bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metabonomic analysis of liver tissue from BALB/c mice with d-galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide-induced acute hepatic failure
Authors: Feng Bo , Wu Shengming , Liu Feng , Gao Yan , Dong Fangting , Wei Lai
Published: April 2013

Background

Compared with biofluids, target tissues and organs more directly reflect the pathophysiological state of a disease process. In this study, a D-galactosamine (GalN) / lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mouse model was constructed to investigate metabonomics of liver tissue and directly characterize metabolic changes in acute liver failure (ALF).

Methods

After pretreatment of liver tissue, gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC/TOFMS) was used to separate and identify the liver metabolites. Partial least squares – discriminant analysis models were constructed to separate the ALF and control groups and to find those compounds whose liver levels differed significantly between the two groups.

Results

Distinct clustering was observed between the ALF and control mice. Fifty-eight endogenous metabolites were identified. Compared with the control mice, many metabolites, including sugars, amino acids, fatty acids, and organic acids, underwent significant changes in the ALF group, some of which differed from changes observed in plasma. Significant reduction of some important intermediate metabolites indicates that production of ketone bodies, the tricarboxylic acid and urea cycles, gluconeogenesis, glycolysis and pentose phosphate pathways are inhibited after GalN/LPS administration.

Conclusions

GC/TOFMS can be a powerful technique to perform metabonomic studies of liver tissue. GalN/LPS treatment can severely disturb substance metabolism in the liver, with different effects on metabolites compared with those observed in the plasma.
Prevalence of claims-based recurrent low back pain in a Canadian population: A secondary analysis of an administrative database
Authors: Beaudet Nicolas , Courteau Josiane , Sarret Philippe , Vanasse Alain
Published: April 2013

Background

There is a vast literature reporting that the point prevalence of low back pain (LBP) is high and increasing. It is also known that a large proportion of acute LBP episodes are recurrent within 12 months. However, few studies report the annual trends in the prevalence of recurrent LBP or describe these trends according to age and sex categories.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving 401 264 adults selected from the administrative database of physician claims for the province of Quebec, Canada. These adults, aged 18 years and over, met the criteria of having consulted a physician three times within a 365-day period between 2000 and 2007 for a LBP condition corresponding to ICD-9 codes 721, 722, 724 or 739. All data were analyzed by sex and clustered according to specific age categories.

Results

We observed a decrease from 1.64% to 1.33% in the annual prevalence between 2000 and 2007 for men. This decrease in prevalence was mostly observed between 35 and 59 years of age. Older (≥65 years) women were 1.35 times more at risk to consult a physician for LBP in a recurrent manner than older men. The most frequently reported diagnosis was non-specific LBP between 2000 to 2007. During the same period, sequelae of previous back surgery and spinal stenosis were the categories with the largest increases.

Conclusion

The annual prevalence of claims-based recurrent LBP progressively decreased between 2000 and 2007 for younger adults (<65 years) while older adults (≥65 years) showed an increase. Given the aging Canadian population, recurrent low back pain could have an increasing impact on the quality of life of the elderly as well as on the healthcare system.
A Lectin-EGF antibody promotes regulatory T cells and attenuates nephrotoxic nephritis via DC-SIGN on dendritic cells
Authors: Cai Minchao , Wu Jing , Mao Chaoming , Ren Jianmin , Li Pu , Li Xiao , Zhong Jiuchang , Xu Chundi , Zhou Tong
Published: April 2013

Background

Interactions between dendritic cells (DCs) and T cells play a critical role in the development of glomerulonephritis, which is a common cause of chronic kidney disease. DC-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing non-integrin (DC-SIGN), an immune-regulating molecule of the C-type lectin family, is mainly expressed on DCs and mediates DC adhesion and migration, inflammation, activation of primary T cells. DC-SIGN triggers immune responses and is involved in the immune escape of pathogens and tumours. In addition, ligation of DC-SIGN on DCs actively primes DCs to induce Tregs. Under certain conditions, DC-SIGN signalling may result in inhibition of DC maturation, by promoting regulatory T cell (Treg) function and affecting Th1/Th2 bias.

Methods

A rat model of nephrotoxic nephritis was used to investigate the therapeutic effects of an anti-lectin-epidermal growth factor (EGF) antibody on glomerulonephritis. DCs were induced by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro. The expression of DC surface antigens were detected using flow cytometry; the levels of cytokines were detected by ELISA and qPCR, respectively; the capability of DCs to stimulate T cell proliferation was examined by mixed lymphocyte reaction; PsL-EGFmAb targeting to DC-SIGN on DCs was identified by immunoprecipitation.

Results

Anti-Lectin-EGF antibody significantly reduced global crescent formation, tubulointerstitial injury and improved renal function impairment through inhibiting DC maturation and modulating Foxp3 expression and the Th1/Th2 cytokine balance in kidney. Binding of anti-Lectin-EGF antibody to DC-SIGN on human DCs inhibited DC maturation, increased IL-10 production from DCs and enhanced CD4+CD25+ Treg functions.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that treatment with anti-Lectin-EGF antibody modulates DCs to suppressive DCs and enhances Treg functions, contributing to the attenuation of renal injury in a rat model of nephrotoxic nephritis.
Effects of breastfeeding on body composition and maturational tempo in the rat
Authors: Crispel Yonatan , Katz Oren , Ben-Yosef Dafna , Hochberg Ze'ev
Published: April 2013

Background

Features of life history are subject to environmental regulation in the service of reproductive fitness goals. We have previously shown that the infant-to-childhood transition reflects the adaptive adjustment of an individual's size to the prevailing and anticipated environment.

Methods

To evaluate effects of weaning age on life-history traits in rats, we repeatedly measured length and body mass index (BMI), as well as physiological development and sexual maturation in pups weaned early (d16), normally (d21) or late (d26). Males were bred to females of the same weaning age group for four generations.

Results

Here, we show that the age at weaning from lactation regulates a rat's life history, growth, body composition and maturational tempo. We show that early-weaned rats developed faster than normal- or late-weaned rats; they are leaner and longer than late-weaned ones who are heavier and shorter. Early-weaned progeny develop more rapidly (that is, fur budding, pinnae detachment, eye opening); females show earlier vaginal opening and estrous and males show earlier onset of testicular growth. In generations 3 and 4, early-weaned rats bear larger litter sizes and heavier newborn pups. The entire traits complex is transmitted to subsequent generations from the paternal side.

Conclusions

The findings presented here lend support to the proposition that the duration of infancy, as indexed by weaning age, predicts and perhaps programs growth, body composition, and the tempo of physiological development and maturation, as well as litter size and parity and, thereby, reproductive strategy.
New perspectives on evolutionary medicine: the relevance of microevolution for human health and disease
Authors: Rühli Frank Jakobus , Henneberg Maciej
Published: April 2013

Evolutionary medicine (EM) is a growing field focusing on the evolutionary basis of human diseases and their changes through time. To date, the majority of EM studies have used pure theories of hominin macroevolution to explain the present-day state of human health. Here, we propose a different approach by addressing more empirical and health-oriented research concerning past, current and future microevolutionary changes of human structure, functions and pathologies. Studying generation-to-generation changes of human morphology that occurred in historical times, and still occur in present-day populations under the forces of evolution, helps to explain medical conditions and warns clinicians that their current practices may influence future humans. Also, analyzing historic tissue specimens such as mummies is crucial in order to address the molecular evolution of pathogens, of the human genome, and their coadaptations.
Annual acknowledgement of manuscript reviewers
Authors: Pieroni Andrea
Published: April 2013

Contributing reviewers

The editors of Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine would like to thank all our reviewers who have contributed to the journal in Volume 8 (2012).
Genetic tests in sports medicine - many studies, little impact
Authors: Rudnik-Schöneborn Sabine
Published: April 2013

Genetic research in sports has a history of more than 40 years of endeavouring to find out which genetic factors can predict the performance of an athlete. With increasing knowledge of the human genome and availability of genetic testing the market of direct-to-consumer genetic tests has exploded in recent years. There are tests for genetic variants for medical and general health issues, but there are also 'lifestyle' tests, including tests for indicators for sport performance. The human gene map for fitness and performance includes hundreds of genes that play a role in cardiorespiratory endurance, muscle strength, exercise tolerance, body composition and energy metabolism. However, there is currently no evidence that genotyping an individual is superior to traditional physiological tests in predicting athletic performance.

The impact of genetic test results is much higher in certain medical conditions which are associated with significant health risks when performing competitive sport. These are generally rare inherited disorders, mostly resulting in cardiovascular dysfunction. There are major ethical issues as to whether genetic or clinical pre-participation screenings should be applied to the population in order to prevent disease or death during sport. Some of these issues will be addressed in this article.
Segmentectomy as a safe and equally effective surgical option under complete video-assisted thoracic surgery for patients of stage I non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Zhao Xiaojing , Qian Liqiang , Luo Qingquan , Huang Jia
Published: April 2013

Background

While video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy has been widely accepted for the treatment of non–small cell lung cancer, the debate over video-assisted thoracic surgery segmentectomy still remains. This study compared the clinical outcomes using the two procedures for stage I non–small cell lung cancer patients.

Methods

Retrospective review was conducted on patients who underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery segmentectomy or lobectomy for clinical stage I non–small cell lung cancer at Shanghai Chest Hospital between November 2009 and May 2012. Video-assisted thoracic surgery segmentectomy was performed on 36 patients and video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy on 138 patients. Comparisons between the 2 groups were performed in patient demographic and clinical characteristics, intraoperative parameters and oncology outcomes.

Results

Mean volume of chest tube drainage after operation was smaller for segmentectomy than for lobectomy (1021 ml vs. 1328 ml, P=0.036). Other parameters analysis including blood loss, operation time, chest tube duration and length of hospital stay favors the segmentectomy group numerically without significance. There was no significant difference in distributions in both intra and post operative complications. There was one peri-operative mortality from segmentectomy group and all other patients are alive with a median follow up of 327 days. There were 1 (2.8%) locoregional recurrence after segmentectomy and 6 recurrences (4.4%) after lobectomy (P=1.00). Multivariate survival analysis revealed no significant difference in recurrence-free survivals between the two groups. Two patients successfully underwent bilateral segmentectomies and are free of disease.

Conclusions

For patients with stage I non–small cell lung cancer, video-assisted thoracic surgery segmentectomy offers a safe and equally effective option and can be applied to complicated operation such as bilateral segmentectomy.
Iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis after tibial plateau fracture fixation related to undiagnosed May-Thurner syndrome: a case report
Authors: Foit Niels A , Chen Qing-Min , Cook Blaze , Hammerberg Eric Mark
Published: April 2013

Background

May-Thurner Syndrome (MTS) represents an anatomic variation of the iliac vessels, in which the left common iliac vein is compressed by an overriding iliac artery. Patients with this abnormality are predisposed to the formation of a left-sided iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis (DVT). While DVT is a familiar complication in the setting of lower extremity trauma, there are no previous reports of MTS complicating the care of patients requiring orthopaedic surgery.

Case presentation

We present the case of an extensive limb-threatening DVT in a patient with previously undiagnosed MTS, resulting after internal fixation of a left tibial plateau fracture. Four days after surgery, despite standard prophylactic anticoagulation, the patient developed an extensive occlusive DVT, extending from the common iliac vein to the popliteal vein. Successful diagnosis required a CT venogram in addition to standard lower extremity ultrasound exam. Severe lower extremity edema continued to worsen despite formal anticoagulation. Urgent mechanical thrombolysis was undertaken, followed by staged catheter-directed thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rTPA) and intraluminal stenting. Following this treatment, the patient was noted to have gradual but dramatic resolution of his lower extremity edema and swelling.

Conclusion

The present case demonstrates the potential danger that may accompany MTS in the setting of lower extremity trauma. When an extensive left lower extremity DVT complicates the care of a patient with extremity trauma, clinicians should have a low threshold to pursue the diagnosis of MTS with advanced imaging studies. Venography remains the gold standard in diagnosis, but CT and MRI venography are less invasive and should allow for accurate diagnosis. In this case, formal anticoagulation proved to be ineffective, and endovascular intervention was required.
Azacitidine in patients with WHO-defined AML – Results of 155 patients from the Austrian Azacitidine Registry of the AGMT-Study Group
Authors: Pleyer Lisa , Stauder Reinhard , Burgstaller Sonja , Schreder Martin , Tinchon Christoph , Pfeilstocker Michael , Steinkirchner Susanne , Melchardt Thomas , Mitrovic Martina , Girschikofsky Michael , Lang Alois , Krippl Peter , Sliwa Thamer , Egle Alexander , Linkesch Werner , Voskova Daniela , Angermann Hubert , Greil Richard
Published: April 2013

Objective

The Austrian Azacitidine Registry is a multi-center database (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01595295). The nature and intent of the registry was to gain a comprehensive view of the use, safety and efficacy of the drug in a broad range of AML-patients treated in real-life scenarios.

Patients and methods

The sole inclusion criteria were the diagnosis of WHO-AML and treatment with at least one dose of azacitidine. No formal exclusion criteria existed. A total of 155 AML-patients who were mostly unfit/ineligible for intensive chemotherapy, or had progressed despite conventional treatment, were included. True ITT-analyses and exploratory analyses regarding the potential prognostic value of baseline-variables/performance-/comorbidity-/risk-scores on overall survival (OS), were performed.

Results

In this cohort of 155 pretreated (60%), and/or comorbid (87%), elderly (45% ≥75 years) AML-patients, azacitidine was well tolerated and efficacious, with an overall response rate (CR, mCR, PR, HI) of 45% in the total cohort (ITT) and 65% in patients evaluable according to IWG-criteria, respectively. Pre-treatment with conventional chemotherapy (P = .113), age ≤/>80 years (P = .853), number of comorbidities (P = .476), and bone marrow (BM) blast count (P = .663) did not influence OS. In multivariate analysis hematologic improvement alone (without the requirement of concomitant bone marrow blast reduction), although currently not regarded as a standard form of response assessment in AML, was sufficient to confer OS benefit (18.9 vs. 6.0 months; P = .0015). Further deepening of response after first response was associated with improved OS (24.7 vs. 13.7 months; P < .001).

Conclusions

In this large cohort of AML-patients treated with azacitidine, age >80 years, number of comorbidities and/or BM-blasts >30% did not adversely impact OS.
The role of short-time work schemes during the global financial crisis and early recovery: a cross-country analysis
Authors: Hijzen Alexander , Martin Sebastien
Published: April 2013

There has been a strong interest in short-time work (STW) schemes during the global financial crisis. Using data for 23 OECD countries for the period 2004 Q1 to 2010 Q4, this paper analyses the quantitative effects of STW programmes on labour market outcomes. Special attention is given to the dynamic aspects of the relationship between output shocks and labour market outcomes. The results indicate the STW raises hours flexibility by increasing the output elasticity of working time and helps to preserve jobs in the context of a recession by making employment and unemployment less elastic with respect to output. A key finding is that the timing of STW is crucial. While STW helped preserving a significant number of jobs during the crisis, its continued use during the recovery may have slowed the job-content of the recovery. By the end of 2010, the net effect of STW on employment was negligible or may even have become negative. However, the gross impact of STW on the number of jobs saved per quarter remains large and positive in the majority of countries.

JEL codes

J23; J65; J68
Do high-skill immigrants raise productivity? Evidence from Israeli manufacturing firms, 1990-1999
Authors: Paserman M Daniele
Published: April 2013

This paper exploits the episode provided by the mass migration from the former Soviet Union to Israel in the 1990s to study the effect high skill immigration on productivity. Using a unique data set on manufacturing firms, I investigate directly whether firms and industries with a higher concentration of immigrants experienced increases in productivity. The analysis finds no correlation between immigrant concentration and productivity at the firm level in cross-sectional and pooled regressions. First-differences estimates reveal, if anything, a negative correlation between the change in output per worker and the change in the immigrant share. The immigrant share was strongly negatively correlated with productivity in low-tech industries. In high-technology industries, the results point to a positive relationship, hinting at complementarities between technology and the skilled immigrant workforce.

JEL codes

J61, F22, D24
Phosphoproteomics data classify hematological cancer cell lines according to tumor type and sensitivity to kinase inhibitors
Authors: Casado Pedro , Alcolea Maria P , Iorio Francesco , Rodríguez-Prados Juan-Carlos , Vanhaesebroeck Bart , Saez-Rodriguez Julio , Joel Simon , Cutillas Pedro R
Published: April 2013

Background

Tumor classification based on their predicted responses to kinase inhibitors is a major goal for advancing targeted personalized therapies. Here, we used a phosphoproteomic approach to investigate biological heterogeneity across hematological cancer cell lines including acute myeloid leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.

Results

Mass spectrometry was used to quantify 2,000 phosphorylation sites across three acute myeloid leukemia, three lymphoma, and three multiple myeloma cell lines in six biological replicates. The intensities of the phosphorylation sites grouped these cancer cell lines according to their tumor type. In addition, a phosphoproteomic analysis of seven acute myeloid leukemia cell lines revealed a battery of phosphorylation sites whose combined intensities correlated with the growth-inhibitory responses to three kinase inhibitors with remarkable correlation coefficients and fold changes (> 100 between the most resistant and sensitive cells). Modeling based on regression analysis indicated that a subset of phosphorylation sites could be used to predict response to the tested drugs. Quantitative analysis of phosphorylation motifs indicated that resistant and sensitive cells differed in their patterns of kinase activities, but, interestingly, phosphorylations correlating with responses were not on members of the pathway being targeted; instead, these mainly were on parallel kinase pathways.

Conclusion

This study reveals that the information on kinase activation encoded in phosphoproteomics data correlates remarkably well with the phenotypic responses of cancer cells to compounds that target kinase signaling and could be useful for the identification of novel markers of resistance or sensitivity to drugs that target the signaling network.
CRISPR-Cas systems target a diverse collection of invasive mobile genetic elements in human microbiomes
Authors: Zhang Quan , Rho Mina , Tang Haixu , Doak Thomas G , Ye Yuzhen
Published: April 2013

Background

Bacteria and archaea develop immunity against invading genomes by incorporating pieces of the invaders' sequences, called spacers, into a clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) locus between repeats, forming arrays of repeat-spacer units. When spacers are expressed, they direct CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins to silence complementary invading DNA. In order to characterize the invaders of human microbiomes, we use spacers from CRISPR arrays that we had previously assembled from shotgun metagenomic datasets, and identify contigs that contain these spacers' targets.

Results

We discover 95,000 contigs that are putative invasive mobile genetic elements, some targeted by hundreds of CRISPR spacers. We find that oral sites in healthy human populations have a much greater variety of mobile genetic elements than stool samples. Mobile genetic elements carry genes encoding diverse functions: only 7% of the mobile genetic elements are similar to known phages or plasmids, although a much greater proportion contain phage- or plasmid-related genes. A small number of contigs share similarity with known integrative and conjugative elements, providing the first examples of CRISPR defenses against this class of element. We provide detailed analyses of a few large mobile genetic elements of various types, and a relative abundance analysis of mobile genetic elements and putative hosts, exploring the dynamic activities of mobile genetic elements in human microbiomes. A joint analysis of mobile genetic elements and CRISPRs shows that protospacer-adjacent motifs drive their interaction network; however, some CRISPR-Cas systems target mobile genetic elements lacking motifs.

Conclusions

We identify a large collection of invasive mobile genetic elements in human microbiomes, an important resource for further study of the interaction between the CRISPR-Cas immune system and invaders.
Automation in geophysical data acquisition: From ocean-bottom nodes to RoboNodes
Authors: Tsingas Constantine , Kelamis Panos G. , Brizard Thierry , Grimsdale Jonathan
Published: April 2013

The future of seismic data acquisition clearly dictates increased sampling in both receiver and shot domains. A significant amount, almost 80%, of the total cost of an exploration and development seismic project is spent on data acquisition. It is, therefore, extremely important that we reduce acquisition-related costs and at the same time we strive to improve seismic data quality. Indeed, the number of seismic channels follows a form of Moore's law; that is, the number of channels laid out in the field is steadily increasing by an order of magnitude every 10 years (Figure 1) while the recent introduction of simultaneous sources provides improved spatial sampling in the shot domain. Figure 2 shows three time slices that clearly demonstrate the link between increased number of channels recorded and improved resolution and image quality.
Arctic seismic acquisition and processing
Authors: Rice Shawn L. , Dudley Tim , Schneider Curt , Pierce Ray J. , Horn Brian , Cameron Scott , Bloor Robert , Zhou Zheng-Zheng (Joe)
Published: April 2013

To meet the world's ever growing energy demand, the E&P industry is developing new technologies to find and drill for hydrocarbons in more challenging environments such as deep water or deep targets, and to enter areas of the world that had previously been closed to exploration activities, such as the Arctic. While the Arctic was looked at geologically several times in the last century, the technological challenges that it presents restricted activities to the periphery of this vast collection of basins. Despite the significant resource estimates shown in Figure 1, the extreme environmental conditions combined with the vast remoteness of this region have limited exploration and development efforts to date.
Assessment and exploration risking workflows for conventional and unconventional Arctic resources: Applications on the Alaska North Slope
Authors: Wygrala Bjorn , Schenk Oliver , Peters Kenneth
Published: April 2013

Arctic oil and gas have been E&P targets for several decades; however, the petroleum potential of this region is far from being fully understood. Assessments of undiscovered petroleum in the Arctic indicate that it holds a significant amount of the world's undiscovered gas and oil (Gautier et al., 2009) and recent assessments also indicate the potential of shale resource plays for oil and gas, for example on the Alaska North Slope (Houseknecht, 2012). In this article, we present technology and workflows for efficient petroleum exploration risk and resource assessments for both conventional and unconventional resources in the Arctic, including gas hydrates. We also present a recent successful exploration campaign which resulted in the first technically proven shale oil play on the Alaska North Slope.
Algebras of acyclic cluster type: Tree type and typeÃ
Authors: Amiot Claire , Oppermann Steffen
Published: April 2013

In this paper, we study algebras of global dimension at most 2 whose generalized cluster category is equivalent to the cluster category of an acyclic quiver which is either a tree or of typeÃ.We are particularly interested in their derived equivalence classification. We prove that each algebra which is cluster equivalent to a tree quiver is derived equivalent to the path algebra of this tree. Then we describe explicitly the algebras of cluster typeÃnfor each possible orientation ofÃn.We give an explicit way to read off the derived equivalence class in which such an algebra lies, and we describe the Auslander-Reiten quiver of its derived category. Together, these results in particular provide a complete classification of algebras which are cluster equivalent to tame acyclic quivers.
Centrioles in symmetric spaces
Authors: Quast Peter
Published: April 2013

We describe all centrioles in irreducible simply connected pointed symmetric spaces of compact type in terms of the root system of the ambient space, and we study some geometric properties of centrioles.
Hyperconjugation in hydrocarbons: Not just a “mild sort of conjugation”
Authors: Wu Judy I-Chia , Schleyer Paul von Ragué
Published: April 2013

This article emphasizes two underappreciated aspects of hyperconjugation in hydrocarbons, two-way hyperconjugation and hyperconjugation in tight spaces. Nonplanar polyenes [e.g., cyclooctatetraene (D
2d
), biphenyl (D
2), styrene (C
1)], the nonplanar rotational transition states (TSs) of planar polyenes (e.g., perpendicular 1,3-butadiene), as well as the larger nonplanar Hückel or Möbius annulenes, are stabilized by effective σ-electron delocalization (involving either the C–C or C–H bonds) via two-way hyperconjugation. The collective consequence of two-way hyperconjugation in molecules can be nearly as stabilizing as π-conjugation effects in planar polyenes. Reexamination of the σ- vs. π-bond strength of ethylene results in surprising counterintuitive insights. Strained rings and cages (e.g., cyclopropane and tetrahedrane derivatives, the cubyl cation, etc.) can foster unexpectedly large hyperconjugation stabilizations due to their highly deformed ring angles. The thermochemical stabilities of these species rely on a fine balance between their opposing destabilizing geometrical features and stabilizing hyperconjugative effects in tight spaces (adjustable via substituent effects). We hope to help dispel chemists’ prejudice in viewing hyperconjugation as merely a “mild” effect with unimportant consequences for interpreting the structures and energies of molecules.
Association between Natriuretic Peptides and Mortality among Patients Admitted with Myocardial Infarction: A Report from the ACTION Registry®–GWTG™
Authors: Scirica Benjamin M , Kadakia Mitul B , de Lemos James A , Roe Matthew T , Morrow David A , Li Shuang , Wiviott Stephen D , Kontos Michael C
Published: April 2013

BACKGROUND

Patients with increased blood concentrations of natriuretic peptides (NPs) have poor cardiovascular outcomes after myocardial infarction (MI). The objectives of this analysis were to evaluate the utilization and the prognostic value of NP in a large, real-world MI cohort.

METHODS

Data from 41 683 patients with non–ST-segment elevation MI (NSTEMI) and 27 860 patients with ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI) at 309 US hospitals were collected as part of the ACTION Registry®–GWTG™ (Acute Coronary Treatment and Intervention Outcomes Network Registry–Get with the Guidelines) (AR-G) between July 2008 and September 2009.

RESULTS

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) or N-terminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP) was measured in 19 528 (47%) of NSTEMI and 9220 (33%) of STEMI patients. Patients in whom NPs were measured were older and had more comorbidities, including prior heart failure or MI. There was a stepwise increase in the risk of in-hospital mortality with increasing BNP quartiles for both NSTEMI (1.3% vs 3.2% vs 5.8% vs 11.1%) and STEMI (1.9% vs 3.9% vs 8.2% vs 17.9%). The addition of BNP to the AR-G clinical model improved the C statistic from 0.796 to 0.807 (P < 0.001) for NSTEMI and from 0.848 to 0.855 (P = 0.003) for STEMI. The relationship between NPs and mortality was similar in patients without a history of heart failure or cardiogenic shock on presentation and in patients with preserved left ventricular function.

CONCLUSIONS

NPs are measured in almost 50% of patients in the US admitted with MI and appear to be used in patients with more comorbidities. Higher NP concentrations were strongly and independently associated with in-hospital mortality in the almost 30 000 patients in whom NPs were assessed, including patients without heart failure.
Outsourcing and Innovation: An Empirical Exploration of the Dynamic Relationship
Authors: V. Breunig Robert , Bakhtiari Sasan
Published: April 2013

Abstract: We study the implications of vertical integration on innovation performance using firm-level data in Australian manufacturing. We use the data to distinguish between low-cost-oriented and innovation-oriented outsourcing. Outsourcing without innovation lowers the costs at the expense of damaging the future chances of innovation, while innovation-oriented outsourcing leads to higher costs but increases the likelihood of future innovation. For firms that innovate and outsource, the probability of future innovation is 49% compared to 8% for those who outsource without innovating. Comparing across firms that innovate, simultaneous outsourcing increases the probability of future innovation by 5%. Innovation-oriented outsourcing is accompanied with firms shifting expenditure to research and development. Our results offer strong support that outsourcing may be used not just as a cost-cutting strategy, but as a part of a comprehensive firm strategy to innovate and improve.
Women Rule: Preferences and Fertility in Australian Households
Authors: Fan Elliott , Maitra Pushkar
Published: April 2013

Using a unique dataset from Australia, we investigate how individual fertility preferences translate into fertility realizations. We find consistent evidence that the wife’s preference is more important than the husband’s preference in predicting subsequent births, no matter whether her initial fertility desire is higher or lower than that of her partner. We also explore the effects of the introduction of the non-means-tested Baby Bonus introduced in 2004 by testing whether the hypothesis that the cash transfers from the scheme increase the bargaining power of the partner with higher fertility desire, thus leading to an increase in fertility for couples with disagreement on fertility plans. Our findings do not support this hypothesis. They also do not suggest any significant fertility-enhancing effect of the scheme.
Relatively very free curves and rational simple connectedness
Authors: DeLand Matt
Published: April 2013

Rational connectedness is an algebro-geometric analogue of path connectedness depending crucially on the existence of special rational curves called very free curves. For a family of varieties parametrized by a base space, the relevant curves are relatively very free curves. Rational simple connectedness is an algebro-geometric analogue of simple connectedness that depends analogously on the existence of special families of rational curves called very twisting families. Until now, this has been a mysterious notion, frustrating progress. We clarify this by showing that relatively very free curves give very twisting families. We also introduce a new construction of relatively very free curves by studying a natural integrable foliation on the total space of the family. As a consequence, we prove that a general complete intersection in ℙ
n
is rationally simply connected if and only if it is 2-Fano, i.e., if the first and second graded pieces of the Chern character are positive. This is equivalent to a numerical condition on the type (d
1,...,dc
) of the complete intersection: that d
1
2 + ⋯ + d

c

2 ≤ n. This subsumes all previous results on rational simple connectedness of complete intersections. As a corollary, we prove the most general result concerning the Hassett–Tschinkel weak approximation conjecture for 2-Fano complete intersections. Further, combined with a result of de Jong, He and Starr, we prove that every smooth, 2-Fano complete intersection defined over the function field of a surface has a rational point.
Development of green technology for extraction of nickel from spent catalyst and its optimization using response surface methodology
Authors: Chauhan Garima , Pant Kamal K. , Nigam Krishna D.P.
Published: April 2013

Strict environmental legislation and increasing energy demand are the foretokens to edify the need of an eco-friendly sustainable method of metal extraction from spent catalysts. The present study practices an eco-friendly chelation technology for extraction of nickel from spent catalyst. Experiments were carried out with chelating agents diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) and nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), in addition to our previous published data on (S,S)-ethylenediamine disuccinic acid [(S,S)-EDDS] and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), by adopting the “one variable at a time” (OVAT) approach. However, OVAT does not take into account the interaction effect of process variables and cannot be regarded as an accomplished approach for multivariate analysis. Therefore, an attempt has been made to explore the applicability of response surface methodology (RSM) in order to minimize experimental efforts and provide elaborated quality of information to overcome the limitations of OVAT. A Box-Behnken design (BBD) was coupled with RSM to optimize the process parameters using statistical analysis. The quantitative evaluation of the data shows that the molar ratio of chelating agent to Ni, solid to liquid ratio, and time, exert a significant influence on Ni extraction. A high value of regression coefficient (R2>0.97) substantiated a well fitted quadratic empirical model. The present optimization study may prove utilitarian for hydroprocessing industries intending to extract metals from spent catalyst which may reduce processing costs also.
Electromobility in Finland
Authors: Koskue Mikko
Published: April 2013

Finland has set up several programs and platforms to be well prepared for the electric mobility development. The goal is to establish an international community focusing on the creation of new business around electric vehicles and related machinery and systems.
The Effect of Social Contingencies on Nursing Students’ Reactions During a Rural Clinical Placement
Authors: Kerr Ron , Hemmings Brian C. , Kay Russell
Published: April 2013

Students’ feedback of their practicum experiences are typically documented only in terms of established nursing competencies and learning objectives. How nursing students cope with social contingencies (e.g., personal health) while away on clinical placement is not commonly reported in the literature. A sample of Australian student nurses was surveyed as a way of contributing new knowledge about what and how social contingencies could impact on a practicum experience. An analysis of the survey data provided by 244 students revealed that of the 14 contingencies used, financial pressure, accommodation, and geographic location, were rated as having the most influence. All of these social contingencies were examined by a principal components analysis. Three factors were identified and interpreted as professional organization, home organization, and personal organization. Three subscales were then derived using these factors and other measures were also calculated. Bivariate and multivariate relationships were subsequently determined. One key finding was that the first year students, compared to their more senior counterparts, expressed less stress during their practicum. The first year students, as opposed to their more experienced peers, also attached less importance to the professional organizational contingencies. The implications of the study for university administrators, nursing education faculty, and managers of clinical facilities conclude the paper.
Machine Vision Approach for Automating Vegetation Detection on Railway Tracks
Authors: Yella Siril , Nyberg Roger G. , Payvar Barsam , Dougherty Mark , Gupta Narendra K.
Published: April 2013

The presence of vegetation on railway tracks (amongst other issues) threatens track safety and longevity. However, vegetation inspections in Sweden (and elsewhere in the world) are currently being carried out manually. Manually inspecting vegetation is very slow and time consuming. Maintaining an even quality standard is also very difficult. A machine vision-based approach is therefore proposed to emulate the visual abilities of the human inspector. Work aimed at detecting vegetation on railway tracks has been split into two main phases. The first phase is aimed at detecting vegetation on the tracks using appropriate image analysis techniques. The second phase is aimed at detecting the rails in the image to determine the cover of vegetation that is present between the rails as opposed to vegetation present outside the rails. Results achieved in the current work indicate that the machine vision approach has performed reasonably well in detecting the presence/absence of vegetation on railway tracks when compared with a human operator.
On the selective aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol with Pd/Au-nanoparticles in batch and flow
Authors: Alex Hannes , Steinfeldt Norbert , Jähnisch Klaus , Bauer Matthias , Hübner Sandra
Published: April 2013

Nanoparticles (NP) have specific catalytic properties, which are influenced by parameters like their size, shape, or composition. Bimetallic NPs, composed of two metal elements can show an improved catalytic activity compared to the monometallic NPs. We, herein, report on the selective aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol catalyzed by unsupported Pd/Au and Pd NPs at atmospheric pressure. NPs of varying compositions were synthesized and characterized by UV/Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The NPs were tested in the model reaction regarding their catalytic activity, stability, and recyclability in batch and continuous procedure. Additionally, in situ extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements were performed in order to get insight in the process during NP catalysis.
EXAFS investigation on U(VI) immobilization in hardened cement paste: influence of experimental conditions on speciation
Authors: Macé Nathalie , Wieland Erich , Dähn Rainer , Tits Jan , Scheinost Andreas C.
Published: April 2013

Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy has been used to investigate the coordination environment of U(VI) in cementitious materials. The EXAFS measurements were carried out on U(VI)-doped samples prepared under varying conditions, such as samples from sorption, hydration and diffusion experiments, and using different cementitious materials, such as crushed hydrated hardened cement paste (HCP) and calcium silicate hydrates (C-S-H). The samples had U(VI) loadings ranging from 1700 μg/g to 45000 μg/g. Applying principal component analysis (PCA) on 13 EXAFS spectra (each spectra corresponding to aminimum of five different scans) of the low loading samples, one single species is obtained indicating a similar U(VI) coordination environment for both HCP and C-S-H samples. This result confirms that C-S-H phases control the uptake of U(VI) in the complex cement matrix. The coordination environment structure of this species is similar to a U(VI) surface complex or to U(VI) in uranyl silicate minerals (two axial O atoms at 1.82 ± 0.02 Å; four equatorial O atoms at 2.25 ± 0.01 Å; one Si atom at 3.10 ± 0.03 Å). At high U(VI) loading, PCA revealed a second U(VI) species, with a coordination environment similar to that of U(VI) in calcium uranate (two axial O atoms at 1.94 ± 0.04 Å; five equatorial O atoms at 2.26 ± 0.01 Å; four Ca atoms at 3.69 ± 0.05 Å and five U atoms at 3.85 ± 0.04 Å).

This study suggest that, at low U(VI) loading, U(VI) is bound to C-S-H phases in HCP while at high U(VI) loading, the immobilization of U(VI) in cementitious materials is mainly controlled by the precipitation of a calcium uranate-type phase.
Wehrmacht, Partisanenkrieg und Rückzugsverbrechen an der nördlichen Ostfront im Herbst und Winter 1943
Authors: Kilian Jürgen
Published: April 2013

Vorspann

Die Forschung zur Rolle der Wehrmacht im Krieg gegen die Sowjetunion hat sich bisher stark auf dessen frühe Phase konzentriert. Jürgen Kilians Aufsatz verlagert den Fokus dagegen auf die Zeit nach 1943. Am Beispiel der vor Leningrad operierenden 18. Armee zeichnet er ein differenziertes Bild von Handlungsoptionen und Verhaltensweisen der Besatzungsstreitkräfte. Trotz aller Schattierungen dominierten letztlich weiterhin die Charakteristika des nationalsozialistischen Vernichtungskriegs. Insbesondere bei der Partisanenbekämpfung und der Politik der „verbrannten Erde“ wurde auf das Kriegsvölkerrecht und die Zivilbevölkerung keine Rücksicht genommen.
Keine „Atempause“
Authors: Eikel Markus
Published: April 2013

Vorspann

Bonn erhielt keine Atempause. Kaum hatte die Bundesregierung die schweren Herausforderungen der frühen 1970er Jahre hinter sich, wartete im Sommer 1976 die nächste: Ein westdeutsch-palästinensisches Kommandounternehmen hatte ein Flugzeug entführt und verlangte die Freilassung seiner Gesinnungsgenossen, die in israelischen und deutschen Gefängnissen einsaßen. Was tun? Die Bundesregierung hatte sich zuvor prinzipiell auf eine unnachgiebige Linie festgelegt, musste diesen Kurs nun aber überdenken. Vor allem Rücksichten auf Israel geboten dies, wo man zeitweise geneigt schien, den Forderungen der Terroristen nachzukommen. Markus Eikel, Mitarbeiter des Internationalen Strafgerichtshofes in Den Haag, analysiert diesen dramatischen Konsultationsprozess, der mit der israelischen Befreiungsaktion im ugandischen Entebbe ein abruptes Ende fand. Die Bundesregierung war damit aus dem Schneider, sie brauchte keine Entscheidung zu treffen und konnte an ihrer Position der Unnachgiebigkeit festhalten.
Studies of Corrosion of Al Thin Films using Liquid Cell Transmission Electron Microscopy
Authors: Chee See Wee , Ross Frances M. , Duquette David , Hull Robert
Published: April 2013

A fundamental understanding of the processes that occur during early stages of corrosion is traditionally limited by the dearth of techniques that probe the liquid-solid interface with both high spatial resolution and microstructural detail such as grain size and orientation. Here, we demonstrate that with a microfluidic liquid flow cell holder, we can track the progress of corrosion in situ in Al thin films with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). To mitigate the loss of resolution caused by imaging through liquid, we developed a method in which the liquid is temporarily de-wetted from the entire windowed area by switching the liquid stream from pure water to a mixture of ethanol and water. In the de-wetted region, we then collected images of the film microstructure with high spatial resolution over regular intervals while maintaining a low electron flux over the imaged area to minimize beam-induced effects. For as-deposited films, we find that the corrosion progresses in a fractal manner, consistent with reported behavior for films studied in water with low iron and chloride concentrations. For films that were subjected to rapid thermal annealing, we observe a higher density of pitting events, which we attribute to defects created by thermal stress in the oxide film. Furthermore, we observe that the pits can form at multiple locations in a single grain and are not confined to grain boundaries.
Temperature Effects in Al 5083 with a Bimodal Grain Size
Authors: Magee Andrew C. , Ladani Leila J.
Published: April 2013

An Al 5083 alloy with a bimodal grain size has been previously synthesized using a low-temperature milling process and consolidation via cold isostatic pressing (CIP). This material has been shown to exhibit greatly improved strength when compared to conventional aluminum alloys. Additionally, this material has shown sensitivity to test conditions. In this work, we studied the effects of temperature on the strain rate sensitivity of this material by examining its elastic and plastic properties though uniaxial tension tests conducted under a variety of conditions at temperatures up to 473 K. Serrated stress-strain curves were observed, indicating dynamic strain aging. Strain rate sensitivity was found to depend non-monotonically on the test temperature.