bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
UTOPIAAND CIVIC POLITICS IN MID-SIXTEENTH-CENTURY LONDON
Authors: BISHOP JENNIFER
Published: November 2011

During the seven years of Edward VI's reign, a variety of ideas about how best to reform the religious, economic, political, and social structures of the English commonwealth were devised, debated, and enacted. London's citizens and governors were increasingly occupied with developing legislative and institutional solutions for pressing social ills such as poverty and vagrancy: the question of how best to govern the commonwealth was not just a philosophical dilemma, but a practical concern. It was within this context that the first English translation of Thomas More'sUtopiaappeared in London. Published in 1551 by a group of citizens with a keen interest in social reform, the EnglishUtopiamay best be described as constituting an engagement with ideas of ‘good government’. This article draws on surviving evidence for the activities and concerns ofUtopia's producers, and in particular the sponsor and instigator of the translation, George Tadlowe, in order to demonstrate that this publication represented a timely combination of humanist theory and political practice typical of the civic culture of the Edwardian reformation.
Bring the captive closer to the wild: redefining the role of ex situ conservation
Authors: Pritchard Diana J. , Fa John E. , Oldfield Sara , Harrop Stuart R.
Published: November 2011

In situ conservation is central to contemporary global biodiversity protection and is the predominant emphasis of international regulation and funding strategies. Ex situ approaches, in contrast, have been relegated to a subsidiary role and their direct contributions to conservation have been limited. We draw on a variety of sources to make the case for an enhanced role for ex situ conservation. We note the advances occurring within institutions specializing in ex situ conservation and stress that, although much remains to be done, many constraints are being addressed. We argue that the evidence of increasing extinction rates, exacerbated by climate change, challenges the wisdom of a heavy dependence on in situ strategies and necessitates increased development of ex situ approaches. A number of different techniques that enable species and their habitats to survive should now be explored. These could build on the experience of management systems that have already demonstrated the effective integration of in situ and ex situ techniques and hybrid approaches. For organizations specializing in ex situ conservation to become more effective, however, they will require tangible support from the institutions of global biodiversity governance. Resistance is anticipated because in situ conservation is entrenched through powerful groups and organizations that exert influence on global conservation policy and facilitate the flow of funding. The chasm that has traditionally divided in situ and ex situ approaches may diminish as approaches are combined. Moreover, the relentless loss of the ‘wild’ may soon render the in situ / ex situ distinction misleading, or even obsolete.
In vitro and in vivo behaviour of sympatric Leishmania (V.) braziliensis, L. (V.) peruviana and their hybrids
Authors: CORTES SOFIA , ESTEVES CARINA , MAURÍCIO ISABEL , MAIA CARLA , CRISTOVÃO JOSÉ MANUEL , MILES MICHAEL , CAMPINO LENEA
Published: November 2011

Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis is the main cause of highly disfiguring mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL) in South America. The related species L. (V.) peruviana has only been identified in simple cutaneous lesions (CL). Hybrids between L. braziliensis and L. peruviana have been reported although genetic exchange in Leishmania is considered to be rare. Here we compared growth in vitro, adaptive capacity under thermal and oxidative stress and behaviour in a hamster model, of L. braziliensis, L. peruviana, and their putative hybrids. At 24°C, the optimal temperature for in vitro growth, L. braziliensis had the highest growth rate. In in vitro studies hybrid clones presented heterogeneous phenotypes, from slower growth rates, similar to L. peruviana, to higher growth rates, as observed in L. braziliensis. Hamsters infected with hybrid strains, presented the highest parasite densities and aggressive relapses at a later stage of infection. Hybrids generally presented higher plasticity and phenotypic diversity than the putative parental species, with potential eco-epidemiological implications, including an impact on the success of disease control.
Prefects in Search of a Role in a Europeanised France
Authors: Cole Alistair
Published: November 2011

Based on extensive new empirical fieldwork (via a case study of the reform of the territorial State in 2007–2010), this article interrogates the meaning of the prefectoral institution in France. The central puzzle this article addresses is the survival of a pre-democratic institution – the Prefect in – a democratic, decentralizing and Europeanised Republic. Changing conditions have required institutional resilience and adaptation in a period of state restructuring and rescaling. The case study of the prefectures as old institutions is framed using language and tools of new institutionalism across three dimensions: the timing and sequence of decision-making, the logic of appropriateness, and interaction. Beyond the narrow case of the prefectures in France, the article makes the case for combining modes of institutionalist analysis in order to penetrate generalities about the black box of institutions.
Manipulating the physical: water's body and soul
Authors: Hunt John Dixon
Published: November 2011

The Japanese dry garden apart, water has been an essential ingredient in all garden-making. From its sources in agricultural and other modes of food production, water has been used to irrigate and maintain a host of necessary functions, some of which, like the water wheel in Mediterranean cultures [1], have been (and still are) crucial elements of agricultural cultivation.

But the other crucial feature of water, unless it is manipulated in some way by human agency, is its capacity to seek the path of least resistance. It may wear away rocks and soils, but essentially it seeks to find the easier and least resistant path through the local elements. The manipulation of water, then, in designed landscapes is a cultural mode of soliciting from water its best features, drawing out its performative aspects. But the features deemed ‘best’ are the result of a whole range of objectives that transcend physical properties to communicate and exploit specific and very local cultural capabilities.
Iodine-induced goitre and high prevalence of anaemia among Saharawi refugee women
Authors: Henjum Sigrun , Barikmo Ingrid , Strand Tor A , Oshaug Arne , Torheim Liv Elin
Published: November 2011

Objective

The main objective was to assess iodine status (thyroid volume (Tvol) and urinary iodine concentration (UIC)) and their determinants in Saharawi refugee women.

Design

A cross-sectional survey was performed during January–February 2007. Tvol was measured by ultrasound and iodine concentration was analysed in spot urine samples and in household drinking water. Anthropometry and Hb concentration were measured and background variables were collected using pre-coded questionnaires.

Setting

The survey was undertaken in four long-term refugee camps in the Algerian desert.

Subjects

Non-pregnant women (n394), 15–45 years old, randomly selected.

Results

Median (25th percentile–75th percentile (P25–P75)) UIC was 466 (294–725) μg/l. Seventy-four per cent had UIC above 300 μg/l and 46 % above 500 μg/l. Median (P25–P75) Tvol was 9·4 (7·4–12·0) ml and the goitre prevalence was 22 %. UIC was positively associated with iodine in drinking water and negatively associated with breast-feeding, and these two variables explained 28 % of the variation in UIC. The mean (sd) Hb level was 11·8 (2·4) g/dl. In total 46 % were anaemic with 14 %, 25 % and 7 %, classified with respectively mild, moderate and severe anaemia.

Conclusions

The Saharawi women had high UIC, high levels of iodine in drinking water and increased Tvol and probably suffered from iodine-induced goitre. The high prevalence of anaemia is considered to be a severe public health concern. To what extent the excessive iodine intake and the anaemia have affected thyroid function is unknown and should be addressed in future studies.
Web tool deconstructs variability in twentieth‐century climate
Authors: Greene Arthur M. , Goddard Lisa , Cousin Rémi
Published: November 2011

Climate, as experienced over time in a particular locality or region, exhibits a wide spectrum of variability, ranging from daily weather to century‐scale trends and beyond. As a result, climate‐related risks will tend to vary as well, with slower variations modulating the likelihood of adverse or beneficial events that play out on shorter time scales. For example, the risk of crop loss due to insufficient seasonal rainfall will generally be increased during decades that themselves are drier than normal, and vice versa. Short‐term planning for such risk might involve securing adequate supplies of a drought‐resistant cultivar, while on longer time scales such infrastructure decisions as the design of irrigation systems or reservoirs may be at issue. An understanding of how variations on different time scales have combined to produce observed climate histories can inform adaptation or risk mitigation strategies in light of such multi‐time‐scale risk variability.
Gravity and uplift rates observed in southeast Alaska and their comparison with GIA model predictions
Authors: Sato Tadahiro , Miura Satoshi , Sun Wenke , Sugano Takayuki , Freymueller Jeffrey T. , Larsen Christopher F. , Ohta Yusaku , Fujimoto Hiromi , Inazu Daisuke , Motyka Roman J.
Published: November 2011

Over 3 years from 2006 to 2008 we conducted absolute gravity (AG) measurements at 6 sites in and around Glacier Bay (GB) in Southeast Alaska (SE‐AK). At two of the 6 sites, AG measurements had been carried out in 1987 by a group from IGPP at UCSD. Mean gravity change rates (unit:μGal/yr, 1 μGal = 10−8 ms−2) over the 6 sites are estimated to be −4.50 ± 0.76 and −4.30 ± 0.92 by only using our data and also using the 1987 data, respectively. We computed the uplift and gravity rates predicted by ice load models for three different time intervals: Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), Little Ice Age (LIA) and Present‐Day (PD). Except for 1–2 examples, the predictions recover the observed rates within the observation errors. We also estimated the viscous portion of the ratio (unit:μGal/mm) of the observed gravity rate to the uplift rate by correcting for the effects of the Present‐Day Ice Mass Change (PDIMC). Two PDIMC models are compared, which are called here as UAF05 and UAF07. Mean ratios are estimated to be −0.205 ± 0.089 and −0.183 ± 0.052 for the cases using UAF05 and UAF07, respectively. The predicted mean ratios are −0.166 ± 0.001 and −0.171 ± 0.002 for the cases using both the LGA and LIA ice models and only using the LIA ice model, respectively. We have confirmed that our AG and GPS observations detect the rates and ratios reflecting an early stage of viscoelastic relaxation mainly due to the unloading effects after the LIA.
Jumping the barrier: VE‐cadherin, VEGF and other angiogenic modifiers in cancer
Authors: Le Guelte Armelle , Dwyer Julie , Gavard Julie
Published: November 2011

The endothelial barrier controls the passage of fluids, nutrients and cells through the vascular wall. This physiological function is closely related to developmental and adult angiogenesis, blood pressure control, as well as immune responses. Moreover, cancer progression is frequently characterized by disorganized and leaky blood vessels. In this context, vascular permeability drives tumour‐induced angiogenesis, blood flow disturbances, inflammatory cell infiltration and tumour cell extravasation. Although various molecules have been implicated, the vascular endothelial adhesion molecule, VE‐cadherin (vascular endothelial cadherin), has emerged as a critical player involved in maintaining endothelial barrier integrity and homoeostasis. Indeed, VE‐cadherin coordinates the endothelial cell—cell junctions through its adhesive and signalling properties. Of note, many angiogenic and inflammatory mediators released into the tumour microenvironment influence VE‐cadherin behaviour. Therefore restoring VE‐cadherin function could be one very promising target for vascular normalization in cancer therapies. In this review, we will mainly focus on recent discoveries concerning the molecular mechanisms involved in modulating VE‐cadherin plasticity in cancer.
An Interview with Kim Longinotto
Authors: Thynne Lizzie , Al-Ali Nadje
Published: November 2011

Kim Longinotto is one of the UK's leading documentary directors whose body of work explores women's lives and their struggles for autonomy and human rights in a range of international cultural contexts. Her strategies interrogate the observationalist traditions of documentary cinema and visual anthropology to produce engaged and profoundly empathetic feminist films. She works in collaborative ways with her subjects, often with other directors, to represent the contradictions and multiple layers of their lives and political and social situations. This interview focuses on Longinotto's approach to representing her subjects and using the medium of documentary as a form of witnessing.
Variations in nutrient concentrations at different time scales in two shallow tidally dominated estuaries
Authors: Tay Hui W. , Bryan Karin R. , Pilditch Conrad A. , Park Stephen , Hamilton David P.
Published: November 2011

Water-quality observations in estuaries can be highly variable in time and space, making it difficult to quantify nutrient fluxes and to discriminate patterns. We measured nitrate, phosphate and ammonium concentrations in two shallow tidally dominated estuaries in Tauranga Harbour, New Zealand, during four periods (winter, start of spring, end of spring and summer) within 1 year, to determine the source of variability observed in a 19-year monitoring program. These measurements consisted of high-frequency monitoring during one 24-h period (covering a daytime flood-ebb tide and a night-time flood-ebb tide) at each estuary. Concentrations of nitrate and ammonium had distinctive tidal patterns, with rising values during ebb flows. This tidal asymmetry caused a net seaward flux of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (nitrate and ammonium), with higher exports at night. Net fluxes were 34–358 kg N per tidal cycle for nitrate and 22–93 kg N per tidal cycle for ammonium. Fluxes were large relative to previously published model-based predictions for the region, particularly during winter. Our results showed that estuarine sampling strategies need to account for tidal variability and the role of episodic runoff events, and highlighted the importance of correctly validated mass fluxes from field measurements for comparisons with nutrient-loading models.
A case for corpus stylistics
Authors: Mahlberg Michaela , McIntyre Dan
Published: November 2011

In this article we investigate keywords and key semantic domains in Fleming’s Casino Royale. We identify groups of keywords that describe elements of the fictional world such as characters and settings as well as thematic signals. The keyword groups fall into two broad categories that are characterized as text-centred and reader-centred, with the latter providing particular clues for interpretation. We also compare the manually identified keyword groups with key semantic domains that are based on automatic semantic analysis. The comparison shows, for instance, how words that do not seem to fit a semantic domain can be seen as reader-centred keywords fulfilling specific textual functions. By linking our analysis to arguments in literary criticism, we show how quantitative and qualitative approaches can usefully complement one another.
Overwinter Mortality of Gizzard Shad: Evaluation of Starvation and Cold Temperature Stress
Authors: Fetzer William W. , Brooking Thomas E. , Jackson James R. , Rudstam Lars G.
Published: November 2011

Overwinter mortality of gizzard shad Dorosoma cepedianum has been attributed to starvation, cold stress, and predation; however, the interactions among these factors are not well understood and can change across winter. We evaluated possible causes for overwinter mortality of age‐0 gizzard shad through a combination of experiments and field sampling during the winters of 2005–2006 and 2006–2007. In the first experiment, gizzard shad were placed into cages in Oneida Lake, New York, during three time periods prior to ice formation. The fish exhibited low mortality at temperatures above 8°C but high mortality (>75%) in all cages as temperature dropped below 8°C. We observed no consistent patterns of length‐dependent mortality or changes in total percent dry weight (DW). However, the viscerosomatic index (VSI) decreased during all time periods, indicating disproportionate use of visceral tissues. In the second experiment, gizzard shad were exposed to temperature treatments of 1, 2, and 4°C in experimental cold rooms. Little mortality occurred as temperature dropped from 8°C to 4°C, but mortality increased after temperature reached 4°C and was highest in the two coldest treatments. Within a temperature treatment, small fish died faster, and mortality exhibited a weak negative correlation with VSI and percent DW. Average size of fish in field collections increased through the winter, indicating higher mortality of smaller individuals and proportional changes in somatic DW and visceral DW. Results from both experiments and the field collections suggest that cold stress and an inability to acclimate—rather than starvation—are driving gizzard shad mortality at low temperatures.
On a supercongruence conjecture of Rodriguez-Villegas
Authors: McCarthy Dermot
Published: November 2011

In examining the relationship between the number of points overFp\mathbb {F}_pon certain Calabi-Yau manifolds and hypergeometric series which correspond to a particular period of the manifold, Rodriguez-Villegas identified numerically 22 possible supercongruences. We prove one of the outstanding supercongruence conjectures between a special value of a truncated generalized hypergeometric series and thepp-th Fourier coefficient of a modular form.
Salmonella‐mediated tumor‐targeting TRAIL gene therapy significantly suppresses melanoma growth in mouse model
Authors: Chen Jianxiang , Yang Bingya , Cheng Xiawei , Qiao Yiting , Tang Bo , Chen Guo , Wei Jing , Liu Xiufeng , Cheng Wei , Du Pan , Huang Xiaofeng , Jiang Wenhui , Hu Qingang , Hu Yiqiao , Li Jiahuang , Hua Zi‐Chun
Published: November 2011

Attenuated Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurium) strains can selectively grow and express exogenous genes in tumors for targeted therapy. We engineered S. typhimurium strain VNP20009 to secrete tumor necrosis factor‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand (TRAIL) under the control of a hypoxia‐induced nirB promoter and examined the efficacy of Salmonella‐mediated targeted expression of TRAIL in mice bearing melanoma tumor and in TRAIL‐resistant RM‐1 tumor. We found that VNP preferentially accumulated in tumor tissues and the nirB promoter effectively drove targeted expression of TRAIL. Compared with recombinant TRAIL protein and VNP20009 combination therapy, VNP20009 expressing TRAIL significantly suppressed melanoma growth but failed to suppress RM‐1 tumor growth. Furthermore, we confirmed that VNP20009 expressing TRAIL yielded its antitumor effect by inducing melanoma apoptosis. Our findings indicate that Salmonella‐mediated tumor‐targeted therapy with TRAIL could reduce tumor growth and extend host survival. (Cancer Sci 2012; 103: 325–333)
Validation and comparison of models to predict non‐sentinel lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients
Authors: Chen Kai , Zhu Liling , Jia Weijuan , Rao Nanyan , Fan Miaojing , Huang Hui , Shan Quanyuan , Han Jingjing , Song Erwei , Zeng Yunjie , Su Fengxi
Published: November 2011

Several models for predicting the risk of non‐sentinel lymph node (NSLN) metastasis in breast cancer patients with positive sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) have been developed. The purpose of this study was to validate and compare these models in Chinese patients. A total of 159 breast cancer patients with positive SLNs treated at our institution were included. Among them, 81 (50.9%) patients had at least one NSLN involvement. The Cambridge, Mou, Mayo, Tenon, MDA, Memorial Sloan‐Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), Ljubljana, SNUH, Turkish, Louisville, Stanford, and Saidi models were evaluated and compared using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration plots, and false negative (FN) rates. The Cambridge and Mou models outperformed the others, both with area under the ROC curves (AUCs) of 0.73. The Mayo, Tenon, MDA, MSKCC, Turkish, Ljubljana, SNUH, and Louisville models had AUCs of 0.68, 0.66, 0.66, 0.64, 0.63, 0.62, 0.61, and 0.60, respectively. The Stanford and Saidi models did not present any discriminative capabilities, with AUCs of 0.54 and 0.50, respectively. The Cambridge, MSKCC, and Mayo models were well calibrated. With adjusted thresholds, the Mayo model outperformed the others by classifying the highest proportion of patients (20%) into the low‐risk group. Our study revealed that the Cambridge and Mou models performed well in Chinese patients. The ROC curves, calibration plots, and FN rates should be used together for the accurate evaluation of prediction models. Selection of these models should be based on the clinicopathological features of the targeted population. The models specifically designed for patients with micrometastases or macrometastases of SLNs are needed in the future. (Cancer Sci 2012; 103: 274–281)
Characterization of the PilN, PilO and PilP type IVa pilus subcomplex
Authors: Tammam S. , Sampaleanu L. M. , Koo J. , Sundaram P. , Ayers M. , Andrew Chong P. , Forman‐Kay J. D. , Burrows L. L. , Howell P. L.
Published: November 2011

Type IVa pili are bacterial nanomachines required for colonization of surfaces, but little is known about the organization of proteins in this system. The Pseudomonas aeruginosa pilMNOPQ operon encodes five key members of the transenvelope complex facilitating pilus function. While PilQ forms the outer membrane secretin pore, the functions of the inner membrane‐associated proteins PilM/N/O/P are less well defined. Structural characterization of a stable C‐terminal fragment of PilP (PilPΔ71) by NMR revealed a modified β‐sandwich fold, similar to that of Neisseria meningitidis PilP, although complementation experiments showed that the two proteins are not interchangeable likely due to divergent surface properties. PilP is an inner membrane putative lipoprotein, but mutagenesis of the putative lipobox had no effect on the localization and function of PilP. A larger fragment, PilPΔ18‐6His, co‐purified with a PilNΔ44/PilOΔ51 heterodimer as a stable complex that eluted from a size exclusion chromatography column as a single peak with a molecular weight equivalent to two heterotrimers with 1:1:1 stoichiometry. Although PilO forms both homodimers and PilN–PilO heterodimers, PilPΔ18‐6His did not interact stably with PilOΔ51 alone. Together these data demonstrate that PilN/PilO/PilP interact directly to form a stable heterotrimeric complex, explaining the dispensability of PilP's lipid anchor for localization and function.
Helicobacter pylori cholesteryl glucosides interfere with host membrane phase and affect type IV secretion system function during infection in AGS cells
Authors: Wang Hung‐Jung , Cheng Wen‐Chi , Cheng Hsin‐Hung , Lai Chih‐Ho , Wang Wen‐Ching
Published: November 2011

Helicobacter pylori infection is an aetiological cause of gastric disorders worldwide. H. pylori has been shown to assimilate and convert host cholesterol into cholesteryl glucosides (CGs) by cholesterol‐α‐glucosyltransferase encoded by capJ. Here, we show that CapJ‐deficient (ΔcapJ) H. pylori resulted in greatly reduced type IV secretion system (TFSS)‐associated activities, including the hummingbird phenotype of AGS cells, IL‐8 production, CagA translocation/phosphorylation and CagA‐mediated signalling events. Complementation of the ΔcapJ mutation with wild type cagJ or by adding CGs‐containing lysates or exogenous fluorophore‐tagged CGs reversed the mutant phenotypes. We also show that the wild‐type but not ΔcapJ H. pylori recruited raft‐associated components to sites of bacterial attachment. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) analysis of AGS cells treated with fluorescence‐tagged cholesterol/CGs revealed that there was a higher proportion of CGs associated with immobile fractions. CGs‐associated membranes were also more resistant to a cold detergent extraction. Thus, we propose that CGs synthesized by H. pylori around host‐pathogen contact sites partition in detergent‐resistant membranes (DRMs), alters lateral‐phase segregation in membrane and reorganizes membrane architecture. These processes together promote the formation of a functional TFSS and H. pylori infection.
The Chronicle of a Disease Foretold: Pandemic H1N1 and the Construction of a Global Health Security Threat
Authors: Abraham Thomas
Published: November 2011

The period beginning in 2004 saw an extraordinary spurt in attention paid to avian and pandemic influenza in the United States and at the global level. A disease that for decades had languished in the ‘dull but worthy’ category of infectious diseases was elevated to a risk to global health security. The securitisation of influenza was not unproblematic. The influenza pandemic of 2009 turned out to be far milder than anticipated, and much of the scientific basis on which planning had proceeded and resources had been mobilised turned out to be wrong. Developing countries with other disease priorities were urged to pour resources into pandemic planning exercises and change poultry-raising practices. The article argues that for an issue to be securitised as a global health threat, it is essential that the United States takes the lead role (or at the very least supports efforts by other leading powers). It uses the Copenhagen School's analysis to examine how avian and pandemic influenza was securitised in the United States, and then uses the concept of framing to examine why this disease was securitised by looking at the prior existence of an issue culture or discourse around emerging infectious diseases, which gained salience after the 2011 anthrax attacks. It finally looks at the impact of securitisation on countries with different priorities.
Behavioral Versus Drug Treatment for Overactive Bladder in Men: The Male Overactive Bladder Treatment in Veterans (MOTIVE) Trial
Authors: Burgio Kathryn L. , Goode Patricia S. , Johnson Theodore M. , Hammontree Lee , Ouslander Joseph G. , Markland Alayne D. , Colli Janet , Vaughan Camille P. , Redden David T.
Published: November 2011

Objectives

To compare the effectiveness of behavioral treatment with that of antimuscarinic therapy in men without bladder outlet obstruction who continue to have overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms with alpha‐blocker therapy.

Design

The Male Overactive Bladder Treatment in Veterans (MOTIVE) Trial was a two‐site randomized, controlled, equivalence trial with 4‐week alpha‐blocker run‐in.

Setting

Veterans Affairs Medical Center outpatient clinics.

Participants

Volunteer sample of 143 men aged 42 to 88 who continued to have urgency and more than eight voids per day, with or without incontinence, after run‐in.

Interventions

Participants were randomized to 8 weeks of behavioral treatment (pelvic floor muscle exercises, urge suppression techniques, delayed voiding) or drug therapy (individually titrated, extended‐release oxybutynin, 5–30 mg/d).

Measurements

Seven‐day bladder diaries and a validated urgency scale were used to calculate changes in 24‐hour voiding frequency, nocturia, urgency, and incontinence. Secondary outcomes were global patient ratings and American Urological Association Symptom Index.

Results

Mean voids per day decreased from 11.3 to 9.1 (−18.8%) with behavioral treatment and 11.5 to 9.5 (−16.9%) with drug therapy. Equivalence analysis indicated that posttreatment means were equivalent (P < .01). After treatment, 85% of participants rated themselves as much better or better; more than 90% were completely or somewhat satisfied, with no between‐group differences. The behavioral group showed greater reductions in nocturia (mean = −0.70 vs −0.32 episodes/night; P = .05). The drug group showed greater reductions in maximum urgency scores (mean = −0.44 vs −0.12; P = .02). Other between‐group differences were nonsignificant.

Conclusion

Behavioral and antimuscarinic therapy are effective when added to alpha‐blocker therapy for OAB in men without outlet obstruction. Behavioral treatment is at least as effective as antimuscarinic therapy.
Postoperative Opioid Consumption and Its Relationship to Cognitive Function in Older Adults with Hip Fracture
Authors: Sieber Frederick E. , Mears Simon , Lee Hochang , Gottschalk Allan
Published: November 2011

Objectives

To determine the relationship between opioid consumption and cognitive impairment after hip fracture repair.

Design

Prospective study of consecutive patients.

Setting

Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland.

Participants

Two hundred thirty‐six participants aged 65 and older undergoing hip fracture repair.

Measurements

Older adults without preoperative delirium who underwent hip fracture repair between April 2005 and July 2009 were followed for pain, opioid consumption, and postoperative delirium. Participants were tested for delirium using the Confusion Assessment Method preoperatively and midmorning on Postoperative Day 2. The nursing staff assessed pain on a numeric oral scale (range 0–10). Opioid analgesia was provided in response to pain at rest to achieve scores of 3 or less. Opioid consumption was analyzed with respect to the occurrence of incident postoperative delirium, presence of dementia, and other demographic variables.

Results

Of the 236 participants, 66 (28%) had dementia, and 213 (90%) received opioids postoperatively, including 55 (83%) with dementia and 158 (93%) without. There was no association between the use of any postoperative opioid and incident delirium (P = .61) in participants with (P = .33) and without (P = .40) dementia. Dementia, but not postoperative delirium, was associated with less opioid use (P < .001 for dementia; P = .12 for delirium; P = .04, for their interaction; Wald chi‐square = 142.8, df = 7). Opioid dose (P ≥ .59) on Postoperative Days 1 and 2 was not predictive of incident delirium. Dementia (P < .001) and intensive care unit admission (P = .006), not opioid consumption, were the most important predictors of incident postoperative delirium.

Conclusion

Concern for postoperative delirium should not prevent the use of opioid analgesic therapy sufficient to achieve a generally accepted level of comfort in individuals with or without preexisting cognitive impairment.
Associations Between Sleep Architecture and Sleep‐Disordered Breathing and Cognition in Older Community‐Dwelling Men: The Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Sleep Study
Authors: Blackwell Terri , Yaffe Kristine , Ancoli‐Israel Sonia , Redline Susan , Ensrud Kristine E. , Stefanick Marcia L. , Laffan Alison , Stone Katie L. ,   for the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study Group
Published: November 2011

Objectives

To examine the association between sleep architecture, sleep‐disordered breathing, and cognition in older men.

Design

Population‐based cross‐sectional study.

Setting

Six clinical sites in the United States.

Participants

Two thousand nine hundred nine community‐dwelling men aged 67 and older who were not selected on the basis of sleep problems or cognitive impairment.

Measurements

Predictors were measured using in‐home polysomnography: sleep architecture, nocturnal hypoxemia (any sleep time with arterial oxygen saturation <80%), apnea–hypopnea index (AHI), and arousal index. Cognitive outcomes were measured using the modified Mini‐Mental State Examination (3MS), Trail‐Making Test Part B (TMT‐B), and the Digit Vigilance Test (DVT).

Results

Analyses adjusted for age, race, education, body mass index, lifestyle, comorbidities, and medication use showed that participants who spent less percentage of time in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep had lower levels of cognition; participants in the lowest quartile (<14.8%) took an average of 5.9 seconds longer on the TMT‐B and 20.1 seconds longer on the DVT than those in the highest quartile (≥23.7%). Similarly, greater percentage of time spent in Stage 1 sleep was related to poorer cognitive function. Participants in the highest quartile of Stage 1 sleep (≥8.6%) had worse cognitive scores on average than those in the lowest quartile (<4.0%). Those with nocturnal hypoxemia took an average of 22.3 seconds longer to complete the DVT than those without, but no associations were found with 3MS or the TMT‐B.

Conclusion

Spending less percentage of time in REM sleep and greater percentage of time in Stage 1 sleep and having higher levels of nocturnal hypoxemia were associated with poorer cognition in older men. Further studies are needed to clarify the direction of these associations and to explore potential mechanisms.
Melatonin interferes in the desmoplastic reaction in breast cancer by regulating cytokine production
Authors: Alvarez‐García Virginia , González Alicia , Alonso‐González Carolina , Martínez‐Campa Carlos , Cos Samuel
Published: November 2011

Abstract:  Melatonin exerts oncostatic effects on breast cancer by interfering with the estrogen signaling pathways. Melatonin inhibits aromatase enzyme in breast cancer cells and fibroblasts. In addition, melatonin stimulates the adipogenic differentiation of fibroblasts. Our objective was to study whether melatonin interferes in the desmoplastic reaction by regulating some factors secreted by malignant cells, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, interleukin (IL)‐11, and interleukin (IL)‐6. To accomplish this, we co‐cultured 3T3‐L1 cells with MCF‐7 cells. The addition of breast cancer cells to the co‐cultures inhibited the differentiation of 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes to mature adipocytes, by reducing the intracytoplasmic triglyceride accumulation, an indicator of adipogenic differentiation, and also stimulated their aromatase activity. Melatonin counteracted the inhibitory effect on adipocyte differentiation and aromatase activity induced by MCF‐7 cells in 3T3‐L1 cells. The levels of cytokines in the co‐culture media were 10 times those found in culture of 3T3‐L1 cells alone. Melatonin decreased the concentrations of cytokines in the media and counteracted the stimulatory effect induced by MCF‐7 cells on the cytokine levels. One millimolar melatonin induced a reduction in TNF‐α, IL‐6, and IL‐11 mRNA expression in MCF‐7 and 3T3‐L1 cells. The findings suggest that melatonin may play a role in the desmoplastic reaction in breast cancer through a downregulatory action on the expression of antiadipogenic cytokines, which decrease the levels of these cytokines. Lower levels of cytokines stimulate the differentiation of fibroblasts and decrease both aromatase activity and expression, thereby reducing the number of estrogen‐producing cells proximal to malignant cells.
Effects of Low‐level Laser Therapy at Wavelengths of 660 and 808 nm in Experimental Model of Osteoarthritis
Authors: da Rosa Alessandra Schleder , dos Santos Aline Ferreira , da Silva Márcia Maria , Facco Gilberto Gonsalves , Perreira Daniel Martins , Alves Ana Carolina Araruna , Leal Junior Ernesto Cesar Pinto , de Carvalho Paulo de Tarso Camillo
Published: November 2011

The aim of the present study was to analyze the influence of low‐level laser radiation at wavelengths of 660 and 808 nm in an experimental model of osteoarthritis (OA). The sample was composed of 36 male adult Wistar rats divided into three groups (G1, G2 and G3). For the induction of cartilage injury, three injections of 4% papain and 10 μL of a cysteine solution were performed at right knee of the hind leg. Two weeks after the last injection, group G1 was treated with InGaAlP (660 nm, 100 mW, 3.57 W cm−2, 40 s) and G2 was treated with AsGaAl (808 nm, 100 mW, 3.57 W cm−2, 40 s) both with energy of 4 J. There were significant differences in the type of squamous epithelium between days 7 and 14 in G2 (P < 0.05) and on day 14 between G1 and G2 (P < 0.05). Moreover, statistically significant differences were found in the formation of new blood vessels between G1 and G3 on days 7 and 21 as well as between G2 and G3 on day 21. The formation of fibrotic tissue was greater in G3 (P < 0.05). In conclusion, laser therapy, especially at a wavelength of 808 nm, stimulated angiogenesis and reduced the formation of fibrosis in an experimental model of OA.
Assessing Research Participants’ Perceptions of their Clinical Research Experiences
Authors: Kost Rhonda G. , Lee Laura M. , Yessis Jennifer , Coller Barry S. , Henderson David K. ,   The Research Participant Perception Survey Focus Group Subcommittee
Published: November 2011

Introduction: Participants’ perceptions of their research experiences provide valuable measures of ethical treatment, yet no validated instruments exist to measure these experiences. We conducted focus groups of research participants and professionals as the initial step in developing a validated instrument.

Methods: Research participants enrolled in 12 focus groups, consisting of: (1) individuals with disorders undergoing interventions; (2) in natural history studies; or (3) healthy volunteers. Research professionals participated in six separate groups of: (1) institutional review board members, ethicists, and Research Subject Advocates; (2) research nurses/coordinators; or (3) investigators. Focus groups used standard methodologies.

Results: Eighty‐five participants and 29 professionals enrolled at eight academic centers. Altruism and personal relevance of the research were commonly identified motivators; financial compensation was less commonly mentioned. Participants were satisfied with informed consent processes but disappointed if not provided test results, or study outcomes. Positive relationships with research teams were valued highly. Research professionals were concerned about risks, undue influence, and informed consent.

Conclusions: Participants join studies for varied, complex reasons, notably altruism and personal relevance. They value staff relationships, health gains, new knowledge, and compensation, and expect professionalism and good organization. On the basis of these insights, we propose specific actions to enhance participant recruitment, retention, and satisfaction. Clin Trans Sci 2011; Volume 4: 403–413
Wide Gap Braze Repair of Gas Turbine Blades and Vanes—A Review
Authors: Huang Xiao , Miglietti Warren
Published: November 2011

Gas turbine blades and vanes in modern gas turbines are subjected to an extremely hostile environment. As such, sophisticated airfoil designs and advanced materials have been developed to meet stringent demands and at the same time, ensure increased performance. Despite the evolution of long-life airfoils, damage still occurs during service thus limiting the useful life of these components. Effective repair of after-service components provides life-cycle cost reduction of engines, and as well, contributes to the preservation of rare elements heavily used in modern superalloys. Among these methods developed in the last four decades for the refurbishment and joining of superalloy components, wide gap brazing (WGB) technology has been increasingly used in the field owing to its ability to repair difficult to weld alloys, to build up substantially damaged areas in one operation, and to provide unlimited compositional choices to enhance the properties of the repaired region. In this paper, the historical development of wide gap repair technology currently used in industry is reviewed. The microstructures and mechanical properties of different WGB joints are compared and discussed. Subsequently, different WGB processes employed at major OEMs are summarized. To conclude this review, future developments in WGB repair of newer generations of superalloys are explored.
Combined Cycle Off-Design Performance Estimation: A Second-Law Perspective
Authors: Can Gülen S. , Joseph J
Published: November 2011

A combined cycle power plant (or any power plant, for that matter) does very rarely—if ever—run at the exact design point ambient and loading conditions. Depending on the demand for electricity, market conditions, and other considerations of interest to the owner of the plant and the existing ambient conditions, a combined cycle plant will run under boundary conditions that are significantly different from those for which individual components are designed. Accurate calculation of the “off-design” performance of the overall combined cycle system and its key subsystems requires highly detailed and complicated computer models. Such models are crucial to high-fidelity simulation of myriad off-design performance scenarios for control system development to ensure safe and reliable operability in the field. A viable option in lieu of sophisticated system simulation is making use of the normalized curves that are generated from rigorous model runs and applying the factors read from such curves to a known design performance to calculate the off-design performance. This is the common method adopted in the fulfillment of commercial transactions. These curves; however, are highly system-specific and their broad applicability to a wide variety of configurations is limited. Utilizing the key principles of the second law of thermodynamics, this paper describes a simple, physics-based calculation method to estimate the off-design performance of a combined cycle power plant. The method is shown to be quite robust within a wide range of operating regimes for a generic combined cycle system. As such, a second-law-based approach to off-design performance estimation is a highly viable tool for plant engineers and operators in cases where calculation speed with a small sacrifice in fidelity is of prime importance.
Thermal Management of High Density Power Electronics Modules Using Dielectric Mineral Oil With Applications in the Electric Utility Field for Smart Grid Protection
Authors: Warzoha Ronald , Fleischer Amy S.
Published: November 2011

The thermal management of high density power electronics can be extremely challenging due to high power loads paired with small device footprints. When these power electronics are used in systems, which require extremely high reliability, the design of the thermal abatement system takes on increasing importance. In this study, the thermal response of a solid state fault current limiter is analyzed in steady-state and failure mode to develop a thermal solution which is both economical and reliable. The solid state fault current limiter is used in electric distribution systems to prevent a current surge from reaching sensitive equipment downstream of a power plant in the event of a disturbance on the line. A parametric study on several design variables including power loading, device spacing, and system flowrate is completed to give insight into the development of an optimal design. A coldplate design using dielectric mineral oil, which minimizes both system footprint and operating cost, is developed. This analysis and thermal management solution is applicable not only to this situation but also to the other high density power electronics applications.
Fin Effects in Flow Channels of Plate-Fin Compact Heat Exchanger Cores
Authors: Manglik R. M. , Huzayyin O. A. , Jog M. A.
Published: November 2011

The fin effects on laminar forced convection of air in the interfin passages of plate-fin heat exchangers are investigated. Steady state fully developed flows in rectangular, trapezoidal, and triangular plate-fin channels are considered. With H1 and T conditions at the partition plates, the conjugate conduction–convection fin problem is solved computationally. The fin effects on the convective Nusselt number are shown to scale by a new dimensionless parameter Ω, which accounts for the attendant fin material and size; its limits describe perfectly conducting and nonconducting fins. Ineffective fins and the consequent reduction in the convective heat transfer coefficient are most pronounced in low fin density cores with longer fins in low-conductivity metal (stainless steel). However, with increasing fin density and shorter fins, the convection performance is virtually the same as that with 100% fin efficiency; the same is the case when fins are made of very high conductivity metal (copper). These results provide design insights for optimizing the conjugate fin-conduction and fluid-flow convection performance in plate-fin compact heat exchangers.
SU‐C‐224‐03: Clinically Relevant Dose Determination Based on IMRT Delivery Measurements
Authors: Li J , Burman C , Chan M
Published: November 2011

Purpose: Recent studies have demonstrated that per‐beam, planar IMRT QA passing rates do not predict clinically relevant patient dose errors. This work is to evaluate the effect of dose variation induced by dynamic MLC at different gantry angles on clinically relevant metrics for IMRT delivery. Methods: Ten head and neck IMRT plans were randomly selected for this study. The conventional per‐beam IMRT QA using MapCHECK in an Isocentric Mount Fixture (IMF) was performed for each plan by 2 different Methods: (1) with gantry angle of 0 (gantry pointing downward) for all IMRT fields, (2) with gantry at specific angles as designed in the IMRT plan. For each patient, a batch analysis was done for each scenario and then imported to the 3DVH (Sun Nuclear Corp.) for processing. A “true DVH” was generated and compared to the DVH from the treatment plan. Their differences represented errors induced from the combination of treatment planning system (TPS) dose calculation algorithm and beam‐delivery. The dose metrics from the two scenarios were compared with the corresponding calculated doses from TPS, and then their differences were analyzed. Results: Although all per‐beam planar IMRT QA had high Gamma passing rates (92–100%) for “2%/3mm” criteria, there were significant errors in some of the calculated clinical dose metrics. For example, there were 5.5%,5.9%,7.6%,5.1%,9.8%,7.1%,6.9% in max cord dose, max brainstem dose, mean parotid dose, mean larynx dose, max retina dose, max chiasm dose, and mean PTV dose, respectively. The differences in errors for clinical metrics obtained between the two scenarios can also be significant: max cord dose (5.1% vs. 2.8%), Larynx mean dose (4.6% vs. 0.2%), mean parotid dose (7.4% vs. 2.9%), and PTV mean dose (4.8% vs. 3.1%). Conclusions: Per‐beam IMRT QA should be conducted at gantry angles as designed for the patient treatment in order to obtain true clinical dose metrics.