bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disorders of Sexual Development and Abnormal Early Development in Domestic Food-Producing Mammals: The Role of Chromosome Abnormalities, Environment and Stress Factors
Authors: Favetta L.A. , Villagómez D.A.F. , Iannuzzi L. , Di Meo G. , Webb A. , Crain S. , King W.A.
Published: November 2011

The management of disorders of sexual development (DSD) in humans and domestic animals has been the subject of intense interest for decades. The association between abnormal chromosome constitutions and DSDs in domestic animals has been recorded since the beginnings of conventional cytogenetic analysis. Deviated karyotypes consisting of abnormal sex chromosome sets and/or the coexistence of cells with different sex chromosome constitutions in an individual seem to be the main causes of anomalies of sex determination and sex differentiation. In recent years, a growing interest has developed around the environmental insults, such as endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDC) and heat stressors, which affect fertility, early embryonic development and, in some instances, directly the sex ratio and/or the development of 1 specific sex versus the other. A variety of chemical compounds present in the environment at low doses has been shown to have major effects on the reproductive functions in human and domestic animals following prolonged exposure. In this review, we present an overview of congenital/chromosomal factors that are responsible for the DSDs and link them and the lack of proper embryonic development to environmental factors that are becoming a major global concern.
Can Mortality Data Provide Reliable Indicators for Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Surveillance? A Study in France from 2000 to 2008
Authors: Brandel Jean-Philippe , Welaratne Arlette , Salomon Dominique , Capek Isabelle , Vaillant Véronique , Aouaba Albertine , Haïk Stéphane , Alpérovitch Annick
Published: November 2011

Background: Surveillance of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is still an important issue because of the variant CJD epidemic, which is in decline and also because of the emergence of novel forms of animal transmissible spongiform encephalopathy with zoonotic potential and the risk of nosocomial and blood transfusion-related transmission. Active surveillance has been implemented in most European countries and requires important human resources and funding. Here, we studied whether national mortality and morbidity statistics can be used as reliable indicators. Methods: CJD data collected by the French national CJD surveillance centre were compared with data registered in the national mortality statistics. Results: From 2000 to 2008, the two sources reported fairly similar numbers of CJD deaths. However, analysis of individual data showed important between-sources disagreement. Nearly 24% of CJD reported by the mortality register were false-positive diagnoses and 21.6% of the CJD cases diagnosed by the surveillance centre were not registered as CJD in the national mortality statistics. One out of 22 variant CJD cases was not reported as having any type of CJD in the mortality statistics. Conclusions:These findings raise doubt about the possibility of a reliable CJD surveillance only based on mortality data.
Genome Arrays for the Detection of Copy Number Variations in Idiopathic Mental Retardation, Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy and Neuropsychiatric Disorders: Lessons for Diagnostic Workflow and Research
Authors: Hochstenbach R. , Buizer-Voskamp J.E. , Vorstman J.A.S. , Ophoff R.A.
Published: November 2011

We review the contributions and limitations of genome-wide array-based identification of copy number variants (CNVs) in the clinical diagnostic evaluation of patients with mental retardation (MR) and other brain-related disorders. In unselected MR referrals a causative genomic gain or loss is detected in 14–18% of cases. Usually, such CNVs arise de novo, are not found in healthy subjects, and have a major impact on the phenotype by altering the dosage of multiple genes. This high diagnostic yield justifies array-based segmental aneuploidy screening as the initial genetic test in these patients. This also pertains to patients with autism (expected yield about 5–10% in nonsyndromic and 10–20% in syndromic patients) and schizophrenia (at least 5% yield). CNV studies in idiopathic generalized epilepsy, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, major depressive disorder and Tourette syndrome indicate that patients have, on average, a larger CNV burden as compared to controls. Collectively, the CNV studies suggest that a wide spectrum of disease-susceptibility variants exists, most of which are rare (<0.1%) and of variable and usually small effect. Notwithstanding, a rare CNV can have a major impact on the phenotype. Exome sequencing in MR and autism patients revealed de novo mutations in protein coding genes in 60 and 20% of cases, respectively. Therefore, it is likely that arrays will be supplanted by next-generation sequencing methods as the initial and perhaps ultimate diagnostic tool in patients with brain-related disorders, revealing both CNVs and mutations in a single test.
The Impact of Salt Water Soaks on Biophysical and Molecular Parameters in Psoriatic Epidermis Equivalents
Authors: Gambichler T. , Demetriou C. , Terras S. , Bechara F.G. , Skrygan M.
Published: November 2011

Background/Aims: The exact mechanisms of action of balneophototherapy are incompletely understood. We aimed to investigate the effect of salt water soaks on ultraviolet (UV) transmission and the expression of molecular parameters of psoriasis. Methods: We studied UV transmission and the expression of antimicrobial peptides and skin-derived antileukoproteinase (SKALP/elafin) in psoriatic epidermis equivalents which were pretreated with tap water and differently concentrated salt water solutions. Moreover, we performed in vivo phototoxicity tests in healthy subjects. Results: Highly concentrated salt water soaks significantly increase UV transmission through psoriatic epidermis equivalents, in particular within the wavelength range of 305– 360 nm. In vivo tests revealed increased photosensitivity following highly concentrated salt water baths. A significant decrease in human β-defensin-2 (hBD-2) and SKALP/elafin is observed after highly concentrated NaCl soaks. Conclusion: An increase in UV transmission following highly concentrated salt water soaks likely causes enhanced UV gain within the viable epidermis. Moreover, our data indicate that salt water soaks seem to influence the protein profiles of hBD-2 and SKALP/elafin.
Morphology and Hemodynamics during Vascular Regeneration in Critically Ischemic Murine Skin Studied by Intravital Microscopy Techniques
Authors: Schweizer R. , Merz K. , Schlosser S. , Spanholtz T. , Contaldo C. , Stein J.V. , Enzmann V. , Giovanoli P. , Erni D. , Plock J.A.
Published: November 2011

Background: With the understanding of angiogenesis and arteriogenesis, new theories about the orchestration of these processes have emerged. The aim of this study was to develop an in vivo model that enables visualization of vascular regenerating mechanisms by intravital microscopy techniques in collateral arteriolar flap vascularity. Methods: A dorsal skin flap (15 × 30 mm) was created in mice and fixed into a skinfold chamber to allow for assessment of morphology and microhemodynamics by intravital fluorescence microscopy (IVFM). Laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) was utilized for three-dimensional reconstruction of the microvascular architecture. Results: Flap tpO2 was 5.3 ± 0.9 versus 30.5 ± 1.2 mm Hg in controls (p < 0.01). The collateral arterioles in the flap tissue were dilated (29.4 ± 5.3 µm; p < 0.01 vs. controls) and lengthened in a tortuous manner (tortuosity index 1.00 on day 1 vs. 1.35± 0.05 on day 12; p < 0.01). Functional capillary density was increased from 121.00 ± 25 to 170 ± 30 cm/cm2 (day 12; p < 0.01) as a result of angiogenesis. Morphological evidence of angiogenesis on capillary level and vascular remodeling on arteriolar level could be demonstrated by IVFM and LSCM. Conclusions: Present intravital microscopy techniques offer unique opportunities to study structural changes and hemodynamic effects of vascular regeneration in this extended axial pattern flap model.
Comparative Study of Surgical Margins and Cosmetic Outcome in Lumpectomy versus Segmental Resection in Breast Cancer
Authors: Eggemann H. , Ignatov A. , Krocker J. , Neuss K. , Elling D. , John J. , Costa S.-D.
Published: November 2011

Objective: The aim of the present retrospective study was to compare two breast-conserving techniques, segmental resection and standard lumpectomy, for the treatment of breast cancer regarding their oncological safety. Quality of life aspects were evaluated by assessing the respective postsurgical cosmetic results. Patients and Methods: 190 women with breast cancer located in the superior and lateral quadrant were included in the study. Sixty patients were treated with segmental resection (group 1), whereas 130 underwent standard lumpectomy (group 2). Tumor sizes were determined and excised tissue specimens were analyzed for positive or negative resection margins. Patients were given a 16-item questionnaire for the postsurgical self-assessment of the cosmetic outcome. Results: No statistically significant difference was found concerning the number of positive resection margins between the groups (25 vs. 30%, p = 0.46). Exceptions were ventral margins, which predominated in group 2 (p = 0.016). Group 1 revealed a significantly larger maximum tumor size with negative margins as compared to group 2 (26.6 vs. 17.0 mm). General satisfaction with the cosmetic results was comparable between groups. Conclusions: Segmental resection surgery, as a method of breast conservation therapy, can be used to treat larger breast lesions as compared to standard lumpectomy.
Dysspondyloenchondromatosis: Another COL2A1-Related Skeletal Dysplasia
Authors: Nakane T. , Tando T. , Aoyagi K. , Hatakeyama K. , Nishimura G. , Coucke I.P.J. , Mortier G. , Sugita K.
Published: November 2011

Dysspondyloenchondromatosis (DSC) is a rare skeletal dysplasia that has currently been classified into the group of spondylometaphyseal dysplasias. To date, only 12 affected individuals have been reported. All cases are sporadic, and the etiology remains unknown. Distinctive features of DSC are anisospondyly and enchondroma-like lesions in the metaphyseal and diaphyseal portions of the long tubular bones. Affected individuals usually develop kyphoscoliosis and asymmetric limb shortening at an early age. Interestingly, some of the skeletal changes overlap with spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia (SEMD) Strudwick type, a rare type II collagen disorder. Based on this resemblance we postulated that DSC may be allelic to SEMD Strudwick type and therefore performed a COL2A1 analysis in an affected boy who was diagnosed as having DSC at the age of 3 years. The identification of a novel heterozygous COL2A1 missense mutation (p.Gly753Asp) in the proband confirms our hypothesis and suggests that DSC may be another type II collagen disorder.
Long-Term Follow-Up of Myopic Choroidal Neovascularization Treated with Ranibizumab
Authors: Franqueira Nuno , Cachulo M. Luz , Pires Isabel , Fonseca Pedro , Marques Inês , Figueira João , Silva Rufino
Published: November 2011

Purpose: To evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of intravitreal ranibizumab in the treatment of myopic choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Methods: Three-year retrospective, nonrandomized, interventional case series. Forty eyes of 39 patients with myopic CNV were included; 15 with previous photodynamic therapy, and 25 naïve eyes. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) changes, central foveal thickness (CFT), and number of treatments were assessed, from baseline to month 36. Results: Mean visual acuity improved from 55.4 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letters at baseline to 59.7 letters at 12 months (p = 0.07), 61.8 letters at 24 months (p = 0.008) and 63.4 letters at 36 months (p = 0.039). Twenty-five percent of the patients gained ≧15 letters (3 lines) at 12 months, 30% at 24 months and 35% at 36 months. There was a mean reduction of 80 µm in CFT (p < 0.001). A mean of 4.1 injections were performed in the first year, 2.4 in the second year and 1.1 in the third year. Fifty-three percent of the eyes had no need for treatment during the third year of follow-up. Conclusions: Intravitreal ranibizumab seems to be an effective and safe therapeutic procedure to treat CNV in highly myopic eyes, with a high proportion of patients gaining or stabilizing BCVA at a 3-year follow-up.
Prolonged Survival of Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer following First-Line Oxaliplatin-Based Chemotherapy with Molecular Targeting Agents and Curative Surgery
Authors: Shitara Kohei , Matsuo Keitaro , Kondo Chihiro , Takahari Daisuke , Ura Takashi , Inaba Yoshitaka , Yamaura Hidekazu , Sato Yozo , Kato Mina , Kanemitsu Yukihide , Komori Koji , Ishiguro Seiji , Sano Tsuyoshi , Shimizu Yasuhiro , Muro Kei
Published: November 2011

Background: The ability of molecular targeting agents to improve overall survival (OS) in metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC) patients who underwent oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy remains controversial. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 331 patients with MCRC who underwent first-line oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy. Treatment outcomes were compared between patients who started chemotherapy from April 2005 to March 2007 (cohort A; n = 157) and those who started it from April 2007 to March 2009 (cohort B; n = 174). To evaluate the impact of exposure to agents, we applied time-varying covariate analysis to avoid possible lead-time bias. Results: Median OS of cohorts A and B was 21.3 and 28.6 months, respectively (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.50–0.87, p = 0.003). Exposure to bevacizumab (25 vs. 76%), anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) (18 vs. 33%) or curative surgery after chemotherapy (4 vs. 10%) was significantly higher in cohort B. According to a multivariate Cox model with exposure to each agent or treatment as a time-varying covariate, hazard ratios of death were 0.71 (95% CI, 0.51–0.96; p = 0.03) for bevacizumab, 0.62 (95% CI, 0.40–0.89; p = 0.01) for anti-EGFR and 0.22 (95% CI, 0.06–0.57; p = 0.004) for surgery. Conclusions: Increased exposure to molecular targeting agents or surgery after chemotherapy appears to contribute to an improvement in OS in recent patients with MCRC who have undergone oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy.
Determinants of Microvascular Network Topologies in Implanted Neovasculatures
Authors: Chang Carlos C. , Krishnan Laxminarayanan , Nunes Sara S. , Church Kenneth H. , Edgar Lowell T. , Boland Eugene D. , Weiss Jeffery A. , Williams Stuart K. , Hoying James B.
Published: November 2011

Objective—

During neovascularization, the end result is a new functional microcirculation composed of a network of mature microvessels with specific topologies. Although much is known concerning the mechanisms underlying the initiation of angiogenesis, it remains unclear how the final architecture of microcirculatory beds is regulated. To begin to address this, we determined the impact of angiogenic neovessel prepatterning on the final microvascular network topology using a model of implant neovascularization.

Methods and Results—

We used 3D direct-write bioprinting or physical constraints in a manner permitting postangiogenesis vascular remodeling and adaptation to pattern angiogenic microvascular precursors (neovessels formed from isolated microvessel segments) in 3D collagen gels before implantation and subsequent network formation. Neovasculatures prepatterned into parallel arrays formed functional networks after 4 weeks postimplantation but lost the prepatterned architecture. However, maintenance of uniaxial physical constraints during postangiogenesis remodeling of the implanted neovasculatures produced networks with aligned microvessels, as well as an altered proportional distribution of arterioles, capillaries, and venules.

Conclusion—

Here we show that network topology resulting from implanted microvessel precursors is independent from prepatterning of precursors but can be influenced by a patterning stimulus involving tissue deformation during postangiogenesis remodeling and maturation.
Body Mass Index-Mortality Paradox in Hemodialysis
Authors: Agarwal Rajiv
Published: November 2011

Unlike the general population, among hemodialysis patients body mass index (BMI) is related to blood pressure (BP) and mortality inversely. To explore the reasons for this risk-factor paradox, the cross-sectional association of obesity with the following factors was examined: the prevalence of hypertension, its control, and echocardiographic left ventricular mass index (LVMI). Longitudinal follow-up explored the relationship of BMI with all-cause mortality. Furthermore, it explored whether poorer survival in leaner individuals was related to either high BP or greater LVMI. Among 368 hemodialysis patients, both the prevalence of hypertension and its poor control were inversely related to BMI. BMI was also inversely associated with evidence of excess extracellular fluid volume, but adjustment for this variable did not completely remove the inverse relationship between BP and BMI. Over 1122 patient-years of cumulative follow-up (median: 2.7 years), 119 patients (32%) died. In the first 2 years of follow-up, the mortality hazard for the lowest BMI group was increased; thereafter, the survival curves were similar. Adjusting for several risk factors including BP and LVMI did not remove the inverse relationship of BMI with mortality. In conclusion, leaner patients on dialysis have a higher prevalence of hypertension, poorer control of hypertension, more LVMI, and greater evidence of extracellular fluid volume excess. However, volume explains the greater prevalence or poorer control of hypertension only partially. Leaner patients have an accelerated mortality rate in the first 2 years; this is not completely explained by BP, LVMI, or other cardiovascular or dialysis-specific risk factors.
Renin–Angiotensin System Modulators Modestly Reduce Vascular Risk in Persons With Prior Stroke
Authors: Lee Meng , Saver Jeffrey L. , Hong Keun-Sik , Hao Qing , Chow Jessica , Ovbiagele Bruce
Published: November 2011

Background and Purpose—

Although the efficacy of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers in reducing future vascular events for patients with coronary heart disease is established, less is known about the precise benefit of these agents among patients with stroke. We evaluated whether use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers reduces future vascular events in persons with prior stroke.

Methods—

We searched PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and bibliographies of relevant trials and recent review articles to identify randomized controlled trials. Relative risk with 95% CI was used as a measure of the association between use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers and risks of major vascular event (nonfatal stroke, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or death from cardiovascular causes) or stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic) after pooling data across trials.

Results—

Eight randomized controlled trials with 29 667 participants were identified. Use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers in persons with prior stroke was associated with lower risks of future major vascular events (relative risk, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.87–0.97;
P
=0.001; number needed to treat=71) and recurrent stroke (relative risk, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.86–0.99;
P
=0.03; number needed to treat=143). Heterogeneity was found among studies for end points of major vascular events (
P
=0.02, I
2
=61%) but not recurrent stroke (
P
=0.38, I
2
=6%). In subgroup analyses, there was generally no obvious heterogeneity among different study characteristics.

Conclusions—

Treatment with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker has a clear but rather modest effect on reducing vascular risk in persons with prior stroke.
Forecasting Sun versus Shade in Complex Terrain for the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games
Authors: Howard Rosie , Stull Roland
Published: November 2011

During the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Canada, there were 10 mostly sunny days at the outdoor Olympic venues. The warmth and sunshine, possibly a result of El Niño conditions at the time, significantly reduced snow cover at one venue and weakened the snowpack at the other two venues, much to the chagrin of the event organizers. Solar radiation affects ski racing via its effect on snow-surface friction, abrasion, and mechanical strength. Ski technicians and athletes compensate via the choice of ski and wax. For these reasons, sun-versus-shade forecasts were produced for Canadian ski and snowboard teams.

A theodolite was used to survey the horizon elevation angles around the full azimuth circles at 133 locations spaced roughly 150 m apart along race pistes (compacted ski runs) at three Olympic venues. This survey was important for including the shadowing effects of the tall evergreen trees that border the pistes. This would not be properly accounted for if only digital elevation data were used. These data, along with the astronomical equations for solar elevation and azimuth, were used to calculate whether each survey point would be in the sun or the shade in cloudless conditions for any time and date during the Olympics. Half-hourly output was provided to ski and snowboard technicians and coaches via a graphical user interface delivered on the Internet.
Energetics of Barotropic and Baroclinic Tides in the Monterey Bay Area
Authors: Kang Dujuan , Fringer Oliver
Published: November 2011

A detailed energy analysis of the barotropic and baroclinic M2 tides in the Monterey Bay area is performed. The authors first derive a theoretical framework for analyzing internal tide energetics based on the complete form of the barotropic and baroclinic energy equations, which include the full nonlinear and nonhydrostatic energy flux contributions as well as an improved evaluation of the available potential energy. This approach is implemented in the Stanford Unstructured Nonhydrostatic Terrain-Following Adaptive Navier–Stokes Simulator (SUNTANS). Results from three-dimensional, high-resolution SUNTANS simulations are analyzed to estimate the tidal energy partitioning among generation, radiation, and dissipation. A 200 km × 230 km domain including all typical topographic features in this region is used to represent the Monterey Bay area. Of the 152-MW energy lost from the barotropic tide, approximately 133 MW (88%) is converted into baroclinic energy through internal tide generation, and 42% (56 MW) of this baroclinic energy radiates away into the open ocean. The tidal energy partitioning depends greatly on the topographic features. The Davidson Seamount is most efficient at baroclinic energy generation and radiation, whereas the Monterey Submarine Canyon acts as an energy sink. Energy flux contributions from nonlinear and nonhydrostatic effects are also examined. In the Monterey Bay area, the nonlinear and nonhydrostatic contributions are quite small. Moreover, the authors investigate the character of internal tide generation and find that in the Monterey Bay area the generated baroclinic tides are mainly linear and in the form of internal tidal beams. Comparison of the modeled tidal conversion to previous theoretical estimates shows that they are consistent with one another.
Transcending the Adaptation/Mitigation Climate Change Science Policy Debate: Unmasking Assumptions about Adaptation and Resilience
Authors: Jennings Tori L.
Published: November 2011

The two principal policy approaches to global climate change include mitigation and adaption. In recent years, the interest in adaptation and “resilience” has increased significantly in part because anthropogenic climate change appears unavoidable and mitigation agreements are difficult to achieve. This article takes a critical look at the emerging discourse over climate change adaptation and resilience. By drawing upon critiques of environmental resource management and adaptive comanagement, this paper argues that taking the concept of adaptation for granted as an appropriate bottom-up strategy for coping with anthropogenic climate change not only ignores the political and economic contexts in which this environmental strategy developed, but might also unintentionally subvert the vulnerable communities it intends to benefit. Using an ethnographic case study of the 2004 Boscastle Harbour flood in North Cornwall, England, this paper explores the paradoxical way in which adaptation and resilience work within the apparatus of the neoliberal state, which aims to shift responsibility for social and environmental problems to the individual. By better understanding the political and economic processes embedded in the concepts of adaptation and resilience, researchers will be more effective at finding equitable solutions to human ecological problems.

Adaptation to the adverse effects of climate change is vital in order to reduce the impacts of climate change that are happening now and increase resilience to future impacts (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change).
Paraprofessionals’ perceptions on delivering infant feeding lessons to disadvantaged mothers via a self-directed computer-supported method
Authors: Singleterry Lisa R , Horodynski Mildred A
Published: November 2011

Objective:

To ascertain paraprofessionals’ perceptions regarding a self-directed computer-supported nutrition educational intervention to disadvantaged mothers of infants.

Design:

Qualitative focus group study.

Setting:

Three county extension programs in a Midwestern state, which serve disadvantaged families.

Method:

Sixteen paraprofessional nutrition educators, affiliated with Extended Food and Nutrition Programs (EFNEP), took part in three focus groups led by a facilitator following a semi-structured questioning route.

Results:

Three themes emerged: (1) paraprofessionals’ perceptions of personal connections with learners; (2) paraprofessionals’ perceptions of lesson plans; and (3) paraprofessionals’ perceptions of self-directed lessons.

Conclusions:

Data provided exemplars of paraprofessional teaching strategies used with the disadvantaged populations they service, a recommendation to develop a blended curriculum, and insight regarding technology. A preventive nutrition education program, focusing on the reduction of childhood obesity though informed infant feeding practices, can be delivered using a combination of direct contact paraprofessional education and self-directed computer-supported lessons.
Who Pays for National Defense? Financing Defense Programs in the United States, 1947–2007
Authors: Heo Uk , Bohte John
Published: November 2011

Past studies on military expenditures in the United States have primarily focused on the extent to which guns versus butter trade-offs are prevalent without examining this relationship in the context of how other fiscal policy tools are used to pay for defense. Using annual data from 1947–2007, this study examines the relative importance of defense financing policy measures, such as guns versus butter trade-offs, tax increases, and deficit spending in paying for defense. The results show evidence of guns versus butter trade-off during the Reagan Era, but not during other periods. Both federal tax policy and deficit spending have played influential roles in funding defense spending during peacetime. This modeling strategy points to the importance of analyzing the effects of multiple fiscal policy tools when studying the forces that drive military spending in the United States since World War II.
Poverty and Inequality: Introduction
Authors: Portes Jonathan
Published: November 2011

The themed section of this Review includes four papers that look, through different lenses, at the evolution of the UK income distribution — the components and dynamics of income over time. Each contains significant new contributions to our understanding; taken together with other contributions to this literature, they paint a much richer picture of this issue, and provide some pointers about what we should be looking for in the future.
Child Poverty in Britain: Past Lessons and Future Prospects
Authors: Dickens Richard
Published: November 2011

The previous Labour government pledged to abolish child poverty and introduced a range of welfare reforms that emphasised the role of work as the primary route out of poverty. This culminated in the Child Poverty Act (2010) which commits all future governments to the abolition of child poverty. This paper examines New Labour's record on child poverty and examines the factors responsible for its change. While the welfare reforms of the late 1990s did increase work among families with children, this didn't translate into large falls in child poverty. Those entering work still relied on substantial increases in government benefits to lift them over the poverty line. The current coalition government has reaffirmed its commitment to the Child Poverty Act and is also emphasising the role of work. The lessons of the past decade cast severe doubt on whether the current coalition government strategy of promoting work will be any more successful in reducing child poverty. With planned benefit cuts in the pipeline we could well experience some substantial increases in child poverty over the coming years.
Virtual Instrument Cluster for enhancing the configurability of an automotive simulator
Authors: Bilbao Ainara , Brazález Alfonso , García Iñigo , Tybel Michael , Aguiriano Nerea
Published: November 2011

Automotive simulators are an important tool when developing and validating new vehicle functions and devices. Thereby, configurability is an essential requirement for simulators that are used in the field of research. The growing number of new systems makes it imperative to reduce their time to market to a minimum. Furthermore, full digital instrument clusters are becoming more common inside consumer vehicles today. They erase the traditional limitations of analog dashboards and enable the design of intuitive and efficient solutions, for instance, by integrating various onboard devices in one central human–machine interface (HMI). Naturally, this generates new challenges in the human-in-the-loop model of validation. Driven by these demands, a new architecture is proposed that allows a complete (but easy) reconfiguration of a driving simulator, in particular, at the front end (the HMI). The core element is a Virtual Instrument Cluster consisting of a personal computer and a high-resolution thin film transistor (TFT) screen. Focusing on the interaction between the driver and the simulator, the objective is to facilitate the integration of new systems and designs into a realistic environment. To show the potential of the Virtual Instrument Cluster, this paper presents three practical examples to demonstrate the capability, usability, validity and adaptivity to new systems.
Policy Implications for Female Combat Medic Assignment
Authors: Fulton Lawrence V. , Brooks Matthew S. , Jones Timothy K. , Schofield Matthew J. , Moody Hershell L.
Published: November 2011

The current military assignment policy of United States prohibits the assignment of females to billets with high risk of combat exposure. As part of an Army review of this policy, the authors analyzed deployment and promotion risk for combat medics. The effect of current policy on male deployment and female promotion risk was unknown. In light of other countries’ policies and current operational considerations, senior military leaders sought to understand the effects of existing policy on a low-density, high-value occupational specialty, the combat medic. The authors found evidence that male medics deployed 2.07 times more frequently than female medics. The authors also found evidence that senior male medics (staff sergeants) deployed even more frequently (3.65–1) than their female counterparts. Perhaps as a result, the male combat medics experience higher likelihood of promotion from staff sergeant (E-6) to the rank of sergeant first class (E-7); however, the magnitude of that benefit was about one-third of the deployment risk. The results confirm the existence of gender-based deployment risk and promotion disparity. Based upon this analysis, the authors recommended the deprecation of current gender coding for combat medics to the senior levels of the US Army.
Rejected and Excluded Forevermore, but Even More Devoted
Authors: Gómez Ángel , Morales J. Francisco , Hart Sonia , Vázquez Alexandra , Swann William B.
Published: November 2011

When people are ostrasized (i.e., rejected and excluded) by either an outgroup or an ingroup, they may either withdraw or engage in compensatory activities designed to reaffirm their social identity as a group member. The authors proposed here that individual differences in identity fusion (an index of familial orientation toward the group) would moderate the tendency for people to display such compensatory activity. Consistent with this reasoning, the results of four experiments showed that irrevocable ostracism increased endorsement of extreme, pro-group actions (fighting and dying for the ingroup) among fused persons but not among nonfused persons. This effect emerged when an outgroup ostracized fused individuals due either to their nationality (Experiment 1) or their personal preferences (Experiment 2). Similarly, ostracism by the ingroup amplified the tendency for fused persons to both endorse extreme pro-group actions, refuse to leave the group (Experiment 3), and donate money to an ingroup member (Experiment 4). Finally, compensatory activities emerged even when ostracism was based on being “too good” for the group, suggesting that a desire for self-enhancement does not mediate such activities (Experiment 4).
Inhibition of α Folate Receptor Resulting in a Reversal of Taxol Resistance in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
Authors: Li Wei , Tan Guolin , Ma Yanhong , Li Heqing , He Guangxiang
Published: November 2011

Objective

To further determine the role of FOLR1 in taxol resistance of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and whether inhibition of FOLR1 expression reverses the taxol‐resistant phenotype.

Study Design

Correlation study between gene expression and cancer cell survival.

Setting

University hospital.

Subjects and Methods

Three taxol‐resistant sub–cell lines with a different resistant index were established from the parental CNE‐1 NPC cell line. The correlation between FOLR1 expression and taxol sensitivity was statistically analyzed. Inhibition of FOLR1 expression was carried out by RNA interference and by a FOLR1‐specific monoclonal antibody, and taxol sensitivity was examined by colony formation assays. FOLR1 expression was also examined in 72 NPC patient specimens by immunohistochemistry.

Results

The levels of FOLR1 expression were positively and significantly correlated with a taxol resistance phenotype (P <. 05). Inhibition of FOLR1 expression resulted in a significantly increased sensitivity of taxol to taxol‐resistant NPC cells (P <. 05). An increase of FOLR1 expression by gene transfection caused a taxol‐resistant phenotype in parental NPC cells. The level of FOLR1 expression was found to be related to clinical stage in NPC tissue samples.

Conclusion

These results suggest that FOLR1 plays an important role in taxol resistance of NPC cells.
A Closed‐Loop Stimulation System Supplemented with Motoneurone Dynamic Sensitivity Replicates Natural Eye Blinks
Authors: Frigerio Alice , Cavallari Paolo
Published: November 2011

Objective

The authors are designing an implantable device that will electrically stimulate a paretic eyelid when electrodes implanted into the contralateral healthy orbicularis oculi muscle detect a spontaneous blink activity. As a novelty, the stimulation pattern includes the dynamic sensitivity of motor units, thus obtaining complete eyelid closure, tailored on the kinematics of the natural eye blink.

Study Design

A preliminary study was performed on 10 healthy subjects, to observe, first, the kinematics of their natural eye blink and, second, the eye blink stimulated by a dynamic vs nondynamic pattern.

Setting

A microaccelerometer taped onto the left upper eyelid detected its kinematics. A dedicated LabView software built up and triggered the stimulation pattern. A webcam recorded the behavioral effect.

Subjects and Methods

The kinematics of spontaneous eye blinks was detected. Then, an epicutaneous stimulation of the facial nerve branch for the left orbicularis oculi muscle was performed on the same subjects. Muscle recruitment curves were studied, and acceleration of the bionic blink was measured and compared with the natural one.

Results

Kinematics of the natural eyelid is highly variable within subjects. The stimulation pattern frequency was set case by case in order to obtain the desired eyelid acceleration of the contralateral eye. A custom‐fit dynamic stimulation leads to a symmetrical natural‐like eye blink.

Conclusions

By adding the dynamic pulse, the authors were able to tailor a bionic eye blink, which was hardly distinguishable from the subject’s natural one.
Feeling severely affected by Multiple Sclerosis: What does this mean?
Authors: Strupp Julia , Hartwig Alexander , Golla Heidrun , Galushko Maren , Pfaff Holger , Voltz Raymond
Published: November 2011

Background:

The situation for people feeling severely affected by Multiple Sclerosis (MS) remains largely unexamined and the term ‘severe MS’ is not clearly defined.

Aim:

Our study describes this sub-group of patients utilizing exclusively a subjective inclusion criterion to analyse their reasons for feeling severely affected and document their perceived unmet needs.

Design:

A questionnaire with open- and closed-ended items addressing only patients feeling severely affected was sent out nationwide. Expanded Disability Status Score (EDSS) and subjectively severe affectedness were analysed for correlation. After dichotomizing both scores by a median split, the answers were allocated to these groups and tested for significant differences.

Setting/participants:

1,110 questionnaires were analysed regarding the closed-ended questions while a subsample of 40% ( n = 445) was analysed regarding the open-ended questions. Average age of participants was 51.87 years. Average time since diagnosis was 16.6 years. Main course of the disease was secondary progressive (35.5%).

Results:

The most frequently mentioned reasons for feeling severely affected were lack of mobility (56.4%) and fatigue (27.4%). Significant percentages for unmet needs were seen in the categories of funding services (31.0%), better social integration (24.7%) and medical support (25.2%). A significant correlation was observed between EDSS and subjectively felt affectedness ( p ≤ 0.01). Motor disorders explained differences in patient needs behind a higher EDSS score; higher severe affectedness referred to other issues like dependency and immobility.

Conclusions:

EDSS is insufficient for usage as the sole instrument for measuring severe affectedness as it does not take into account other potential reasons. Complex patient needs necessitate multi-professional care as offered by palliative medicine.
Vulnerable Patients’ Perceptions of Health Care Quality and Quality Data
Authors: Raven Maria Catherine , Gillespie Colleen C. , DiBennardo Rebecca , Van Busum Kristin , Elbel Brian
Published: November 2011

Background. Little is known about how patients served by safety-net hospitals utilize and respond to hospital quality data. Objective. To understand how vulnerable, lower income patients make health care decisions and define quality of care and whether hospital quality data factor into such decisions and definitions. Methods. Mixed quantitative and qualitative methods were used to gather primary data from patients at an urban, tertiary-care safety-net hospital. The study hospital is a member of the first public hospital system to voluntarily post hospital quality data online for public access. Patients were recruited from outpatient and inpatient clinics. Surveys were used to collect data on participants’ sociodemographic characteristics, health literacy, health care experiences, and satisfaction variables. Focus groups were used to explore a representative sample of 24 patients’ health care decision making and views of quality. Data from focus group transcripts were iteratively coded and analyzed by the authors. Results. Focus group participants were similar to the broader diverse, low-income clinic population. Participants reported exercising choice in making decisions about where to seek health care. Multiple sources influenced decision-making processes including participants’ own beliefs and values, social influences, and prior experiences. Hospital quality data were notably absent as a source of influence in health care decision making for this population largely because participants were unaware of its existence. Participants’ views of hospital quality were influenced by the quality and efficiency of services provided (with an emphasis on the doctor-patient relationship) and patient centeredness. When presented with it, patients appreciated the hospital quality data and, with guidance, were interested in incorporating it into health care decision making. Conclusions. Results suggest directions for optimizing the presentation, content, and availability of hospital quality data. Future research will explore how similar populations form and make choices based on presentation of hospital quality data.
Health Technology Assessment
Authors: Glasziou Paul
Published: November 2011

A challenge of health technology assessment is integrating the information from different disciplines. This talk focuses on the evidence-based medicine perspective and challenges 3 assumptions of health technology assessment: assumptions about effectiveness, assumptions about coverage by health technology assessment, and assumptions about costs being immutable. Challenging these assumptions has several implications. First is the need for better evidence on effects: both low-volume, high-cost technologies and low-cost, high-volume technologies that are ineffective drains on health care systems’ resources. Second, cheap but effective technologies should be better promoted, as they can displace high-cost technologies. Finally, for effective but expensive technologies, we should work to lower the price and/or costs.
An autonomous six-DOF eye-in-hand system for in situ 3D object modeling
Authors: Torabi Liila , Gupta Kamal
Published: November 2011

We present an integrated and fully autonomous eye-in-hand system for 3D object modeling. The system hardware consists of a laser range scanner mounted on a six-DOF manipulator arm and the task is to autonomously build a 3D model of an object in situ where the object may not be moved and must be scanned in its original location. Our system assumes no knowledge of object shape or geometry other than that it is within a bounding box whose location and size are known a priori, and, furthermore, the environment is unknown. The overall planner integrates the three main algorithms in the system: one that finds the next best view (NBV) for modeling the object; one that finds the NBV for exploration, i.e. exploring the environment, so the arm can move to the modeling view pose; and finally a sensor-based path planner, that is able to find a collision-free path to the view configuration determined by either of the the two view planners. Our modeling NBV algorithm efficiently searches the five-dimensional view space to determine the best modeling viewpoint, while considering key constraints such as field of view (FOV), overlap, and occlusion. If the determined viewpoint is reachable, the sensor-based path planner determines a collision-free path to move the manipulator to the desired view configuration, and a scan of the object is taken. Since the workspace is initially unknown, in some phases, the exploration view planner is used to increase information about the reachability and also the status of the modeling view configurations, since the view configuration may lie in an unknown workspace. This is repeated until the object modeling is complete or the planner deems that no further progress can be made, and the system stops. We have implemented the system with a six-DOF powercube arm and a wrist mounted Hokuyo URG-04LX laser scanner. Our results show that the system is able to autonomously build a 3D model of an object in situ in an unknown environment.
Dynamic buckling of perforated metallic cylindrical panels reinforced with composite patches
Authors: Hoseinzadeh Mohammad , Rezaeepazhand Jalil
Published: November 2011

The dynamic buckling of the patched perforated cylindrical panels, subjected to axial impact load, is investigated. Effects of various parameters such as load time duration, sector angle, cutout size, and thickness of the cylindrical panel are investigated. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the application of single or double-sided composite patches in enhancement of dynamic load carrying capacity of the perforated panels is presented. Due to complexity, material anisotropy, and discontinuity in geometry involved in the dynamic analysis of perforated/repaired panels, closed-form solutions are practically unobtainable. Numerical studies using commercial finite element code is used for the analyses. The results presented herein indicate that patches with a different number of plies and stacking sequences can be found, which improve the dynamic buckling load of the perforated panels.
Treatment with folic acid ameliorated the histopathological alterations caused by propylthiouracil-induced hypothyroid rat testes
Authors: Tousson Ehab , Ali Ehab MM , Ibrahim Wafaa , Mansour Mohammed A
Published: November 2011

Hypothyroidism is an underactive thyroid gland that cannot  make enough thyroid hormone to keep the body running normally. Here we studied the histopathological, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural changes in the hypothyroid rat testes at the postpubertal stage, in addition to the ameliorating role of folic acid in enhancing spermatogenesis, boosting sperm concentration and building up the antioxidant status against the oxidants. A total of 50 male albino rats were equally divided into 5 groups; the first and second groups comprised the control and folic acid groups, respectively; while the third group comprised the hypothyroid group in which rats received 6- n-propyl-2-thiouracil in drinking water for 6 weeks to induce hypothyroidism. The fourth and fifth groups comprised hypothyroid rats treated with folic acid for 4 weeks and dissected after 6 and 10 weeks, respectively. Testes in the hypothyroid rats showed marked morphological and histological changes in the seminiferous tubules with a reduction in sperm count. Our results indicate that hypothyroidism adversely affects spermatogenesis, suggesting that thyroid hormone might play an important role not only in controlling normal testicular development but also in maintaining normal testicular function and spermatogenesis. Further, we suggested an ameliorating role of folic acid in the relief of testicular tissue from changes due to hypothyroidism. However, we found that the best results were found in cases where folic acid was used as an adjuvant therapy for returning to the euthyroid state.