bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transfusion-related acute lung injury: incidence and risk factors
Authors: Toy Pearl , Gajic Ognjen , Bacchetti Peter , Looney Mark R. , Gropper Michael A. , Hubmayr Rolf , Lowell Clifford A. , Norris Philip J. , Murphy Edward L. , Weiskopf Richard B. , Wilson Gregory , Koenigsberg Monique , Lee Deanna , Schuller Randy , Wu Ping , Grimes Barbara , Gandhi Manish J. , Winters Jeffrey L. , Mair David , Hirschler Nora , Sanchez Rosen Rosa , Matthay Michael A. ,   for the TRALI Study Group
Published: November 2011

Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is the leading cause of transfusion-related mortality. To determine TRALI incidence by prospective, active surveillance and to identify risk factors by a case-control study, 2 academic medical centers enrolled 89 cases and 164 transfused controls. Recipient risk factors identified by multivariate analysis were higher IL-8 levels, liver surgery, chronic alcohol abuse, shock, higher peak airway pressure while being mechanically ventilated, current smoking, and positive fluid balance. Transfusion risk factors were receipt of plasma or whole blood from female donors (odds ratio = 4.5, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.85-11.2, P = .001), volume of HLA class II antibody with normalized background ratio more than 27.5 (OR = 1.92/100 mL, 95% CI, 1.08-3.4, P = .03), and volume of anti–human neutrophil antigen positive by granulocyte immunofluoresence test (OR = 1.71/100 mL, 95% CI, 1.18-2.5, P = .004). Little or no risk was associated with older red blood cell units, noncognate or weak cognate class II antibody, or class I antibody. Reduced transfusion of plasma from female donors was concurrent with reduced TRALI incidence: 2.57 (95% CI, 1.72-3.86) in 2006 versus 0.81 (95% CI, 0.44-1.49) in 2009 per 10 000 transfused units (P = .002). The identified risk factors provide potential targets for reducing residual TRALI.
Mesoporous nitrogen-doped TiO2 sphere applied for quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell
Authors: Xiang Peng , Li Xiong , Wang Heng , Liu Guanghui , Shu Ting , Zhou Ziming , Ku Zhiliang , Rong Yaoguang , Xu Mi , Liu Linfeng , Hu Min , Yang Ying , Chen Wei , Liu Tongfa , Zhang Meili , Han Hongwei
Published: November 2011

A mesoscopic nitrogen-doped TiO2 sphere has been developed for a quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell [DSSC]. Compared with the undoped TiO2 sphere, the quasi-solid-state DSSC based on the nitrogen-doped TiO2 sphere shows more excellent photovoltaic performance. The photoelectrochemistry of electrodes based on nitrogen-doped and undoped TiO2 spheres was characterized with Mott-Schottky analysis, intensity modulated photocurrent spectroscopy, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, which indicated that both the quasi-Fermi level and the charge transport of the photoelectrode were improved after being doped with nitrogen. As a result, a photoelectric conversion efficiency of 6.01% was obtained for the quasi-solid-state DSSC.
Mitosis-specific phosphorylation of amyloid precursor protein at Threonine 668 leads to its altered processing and association with centrosomes
Authors: Judge Monique , Hornbeck Lisa , Potter Huntington , Padmanabhan Jaya
Published: November 2011

Background

Atypical expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins has been implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the molecular mechanisms by which they induce neurodegeneration are not well understood. We examined transgenic mice expressing human amyloid precursor protein (APP) and presenilin 1 (PS1) for changes in cell cycle regulatory proteins to determine whether there is a correlation between cell cycle activation and pathology development in AD.

Results

Our studies in the AD transgenic mice show significantly higher levels of cyclin E, cyclin D1, E2F1, and P-cdc2 in the cells in the vicinity of the plaques where maximum levels of Threonine 668 (Thr668)-phosphorylated APP accumulation was observed. This suggests that the cell cycle regulatory proteins might be influencing plaque pathology by affecting APP phosphorylation. Using neuroglioma cells overexpressing APP we demonstrate that phosphorylation of APP at Thr668 is mitosis-specific. Cells undergoing mitosis show altered cellular distribution and localization of P-APP at the centrosomes. Also, Thr668 phosphorylation in mitosis correlates with increased processing of APP to generate Aβ and the C-terminal fragment of APP, which is prevented by pharmacological inhibitors of the G1/S transition.

Conclusions

The data presented here suggests that cell cycle-dependent phosphorylation of APP may affect its normal cellular function. For example, association of P-APP with the centrosome may affect spindle assembly and cell cycle progression, further contributing to the development of pathology in AD. The experiments with G1/S inhibitors suggest that cell cycle inhibition may impede the development of Alzheimer's pathology by suppressing modification of βAPP, and thus may represent a novel approach to AD treatment. Finally, the cell cycle regulated phosphorylation and processing of APP into Aβ and the C-terminal fragment suggest that these proteins may have a normal function during mitosis.
Subtype differentiation of small renal cell carcinomas on three-phase MDCT: usefulness of the measurement of degree and heterogeneity of enhancement
Authors: Jung Seung Chai , Cho Jeong Yeon , Kim Seung Hyup
Published: November 2011

Background

Subtype differentiation of small renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) can provide more information to surgeons and patients and get more useful information about imaging features of small renal tumors.

Purpose

To evaluate the usefulness of the measurement of degree and heterogeneity of enhancement in subtype differentiation of small renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) by three-phase multidetector-row CT (MDCT).

Material and Methods

We reviewed 149 pathologically confirmed small (<4cm) RCCs in 143 patients: 114 (clear cell), 17 (chromophobe), and 18 papillary (8 papillary type 1 and 10 papillary type 2). Scans in pre-contrast, corticomedullary, and nephrographic phases were obtained. We assessed the mean and standard deviation of the Hounsfield units (HU) in a region of interest (ROI) for the degree of enhancement and the heterogeneity of enhancement, respectively. We compared the attenuation values, and the degree and heterogeneity of enhancement among the subtypes.

Results

The clear cell type showed the highest enhancement and heterogeneity of enhancement followed by chromophobe and papillary types. There was a significant difference in enhancement between the clear cell and papillary types in the corticomedullary phase ( P < 0.01), and between clear and non-clear cell types in the nephrographic phase ( P < 0.05). Heterogeneity of enhancement showed a significant difference between clear cell and non-clear cell types in the corticomedullary phase ( P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The measurement of degree and heterogeneity of enhancement on contrast-enhanced MDCT may be a simple and useful method to differentiate between the different types of small RCCs.
Left intraventricular diastolic and systolic pressure gradients
Authors: Guerra Miguel , Sampaio Francisco , Brás-Silva Cármen , Leite-Moreira Adelino F
Published: November 2011

To describe left ventricular (LV) function comprehensively, it is crucial to characterize precisely transmitral, intraventricular and transaortic pressure–flow relations. The site of measurement is important; as the measurement location is moved from the mitral valve toward the apex and the outflow tract, important regional pressure differences are recorded inside the LV. These intraventricular pressure gradients (IVPGs) play an important role in ventricular filling in the normal heart and may be abolished by systolic or diastolic dysfunction. Despite their apparent importance in ventricular filling and diastolic function, IVPGs have never been utilized in clinical cardiology, due to the complexity of their acquisition. The application of Doppler echocardiography allows the reconstruction of diastolic IVPGs completely non-invasively, thus avoiding the risk and expense of a cardiac catheterization. Regional pressure gradients are also present during ventricular emptying but their correlation with systolic function is not so clear. The current minireview highlights theories and experimental data on invasive and non-invasive assessment of diastolic and systolic IVPGs and their role in LV filling and emptying. We also review the pathophysiological modulation of regional gradients, their importance in understanding and evaluating the complex phenomena underlying ventricular filling, as well as their potential clinical application.
Arcabouço conceitual do letramento informacional
Authors: Gasque Kelley Cristine Gonçalves Dias
Published: November 2011

Discute os conceitos relacionados ao letramento informacional, visando a propiciar um arcabouço conceitual mais objetivo e rigoroso mediante o desenvolvimento das representações mentais que integram esse processo, bem como as consequentes relações intrínsecas aos diversos sistemas conceituais com ele identificados. Tal empreendimento é importante para se pensar a partir do mesmo referencial de ideias. É proposta uma concepção de 'letramento informacional' com ênfase na aprendizagem, como processo de construção do conhecimento que pode contribuir para a sustentabilidade da vida e a solidariedade humana na sociedade contemporânea.
Perfil cognitivo, déficits motores e influência dos facilitadores para reabilitação de crianças com disfunções neurológicas
Authors: Andrade Peterson Marco O. , Oliveira Ferreira Fernanda de , Vasconcelos Alina Gomide , Paula Lima Eduardo de , Haase Vitor Geraldi
Published: November 2011

OBJETIVO: Investigar se crianças e adolescentes saudáveis e com doenças neurológicas podem ser reunidas em grupos distintos e homogêneos, usando como critérios o desempenho cognitivo, o funcionamento motor e as percepções dos pais quanto aos facilitadores para a reabilitação. MÉTODOS: Participaram deste estudo 15 crianças saudáveis (C) e 43 pacientes (28 com paralisia cerebral e 15 com acidente vascular cerebral), entre cinco e 18 anos. Foi aplicado aos pais o instrumento denominado Avaliação dos Fatores Ambientais relacionados à Reabilitação Neurológica Infantil (AFARNI). O comprometimento cognitivo foi avaliado por meio do Mini-Exame do Estado Mental, adaptado para essa faixa etária, e o comprometimento motor foi investigado por avaliação clínica. Para comparar os resultados, foi realizada uma análise de conglomerados e ANOVA. RESULTADOS: A análise de conglomerados identificou quatro grupos de pacientes com características clínicas e sociodemográficas distintas, confirmados pela ANOVA (p<0,001). Houve dissociação entre os grupos com relação ao comprometimento cognitivo e motor. Os pais de crianças com maior comprometimento avaliaram de forma mais positiva os facilitadores para a reabilitação. CONCLUSÕES: A qualificação dos facilitadores para a reabilitação por meio da AFARNI e a avaliação cognitiva com auxílio do Mini-Exame do Estado Mental podem contribuir para identificar as necessidades de suporte para crianças com deficiências neurológicas que apresentam comprometimento cognitivo e motor.
Sistemática multicritério para priorização de embarques marítimos
Authors: Bandeira Denise Lindstrom , Becker João Luiz , Rocha Amanda Kruse
Published: November 2011

O objetivo do artigo é apresentar o processo de decisão em grupo realizado junto a executivos de uma agência marítima com operação no Sul do Brasil, no qual a técnica Processo de Análise Hierárquica (AHP) foi utilizada como suporte. A decisão envolveu a priorização de confirmações de reservas de embarque de cargas de exportação em um determinado instante, em situação de escassez - falta de contêineres vazios ou espaços nos navios disponíveis. O contexto do estudo foi o porto de Rio Grande, no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. A escolha da organização e do porto foi feita por conveniência. Utilizou-se a metodologia de resolução de problemas da pesquisa operacional (formulação do problema, construção do modelo, solução do modelo, teste do modelo e avaliação da solução e avaliação final) para gerar um modelo matemático para auxiliar os decisores na priorização de reservas de embarque de cargas. Dados secundários foram coletados da empresa estudada. Foram feitas reuniões para geração do modelo com a equipe comercial da empresa, composta por quatro funcionários e um gerente. O método mostrou-se apropriado para expandir a mente dos decisores, ao oportunizar a incorporação no processo decisório de outros fatores, além da visão meramente financeira, considerando fatores gerenciais e organizacionais. A validação do processo pelo grupo de executivos incluiu uma apreciação da qualidade da decisão tomada. Os executivos envolvidos foram unânimes ao afirmarem sua satisfação com os resultados obtidos a partir da utilização da técnica.
Downscaling species occupancy from coarse spatial scales
Authors: Azaele Sandro , Cornell Stephen J. , Kunin William E.
Published: November 2011

The measurement and prediction of species' populations at different spatial scales is crucial to spatial ecology as well as conservation biology. An efficient yet challenging goal to achieve such population estimates consists of recording empirical species' presence and absence at a specific regional scale and then trying to predict occupancies at finer scales. So far the majority of the methods have been based on particular species' distributional features deemed to be crucial for downscaling occupancy. However, only a minority of them have dealt explicitly with specific spatial features. Here we employ a wide class of spatial point processes, the shot noise Cox processes (SNCP), to model species occupancies at different spatial scales and show that species' spatial aggregation is crucial for predicting population estimates at fine scales starting from coarser ones. These models are formulated in continuous space and locate points regardless of the arbitrary resolution that one employs to study the spatial pattern. We compare the performances of nine models, calibrated at regional scales and demonstrate that a very simple class of SNCP, the Thomas process, is able to outperform other published models in predicting occupancies down to areas four orders of magnitude smaller than the ones employed for the parameterization. We conclude by explaining the ability of the approach to infer spatially explicit information from spatially implicit measures, the potential of the framework to combine niche and spatial models, and the possibility of reversing the method to allow upscaling.
Cigarette Smoke Extract Induces Select Matrix Metalloproteinases and Integrin Expression in Periodontal Ligament Fibroblasts
Authors: Bulmanski Zachary , Brady Matthew , Stoute Diana , Lallier Thomas E.
Published: November 2011

Background: The periodontal ligament (PDL) is the connective tissue that anchors the cementum of the teeth to the alveolar bone. PDL fibroblasts are responsible for the production of collagen and remodeling of the PDL. Periodontal disease is increased among smokers in both incidence and severity. This study examines the direct effect of smoking on PDL fibroblasts and their production of various matrix components and remodeling enzymes.

Methods: PDL cells were plated for 1 day and then treated with various concentrations of cigarette smoke extract (CSE). Survival of PDL cells was quantified after exposure to CSE, and their ability to contract three‐dimensional collagen gels was examined. Changes in transcript expression after CSE treatment was compared using reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction analysis for matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), collagens, and integrins.

Results: Treatment with CSE‐induced cell death at concentrations of ≥5%. PDL‐cell‐induced collagen gel contraction was reduced at concentrations of 1.5% CSE. Treatment with CSE selectively increased the expression of collagen Vα3 and decreased collagen XIα1. CSE increased the expression of MMP1 and MMP3 and, to a lesser extent, MMP2 and MMP8. CSE also increased the expression of integrins α1, α2, and α10 (collagen receptors) and α9 (a tenascin receptor).

Conclusions: This study shows that cigarette smoking has local effects on the cells of the PDL. CSE reduced survival of PDL cells and their ability to contract collagen matrices. CSE also altered the expression of molecules known to provide the structural integrity of the ligament by altering collagen synthesis and remodeling as well as cell adhesion.
Bridging sanitation engineering and planning: theory and practice in Burkina Faso
Authors: McConville Jennifer , Kain Jaan-Henrik , Kvarnström Elisabeth , Renman Gunno
Published: November 2011

The global challenge of providing sanitation services to the un-served underlines a need to change the way in which sanitation planning and service provision is approached. This paper offers a framework for categorizing sanitation projects planning processes based on planning steps and procedural planning theory to help engineers and sanitation planners gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics of these processes. The analysis identifies and discusses trends in both guidelines and actual sanitation programs. The results show that contemporary sanitation planning guidelines and field projects utilize patchwork processes of different planning modes, although the step of designing options is dominated by an expert-driven, rational-comprehensive approach. The use of planning theory can help engineers to ask critical questions about the objectives of the planning process and to develop context-appropriate planning processes that will make a difference for improving sanitation service provision.
The Impact of e‐Government Promotion in Europe: Internet Dependence and Critical Mass
Authors: Fernández‐i‐Marín Xavier
Published: November 2011

Governments and public bodies have been fostering the development of e‐Government services during the last decade, promoting more and better administrative services through digital channels. The impact of this process, however, has not been fully assessed. This article investigates the relative impact of two key factors on the diffusion of e‐Government services; the level of Internet penetration and investment by governments in more and better government services. The aim is to analyze across European countries the impact of e‐Government policies on their adoption, under different levels of Internet penetration, enabling an assessment of how promotion of e‐Government (through investment in more and better services, for example) can have the maximum impact on citizenship adoption. It reports analysis of a cross‐sectional dataset of European countries using a Bayesian linear model. Results show that when Internet users are scarce, policies to foster e‐Government adoption will have little ‐ although not negligible ‐ impact. But at a certain level of Internet penetration, focused e‐Government policies have a substantial impact on citizens' adoption of the technology. The results also highlight the importance of investing in e‐Government in the appropriate moment, that is, when its impact can be greatest. The paper, then, addresses the factors that make eGovernment policy more effective. The Bayesian inference used allows the research to avoid artificial assumptions common in comparative politics research, to design more flexible models and to present the results in a more natural way.
A Platform for Individualized Campaigning? Social Media and Parliamentary Candidates in the 2009 Norwegian Election Campaign
Authors: Karlsen Rune
Published: November 2011

It is often argued that new technology will increase centralization of political parties but Internet‐based technologies, especially the social media, provide individual candidates with opportunities to run campaigns more independently of the central party. This article argues that the effect of new technology depends on the contextual characteristics of the campaign, most importantly the nomination process and the electoral system. It investigates the effect of online social media on individual candidate campaigning through a study of parliamentary candidates' use of social media in the 2009 Norwegian election campaign, a campaign environment with few incentives for candidates to undertake individualized campaigning, using the 2009 Norwegian Candidate Study. Findings reveal that online social media are much appreciated by candidates and are used to a great extent. The technological effect on individual campaigning appears small as candidates who consider social media important do not focus on their own candidacy to a greater extent than other candidates. However, candidates with an individualized candidate focus are more inclined to use Facebook and consider social media important for their campaign communication. Consequently, although social media in the short run are not likely to increase individualized campaigning as such, candidates with a candidate focus have been offered a new channel for self‐promotion.
Profile-Likelihood Approach for Estimating Generalized Linear Mixed Models With Factor Structures
Authors: Jeon Minjeong , Rabe-Hesketh Sophia
Published: November 2011

In this article, the authors suggest a profile-likelihood approach for estimating complex models by maximum likelihood (ML) using standard software and minimal programming. The method works whenever setting some of the parameters of the model to known constants turns the model into a standard model. An important class of models that can be estimated this way is generalized linear mixed models with factor structures. Such models are useful in educational research, for example, for estimation of value-added teacher or school effects with persistence parameters and for analysis of large-scale assessment data using multilevel item response models with discrimination parameters. The authors describe the profile-likelihood approach, implement it in the R software, and apply the method to longitudinal data and binary item response data. Simulation studies and comparison with gllamm show that the profile-likelihood method performs well in both types of applications. The authors also briefly discuss other types of models that can be estimated using the profile-likelihood idea.
Optimization of Aeration Technique for the Reduction of Impurities (Corrosive Gases) from Biogas
Authors: Sujan SMA , Bashar MS , Rahaman M , Haque MN , Miah MY , Jamal MS , Banik SK
Published: November 2011

Biogas, produced from organic waste through anaerobic digestion (AD), is mainly composed of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) with smaller amount of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and nitrogen (N2). Trace amount of some other gases are occasionally present in biogas. For electricity generation from biogas, reduction of H2S is necessary because it is toxic and corrosive to most of the equipments. Reduction of Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) from poultry based biogas (normally it contents 1500~2500 ppm) can be done by dosing air/oxygen to the main digester during the digestion process. Two methods of air injection technique have been followed for optimization of the process. Firstly two hour interval air injection and secondly air injection based on percentage of hourly gas production. The optimum air percentage to minimize H2S should be at least 3.00%. After aeration H2S level comes to the desired level (<50ppm) within 1.5-2.0 hours and remains constant up to 7-9 hours and biogas can be used for effective power generation. A complete aeration system has been developed which is simple and cost effective for H2S reduction to the desired level from poultry based biogas plant. This system can be applied for any size of poultry based biogas plant for effective power generation. Key words: Anaerobic digestion; Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S); Aeration; Biogas digester; Power generation DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjsir.v46i3.9040 BJSIR 2011; 46(3): 339-342
The Impact of Carsharing on Public Transit and Non-Motorized Travel: An Exploration of North American Carsharing Survey Data
Authors: Martin Elliot , Shaheen Susan
Published: November 2011

By July 2011, North American carsharing had grown to an industry of nearly 640,000 members since its inception on the continent more than 15 years ago. Carsharing engenders changes in member travel patterns both towards and away from public transit and non-motorized modes. This study, which builds on the work of two previous studies, evaluates this shift in travel based on a 6281 respondent survey completed in late-2008 by members of major North American carsharing organizations. Across the entire sample, the results showed an overall decline in public transit use that was statistically significant, as 589 carsharing members reduced rail use and 828 reduced bus use, while 494 increased rail use and 732 increased bus use. Thus for every five members that use rail less, four members use rail more, and for every 10 members that ride a bus less, almost nine members ride the bus more. The people increasing and decreasing their transit use are fundamentally different in terms of how carsharing impacts their travel environment. This reduction, however, is also not uniform across all organizations; it is primarily driven by a minority (three of eleven) of participating organizations. At the same time, members exhibited a statistically significant increase in travel by walking, bicycling, and carpooling. Across the sample, 756 members increased walking versus a 568 decrease, 628 increased bicycling versus a 235 decrease, and 289 increased carpooling versus a decrease of 99 study participants. The authors found that 970 members reduced their auto commuting to work, while 234 increased it. Interestingly, when these shifts are combined across modes, more people increased their overall public transit and non-motorized modal use after joining carsharing than decreased it. Data collected on the commute distance of respondents found that carsharing members tend to have shorter commutes than most people living in the same zip code. The analysis also evaluates the distribution of residential population density of members and its association with average changes in driving. The analysis finds that average driving reductions are consistent across population densities up to 10,000 persons/square kilometer but become more varied at higher densities.
Serological Thymidine Kinase 1 is a Biomarker for Early Detection of Tumours—A Health Screening Study on 35,365 People, Using a Sensitive Chemiluminescent Dot Blot Assay
Authors: Chen Zhi Heng , Huang Shou Qing , Wang Yande , Yang Ai Zhen , Wen Jian , Xu Xiao Hong , Chen Yan , Chen Qu Bo , Wang Ying Hong , He Ellen , Zhou Ji , Skog Sven
Published: November 2011

Serological thymidine kinase 1 (STK1) is a reliable proliferation marker for prognosis, monitoring tumour therapy, and relapse. Here we investigated the use of STK1 in health screening for early detection of pre-malignant and malignant diseases. The investigation was based on 35,365 participants in four independent health screening studies in China between 2005–2011. All participants were clinically examined. The concentration of STK1 was determined by a sensitive chemiluminescent dot blot ECL assay. The ROCvalue of the STK1 assay was 0.96. At a cut-off STK1 value of 2.0 pM, the likelihood (+) value was 236.5, and the sensitivity and the specificity were 0.78 and 0.99, respectively. The relative number of city-dwelling people with elevated STK1 values (≥2.0 pM) was 0.8% (198/26,484), while the corresponding value for the group of oil-field workers was 5.8% (514/8,355). The latter group expressed significantly higher frequency of refractory anaemia, fatty liver, and obesity, compared to the city dwellers, but no cases of breast hyperplasia or prostate hyperplasia. Furthermore, people working in oil drilling/oil transportation showed higher STK1 values and higher frequency of pre-malignancies and benign diseases than people working in the oil-field administration. In the STK1 elevated group of the city-dwelling people, a statistically significantly higher number of people were found to have malignancies, pre-malignancies of all types, moderate/severe type of hyperplasia of breast or prostate, or refractory anaemia, or to be at high risk for hepatitis B, compared to people with normal STK1 values (< 2.0 pM). No malignancies were found in the normal STK1 group. In the elevated STK1 group 85.4% showed diseases linked to a higher risk for pre-/early cancerous progression, compared to 52.4% of those with normal STK1 values. Among participants with elevated STK1 values, 8.8% developed new malignancies or progress in their pre-malignancies within 5 to 72 months, compared to 0.2% among people with normal STK1 values. People who showed elevated STK1 values were at about three to five times higher risk to develop malignancies compared to a calculated risk based on a cancer incidence rate of 0.2–0.3%. We conclude that serological TK1 protein concentration is a reliable marker for risk assessment of pre/early cancerous progression.
Magnetic Field Measurements Based on Terfenol Coated Photonic Crystal Fibers
Authors: Quintero Sully M. M. , Martelli Cicero , Braga Arthur M. B. , Valente Luiz C. G. , Kato Carla C.
Published: November 2011

A magnetic field sensor based on the integration of a high birefringence photonic crystal fiber and a composite material made of Terfenol particles and an epoxy resin is proposed. An in-fiber modal interferometer is assembled by evenly exciting both eigenemodes of the HiBi fiber. Changes in the cavity length as well as the effective refractive index are induced by exposing the sensor head to magnetic fields. The magnetic field sensor has a sensitivity of 0.006 (nm/mT) over a range from 0 to 300 mT with a resolution about ±1 mT. A fiber Bragg grating magnetic field sensor is also fabricated and employed to characterize the response of Terfenol composite to the magnetic field.
High Throughput Method to Quantify Anterior-Posterior Polarity of T-Cells and Epithelial Cells
Authors: Irvin-Wilson Charletha V. , Newberg Justin Y. , Kong Kathleen , Javier Ronald T. , Marriott Susan J.
Published: November 2011

The virologic synapse (VS), which is formed between a virus-infected and uninfected cell, plays a central role in the transmission of certain viruses, such as HIV and HTLV-1. During VS formation, HTLV-1-infected T-cells polarize cellular and viral proteins toward the uninfected T-cell. This polarization resembles anterior-posterior cell polarity induced by immunological synapse (IS) formation, which is more extensively characterized than VS formation and occurs when a T-cell interacts with an antigen-presenting cell. One measure of cell polarity induced by both IS or VS formation is the repositioning of the microtubule organizing center (MTOC) relative to the contact point with the interacting cell. Here we describe an automated, high throughput system to score repositioning of the MTOC and thereby cell polarity establishment. The method rapidly and accurately calculates the angle between the MTOC and the IS for thousands of cells. We also show that the system can be adapted to score anterior-posterior polarity establishment of epithelial cells. This general approach represents a significant advancement over manual cell polarity scoring, which is subject to experimenter bias and requires more time and effort to evaluate large numbers of cells.
Evaluation of Soil Sensitivity towards the Irrigation with Treated Wastewater in the Jordan River Region
Authors: Schacht Karsten , Gönster Sven , Jüschke Elisabeth , Chen Yona , Tarchitzky Jorge , Al-Bakri Jawad , Al-Karablieh Emad , Marschner Bernd
Published: November 2011

An assessment of soil sensitivity was carried out regarding the soil suitability for wastewater reuse. This was done based on digital soil maps joined with spatial data on soil properties using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Six major risks of primarily agricultural significance were defined in close collaboration with regional experts. The changes in particular soil and groundwater properties as a result of irrigation with low water quality were evaluated and discussed. Based on the local soil parameters, the specific sensitivity and suitability grades were assessed for the respective soil unit concerning irrigation with treated wastewater (TWW) using standard and specially developed methods. In conclusion, with regard to soil suitability criteria, sensitivity and suitability maps, including the aggregated total sensitivity, were presented for supporting sustainable irrigation practices.
Le plan Alzheimer 2008-2012
Authors: Lustman Florence
Published: November 2011

Résumé Notre pays connaît une augmentation importante de l’espérance de vie qui s’accompagne du développement des maladies liées au vieillissement, comme la maladie d’Alzheimer qui se caractérise par la perte progressive de la mémoire et des fonctions cognitives et s’accompagne de troubles du comportement. Plus de 800 000 personnes seraient touchées par la maladie d’Alzheimer ou une maladie apparentée en France ; 550 000 étaient suivies médicalement fin 2009, dont 350 000 au titre de l’affection longue durée. Au-delà des malades eux-mêmes, les aidants familiaux et l’entourage sont souvent les secondes victimes. Face à cet enjeu de société, le président de la République a présenté le 1 er  février 2008 le plan Alzheimer 2008-2012 qui traduit un engagement politique fort, tant envers les malades que leurs proches. Son objectif : construire un parcours personnalisé pour chaque malade, depuis le diagnostic jusqu’à la prise en charge à domicile et le cas échéant en établissement.
Interprétation(s) des verbes anticausatifs en grec et en français : liens entre fréquence et données empiriques
Authors: Fotiadou Georgia , Vassiliadou Hélène
Published: November 2011

Résumé Dans une perspective contrastive grec-français, nous examinons le phénomène de l’interprétation anticausative en lien avec la morphologie verbale et la nature du sujet syntaxique [± animé]. Notre but est de confronter ces deux facteurs au rôle de la fréquence de la lecture anticausative dans différents corpus. L’étude de la fréquence sera également associée à une expérience psycholinguistique dite de compréhension .
Le rôle de l'usage sur le développement des constructions nominales chez les enfants pré-lecteurs
Authors: Nardy Aurélie , Dugua Céline
Published: November 2011

Résumé Le développement des constructions nominales en contexte de liaison catégorique chez l’enfant pré-lecteur a fait l’objet d’une modélisation dans le cadre des théories basées sur l’usage (Chevrot et al. , 2009). Dans cet article, nous examinerons le développement de la liaison variable, marqueur sociolinguistique du français, dont la fréquence de réalisation, chez l’adulte, est notamment liée à l’origine sociale. Cent quatre-vingt cinq enfants, issus de milieux sociaux contrastés (des enfants de cadres et des enfants d’ouvriers) et âgés de 2 à 6 ans, ont passé une tâche expérimentale de dénomination d’images induisant la production de liaisons variables dans le contexte « adjectif + nom ». Nos résultats montrent que les différences sociales se créent progressivement au cours du développement et qu’à 5-6 ans, la stratification sociale des usages de la liaison variable, relevée chez l’adulte, est en place dans les productions enfantines. En accord avec les principes défendus par les théories basées sur l’usage, nous généraliserons le modèle développemental de l’acquisition des constructions nominales en contexte de liaison catégorique à celui de la liaison variable.
Naissance et mort d'un mythe romanesque
Authors: Gugelot Frédéric
Published: November 2011

Résumé Entre 1950 et 1955, des romanciers catholiques promeuvent une nouvelle figure héroïque, le prêtre-ouvrier, qui incarne l’effervescence apostolique et théologique du catholicisme dans une France devenue pays de mission. La messe improvisée sur une table de cuisine y symbolise le nouvel idéal sacerdotal de présence au monde selon le modèle évangélique. Pour obtenir la reconnaissance littéraire, les romans passent outre une pure exigence apostolique, dont la légitimité dépend de l’institution ecclésiale et traduisent l’aspiration à un renouveau du catholicisme au sortir de la guerre. Le mélange de fiction et de réel, qui donne l’illusion qu’elles sont des histoires vraies racontées comme des romans, fonde leur succès public. La floraison de titres s’appuie sur de multiples manifestes apostoliques et d’enquêtes qui révèlent un monde de misère sans Dieu aux portes des grandes villes.
L'éléphant français libre
Authors: Simonin Anne
Published: November 2011

Résumé L’émission hebdomadaire consacrée aux aventures de Babar sur la BBC entre juillet 1941 et mai 1944 ne semble pas avoir laissé de traces dans la mémoire collective. Or cette émission, destinée aux enfants de France, est bien autre chose qu’un divertissement quand on la met en lien avec le livre pour lequel Romain Gary obtint le prix Goncourt en 1956, Les Racines du ciel. Quel est le point commun entre Babar et Les Racines du ciel ? L’éléphant. Sous les traits d’une des plus célèbres figures de la littérature enfantine, Babar, ou en tant que représentant des droits de l’Homme sous la plume de Gary, l’éléphant incarne cette dimension essentielle quand il s’agit de la France idéale : la grandeur. C’est l’éléphant qui assure la présence au monde de la grandeur de la France incarnée temporairement dans la France libre, et qui légitime la Résistance chaque fois que les droits de l’Homme sont bafoués, par les nazis sous l’Occupation, par une interprétation abusive de la loi au Tchad, dans les années 1950.
Peptides Regulate Cortical Thymocytes Differentiation, Proliferation, and Apoptosis
Authors: Khavinson V. Kh. , Polyakova V. O. , Linkova N. S. , Dudkov A. V. , Kvetnoy I. M.
Published: November 2011

The processes of differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis were studied in a cell culture of human cortical thymocytes under the influence of short peptides T-32 (Glu-Asp-Ala) and T-38 (Lys-Glu-Asp). Peptides T-32 and T-38 amplified cortical thymocytes differentiation towards regulatory T cells, increased their proliferative activity, and decreased the level of apoptosis. Moreover, peptides under study stimulated proliferative and antiapoptotic activity of the mature regulatory T cells.
Checklist of Health Promotion Environments at Worksites (CHEW): Development and Measurement Characteristics
Authors: Oldenburg Brian , Sallis James F. , Harris David , Owen Neville
Published: November 2011

Purpose.

Health promotion policy frameworks, recent theorizing, and research all emphasize understanding and mobilizing environmental influences to change particular health-related behaviors in specific settings. The workplace is a key environmental setting. The Checklist of Health Promotion Environments at Worksites (CHEW) was designed as a direct observation instrument to assess characteristics of worksite environments that are known to influence health-related behaviors.

Methods.

The CHEW is a 112-item checklist of workplace environmental features hypothesized to be associated, both positively and negatively, with physical activity, healthy eating, alcohol consumption, and smoking. The three environmental domains assessed are (1) physical characteristics of the worksite, (2) features of the information environment, and (3) characteristics of the immediate neighborhood around the workplace. The conceptual rationale and development studies for the CHEW are described, and data from observational studies of 20 worksites are reported.

Results.

The data on CHEW-derived environmental attributes showed generally good reliability and identified meaningful sets of variables that plausibly may influence health-related behaviors. With the exception of one information environment attribute, intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.80 to 1.00. Descriptive statistics on selected physical and information environment characteristics indicated that vending machines, showers, bulletin boards, and signs prohibiting smoking were common across worksites. Bicycle racks, visible stairways, and signs related to alcohol consumption, nutrition, and health promotion were relatively uncommon.

Conclusions.

These findings illustrate the types of data on environmental attributes that can be derived, their relevance for program planning, and how they can characterize variability across worksites. The CHEW is a promising observational measure that has the potential to assess environmental influences on health behaviors and to evaluate workplace health promotion programs.
Aging induced changes on NEXAFS fingerprints in individual combustion particles
Authors: Zelenay V. , Mooser R. , Tritscher T. , Křepelová A. , Heringa M. F. , Chirico R. , Prévôt A. S. H. , Weingartner E. , Baltensperger U. , Dommen J. , Watts B. , Raabe J. , Huthwelker T. , Ammann M.
Published: November 2011

Abstract. Soot particles can significantly influence the Earth's climate by absorbing and scattering solar radiation as well as by acting as cloud condensation nuclei. However, despite their environmental (as well as economic and political) importance, the way these properties are affected by atmospheric processing of the combustion exhaust gases is still a subject of discussion. In this work, individual soot particles emitted from two different vehicles, a EURO 2 transporter, a EURO 3 passenger car, and a wood stove were investigated on a single-particle basis. The emitted exhaust, including the particulate and the gas phase, was processed in a smog chamber with artificial solar radiation. Single particle specimens of both unprocessed and aged soot were characterized using near edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (NEXAFS) and scanning electron microscopy. Comparison of NEXAFS spectra from the unprocessed particles and those resulting from exhaust photooxidation in the chamber revealed changes in the carbon functional group content. For the wood stove emissions, these changes were minor, related to the relatively mild oxidation conditions. For the EURO 2 transporter emissions, the most apparent change was that of carboxylic carbon from oxidized organic compounds condensing on the primary soot particles. For the EURO 3 car emissions oxidation of primary soot particles upon photochemical aging has likely contributed as well. Overall, the changes in the NEXAFS fingerprints were in qualitative agreement with data from an aerosol mass spectrometer. Furthermore, by taking full advantage of our in situ microreactor concept, we show that the soot particles from all three combustion sources changed their ability to take up water under humid conditions upon photochemical aging of the exhaust. Due to the selectivity and sensitivity of the NEXAFS technique for the water mass, also small amounts of water taken up into the internal voids of agglomerated particles could be detected. Because such small amounts of water uptake do not lead to measurable changes in particle diameter, it may remain beyond the limits of volume growth measurements, especially for larger agglomerated particles.
Atypical Pseudotumour after Metal-On-Polyethylene Total Hip Arthroplasty Causing Deep Venous Thrombosis
Authors: Picardo Natasha E. , Al-Khateeb Hesham , Pollock Rob C.
Published: November 2011

We describe a patient who developed a mass extending into the pelvis, five years after a metal-on-polyethylene total hip arthroplasty (THA). The histological pattern of perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate and fibrinoid necrosis was more in keeping with a metal-on-metal bearing failure. The pseudotumour compressed the femoral vein causing a deep venous thrombosis.
Fluid Extravasation during Hip Arthroscopy
Authors: Stafford Giles H. , Malviya Ajay , Villar Richard N.
Published: November 2011

The amount of fluid that may be lost into the soft tissues during hip arthroscopic surgery is unknown. We measured the volumes of irrigation fluid infused, operating time, fluid pressures and volumes of fluid recovered in 36 therapeutic hip arthroscopies. We excluded those where fluid was lost to the floor, leaving 28 patients. The majority were undergoing surgery for the treatment of femoroacetabular impingement. In 5 patients an intra-articular contrast medium was instilled, in order to establish the likely location of any extravasated fluid.

The mean operating time was 68 minutes (31 to 120), and the mean infusion pressure was 46 mm Hg (30 to 70). The mean volume of infused fluid was 9677 ml (95% confidence interval (CI) 7715 to 11638) and the mean volume of fluid recovered was 8544 ml (95% CI 6715 to 10373). The mean fluid extravasation loss into the peri-articular tissues was 1132 ml (95% CI 808 ml to 1456 ml). There was a significant correlation between the volume of extravasated fluid and both the length of operation and the volume of infused fluid used. We had no adverse events in our series.

During arthroscopic hip surgery more than a litre of irrigation fluid may be extravasated into the soft tissues. In order to reduce problems related to this we attempt to keep operating times low, and maintain intra-operative fluid pressures as low as possible.
Global Increase in the Consumption of Lignocellulosic Biomass as Energy Source: Necessity for Sustained Optimisation of Agroforestry Technologies
Authors: Erakhrumen Andrew Agbontalor
Published: November 2011

Wood and other nonwood lignocellulosic materials are renewable natural resources useful for different applications based on end users' preference. Their use for generating energy, an application that has not been outmoded, has been noted to be increasing worldwide owing to multifarious reasons. Therefore, there has been the need for studies with results targeted at sustainable ways by which they can be sourced for this and other purposes, as this source of energy is currently still relevant particularly in the developing world. Agroforestry techniques that are based on realisable concepts acceptable to stakeholders have been suggested for this purpose. These age-long techniques are adopted for different purposes with incorporated components partly dependent on native intelligence, indigenous/traditional knowledge, and/or users' perspectives and expected outputs. Since wood and other lignocellulosic biomass can be obtained using these production techniques, optimising their potentials in this regard will be beneficial. This paper was therefore focused on the increasing trend in global wood fuel consumption and studies aimed at contributing to improvement of agroforestry systems as sustainable sources of wood fuel, a renewable source of energy.
Bianchi Types II, VIII, and IX String Cosmological Models in Brans-Dicke Theory of Gravitation
Authors: Rao V. U. M. , Vijaya Santhi M.
Published: November 2011

Bianchi types II, VIII, and IX string cosmological models are obtained and presented in a scalar-tensor theory of gravitation proposed by Brans and Dicke (1961) for λ+ρ=0. We also established the existence of only Bianchi type IX vacuum cosmological model for λ=ρ, where λ and ρ are tension density and energy density of strings, respectively. Some physical and geometrical features of the models are also discussed.