bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Activity of Ventral Medial Thalamic Neurons during Absence Seizures and Modulation of Cortical Paroxysms by the Nigrothalamic Pathway
Authors: Paz Jeanne Tamar , Chavez Mario , Saillet Sandrine , Deniau Jean-Michel , Charpier Stéphane
Published: January 2007

Absence seizures are characterized by bilaterally synchronous spike-and-wave discharges (SWDs) in the electroencephalogram, which reflect abnormal oscillations in corticothalamic networks. Although it was suggested that basal ganglia could modulate, via their feedback circuits to the cerebral cortex, the occurrence of SWDs, the cellular and network mechanisms underlying such a subcortical control of absence seizures remain unknown. The GABAergic projections from substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNR) to thalamocortical neurons of the ventral medial (VM) thalamic nucleus provide a potent network for the control of absence seizures by basal ganglia. The presentin vivostudy provides the first description of the activity of VM thalamic neurons during seizures in the genetic absence epilepsy rats from Strasbourg, a well established model of absence epilepsy. Cortical paroxysms were accompanied in VM thalamic neurons by rhythmic bursts of action potentials. Pharmacological blockade of excitatory inputs of nigrothalamic neurons led to a transient interruption of SWDs, correlated with a change in the activity of thalamic cells, which was increased in frequency and converted into a sustained arrhythmic firing pattern. Simultaneously, cortical neurons exhibited a decrease in their firing rate that was associated with an increase in membrane polarization and a decrease in input resistance. These new findings demonstrate that an inhibition of SNR neurons changes the activity of their thalamic targets, which in turn could affect cortical neurons excitability and, consequently, the generation of cortical epileptic discharges. Thus, the nigro-thalamo-cortical pathway may provide an on-line system control of absence seizures.
Neural Variability, Detection Thresholds, and Information Transmission in the Vestibular System
Authors: Sadeghi Soroush G. , Chacron Maurice J. , Taylor Michael C. , Cullen Kathleen E.
Published: January 2007

A fundamental issue in neural coding is the role of spike timing variation in information transmission of sensory stimuli. Vestibular afferents are particularly well suited to study this issue because they are classified as either regular or irregular based on resting discharge variability as well as morphology. Here, we compared the responses of each afferent class to sinusoidal and random head rotations using both information theoretic and gain measures. Information theoretic measures demonstrated that regular afferents transmitted, on average, two times more information than irregular afferents, despite having significantly lower gains. Moreover, consistent with information theoretic measures, regular afferents had angular velocity detection thresholds that were 50% lower than those of irregular afferents (∼4 vs 8°/s). Finally, to quantify the information carried by spike times, we added spike-timing jitter to the spike trains of both regular and irregular afferents. Our results showed that this significantly reduced information transmitted by regular afferents whereas it had little effect on irregular afferents. Thus, information is carried in the spike times of regular but not irregular afferents. Using a simple leaky integrate and fire model with a dynamic threshold, we show that differential levels of intrinsic noise can explain differences in the resting discharge, the responses to sensory stimuli, as well as the information carried by action potential timings of each afferent class. Our experimental and modeling results provide new insights as to how neural variability influences the strategy used by two different classes of sensory neurons to encode behaviorally relevant stimuli.
Unnatural Amino Acid Mutagenesis of the GABAAReceptor Binding Site Residues Reveals a Novel Cation–π Interaction between GABA and β2Tyr97
Authors: Padgett Claire L. , Hanek Ariele P. , Lester Henry A. , Dougherty Dennis A. , Lummis Sarah C. R.
Published: January 2007

The binding pockets of Cys-loop receptors are dominated by aromatic amino acids. In the GABAAreceptor α1Phe65, β2Tyr97, β2Tyr157, and β2Tyr205 are present at the β2/α1interface and have been implicated in forming an important part of the GABA binding site. Here, we have probed interactions of these residues using subtle chemical changes: unnatural amino acid mutagenesis was used to introduce a range of Phe analogs, and mutant receptors expressed in oocytes were studied using voltage-clamp electrophysiology. Serial mutations at β297 revealed a ∼20-fold increase in EC50with the addition of each fluorine atom to a phenylalanine, indicating a cation–π interaction between GABA and this residue. This is the first example of a cation–π interaction in loop A of a Cys-loop receptor. Along with previous studies that identified cation–π interactions in loop B and loop C, the result emphasizes that the location of this interaction is not conserved in the Cys-loop family. The data further show that α165 (in loop D) is tolerant to subtle changes. Conversely, mutating either β2Tyr157 (in loop B) or β2Tyr205 (in loop C) to Phe substantially disrupts receptor function. Substitution of 4-F-Phe, however, at either position, or 4-MeO-Phe at β2Tyr157, resulted in receptors with wild-type EC50values, suggesting a possible hydrogen bond. The molecular scale insights provided by these data allow the construction of a model for GABA docking to the agonist binding site of the GABAAreceptor.
Learning Decreases Aβ*56 and Tau Pathology and Ameliorates Behavioral Decline in 3xTg-AD Mice
Authors: Billings Lauren M. , Green Kim N. , McGaugh James L. , LaFerla Frank M.
Published: January 2007

Transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's disease (AD), such as the 3xTg-AD mice, are instrumental for elucidating genetic, pharmacologic, environmental, and behavioral factors that affect the cognitive phenotype. Here we present the novel findings that longitudinal water-maze spatial training produces a significant, albeit transient, improvement in subsequent learning performance and reduces amyloid β (Aβ) and tau neuropathology. The 3xTg-AD mice were trained and tested at 3 month intervals from 2 to 18 months. Separate groups of naive mice were also tested at each age. The improvement in performance seen at 6 and 12 months is dependent on spatial training, because animals that were similarly handled and exposed to swimming without a learning contingency failed to show improved performance. Training before the development of overt neuropathology is required for full expression of the training effect because we found it delays Aβ redistribution to extracellular plaques and reduces Aβ oligomers associated with cognitive decline. In addition, learning leads to decreased glycogen synthase kinase-3β activity, which likely underlies the reduced tau pathology. The previous training effects on both maze performance and neuropathology are attenuated at 15 and 18 months. These findings indicate that, in young and middle-aged 3xTg-AD mice, repeated spatial training can significantly delay the development of neuropathology and decline in spatial memory.
GABAergic Spill-Over Transmission onto Hippocampal Mossy Fiber Boutons
Authors: Alle Henrik , Geiger Jörg R. P.
Published: January 2007

Presynaptic ionotropic GABAAreceptors have been suggested to contribute to the regulation of cortical glutamatergic synaptic transmission. Here, we analyzed presynaptic GABAAreceptor-mediated currents (34°C) recorded from mossy fiber boutons (MFBs) in rat hippocampal slices. In MFBs from young and adult animals, GABA puff application activated currents that were blocked by GABAAreceptor antagonists. The conductance density of 0.65 mS · cm2was comparable to that of other presynaptic terminals. The single-channel conductance was 36 pS (symmetrical chloride), yielding an estimated GABAAreceptor density of 20–200 receptors per MFB. Presynaptic GABAAreceptors likely contain α2-subunits as indicated by their zolpidem sensitivity. In accordance with the low apparent GABA affinity (EC50= 60 μm) of the receptors and a tight control of ambient GABA concentration by GABA transporters, no tonic background activation of presynaptic GABAAreceptors was observed. Instead, extracellular high-frequency stimulation led to transient presynaptic currents, which were blocked by GABAAreceptor antagonists but were enhanced by block of GAT 1 (GABA transporter 1), indicating that these currents were generated by GABA spill-over and subsequent presynaptic GABAAreceptor activation. Presynaptic spill-over currents were depressed by pharmacological cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptor activation, suggesting that GABA was released predominantly by a CB1 receptor-expressing interneuron subpopulation. Because GABAAreceptors in axons are considered to act depolarizing, high activity of CB1 receptor-expressing interneurons will exert substantial impact on presynaptic membrane potential, thus modulating action potential-evoked transmitter release at the mossy fiber–CA3 synapse.
Regulation of Akt Signaling by D2and D3Dopamine ReceptorsIn Vivo
Authors: Beaulieu Jean-Martin , Tirotta Emanuele , Sotnikova Tatyana D. , Masri Bernard , Salahpour Ali , Gainetdinov Raul R. , Borrelli Emiliana , Caron Marc G.
Published: January 2007

The serine/threonine kinase Akt is a downstream target of dopamine receptor signaling that is inhibited/dephosphorylated in response to direct and indirect dopamine receptor agonists. Although pharmacological studies uncovered the involvement of D2-class dopamine receptors in Akt regulation, they did not identify the role of individual receptor subtypes in this process. Here we used knock-out mice lacking the D1, D2, D2long, or D3dopamine receptors as well as a D4receptor-selective antagonist to address the function of each of these receptors in the regulation of Aktin vivo. Under basal conditions, D2, D2long, and D3knock-out mice display enhanced striatal Akt activation, whereas D1knock-out mice and mice treated with the D4receptor antagonist L745870 (3-[[4-(4-chlorophenyl)piperazin-1-yl]methyl]-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine trihydrochloride) have phospho-Akt levels comparable with those of normal control animals. Furthermore, both amphetamine and apomorphine lose their ability to inhibit Akt in D2knock-out mice but retain their normal effect on this signaling molecule in D1knock-out animals. Finally, D3knock-out mice show a reduced sensitivity of Akt-mediated signaling to dopaminergic drugs but retain the action of these drugs on Akt at high dose regimens. These results indicate that D2receptors are essential for the inhibition of Akt by dopamine and that D3receptors also participate in this signaling potentially by enhancing D2receptor response. Identification of the functions of individual dopamine receptor subtypes in Akt regulation may help the development of new pharmaceutical approaches for mental disorders related to abnormal dopamine transmission such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
Activity in Prelimbic Cortex Is Necessary for the Expression of Learned, But Not Innate, Fears
Authors: Corcoran Kevin A. , Quirk Gregory J.
Published: January 2007

The amygdala has long been considered to be both necessary and sufficient for classical fear conditioning, but recent evidence suggests that the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) may also be involved. The prelimbic (PL) subregion of mPFC projects to the amygdala, and neurons in PL show fear-related increases in activity. It is unknown, however, whether PL activity is necessary for expression of learned fears, expression of innate fears, or the learning of fear associations. To address this, we used the sodium channel blocker tetrodotoxin to inactivate PL during fear learning or expression. Inactivation of PL reduced freezing to both a tone and a context that had been previously paired with footshock (learned fear) but had no effect on freezing to a cat (innate fear). Inactivation of PL before conditioning, however, did not prevent the formation of auditory or contextual fear memories. Thus, activity in PL is critical for the expression, but not the acquisition, of learned fears. We suggest that PL integrates information from auditory and contextual inputs and regulates expression of fear memories via projections to the basal nucleus of the amygdala.
Trinkets and Beads
Authors: O'Brian Robin
Published: January 2007

“Trinkets and Beads” 52 min. 1996. Color, in English, Spanish and Waorani, with English subtitles. VHS available for classroom use, Sale: video $390, Rental: video $75. First Run/Icarus Films, 32 Court Street, 21st Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201, Phone: (718) 488–8900, fax: (718) 488–8642, e‐mail: mailroom@frif.com
Taking It Off, Putting It On: Women in the Strip Trade
Authors: DeRoche Constance P.
Published: January 2007

Taking It Off, Putting It On: Women in the Strip Trade
. Chris Bruckert. Toronto: Women's Press, 2002, 182pp.
Farmingville
Authors: O'Brian Robin
Published: January 2007

“Farmingville” 78 min. 2003. Color, in English and Spanish with English subtitles. Available in VHS; DVD; order from Docurama, 126 Fifth Avenue, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10011, http://www.docurama.com. VHS, approximately $32.00; DVD, approximately $22.00
Sakyadhita Pilgrimage in Asia: On the Trail of the Buddhist Women's Network
Authors: Tsomo Karma Lekshe
Published: January 2007

Sakyadhita International Association of Buddhist Women was established in 1987 to address issues of gender equality in Buddhist societies and Buddhist institutions. Since then, through a series of innovative biannual conferences, Sakyadhita has worked to link women from different Buddhist traditions and cultural backgrounds and provide them with a forum where women's voices can be heard. These conferences have generated a vibrant international Buddhist women's movement that works for the welfare of the world's estimated 300,000 Buddhist women. Because Buddhist institutions in Asian countries typically function independently and there is no central authority to oversee them or create policies, Sakyadhita's intra-Buddhist communications network for women represents a major breakthrough. To keep their fingers on the pulse of this rapidly expanding movement, Karma Lekshe Tsomo and Christie Yu-ling Chang, Sakyadhita's current president and vice-president, traveled to Malaysia, Vietnam, and India in 2005-06 for a month to document changes in the making for Buddhist women.
Issues Impairing the Success of Neural Implant Technology
Authors: Spiers A. , Warwick K. , Gasson M. , Ruiz V.
Published: January 2007

By monitoring signals from the central nervous system, humans can be provided with a novel extra channel of communication that can, for example, be used for the voluntary control of peripheral devices. Meanwhile, stimulation of neural tissue can bring about sensation such as touch, can facilitate feedback from external, potentially remote devices and even opens up the possibility of new sensory input for the individual to experience. The concept of successfully harnessing and stimulating nervous system activity is though something that can only be achieved through an appropriate interface. However, interfacing the nervous system by means of implant technology carries with it many problems and dangers. Further, results achieved may not be as expected or as they at first appear. This paper describes a comparative study investigating different implant types and procedures. It is aimed at highlighting potential problem areas and is intended to provide a useful reference explaining important tolerances and limits.
Effect of Atorvastatin on Cognitive Function in Patients from the Lipid Lowering and Onset of Renal Disease (LORD) Trial
Authors: Summers Mathew J. , Oliver Kate R. , Coombes Jeff S. , Fassett Robert G.
Published: January 2007

Study Objective. To examine the effect of atorvastatin on cognitive function by testing two hypotheses: that atorvastatin 10 mg/day would impair cognitive function, and that other biochemical and demographic measures would better predict cognitive performance than atorvastatin alone.

Design. Randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study.

Setting. Two primary acute care settings in the north and northwest of Tasmania, Australia.

Patients. Fifty‐seven patients from the Lipid Lowering and Onset of Renal Disease (LORD) trial.

Intervention. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either atorvastatin 10 mg/day or matching placebo. Cognitive testing was performed in two sessions occurring 12 weeks apart and involved three repeated measures of attention and concentration.

Measurements and Main Results. Performance was measured using three standard neuropsychological tests: Digit Symbol Coding subtest, Trail Making Test, and Stroop Color‐Word Reading Test. Patients received atorvastatin for a mean of 72.93 weeks and placebo for a mean of 68.85 weeks. Repeated‐measures multivariate analysis of variance failed to identify any significant differences between the two groups on any of the three cognitive measures. Multiple regression analyses identified no single factor or combination of plasma cholesterol levels, renal function, liver function, or age that predicted cognitive performance in either the atorvastatin or placebo group on the three measures at either testing session.

Conclusion. Atorvastatin 10 mg/day did not produce decrements to cognitive performance. In addition, biochemical and demographic measures and the receipt of atorvastatin versus placebo did not individually or in combination predict cognitive performance on measures of attention and concentration.
Predictors of In‐Hospital Mortality for Bloodstream Infections Caused by Enterobacter Species or Citrobacter freundii
Authors: Deal Eli N. , Micek Scott T. , Ritchie David J. , Reichley Richard M. , Dunne W. Michael , Kollef Marin H.
Published: January 2007

Study Objective. To identify predictors of in‐hospital mortality among patients with bacteremia caused by Enterobacter cloacae, Enterobacter aerogenes, or Citrobacter freundii.

Design. Retrospective cohort study.

Setting. 1300‐bed tertiary academic medical center.

Patients. One hundred twenty‐four patients who had bloodstream infections caused by E. cloacae (3), E. aerogenes (71), or C. freundii (50) between 1998 and 2004.

Measurements and Main Results. Data from patients with bloodstream infections caused by Enterobacter sp or C. freundii were retrospectively segregated according to hospital survival (98 survivors, 26 nonsurvivors). Multiple patient characteristics and processes of care were evaluated to identify factors contributing to in‐hospital mortality. Multiple logistic regression was performed based on univariate comparisons to determine independent risk factors for in‐hospital mortality. Among the 124 cases of bacteremia, the crude in‐hospital mortality rate was 21% (26 cases). Univariate analysis revealed that survivors were more likely to receive an aminoglycoside as part of their empiric antimicrobial regimen (40% [39/98]) compared with nonsurvivors (19% [5/26], p=0.05). Other factors related to antimicrobial therapy including choice and number of agents used did not differ between survivors and nonsurvivors (p>0.05). Vasopressor use (31% [30/98] vs 62% [16/26]), care in an intensive care unit (19% [19/98] vs 54% [14/26]), and acute renal failure (13% [13/98] vs 31% [8/26]) occurred more frequently in nonsurvivors (p<0.05). Multiple logistic regression identified resistance to second‐ or third‐generation cephalosporins (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 5.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.66–10.0, p=0.013), trimethoprim‐sulfamethoxazole resistance (adjusted OR 5.44, 95% CI 2.53–11.7, p=0.027), and mechanical ventilation (adjusted OR 12.2, 95% CI 5.99–24.5, p<0.001) as independent determinants of mortality.

Conclusion. Among patients with Enterobacter sp or C. freundii bloodstream infections, those with trimethoprim‐sulfamethoxazole‐resistant or secondor third‐generation cephalosporin‐resistant strains or those who required mechanical ventilation had an increased risk of mortality.
The Contraceptive Patch in Relation to Ischemic Stroke and Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Jick Susan S. , Jick Hershel
Published: January 2007

Study Objective. To compare rates of stroke and acute myocardial infarction in users of the Ortho EVRA contraceptive patch with these rates in users of norgestimate‐containing oral contraceptives (OCs) with 35 μg of ethinyl estradiol.

Design. Retrospective, population‐based, epidemiologic study.

Data Source. PharMetrics database.

Subjects. Females aged 15–45 years in the PharMetrics database who had filled at least one prescription for the Ortho EVRA contraceptive patch or a norgestimate OC between April 1, 2002, and March 31, 2005.

Measurements and Main Results. Incidence rates and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated for the outcomes of ischemic stroke and acute myocardial infarction by exposure. Crude incidence rates of ischemic stroke among users of the patch and users of norgestimate OCs were 13.6/100,000 woman‐years (95% CI 5.9–26.8) and 11.3/100,000 woman‐years (95% CI 5.4–20.8), respectively. The crude incidence rate of acute myocardial infarction was 1.7/100,000 woman‐years (95% CI 0.04–9.5) in current patch users and 7.9/100,000 woman‐years (95% CI 3.2–16.3) in current users of norgestimate OCs. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were estimated for the outcomes by comparing data for users of the patch and users of a norgestimate OC. The IRR for stroke was 1.2 (95% CI 0.41–3.4) and for acute myocardial infarction was 0.2 (95% CI 0.004–1.7).

Conclusion. Ischemic stroke and acute myocardial infarction are rare among young women who use hormonal contraceptives, and the current data provide no suggestion of an increased risk of either ischemic stroke or acute myocardial infarction in users of the Ortho EVRA contraceptive patch compared with users of norgestimate OCs.
Selection of a gyrA Mutation and Treatment Failure with Gatifloxacin in a Patient with Streptococcus pneumoniae with a Preexisting parC Mutation
Authors: Kays Michael B. , Zhanel George G. , Reimann Megan A. , Jacobi Judi , Denys Gerald A. , Smith David W. , Wack Matthew F.
Published: January 2007

An 81‐year‐old woman had pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (levofloxacin Etest minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] 1.5 μg/ml) and was treated with intravenous gatifloxacin 200 mg/day. After 3 days of therapy, repeat sputum cultures were positive for S. pneumoniae, which was resistant to levofloxacin (Etest MIC > 32 μg/ml). The isolate obtained before therapy showed a preexisting parC mutation of aspartic acid‐83 to asparagine (Asp83→Asn), and the isolate obtained during therapy showed an acquired gyrA mutation from serine‐81 to phenylalanine (Ser81→Phe) and a second parC mutation from lysine‐137 to Asn (Lys137→Asn). Both isolates were the same strain, as determined with pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis. This case demonstrates the potential for resistance to emerge during 8‐methoxy fluoroquinolone therapy for fluoroquinolone‐susceptible S. pneumoniae with a preexisting parC mutation. Additional clinical failures with a fluoroquinolone may occur unless these first‐step parC mutants can be identified to assist clinicians in selecting appropriate antimicrobial therapy.
Error Rates Among Clinical Pharmacists in Calculating the APACHE II Score
Authors: Greenwood Bonnie , Szumita Paul M. , Levy Howard , Lilly Craig M.
Published: January 2007

Background. The Food and Drug Administration recently advocated the use of acuity scoring to determine those patients whose mortality benefits outweigh risks of adverse effects from drotrecogin alfa (activated). Many institutions have adopted an Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II cutoff score of 25 (i.e., if > 25, administer the agent) as a component in determining eligibility for treatment with this agent. Concern is increasing that errors in the acquisition of APACHE scores can lead to prescribing errors with drotrecogin alfa (activated).

Objective. To determine the ability of clinical pharmacists in ascertaining APACHE II scores.

Methods. Fifteen clinical pharmacists calculated APACHE II scores for the clinical scenarios of three patients. End points were the pharmacists' APACHE II score calculation, decision to start drotrecogin alfa (activated) treatment, and evaluation of individual components of the APACHE II scores.

Results. Of the 15 pharmacists, correct APACHE II scores were derived by nine (60%) pharmacists for patient no. 1 (APACHE score 44), by two (13%) pharmacists for patient no. 2 (APACHE score 22), and by two (13%) pharmacists for patient no. 3 (APACHE score 19). Scoring errors occurred in 32 of the 45 (71%) derivations. The pharmacists were significantly more likely to correctly prescribe drotrecogin alfa for the two patients with true APACHE scores of 19 and 44 than for the patient whose score was 22, which was closer to the prescribing cutoff score of 25 (both p<0.001, patient no. 1 vs no. 2, and patient no. 2 vs no. 3, Fisher exact test) All individual components of the score were correctly evaluated at least 80% of the time, except for mean arterial pressure, respiratory rate, and Glasgow Coma Scale score.

Conclusion. Caution must be used in applying results of APACHE II scores estimated by only one trained individual when deciding to administer or withhold drotrecogin alfa (activated).
Posaconazole as Salvage Therapy in a Patient with Disseminated Zygomycosis: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Page Robert Lee , Schwiesow Joshua , Hilts Alexandra
Published: January 2007

Zygomycosis refers to any fungal infection originating from the class Zygomycetes and the order Mucorales. In immunocompromised patients, these fungi produce a relatively rapid, violently destructive, and highly fatal infection. Treatment approaches include both aggressive antifungal pharmacotherapy and surgical intervention. Unfortunately, even with optimal therapy, morbidity and mortality rates remain relatively high. As failure rates are elevated with commercial antifungals, new treatment options are needed. Posaconazole is an orally available, extended‐spectrum triazole antifungal being investigated in phase III clinical trials for the treatment and prevention of invasive fungal infections, including zygomycosis. We report the case of a 26‐year‐old Vietnamese man with a medical history of acute lymphocytic leukemia who had undergone consolidation chemotherapy and had neutropenic fever when he came to the emergency department. The patient was admitted to the hospital and treated with broad‐spectrum antibiotics and caspofungin. Two weeks into his admission, however, abscesses in the pelvis, prostate, and musculature surrounding the hip were detected radiographically; these abscesses eventually cultured for Mucor sp. Disseminated zygomycosis was diagnosed. Caspofungin was immediately discontinued, and high‐dose liposomal amphotericin B 10 mg/kg/day was begun. Over the next month, infection spread to the right lung, left kidney, middle thoracic spine, and epidural space. As a result, oral posaconazole 200 mg 4 times/day was added to the liposomal amphotericin B. Significant clinical, hematologic, mycologic, and radiologic improvements were demonstrated as early as 10 days after start of posaconazole therapy and continued through 41 days of inpatient treatment. Liposomal amphotericin B was discontinued after 3 weeks of posaconazole, and the patient was discharged on hospital day 92 receiving oral posaconazole, with no major adverse events reported. Five months after discharge, the patient had no evidence of fungal disease recurrence or progression. Posaconazole appears to be a well‐tolerated and effective salvage treatment for zygomycosis, including disseminated disease.
Resolution of a Phytobezoar with Aldoph's Meat Tenderizer
Authors: Baker Erica L. , Baker William L. , Cloney David J.
Published: January 2007

A 58‐year‐old man went to his physician with complaints of midepigastric pain, flatulence, belching, and shortness of breath. During a physical examination, the patient was in no acute distress. The patient underwent an ultrasound examination, which revealed cholelithiasis, a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which revealed chronic gallbladder disease, and esophagogastroduodenoscopy, which revealed gastritis, a hiatal hernia, and a phytobezoar. To treat the bezoar, the patient was given Adolph's Meat Tenderizer 1 teaspoonful in 8 oz of water before each meal for 7 days. This product contains papain, a proteolytic enzyme, that is thought to cleave protein linkages within bezoars. The patient's symptoms resolved with no adverse events reported, and follow‐up endoscopy revealed resolution of the phytobezoar. Although a few other agents are used to treat phytobezoars, little clinical data exist on their safety and effectiveness. Adolph's Meat Tenderizer appears to be a safe and effective treatment for patients with a phytobezoar.
Some factors affecting the in-soil load–strain behaviour of virgin and damaged nonwoven geotextiles
Authors: Mendes M. J. A. , Palmeira E. M. , Matheus E.
Published: January 2007

This paper presents a study on the tensile response of virgin and damaged nonwoven geotextile tested in isolation under different conditions of confinement. Five geotextiles, four confinement conditions and different types of mechanical damage were investigated. The influences of the intrusion of soil particles and the shape of these particles on the load–strain relation of the geotextiles were also examined. The results obtained show that confinement reduces the detrimental effects of mechanical damage on the tensile behaviour of nonwoven geotextiles. The amount and shape of the soil particles that intrude the geotextile pores also influence the tensile stiffness. The results show the potential of nonwoven geotextiles as reinforcement for reinforced soil structures of low to moderate sizes where the use of stiffer reinforcements may not be necessary or may be cost-prohibitive.
Climatic Forecasting of Net Infiltration at Yucca Mountain Using Analogue Meteorological Data
Authors: Faybishenko Boris
Published: January 2007

At Yucca Mountain, NV, future changes in climatic conditions will probably alter net infiltration, drainage below the bottom of the evapotranspiration zone within the soil profile, or flow across the interface between soil and the densely welded part of the Tiva Canyon Tuff. The objectives of this study were to: (i) develop a semiempirical model and forecast average net infiltration rates, using the limited meteorological data from analog meteorological stations, for interglacial (present day), and future monsoon, glacial transition, and glacial climates over the Yucca Mountain region; and (ii) corroborate the computed net infiltration rates by comparing them with the empirically and numerically determined groundwater recharge and percolation rates through the unsaturated zone from published data. This study approached calculations of net infiltration, aridity, and precipitation‐effectiveness indices using a modified Budyko's water‐balance model, with reference‐surface potential evapotranspiration determined from the radiation‐based Penman formula. Results of calculations show that net infiltration rates are expected to generally increase from the present‐day climate to monsoon climate, to glacial transition climate, and then to the glacial climate, following a power law relationship between net infiltration and precipitation. The forecasting results indicate the overlap between the ranges of net infiltration for different climates. Forecasting of net infiltration for different climate states is subject to numerous uncertainties associated with selecting climate analog sites, using relatively short analog meteorological records, neglecting the effects of vegetation and surface runoff and run‐on on a local scale, as well as possible anthropogenically induced climate changes.
Preferential Flow Patterns in Paddy Fields Using a Dye Tracer
Authors: Sander Till , Gerke Horst H.
Published: January 2007

Reports of chemical leaching from intensively cropped paddy rice (Oryza sativa L.) field sites indicate that soil structure dynamics may possibly affect preferential flow and transport despite repeated “puddling” (i.e., mechanical homogenization of water‐saturated soil) and plow pan formation. Our objective was to identify preferential pathways of soils in regularly managed paddy fields, which were drained during temporal fallow. Dye tracer studies were conducted on two experimental 20‐yr‐old rice fields of about 300 m2 located in the Sunjian watershed in southeast China (Jiangxi province). Brilliant Blue solution was applied by ponding a 50‐mm pulse onto four 1‐m2 plots with intact and unleveled soil surfaces. Staining patterns were recorded for 11 to 13 vertical and 10 to 15 horizontal soil profiles. Dye tracer penetrated vertically via preferential pathways to depths ranging from 94 (vertical profiles) to 120 cm (horizontal profiles), while most of the soil matrix remained unstained. Stained biopores and cracks were found in the plow pan. Horizontal profiles with stained pathways indicate large spatial heterogeneity of hydraulic conductivity. Dye coverage vs. depth calculated from vertical and horizontal profiles suggests that horizontal spreading of the solution above the plow pan supports access to plow pan macropores. Penetration through the plow pan proceeded with little horizontal spreading. The results obtained here for initially drained paddy soils indicate that preferential flow is a phenomenon that may be relevant for water and nutrient cycling (and losses to groundwater) in paddy fields. If the observed macropores and crack networks persist, preferential flow might even occur under flooding conditions.
Characterisation of heavy metal tolerance and biosorption capacity of bacterium strain CPB4 (Bacillus spp.)
Authors: Kim S.U. , Cheong Y.H. , Seo D.C. , Hur J.S. , Heo J.S. , Cho J.S.
Published: January 2007

A heavy metal resistant bacterium Bacillus spp. strain CPB4 was isolated from heavy metal contaminated soil in Korea and further characterised. The CPB4 strain showed a high capacity for uptake of heavy metal Pb (Pb > Cd > Cu > Ni > Co > Mn > Cr > Zn) both in single and in mixed heavy metal solution. Optimal conditions for heavy metal uptakes of CPB4 strain were 20–40 °C culture temperature, 5–7 pH and 24 h pre-culture times. TEM showed that large amounts of the electron-dense granules (heavy metal complexes) were found mainly on the cell wall and cell membrane. Furthermore, more than 90% of adsorbed heavy metals were distributed both in cell wall and in cell membrane fractions. The amount of heavy metal uptake was remarkably decreased by reducing the crude protein contents when cells were treated by alkali solutions. Therefore, this study showed one of the possible examples for useful bioremediation.
Treatment of non-biodegradable cutting oil wastewater by ultrasonication-Fenton oxidation process
Authors: Seo D.C. , Lee H.J. , Hwang H.N. , Park M.R. , Kwak N.W. , Cho I.J. , Cho J.S. , Seo J.Y. , Joo W.H. , Park K.H. , Heo J.S.
Published: January 2007

To treat cutting oil wastewater produced in metal surface treatment industry, Ultrasonication (US)-Fenton process, which is one of the advanced oxidation processes, was used. The optimum conditions to treat non-biodegradable pollutants using the US-Fenton process were that the application rates of H2O2 and FeSO4 were 10% and 3 g/L, respectively, the value of pH was 3, and the ultrasonication time was 30 min. It identified non-degradable pollutants such as ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and Triethanolamine (TEA) in the cutting oil wastewater. TLC analysis of two compounds of treated water by the coagulation process was similar to that of raw water. However, TLC analysis of two compounds of US-Fenton process was different from that of raw water, meaning that US-Fenton process decomposed the EDTA and TEA. To study the possibility of application with the US-Fenton process to pilot plant, the pollutants treatment efficiency of three different methods, such as US-Fenton process, activated sludge process and coagulation process, in continuous experiments were compared. The removal rate of pollutants by the US-Fenton process according to the effluent time was higher than any other processes. The removal rates of COD, SS, T-N and T-P by US-Fenton process were 98, 93, 75 and 95%, respectively.
Electrochemically fabricated zero-valent iron, iron-nickel, and iron-palladium nanowires for environmental remediation applications
Authors: Yoo B.-Y. , Hernandez S.C. , Koo B. , Rheem Y. , Myung N.V.
Published: January 2007

Monodisperse crystalline zero-valent iron, iron-nickel, iron-palladium nanowires were synthesised using template-directed electrodeposition methods. Prior to nanowire fabrication, alumina nanotemplates with controlled pore structure (e.g. pore diameter and porosity) were fabricated by anodising high purity aluminium foil in sulphuric acid. After fabrication of alumina nanotemplates, iron, iron-nickel and iron-palladium nanowires were electrodeposited within the pore structure. The dimensions of nanowires including diameter and length were precisely controlled by pore diameter of anodised alumina and deposition rate and time. The composition, crystal structure and orientation were controlled by adjusting electrodeposition parameters including applied current density and solution compositions.
Disinfection performance of Fe(VI) in water and wastewater: a review
Authors: Sharma V.K.
Published: January 2007

Ferrate(VI) [FeVIO2−4, Fe(VI)] has excellent disinfectant properties and can inactivate a wide variety of microorganisms at low Fe(VI) dosages. The final product of Fe(VI) is Fe(III), a non-toxic compound. The treatment by Fe(VI) does not give any chlorination by-products, which makes Fe(VI) an environmentally-friendly ion. The results demonstrate that Fe(VI) can inactivate Escherichia coli (E. coli) at lower dosages or shorter contact time than hypochlorite. Fe(VI) can also kill many chlorine resistant organisms, such as aerobic spore-formers and sulphite-reducing clostridia, and would be highly effective in treating emerging toxins in the aquatic environment. Fe(VI) can thus be used as an effective alternate disinfectant for the treatment of water and wastewater. Moreover, Fe(VI) is now becoming economically available in commercial quantities and can be used as a treatment chemical to meet the water demand of this century. This paper reviews the potential role of Fe(VI) as disinfectant in water and wastewater treatment processes.
Semi-centralised supply and treatment systems for (fast growing) urban areas
Authors: Weber B. , Cornel P. , Wagner M.
Published: January 2007

Mega cities with rapid growth are challenged by two main problems concerning water supply and sanitation. One is water scarcity because local demand exceeds local supply. The other is that the infrastructure for water supply and the collection and treatment of wastewater cannot keep up with the rapid growth of the mega cities. The transfer of conventional centralised water and wastewater systems from industrialised countries to mega cities does not seem appropriate, because of the rapid and almost unpredictable growth in mega cities on the one hand and the regional shortage of water which requires an economical use and reuse wherever possible on the other hand. The transition from centralised to semi-centralised supply and treatment systems (SESATS) may be one method of resolution to the grave discrepancy between the rapid growth of cities and the provision of supply and treatment infrastructure. One important aspect of planning semi-centralised wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure including intra-urban water reuse is the assessment of the optimal size. Therefore, factors and indicators, which have an effect on the scale of semi-centralised sanitation systems, have to be developed. Beside the introduction in SESATS some of these factors, criteria and indicators and their effects on the system's scale will be introduced in this paper.
Nitrification and denitrification in partially aerated biological aerated filter (BAF) with dual size sand media
Authors: Ha J.H. , Ong S.K.
Published: January 2007

A 104-mm (4-inch) diameter pilot-scale biological aerated filter (BAF) with a media depth of 2.5 m (8.3 feet) was operated with an anaerobic, anoxic and oxic zone at a temperature of 23°C. The medium for the anaerobic and anoxic zones was 10 mm diameter sand while the medium for the oxic zone was 5 mm diameter sand. The influent sCOD and total nitrogen concentrations in the feedwater were approximately 250 mg/L and 35 mg N/L, respectively. sCOD removal at optimum hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 3 h with recirculation rates of 100, 200 and 300% in the column was above 96%. Nitrification was found to be more than 96% for 3 h HRT at 200 and 300% recirculation. Total nitrogen removal was consistent at more than 80% for 4 and 6 h HRT at 300% recirculation. For 3 h HRT and 300% recirculation, total nitrogen removal was approximately 79%. The ammonia loading rates for maximum ammonia removed were 0.15 and 0.19 kg NH3-N/m3-day for 100 and 200% recirculation, respectively. The experimental results demonstrated that the BAF can be operated at an HRT of 3 h with 200–300% recirculation rates with more than 96% removal of sCOD and ammonia and at least 75% removal of total nitrogen.
Identification of the effect of extracellular polymeric substances on bacterial adhesion to the membrane surface in a membrane bioreactor using Pseudomonas fluorescens
Authors: Yeo Y. , Jang N. , Cho J. , Kim K.-S. , Kim I.S.
Published: January 2007

In a membrane bioreactor (MBR) process containing a variety of bacteria, the bacterial adhesion to the membrane surface, prior to cake formation, causes an increased filtration resistance. In this study, Pseudomonas fluorescens, commonly found in the municipal wastewater treatment process with activated sludge, was used to show the effects of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) on bacterial adhesion to the membrane surface in the MBR. Of the various roles of EPS in promoting membrane fouling, the adhesion of bacteria to the membrane surface was calculated using the specific cake resistance (α, m/kg). Although the amount of EPS binding with bacteria was increased by the addition of Ca2 + , there was no significant effect on the bacterial growth. The results of the particle size distribution showed that the addition of Ca2 +  increased flocculation, allowing the formation of a complex with the bacteria and EPS. In order to identify the effects of the addition of Ca2 +  on the hydrophobicity, the contact angle was also measured. The result showed that the addition of Ca2 +  showed no significant differences in the hydrophobicity, even though there was an increase in flocculation. With the bacteria containing a higher EPS concentration, a higher specific cake resistance was observed. From the results of the adhesion experiment, which was conducted with various EPS levels, displayed as the COD and TOC concentration, an increased EPS concentration was shown to promote bacterial adhesion to the membrane surface.
Granular biofilm-based anaerobic digestion: molecular biomonitoring and high-rate psychrophilic treatment of phenolic wastewater
Authors: Scully C. , Collins G. , O'Flaherty V.
Published: January 2007

Two pairs of expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) bioreactors, R1/R2 and R3/R4, were designed. R1/R2 were used for mesophilic (37 °C) treatment of synthetic wastewater over a 100-day trial. A successful start-up was achieved by R1 and R2, with COD removal over 90%. Both reactors were operated under identical parameters; however, increased organic loading induced a reduction in COD removal by R1, while R2 maintained satisfactory performance throughout the experiment. R3/R4 were operated at 15 °C throughout a 422-day trial and were used for the stabilisation of volatile fatty acid-based wastewater. Phenol was introduced to R4 at an applied loading rate of 1 kg phenol m−3 d−1, which was increased to 2 kg phenol m−3 d−1. No phenol was supplied to R3. Efficient COD conversion was recorded in both R3 and R4, thus demonstrating the feasibility of high-rate phenol degradation under psychrophilic conditions. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis was applied to the characterisation of microbial community dynamics within each of the reactors. The results indicated a microbiological basis for the deviation, in terms of operational performance, of R1 and R2. TRFLP analyses indicated stable microbial communities in R3 and R4, but detected changes in the abundance of specific ribotypes in response to phenol mineralisation.
Characteristics of storm runoff and sediment dispersal in the San Pedro Channel, southern California
Authors: Ahn J.H. , Grant S.B.
Published: January 2007

In-site measurements of particle size spectra were obtained from three offshore cruises to evaluate the physical consequences of increased sediment transport and deposition offshore which was caused by episodic storm runoff water from the Santa Ana River watershed, a highly urbanised coastal watershed in southern California. Of the total annual runoff discharge to the coastal ocean, 89.2% occurred in the 2003/2004 winter season, and 0.22 Mt of sediment mass was transported during the storm events. The runoff plume at surface taken offshore by cross-shore currents progressed rapid aggregation and sedimentation, while the initially high concentration of suspended sediment discharged from the river outlet was dominated by small particles. Vertical profiles of particle size spectra revealed two separated plumes near the river outlet and turbidity plume along the bottom consisted of an abundance of very fine and dense particles. It would appear to support the theory that even if the storm runoff does not carry a high concentration of sediment being capable of generating negative buoyancy, sediment deposition on the shelf might mobilise in dense, fluid mud transported offshore by gravity. In a coastal pollution context, sediment particle size spectra information may offer potentially useful means of characterising particle-associated pollutants for purposes of source tracking and environmental interpretation.
Effects of ultraviolet intensity and wavelength on the photolysis of triclosan
Authors: Son H.-S. , Choi S.-B. , Zoh K.-D. , Khan E.
Published: January 2007

The effects of ultraviolet (UV) intensity and wavelength on triclosan (TCS) photodegradation kinetic, efficiency, mechanisms and pathway were studied. The TCS photodegradation followed the pseudo-first order kinetic model at all UV intensities examined at the wavelengths of 254 and 365 nm and the photodegradation rate increased with increasing UV intensity. TCS photodegradation efficiencies of 90 to 98% and 79 to 90% were obtained at the wavelengths of 254 and 365 nm, respectively. TCS was degraded mainly by photon induced hydroxyl radicals while the direct photon reaction with TCS played a subordinate role. Chlorophenol, dichlorophenol and phenol were the intermediates detected in all experiments conducted. Dibenzodichloro-p-dioxin and dibenzo-p-dioxin were observed as the intermediates only at lower UV intensities investigated at the wavelength of 365 nm. Based on these intermediates, a complete TCS photolysis pathway was proposed for the first time.