bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Rosiglitazone, Glyburide, and Metformin on β-Cell Function and Insulin Sensitivity in ADOPT
Authors: Kahn Steven E. , Lachin John M. , Zinman Bernard , Haffner Steven M. , Aftring R. Paul , Paul Gitanjali , Kravitz Barbara G. , Herman William H. , Viberti Giancarlo , Holman Rury R. ,   and the ADOPT Study Group
Published: March 2011

OBJECTIVE

ADOPT (A Diabetes Outcome Progression Trial) demonstrated that initial monotherapy with rosiglitazone provided superior durability of glycemic control compared with metformin and glyburide in patients with recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes. Herein, we examine measures of β-cell function and insulin sensitivity from an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) over a 4-year period among the three treatments.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Recently diagnosed, drug-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes (4,360 total) were treated for a median of 4.0 years with rosiglitazone, metformin, or glyburide and were examined with periodic metabolic testing using an OGTT.

RESULTS

Measures of β-cell function and insulin sensitivity from an OGTT showed more favorable changes over time with rosiglitazone versus metformin or glyburide. Persistent improvements were seen in those who completed 4 years of monotherapy and marked deterioration of β-cell function in those who failed to maintain adequate glucose control with initial monotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

The favorable combined changes in β-cell function and insulin sensitivity over time with rosiglitazone appear to be responsible for its superior glycemic durability over metformin and glyburide as initial monotherapy in type 2 diabetes.
Gain-of-function polymorphisms of cystathionine β-synthase and delayed cerebral ischemia following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage
Authors: Grobelny Bartosz T. , Ducruet Andrew F. , DeRosa Peter A. , Kotchetkov Ivan S. , Zacharia Brad E. , Hickman Zachary L. , Fernandez Luis , Narula Reshma , Claassen Jan , Lee Kiwon , Badjatia Neeraj , Mayer Stephan A. , Connolly E. Sander
Published: March 2011

Object

Cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) is an enzyme that metabolizes homocysteine to form H2S in the brain. Hydrogen sulfide functions as a vasodilator as well as a regulator of neuronal ion channels and multiple intracellular signaling pathways. Given the myriad effects of H2S, the authors hypothesized that patients possessing gain-of-function polymorphisms of the CBS gene will experience a decreased incidence of delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH).

Methods

Patients were enrolled in a prospective observational database of aSAH outcomes. DNA was extracted from buccal swabs and sequenced for 3 functional polymorphisms of the CBS gene (699C→T, 844ins68, and 1080C→T) by polymerase chain reaction. Serum homocysteine levels (μmol/L) were assayed. Multivariate analysis was used to determine the relationship between CBS genotype and occurrence of both angiographic vasospasm and DCI.

Results

There were 87 patients included in the study. None of the polymorphisms investigated were significantly associated with the incidence of angiographic vasospasm. However, after controlling for admission hypertension, patients with the gain-of-function 844 WT/ins genotypes were less likely to experience DCI relative to those with the 844 WT/WT genotype (86 patients, p = 0.050), while the decrease-in-function genotype 1080 TT was more likely to experience DCI relative to those with 1080 CC and CT genotypes (84 patients, p = 0.042). Serum homocysteine levels did not correlate with the extent of either angiographic vasospasm or DCI in this analysis.

Conclusions

Polymorphisms of the CBS gene that impart gain-of-function may be associated with a reduced risk of DCI after aSAH, independent of serum homocysteine. Signaling through H2S may mediate protection from DCI following aSAH through a mechanism that does not involve macrovascular vasodilation.
Comparison of clinical characteristics and MR angiography appearance in patients with spontaneous intradural vertebral artery dissection with or without subarachnoid hemorrhage
Authors: Matsukawa Hidetoshi , Fujii Motoharu , Shinoda Masaki , Takahashi Osamu , Yamamoto Daisuke , Murakata Atsushi , Ishikawa Ryoichi
Published: March 2011

Object

It is well known that spontaneous intradural vertebral artery dissection (siVAD) is an important cause of nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The factors that influence whether SAH develops, however, remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate whether clinical characteristics and imaging findings are different in patients with siVAD with SAH compared to those with siVAD without SAH.

Methods

The authors conducted a retrospective, single-institution study involving patients in whom siVAD developed with or without SAH, between July 2003 and November 2010. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate clinical characteristics and MR angiography findings. The vertebral-union-basilar angle (VUBA) was defined as the most acute angle between line of the basilar artery trunk and line of the vertebral angle (VA) at the vertebral union on 3D MR angiograms.

Results

Among 58 patients with siVAD, 21 developed SAH. The presence of siVAD and SAH was significantly associated with higher rates of current smoking (OR 13; 95% CI 3.6–38; p < 0.0001), dissection of the dominant VA (OR 9.2; 95% CI 2.5–19; p = 0.0004), and unruptured supratentorial nondissecting saccular aneurysms (OR 11; 95% CI 2.1–19; p = 0.0025), and the VUBA of the dominant VA was significantly larger (p < 0.0001, univariate analysis). Multivariate analysis showed that these differences were still significant (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

A larger VUBA of the dominant VA, the presence of unruptured supratentorial nondissecting saccular aneurysms, and current smoking may be factors that predict which patients with siVAD will develop SAH by dominant VAD.
Evaluation of myocardial protection in off-pump vs on-pump coronary bypass surgery by troponin I estimation
Authors: Badruzzaman Md. , Hossain Aslam , Adhikary Asit Baran , Quader Sayed Abdul , Kamal Sarwar , Saha Sanjoy Kumar
Published: March 2011

Background: This prospective non-randomized clinical study was done to compare Off-pump and Onpump myocardial revascularization by Troponin I release in patients undergoing first elective coronary artery bypass graft used to evaluate myocardial injury.Methods: One hundred an twenty patients were non-randomly assigned to a Off-pump or On-pump myocardial revascularization group. Cardiac Troponin I (CTnI) were measured in serial venous blood samples drawn preoperatively in both groups. In On-pump group after aortic unclamping at 12 and 24 hours and in Off-pump group after the last distal anastomosis at 12 and 24 hours.Results: The total amount of CTnI release were significantly higher in On-pump group than in Off-pump group. In On-pump group it was 2.1±1.9 (mean±SD) ng/ml vs in Off-pump group it was 1.0±1.7 (mean±SD) ng/ml at 12 hours and in On-pump group it was 1.6±1.6 (mean±SD) ng/ml vs in Off-pump group it was .9±1.6 (mean±SD) ng/ml at 24 hours (P<0.0001 for the pattern).Conclusion: The lower release of CTnI in the Off-pump myocardial revascularization group indicates that the arrested heart coronary revascularization group causes more damage to the heart due to cardiopulmonary bypass than Off-pump myocardial revascularization group. DOI: 10.3329/bmrcb.v36i3.5080Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2010; 36: 93-96
Feeding practice in acute stroke patients in a tertiary care hospital
Authors: Miah Md Titu , Al-Amin Mohammad , Khan Mohammad Ashik Imran , Ayaz KFM , Zakaria MH , Ahmed Srijoni , Ahasan HAM Nazmul
Published: March 2011

Background: Feeding is a basic component of care and it is the most common and difficult management issue for stroke patients.Objective of this study was to know the practice of feeding (oral & nasogastric tube feeding), different types of food used and their caloric value in stroke patients. Materials & Methods: This direct observational study was done from June 2010 to November 2010, in different medicine wards of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, and included 100 acute stroke patients confirmed by CT scan or MRI of brain and duration of hospital stay for at least 24 hours.Results: Out of 100 cases, 22% took their feeding orally and 78% cases through nasogastric tube. Artificial milk powder 66% cases (NG tube vs. Orally, 58% vs. 8%), juice 18% (NG tube 13% vs. orally 5%), horlicks & juice & soup 10% (NG tube vs. Orally, 7% vs. 3%), khichury 2% orally, bread & egg & shuji 4% cases orally. In 100 cases studied, none of them fulfilled the calorie requirement up to the standard level according to the guideline of Nutrition & Food Science Institute, of Dhaka University, Bangladesh.Conclusion: Though this study was small scale but the magnitude of under nutrition among stroke patients revealed is alarming and needs urgent attention. DOI: 10.3329/bmrcb.v36i3.7286Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2010; 36: 78-81
On a Connection between Information and Group Lattices
Authors: Li Hua , Chong Edwin K. P.
Published: March 2011

In this paper we review a particular connection between information theory and group theory. We formalize the notions of information elements and information lattices, first proposed by Shannon. Exploiting this formalization, we expose a comprehensive parallelism between information lattices and subgroup lattices. Qualitatively, isomorphisms between information lattices and subgroup lattices are demonstrated. Quantitatively, a decisive approximation relation between the entropy structures of information lattices and the log-index structures of the corresponding subgroup lattices, first discovered by Chan and Yeung, is highlighted. This approximation, addressing both joint and common entropies, extends the work of Chan and Yeung on joint entropy. A consequence of this approximation result is that any continuous law holds in general for the entropies of information elements if and only if the same law holds in general for the log-indices of subgroups. As an application, by constructing subgroup counterexamples, we find surprisingly that common information, unlike joint information, obeys neither the submodularity nor the supermodularity law. We emphasize that the notion of information elements is conceptually significant—formalizing it helps to reveal the deep connection between information theory and group theory. The parallelism established in this paper admits an appealing group-action explanation and provides useful insights into the intrinsic structure among information elements from a group-theoretic perspective.
Mode Switching and Collective Behavior in Chemical Oil Droplets
Authors: Horibe Naoto , Hanczyc Martin M. , Ikegami Takashi
Published: March 2011

We have characterized several dynamic aspects of a simple chemical system capable of self-movement: An oil droplet in water system. We focused on spontaneous mode switching and collective behavior of droplets as emergent properties of the system. Droplets demonstrated spontaneous mode switching by changing speed, direction and acceleration over time, and collective behaviors of droplets resulted from such autonomous characteristics. In this paper, we quantitatively measured those characteristics to show that droplets did not act completely independently in the same system, but tend to be attracted to one another and interact with each other by adjusting their motion.
CFD Investigation into Diesel PCCI Combustion with Optimized Fuel Injection
Authors: Peng Zhijun , Liu Bin , Wang Weiji , Lu Lipeng
Published: March 2011

A multi-pulse injection strategy for premixed charge compression ignition (PCCI) combustion was investigated in a four-valve, direct-injection diesel engine by a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation using KIVA-3V code coupled with detailed chemistry. The effects of fuel splitting proportion, injection timing, spray angles, and injection velocity were examined. The mixing process and formation of soot and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions were investigated as the focus of the research. The results show that the fuel splitting proportion and the injection timing impacted the combustion and emissions significantly due to the considerable changes of the mixing process and fuel distribution in the cylinder. While the spray, inclusion angle and injection velocity at the injector exit, can be adjusted to improve mixing, combustion and emissions, appropriate injection timing and fuel splitting proportion must be jointly considered for optimum combustion performance.
Effect of Ligusticum wallichii Aqueous Extract on Oxidative Injury and Immunity Activity in Myocardial Ischemic Reperfusion Rats
Authors: Zengyong Qiao , Jiangwei Ma , Huajin Liu
Published: March 2011

We investigated the efficacy of Ligusticum wallichi aqueous extract (LWE) for myocardial protection against ischemia-reperfusion injury. Rats were fed for five weeks with either a control diet (sham and ischemia reperfusion (IR) model control groups) or a diet mixed with 0.2%, 0.4% or 0.6% Ligusticum wallichi extract. At the end of the five week period, hearts were excised and subjected to global ischemia for 30 min followed by reperfusion for 2 h. The hearts were compared for indices of oxidative stress and immunity activities. Administration of Ligusticum wallichi extract significantly decreased serum TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, NO, MIP-1α, CRP and myocardium MDA levels, and serum CK, LDH and AST activities, and increased myocardium Na+-K+-ATPase, Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase, NOS, SOD, CAT, GSH-Px and TAOC activities. The results indicate that Ligusticum wallichii extract treatment can enhance myocardial antioxidant status and improve the immunity profile in ischemic-reperfusion rats.
Chromosomal Speciation Revisited: Modes of Diversification in Australian Morabine Grasshoppers (Vandiemenella, viatica Species Group)
Authors: Kawakami Takeshi , Butlin Roger K. , Cooper Steven J. B.
Published: March 2011

Chromosomal rearrangements can alter the rate and patterns of gene flow within or between species through a reduction in the fitness of chromosomal hybrids or by reducing recombination rates in rearranged areas of the genome. This concept, together with the observation that many species have structural variation in chromosomes, has led to the theory that the rearrangements may play a direct role in promoting speciation. Australian morabine grasshoppers (genus Vandiemenella, viatica species group) are an excellent model for studying the role of chromosomal rearrangement in speciation because they show extensive chromosomal variation, parapatric distribution patterns, and narrow hybrid zones at their boundaries. This species group stimulated development of one of the classic chromosomal speciation models, the stasipatric speciation model proposed by White in 1968. Our population genetic and phylogeographic analyses revealed extensive non-monophyly of chromosomal races along with historical and on-going gene introgression between them. These findings suggest that geographical isolation leading to the fixation of chromosomal variants in different geographic regions, followed by secondary contact, resulted in the present day parapatric distributions of chromosomal races. The significance of chromosomal rearrangements in the diversification of the viatica species group can be explored by comparing patterns of genetic differentiation between rearranged and co-linear parts of the genome.
Contrast-Independent Biologically Inspired Motion Detection
Authors: Babies Birthe , Lindemann Jens Peter , Egelhaaf Martin , Möller Ralf
Published: March 2011

Optic flow, i.e., retinal image movement resulting from ego-motion, is a crucial source of information used for obstacle avoidance and course control in flying insects. Optic flow analysis may prove promising for mobile robotics although it is currently not among the standard techniques. Insects have developed a computationally cheap analysis mechanism for image motion. Detailed computational models, the so-called elementary motion detectors (EMDs), describe motion detection in insects. However, the technical application of EMDs is complicated by the strong effect of local pattern contrast on their motion response. Here we present augmented versions of an EMD, the (s)cc-EMDs, which normalise their responses for contrast and thereby reduce the sensitivity to contrast changes. Thus, velocity changes of moving natural images are reflected more reliably in the detector response. The (s)cc-EMDs can easily be implemented in hardware and software and can be a valuable novel visual motion sensor for mobile robots.
Observations de terrain et télédétection : des méthodes complémentaires pour l'étude de la banquise arctique
Authors: Griselin Madeleine , Kergomard Claude
Published: March 2011

Trois grandes méthodes d'investigation sont aujourd'hui employées conjointement pour l'étude des glaces marines et de leur mouvement dans l'océan Arctique : les observations de terrain effectuées in situ, la télédétection « passive » (images de la banquise réalisées par des capteurs embarqués à bord de satellites) et la télédétection « active » (suivi de balises qui émettent un signal radio capté et localisé par satellite). Des exemples pris à différentes échelles spatiales et temporelles permettront de mesurer la complémentarité et l'apport spécifique des trois méthodes utilisées ainsi que les limites de chacune pour l'observation des glaces et de leur dérive.
Paysage perçu, paysage vécu, paysage planifié. Le cas de Belle-lle-en-Mer
Authors: Becker Martine
Published: March 2011

The tentative to set up a « Landscaping plan » on a breton island is an ideal opportunity to carry out a geographical analysis of the environment with a view to applying the results.
La ville moyenne et son pays
Authors: Ligot Maurice
Published: March 2011

fre : Ville moyenne, « Pays », Territoires, Fonctions
La Roche-sur-Yon, ville atypique ou ville moyenne de l'Ouest français ?
Authors: Couturier T. , Madore Francois
Published: March 2011

La ville de La Roche- sur-Yon, après avoir connu une véritable explosion urbaine au cours des décennies 50-60, symptomatique d'une phase de diffusion de l'innovation depuis les échelons urbains supérieurs, enregistre, à partir des années 70, une stabilité démographique contrastant avec le vigoureux essor des Trente glorieuses. Cette dernière période, qui n 'a aucun caractère singulier, correspond à l'affirmation d'un nouveau cycle urbain, porté à la fois par un processus d'innovation réservé essentiellement aux grandes villes, et par une nouvelle forme de croissance urbaine, nettement plus centrifuge que la précédente, déplaçant ainsi le front urbain au-delà des limites de l'unité urbaine.
Les villes moyennes de la Galice intérieure
Authors: Lois Gonzales Ruben Camilo , Gonzales Roman Rodriguez
Published: March 2011

Tout au long de l'histoire, le processus d'urbanisation du territoire galicien s'est caractérisé par un remarquable contraste entre les aires dynamiques de l'occident régional, où se localisent les villes les plus importantes, et le faible développement des noyaux principaux dans les zones de l'intérieur. Dans ces dernières, seulement Lugo et Ourense, promues à partir de leur choix comme capitales de province ont réussi à dépasser depuis quelques années les 50 000 habitants. En fait, nous sommes en présence de villes qui sont indiscutablement les centres administratifs et commerciaux de leurs territoires respectifs. Leur croissance dans les dernières années contraste avec la forte dépopulation des espaces ruraux environnants.
Bayonne, ville moyenne ou ville intermédiaire de l'Arc atlantique ?
Authors: Laborde Pierre
Published: March 2011

Bayonne occupe une situation privilégiée au contact de la France et de l'Espagne. Ville de commerce et de services, cœur d'une agglomération de 165 000 habitants, elle peut être classée comme ville intermédiaire parce-qu 'elle a des attributs supérieurs à ceux d'une ville moyenne mais sans pouvoir rivaliser avec les métropoles voisines de Bilbao et de Bordeaux qui sont placées à égale distance.
Villes moyennes dans les Highlands : le cas d'Oban
Authors: Thompson I.B.
Published: March 2011

Les Highlands et les Iles de l'Ecosse se composent d'une zone de montagnes, caractérisée par une faible densité de population, un environnement difficile et isolé et un littoral long avec de nombreuses îles habitées. Dans ces conditions, l 'idée de « ville moyenne » pose des problèmes de définition, notamment en ce qui concerne la taille et l'échelle. Ces problèmes sont envisagés par rapport à Oban (port de pêche et de ferry et centre de tourisme). Le problème de définition de sa zone polarisée est compliqué par son hinterland qui comprend des éléments du continent et des îles. Cette communication décrit les fonctions internes de la ville et ses fonctions en tant que ville-relais (situation sur les circuits touristiques, liaison avec Glasgow par route et par chemin de fer). Quoique Oban puisse être classée comme ville moyenne dans le contexte des Highlands, cette position hiérarchique peut être contestée par une dominance accrue au-dessus (Inverness) et par une érosion en dessous.
Les agences de développement urbain en Angleterre-Galles
Authors: Moindrot Claude
Published: March 2011

Les Agences de Développement Urbain créées en 1980 par la voie législative sont devenues l'instrument privilégié du gouvernement conservateur pour la régénération des quartiers centraux des grandes agglomérations, la priorité étant désormais donnée aux forces du marché et à la promotion immobilière. Leurs relations avec les Autorités locales sont souvent tendues. On examine ici les objectifs et la stratégie de quatre d'entre elles, à Cardiff, Bristol, Sheffield et Tyneside.
Paysages limousins et identité régionale
Authors: Perigord Michel
Published: March 2011

Cet article dresse un bilan des « pays » limousins et des paysages qui leurs sont associés. Aujourd'hui, les Limousins se reconnaissent dans un espace géographique dominé par deux types d'activités : l'élevage et la sylviculture. Cependant, c'est sur des références à un passé encore récent que repose le sentiment d'appartenance à une communauté originale fondée sur une langue, une histoire, une géographie et des pratiques agricoles communes, et qui entraînent certains comportements spécifiques : perpétuation des foires, de modes de vie et de coutumes alimentaires presque oubliés, excellents supports publicitaires à la promotion des activités touristiques.
L'avenir démographique du Poitou-Charentes selon les projections OMPHALE
Authors: Beteille René
Published: March 2011

Les projections démographiques à l'horizon 2010 suggèrent des mutations assez importantes de la population du Poitou-Charentes. Celle-ci pourrait augmenter légèrement. La Vienne serait le département le plus favorisé. En même temps, le vieillissement s'accentuerait fortement.
La crise des activités et le chômage en Poitou-Charentes
Authors: Guillemot Lionel
Published: March 2011

A partir des bouleversements de l'activité dans la région Poitou-Charentes, nous essaierons d'expliquer les concentrations différentes de chômeurs au niveau des zones d'emploi. Ainsi, nous chercherons à comprendre pourquoi, malgré l'importance du recul de l'activité localement, certains espaces semblent paradoxalement peu sujet à la concentration de chômeurs.
La crise du cognac des années 1990
Authors: Bernard Gilles
Published: March 2011

Les alcools charentais sont très appréciés dans le monde, ce qui leur permet d'occuper une belle assise commerciale. Les multinationales des boissons et spiritueux s' emparent progressivement de leur avenir pour exploiter leurs positions internationales. Cette situation n'est pas sans conséquences pour l appellation et inquiète le monde viticole.
HIV and Hepatitis Virus Resistance to Antivirals: Review of Data from the Xix International HIV and Hepatitis Virus Drug Resistance Workshop and Curative Strategies
Authors: Mascolini Mark , Mellors John W , Richman Douglas D , Boucher Charles AB , Larder Brendan A
Published: March 2011

The XIX International HIV and Hepatitis Virus Drug Resistance Workshop offered scientists, clinical investigators, physicians and others an opportunity to present study results selected in a rigorous peer-review process and to discuss those data in an open forum. In 2010, Workshop organizers expanded the programme to include hepatitis B and C viruses, reasoning that workers in all three fields could benefit from shared experience, positive and negative. Slide sessions at the 2010 Workshop focused on hepatitis virus resistance to current and experimental antivirals; epidemiology of HIV resistance; HIV pathogenesis, fitness and resistance; resistance to new antiretrovirals; markers of response to HIV entry inhibitors; HIV persistence, reservoirs and elimination strategies; application of new viral sequencing techniques; and mechanisms of HIV drug resistance. This article summarizes all slide presentations at the Workshop.
Drogues et médicalisation
Authors: Coppel Anne
Published: March 2011

Résumé Anne Coppel, présidente d’honneur de l’AFR, nous incite à une grande prudence dans notre approche du champ des drogues, dans un champ où s’affrontent parfois expertise médicale et demande sociale. Ne pas céder à la mode. Certes l’addictologie l’a emporté, au nom de la science après que ceux qui, hier, assimilaient les neurosciences à une idéologie totalitaire aient été réduits au silence. Mais attention au danger représenté par la domination d’un seul type d’expertise. La santé publique n’est pas qu’une affaire médicale, elle concerne tout autant le citoyen ordinaire, fût-il consommateur de drogues.
Le bus méthadone de l'Association Gaïa de Paris
Authors: Dehée Anne-Lise
Published: March 2011

Résumé Propos recueillis auprès d’Anne-Lise Dehée, conductrice et accueillante sur le bus méthadone, par Anne Querrien. Une maraude dans le bus méthadone de l’association Gaïa qui accueille et accompagne les usagers dans leur réinsertion sociale. Une constante derrière tous ces témoignages et ces analyses : remettre l’usager, la personne, au centre du débat.
Quand l'obsession de la « guerre à la drogue » entraîne des catastrophes sanitaires
Authors: Simon Arnaud
Published: March 2011

Résumé Malgré une croissance effrénée de l’épidémie de SIDA en Russie, l’accès aux traitements y est aujourd’hui moins bon que dans les pays d’Afrique subsaharienne et le gouvernement russe s’oppose toujours formellement à la Réduction des risques. La prescription des traitements de substitution est toujours formellement interdite. Les pressions policières sur les usagers de drogues s’expriment de multiples façons : elles contribuent à accroître leur marginalisation et à nuire à leur santé. La « lutte contre la drogue » contribue à créer un contexte favorable à l’oppression systématique des personnes qui consomment les produits incriminés.
Je l'avoue…
Authors: Cesoni Daniela
Published: March 2011

Résumé Daniela Cesoni, psychologue italienne, retrace son parcours franco-italien en « rhizome » des années 70 à nos jours, ses expériences en termes de suivi et de prévention des addictions aux drogues : de son travail sur la dés-institutionnalisation en Italie, à sa pratique de la méthode de la Recherche-Action-Participative, en France à partir des années 80, dans le cadre de l’association qu’elle crée : Drogues et Société . Méthode qui consiste à adapter les interventions et les services aux demandes et aux besoins des usagers.
Changer de lunettes pour lire le cas afghan
Authors: Maguet Olivier
Published: March 2011

Résumé Responsable de la mission Réduction des risques de MDM à Kaboul il décrypte le cas afghan fournissant une analyse forte, une clé de compréhension et des pistes de réflexion. Dans un État afghan délégitimé, gangrené, au plus haut niveau, par le trafic de drogues, une économie légale ne reposant que sur l’aide internationale et une économie illégale mais bien réelle, celle de la drogue, obèrent toute possibilité de reconstruction, de paix et de développement. Pour lui et son équipe à Kaboul la Réduction des risques ne se résume pas uniquement à une approche médicale, psychologique et sociale, soucieuse du respect des droits de l’homme, mais constitue plus largement une sorte de cheval de Troie permettant de bousculer les catégories du débat sur les enjeux de la lutte anti-drogue et de « la Réduction des Risques mondiale ».
Le dispositif global de l'image
Authors: Szaniecki Barbara
Published: March 2011

Résumé Cet article propose une analyse du dispositif global de l’image qui peut constituer à la fois une totalité prédatrice et un espace ouvert à la puissance d’invention. Bien au-delà des théories formalistes du modernisme qui revendiquaient une autonomie de l’art, il est possible aujourd’hui de penser les hybridations arts&médias comme un terrain possible de luttes pour transformer les ambiguïtés du dispositif en potentialités émancipatrices avec une plus grande collaboration dans la création d’images – ou wik’images.
Synergisitic effect of chitinases andBacillus thuringiensis israelensisspore-toxin complex againstAedes aegyptilarvae
Authors: Ramírez-Suero Montserrat , Valerio-Alfaro Gerardo , Bernal Julio S. , Ramírez-Lepe Mario
Published: March 2011

Six subspecies ofBacillus thuringiensisBerliner (Bt) were grown in minimal medium with chitin as the sole carbon source for 6 days to obtainBtcell-free fermented broths, which were then evaluated for chitinolytic activity and tested against third-instarAedes aegypti(L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) larvae.Bt pakistanishowed the highest chitinolytic activity (approximately >2700 mU/mL),Bt kurstakishowed the lowest activity (approximately <2000 mU/mL), andBt thompsoni,Bt aizawai,Bt israelensis, andBt alestishowed intermediate activities (approximately 2100–2400 mU/mL).Bt aizawaiandBt thompsonibroths showed the highest toxicity (LC50) against third-instarA. aegyptilarvae (approximately <290 mU/mL).Bt kurstakibroth showed the lowest toxicity (approximately 420 mU/mL), whileBt pakistani,Bt israelensis, andBt alestibroths showed intermediate toxicities (approximately 360–460 mU/mL). A purified and biochemically characterizedBt aizawaichitinase and commercial chitinases (fromSerratia marcescensBizio andStreptomyces griseusWaksman and Henrici) were evaluated and compared for synergistic effects onBt israelensisspore-toxin complex against third-instarA. aegyptilarvae. The synergism factor value ofStreptomyces griseusandBt aizawaichitinases were >2 and approximately 1.4; synergism was not evident for theSerratia marcescenschitinase (synergism factor value approximately 0.9).
Effects of sublethal doses of chlorfluazuron on the biochemical constituents of eggs ofSpodoptera litura(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Authors: Perveen F.
Published: March 2011

The effects of sublethal doses (LD10: 1.00 ng/larva; LD30: 3.75 ng/larva) of chlorfluazuron on the biochemical constituents of eggs of the tobacco cutworm,Spodoptera litura(F.), are described. Chlorfluazuron was applied topically to fifth-instar larvae and the subsequent adults were allowed to mate according to larval treatment (LD10-treated female × LD10-treated male and LD30-treated female × LD30-treated male). Biochemical constituents of eggs resulting from these pairings were analyzed at various stages of embryonic development. Compared with controls, LD10or LD30reduced egg constituents as follows: protein (min.–max.) by 32.8%–34.5% or 62.0%–67.3%, lipid by 33%–34% or 62%–67%, carbohydrates by 30%–39% or 60%–67%, DNA by 33%–40% or 60%–69%, RNA by 31%–34% or 59%–67%, and ecdysteroid by 22%–83% or 28%–92%, respectively. The relative proportions of constituents in control eggs were as follows: protein > lipid > carbohydrate, and RNA > DNA. Three low and three high peaks in ecdysteroid titres were observed. Compared with controls, all peaks were reduced in LD10or LD30eggs as follows: low peaks: 1st (at 8 h): 32% or 66%; 2nd (at 16 h): 33% or 67%; 3rd (at 52 h): 35% or 65%; high peaks: 1st (at 32 h): 83% or 92%; 2nd (at 64 h): 65% or 82%; 3rd (at 84 h): 84 h, 36% or 63%, respectively. In addition, the first two high peaks were delayed by 4 h in LD10eggs and by 8 h in LD30eggs compared with controls. Sublethal doses of chlorfluazuron reduced the amounts of biochemical constituents of eggs during embryogenesis inS. litura.
Detrital petrology and mineralogy of the cored intervals of Lower Cretaceous sedimentary rocks in the Esperanto K-78, Hesper I-92, and South Griffin J-13 wells, Scotian Shelf
Authors: Pe-Piper G , Piper D J W , Gould K
M , DeCoste A
Published: March 2011

Short conventional cores have been studied from the Middle Member of the Missisauga Formation from the Esperanto K-78 and South Griffin J-13 wells and from the lower Naskapi Member in Hesper I-52. Cores were described and photographs. Samples were examined by
petrographic microscope and in some cases by SEM and electron microprobe. Tidal parasequences are found in cores from Esperanto K-78 and South Griffin J-13, whereas at Hesper I-52, a shoreface parasequence was sampled. The stratigraphic position of the core from Hesper I-52 was reassessed, with the
aid of new biostratigraphic data; the core does not sample the top-Missisauga unconformity, as previous interpreted.
Features of the detrital petrology are similar to equivalent stratigraphic levels in Peskowesk A-99, including the low abundance of stable heavy minerals, the preponderance of K-feldspar relative to plagioclase, and the abundance of lithic clasts of microgranite and rhyolite. The new data confirms
that there was a change in sediment supply in the Upper Member of the Missisauga Formation.
Diagenesis of the sandstones is characterized by low abundances of diagenetic carbonates and porosity principally cemented by clay minerals. The paragenetic sequence suggests that kaolinite, calcite, siderite and pyrite are the principal eogenetic minerals, followed
by quartz overgrowths, chlorite, illite, and further silica cement. In addition, silica cement is abundant at South Griffin J-13. The occurrence of diagenetic sphalerite at South Griffin J-13 suggests hot, saline basinal fluids were present.
Collectively, these data show that the previous detailed interpretations of detrital petrology and diagenesis from the Peskowesk A-99 extend to a large area of the eastern Scotian Basin.
Transport analysis of ozone enhancement in Southern Ontario during BAQS-Met
Authors: He H. , Tarasick D. W. , Hocking W. K. , Carey-Smith T. K. , Rochon Y. , Zhang J. , Makar P. A. , Osman M. , Brook J. , Moran M. D. , Jones D. B. A. , Mihele C. , Wei J. C. , Osterman G. , Argall P. S. , McConnell J. , Bourqui M. S.
Published: March 2011

Abstract. Twice-daily ozonesondes were launched from Harrow, in southwestern Ontario, Canada, during the BAQS-Met (Border Air Quality and Meteorology Study) field campaign in June and July of 2007. A co-located radar windprofiler measured tropopause height continuously. These data, in combination with continuous surface ozone measurements and geo-statistical interpolation of satellite ozone observations, present a consistent picture and indicate that a number of significant ozone enhancements in the troposphere were observed that were the result of stratospheric intrusion events. The combined observations have also been compared with results from two Environment Canada numerical models, the operational weather prediction model GEM (as input to FLEXPART), and a new version of the regional air quality model AURAMS, in order to examine the ability of these models to accurately represent sporadic cross-tropopause ozone transport events. The models appear to reproduce intrusion events with some skill, implying that GEM dynamics (which also drive AURAMS) are able to represent such events well. There are important differences in the quantitative comparison, however; in particular, the poor vertical resolution of AURAMS around the tropopause causes it to bring down too much ozone in individual intrusions. These campaign results imply that stratospheric intrusions are important to the ozone budget of the mid-latitude troposphere, and appear to be responsible for much of the variability of ozone in the free troposphere. GEM-FLEXPART calculations indicate that stratospheric ozone intrusions contributed significantly to surface ozone on several occasions during the BAQS-Met campaign, and made a moderate but significant contribution to the overall tropospheric ozone budget.
Age structure and disturbance legacy of North American forests
Authors: Pan Y. , Chen J. M. , Birdsey R. , McCullough K. , He L. , Deng F.
Published: March 2011

Abstract. Most forests of the world are recovering from a past disturbance. It is well known that forest disturbances profoundly affect carbon stocks and fluxes in forest ecosystems, yet it has been a great challenge to assess disturbance impacts in estimates of forest carbon budgets. Net sequestration or loss of CO2 by forests after disturbance follows a predictable pattern with forest recovery. Forest age, which is related to time since disturbance, is a useful surrogate variable for analyses of the impact of disturbance on forest carbon. In this study, we compiled the first continental forest age map of North America by combining forest inventory data, historical fire data, optical satellite data and the dataset from NASA's Landsat Ecosystem Disturbance Adaptive Processing System (LEDAPS) project. A companion map of the standard deviations for age estimates was developed for quantifying uncertainty. We discuss the significance of the disturbance legacy from the past, as represented by current forest age structure in different regions of the US and Canada, by analyzing the causes of disturbances from land management and nature over centuries and at various scales. We also show how such information can be used with inventory data for analyzing carbon management opportunities. By combining geographic information about forest age with estimated C dynamics by forest type, it is possible to conduct a simple but powerful analysis of the net CO2 uptake by forests, and the potential for increasing (or decreasing) this rate as a result of direct human intervention in the disturbance/age status. Finally, we describe how the forest age data can be used in large-scale carbon modeling, both for land-based biogeochemistry models and atmosphere-based inversion models, in order to improve the spatial accuracy of carbon cycle simulations.
Protein kinase Cδ and c‐Abl kinase are required for transforming growth factor β induction of endothelial–mesenchymal transition in vitro
Authors: Li Zhaodong , Jimenez Sergio A.
Published: March 2011

Objective

The origin of the mesenchymal cells responsible for the intimal fibrosis in systemic sclerosis (SSc) has not been fully identified. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether subendothelial mesenchymal cells may emerge through transdifferentiation of endothelial cells (ECs) into myofibroblasts via endothelial–mesenchymal transition (EndoMT) in vitro and to explore the signaling pathways involved in this process.

Methods

Primary mouse pulmonary ECs isolated by immunomagnetic methods with sequential anti‐CD34 and anti‐CD102 antibody selection were cultured in monolayers. Cell morphology and diacetylated low‐density lipoprotein uptake assays confirmed their EC characteristics. The induction of EndoMT was assessed by determination of α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA), type I collagen, and VE‐cadherin expression, and the expression of the transcriptional repressor Snail‐1 was analyzed. The signaling pathways involved were examined using small‐molecule kinase inhibitors and RNA interference.

Results

Transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) induced α‐SMA and type I collagen expression and inhibited VE‐cadherin. These effects were mediated by a marked increase in Snail‐1 expression and were abolished by treatment with either the c‐Abl tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib mesylate or the protein kinase Cδ (PKCδ) inhibitor rottlerin. The inhibitory effects of imatinib mesylate and rottlerin were mediated by inhibition of phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase 3β at residue Ser9. These observations were confirmed in experiments using small interfering RNA specific for c‐Abl and PKCδ.

Conclusion

These results indicate that c‐Abl and PKCδ are crucial for TGFβ‐induced EndoMT and that imatinib mesylate and rottlerin or similar kinase inhibitor molecules may be effective therapeutic agents for SSc and other fibroproliferative vasculopathies in which EndoMT plays a pathogenetic role.
Rest‐frame UV to optical X‐shooter spectrum of the gravitationally lensed galaxy “the 8 o'clock arc”: Dissection of its physical properties
Authors: Dessauges‐Zavadsky M. , D'Odorico S. , Christensen L. , Schaerer D. , Richard J.
Published: March 2011

We present the rest‐frame UV to optical spectrum of the gravitationally lensed galaxy, the “8 o'clock arc” at z = 2.735, obtained with the X‐shooter spectrograph. This is one of the rare comprehensive study of a high‐redshift star‐forming galaxy, usually not feasible due to the faintness of these objects. The spectrum of the 8 o'clock arc is rich in stellar and interstellar absorption features and in nebular emission features. Their analysis allowed us to derive most of the physical properties characterizing the galaxy. From HST images, we reconstruct the morphology of the arc in the source plane and confirm that we resolve a clump in rotation around the main core of galaxy in our X‐shooter spectrum (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Systematic conformational investigations of peptoids and peptoid–peptide chimeras
Authors: Brandt Wolfgang , Herberg Thomas , Wessjohann Ludger
Published: March 2011

Peptoids are originally defined as N‐substituted oligoglycine derivatives, and in a broader definition as N‐substituted peptides (peptoid–peptide chimeras). Both types were systematically investigated by force field calculations. The Merck MMFF and YASARA2 force fields were shown to be, among others, the most suitable ones for conformational investigations of peptoids with no missing parameterizations, in contrast to AMBER or CHARMM. Ramachandran‐like plots were calculated for dipeptoids and chimeras using energy calculations and grid searches by varying the dihedral angels Φ and Ψ in steps of 10° for s‐cis‐ and s‐trans amide bonds. Barriers as well as low energy conformations are compared to peptide Ramachandran plots, showing that peptoids have both, more barriers due to additional steric interactions as well as access to minimum conformations not accessible by peptides. Low energy conformations of dimers were used as starting conformations of higher oligomers of the peptoids for extensive molecular dynamics simulations over 10 or 20 ns with the YASARA2 force field and an explicit water solvent box to evaluate their potential to form secondary structural elements. Especially peptoids with aminoisobutyric acid‐like monomer units were found to form left‐handed or polyproline‐like helices also known from less common natural peptides. Furthermore, new secondary structures appear feasible based on stable conformations outside the allowed areas of the Ramachandran plot for peptides, but allowed for peptoids. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci) 96: 651–668, 2011.
Dietary vitamin C and E modulates oxidative stress induced‐kidney and lens injury in diabetic aged male rats through modulating glucose homeostasis and antioxidant systems
Authors: Özkaya Dilek , Nazıroğlu Mustafa , Armağan Abdullah , Demirel Alpay , Köroglu Banu Kale , Çolakoğlu Neriman , Kükner Aysel , Sönmez Tolga Taha
Published: March 2011

Diabetes induces oxidative stress in aged human and rat, although daily supplementation of vitamins C and E (VCE) can be beneficial to aged diabetic rats by reducing free radical production. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether dietary VCE supplementation relieves oxidative stress in streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced diabetic in aged rats. Thirty aged rats were randomly divided into three groups. The first group was used as a control. The second group was made diabetic using a single dose of intraperitoneal STZ. VCE‐supplemented feed was given to aged diabetic rats constituting the third group. On the 21st day of the experiment, blood, lens and kidney samples were taken from all animals. Glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px) activity in lens and kidney, reduced glutathione (GSH), vitamin E and β‐carotene concentrations in kidney were lower in the diabetic group than in the control whereas plasma glucose, urea and creatinine, and kidney and lens peroxidation (LP) levels were higher in the diabetic group than in the control. However, kidney and lens LP levels, and plasma glucose, urea and creatinine values were decreased by VCE supplementation. Lens and kidney GSH‐Px activity, kidney GSH, vitamin E and β‐carotene concentrations and erythrocyte counts were increased by VCE treatment. Kidney weights, vitamin A, haemoglobin, hematocrit, leukocyte and platelets values were not changed by diabetes and/or VCE supplementation. VCE ameliorated also diabetes‐induced histopathological changes in kidney. In conclusion, we observed that VCE supplementation is beneficial towards kidney and lens of aged diabetic rats by modulating oxidative and antioxidant systems. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Kohonen classification applying ‘missing variables’ criterion to evaluate the p‐boronophenylalanine human‐body‐concentration decreasing profile of boron neutron capture therapy patients
Authors: Magallanes Jorge , García‐Reiriz Alejandro , Líberman Sara , Zupan Jure
Published: March 2011

The irradiation dose in tumor and healthy tissue of a boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) patient depends on the boron concentration in blood. In most treatments, this concentration is experimentally determined before and after irradiation but not while irradiation is being carried out because it is troublesome to take the blood samples when the patient remains isolated in the irradiation room. A few models are used to predict the boron profile during that period, which until now involves a biexponential decay. For the prediction of decay concentration profiles of the p‐boronophenylalanine (BPA) in the human body during BNCT treatment, a Kohonen‐based neural network method is suggested. The results of various (20 × 20 × 40 Kohonen network) models based on different trainings on the data set of 67 concentration sets (profiles) are described and discussed. The prediction ability and robustness of the modeling method were tested by the leave‐one‐out procedure. The results show that the method is very robust and mostly independent of small variations. It can yield predictions, root mean squared prediction error (RMSPE), with a maximum of 3.30 µg g−1 for the present cases. In order to show the abilities and limitations of the method, the best and the few worst results are discussed in detail. It should be emphasized that one of the main advantages of this method is the automatic improvement in the prediction ability and robustness of the model by feeding it with an increasing number of data. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis and characterization of colloidal gallium selenide nanowires
Authors: Balitskii O. A. , Borowiak‐Palen E. , Konicki W.
Published: March 2011

We report first to date ‘green’ metalorganic‐free synthesis of colloidal GaSe nanocrystals. Structure and optical properties of gallium selenide nanocrystals dispersed in oleylamine are discusses in respect to that conventionally prepared in alkylphosphonic solutions. We explore the organization of the particles into nanowires and propose appropriate growth mechanism. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)