bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Initial testing of the multitargeted kinase inhibitor pazopanib by the pediatric preclinical testing program
Authors: Keir Stephen T. , Morton Christopher L. , Wu Jianrong , Kurmasheva Raushan T. , Houghton Peter J. , Smith Malcolm A.
Published: December 2011

Pazopanib is an oral angiogenesis inhibitor targeting vascular growth factor receptor‐1, ‐2, and ‐3, platelet derived growth factor receptor‐α, platelet derived growth factor receptor‐β, and KIT that has demonstrated activity against a variety of adult cancer xenografts. Pazopanib was tested against a panel of pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma xenografts at a dose of 108 mg/kg/day or 100 mg/kg twice daily, administered orally for 28 days. While no objective responses were observed, pazopanib induced statistically significant differences in event‐free survival compared to controls in approximately one‐half of the sarcoma xenograft models tested. Though well tolerated, pazopanib showed limited activity against the sarcoma models evaluated, with the best tumor responses being growth delay. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2012;59:586–588. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Predictors of bony morbidity in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Rayar Meera S. , Nayiager Trishana , Webber Colin E. , Barr Ronald D. , Athale Uma H.
Published: December 2011

Background

To evaluate the relationship between lumbar spine (LS) bone mineral density (BMD) and patient‐, disease‐, and therapy‐related variables, and to define the risk‐factors for fractures in children receiving therapy on Dana‐Farber Cancer Institute acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) protocols.

Methods

Children (≤18 years) diagnosed with ALL during the period 1995–2006, who are in first clinical remission, were included (n = 124). Dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry provided LS‐BMD at diagnosis (n = 46) and during continuation therapy. LS‐BMD was expressed as Z scores based on local population norms. Regression analyses evaluated the risk of osteopenia (Z‐score −1.01 to −1.99, osteoporosis (Z‐score −2.00 or less) and fractures.

Results

At diagnosis, 14 0f 46 (30%) patients had osteopenia and 5 (11%) had osteoporosis; whereas, during continuation therapy, 47 of 124 (39.5%) patients had osteopenia, and 10 (8%) had osteoporosis. LS‐BMD at diagnosis had a positive linear relationship with LS‐BMD during continuation therapy (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.619, P < 0.0001). Multivariable analyses identified age ≥10 years and LS‐BMD at diagnosis as independent predictors of LS‐BMD during continuation therapy. Twenty‐three (18.5%) patients developed fractures. Dexamethasone therapy (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.31, 7.52, P = 0.01) and lower LS‐BMD during the continuation therapy (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.2, 2.8, P = 0.01) were independent predictors of fracture.

Conclusions

Older age and lower LS‐BMD at diagnosis are predictors of lower LS‐BMD during continuation therapy. Dexamethasone and lower LS‐BMD during continuation therapy are associated with fractures. Using these variables it is feasible to develop a predictor model to define the risk of bony morbidity in children receiving ALL therapy. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2012; 59: 77–82. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Endocrine response and perceived stress test during an experimental challenge task in adult survivors of a childhood cancer
Authors: Laufer Dominique , Ansermet François , von der Weid Nicolas , Popovic Maja Beck , Torrisi Raffaella , Pierrehumbert Blaise
Published: December 2011

Background

Although long‐term implications of cancer in childhood or adolescence with regard to medical conditions are well documented, the impact on mental health and on response to stress, which may be an indicator of psychological vulnerability, is not yet well understood. In this study, psychological and physiological responses to stress were examined.

Procedure

Fifty‐three participants aged 18–39 years (n = 25 survivors of childhood or adolescence cancer, n = 28 controls) underwent an experimental stress test, the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Participants were asked to provide repeated evaluations of perceived stress on visual‐analogical scales and blood samples were collected before and after the TSST to measure plasma cortisol.

Results

The psychological perception of stress was not different between the two groups. However, the cancer survivors group showed a higher global plasma cortisol level as well as higher amplitude in the response to the TSST. The global cortisol level in cancer survivors was increased when depression symptoms were present. The subjective perception of stress and the plasma cortisol levels were only marginally correlated in both groups.

Conclusions

It is suggested that the exposure to a life‐threatening experience in childhood/adolescence increases the endocrine response to stress, and that the presence of depressive symptoms is associated with an elevation of plasma cortisol levels. A better knowledge of these mechanisms is important given that the dysregulations of the stress responses may cause psychological vulnerability. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2012; 59: 138–143. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Stripping the Political Cynic: A Psychological Exploration of the Concept of Political Cynicism
Authors: Pattyn Sven , Van Hiel Alain , Dhont Kristof , Onraet Emma
Published: December 2011

The high level of political cynicism in contemporary society is often considered a serious threat to democracy. The concept, however, has received only scant attention in psychology. The current work introduces political cynicism and extensively explores its psychological implications by investigating the concept's validity, predictive utility and status as a dispositional variable. Our results revealed that political cynicism is empirically distinguishable from the closely related constructs of social cynicism and political trust. Furthermore, political cynicism was found to strongly related to a wide range of political variables, such as voting intentions, political normlessness and political estrangement, as well as to broad social attitudes and racial prejudice. Finally, we show that political cynicism yields limited but meaningful relationships with Neuroticism and Agreeableness, although social cynicism is more clearly related to the Five–Factor Model personality dimensions. It is therefore concluded that political cynicism can be reliably measured and distinguished from closely related concepts and that it yields meaningful relationships with other relevant psychological variables. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Resistance to neonicotinoid insecticides in field populations of the Colorado potato beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)
Authors: Szendrei Zsofia , Grafius Edward , Byrne Adam , Ziegler Amos
Published: December 2011

BACKGROUND: Neonicotinoid insecticides were first used commercially for Colorado potato beetle [Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae] control in the United States in 1995, and since then have been critical for management of this pest. Field populations from the northeastern and midwestern United States were tested from 1998 to 2010 for susceptibility to imidacloprid and thiamethoxam using standard topical dose assays with adults.

RESULTS: From 1998 to 2001, imidacloprid resistance was present in only a few locations in the eastern United States. By 2003, imidacloprid resistance was common in the northeastern Unites States. In 2004, imidacloprid resistance in Colorado potato beetle was detected for the first time in the midwestern United States. In 2003, the first case of resistance to thiamethoxam was found in a population from Massachusetts. Neonicotinoid resistance in summer‐generation adults was higher than in overwintered adults from the same locations. By 2009, 95% of the populations tested from the northeastern and midwestern United States had significantly higher LD50 values for imidacloprid than the susceptible population.

CONCLUSIONS: The increasing resistance to neonicotinoid insecticides raises concerns for the continued effective management of Colorado potato beetles in potatoes and highlights the need for more rigorous practice of integrated pest management methods. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Range separated functionals in the density functional based tight‐binding method: Formalism
Authors: Niehaus Thomas A. , Della Sala Fabio
Published: December 2011

A generalization of the density functional based tight‐binding method (DFTB) for the use with range‐separated exchange‐correlation functionals is presented. It is based on the generalized Kohn–Sham (GKS) formalism and employs the density matrix as basic variable in the expansion of the energy functional, in contrast to the traditional DFTB scheme. The GKS‐TB equations are derived and appropriate integral approximations are discussed in detail. Implementation issues and numerical aspects of the new scheme are also covered.

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Graphene growth using propane‐hydrogen CVD on 6H‐SiC(0001): temperature dependent interface and strain
Authors: Michon A. , Largeau L. , Mauguin O. , Ouerghi A. , Vézian S. , Lefebvre D. , Roudon E. , Zielinski M. , Chassagne T. , Portail M.
Published: December 2011

Graphene growth on SiC using propane‐hydrogen CVD has been recently demonstrated. In contrast to the annealing method, in‐plane rotational disorder of graphene can be observed on SiC(0001). In this contribution, we study the effects of growth temperature on the interface between graphene and SiC. We show that growth temperature allows to control the formation of graphene with in‐plane disorder or graphene on a (6√3×6√3)‐R30° interface. Accordingly, grazing incidence X‐ray diffraction evidences an effect of growth temperature on in‐plane strain. These results are discussed on the basis of the hydrogenation of the SiC surface. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Curcumin Attenuates TNF‐α‐induced Expression of Intercellular Adhesion Molecule‐1, Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule‐1 and Proinflammatory Cytokines in Human Endometriotic Stromal Cells
Authors: Kim Ki‐Hyung , Lee Eun Na , Park Jin Kyeong , Lee Ja‐Rang , Kim Ji‐Hyun , Choi Hak‐Jong , Kim Bong‐Seon , Lee Hee‐Woo , Lee Kyu‐Sup , Yoon Sik
Published: December 2011

Curcumin, a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound from Curcuma longa, has long been used in folk medicine as an antiinflammatory remedy in Asian countries. Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological inflammatory disorder in which immune system deregulation may play a role in its initiation and progression. A number of mediators, including cell adhesion molecules such as intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 (VCAM‐1); proinflammatory cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin‐1 (IL‐1), IL‐6 and IL‐8; and chemokines such as monocyte chemotactic protein‐1 (MCP‐1), play key roles in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. The aim of our study was to explore the effect of curcumin on the expression of these critical molecules in human ectopic endometriotic stromal cells isolated from women with endometriosis. Endometriotic stromal cells treated with curcumin showed marked suppression of TNF‐α‐induced mRNA expression of ICAM‐1 and VCAM‐1. Curcumin treatment also significantly decreased the TNF‐α‐induced cell surface and total protein expression of ICAM‐1 and VCAM‐1 in a dose‐dependent manner. In addition, treatment of endometriotic stromal cells with curcumin markedly inhibited TNF‐α‐induced secretion of IL‐6, IL‐8 and MCP‐1. Furthermore, curcumin inhibited the activation of transcription factor NF‐κB, a key regulator of inflammation, in human endometriotic stromal cells. These findings suggest that curcumin may have potential therapeutic uses in the prevention and treatment of endometriosis. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Impact of different initial conditions on the growth of polar lows: idealised baroclinic channel simulations
Authors: Adakudlu Muralidhar
Published: December 2011

The development of a polar low is simulated in an ideal baroclinic channel with the objective of studying the relative influence of different initial conditions on certain characteristics of the polar low. The basic state in the channel has a baroclinic jet at the tropopause level superposed by potential vorticity anomalies. The upper‐level perturbation leads to the genesis of a polar low through baroclinic instability. During its growth, the polar low is driven by a combination of baroclinic and convective processes as the vertical motion associated with the polar low is found to be forced simultaneously by the adiabatic and diabatic omega‐forcing terms in the quasi‐geostrophic omega equation. The degree of baroclinicity, surface heating and the scale of the upper‐level anomaly were each reduced, and static stability increased separately in a series of sensitivity experiments. The results show that the pattern of the vertical motion, the growth rate and phase speed of the polar low are highly sensitive to the modifications in the background conditions. In particular, the surface temperature and baroclinicity appear to be crucial in determining the strength of the vertical motion associated with the polar low. The scale and structure of the polar low are more vulnerable to the scale of the upper‐level anomaly and initial baroclinicity than to the rest of the parameters tested. In all the sensitivity experiments, the formation of the polar low gets delayed and its intensity, in terms of the surface pressure, reduced due to the modified initial conditions. The reduced intensity suppresses the tendency for a vertical coupling of upper‐ and lower‐level features of the polar low. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society
Pitch control based on voltage dip detection for improving the LVRT of wind farm
Authors: Thet Aung Ko , Saitoh Hiroumi
Published: December 2011

For the stability of power systems including large‐scale generation of wind power, wind farms are expected to fulfill the requirement with the capability to remain connected to the systems during a momentary voltage dip occurring in power networks. This has prompted many utilities to adopt the low‐voltage ride‐through (LVRT) of wind turbine generators (WTGs) as one of the requirements in interconnection of large wind farms. This paper presents a new method of pitch angle control for fixed‐speed wind turbine (FSWT) to achieve LVRT capability improvement. The FSWT is equipped with directly grid‐coupled squirrel‐cage induction generator and the LVRT behavior of such wind turbine is closely related to the overspeeding of wind turbine rotor during voltage dip. If the turbine rotor speed can be reduced quickly during voltage dip so as not to rise over the maximum speed, then the sudden disconnection of WTG can be avoided. The proposed pitch control system can modify the pitch angle in the short response time by the coordination of protective relay. Then the pitch angle is adjusted by a feedback proportional integral controller based on the measurement of induction generator terminal voltage. Simulation study shows that the application of the proposed pitch control system can improve the LVRT performance of a wind farm equipped with FSWTs. © 2011 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Partial discharge recognition system for current transformer using neural network and 2D wavelet transform
Authors: Chang Hong‐Chan , Kuo Ying‐Piao , Lin Han‐Wei
Published: December 2011

In this paper, a neural network and two‐dimensional (2D) wavelet transform are applied to recognize partial discharge (PD) patterns on current transformers (CTs). To avoid the discrepancy between simulated results and real experimental data, we adopted seven cast‐resin CTs that were purposely fabricated with various insulation defects as the PD patterns collected samples to actually emulate the various defects incurred often during their production. All measurements are taken in a shielded lab; the commercial TE571 PD detector is adopted to measure PD patterns to ensure the reliability of the PD signals. Next, we extract the patterns' features via a 2D wavelet transform and use the features as the training set of a backpropagation neural network (BNN) to construct the recognition system for CTs' PD patterns. Finally, we add random noises to the measured PD signals to emulate the field diagnosis under a high‐noise environment. The study results indicate that, under a simulated noise magnitude of 30 pC, the recognition rate of the proposed system still can reach around 80%, signifying a great potential in applying the proposed recognition system in field measurements in the future. © 2011 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Evolving asset selection using genetic network programming
Authors: Parque Victor , Mabu Shingo , Hirasawa Kotaro
Published: December 2011

As global financial innovation opens innumerable risks and opportunities, a global view of the asset allocation brings advantages in risk diversification for investments. We propose a novel framework for asset selection under global diversification principles using genetic network programming. Simulations using the stocks, bonds and currencies from relevant financial markets in USA, Europe and Asia show that the proposed framework is effective and offers competitive advantages against the conventional methods in finance and computational fields. © 2011 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Obstetric levator ani muscle injuries: current status
Authors: Schwertner‐Tiepelmann N. , Thakar R. , Sultan A. H. , Tunn R.
Published: December 2011

Levator ani muscle (LAM) injuries occur in 13–36% of women who have a vaginal delivery. Although these injuries were first described using magnetic resonance imaging, three‐dimensional transperineal and endovaginal ultrasound has emerged as a more readily available and economic alternative to identify LAM morphology. Injury to the LAM is attributed to vaginal delivery resulting in reduced pelvic floor muscle strength, enlargement of the vaginal hiatus and pelvic organ prolapse. There is inconclusive evidence to support an association between LAM injuries and stress urinary incontinence and there seems to be a trend towards the development of fecal incontinence. Longitudinal studies with long‐term follow‐up assessing the LAM before and after childbirth are lacking. Furthermore, the consequence of LAM injuries on quality of life due to prolapse and/or urinary and fecal incontinence have not been evaluated using validated questionnaires. Direct comparative studies using the above‐mentioned imaging modalities are needed to determine the true gold standard for the diagnosis of LAM injuries. This would enable consistency in definition and classification of LAM injuries. Only then could high‐risk groups be identified and preventive strategies implemented in obstetric practice. Copyright © 2012 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Clinical implications of machine–probe combinations on obstetric ultrasound measurements used in pregnancy dating
Authors: Axell R. , Lynch C. , Chudleigh T. , Bradshaw L. , Mangat J. , White P. , Lees C.
Published: December 2011

Objective

To investigate the effect of use of different machine–probe combinations on measurement variability and to assess how this variability impacts on accuracy of pregnancy dating.

Methods

Sixteen different ultrasound machine–probe combinations were used for lateral measurement of targets spaced 10 and 40 mm apart and axial measurement of targets spaced 10 and 50 mm apart in an ultrasound phantom, and differences between the measured and true values were determined. The mean of the 40‐mm lateral measurements was used to estimate gestational age using standard obstetric dating tables for crown–rump length (CRL) and femur length (FL) and the mean of the 50‐mm axial measurements was used to estimate gestational age using the obstetric dating tables for biparietal diameter (BPD).

Results

As absolute measurements became larger, differences observed using different machine–probe combinations exceeded those due to intraobserver variability. Maximum dating differences for first‐trimester CRL of 2 days (based on a measured CRL range of 39–42 mm), second‐trimester BPD of 4 days (based on a measured BPD range of 49–52 mm) and FL of 9 days (based on a measured FL range of 39–42 mm) were observed when measurements were transposed to the equivalent gestational age using standard charts.

Conclusion

Differences between measured and true values of biometric measurements reflect both machine–probe and intraobserver variability. Incremental first‐trimester CRL growth with time is rapid, but second‐trimester FL growth is much less so, leaving this lateral measurement more prone to both observer and machine–probe errors. The only axial growth measurement commonly performed is BPD where the measurement differences were intermediate between those of CRL and FL. The differences that can be ascribed to different equipment combinations are in many cases greater than those expected in clinical practice and are of potential importance in determining how fetal biometry is used for dating pregnancies. Copyright © 2012 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Value of the Metastatic Lymph Node Ratio for Predicting the Prognosis of Non‐Small‐Cell Lung Cancer Patients
Authors: Wang Chang‐Li , Li Yue , Yue Dong‐Sheng , Zhang Lian‐Min , Zhang Zhen‐Fa , Sun Bing‐Sheng
Published: December 2011

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between the metastatic lymph node ratio (LNR) and the prognosis of non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

A total of 301 patients with N1 or N2 NSCLC who underwent complete pulmonary resection were analyzed retrospectively. The correlations between the LNR and clinical and pathologic data were analyzed using χ2 test analysis. The prognostic value of the LNR was calculated by univariate Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and multivariate Cox proportional hazard model analysis. The risk groups were classified by a combination of the LNR and pN stage.

Results

The LNR was correlated with age, smoking status, pathologic type, subcarinal lymph node, clinical staging, N stage (P < 0.05), and the number of positive lymph nodes and positive lymph node stations (P < 0.0001). In the univariate analysis, the LNR played an important role in predicting overall survival (OS) (P < 0.0001) and disease‐free survival (P < 0.0001) by Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. In the multivariate analysis, high LNR (>18%) was an independent poor prognostic factor for OS [hazard ratio (HR) 2.5034, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6096–3.8933, P < 0.0001] and DFS (HR 1.9023, 95% CI 1.2465–2.9031, P = 0.0031). Stratification into high‐, medium‐, and low‐risk groups—based on high‐risk factors (LNR > 18%, N2) intermediate‐risk factors (LNR > 18%, N1 or LNR < 18%, N2), and low‐risk factors (LNR < 18%, N1)—could efficiently predicted outcomes (P < 0.0001) of patients with lymph node‐positive NSCLC.

Conclusions

The combination of the LNR and pN status provides a valuable help with prognosis. However, these results must be evaluated further in a large prospective randomized clinical trial.
Successful Gastric Submucosal Tumor Resection Using Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Cooperative Surgery
Authors: Tsujimoto Hironori , Yaguchi Yoshihisa , Kumano Isao , Takahata Risa , Ono Satoshi , Hase Kazuo
Published: December 2011

Background

Laparoscopic wedge resections are increasingly utilized to treat gastric submucosal tumors (SMTs). However, laparoscopic wedge resection is not applicable for tumors located near the gastric inlet or outlet and requires resection of relatively large sections of healthy stomach, particularly if laparoscopic linear staplers are used.

Methods

Twenty consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery (LECS) for resection of gastric SMTs. The procedure was performed under general anesthesia. The mucosal and submucosal layers around the tumor were circumferentially dissected using endoscopic submucosal dissection via intraluminal endoscopy. Subsequently, the seromuscular layer involving three‐fourths of the line of the incision around the tumor was laparoscopically dissected. The submucosal tumor was then exteriorized to the abdominal cavity and dissected with an endoscopic linear stapling device.

Results

In all cases, the LECS procedure was successful in dissecting the gastric SMT. The tumor was located in the upper third of the stomach in eight cases, in the middle third in eight cases, and in the lower third in four cases. The mean operating time was 157.0 ± 68.4 minutes, and the mean intraoperative blood loss was 3.5 ± 6.4 ml. The postoperative course was uneventful in all cases.

Conclusions

We demonstrated the feasibility and satisfactory surgical outcomes after LECS for gastric SMT. With LECS, relatively small sections of healthy gastric wall are resected without postoperative morbidity or mortality. Thus, LECS is safe, easy, and beneficial for laparoscopic resection of SMTs, although care should be taken to avoid gastric juice contamination.
Synergy between the pharmacological chaperone 1‐deoxygalactonojirimycin and the human recombinant alpha‐galactosidase A in cultured fibroblasts from patients with Fabry disease
Authors: Porto Caterina , Pisani Antonio , Rosa Margherita , Acampora Emma , Avolio Valeria , Tuzzi Maria Rosaria , Visciano Bianca , Gagliardo Cristina , Materazzi Serena , la Marca Giancarlo , Andria Generoso , Parenti Giancarlo
Published: December 2011

Fabry disease (FD) is an X‐linked inherited disease due to alpha‐galactosidase A (alpha‐Gal A) deficiency and characterized by lysosomal storage of globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) and related neutral glycosphingolipids. Storage of these substrates results in multisystem manifestations, including renal failure, cardiomyopathy, premature myocardial infarctions, stroke, chronic neuronopathic pain, gastrointestinal disturbances, and skin angiokeratoma. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with recombinant human alpha‐galactosidase A (rh‐alpha‐Gal A) is now available for the treatment of FD and in most patients results in clinical improvement or stabilization. However, ERT efficacy may vary in different tissues and its long‐term effects remain to be defined. As a strategy to improve the efficacy of ERT, we tested the combination of rh‐alpha‐Gal A with the chaperone molecule 1‐deoxynojirimycin (DGJ) in cultured FD fibroblasts with negligible residual enzyme activity. Compared to the effects of rh‐alpha‐Gal A alone, co‐administration of DGJ and rh‐alpha‐Gal A resulted in better correction (4.8 to 16.9‐fold) of intracellular alpha‐Gal A activity, and increased amounts of the enzyme within the lysosomal compartment. The clearance of lyso‐Gb3, one of the substrates stored in FD and a potent inhibitor of alpha‐Gal A, was also significantly improved with the co‐administration of DGJ and rh‐alpha‐Gal A. This study provides additional evidence for a synergistic effect between ERT and pharmacological chaperone therapy and supports the idea that the efficacy of combination protocols may be superior to ERT alone.
Management of eclampsia at Assiut University Hospital, Egypt
Authors: Abd El Aal Diaa E.M. , Shahin Ahmed Y.
Published: December 2011

Objective

To evaluate the protocol used for management of eclampsia at Assiut University Hospital, Assiut, Egypt.

Methods

In a prospective cross‐sectional study, data were collected from 1998 women treated for eclampsia at Assiut University Hospital between January 1990 and January 2010, including 1594 cases of prepartum eclampsia, 75 of intrapartum eclampsia, 16 of intercurrent eclampsia, and 313 of postpartum eclampsia. The treatment regimen included use of nifedipine as an antihypertensive, magnesium sulfate as an anticonvulsant, rapid interruption of pregnancy, and admission to the ICU. Data were evaluated for control of blood pressure, prevention and control of convulsions, and maternal and perinatal outcomes.

Results

Magnesium sulfate was effective in controlling convulsions in 98.1% of women. Nifedipine initiated a smooth decline in blood pressure (P> 0.0001). There were 79 maternal deaths (3.95%). Maternal morbidity occurred in 439 (22%) women. Twenty‐seven percent of women delivered vaginally (most of these women were admitted postpartum). Perinatal mortality occurred in 7.9% of cases.

Conclusion

A combination of nifedipine as an antihypertensive drug, magnesium sulfate as an anticonvulsant, rapid interruption of pregnancy, and managing the patients in the ICU resulted in a marked improvement in the outcome for both mother and fetus at Assiut University Hospital.
The onset of unsteadiness of two-dimensional bodies falling or rising freely in a viscous fluid: a linear study
Authors: Assemat Pauline , Fabre David , Magnaudet Jacques
Published: December 2011

We consider the transition between the steady vertical path and the oscillatory path of two-dimensional bodies moving under the effect of buoyancy in a viscous fluid. Linearization of the Navier–Stokes equations governing the flow past the body and of Newton’s equations governing the body dynamics leads to an eigenvalue problem, which is solved numerically. Three different body geometries are then examined in detail, namely a quasi-infinitely thin plate, a plate of rectangular cross-section with an aspect ratio of 8, and a rod with a square cross-section. Two kinds of eigenmodes are observed in the limit of large body-to-fluid mass ratios, namely ‘fluid’ modes identical to those found in the wake of a fixed body, which are responsible for the onset of vortex shedding, and four additional ‘aerodynamic’ modes associated with much longer time scales, which are also predicted using a quasi-static model introduced in a companion paper. The stability thresholds are computed and the nature of the corresponding eigenmodes is investigated throughout the whole possible range of mass ratios. For thin bodies such as a flat plate, the Reynolds number characterizing the threshold of the first instability and the associated Strouhal number are observed to be comparable with those of the corresponding fixed body. Other modes are found to become unstable at larger Reynolds numbers, and complicated branch crossings leading to mode switching are observed. On the other hand, for bluff bodies such as a square rod, two unstable modes are detected in the range of Reynolds number corresponding to wake destabilization. For large enough mass ratios, the leading mode is similar to the vortex shedding mode past a fixed body, while for smaller mass ratios it is of a different nature, with a Strouhal number about half that of the vortex shedding mode and a stronger coupling with the body dynamics.
Settling of a vesicle in the limit of quasispherical shapes
Authors: Boedec G. , Jaeger M. , Leonetti M.
Published: December 2011

Vesicles are drops of radius of a few tens of micrometres bounded by an impermeable lipid membrane of approximately 4 nm thickness in a viscous fluid. The salient characteristics of such a deformable object are a membrane rigidity governed by flexion due to curvature energy and a two-dimensional membrane fluidity characterized by a local membrane incompressibility. This provides unique properties with strong constraints on the internal volume and membrane area. Yet, when subjected to external stresses, vesicles exhibit a large deformability. The deformation of a settling vesicle in an infinite flow is studied theoretically, assuming a quasispherical shape and expanding all variables of the problem onto spherical harmonics. The contribution of thermal fluctuations is neglected in this analysis. A system of equations describing the temporal evolution of the shape is derived with this formalism. The final shape and the settling velocity are then determined and depend on two dimensionless parameters: the Bond number and the excess area. This simultaneous study leads to three stationary shapes, an egg-like shape already observed in an analogous experimental configuration in the limit of weak flow magnitude (Chatkaew, Georgelin, Jaeger & Leonetti, Phys. Rev. Lett, 2009, vol. 103(24), 248103), a parachute-like shape and a non-trivial non-axisymmetrical shape. The final shape depends on the initial conditions: prolate or oblate vesicle and orientation compared with gravity. The analytical solution in the small deformation regime is compared with numerical results obtained with a three-dimensional code. A very good agreement between numerical and theoretical results is found.
The effects of n-3 PUFA and intestinal lymph drainage on high-mobility group box 1 and Toll-like receptor 4 mRNA in rats with intestinal ischaemia–reperfusion injury
Authors: He Gui-Zhen , Zhou Kai-Guo , Zhang Rui , Chen Xue-Feng
Published: December 2011

The aim of the present study was to investigate the impacts of n-3 PUFA and lymph drainage (D) on intestinal ischaemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. A total of forty-eight Sprague–Dawley male rats were randomly divided into three groups (n 16): normal diet (N), enteral nutrition (EN) and EN plus n-3 PUFA. Each group was further divided into lymph drainage (I/R+D) and non-drainage (I/R) sub-groups (n 8). After 5 d with different nutrition regimens, the rats were subjected to 60 min ischaemia by clamping the superior mesenteric artery, followed by 120 min reperfusion. At the same time, the rats in the I/R+D sub-groups were treated with intestinal lymph drainage for 180 min. Organs were harvested and we detected the cytokine, endotoxin, and expression of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 mRNA and its endogenous ligand high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1). We found that the serum levels of HMGB1, inflammatory cytokine and endotoxin in the three I/R+D sub-groups were significantly lower than those in the N (I/R) and EN (I/R) sub-groups (P < 0·05). The activation of NF-κB and the expression of HMGB1 and TLR4 mRNA significantly increased in the jejunum, ileum, liver and lung after intestinal I/R injury, but notably lower in the I/R+D groups than those in I/R (P < 0·05). The injury degree and HMGB1 expression were decreased in the n-3 PUFA group than in the N and EN groups. We preliminarily concluded that nutrition with n-3 PUFA and/or intestinal lymph drainage may reduce HMGB1 and inflammatory cytokine in serum and lymph and inhibit the expression and signal transmission of TLR4 mRNA, thereby alleviating intestinal I/R injury in rats.
Patterns and trends of beverage consumption among children and adults in Great Britain, 1986–2009
Authors: Ng Shu Wen , Ni Mhurchu Cliona , Jebb Susan A. , Popkin Barry M.
Published: December 2011

Many dietary recommendations include reduction of excessive intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and other energy-rich beverages such as juices and alcohol. The present study examines surveys of both individual dietary intake data and household food expenditure surveys to provide a picture of patterns and trends in beverage intake and purchases in Great Britain from 1986 to 2009, and estimates the potential for pricing policy to promote more healthful beverage purchase patterns. In 2008–9, beverages accounted for 21, 14 and 18 % of daily energy intake for children aged 1·5–18 and 4–18 years, and adults (19–64 years), respectively. Since the 1990s, the most important shifts have been a reduction in consumption of high-fat dairy products and an increased consumption of fruit juices and reduced-fat milk among preschoolers, children and adolescents. Among adults, consumption of high-fat milk beverages, sweetened tea and coffee and other energy-containing drinks fell, but reduced-fat milk, alcohol (particularly beer) and fruit juice rose. In testing taxation as an option for shifting beverage purchase patterns, we calculate that a 10 % increase in the price of SSB could potentially result in a decrease of 7·5 ml/capita per d. A similar 10 % tax on high-fat milk is associated with a reduction of high-fat milk purchases by 5 ml/capita per d and increased reduced-fat milk purchase by 7 ml/capita per d. This analysis implies that taxation or other methods of shifting relative costs of these beverages could be a way to improve beverage choices in Great Britain.
Fruit, vegetables, fibre and micronutrients and risk of US renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Brock Kaye E. , Ke Liang , Gridley Gloria , Chiu Brian C.-H. , Ershow Abby G. , Lynch Charles F. , Graubard Barry I. , Cantor Kenneth P.
Published: December 2011

The association between renal cell cancer (RCC) and intake of fruit, vegetables and nutrients was examined in a population-based case–control study of 323 cases and 1827 controls; dietary intake was obtained using a mailed questionnaire. Cancer risks were estimated by OR and 95 % CI, adjusting for age, sex, smoking, obesity, hypertension, proxy status, alcohol consumption and dietary fat intake and energy. Intake of vegetables was associated with a decreased risk of RCC (OR 0·5; 95 % CI 0·3, 0·7;Ptrend = 0·002), (top compared to the bottom quartile of intake). When intake of individual nutrients was investigated, vegetable fibre intake was associated with decreased risks (OR 0·4; 95 % CI 0·2, 0·6;P < 0·001), but this was not the case with fruit fibre (OR 0·7; 95 % CI 0·4, 1·1) or grain fibre (OR 1·0; 95 % CI 0·6, 1·5). β-Cryptoxanthin and lycopene were also associated with decreased risks, but when both were included in a mutually adjusted backwards stepwise regression model, only β-cryptoxanthin remained significant (OR 0·5; 95 % CI 0·3, 0·8). When other micronutrients and types of fibre were investigated together, only vegetable fibre and β-cryptoxanthin had significant trends (P < 0·01) (OR 0·6; 95 % CI 0·3, 0·9) (OR 0·5; 95 % CI 0·3, 0·9), respectively. These findings were stronger in those aged over 65 years (Pinteraction = 0·001). Among non-smokers, low intake of cruciferous vegetables and fruit fibre was also associated with increased risk of RCC (Pinteraction = 0·03); similar inverse associations were found for β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene and vitamin C. When nutrients were mutually adjusted by backwards regression in these subgroups, only β-cryptoxanthin remained associated with lower RCC risk. These findings deserve further investigation in ongoing prospective studies when sample size becomes sufficient.
The Purge of the SA Reconsidered: “An Old Putschist Trick”?
Authors: Hancock Eleanor
Published: December 2011

Early in the morning of June 30, 1934, SA Chief of Staff Ernst Röhm and other leaders of the National Socialist storm troopers, theSturmabteilungor SA, were arrested by Adolf Hitler in the Bavarian resort town, Bad Wiessee. Further arrests followed across Germany during the day. Many SA leaders, various German politicians, two generals, some dissident Nazis, and some of Röhm's friends were shot. Finally, Röhm himself was killed late the next day. This was the only violent internal party purge to occur in the entire history of Nazism. Some ninety people were killed, with the greatest proportion being in Berlin, Munich, and Silesia. At the time the purge was justified by the allegation that the SA leaders were plotting to overthrow Hitler, carry out a “second revolution,” and seize power in collusion with former Chancellor General von Schleicher (also shot) and with the aid of an unnamed foreign power (France). The need to rid the SA of corruption and decadence was emphasized; in this context Hitler's alleged discovery of Röhm's homosexuality was publicized.
Drives in Dispute: The West German Student Movement, Psychoanalysis, and the Search for a New Emotional Order, 1967–1971
Authors: Kauders Anthony D.
Published: December 2011

Summarizing the activities of the Sigmund-Freud-Institute (SFI) in Frankfurt am Main in 1969, its director Alexander Mitscherlich painted a bleak picture of recent events. Psychoanalysis had always faced opposition in Germany, he wrote, but of late Freudianism contended with several broadsides simultaneously: critics still maintained that it placed too much emphasis on sexuality; some added that behavioral therapy or sophisticated medication did a better job at treating patients than long-term analysis; yet others argued that Freud's teachings may have been relevant in 1900, but that society no longer resembled turn-of-the-twentieth-century Vienna. On top of all this, Mitscherlich complained, a new generation demanded that psychoanalysis figure as chief witness for an antiauthoritarian education that emphasized indulgence rather than sublimation. “Society” continued to make life difficult for psychoanalysis, then, and it was for this reason that the government needed to assist the SFI in its efforts to train a new generation of analysts in Germany.
God and Freedom: Radical Liberalism, Republicanism, and Religion in Spain, 1808–1847
Authors: Barnosell Genís
Published: December 2011

This article analyses the religious aspects of Spanish republicanism of the 1830s and 1840s. From the case of Catalonia, the most industrialized region of Spain, it is concluded that radical liberalism elaborated a synthesis of freedom and religion that was presented as an alternative to traditional religiosity. Re-elaborating old myths popular during the War of Independence of 1808–1814, in addition some liberals and republicans presented their political project in millenarianist terms. This millenarianism was due to the radicalism with which they interpreted the confrontation with political opponents, one of whom was the established Church. It follows that the religiosity and millenarianism exhibited by these republicans also involved a strong anti-clericalism. At the same time, in the political and cultural context of Spain, these proposals were not seen by their followers as a negation of divinity but as its truest expression.
Modernizing the Manileña: Technologies of conspicuous consumption for the well-to-do woman,circa1880s–1930s
Authors: REYES RAQUEL A. G.
Published: December 2011

From the late nineteenth century onwards, a new range of European and American technologies, powered by electricity and gas, and intended for use on the body and in the home—especially appliances for the domestic kitchen—began to appear in Manila. Electro-mechanical vibratory devices and steam-powered massagers for the body; hair waving and curling machines; and a multitude of technologies for the domestic kitchen, from stoves and water heaters to a gamut of electric and gas gadgetry that included percolators, boilers, electric waffle-irons, grills, and refrigerators (or ice-boxes, their precursor) were targeted largely at the affluent female consumer with promises to improve her physical appearance and health or make her daily life more comfortable. Their introduction and impact in the Philippines can tell a number of compelling stories—the desirability of European or American bourgeois culture, how the trappings of Western lifestyles were imagined, the extent to which the use and purchase of certain technologies aimed at replicating or emulating those lifestyles, or, as this paper explores, the gendered technological infrastructure of the ‘good life’. In this story, modern technologies designed for domestic settings and for use on women's bodies made manifest a myriad of desires and aspirations—prestige, status, cosmopolitanism, modernity, and urbanity. They also articulated a particular sensuousness and pleasure. Electro-vibratory devices, hair styling machines, and kitchen appliances could be experienced by all the senses and thus exerted a visceral appeal; their use proclaimed an enthusiasm for modern technology which, for the first time, emphasized the relevance of modern technology to women's everyday lives by the transformative effects they promised.
The sociocommunicative deficit subgroup in anorexia nervosa: autism spectrum disorders and neurocognition in a community-based, longitudinal study
Authors: Anckarsäter H. , Hofvander B. , Billstedt E. , Gillberg I. C. , Gillberg C. , Wentz E. , Råstam M.
Published: December 2011

Background

A subgroup of persons with anorexia nervosa (AN) have been proposed to have sociocommunicative problems corresponding to autism spectrum disorders [ASDs, i.e. DSM-IV pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs): autistic disorder, Asperger's disorder, PDD not otherwise specified (NOS)]. Here, clinical problems, personality traits, cognitive test results and outcome are compared across 16 subjects (32%) with teenage-onset AN who meet or have met ASD criteria (AN+ASD), 34 ASD-negative AN subjects and matched controls from a longitudinal Swedish study including four waves of independent assessments from the teens to the early thirties.

Method

The fourth wave included the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID)-I and the SCID-II (cluster C, i.e. ‘anxious’ PDs) interviews, the Asperger Syndrome Diagnostic Interview, self-assessments by the Autism Spectrum Quotient and the Temperament and Character Inventory, neurocognitive tests by subscales from the Wechsler scales, continuous performance tests, Tower of London, and Happé's cartoons.

Results

The ASD assessments had substantial inter-rater reliability over time (Cohen's κ between 0.70 and 0.80 with previous assessments), even if only six subjects had been assigned a diagnosis of an ASD in all four waves of the study, including retrospective assessments of pre-AN neurodevelopmental problems. The AN+ASD group had the highest prevalence of personality disorders and the lowest Morgan–Russell scores. The non-ASD AN group also differed significantly from controls on personality traits related to poor interpersonal functioning and on neurocognitive tests.

Conclusions

A subgroup of subjects with AN meet criteria for ASDs. They may represent the extreme of neurocognitive and personality problems to be found more generally in AN.
Human rabies in rural Bangladesh
Authors: HOSSAIN M. , AHMED K. , BULBUL T. , HOSSAIN S. , RAHMAN A. , BISWAS M. N. U. , NISHIZONO A.
Published: December 2011

Rabies is a major public health problem in Bangladesh, where most of the population live in rural areas. However, there is little epidemiological information on rabies in rural Bangladesh. This study was conducted in 30 upazilas (subdistricts) covering all six divisions of the country, to determine the levels of rabies and animal bites in Bangladesh. The total population of these upazilas was 6 992 302. A pretested questionnaire was used and data were collected by interviewing the adult members of families. We estimated that in Bangladesh, 166 590 [95% confidence interval (CI) 163 350–170 550] people per year are bitten by an animal. The annual incidence of rabies deaths in Bangladesh was estimated to be 1·40 (95% CI 1·05–1·78)/100 000 population. By extrapolating this, we estimated that 2100 (95% CI 1575–2670) people die annually from rabies in Bangladesh. More than three-quarters of rabies patients died at home. This community-based study provides new information on rabies epidemiology in Bangladesh.
The euro crisis: storm, meet structure
Authors: TB  , WTE
Published: December 2011

On the way to its decision of 7 September 2011 about aid measures for Greece and the euro rescue package, the Bundesverfassungsgericht found itself in the middle of a storm. It had the option of helping the winds blow away the European currency altogether. Instead the Court showed restraint and responsibility towards both the German and the European constitutions. In doing so it gave expression not only to the limits of the law in a state of overwhelming emergency, but also to some of the creative particulars of the situation.
The Full Effect of EU Law and of Constitutional Review in Belgium and France after the Melki Judgment
Authors: Bossuyt Marc , Verrijdt Willem
Published: December 2011

Coincidence of human rights review by national and European courts – Courts questioning and delimiting each other's jurisdiction – Evolution of judicial review of legislation in Belgium and France – Rules giving priority to national human rights review over European human rights review – Melki judgment Court of Justice – Conformity with Union law – Balance between effectiveness of EU review and effectiveness of constitutional review – Effectiveness of human rights – Obligatory a priori human rights review of secondary Union law