bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inflammasome-Dependent IFN-γ Drives Pathogenesis inStreptococcus pneumoniaeMeningitis
Authors: Mitchell Andrew J. , Yau Belinda , McQuillan James A. , Ball Helen J. , Too Lay Khoon , Abtin Arby , Hertzog Paul , Leib Stephen L. , Jones Cheryl A. , Gerega Sebastien K. , Weninger Wolfgang , Hunt Nicholas H.
Published: October 2012

The pathology associated with Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis results largely from activation of immune-associated pathways. We systematically investigated the production of IFN subtypes, as well as their influence on pathology, in a mouse model of S. pneumoniae meningitis. Despite the occurrence of a mixed IFN type I/II gene signature, no evidence for production or involvement of type I IFNs in disease progression was found. In contrast, type II IFN (IFN-γ) was strongly induced, and IFN-γ−/− mice were significantly protected from severe disease. Using intracellular cytokine staining and targeted cell-depletion approaches, NK cells were found to be the dominant source of IFN-γ. Furthermore, production of IFN-γ was found to be dependent upon ASC and IL-18, indicating that an ASC-dependent inflammasome pathway was responsible for mediating IFN-γ induction. The influence of IFN-γ gene deletion on a range of processes known to be involved in bacterial meningitis pathogenesis was examined. Although neutrophil numbers in the brain were similar in infected wild-type and IFN-γ−/− mice, both monocyte recruitment and CCL2 production were less in infected IFN-γ−/− mice compared with infected wild-type controls. Additionally, gene expression of NO synthase was strongly diminished in infected IFN-γ−/− mice compared with infected controls. Finally, bacterial clearance was enhanced in IFN-γ−/− mice, although the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Together, these data suggest that inflammasome-dependent IFN-γ contributes via multiple pathways to pathology during S. pneumoniae meningitis.
CCR2+CCR5+ T Cells Produce Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 and Osteopontin in the Pathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Sato Wakiro , Tomita Atsuko , Ichikawa Daijyu , Lin Youwei , Kishida Hitaru , Miyake Sachiko , Ogawa Masafumi , Okamoto Tomoko , Murata Miho , Kuroiwa Yoshiyuki , Aranami Toshimasa , Yamamura Takashi
Published: October 2012

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease of the CNS that is presumably mediated by CD4+ autoimmune T cells. Although both Th1 and Th17 cells have the potential to cause inflammatory CNS pathology in rodents, the identity of pathogenic T cells remains unclear in human MS. Given that each Th cell subset preferentially expresses specific chemokine receptors, we were interested to know whether T cells defined by a particular chemokine receptor profile play an active role in the pathogenesis of MS. In this article, we report that CCR2+CCR5+ T cells constitute a unique population selectively enriched in the cerebrospinal fluid of MS patients during relapse but not in patients with other neurologic diseases. After polyclonal stimulation, the CCR2+CCR5+ T cells exhibited a distinct ability to produce matrix metalloproteinase-9 and osteopontin, which are involved in the CNS pathology of MS. Furthermore, after TCR stimulation, the CCR2+CCR5+ T cells showed a higher invasive potential across an in vitro blood–brain barrier model compared with other T cells. Of note, the CCR2+CCR5+ T cells from MS patients in relapse are reactive to myelin basic protein, as assessed by production of IFN-γ. We also demonstrated that the CCR6−, but not the CCR6+, population within CCR2+CCR5+ T cells was highly enriched in the cerebrospinal fluid during MS relapse (p < 0.0005) and expressed higher levels of IFN-γ and matrix metalloproteinase-9. Taken together, we propose that autoimmune CCR2+CCR5+CCR6− Th1 cells play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of MS.
Optic Nerve Enlargement in Infantile Form of Krabbe Disease
Authors: Castilha-Neto Dimas , Fernandes Monteiro Letícia , Maccarini Peruchi Mirella , Moreno Filho João , Scarlatelli-Lima Aline Vieira , Lin Jaime
Published: October 2012

Krabbe disease (KD) is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder caused by dysfunctional galactosylceramidase activity. Infantile form is the most common subtype, occurring at about 6-month of age. We present a rare case of infantile KD with magnetic resonance imaging showing white matter, thalamic and basal ganglia lesions rarely associated with an enlargement of the optic nerves bilaterally.
A Tarde de um Poeta Dormindo ou Considerações Sobre o Fauno
Authors: Breunig Tiago
Published: October 2012

http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/1984-784X.2011nesp4p94Em “Considerações sobre o poeta dormindo”, em que reivindica a “sombra” do sonho que alega esquecida pelos estudos da psicologia que se ocupa com o sonho, o poeta João Cabral de Melo Neto aborda as relações entre a poesia e o poeta e o sono. João Cabral concebe o “sono como fonte de poema”, o qual se manifesta para o poeta como um estado ausente, emudecido e impotente.
Radar-radiometer retrievals of cloud number concentration and dispersion parameter in marine stratocumulus
Authors: Rémillard J. , Kollias P. , Szyrmer W.
Published: October 2012

Abstract. The retrieval of cloud microphysical properties from remote sensors is challenging. In the past, ground-based radar-radiometer measurements have been successfully used to retrieve the liquid water content profile in nondrizzling clouds but offer little constraint in retrieving other moments of the cloud particle size distribution (PSD). Here, a microphysical condensational model under steady-state supersaturation conditions is utilized to provide additional constraints to the well-established radar-radiometer retrieval techniques. The coupling of the model with the observations allows the retrieval of the three parameters of a lognormal PSD, with two of them being height-dependent. Two periods of stratocumulus from the Azores are used to evaluate the novel technique. The results appear reasonable: continental-like number concentrations are retrieved, in agreement with the drizzle-free cloud conditions. The cloud optical depth derived from the retrieved distributions compares well in magnitude and variability with the one derived independently from a narrow field of view zenith radiometer. Uncertainties coming from the measurements are propagated to the retrieved quantities to estimate their errors. In general, errors smaller than 20% should be attainable for most parameters, demonstrating the added value of the new technique.
Identifying urban sources as cause to elevated grass pollen concentrations using GIS and remote sensing
Authors: Skjøth C. A. , Ørby P. V. , Becker T. , Geels C. , Schlünssen V. , Sigsgaard T. , Bønløkke J. H. , Sommer J. , Søgaard P. , Hertel O.
Published: October 2012

Abstract. We examine here the hypothesis that during flowering, the grass pollen concentrations at a specific site reflect the distribution of grass pollen sources within a few kilometres from this site. We perform this analysis on data from a measurement campaign in the city of Aarhus (Denmark) using three pollen traps and by comparing these observations with a novel inventory of grass pollen sources. The source inventory is based on a new methodology developed for urban scale grass pollen sources. The new methodology is believed to be generally applicable for the European area, as it relies on commonly available remote sensing data combined with management information for local grass areas. The inventory has identified a number of grass pollen source areas present within the city domain. The comparison of the measured pollen concentrations with the inventory shows that the atmospheric concentrations of grass pollen in the urban zone reflects the source areas identified in the inventory, and that these pollen sources that are found to affect the pollen levels are located near and within the city domain. The results also show that during days with peak levels of pollen concentrations, there is no correlation between the three urban traps and an operational trap located just 60 km away. This finding suggests that during intense flowering, the grass pollen concentration mirrors the local source distribution, and is thus a local scale phenomenon. Model simulations aiming at assessment of population exposure to pollen levels are therefore recommended to take into account both local sources and local atmospheric transport, and not rely only on describing regional to long-range transport of pollen. The derived pollen source inventory can be entered into local scale atmospheric transport models in combination with other components that simulates pollen release in order to calculate urban scale variations in the grass pollen load. The gridded inventory with a resolution of 14 m is therefore made available as supplementary material to this paper, and the verifying grass pollen observations are in additional available in tabular form.
Causes of variation in soil carbon predictions from CMIP5 Earth system models and comparison with observations
Authors: Todd-Brown K. E. O. , Randerson J. T. , Post W. M. , Hoffman F. M. , Tarnocai C. , Schuur E. A. G. , Allison S. D.
Published: October 2012

Abstract. Stocks of soil organic carbon represent a large component of the carbon cycle that may participate in climate change feedbacks, particularly on decadal and century scales. For Earth system models (ESMs), the ability to accurately represent the global distribution of existing soil carbon stocks is a prerequisite for predicting future carbon-climate feedbacks. We compared soil carbon predictions from 16 ESMs to empirical data from the Harmonized World Soil Database (HWSD) and Northern Circumpolar Soil Carbon Database (NCSCD). Model estimates of global soil carbon stocks ranged from 510 to 3050 Pg C, compared to an estimate of 890–1660 Pg C from the HWSD. Model predictions for the high latitudes fell between 60 and 800 Pg C, compared to 380–620 Pg C from the NCSCD and 290 Pg C from the HWSD. This 5.3-fold variation in global soil carbon across models compared to a 3.4-fold variation in net primary productivity (NPP) and a 3.8-fold variation in global soil carbon turnover times. The spatial distribution of soil carbon predicted by the ESMs was not well correlated with the HWSD (Pearson's correlations < 0.4, RMSE 9.4 to 22.8 kg C m−2), although model-data agreement generally improved at the biome scale. There was poor agreement between the HWSD and NCSCD datasets in northern latitudes (Pearson's correlation = 0.33), indicating uncertainty in empirical estimates of soil carbon. We found that a reduced complexity model dependent on NPP and soil temperature explained most of the spatial variation in soil carbon predicted by most ESMs (R2 values between 0.73 and 0.93). This result suggests that differences in soil carbon predictions between ESMs are driven primarily by differences in predicted NPP and the parameterization of soil carbon responses to NPP and temperature not by structural differences between the models. Future work should focus on accurately representing these driving variables and modifying model structure to include additional processes.
Stable isotopic evidence of El Niño-like atmospheric circulation in the Pliocene Western United States
Authors: Winnick M. J. , Welker J. M. , Chamberlain C. P.
Published: October 2012

Abstract. Understanding how the hydrologic cycle has responded to warmer global temperatures in the past is especially important today as concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere continue to increase due to human activities. The Pliocene offers an ideal window into a climate system that has equilibrated with current atmospheric pCO2. During the Pliocene the Western United States was wetter than modern, an observation at odds with our current understanding of future warming scenarios, which involve the expansion and poleward migration of the subtropical dry zone. Here we compare Pliocene oxygen isotope profiles of pedogenic carbonates across the Western US to modern isotopic anomalies in precipitation between phases of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). We find that when accounting for seasonality of carbonate formation, isotopic changes through the late Pliocene match modern precipitation isotopic anomalies in El Niño years. Furthermore, isotopic shifts through the late Pliocene mirror changes through the early Pleistocene, which likely represents the southward migration of the westerly storm track caused by growth of the Laurentide Ice Sheet. We propose that the westerly storm track migrated northward through the late Pliocene with the development of the modern Cold Tongue in the East Equatorial Pacific, then returned southward with widespread glaciation in the Northern Hemisphere – a scenario supported by terrestrial climate proxies across the US. Together these data support the proposed existence of background El Niño-like conditions in Western North America during the warm Pliocene. If the Earth behaves similarly with future warming, this observation has important implications with regard to the amount and distribution of precipitation in Western North America.
Two weather radar time series of the altitude of the volcanic plume during the May 2011 eruption of Grímsvötn, Iceland
Authors: Petersen G. N. , Bjornsson H. , Arason P. , von Löwis S.
Published: October 2012

Abstract. The eruption of Grímsvötn volcano in Iceland in 2011 lasted for a week, 21–28 May. The eruption was explosive and peaked during the first hours, with the eruption plume reaching 20–25 km altitude. The height of the plume was monitored every 5 min with a C-band weather radar located at Keflavík International Airport and a mobile X-band radar, 257 km and 75 km distance from the volcano respectively. In addition, photographs taken during the first half-hour of the eruption give information regarding the initial rise. Time series of the plume-top altitude were constructed from the radar observations. This paper presents the two independent radar time series. The series have been cross validated and there is a good agreement between them. The echo top radar series of the altitude of the volcanic plume are publicly available from the Pangaea Data Publisher (doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.778390).
Field measurements of aerosol production from whitecaps in the open ocean
Authors: Norris S. J. , Brooks I. M. , Moat B. I. , Yelland M. J. , de Leeuw G. , Pascal R. W. , Brooks B.
Published: October 2012

Abstract. Simultaneous measurements of near-surface aerosol and bubble spectra were made during five buoy deployments in the open ocean of the North Atlantic and used to estimate aerosol fluxes per unit area of whitecap. The measurements were made during two cruises as part of the SEASAW project, a UK contribution to the international SOLAS program. The mean bubble number concentrations for each deployment are in broad agreement with other open ocean spectra and are consistently one to two orders of magnitude lower than previous laboratory and surf zone studies. This suggests that the aerosol fluxes estimated above open ocean whitecaps will differ to those from over the surf zone and laboratory whitecaps due to the differences in the size and number of bursting bubbles. Production fluxes per unit area of whitecap are estimated from the mean aerosol concentration for each buoy deployment. They are found to increase with wind speed, and span the range of values found by previous laboratory and surf-zone studies for particles with radius at 80% humidity, R80 < 1 μm, but to drop off more rapidly with increasing size for larger particles. A possible cause of this difference in behavior is the significant difference in bubble spectra. Estimates of the mean sea spray flux were made by scaling the whitecap production fluxes with in-situ estimates of whitecap fraction. The sea spray fluxes are also compared with simultaneous individual eddy covariance flux estimates made during the cruise, and with a sea spray source function derived from them.
Multi decadal glacier area fluctuations in Pan-Arctic
Authors: Mernild S. H. , Malmros J. K.
Published: October 2012

Abstract. The shrinking of land-terminating glaciers and ice caps (GIC) has been documented in high-latitude regions, even though repeat observations upon which to base such studies have been limited in space. Here, we present a new record of satellite-derived area changes for 321 land-terminating GIC throughout Pan-Arctic and for the W. Canada and W. US, with focus on the period from mid-1980s to late-2000s/2011 (the last ca. 25 yr). The mean shrinking rate was −0.06±0.01 km2 yr−1 during a period with climate warming. Most of the observed GIC shrank in area, more so than previously believed: while only 8% advanced. The analysis indicates that the observed GIC have lost an arithmetic average of one-fifth of their area since the mid-1980s (equal to a shrinking rate of ca. −1% yr−1), with the highest rate of loss of −40±4% (−1.7 % yr−1) in Alaska, and the lowest rate of loss of −12±3% (−0.5 % yr−1) in Arctic Russia.
Effects of Vertical Motion of the Centre of Mass on Walking Efficiency in the Early Stages after Total Hip Arthroplasty
Authors: Nankaku Manabu , Akiyama Haruhiko , Kanzaki Hideto , Kakinoki Ryosuke
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to identify factors related to walking efficiency in the early postoperative period of total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Methods

The subjects of this study were 18 women who had undergone unilateral THA 4 weeks before and 18 healthy women as control. Using a force plate and a 3-D motion analyser, we measured: 1) gait speed, stride length, cadence; 2) centre of mass displacement in the three directions; 3) asymmetry of the centre of mass movement in vertical direction; and 4) the total internal work per unit mass and distance walked (a negative index of walking efficiency).

Results

Compared with healthy persons, THA patients showed significantly greater total internal work per unit mass and distance walked. The vertical centre of mass motion of the THA patients demonstrated an asymmetrical pattern. In THA patients, the stepwise multiple regression analysis selected the displacement and the asymmetrical vertical motion of centre of mass as the sole significant variable affecting walking efficiency (R2 = 0.81).

Conclusions

Our findings indicated that rehabilitation programs that control the vertical movement of the centre of mass during gait are important to improve walking ability in the early post-operative phase after THA.
In vitro Antibacterial Activity of Different Self-Etch Adhesives
Authors: Poggio Claudio , Arciola Carla Renata , Cepurnykh Sergey , Chiesa Marco , Scribante Andrea , Selan Laura , Imbriani Marcello , Visai Livia
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the antimicrobial activity of different self-etch adhesives by means of the agar disc diffusion test.

Methods

Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus sanguis and Streptococcus mutans strains were selected to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of various self-etch adhesives (Futurabond NR, G-aenial Bond, Adper™ Easy Bond Self-Etch Adhesive, Clearfil Protect Bond, One Coat 7.0, Clearfil S3 Bond, Clearfil SE Bond) using the agar disc diffusion test; 0.2% Chlorexidine digluconate was used as control. Paper disks were saturated with 10 μL of each adhesive system and placed onto culture agar plates pre-adsorbed with bacterial cells and further incubated for 24 h at 37°C. The growth inhibition zones around each adhesive were recorded and compared for each bacterial strain.

Results

The test results of the various self-etch adhesives were significantly different.

Conclusions

The results of the present investigation showed that the addition of MDPB monomer to an adhesive system enhances its antibacterial effect against S. salivarius, S. sanguis and S. mutans.
Results of Targeted Therapies for M1 Renal Cell Carcinoma: Our Experience
Authors: Legramanti Stefano , Antonelli Alessandro , Ferrari Vittorio , Arrighi Nicola , Corti Serena , Zanotelli Tiziano , Cozzoli Alberto , Cunico Sergio Cosciani , Simeone Claudio
Published: October 2012

Introduction

Since a few years ago no effective medical therapies were available to cure metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Nowadays, encouraging preliminary results support some new therapeutic agents, collectively named as targeted therapies (TT).. This paper reviews our experience with the use of TT in the setting of RCC with metastasis at the diagnosis.

Material and Methods

Retrospective evaluation of the data of 24 patients (7 females, 17 males, median age: 59aa) affected by clear cell RCC with distant metastatis at diagnosis, treated with TT from 2005 to 2012.20 of the 24 patients (83,3%) underwent preliminary cytoreductive nephrectomy, whereas for the others a percutaneous biopsy of the renal tumor was obtained. 5 (20.8%) patients received an immunotherapy with IL-2 or IFN and then a TT due to a progression., Schedules were applied following heterogeneous regimens along the period of data collection (randomized clinical trial, expanded access, standard indication). Response has been evaluated by RECIST criteria.

Results

As first-line therapy of TT 18 patients received Sunitinib, 4 Sorafenib, 2 Temsirolimus; 11 received a second-line (8 Sorafenib, 2 Sunitinib, 1 Everolimus); 6 received also a third-line (5 Everolimus, 1 Tensirolimus). At last available control, after a mean follow up time of 13,7 months (1–29) a progressive disease was present in 12 cases (50%), a stable disease in 6 (25%), a reduction of the disease in 4 (16.5%); 7 patients (29.5%) died; overall mean survival of the entire group was 14,7 months. Even if the study suffers from the limitations related to the small number of cases and the retrospective design, seems that no factors played a role in determining the response to theraphy.

Conclusions

The results of TT in clinical practice resemble the ones from randomised clinical trials. It's extremely hard to predict the response to treatment.
Use of Amplatz Cannula through Cystostomy
Authors: Montisci Erica , Serra Simona , Corona Andrea , De Lisa Antonello
Published: October 2012

Introduction

Bladder tamponade is an uncommon complication of post-TURP bleeding and, for its resolution, it may require a long and complex process when conducted transurethrally.

Material and methods

From 2001 to 2011, 20 patients were treated endoscopically by transurethral combined use of Amplatz percutaneous suprapubic cannula. Blood clots were detected above the average size of 5 cm. The technique has required a transurethral access with resector, dissection and resection of clots. In cases where the techniquet has proved insufficient, an Amplatz cannula was introduced by suprapubic access. The resector allows controlling the technique and a constant irrigation, and is also necessary for the final evaluation of the clinical picture. The procedure has been completed with the application of a suprapubic catheter left in site for 24 hours, together with a transurethral one for 48 hours.

Results

In all the cases that we treated, the condition was solved between 15 and 25 minutes, and the evacuation of blood clots was entirely performed. There were no complications. The final control by transurethral way allowed executing hemostasis in all cases. The post-TURP vesical tamponade can represent a dramatic event in terms of pain and alteration of renal function for patients with renal insufficiency. The combined technique, which might appear bloody, represents a valid alternative to the classic transurethral endoscopic technique, which still represents the gold standard in the case of small bleeding and not organized blood clots.

Conclusions

The use of a suprapubic approach with this technique allows for a rapid, efficient and secure resolution of, otherwise, a long and difficultly treatable disease as it is the case with bladder tamponade due to clots for non-neoplastic diseases.
Treating Cervico-Urethral Obstructions with Laser Diode: Initial Clinical Experience
Authors: Beltrami Paolo , Guttilla Andrea , Ruggera Lorenzo , Fumo Giuseppe , Zattoni Fabio , Vianello Fabio , Cecchetti Walter , Zattoni Filiberto
Published: October 2012

Background

The first laser employment for the treatment of the cervico-urethral obstructions (CUO) dates back to the early ‘90s. This study begins with the analysis of laser basics in Medicine and has the purpose to weigh pros and cons (and limits as well) of laser use in CUO due to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). That is an ageing man's typical disease and there is a huge need of minimally invasive treatments, because people affected by this kind of illness suffer very often from comorbidities, and that could make traditional surgery quite risky.

Aim of the Study

The target of this study is the in vivo experimentation of a brand new laser diode, crated to be specifically used in BPH, and to verify its efficacy and safety.

Materials and methods

The subject of the study is the whole laser diode supply, with its double-band laser source (980 nm + 1470 nm), which gains a 140 W-power and is equipped with Water-Free optical fibers of different kinds of tip. We have tested a conical tip fiber on a standard 24–26 F-resectoscope instead of a standard diathermic loop. The conic fiber optimizes the energy on the treated tissue. We recruited 14 patients with CUO caused by BPH, 56 to 70 years old, with a prostatic volume between 33 and 53 cc, and we treated them with laser surgery using the power of 100–110 W. We considered the operative time, the intra-surgery complications and the specific side effects such as hematuria, pain, catheter removal time and the presence or not of acute urinary retention, in order to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this new technique.

Results

The possibility of using the same resectoscope as the one used in transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) made everything more comfortable and easy because of the immediate feeling with the new instrument and the actual time of Light Vaporization between 30 and 40 minutes, which is more or less the same time of a standard TURP procedure.

Conclusions

The idea of a double-band-emitting laser used with conical tip fibers appears to be a great solution in the BPH treatment: it uses the principle of low power density plasma in order to treat bigger prostatic tissue areas but never going in depth. In our clinical results, the efficacy of the double-band-emitting laser source (1470 nm + 980 nm) appears to be similar, but even potentially greater, to the actual surgical laser options (such as HoLEP with Ho:YAG laser and PVP with KTP laser), and it is also similar to traditional TURP.
The Power and Centrality of the Transportation and Warehousing Sector within the US Economy: A Longitudinal Exploration Using Social Network Analysis
Authors: Iyengar Deepak , Rao Shashank , Goldsby Thomas J.
Published: October 2012

This article uses archival panel data over two decades and social network analysis (SNA) to address the question of whether logistics and transportation have become more central to the US economy over time. Unlike traditional measures, SNA goes beyond measuring dyadic relationships and incorporates measures of power, like centrality, closeness, and betweenness that traditional measures fail to capture. Secondary data from the Benchmark Use Input‐Output Tables compiled every five years by the US Bureau of Economic Analysis are examined in the SNA context. Results demonstrate the value of using SNA over conventional dyadic measures to analyze the extended network, especially with respect to the shift of power and centrality over time. The findings demonstrate that while the overall industrial landscape of the United States has become less centralized over time, transportation and warehousing have become increasingly central to the US economy. Thus, the article demonstrates that over time, logistics and warehousing have not only become more powerful, but have gone from being peripheral activities to being increasingly central and important in the larger economy. The article contrasts our findings from the SNA approach with those obtained from conventional (non‐SNA‐based approaches) and highlights the differences in the two approaches.
A Comprehensive Risk Assessment and Evaluation Model: Proposing a Risk Priority Continuum
Authors: Griffis Stanley E. , Whipple Judith M.
Published: October 2012

Supply chain risks continue to affect global operations, with no promise of abating in the foreseeable future. While past studies have examined elements of supply chain risk, many have focused on only the likelihood of a risk occurring and/or the impact of the risk. This research outlines a more rigorous risk assessment and evaluation process, one that builds upon the reliability engineering field and includes an additional risk factor, the probability of risk detection. By using the proposed process, managers can create a risk priority continuum, which can lead to the development of better risk mitigation strategies. Given that not all risks are the same, this article provides a tool for assessing and prioritizing risks to enable managers to achieve desired risk prevention levels as well as to offer faster recovery from risks that actually occur.
Crowding Externalities from Tourist Use of Urban Space
Authors: Neuts Bart , Nijkamp Peter , Van Leeuwen Eveline
Published: October 2012

Popular urban tourist destinations are attracting large numbers of both overnight visitors and excursionists. Since urban cities perform a multitude of functions, the space requirements of tourists can, at times, interfere with those of local users. This paper addresses the issue of disutilities of space congestion through a dichotomous choice experiment model in order to offer a monetary valuation of tourist crowding in urban public space. A resident survey was carried out in the city of Amsterdam in order to estimate a random parameter logit model through which the residents' willingness to pay to avoid unfavourable crowding situations could be assessed. Their willingness to pay in order to increase the use levels by visitors in the Dam area from ‘not at all crowded’ or ‘not crowded’ to ‘crowded’ was, respectively, €1.36 and €0.83 annually, while the mean willingness to pay for a decline in the use level from ‘very crowded’ to ‘crowded’ was estimated to be €11.06 a year. While tourism is only partly responsible for these crowding levels, the results demonstrate that the social effects of tourist consumption can be positive as well as negative, depending on the existing use level and attitudinal perceptions of residents.
Oxidative Stress and Lipid Peroxidation Products in Cancer Progression and Therapy
Authors: Barrera Giuseppina
Published: October 2012

The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and an altered redox status are common biochemical aspects in cancer cells. ROS can react with the polyunsaturated fatty acids of lipid membranes and induce lipid peroxidation. The end products of lipid peroxidation, 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE), have been considered to be a second messenger of oxidative stress. Beyond ROS involvement in carcinogenesis, increased ROS level can inhibit tumor cell growth. Indeed, in tumors in advanced stages, a further increase of oxidative stress, such as that occurs when using several anticancer drugs and radiation therapy, can overcome the antioxidant defenses of cancer cells and drive them to apoptosis. High concentrations of HNE can also induce apoptosis in cancer cells. However, some cells escape the apoptosis induced by chemical or radiation therapy through the adaptation to intrinsic oxidative stress which confers drug resistance. This paper is focused on recent advances in the studies of the relation between oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation products, and cancer progression with particular attention to the pro-oxidant anticancer agents and the drug-resistant mechanisms, which could be modulated to obtain a better response to cancer therapy.
Prevalence and Antibiotic Susceptibility of Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a Rural Area of India: Is MRSA Replacing Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus in the Community?
Authors: Alvarez-Uria Gerardo , Reddy Raghuprakash
Published: October 2012

Staphylococcus aureus (SA) is the most common cause of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) and nosocomial infections. In developed countries there is a major concern about the rise of community-associated methicillin-resistant SA (CA-MRSA), but data from developing countries are scarce. In this study we describe the prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility of CA-MRSA and healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) in a district hospital from rural India. We identified 119 CA-SA infections and 82 HA-SA infections. The majority of infections were SSTI, and the proportion of MRSA in CA-SA and HA-SA infections was 64.7% and 70.7%, respectively. The proportion of CA-MRSA in children <5 years was 73.7%. We did not observe any linezolid or vancomycin resistance. CA-SA had high levels of resistance to ciprofloxacin and low levels of resistance to chloramphenicol, doxycycline, rifampicin, and clindamycin. CA-MRSA had higher proportion of resistance to ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, gentamicin, and cotrimoxazole than CA methicillin-susceptible SA (CA-MSSA). HA-MRSA had higher proportion of resistance to clindamycin and doxycycline than CA-MRSA. The results of this study indicate that MRSA is replacing MSSA in CA-SA infections. If these findings are confirmed by other studies, the spread of CA-MRSA can be a major public health problem in India.
Teaching Emergency Surgical Skills for Trauma Resuscitation-Mechanical Simulator versus Animal Model
Authors: Ali Jameel , Sorvari Anne , Pandya Anand
Published: October 2012

Background. Traditionally, surgical skills in trauma resuscitation have been taught using animal models in the advanced trauma life support (ATLS) course. We compare one mechanical model (TraumaMan simulator) as an alternative teaching tool for these skills.Method. Eighteen providers and 14 instructors performed four surgical procedures on TraumaMan and compared educational effectiveness with the porcine model. Evaluation was conducted (Likert system 1: very poor to 5: excellent). The participants indicated if TraumaMan was a suitable (scale 1: not suitable to 4: excellent) ATLS teaching model considering cost, animal ethics concerns, and other factors. Comments were solicited for both models.Results. Overall ratings for educational effectiveness of the 4 skills ranged from 3.58 to 4.36 for the porcine and 3.48 to 4.29 for the TraumaMan model. TraumaMan suitability was rated 3-4 (mean 3.38) by 84% participants. TraumaMan as a substitute for the porcine model was recommended by 85% participants. With no ethical or cost concerns, 44% students and 71% instructors preferred TraumaMan. Considering all factors, TraumaMan was preferred by 78% students and 93% instructors.Conclusions. TraumaMan is a suitable alternative to the porcine model and considering all factors it may be the preferred method for teaching ATLS emergency trauma surgical skills.
Master Franchising as Foreign Entry Mode: Evidences from the Spanish Franchise System
Authors: Baena Veronica
Published: October 2012

The present study examines how a number of market conditions may constrain entry mode choice into Middle East nations. Specifically, this paper focuses on master franchising and analyzes the determining factors in this entry mode decision. A quantitative approach was applied to a sample of Spanish franchisors operating through 96 franchisee outlets across 6 Middle East countries in January 2010. They are Bahrain, Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates. Findings show the importance of a number of host country’s features (economic development, corruption, and efficiency of contract enforcement). The scant theoretical or empirical attention given to the topic of foreign entry mode choice via franchising has usually been examined from a U.S. base and focused on developed markets. To fill this gap, the present study analyzes the international spread of the Spanish franchise system—ranked fifth worldwide both in terms of the number of franchisors (1,019) and the quantity of franchisee outlets (65,026)—into the Middle East.
Pentacene Active Channel Layers Prepared by Spin-Coating and Vacuum Evaporation Using Soluble Precursors for OFET Applications
Authors: Ochiai Shizuyasu , Palanisamy Kumar , Kannappan Santhakumar , Shin Paik-Kyun
Published: October 2012

Pentacene OFETs of bottom-gate/bottom-contact were fabricated with three types of pentacene organic semiconductors and cross linked Poly(4-vinylphenol) or polycarbonate as gate dielectric layer. Two different processes were used to prepare the pentacene active channel layers: (1) spin-coating on dielectric layer using two different soluble pentacene precursors of SAP and DMP; (2) vacuum evaporation on PC insulator. X-ray diffraction studies revealed coexistence of thin film and bulk phase of pentacene from SAP and thin film phase of pentacene from DMP precursors. The field effect mobility of 0.031 cm2/Vs and threshold voltage of −12.5 V was obtained from OFETs fabricated from SAP precursor, however, the pentacene OFETs from DMP under same preparation yielded high mobility of 0.09 cm2/Vs and threshold value decreased to −5 V. It reflects that the mixed phase films had carrier mobilities inferior to films consisting solely of single phase. For comparison, we have also fabricated pentacene OFETs by vacuum evaporation on polycarbonate as the gate dielectric and obtained charge carrier mobilities as large as 0.62 cm2/Vs and threshold voltage of −8.5 V. We demonstrated that the spin-coated pentacene using soluble pentacene precursors could be alternative process technology for low cost, large area and low temperature fabrication of OFETs.
Epicardial Fat Tissue Thickness in Preeclamptic and Normal Pregnancies
Authors: Can Mehmet Mustafa , Can Esra , Ozveren Olcay , Okuyan Ertugrul , Ayca Burak , Dinckal Mustafa Hakan
Published: October 2012

Background. Epicardial fat tissue, another form of visceral adiposity, has been proposed as a new cardiometabolic risk factor, and the possible association of epicardial fat with hypertension has been shown in some recent studies. Although epicardial fat thickness (EFT) is associated with hypertension, the relationship between preeclampsia and EFT is still unknown. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the association between the echocardiographic EFT and the severity of preeclampsia in pregnant women. Methods. Forty women with preeclampsia were recruited and thirty-five normal pregnant women were matched for both maternal age and gestastional age served as control. The materials were collected immediately after delivery of the fetus, before placenta expulsion and before clamping of the umblical cord in patients and controls whom were in fasting state. Total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), and triglyceride levels (TG) and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) levels were assessed. EFT was measured by using transthoracic echocardiography. Results. Among the preeclamptic women, 12 were diagnosed with severe preeclampsia and 28 mild preeclampsia. There were no statistically significant differences between patients with preeclampsia and normal pregnancy except when they are divided according to systolic and diastolic blood pressure, proteinuria levels, and parity and EFT levels. Among women with preeclampsia (n=40), 30% had severe disease. Women with mild and severe preeclampsia had significiantly higher blood pressures at delivery and earlier gestational ages in comparison to control subjects. Although TG, VLDL and LDL, HDL, and HOMA-IR levels (P>0.05) were comparable between preeclampsia and normal pregnancies, EFT levels were significiantly higher in patients with preeclampsia. Moreover, in subgroup analysis, patients with severe preeclampsia had higher EFT levels (P<0.05) in comparison with mild preeclampsia. Conclusions. EFT levels measured at delivery were increased in patients with preeclampsia, and patients with increased levels of EFT levels had a substantially higher probability of the disease severity in comparison to those with mild preeclampsia and controls.
Gender Differences in Pain Perception and Functional Ability in Subjects with Knee Osteoarthritis
Authors: Elboim-Gabyzon M. , Rozen N. , Laufer Y.
Published: October 2012

Background. There is no consensus regarding gender-related differences in pain intensity and functional abilities among patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).
Objective. Determine gender-related differences in pain intensity and functional ability among subjects with knee OA, as assessed by a self-report questionnaire and by performance-based tests. Methods. Sixty-three subjects with symptomatic knee pain due to OA were included in this study. The outcome measures were self-reported knee pain intensity and physical function (WOMAC), as well as three performance-based functional assessments: time up and go test, a 10-meter walk test, and stair negotiation. Independent sample t-tests were performed to determine gender differences. Level of significance was set at . Results.
Female subjects reported higher levels of knee pain and lower functional performance. In contrast, no significant gender-related differences were determined in any of the performance-based measures. Conclusion. The results indicate that the two types of functional ability measures may address different constructs of functional ability. Self-reported ability, particularly in the female subjects, may be influenced by psychological aspects associated with chronic pain. Rehabilitation programs should consider the underlying mechanisms of the patients’ performance limitations in order to address the specific needs of each individual patient.
Bacterial Findings in Infected Hip Joint Replacements in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis: A Study of 318 Revisions for Infection Reported to the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register
Authors: Schrama J. C. , Lutro O. , Langvatn H. , Hallan G. , Espehaug B. , Sjursen H. , Engesaeter L. B. , Fevang B.-T.
Published: October 2012

High rates of Staphylococcus aureus are reported in prosthetic joint infection (PJI) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA patients are considered to have a high risk of infection with bacteria of potentially oral or dental origin. One thousand four hundred forty-three revisions for infection were reported to the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register (NAR) from 1987 to 2007. For this study 269 infection episodes in 255 OA patients served as control group. In the NAR we identified 49 infection episodes in 37 RA patients from 1987 to 2009. The RA patients were, on average, 10 years younger than the OA patients and there were more females (70% versus 54%). We found no differences in the bacterial findings in RA and OA. A tendency towards a higher frequency of Staphylococcus aureus (18% versus 11%) causing PJI was found in the RA patients compared to OA. There were no bacteria of potential odontogenic origin found in the RA patients, while we found 4% in OA. The bacteria identified in revisions for infection in THRs in patients with RA did not significantly differ from those in OA. Bacteria of oral or dental origin were not found in infected hip joint replacements in RA.
Cardiac Manifestations of Rheumatological Conditions: A Narrative Review
Authors: Owlia Mohammad Bagher , Mostafavi Pour Manshadi Seyed Mohammad Yousof , Naderi Nafiseh
Published: October 2012

Cardiovascular diseases are common in systemic rheumatologic diseases. They can be presented at the time of diagnosis or after diagnosis. The cardiac involvements can be the first presentation of rheumatologic conditions. It means that a patient with rheumatologic disease may go to a cardiologist when attacked by this disease at first. These manifestations are very different and involve different structures of the heart, and they can cause mortality and morbidity of patients with rheumatologic diseases. Cardiac involvements in these patients vary from subclinical to severe manifestations. They may need aggressive immunosuppressive therapy. The diagnosis of these conditions is very important for choosing the best treatment. Premature atherosclerosis and ischemic heart disease are increased in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, and may be causes of mortality among them. The aggressive control of systemic inflammation in these diseases can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease especially ischemic heart disease. Although aggressive treatment of primary rheumatologic diseases can decrease mortality rate and improve them, at this time, there are no specific guidelines and recommendations, to include aggressive control and prevention of traditional risk factors, for them.
AnL-Moment-Based Analog for the Schmeiser-Deutsch Class of Distributions
Authors: Headrick Todd C. , Pant Mohan D.
Published: October 2012

This paper characterizes the conventional moment-based Schmeiser-Deutsch (S-D) class of distributions through the method ofL-moments. The system can be used in a variety of settings such as simulation or modeling various processes. A procedure is also described for simulating S-D distributions with specifiedL-moments andL-correlations. The Monte Carlo results presented in this study indicate that the estimates ofL-skew,L-kurtosis, andL-correlation associated with the S-D class of distributions are substantially superior to their corresponding conventional product-moment estimators in terms of relative bias—most notably when sample sizes are small.
Finite Element Simulation on Punching Shear Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Slabs
Authors: Alam A. K. M. Jahangir , Amanat Khan Mahmud
Published: October 2012

A finite element simulation for experimental punching shear behavior of reinforced concrete slab is presented in this paper. The numerical simulation is based on previously tested 15 reinforced concrete model slabs. Finite element analysis of reinforced concrete slabs subjected to punching load is evaluated and results are compared with experiments. This study involves development of a nonlinear strategy which implements solution for a realistic description of the deflection, load carrying capacity and crack, pattern related to punching shear of RC slabs for several types of slab thickness, edge restraints, and reinforcement ratio. It has been shown that the load versus. deflection diagram and ultimate load capacity obtained from FE analysis closely match with the experimental results. Comparison of crack pattern of the slab also shows good agreement. It has been shown that using appropriate method and material for numerical simulation, significant benefit can be achieved using finite element tools and advanced computing facilities in obtaining safe and optimum solutions without doing expensive and time-consuming laboratory tests.
State-Model-Based Regression Test Reduction for Component-Based Software
Authors: Sen Tamal , Mall Rajib
Published: October 2012

We present a novel regression test selection approach based on analysis of state and dependence models of components. Our technique targets to select a smaller regression test suite compared to the pure dependence-based RTS approaches while maintaining the fault revealing effectiveness. In our approach, after a modification, control and data dependencies are analyzed to identify the potentially affected statements. Subsequently, the state model of the component is analyzed to compute a precise publishable change information to support efficient regression test selection by the application developers.