drawn on study days 1 (single dose) and 14 (multiple dose), and efavirenz concentrations were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Expression of P glycoprotein (P-gp) and of the multidrug resistance-associated proteins 1 and 2 as well as P-gp activity was analyzed in PBMCs on day 1 and day 14 using real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) and rhodamine 123 efflux. Although a clear autoinduction could be confirmed by a significant decrease of efavirenz exposure from day 1 to day 14, efavirenz did not change expression of the ABC transporters or P-gp activity in PBMCs. Moreover, intracellular concentrations of efavirenz were 1.3- to 1.8-fold higher than the corresponding plasma concentrations, and the intracellular/plasma concentration ratio remained constant during the treatment and did not correlate with ABC transporter expression or function. In conclusion, our study confirmed that intracellular concentrations of efavirenz are independent from these efflux transporters and demonstrated for the first time that the transporters are not induced in PBMCsin vivoafter 2 weeks of treatment with efavirenz.
Characterization and PCR-Based Replicon Typing of Resistance Plasmids in
Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Bertini Alessia , Poirel Laurent , Mugnier Pauline D. , Villa Laura , Nordmann Patrice , Carattoli Alessandra
Published: July 2010

Acinetobacter baumannii
is an opportunistic pathogen, especially in intensive care units, and multidrug-resistant isolates have increasingly been reported during the last decade. Despite recent progress in knowledge of antibiotic resistance mechanisms in
A. baumannii
, little is known about the genetic factors driving isolates toward multidrug resistance. In the present study, the
A. baumannii
plasmids were investigated through the analysis and classification of plasmid replication systems and the identification of
A. baumannii
-specific mobilization and addiction systems. Twenty-two replicons were identified by
in silico
analysis, and five other replicons were identified and cloned from previously uncharacterized
A. baumannii
resistance plasmids carrying the OXA-58 carbapenem-hydrolyzing oxacillinase. Replicons were classified into homology groups on the basis of their nucleotide homology. A novel PCR-based replicon typing scheme (the
A. baumannii
PCR-based replicon typing [AB-PBRT] method) was devised to categorize the
A. baumannii
plasmids into homogeneous groups on the basis of the nucleotide homology of their respective replicase genes. The AB-PBRT technique was applied to a collection of multidrug-resistant
A. baumannii
clinical isolates carrying the
bla
OXA-58
or
bla
OXA-23
carbapenemase gene. A putative complete conjugative apparatus was identified on one plasmid whose self-conjugative ability was demonstrated
in vitro
. We showed that this conjugative plasmid type was widely diffused in our collection, likely representing the most important vehicle promoting the horizontal transmission of
A. baumannii
resistance plasmids.
Sequence of pNL194, a 79.3-Kilobase IncN Plasmid Carrying the
bla
VIM-1
Metallo-β-Lactamase Gene in
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Authors: Miriagou V. , Papagiannitsis C. C. , Kotsakis S. D. , Loli A. , Tzelepi E. , Legakis N. J. , Tzouvelekis L. S.
Published: July 2010

The nucleotide sequence of pNL194, a VIM-1-encoding plasmid, is described in this study. pNL194 (79,307 bp) comprised an IncN-characteristic segment (38,940 bp) and a mosaic structure (40,367 bp) including
bla
VIM-1
,
aacA7
,
aadA1
,
aadA2
,
dfrA1
,
dfrA12
,
aphA1
,
strA
,
strB
, and
sul1
. Tn
1000
or Tn
5501
insertion within
fipA
probably facilitated recruitment of additional mobile elements carrying resistance genes.
Pharmacokinetics of Darunavir/Ritonavir and Rifabutin Coadministered in HIV-Negative Healthy Volunteers
Authors: Sekar Vanitha , Lavreys Ludo , Van de Casteele Tom , Berckmans Cindy , Spinosa-Guzman Sabrina , Vangeneugden Tony , De Pauw Martine , Hoetelmans Richard
Published: July 2010

The drug-drug interaction between rifabutin (RFB) and darunavir/ritonavir (DRV/r) was examined in a randomized, three-way crossover study of HIV-negative healthy volunteers who received DRV/r 600/100 mg twice a day (BID) (treatment A), RFB 300 mg once a day (QD) (treatment B), and DRV/r 600/100 mg BID plus RFB 150 mg every other day (QOD) (treatment C). The sequence of treatments was randomized, and each treatment period lasted 12 days. Full pharmacokinetic profiles were determined for DRV, ritonavir, and RFB and its active metabolite, 25-
O
-desacetylrifabutin (desRFB), on day 13. The DRV and ritonavir areas under the plasma concentration-time curve from zero to 12 h (AUC
12h
) increased by 57% and 66%, respectively, in the presence of RFB. The RFB exposure was comparable between treatment with RFB QD alone (treatment B) and treatment with DRV/r plus RFB QOD (treatment C); however, based on least-square means ratios, the minimum plasma concentration (
C
min
) increased by 64% and the maximum plasma concentration (
C
max
) decreased by 28%, respectively. The exposure (AUC within the dosage interval and at steady state [AUC
τ
]) to desRFB was considerably increased (by 881%) following treatment with DRV/r/RFB. The exposure to the parent drug plus the metabolite increased 1.6-fold in the presence of DRV/r. Adverse events (AEs) were more commonly reported during combined treatment (83% versus 44% for RFB and 28% for DRV/r); similarly, grade 3-4 AEs occurred in 17% versus 11% and 0%, respectively, of volunteers. Eighteen of 27 volunteers (66.7%) prematurely discontinued the trial; all volunteers discontinuing for safety reasons (
n
= 9) did so during RFB treatment phases. These results suggest that DRV/r may be coadministered with RFB with a dose adjustment of RFB to 150 mg QOD and increased monitoring for RFB-related AEs. Based on the overall safety profile of DRV/r, no dose adjustment of DRV/r is considered to be warranted. Given the safety profile seen with the combination of RFB with a boosted protease inhibitor in this and other studies, it is not recommended to conduct further studies with this combination in healthy volunteers.
Gödel Prize and other CS awards
Authors: Rosenberger Jack
Published: July 2010

Sanjeev Arora, Joseph S.B. Mitchell, and other researchers are recognized for their contributions to computer science.
Intelligent service machine
Authors: Tung Wei-Fung , Yuan Soe-Tsyr
Published: July 2010

Introduction

The service sector is becoming increasingly important to the economies of many countries, especially developed countries. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recently released its report Promoting Innovation in Services, which noted that government policy in developed countries has not been attuned to the service sector. For better satisfying the needs of customers, providers now attempt to add or create value through services. To unravel the changing worldview of marketing, a new dominant logic is service-centered model of exchange (such as intangibles, competences, dynamics, exchange processes and relationships, and operant resources) in 21
st
century.

In many leading companies, services are more than half of the company's revenue, and usually the fastest growing part, for example, IBM, GE, Xerox, and GM. Whereas the two paradoxes dominate the future of competition in services---customers face choices that yield less satisfaction, while managers face more strategic options that yield less value. They argue that the traditional system of company centered value creation needs to be re-examined. Meanwhile, a service can be regarded as a service system (composed of subsystems/components) and service innovation is to co-create the service productivity and satisfaction. Spohrer indicated that service systems are complex adaptive systems made up of people and people are complex and adaptive themselves, which are dynamic and open rather than simple and optimized. Therefore, facilitating the development of service systems for value co-operation is crucial to the fulfillment of service innovation.

A traditional service industry generally adopts the physical medium in co-producing service systems, while the emerging service industry is increasingly exerting the electronic medium4 so as to raise service productivity. As a consequence, the competitive position of a service company now depends much on its ability to use technologies to co-create the service productivity and satisfaction through innovative electronic delivery channels. In this paper, we suggest the notion of intelligent service machine to provide service companies with a systematic and quantitative capability on designing service systems aiming for both service productivity and satisfaction (in analogy to the machine metaphor in the manufacturing era). Furthermore, we propose a construct model of intelligent service machine, followed by a machine-aware service-system design framework (named
iDesign
) and an ex-emplifier of intelligent service machine (named
mDesignStorming
).
How a service-oriented architecture may change the software development process
Authors: Haines Marc N. , Rothenberger Marcus A.
Published: July 2010

Introduction

Software development practices have evolved substantially during the past decade. As so called "agile" approaches have gained more acceptance and applications have become progressively more distributed in terms of their physical execution and the development of components, the service-oriented approach to IT architecture has become an important alternative to traditional software development. Another impetus for the trend to a Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) is provided by enterprise system vendors as they are incorporating the service-oriented paradigm into their products. Substantial efforts related to open standards (such as Web service standards) and open source products (such as open source enterprise service bus, development tools) are further driving a service-oriented approach for information systems.

A key question is whether SOA adopters are going to be ready for this change and whether they can provide a technical and an organizational environment in which SOA-related technologies can be leveraged to their full potential. There is some indication that currently this may not be the case. In fact, some organizations that have embarked on SOA-related projects early have experienced disappointments. As with other technology waves, the important question is not whether SOA is inherently a good or a bad idea, but rather how it can be done right in a given context. This article tries to answer this question with respect to the software development process.

While much of the literature, both in academia and industry, has focused on business implications of SOA, technological realization, architectural issues, and implementation guidelines, few publications have addressed the impact of SOA on the software development process and its methodology. As with any organizational change, modifications to software development processes or practices entail switching cost. Therefore, individuals as well as organizations are inclined to stay with "proven" methodologies, although adjustments based on task requirements and technology characteristics should be key drivers for the methodology choice and are needed to help adopters leverage the full potential of SOA.

This article examines the differences and discusses which parts of development process and methodology may require adjustments to effectively leverage a SOA. It presents the results of a field study suggesting changes to software development practices that are necessary to accommodate the unique properties of the service-oriented approach.
Accuracy of D-Dimers to Rule Out Venous Thromboembolism Events across Age Categories
Authors: Der Sahakian G. , Claessens Y. E. , Allo J. C. , Kansao J. , Kierzek G. , Pourriat J. L.
Published: July 2010

Background. Strategies combining pretest clinical assessment and D-dimers measurement efficiently and safely rule out venous thromboembolism events (VTE) in low- and intermediate-risk patients.Objectives. As process of ageing is associated with altered concentrations of coagulation markers including an increase in D-dimers levels, we investigated whether D-dimers could reliably rule out VTE across age categories.Method. We prospectively assessed the test performance in 1,004 patients visiting the emergency department during the 6-month period with low or intermediate risk of VTE who also received additional diagnostic procedures.Results. 67 patients had VTE with D-dimers levels above the threshold, and 3 patients displayed D-dimers levels below the threshold. We observed that specificity of D-dimers test decreased in an age-dependent manner. However, sensitivity and negative predictive value remained at very high level in each age category including older patients.Conclusion. We conclude that, even though D-dimers level could provide numerous false positive results in elderly patients, its high sensitivity could reliably help physicians to exclude the diagnosis of VTE in every low- and intermediate-risk patient.
Analgesic Efficacy of Pfannenstiel Incision Infiltration with Ropivacaine 7.5 mg/mL for Caesarean Section
Authors: Nguyen N. K. , Landais A. , Barbaryan A. , M'Barek M. A. , Benbaghdad Y. , McGee K. , Lanba P.
Published: July 2010

Background. Pain after Caesarean delivery is partly related to Pfannenstiel incision, which can be infiltrated with local anaesthetic solutions.Methods. A double- blind randomized control trial was designed to assess the analgesic efficacy of 7.5 mg/mL ropivacaine solution compared to control group, in two groups of one hundred and forty four parturients for each group, who underwent Caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia: group R (ropivacaine group) and group C (control group). All parturients also received spinal sufentanil (2.5 g).Results. Ropivacaine infiltration in the Pfannenstiel incision for Caesarean delivery before wound closure leads to a reduction of 30% in the overall consumption of analgesics (348 550 mg for group R versus 504 426 mg for group C with ), especially opioids in the first 24 hours, but also significantly increases the time interval until the first request for an analgesic (4 h 20 min 2 h 26 for group R versus 2 h 42 1 h 30 for group C). ThePvalues for the two groups were: for paracetamol, for ketoprofen andPfor nalbuphine which was the most significant. There is no significant difference in the threshold of VAS in the two series.Conclusion. This technique can contribute towards a programme of early rehabilitation in sectioned mothers, with earlier discharge from the post-labour suite.
Eddy Correlation Measurements of Ozone Fluxes over Coastal Waters West of Ireland
Authors: McVeigh Philip , O′Dowd Colin , Berresheim Harald
Published: July 2010

Measurements of ozone fluxes using the eddy‐correlation (EC) technique were carried out for the first time at the Mace Head atmospheric research station, on the west coast of Ireland between August‐October 2009. Vertical exchange of ozone was measured from a tower platform at 22 m above mean sea level to study fluxes over coastal waters excluding the tidal region. The results were averaged over 30 min and exhibited predominantly downward but also upward transport of ozone in the boundary layer. Data quality was found to be high based on inspection of cospectra and micrometeorological measurements. During the study period, a major physical influence on O3 fluxes was found to be wind speed. Measured fluxes were of the same magnitude as reported in previous open ocean studies ranging from approximately +0.2 to −0.5 μg m−2 s−1 (−0.017 μg m−2 s−1 on average, corresponding to a deposition velocity of 0.25 mm s−1 or a surface resistance of 4.13 s mm−1). These results are considered to represent ozone fluxes over shallow coastal waters west of Ireland for conditions during summer and fall not affected by phytoplankton blooms.
Life-Saving Super-Urgent Liver Transplantation with Replacement of Retrohepatic Vena Cava by Dacron Graft
Authors: Aseni Paolo , Lauterio Andrea , Slim Abdallah Omar , Giacomoni Alessandro , Lamperti Luca , De Carlis Luciano
Published: July 2010

We describe a modified technique of side-to-side cavo-cavostomy by Dacron interposition prosthesis during a super urgent liver transplantation. A liver graft from a deceased donor was immediately requested on a top priority basis as a consequence of massive bleeding during extended left hepatectomy for a huge hepatic haemangioma arising from the caudate lobe. Veno-venous bypass was employed during anhepatic phase but it was disconnected due to severe fibrinolysis and hypothermia. A porto-caval shunt was performed and the inferior vena cava outflow was restored by a Dacron interposition prosthesis. A liver graft from a deceased donor was available 16 hours later. Due to the shortness of the vena cava of the donor liver graft, the removal of the Dacron graft was impossible and a modified side-to-side cavo-cavostomy between the Dacron interposition graft and the vena cava of the donor liver was than performed. Liver transplantation was uneventful and the patient is doing well 25 months after the surgical procedure. Although the use of synthetic vascular prosthesis should usually be discouraged during organ transplantation, its exceptional use during liver transplantation is possible with long-term good
results.
Hypertension in Pregnancy and Later Cardiovascular Risk
Authors: Romundstad Pål R. , Magnussen Elisabeth B. , Smith George Davey , Vatten Lars J.
Published: July 2010

Background—

Preeclampsia and gestational hypertension are associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease later in life. We have assessed whether the effect can be attributed to factors that operate in pregnancy or to prepregnancy risk factors that are shared by both disorders.

Methods and Results—

Longitudinal data from 2 consecutive waves of a Norwegian population-based study (the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study [HUNT]) were combined with data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway. Among 24 865 women who had participated in both HUNT 1 and 2, we indentified 3225 women with a singleton birth between the 2 studies who had standardized measurements of blood pressure, serum lipids, and body mass index. The crude results showed that women who experienced preeclampsia or gestational hypertension in pregnancy had substantially higher levels of body mass index and systolic and diastolic blood pressures and unfavorable lipids compared with other women. However, after adjustment for prepregnancy measurements, the difference in body mass index was attenuated by >65%, and the difference in blood pressure was attenuated by ≈50%. In relation to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides, differences between the groups were attenuated by 40% and 72%, respectively.

Conclusions—

These results suggest that the positive association of preeclampsia and gestational hypertension with postpregnancy cardiovascular risk factors may be due largely to shared prepregnancy risk factors rather than reflecting a direct influence of the hypertensive disorder in pregnancy.
HK-2 Human Renal Proximal Tubule Cells as a Model for G Protein–Coupled Receptor Kinase Type 4–Mediated Dopamine 1 Receptor Uncoupling
Authors: Gildea John J. , Shah Ishan , Weiss Ryan , Casscells Nicholas D. , McGrath Helen E. , Zhang Jin , Jones John E. , Felder Robin A.
Published: July 2010

HK-2 human renal proximal tubule cells (RPTC) are commonly used in the in vitro study of “normal” RPTCs. We discovered recently that HK-2 cells are uncoupled from dopamine 1 receptor (D
1
R) adenylyl cyclase (AC) stimulation. We hypothesized that G protein–coupled receptor kinase type 4 (GRK4) single nucleotide polymorphisms may be responsible for the D
1
R/AC uncoupling in HK-2. This hypothesis was tested by genotyping GRK4 single nucleotide polymorphisms, measuring D
1
-like receptor agonist (fenoldopam)-stimulated cAMP accumulation, quantifying D
1
R inhibition of sodium transport, and testing the ability of GRK4 small interfering RNA to reverse the D
1
R/AC uncoupling. We compared HK-2 with 2 normally coupled human RPTC cell lines and 2 uncoupled RPTC cell lines. The HK-2 cell line was found to have 4 of 6 potential GRK4 single nucleotide polymorphisms known to uncouple the D
1
R from AC (namely, R65L, A142V, and A486V). AC response to fenoldopam stimulation was increased in the 2 normally coupled human RPTC cell lines (FEN: 2.02±0.05-fold and 2.33±0.19-fold over control;
P
<0.001; n=4) but not in the 2 uncoupled or HK-2 cell lines. GRK4 small interfering RNA rescued the fenoldopam-mediated AC stimulation in the uncoupled cells, including HK-2. The expected fenoldopam-mediated inhibition of sodium hydrogen exchanger type 3 was absent in HK-2 (n=6) and uncoupled RPTC cell lines (n=6) but was observed in the 2 normally coupled human RPTC cell lines (−25.41±4.7% and −27.36±2.70%;
P
<0.001; n=6), which express wild-type GRK4. Despite the fact that HK-2 cells retain many functional characteristics of RPTCs, they are not normal from the perspective of dopaminergic function.
Historicism as a Cultural Pattern: Practising a Mode of Thought
Authors: Fulda Daniel
Published: July 2010

What is the basis for the enormous success of Historicism? In my paper I attempt to answer this question by deploying the concept of the cultural pattern. A ‘cultural pattern’ may be defined as the connection of concepts and practices which have gained a relative perpetuity through cultural habitualization. Cultural patterns include a combination of interpretative schemes according to which the world can be categorized, structured and interpreted with individual or social practices which either develop out of, or follow these schemes. Because they combine concepts and practices in a significant manner they gain a contour which enables the creation of communicative addressability, practical appropriation and discursive analysis and hence the creation of a long-term exemplary status. A cultural pattern according to this definition has a relative stability and an observable effect over a long period of time, but which is simultaneously liable to permanent actualization and adaption. Historicism has been considered to be a basic thought-pattern of modernity since Troeltsch, Meinecke and Koselleck; defining Historicism as a cultural pattern can help to explain its long-term effectiveness and its continuing productivity to the present day.
Two Kinds of Historicism: Resurrection and Restoration in French Historical Painting
Authors: Bann Stephen
Published: July 2010

The historicist approach is rarely challenged by art historians, who draw a clear distinction between art history and the present-centred pursuit of art criticism. The notion of the ‘period eye’ offers a relevant methodology. Bearing this in mind, I examine the nineteenth-century phase in the development of history painting, when artists started to take trouble over the accuracy of historical detail, instead of repeating conventions for portraying classical and biblical subjects. This created an unprecedented situation at the Paris Salon, where such representations of history could be experienced as a collective ‘dream-work’, in Freud’s sense. In France, this new pictorial language dates back to the aftermath of the Revolution, and the activities of the ‘Lyon School’. Two artists, Richard and Révoil, were its leading proponents. However their initial closeness has obscured the differences in their approach to the past. Substituting for Freud’s ‘condensation’ and ‘displacement’ the concepts of ‘Resurrection’ and ‘Restoration’, I analyse the pictorial language of the two painters, taking two works as examples. The conclusion is that Révoil, also a collector, was a precursor of the historical museum, which convinces through accumulating objects. Richard, however, employs technical and rhetorical devices to evoke empathetic reactions, and anticipates the illusionism of cinema.
Understanding Levels of Evidence for Scientific Communication
Authors: DeVries J. George , Berlet Gregory C.
Published: July 2010

Foot & Ankle Specialist (FAS) is adding a “level of evidence” rating to all new submissions. This is important as evidence-based medicine in practice is increasingly important. The rationale for adding this rating to FAS publications is multifaceted. It will encourage researchers to design better projects and become adept at critically evaluating research. It will put research publications into appropriate context, and it will guide the profession in general to a higher level of scientific analysis. Four types of studies will be used at FAS : therapeutic, prognostic, diagnostic, and economic/decision making. Within each of these types of studies, levels of evidence between I and V can be assigned. A description of each type and explanation of how to assign evidence level is given. This may assist authors and readers as they work to design projects and critically evaluate literature.
Simultaneous Pulmonary Artery Catheter and Pulse Contour Measurements in a Patient With an LVAD
Authors: Ng Rita , Schwarz Ernst R.
Published: July 2010

Although pulmonary artery catheters are highly effective for hemodynamic profiling, they are indwelling invasive devices with inherent risks and are recommended only in a select group of critically ill patients. The Flotrac sensor is a new device that measures continuous cardiac output (CO) via a peripheral arterial line. This article reports the first case of simultaneous measurement of CO from pulse contour analysis using a continuous CO monitor (Flotrac), the thermodilution method from a pulmonary artery catheter, and a surgically implanted left ventricular assist device (LVAD; HeartMate XVE). Six data points were obtained from each modality over 15 hours. Mean COs for the LVAD, pulmonary artery catheter, and sensor were 6.9 ± 0.4 L/min (range, 6.2-7.5 L/min), 7.8 ± 1.1 L/min (range, 5.9-8.8 L/min), and 7.2 ± 0.7 L/min (range, 6.3-8.2 L/min), respectively. There was some agreement between the 3 devices used to measure CO as assessed by Bland-Altman analysis, but the small sample size limited statistical significance. The sensor system is an intriguing semi-invasive method to monitor CO via arterial flow in a patient with LVAD, but more rigorous diagnostic studies are needed to evaluate the validity of pulse contour devices prior to widespread use in this critically ill population.
Mechanisms underlying γδ T-cell subset perturbations in SIV-infected Asian rhesus macaques
Authors: Harris Levelle D. , Klatt Nichole R. , Vinton Carol , Briant Judith A. , Tabb Brian , Ladell Kristin , Lifson Jeffrey , Estes Jacob D. , Price David A. , Hirsch Vanessa M. , Brenchley Jason M.
Published: July 2010

T cells that express the γδ T-cell receptor, which recognize microbial or stress-induced antigens, represent a minority of blood T cells but constitute a major proportion of intraepithelial lymphocytes in the gastrointestinal mucosa. As microbial products have been shown to translocate from the gastrointestinal tract into circulation in chronically HIV/Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)–infected individuals, we conducted a study of Vδ1 and Vδ2 T-cell frequency, phenotype, and function in blood, spleen, lymph nodes, gastrointestinal mucosa, and bronchoalveolar lavage of uninfected and chronically SIVsmE543-infected rhesus macaques (RMs). We found: (1) SIV-associated inversion of Vδ1/Vδ2 T cells occurs in blood and in several tissues; (2) γδ T cells are not infected by SIV in vivo; (3) the Vδ1/Vδ2 inversion involves expansion of Vδ1 T cells; (4) expanded Vδ1 T cells are phenotypically and functionally different from Vδ1 T cells from uninfected RMs; and (5) the stimulus underlying expansion of Vδ1 T cells appears to be microbial translocation. These data highlight the importance of microbial translocation–induced immune activation in chronically infected individuals and provide new insights into an immune dysregulation phenomenon that is a hallmark of HIV/SIV infection. These findings may lead to novel therapeutic interventions that improve the immune responses against microbial antigens, and thus, decrease microbial translocation–induced im-mune activation.
Soluble CD14 is a novel monocyte-derived survival factor for chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells, which is induced by CLL cells in vitro and present at abnormally high levels in vivo
Authors: Seiffert Martina , Schulz Angela , Ohl Sibylle , Döhner Hartmut , Stilgenbauer Stephan , Lichter Peter
Published: July 2010

Accumulation of leukemic cells in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is due to prolonged cell survival rather than increased proliferation. Survival of CLL cells depends on microenvironmental factors. Even though long-lived in vivo, CLL cells rapidly die by spontaneous apoptosis in vitro unless cocultured with stromal cells or their conditioned medium. In the present study, we show that survival of CLL cells is maintained in high cell density cultures, where the main prosurvival activity is delivered by monocytes. Cytokine array and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay studies revealed increased expression of soluble CD14 by monocytes in the presence of CLL cells. The addition of recombinant soluble CD14 to primary CLL cells resulted in significantly increased cell survival rates, which were associated with higher activity nuclear factor κB. Quantification of serum levels of soluble CD14 revealed abnormally high levels of this protein in CLL patients, indicating a potential role of soluble CD14 in vivo. In summary, the presented data show that monocytes help in the survival of CLL cells by secreting soluble CD14, which induces nuclear factor κB activation in these cells, and that CLL cells actively shape their microenvironment by inducing CD14 secretion in accessory monocytes.
Price regulation, new entry, and information shock on pharmaceutical market in Taiwan: a nationwide data-based study from 2001 to 2004
Authors: Hsiao Fei-Yuan , Tsai Yi-Wen , Huang Weng-Foung
Published: July 2010

Background

Using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as a case, we used Taiwan's National Health Insurance (NHI) database, to empirically explore the association between policy interventions (price regulation, new drug entry, and an information shock) and drug expenditures, utilization, and market structure between 2001 and 2004.

Methods

All NSAIDs prescribed in ambulatory visits in the NHI system during our study period were included and aggregated quarterly. Segmented regression analysis for interrupted time series was used to examine the associations between two price regulations, two new drug entries (cyclooxygennase-2 inhibitors) and the rofecoxib safety signal and expenditures and utilization of all NSAIDs. Herfindahl index (HHI) was applied to further examine the association between these interventions and market structure of NSAIDs.

Results

New entry was the only variable that was significantly correlated with changes of expenditures (positive change, p = 0.02) and market structure of the NSAIDs market in the NHI system. The correlation between price regulation (first price regulation, p = 0.62; second price regulation, p = 0.26) and information shock (p = 0.31) and drug expenditure were not statistically significant. There was no significant change in the prescribing volume of NSAIDs per rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or osteoarthritis (OA) ambulatory visit during the observational period. The market share of NSAIDs had also been largely substituted by these new drugs up to 50%, in a three-year period and resulted in a more concentrated market structure (HHI 0.17).

Conclusions

Our empirical study found that new drug entry was the main driving force behind escalating drug spending, especially by altering the market share.
Increased expression of cardiac IL-17 after burn
Authors: Oppeltz Richard F , Zhang Qiong , Rani Meenakshi , Sasaki Jennifer R , Schwacha Martin G
Published: July 2010

Background

Cardiac dysfunction is a common complication associated with major burns. While recent findings have linked the Th-17 T-cell response to the development of autoimmune myocarditis, the role of IL-17 and the Th-17 T-cell response in the development of post-burn cardiac dysfunction remains unknown.

Methods

Male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to a major burn (3rd degree, 25% TBSA) or sham treatment. Three hours after injury plasma and tissue (i.e., heart, lung, liver, small intestine) samples were collected and analyzed for the expression of Th-17 cytokine (i.e., IL-6, IL-17, IL-22, IL-23, TGF-β) levels by ELISA.

Results

Cardiac tissue levels of the Th-17 cytokines, IL-6, IL-17 and IL-22 were significantly elevated at 3 hrs after burn as compared to sham levels. IL-17 was analyzed 1, 3 and 7 days after burn and showed a return to baseline levels and without a difference in the burn group. Burn-induced alterations in the level of these cytokines in plasma or other tissues were not evident. The cardiac Th-17 cytokine response after burn injury was specific, as cardiac levels of Th-1 (IFN-γ) and Th-2 (IL-10) cytokines were not significantly affected after injury. The cardiac Th-17 response correlated with a significant increase in Troponin levels at 3 hr. after burn.

Conclusion

These findings indicate that early after burn, cardiac tissue is associated with significantly elevated levels of Th-17 cytokines. The early Th-17 response after burn appears to be specific for cardiac tissue and may promote myocardial inflammation and dysfunction associated with this form of trauma.