bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antiatherosclerotic Potential of Active Principle Isolated from Eugenia jambolana in Streptozotocin‐Induced Diabetic Rats
Authors: Tanwar Reenu Singh , Sharma Suman Bala , Singh Usha Rani , Prabhu Krishna Madhava
Published: April 2011

The aim of the present study was to investigate the antiatherosclerotic effect of active principle (FIIc) isolated from aqueous fruit pulp extract of Eugenia jambolana. Crude aqueous extract of E. jambolana was subjected to purification using chromatographic techniques which yielded purified active compound (FIIc). Purity of FIIc was tested by HPLC. Phytochemical investigation of FIIc by NMR, IR, and UV spectra showed that the purified compound is α‐hydroxy succinamic acid. The streptozotocin‐ (STZ‐) induced diabetic rats were fed atherosclerotic (Ath) diet containing 1.5 mL olive oil containing 8 mg (3, 20,000 IU) vitamin D2 and 40 mg cholesterol for 5 consecutive days. The STZ‐induced diabetic rats receiving Ath diet were orally administered FIIc at doses of 10, 15, and 20 mg/kg, and results were compared with reference drug, that is, glibenclamide (600 μg/mg) and healthy control. 30‐day treatment with FIIc resulted in significant (P < .001) improvement in blood glucose, serum lipid profile, apolipoproteins (Apo A1 and apoB100), and endothelial dysfunction parameters. Histomorphological studies also confirmed biochemical findings. Our results showed that FIIc has protective effect on hyperglycemia‐induced atherosclerosis.
Diagnostic Value of I‐131 NP‐59 SPECT/CT Scintigraphy in Patients with Subclinical or Atypical Features of Primary Aldosteronism
Authors: Chen Yi-Chun , Su Yu-Chieh , Wei Chang-Kuo , Chiu Jainn-Shiun , Tseng Chih-En , Chen Shao-Jer , Wang Yuh-Feng
Published: April 2011

Accumulating evidence has shown the adverse effect of long‐term hyperaldosteronism on cardiovascular morbidity that is independent of blood pressure. However, the diagnosis of primary aldosteronism (PA) remains a challenge for patients who present with subtle or atypical features or have chronic kidney disease (CKD). SPECT/CT has proven valuable in the diagnosis of a number of conditions. The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of I‐131 NP‐59 SPECT/CT in patients with atypical presentations of PA and in those with CKD. The records of 15 patients with PA were retrospectively analyzed. NP‐59 SPECT/CT was able to identify adrenal lesion(s) in CKD patients with suspected PA. Patients using NP‐59 SPECT/CT imaging, compared with those not performing this procedure, significantly featured nearly normal serum potassium levels, normal aldosterone‐renin ratio, and smaller adrenal size on CT and pathological examination and tended to feature stage 1 hypertension and non‐suppressed plasma renin activity. These findings show that noninvasive NP‐59 SPECT/CT is a useful tool for diagnosis in patients with subclinical or atypical features of PA and those with CKD.
Ganciclovir Antiviral Therapy in Advanced Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: An Open Pilot Study
Authors: Egan J. J. , Adamali H. I. , Lok S. S. , Stewart J. P. , Woodcock A. A.
Published: April 2011

Hypothesis. Repeated epithelial cell injury secondary to viruses such as Epstein Barr and subsequent dysfunctional repair may be central to the pathogenesis of IPF. In this observational study, we evaluated whether a combination of standard and anti-viral therapy might have an impact on disease progression.Methods. Advanced IPF patients who failed standard therapy and had serological evidence of previous EBV, received ganciclovir (iv) at 5 mg/kg twice daily. Forced vital capacity (FVC), shuttle walk test, DTPA scan and prednisolone dose were measured before and 8 weeks post-treatment.Results. Fourteen patients were included. After ganciclovir, eight patients showed improvement in FVC and six deteriorated. The median reduction of prednisolone dose was 7.5 mg (44%). Nine patients were classified “responders” of whom four showed an improvement in all four criteria, while three of the five “non-responders” showed no response in any of the criteria. Responders showed reduction in prednisolone dosage (P=.02) and improved DTPA clearance (P=.001).Conclusion. This audit outcome suggests that 2-week course of ganciclovir (iv) may attenuate disease progression in a subgroup of advanced IPF patients. These observations do not suggest that anti-viral treatment is a substitute for the standard care, however, suggests the need to explore the efficacy of ganciclovir as adjunctive therapy in IPF.
Kinetics of Reduction of Colloidal MnO2 by Glyphosate in Aqueous and Micellar Media
Authors: Aisha Uzma , Qamruzzaman  , Rafiquee M. Z. A.
Published: April 2011

The kinetics of the reduction of colloidal MnO2 by glyphosate has been investigated spectrophotometrically in an aqueous and micellar (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, sodium lauryl sulfate) media. The reaction follows first-order kinetics with respect to colloidal MnO2 in both the aqueous and micellar media. The rate of oxidation increases with increase in [glyphosate] in the lower concentration range but becomes independent at its higher concentrations. The addition of both the anionic (NaLS) and cationic (CTAB) micelles increased the rate of reduction of colloidal MnO2 by glyphosate while the nonionic TX-100 micelles did not influence the rate of reaction. In both aqueous and micellar media, the oxidation of glyphosate occurs through its adsorption over colloidal MnO2 surface. The reaction in micellar media was treated by considering the pseudophase model. The values of reaction rates and binding constants in the presence of micelles were determined.
Prolactin May Not Play a Role in Primary Antiphospholipid (Hughes') Syndrome
Authors: Neves Junior Manoel Tavares , Rodrigues Carlos Ewerton Maia , de Carvalho Jozelio Freire
Published: April 2011

The relationship between prolactin (PRL) and the immune system has been demonstrated in the last two decades and has opened new windows in the field of immunoendocrinology. However, there are scarce reports about PRL in primary antiphospholipid syndrome (pAPS). The objective of this study was to evaluate PRL levels in patients with pAPS compared to healthy controls and to investigate their possible clinical associations. Fifty-five pAPS patients according to Sapporo criteria were age- and sex-matched with 41 healthy subjects. Individuals with secondary causes of hyperprolactinemia (HPRL) were excluded; demographic, biometric, and clinical data, PRL levels, antiphospholipid antibodies, inflammatory markers, and other routine laboratory findings were analyzed. PRL levels were similar between pAPS and healthy controls (8.94±7.02versus8.71±6.73 ng/mL,P=.876). Nine percent of the pAPS patients and 12.1% of the control subjects presented HPRL (P=.740). Comparison between the pAPS patients with hyper- and normoprolactinemia revealed no significant differences related to anthropometrics, clinical manifestations, medications, smoking, and antiphospholipid antibodies (P>.05). This study showed that HPRL does not seem to play a role in clinical manifestations of the pAPS, differently from other autoimmune rheumatic diseases.
An Eccentrically Biased Rehabilitation Program Early after TKA Surgery
Authors: Marcus Robin L. , Yoshida Yuri , Meier Whitney , Peters Christopher , LaStayo Paul C.
Published: April 2011

Rehabilitation services are less-studied aspects of the management following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) despite long-term suboptimal physical functioning and chronic deficits in muscle function. This paper describes the preliminary findings of a six-week (12 session) eccentrically-biased rehabilitation program targeted at deficits in physical function and muscle function, initiated one month following surgery. A quasiexperimental, one group, pretest-posttest study with thirteen individuals (6 female, 7 male; mean age years) examined the effectiveness of an eccentrically-biased rehabilitation program. The program resulted in improvements in the primary physical function endpoints (SF-36 physical component summary and the six-minute walk test) with increases of 59% and 47%, respectively. Muscle function endpoints (knee extension strength and power) also increased 107% and 93%, respectively. Eccentrically-biased exercise used as an addition to rehabilitation may help amplify and accelerate physical function following TKA surgery.
Fixed‐Point Theory on a Frechet Topological Vector Space
Authors: Ben Amar Afif , Cherif Mohamed Amine , Mnif Maher
Published: April 2011

We establish some versions of fixed‐point theorem in a Frechet topological vector space E. The main result is that every map A = BC (where B is a continuous map and C is a continuous linear weakly compact operator) from a closed convex subset of a Frechet topological vector space having the Dunford‐Pettis property into itself has fixed‐point. Based on this result, we present two versions of the Krasnoselskii fixed‐point theorem. Our first result extend the well‐known Krasnoselskii′s fixed‐point theorem for U‐contractions and weakly compact mappings, while the second one, by assuming that the family {T(·, y) : y ∈ C(M) where M ⊂ E and C : M → E a compact operator} is nonlinear φ equicontractive, we give a fixed‐point theorem for the operator of the form Ex : = T(x, C(x)).
An Effective Approach to Improving Day-Case Rates following Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
Authors: Clarke M. G. , Wheatley T. , Hill M. , Werrett G. , Sanders G.
Published: April 2011

Background. Day-case laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is a safe and cost-effective treatment for gallstones. In 2006, our institution recorded an 86% laparoscopic, 10% day-case, and 5% readmission rate. A gallbladder pathway was therefore introduced in 2007 with the aim of increasing daycase rates.Methods. Patients with symptomatic gallstones, proven on ultrasound, were referred to a specialist-led clinic. Those suitable for surgery were consented, preassessed, and provided with a choice of dates. All defaulted to day case unless deemed unsuitable due to comorbidity or social factors.Results. The number of cholecystectomies increased from 464 in 2006 to 578 in 2008. Day-case rates in 2006, 2007, 2008, and June 2009 were 10%, 20%, 30%, and 61%, respectively. Laparoscopic and readmission rates remained unchanged. Conversion rates for elective cholecystectomy fell from 6% in 2006 to 3% in 2009.Conclusions. Development of a gallbladder pathway increased day-case rates sixfold without an associated increase in conversion or readmission rates.
Association of Low-Risk Human Papillomavirus Infection with Male Circumcision in Young Men: Results from a Longitudinal Study Conducted in Orange Farm (South Africa)
Authors: Tarnaud Chloé , Lissouba Pascale , Cutler Ewalde , Puren Adrian , Taljaard Dirk , Auvert Bertran
Published: April 2011

Background. Low-Risk Human Papillomavirus (LR-HPV) genotypes 6 and 11 cause genital warts. This study investigated the association of LR-HPV infection with male circumcision (MC).Methods. We used data from the South African MC trial conducted among young men. Urethral swabs, collected among intervention (circumcised) and control (uncircumcised) groups, were analyzed using HPV linear array. Adjusted LR-HPV prevalence rate ratio (aPPR) and Poisson mean ratio (aPMR) of number of LR-HPV genotypes were estimated using log-Poisson regression, controlling for background characteristics, sexual behaviour, and HIV and HSV-2 statuses.Results. Compared to controls, LR-HPV prevalence and mean number of genotypes were significantly lower among the intervention group ((8.5% versus 15.8%; aPRR: 0.54,P<.001) and (0.33 versus 0.18; aPMR: 0.54,P<.001), resp.). Mean number of LR-HPV genotypes increased with number of lifetime sexual partners and decreased with education level and consistent condom use.Conclusions. This study shows a reduction in LR-HPV infection among circumcised men.
Superficial Palmar Arch Aneurysm after Carpal Tunnel Decompression, a Rare Complication: A Case Report
Authors: Gull S. , Spence R. A. J. , Loan W.
Published: April 2011

False aneurysms of the palmar arteries are rare. They are usually associated with traumatic injuries to the hand vasculature. We present a case of superficial palmar arch aneurysm (SPAA), complicating carpal tunnel decompression which presented as a pulsatile mass at the site of previous surgery. Initial diagnosis was made on clinical examination and confirmed on doppler ultrasound (US) and computed tomographic angiography (CTA). The feeding vessel of the aneurysm was subsequently occluded using coil embolization.
Cerenkov Luminescence Tomography forIn VivoRadiopharmaceutical Imaging
Authors: Zhong Jianghong , Qin Chenghu , Yang Xin , Zhu Shuping , Zhang Xing , Tian Jie
Published: April 2011

Cerenkov luminescence imaging (CLI) is a cost-effective molecular imaging tool for biomedical applications of radiotracers. The introduction of Cerenkov luminescence tomography (CLT) relative to planar CLI can be compared to the development of X-ray CT based on radiography. With CLT, quantitative and localized analysis of a radiopharmaceutical distribution becomes feasible. In this contribution, a feasibility study ofin vivoradiopharmaceutical imaging in heterogeneous medium is presented. Coupled with a multimodalin vivoimaging system, this CLT reconstruction method allows precise anatomical registration of the positron probe in heterogeneous tissues and facilitates the more widespread application of radiotracers. Source distribution inside the small animal is obtained from CLT reconstruction. The experimental results demonstrated that CLT can be employed as an availablein vivotomographic imaging of charged particle emitters in a heterogeneous medium.
Worksite Health Promotion in Six Varied US Sites: Beta Testing as a Needed Translational Step
Authors: Elliot Diane L. , Kuehl Kerry S. , Goldberg Linn , DeFrancesco Carol A. , Moe Esther L.
Published: April 2011

Background. Dissemination of health promotion interventions generally has followed an efficacy, effectiveness to full scale paradigm, and most programs have failed to traverse that sequence.Objective. Report national dissemination of a health promotion program and juxtapose sequential case study observations with the current technology transfer literature.Design. Multiple department-level case studies using contact logs, transcribed interactions, augmented with field notes and validated by respondent review; at least two investigators independently generated site summaries, which were compared to formulate a final report.Results. Adoption was facilitated with national partners and designing branded materials. Critical site influences included departmental features, local champions, and liaison relationships. Achieving distal reach and fidelity required sequential process and program revisions based on new findings at each site.Conclusions. Beta testing to redesign program elements and modify process steps appears to be a needed and often ignored translational step between efficacy and more widespread dissemination.
Finding the Energy Efficient Curve: Gate Sizing for Minimum Power under Delay Constraints
Authors: Aizik Yoni , Kolodny Avinoam
Published: April 2011

A design scenario examined in this paper assumes that a circuit has been designed initially for high speed, and it is redesigned for low power by downsizing of the gates. In recent years, as power consumption has become a dominant issue, new optimizations of circuits are required for saving energy. This is done by trading off some speed in exchange for reduced power. For each feasible speed, an optimization problem is solved in this paper, finding new sizes for the gates such that the circuit satisfies the speed goal while dissipating minimal power. Energy/delay gain (EDG) is defined as a metric to quantify the most efficient tradeoff. The EDG of the circuit is evaluated for a range of reduced circuit speeds, and the power-optimal gate sizes are compared with the initial sizes. Most of the energy savings occur at the final stages of the circuits, while the largest relative downsizing occurs in middle stages. Typical tapering factors for power efficient circuits are larger than those for speed-optimal circuits. Signal activity and signal probability affect the optimal gate sizes in the combined optimization of speed and power.
Human Glioma Growth Is Controlled by MicroRNA-10b
Authors: Gabriely Galina , Yi Ming , Narayan Ravi S. , Niers Johanna M. , Wurdinger Thomas , Imitola Jaime , Ligon Keith L. , Kesari Santosh , Esau Christine , Stephens Robert M. , Tannous Bakhos A. , Krichevsky Anna M.
Published: April 2011

MicroRNA (miRNA) expression profiling studies revealed a number of miRNAs dysregulated in the malignant brain tumor glioblastoma. Molecular functions of these miRNAs in gliomagenesis are mainly unknown. We show that inhibition of miR-10b, a miRNA not expressed in human brain and strongly upregulated in both low-grade and high-grade gliomas, reduces glioma cell growth by cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. These cellular responses are mediated by augmented expression of the direct targets of miR-10b, including BCL2L11/Bim, TFAP2C/AP-2γ, CDKN1A/p21, and CDKN2A/p16, which normally protect cells from uncontrolled growth. Analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas expression data set reveals a strong positive correlation between numerous genes sustaining cellular growth and miR-10b levels in human glioblastomas, while proapoptotic genes anticorrelate with the expression of miR-10b. Furthermore, survival of glioblastoma patients expressing high levels of miR-10 family members is significantly reduced in comparison to patients with low miR-10 levels, indicating that miR-10 may contribute to glioma growth in vivo. Finally, inhibition of miR-10b in a mouse model of human glioma results in significant reduction of tumor growth. Altogether, our experiments validate an important role of miR-10b in gliomagenesis, reveal a novel mechanism of miR-10b–mediated regulation, and suggest the possibility of its future use as a therapeutic target in gliomas. Cancer Res; 71(10); 3563–72. ©2011 AACR.
Self-Efficacy, Affectivity and Smoking Behavior in Adolescence
Authors: Veselska Zuzana , Madarasova Geckova Andrea , Reijneveld Sijmen A. , van Dijk Jitse P.
Published: April 2011

Background: Research on health-related behaviors confirms the contribution of self-efficacy and affective factors to the initiation and continuation of smoking behavior. The aim was to assess the degree to which affectivity contributes to the association between self-efficacy and smoking behavior in adolescence. Methods: A sample of 501 elementary school students (mean age 14.7 ± 0.9 years, 48.5% males) from the Slovak and Czech Republics filled out the Self-Efficacy Scale, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule and answered questions about smoking behavior. Results: Logistic regression showed that social self-efficacy increased the likelihood of smoking behavior but only after adding positive and negative affectivity to the model. Adjustment for age and gender as covariates did not change these findings. Conclusion: Results show the need to prepare programs aimed at enhancing appropriate social self-efficacy and especially improving skills to resist the pressures emerging from peers. Adolescents should also learn to handle their negative emotions differently, instead of through smoking behavior.
Validity of the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale to Detect Mild Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson’s Disease and REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
Authors: Villeneuve Sylvia , Rodrigues-Brazète Jessica , Joncas Steve , Postuma Ronald B. , Latreille Véronique , Gagnon Jean-François
Published: April 2011

Background/Aims: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is frequent in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD). However, only a few studies have evaluated the validity of brief cognitive measures to detect MCI in PD or iRBD using standard diagnostic criteria for MCI. Our aim was to evaluate the validity of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale (DRS-2) to detect MCI in PD and iRBD. Methods: Forty PD patients and 34 iRBD patients were studied. Receiver operating characteristic curves were created for both tests to assess their effectiveness in identifying MCI in PD and iRBD. Results: In PD, a normality cutoff of 138 on the DRS-2 yielded the best balance between sensitivity (72%) and specificity (86%) with a correct classification of 80%. In iRBD, the optimal normality cutoff was 141 on the DRS-2, with a sensitivity of 90%, a specificity of 71% and a correct classification of 82%. No cutoff for the MMSE was found to have acceptable sensitivity or specificity. Conclusion: The DRS-2 has satisfactory validity to detect MCI in PD or iRBD. The MMSE proved to be invalid as a screening test for MCI in both populations.
Prevalence and epitope specificity of non-neutralising antibodies in a large cohort of haemophilia A patients without inhibitors
Authors: Chambost Hervé , Biron-Andreani Christine , Morange Pierre-Emmanuel , Combescure Christophe , Marques-Verdier Alain , Berger Claire , Schved Jean-François , Granier Claude , Lebreton Aurélien , Lapalud Priscilla , Lavigne-Lissalde Géraldine
Published: April 2011

Antibodies (inhibitors and non-neutralising antibodies [NNA]) directed against factor VIII (FVIII) remain the main iatrogenic complication in haemophilia A (HA) patients. Inhibitors reduce FVIII procoagulant properties, whereas NNA are directed against non-functional epitopes. NNA are poorly studied and their prevalence, epitope specificity and physiopathology inadequately defined. The aim of this study was first to evaluate NNA prevalence in a French retrospective multicentric series of 210 patients without inhibitors, then to determine their epitope specificity (against the heavy chain [HC] or the light chain [LC] of FVIII) and particularly to assess the prevalence of anti-B domain NNA using specifically designed x-MAP assays. NNA occurred in 18.1% of patients (38/210) and their prevalence was not influenced by the severity of the disease. Among the 38 patients with NNA, 73.7% had anti-FVIII Abs against the HC, 13.2% against the LC and 13.2% had anti-FVIII Abs against both chains. There is thus a clear immuno-dominance of the HC of FVIII in the epitope profile of NNA, whatever the severity of HA. The proportion of NNA that recognised the B domain was 18.4% (n=7/38). A multivariate analysis did not highlight differences in NNA occurrence between patients treated with recombinant FVIII or with plasma-derived FVIII (19.6% vs. 14.9%, p=0.53).
Mechanisms of human neutrophil elastase-catalysed inactivation of factor VIII(a)
Authors: Ogiwara Kenichi , Matsumoto Tomoko , Nishiya Katsumi , Takeyama Masahiro , Shima Midori , Nogami Keiji
Published: April 2011

Mechanisms of inflammation and coagulation are linked through various pathways. Human neutrophil elastase (HNE), can bind to activated platelets, might be localised on platelet membranes that provide negatively-charged phospholipid essential for the optimum function of tenase complex. In this study, we examined the effect of HNE on factor (F)VIII. FVIII activity was rapidly diminished in the presence of HNE and was undetectable within 10 minutes. The inactivation rate waŝ8-fold greater than that of activated protein C (APC). This time-dependent inactivation was moderately affected by von Willebrand factor. HNE proteolysed the heavy chain (HCh) of FVIII into two terminal products, A11–358 and A2375–708, by limited proteolysis at Val358, Val374, and Val708. Cleavage at Val708 was much slower than that at Val358 in the >90-kDa A1-A2-B compared to the 90-kDa A1-A2. The 80-kDa light chain (LCh) was proteolysed to 75-kDa product by cleavage at Val1670. HNE-cata- lysed FVIIIa inactivation was markedly slower than that of native FVIII (by ~25-fold), due to delayed cleavage at Val708 in FVIIIa. The inactivation rate mediated by HNE was ~8-fold lower than that by APC. Cleavages at Val358 and Val708 were regulated by the presence of LCh and HCh, respectively. In conclusion, HNE-catalysed FVIII inactivation was associated with the limited-proteolysis that led to A11–358, A2375–708, and A3-C1-C21671–2332, and subsequently to critical cleavage at Val708. HNE-related FVIII(a) reaction might play a role in inactivation of HNE-induced coagulation process, and appeared to depend on the amounts of inactivated FVIII and active FVIIIa which is predominantly resistant to HNE inactivation.

Note: An account of this work was presented at the 51st annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, December 10, 2009, New Orleans, LA, USA.
A novel family of RGD-containing disintegrins (Tablysin-15) from the salivary gland of the horsefly Tabanus yao targets αIIbβ3 or αVβ3 and inhibits platelet aggregation and angiogenesis
Authors: Liu Huan , Yang Xuening , Andersen John , Wang Yipeng , Tokumasu Fuyuki , Ribeiro José , Ma Dongying , Xu Xueqing , An Su , Francischetti Ivo , Lai Ren
Published: April 2011

A novel family of RGD-containing molecules (Tablysin-15) has been molecularly characterised from the salivary gland of the haematophagous horsefly Tabanus yao. Tablysin-15 does not share primary sequence homology to any disintegrin discovered so far, and displays an RGD motif in the N-terminus of the molecule. It is also distinct from disintegrins from Viperidae since its mature form is not released from a metalloproteinase precursor. Tablysin-15 exhibits high affinity binding for platelet αIIbβ3 and endothelial cell αVβ3 integrins, but not for α5β1 or α2β1. Accordingly, it blocks endothelial cell adhesion to vitronectin (IC50 ~1 nM) and marginally to fibronectin (IC50 ~1 μM), but not to collagen. It also inhibits fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-induced endothelial cell proliferation, and attenuates tube formation in vitro. In platelets, Tablysin-15 inhibits aggregation induced by collagen, ADP and convulxin, and prevents static platelet adhesion to immobilised fibrinogen. In addition, solid-phase assays and flow cytometry demonstrates that αIIbβ3 binds to Tablysin-15. Moreover, immobilised Tablysin-15 supports platelet adhesion by a mechanism which was blocked by anti-integrin αIIbβ3 monoclonal antibody (e.g. abciximab) or by EDTA. Furthermore, Tablysin-15 dose-dependently attenuates thrombus formation to collagen under flow. Consistent with these findings, Tablysin-15 displays antithrombotic properties in vivo suggesting that it is a useful tool to block αIIbβ3, or as a prototype to develop antithrombotics. The RGD motif in the unique sequence of Tablysin-15 represents a novel template for studying the structure-function relationship of the disintegrin family of inhibitors.
Experimental Study of Collection Efficiencies between Submicron Aerosols and Cloud Droplets
Authors: Ladino Luis , Stetzer Olaf , Hattendorf Bodo , Günther Detlef , Croft Betty , Lohmann Ulrike
Published: April 2011

Collection efficiency E experiments for aerosol particles scavenged by cloud droplets were carried out in the newly built Collision Ice Nucleation Chamber (CLINCH). Pure water droplets having radii between 12.8 and 20.0 μm were allowed to fall freely and to collide in a laminar flow with lithium metaborate particles having radii between 0.05 and 0.33 μm. At the bottom of the chamber, the droplets and the particles captured were collected using a cup impactor. The collected solution was analyzed for the scavenged aerosol mass by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Evaporation of droplets was taken into account since the relative humidity inside the chamber was below 100%, resulting in final theoretical droplet sizes between 4.2 and 17.6 μm. The resulting experimental measurements were compared with theoretical values to see their correlation. The authors found an experimental trend similar to theory, as well as the “Greenfield gap” at the particle radius of 0.24 μm (E = 0.038) for the smallest cloud droplet size investigated in this study. The experimental values of collection efficiency found herein agree with those from theory within one order of magnitude, similar to previous studies reported in the literature.
An Integrated Framework for a Joint Assimilation of Brightness Temperature and Soil Moisture Using the Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II
Authors: Dumedah Gift , Berg Aaron A. , Wineberg Mark
Published: April 2011

This study has applied the Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) in a two-step assimilation procedure to jointly assimilate brightness temperature into a radiative transfer model and soil moisture into a land surface model. The first assimilation procedure generates a time series of soil moisture by assimilating brightness temperature from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for Earth Observing System (AMSR-E) into the Land Parameter Retrieval Model (LPRM). The second procedure generates assimilated soil moisture by assimilating the soil moisture from LPRM into the Canadian Land Surface Scheme (CLASS). Note that the assimilated soil moisture was generated by merging two soil moisture estimates: one from LPRM and the other from the CLASS simulation. The assimilated soil moisture is better than using the soil moisture determined either from the satellite observation or the land surface scheme alone. This method provides improved model state and parameterizations for both LPRM and CLASS with the aim to facilitate real-time forecasts when satellite information becomes available. Application of this framework to the Brightwater Creek watershed in southern Saskatchewan illustrates the utility of the joint assimilation framework to improve a time series of soil moisture estimates. The estimated soil moisture datasets were evaluated over an agricultural site in southern Saskatchewan using in situ monitoring networks. These results demonstrate that soil moisture generated from assimilation of brightness temperature could be improved by incorporating it into a land surface model. A comparison between the assimilated soil moisture and in situ dataset demonstrates an improvement in accuracy and temporal pattern that is accomplished through the assimilation framework.
A Simple Analytical Model of Periodic Coastal Upwelling
Authors: Orlić Mirko , Pasarić Zoran
Published: April 2011

An existing reduced-gravity model that reproduces the response of the coastal sea to alongshore wind forcing at subinertial frequencies is extended by allowing for cross-shore wind forcing and by considering superinertial frequencies. The obtained explicit solution shows that the wind-driven currents are predominantly controlled by friction and the Coriolis force at subinertial frequencies and by friction and local acceleration at superinertial frequencies. The effect of the coast is manifested by coastal-trapped variability at subinertial frequencies and baroclinic inertia–gravity waves propagating away from the coast at superinertial frequencies. The pycnocline oscillates at the coast not only at subinertial but also at superinertial frequencies, with the alongshore wind contributing more to the former and the cross-shore wind influencing more the latter. The oscillations are most pronounced when the periodic wind forcing is resonantly coupled to the local inertial oscillations (but only if the wind is not rotating counter to the inertial currents) and at near-zero frequencies (but not when the wind is purely cross-shore). These theoretical findings are related to recent observations of diurnal temperature oscillations in the near-shore water column.
Estimating Geostrophic Shear from Seismic Images of Oceanic Structure*
Authors: Sheen Katy L. , White Nicky , Caulfield C. P. , Hobbs Richard W.
Published: April 2011

It is shown that geostrophic vertical shear estimates can be recovered from seismic (i.e., acoustic) images of thermohaline structure. In the Southern Ocean, the Antarctic Circumpolar Current forms a loop within the Falkland Trough before it flows northward into the Argentine Basin. Seismic profiles that cross this loop show the detailed structure of different water masses with a horizontal resolution of O(10 m). Coherent seismic reflections are tilted in response to current flow around the Falkland Trough. Average slopes were measured on length scales that are large enough to ensure that the geostrophic approximation is valid (i.e., with a Rossby number <0.1). By combining shear estimates with satellite altimetric measurements and acoustic Doppler current profiles, geostrophic velocities can be calculated throughout the data volume. This technique for estimating geostrophic vertical shear from legacy seismic images yields useful information about the spatial and temporal variation of mesoscale circulation.
Using MetOp-A AVHRR Clear-Sky Measurements to Cloud-Clear MetOp-A IASI Column Radiances
Authors: Maddy Eric S. , King Thomas S. , Sun Haibing , Wolf Walter W. , Barnet Christopher D. , Heidinger Andrew , Cheng Zhaohui , Goldberg Mitchell D. , Gambacorta Antonia , Zhang Chen , Zhang Kexin
Published: April 2011

High spatial resolution measurements from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) on the Meteorological Operation (MetOp)-A satellite that are collocated to the footprints from the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) on the satellite are exploited to improve and quality control cloud-cleared radiances obtained from the IASI. For a partial set of mostly ocean MetOp-A orbits collected on 3 October 2010 for latitudes between 70°S and 75°N, these cloud-cleared radiances and clear-sky subpixel AVHRR measurements within the IASI footprint agree to better than 0.25-K root-mean-squared difference for AVHRR window channels with almost zero bias. For the same dataset, surface skin temperatures retrieved using the combined AVHRR, IASI, and Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU) cloud-clearing algorithm match well with ECMWF model surface skin temperatures over ocean, yielding total uncertainties ≤1.2 K for scenes with up to 97% cloudiness.
Ensemble-Based Analysis of Factors Leading to the Development of a Multiday Warm-Season Heavy Rain Event
Authors: Schumacher Russ S.
Published: April 2011

This study makes use of operational global ensemble forecasts from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) to examine the factors contributing to, or inhibiting, the development of a long-lived continental vortex and its associated rainfall. From 25 to 30 June 2007, a vortex developed and grew upscale over the southern plains of the United States. It was associated with persistent heavy rainfall, with over 100 mm of rain falling in much of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri, and amounts exceeding 300 mm in southeastern Kansas. Previous research has shown that, in comparison with other rainfall events of similar temporal and spatial scales, this event was particularly difficult for numerical models to predict.

Considering the ensemble members as different possible realizations of the evolution of the event, several methods are used to examine the processes that led to the development and maintenance of the long-lived vortex and its associated rainfall, and to its apparently limited predictability. Linear statistics are calculated to identify synoptic-scale flow features that were correlated to area-averaged precipitation, and differences between composites of “dry” and “wet” ensemble members are used to pinpoint the processes that were favorable or detrimental to the system’s development. The maintenance of the vortex, and its slow movement in the southern plains, are found to be closely related to the strength of a closed midlevel anticyclone in the southwestern United States and the strength of a midlevel ridge in the northern plains. In particular, with a weaker upstream anticyclone, the shear and flow over the incipient vortex are relatively weak, which allows for slow movement and persistent heavy rains. On the other hand, when the upstream anticyclone is stronger, there is stronger northerly shear and flow, which causes the incipient vortex to move southwestward into the high terrain of Mexico and dissipate. These relatively small differences in the wind and mass fields early in the ensemble forecast, in conjunction with modifications of the synoptic and mesoscale flow by deep convection, lead to very large spread in the resulting precipitation forecasts.
Is the Risk for Cardiovascular Disease Increased in all Phenotypes of the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?
Authors: Daskalopoulos Georgios N. , Karkanaki Artemis , Karagiannis Asterios , Mikhailidis Dimitri P. , Athyros Vasilios G.
Published: April 2011

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common disorder in women of reproductive age, affecting around 10% of them. Polycystic ovary syndrome is considered to be related to increased risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). There are 2 definitions for PCOS: one adopted in 1990 (classical PCOS with phenotypes A and B) and the otherin 2003 (Rotterdam criteria with 4 phenotypes A to D). The latter is a wider definition including the 1990 phenotypes. There is mounting data suggesting that phenotypes C and D are not actually related to increased CVD risk, and thus screening for CVD risk factors of intervening for primary CVD prevention in young women is not cost-effective. There is an increasing number of suggestions to return to the 1990 criteria plus some metabolic parameters to identify real CVD risk in this population. However, such a strategy needs verification by large, prospective studies.
The Clerical Response to a Totalitarian Political Religion: La Civiltà Cattolica and Italian Fascism
Authors: Nelis Jan
Published: April 2011

This article offers a close reading of the discourse on Italian fascism within the authoritative Italian Jesuit periodical La Civiltà Cattolica. The author shows that, when confronted with the fascist movement, La Civiltà Cattolica made no moves to oppose the regime, instead positioning itself so as to negotiate with and accommodate the fascist rhetoric. This decision was driven in part by the close alignment between the politics of Catholicism and fascism, and further fostered by the absence of a viable alternative political power.

The article also illustrates the manner in which Catholic intellectuals intuitively perceived some aspects of fascist totalitarianism and the ‘sacralization of politics’ as threatening, particularly when confronted with manifestations of what was termed ‘political heresy’, along with certain features of fascist associationalism. However, despite their concerns no explicit rupture between Church and regime ever eventuated; on the contrary, some accounts imply an intended merger, however unstable it may have proven, between the ‘religious’ and ‘totalitarian’ goals of both parties.
Incompatible Experiences: Poles, Ukrainians and Jews in Lviv under Soviet and German Occupation, 1939-44
Authors: Mick Christoph
Published: April 2011

Jewish, Polish and Ukrainian memories of the war contradict each other. In Polish and Ukrainian collective memory the glorification of the heroic struggle of national resistance fighters against the oppressors makes it difficult to engage with the question of Polish and Ukrainian collaboration and participation in Nazi crimes. The essay traces these conflicting memories back to contradicting experiences. This is done using the example of the multiethnic Eastern Polish, now Western Ukrainian city of Lviv. Polish and Ukrainian eyewitnesses refer again and again to the collaboration of Jews with the Soviet occupiers, while Jewish accounts accuse Poles and Ukrainians of antisemitism, of having profited from Jewish suffering and of active participation in the murder of the Jewish population. Poles and Ukrainians accuse each other of having started the ethnic cleansing of the Ukrainian-Polish borderlands. This article uses wartime documents by eyewitnesses and focuses on key events which have a firm place in Jewish, Polish and Ukrainian collective memory: the reciprocal perceptions during the Soviet occupation, the pogroms which occurred during the transition from Soviet to German occupation, and the violent resolution of the Polish-Ukrainian conflict in the second half of the war.
Employee share ownership and human capital development: Complementarity in theory and practice
Authors: Pendleton Andrew , Robinson Andrew
Published: April 2011

The article examines the relationship between share ownership plans and employer-provided training. It is argued that share ownership plans are conducive to training provision because they help to generate employee commitment and function to lock employees into the firm. By so doing, they lower the risks faced by employers that returns to investments in training may not be realized. Share plans are more flexible for employers than other, more traditional, ways of rewarding employees for investing their human capital in the firm. The relationship between share plans and human capital development is tested empirically using the British Workplace Employment Relations Survey. It is found that the use of share plans and high employee participation in them is associated with high training coverage. Overall, the empirical evidence is supportive of the perspective discussed and developed in this article.
The liberalization of public services: Company reactions and consequences for employment and working conditions
Authors: Flecker Jörg , Hermann Christoph
Published: April 2011

This article analyses how companies that provide public services respond to liberalization, privatization and marketization. The empirical research is based on 23 company case studies from four sectors and six countries. The case studies involved 185 interviews with managers, trade union and works council representatives and workers. Company reactions include mergers and acquisitions, internationalization and the diversification of supply; the diversification of customer relations, including new pricing policies; a reduction of production costs through concentration, outsourcing and the introduction of new technology; and the reduction of employment and the payment of lower wages (through lower wages for new employees, the creation of independent subsidiaries and outsourcing). Overall, the case studies show that the main goal, the reduction of production costs, has been achieved at the cost of workers, many of whom have experienced liberalization and privatization as the deterioration of employment and working conditions. The impact on productivity and quality were mixed.
Bringing labour markets ‘back in’: Restructuring international businesses in Europe
Authors: Pulignano Valeria
Published: April 2011

This article argues that labour market institutional differences need to be taken more into account to explain the diversity in restructuring processes undertaken by multinational companies (MNCs) within national contexts in Europe. Using an in-depth case study analysis of 12 international corporations affected by diverse restructuring processes in the Netherlands, Italy, France, Austria, Denmark, Ireland and Sweden, local social partners’ responses to change are seen to be shaped within their national frameworks. However, more variation is found among (and within) national labour market systems, which implies a dynamic version of institutional variations.
The collection and analysis of data on children with speech, language and communication needs: The challenge to education and health services
Authors: Lindsay Geoff
Published: April 2011

The Bercow Report (Bercow, 2008) commissioned by the UK government provided a high status impetus to improve services for children and young people with the full range of speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). A research study commissioned to provide evidence to Bercow (2008) identified both limitations and potential benefits regarding the collection, analysis and use of data on children and young people with SLCN. This article draws on that study of six local authorities and their partner primary care trusts, and on analyses of national statistics. The term ‘speech, language and communication needs’ (SLCN) is shown to be used in England for two different populations: all children with some form of SLCN, whatever the cause, and the more specific group comprising children and young people with primary language difficulties. The article focuses mainly on the latter group and those with autistic spectrum disorder to explore the use of data available on children and the use of these data to aid collaborative planning by education and speech therapy services. It is concluded that local authorities are ‘data rich’ with child level information, but effective use of these data for children with SLCN is limited. Collaborative data collection, analysis and use for policy or individual child level action by education and speech and language therapy services are even less common. Data are necessary to support the evaluation of interventions and provide an appropriate accountability framework. It is argued that effective data use by local authorities and primary care trusts, especially if working collaboratively, has the potential to improve services for children with SLCN.
Heterodox Economics, Tolerance, and Pluralism
Authors: Lee Frederic S.
Published: April 2011

In my response to Garnett and Mearman, I argue that many of their comments are based on the assumption that mainstream economics has truth and value, which is in fact not the case. In addition, I argue that that the divided economics community arises from actions taken by mainstream economists and not due to actions taken by heterodox economists. Finally, I argue that pluralism through tolerance is the way forward.

JEL classification: B40, B50
Mortality in Individuals With Autism, With and Without Epilepsy
Authors: Pickett Jane , Xiu Ellen , Tuchman Roberto , Dawson Geraldine , Lajonchere Clara
Published: April 2011

Previous studies show higher mortality rates among individuals with autism than the general population. Comorbidity with epilepsy is an assumed, often ill-defined factor in the increased mortality rates of individuals with autism. Data from the Autism Tissue Program, a tissue donation program established to support biomedical research on autism, show that approximately one-third of its brain donors with autism also had epilepsy. Analysis of new data from the California State Department of Developmental Services is consistent with past reports showing that there is a higher than expected rate of mortality in individuals with autism and epilepsy than autism alone. Accurate, complete and accessible records on cause of death are necessary not just for brain research, but also for understanding risk factors that contribute to early death in individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Various national health care and state developmental disability agency initiatives to reduce risk of mortality are described.
Witch-hunt or Moral Rebirth?
Authors: Stan Lavinia
Published: April 2011

Lustration was not legislated in Romania to date, but it was discussed by deputies and senators of all ideological persuasions, especially from 2005 to 2007. Declarations delivered in front of the house, interventions during debates of lustration-related draft bills and contributions to a parliament-sponsored public discussion reveal that for Romanian legislators lustration can bring about moral cleansing and a break with the past, provide retributive justice for victims of communism, facilitate elite replacement, prevent future violence, and help countries enjoy the benefits of European Union accession, although it punishes valuable individuals, runs against European values, is impractical and unconstitutional.