bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multi-drug Resistant Tuberculosis: Experience in Bogra
Authors: Rahman M Azizur , Hussain M Wasim , Alam Ferdous , Jahan M Sarowar
Published: September 2009

This descriptive study was carried out from February 1995 to December 2004. Sputum positive tuberculosis patients who were not cured by re-treatment with Category-2 regimen under DOTS were included in this study. Information were collected from the patients, treatment cards and treatment registers. Among 13633 sputum positive TB patients registered during study period, 12511 were new smear positive (NSP) TB patients and1122 were re-treatment smear positive (RSP) TB patients. RSPTB patients were found significantly (p<.001) decreased in respect to NSP TB in subsequent years. Percentage of Chronic TB patients in respect to total smear positive TB patients registered, in first three years, was higher (1.25%, 1.3% &1.5% respectively) and the percentage sharply decreased in the subsequent years and it remained near base line in last five years. There was no significant sex differences in Chronic TB cases. Age of Chronic TB patients was 37±12 years and 59%(23) were literate. All the Chronic TB patients were residing in their home and 44% from sador upazilla including Bogra town. 62% of Chronic TB patients were from economically in average group and 25% were poor. 85% Chronic TB patients had no associated diseases. Associated diseases of Chronic TB patients were diabetes, bronchiectasis and bronchitis. 56% Chronic TB patients were smoker but none of them had habit of drug abuse. 62% of them had history of incomplete Rifampicin containing anti TB treatment from general practitioners. About the reasons of discontinuation of treatment 50%(12) stated that they felt better and discontinued, 29%(7) stated that they could not afford treatment and 21%(5) stated that they did not get result from the treatment and discontinued. 23% of Chronic TB patients had history of Cat -I regimen relapse or failure under DOTS. During the study period 26%(10) died and duration of death from onset of declared MDR-TB was 22.4±17.5 months. Nearly half (57%) of Chronic TB patients had no information, 15% remain negative with treatment and 13% remain smear positive. Age, sex, literacy, homelessness, associated diseases, poor economical condition, availability of treatment facility had less impact on irregular/ incomplete treatment. Unsupervised anti TB treatment with inadequate information and motivation prior to treatment starting is important cause of incomplete treatment. DOTS treatment for all TB patients with adequate motivation can check RSP-TB patients and thereby Chronic TB patients. Once MDR-TB is identified the patients should be isolated from the community and adequate treatment should be arranged for them.   doi: 10.3329/taj.v18i1.3302 TAJ 2005; 18(1): 30-36
Odontogenic Neck Infections
Authors: Mahmood Mir Hasan Shaheel , Al Mahmood Syed Sadatul Afsar
Published: September 2009

Involvement of the deep cervical spaces as a result of odontogenic infection is a life threatening event. Unfortunately this minor tooth related infections occasionally become serious and life threatening where aggressive medical and surgical care is necessary to prevent disastrous result.   doi: 10.3329/taj.v18i1.3308 TAJ 2005; 18(1): 55-59
The OMERACT Initiative. Towards a Reference Approach to Derive QALY for Economic Evaluations in Rheumatology
Authors: BOONEN ANNELIES , MAETZEL ANDREAS , DRUMMOND MICHAEL , SUAREZ-ALMAZOR MARIA , HARRISON MARK , WELCH VIVIAN , TUGWELL PETER S.
Published: September 2009

Within the OMERACT Economics Workgroup, an initiative was started to work towards consensus on the approach to calculate quality-adjusted life-years (QALY) in rheumatology. We report on a first meeting May 7, 2008, in Toronto attended by rheumatologists and experts in QALY. Following a summary of an international QALY workshop of pharmacoeconomists conducted under the umbrella of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR), participating experts identified a series of high-level generic principles to be considered for QALY estimations. The OMERACT workgroup then addressed specific issues rheumatologists should concentrate on in research to build consensus on QALY in rheumatology; discussion was based on results of a Web-based survey, conducted prior to the meeting, to identify attributes of a QALY considered important and approaches considered suitable for the QALY estimations in rheumatology. One priority was to further explore indirect approaches to QALY estimation as representation of patients’ preference for health in clinical decisions and to explore the additional value of patients’ preferences versus societal preferences in allocation decisions. The role of the different descriptive systems and their influence on the QALY, the role of the visual analog scale to value preferences, and comparison of methods to integrate utility over time were also identified as research priorities. Approaches should be easy to apply, easy to understand by different parties, reproducible, and sensitive to change.
Progress in Assessing Physical Function in Arthritis: PROMIS Short Forms and Computerized Adaptive Testing
Authors: FRIES JAMES F. , CELLA DAVID , ROSE MATTHIAS , KRISHNAN ESWAR , BRUCE BONNIE
Published: September 2009

Objective.

Assessing self-reported physical function/disability with the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ) and other instruments has become central in arthritis research. Item response theory (IRT) and computerized adaptive testing (CAT) techniques can increase reliability and statistical power. IRT-based instruments can improve measurement precision substantially over a wider range of disease severity. These modern methods were applied and the magnitude of improvement was estimated.

Methods.

A 199-item physical function/disability item bank was developed by distilling 1865 items to 124, including Legacy Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and Physical Function-10 items, and improving precision through qualitative and quantitative evaluation in over 21,000 subjects, which included about 1500 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Four new instruments, (A) Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information (PROMIS) HAQ, which evolved from the original (Legacy) HAQ; (B) “best” PROMIS 10; (C) 20-item static (short) forms; and (D) simulated PROMIS CAT, which sequentially selected the most informative item, were compared with the HAQ.

Results.

Online and mailed administration modes yielded similar item and domain scores. The HAQ and PROMIS HAQ 20-item scales yielded greater information content versus other scales in patients with more severe disease. The “best” PROMIS 20-item scale outperformed the other 20-item static forms over a broad range of 4 standard deviations. The 10-item simulated PROMIS CAT outperformed all other forms.

Conclusion.

Improved items and instruments yielded better information. The PROMIS HAQ is currently available and considered validated. The new PROMIS short forms, after validation, are likely to represent further improvement. CAT-based physical function/disability assessment offers superior performance over static forms of equal length.
OARSI/OMERACT Criteria of Being Considered a Candidate for Total Joint Replacement in Knee/Hip Osteoarthritis as an Endpoint in Clinical Trials Evaluating Potential Disease Modifying Osteoarthritic Drugs
Authors: DOUGADOS MAXIME , HAWKER GILLIAN , LOHMANDER STEFAN , DAVIS AILEEN M. , DIEPPE PAUL , MAILLEFERT JEAN-FRANCIS , GOSSEC LAURE
Published: September 2009

Objective.

A disease-modifying osteoarthritic drug (DMOAD) should interfere with the cartilage breakdown observed and improve symptoms or prevent deterioration of the patient’s clinical condition. We propose a composite index including structural and symptomatic variables of osteoarthritis (OA) as criteria for being considered a candidate for total joint replacement as an endpoint in clinical trials evaluating potential DMOAD.

Methods.

An OARSI/OMERACT task force conducted this study in 3 steps: (1) The 3 main domains — pain, function, structure — were revisited; (2) For each of the domains a “non-acceptable state” and a “relevant” progression for their structure were defined; and (3) a set of criteria was proposed combining the information from these 3 domains.

Results.

A questionnaire was elaborated for the domains “pain” and “function.” Systematic research of the literature and evaluation of different databases concluded that the domain “structure” should be evaluated by radiological joint space width in millimeters. An unacceptable radiographic progression was defined as a change in the joint space width over the measurement error. An international, cross-sectional study is proposing a definition of a “nonacceptable symptom state.”

Conclusion.

The objective of the ongoing OARSI/OMERACT initiative is to propose criteria for being considered a candidate for total joint replacement to be used as an endpoint in clinical trials evaluating potential DMOAD. The preliminary steps of this initiative have been completed.
Observations from the OMERACT Drug Safety Summit, May 2008
Authors: SIMON LEE S. , STRAND C. VIBEKE , BOERS MAARTEN , BROOKS PETER M. , HENRY DAVID , TUGWELL PETER S.
Published: September 2009

Due to mounting concern about determination of benefit and risk in the context of product development and clinical practice the OMERACT Executive identified the need to bring together a variety of specialists to define risk. At the Drug Safety Summit held at OMERACT 9, specialists spoke on their given topics and the group considered risk in the context of formally posed questions.
Eficiencia térmica en soldadura de la aleación AA6061-T6 por arco eléctrico indirecto modificado y digitalización de señales de intensidad de corriente
Authors: Ambriz R. R. , Barrera G. , García R. , López V. H.
Published: September 2009

En el presente trabajo de investigación, se presentan los resultados de la eficiencia térmica en la soldadura de una aleación de aluminio 6061-T6 por medio de la técnica de arco eléctrico indirecto modificado (AEIM) [1]. Los valores se encuentran en un rango de 90-94 % dependiendo de la temperatura de precalentamiento y fueron obtenidos a través de un balance térmico que considera a la energía aportada por el arco eléctrico, la cantidad de masa fundida de los perfiles de soldadura obtenidos y las variables operativas en el proceso de unión, poniendo especial atención en los datos recogidos en el proceso de digitalización para la intensidad de corriente del arco eléctrico. También se em - plearon algunos parámetros adimensionales para determinar el grado de aproximación de la porción del baño fundido, el ancho de la zona afectada por el calor (ZAC) y sus correspondientes aproximaciones con los resultados experimentales.
Susceptibilidad a grietas inducidas por hidrógeno en ambiente corrosivo de H2S de juntas soldadas de acero API 5L-X80
Authors: Hilton J. , Fals H. C. , Trevisan R. E.
Published: September 2009

En este trabajo fue realizado un estudio sobre la susceptibilidad al agrietamiento inducido por el hidrógeno de uniones soldadas de aceros API –X80, expuestas a un ambiente saturado en ácido sulfhídrico (H2S). Fue empleado el ensayo G-BOP modificado. El proceso de alambre tubular, con dos metales de aporte, E71-T1 y E71-T8K6, fue usado, manteniendo constante los parámetros del proceso de soldadura. Las probetas fueron soldadas a temperatura ambiente y también tras precalentamiento a 100ºC. Los bloques soldados del ensayo G-BOP modificado fueron expuestos a un ambiente saturado en H2S, según recomienda la norma NACE TM0284. Los cordones de soldadura fueron caracterizados microestructuralmente y realizados análisis de hidrógeno residual en las probetas. Se observaron y calcularon las áreas de las superficies de fractura de las grietas inducidas por el hidrógeno y se analizaron los modos de fractura ocurridos. Se constató que el precalentamiento a 100 ºC fue suficiente para evitar el agrietamiento. También fue encontrado que el alambre tubular E71-T8K6 fue más susceptible a este tipo de agrietamiento, y el modo mixto de fractura, típico de este fenómeno, fue predominante.
Estudio de los procesos de degradación de metales empleados en obras del patrimonio cultural de Andalucía, España
Authors: Duran A. , Herrera L. K. , Jiménez de Haro M. C. , Pérez-Rodríguez J. L. , Justo A.
Published: September 2009

El estudio de los procesos de alteración de metales como plomo, bronce, hierro y aleaciones de estaño-mercurio empleados en algunas de las más importantes ornamentaciones elegidas del patrimonio cultural de Andalucía es el principal objetivo de este trabajo. Hidrocerusita y cerusita se detectaron en sellos de plomo almacenados en compartimentos de cartón. El bronce se altera a atacamita debido a la contaminación ambiental, factor que es también responsable de la formación de compuestos polvorientos a partir del hierro. La corrosión de la amalgama de estaño-mercurio de espejos antiguos produce óxidos de estaño y restos de mercurio líquido procedentes de la fase sólida.
Prognostics and Health Management of Electronics
Authors: Pecht Michael
Published: September 2009

Reliability is the ability of a product or system to perform as intended (i.e., without failure and within specified performance limits) for a specified time, in its life‐cycle environment. Commonly used electronics reliability prediction methods (e.g., Mil‐HDBK‐217, 217‐PLUS, PRISM, Telcordia, FIDES) based on handbook methods have been shown to be misleading and provide erroneous life predictions. The use of stress and damage models permits a far superior accounting of the reliability and the physics of failure (PoF); however, sufficient knowledge of the actual operating and environmental application conditions of the product is still required.

This article presents a PoF‐based prognostics and health management approach for effective reliability prediction. PoF is an approach that utilizes knowledge of a product's life‐cycle loading and failure mechanisms to perform reliability modeling, design, and assessment. This method permits the assessment of the reliability of a system under its actual application conditions. It integrates sensor data with models that enablein situassessment of the deviation or degradation of a product from an expected normal operating condition and the prediction of the future state of reliability. This article presents a formal implementation procedure, which includes failure modes, mechanisms, and effects analysis, data reduction and feature extraction from the life‐cycle loads, damage accumulation, and assessment of uncertainty. Applications of PoF‐based prognostics and health management are also discussed.
Molecular genetic perspectives on the Indian social structure
Authors: Reddy B. Mohan , Tripathy Vikal , Kumar Vikrant , Alla Nirmala
Published: September 2009

For historical reasons, the Indian subcontinent is endowed with enormous ethnic, cultural, and genetic heterogeneity of its people. In the process of understanding the dynamics and sociocultural complexity of Indian society, anthropologists have come up with a number of hypotheses involving certain social/cultural processes that may modulate evolutionary processes. In this article, we outline some of those hypotheses and present molecular genetic evidences, both published and unpublished, to demonstrate the effects of those social/cultural processes. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Human population genetic diversity as a function of SNP type from HapMap data
Authors: Garte Seymour
Published: September 2009

Data from the international HapMap project were mined to determine if the degree of genetic differentiation (Fst) is dependent on single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) category. The Fst statistic was evaluated across all SNPs for each of 30 genes and for each of five chromosomes. A consistent decrease in diversity between Europeans and Africans was seen for nonsynonymous coding region SNPs compared to the three other SNP categories: synonymous SNPs, UTR, and intronic SNPs. This suggests an effect of balancing selection in reducing interpopulation genetic diversity at sites that would be expected to influence phenotype and therefore be subject to selection. This result is inconsistent with the concept of large population specific genetic differences that could have applications in “racialized medicine.” Am. J. Hum. Biol. 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cerebrospinal fluid amyloid β40 is decreased in cerebral amyloid angiopathy
Authors: Verbeek Marcel M. , Kremer Berry P. H. , Rikkert Marcel Olde , Van Domburg Peter H. M. F. , Skehan Maureen E. , Greenberg Steven M.
Published: September 2009

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy is caused by deposition of the amyloid β protein in the cerebral vasculature. In analogy to previous observations in Alzheimer disease, we hypothesized that analysis of amyloid β40 and β42 proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid might serve as a molecular biomarker. We observed strongly decreased cerebrospinal fluid amyloid β40 (p < 0.01 vs controls or Alzheimer disease) and amyloid β42 concentrations (p < 0.001 vs controls and p < 0.05 vs Alzheimer disease) in cerebral amyloid angiopathy patients. The combination of amyloid β42 and total tau discriminated cerebral amyloid angiopathy from controls, with an area under the receiver operator curve of 0.98. Our data are consistent with neuropathological evidence that amyloid β40 as well as amyloid β42 protein are selectively trapped in the cerebral vasculature from interstitial fluid drainage pathways that otherwise transport amyloid β proteins toward the cerebrospinal fluid. Ann Neurol 2009;66:245–249
Increased frontoparietal integration after stroke and cognitive recovery
Authors: Sharp David J. , Turkheimer Federico E. , Bose Subrata K. , Scott Sophie K. , Wise Richard J. S.
Published: September 2009

The neural mechanism by which patients spontaneously recover cognitive function after brain injury is not understood. Here we demonstrate for the first time that aphasic patients, who have largely recovered language function, show increased frontoparietal integration. A similar change in functional connectivity is also observed when normal subjects are exposed to adverse listening conditions. Thus, compensation for inefficient language processing is associated with increased integration between parts of the language network critical to language control. This change reflects greater top‐down control of speech comprehension and provides a mechanism by which language impairments after stroke may be compensated for. ANN NEUROL 2010
Rituximab in patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis: Results of a randomized double‐blind placebo‐controlled multicenter trial
Authors: Hawker Kathleen , O'Connor Paul , Freedman Mark S. , Calabresi Peter A. , Antel Jack , Simon Jack , Hauser Stephen , Waubant Emmanuelle , Vollmer Timothy , Panitch Hillel , Zhang Jiameng , Chin Peter , Smith Craig H. ,   OLYMPUS trial group
Published: September 2009

Objective

Rituximab, a monoclonal antibody selectively depleting CD20+ B cells, has demonstrated efficacy in reducing disease activity in relapsing‐remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). We evaluated rituximab in adults with primary progressive MS (PPMS) through 96 weeks and safety through 122 weeks.

Methods

Using 2:1 randomization, 439 PPMS patients received two 1,000mg intravenous rituximab or placebo infusions every 24 weeks, through 96 weeks (4 courses). The primary endpoint was time to confirmed disease progression (CDP), a prespecified increase in Expanded Disability Status Scale sustained for 12 weeks. Secondary endpoints were change from baseline to week 96 in T2 lesion volume and total brain volume on magnetic resonance imaging scans.

Results

Differences in time to CDP between rituximab and placebo did not reach significance (96‐week rates: 38.5% placebo, 30.2% rituximab; p = 0.14). From baseline to week 96, rituximab patients had less (p < 0.001) increase in T2 lesion volume; brain volume change was similar (p = 0.62) to placebo. Subgroup analysis showed time to CDP was delayed in rituximab‐treated patients aged <51 years (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.52; p = 0.010), those with gadolinium‐enhancing lesions (HR = 0.41; p = 0.007), and those aged <51 years with gadolinium‐enhancing lesions (HR = 0.33; p = 0.009) compared with placebo. Adverse events were comparable between groups; 16.1% of rituximab and 13.6% of placebo patients reported serious events. Serious infections occurred in 4.5% of rituximab and <1.0% of placebo patients. Infusion‐related events, predominantly mild to moderate, were more common with rituximab during the first course, and decreased to rates comparable to placebo on successive courses.

Interpretation

Although time to CDP between groups was not significant, overall subgroup analyses suggest selective B‐cell depletion may affect disease progression in younger patients, particularly those with inflammatory lesions. Ann Neurol 2009;66:460–471
Striking a balance between retaining populations of protected seahorses and maintaining swimming nets
Authors: Harasti David , Glasby Tim M. , Martin‐Smith Keith M.
Published: September 2009

The fish family Syngnathidae (seahorses, pipefish, pipehorses and seadragons) is fully protected in New South Wales, Australia, but in some countries certain species are threatened by unsustainable collecting, capture as incidental bycatch, and habitat degradation.

Within Sydney Harbour, two species of seahorses (Hippocampus abdominalis and Hippocampus whitei) have been found to colonize artificial structures such as jetty pylons and protective netted swimming enclosures. These protective nets are subject to fouling from epibiotic growth (algae, ascidians, bryozoans, etc.) and rubbish, which causes the nets to collapse from the additional weight. Local authorities employ diving contractors on an ad hoc basis to remove the epibiota from nets.

Surveys showed a significant decline in the numbers of both seahorse species at one site following the replacement of a net, and recovery of the H. whitei population took more than 15 months.

A manipulative experiment tested the importance of epibiotic growth for seahorses. H. whitei, tagged with individual marks, were allocated to sections of a net that had undergone different cleaning procedures. Seahorse size, position on the net and total population abundance were recorded every 2 weeks over a 3 month period. It was demonstrated that seahorses have a significant positive association with epibiotic growth and proximity to the sea floor. Seahorse populations also showed seasonal variation in abundance with increased numbers on the net during the breeding season (spring–summer).

This project has led to the development of best practice net cleaning procedures for local authorities in Sydney Harbour to manage growth on the nets while minimizing impacts on seahorse populations. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Changes in frigate tuna populations on the south coast of Sri Lanka: evidence of the shifting baseline syndrome from analysis of fisher observations
Authors: Venkatachalam A. J. , Price A. R. G. , Chandrasekara S. , Senaratna Sellamuttu S. , Kaler J.
Published: September 2009

This study examines changes in frigate tuna populations in southern Sri Lanka, based on reports from fishers in three age classes. Significantly higher values for best day's catch and largest specimen ever caught were obtained by older fishers than younger ones. Values were also significantly higher during early years, providing clear evidence of a decrease in the resource over time (1951–2007).

Older fishers reported best catches further inshore and in shallower waters which, on becoming depleted, forced younger generations to fish in less exploited areas further offshore. Heavy harvesting is also evident from the significantly greater number of sites reported by older fishers as being depleted, compared with observations of younger fishers.

These findings contrast markedly with catch and catch per effort patterns from statistics for frigate tuna and bullet tuna (combined) in southern Sri Lanka (1994–2004). No stock decline is evident, and at least one report in the early 1990s advocated increasing exploitation rates by 40% to maximize yields.

Although not a primary research objective, fisher observations on frigate tuna populations were also analysed to help evaluate possible effects of the 2004 tsunami. Most fishers reported post‐tsunami decline, but mainly from a larger new generation of fishers, rather than extra boats provided by aid money or (direct or indirect) biophysical impacts from the tsunami.

Reliance on fishery statistics, especially for mixed species and over a limited period, can be risky and easily mask true stock status. Evidence of harvesting effects on frigate tuna in southern Sri Lanka is evident using questionnaire data over a longer time scale.

This study provides another compelling case of the ‘shifting baseline syndrome’, whereby fishers of different ages have altered perceptions/experiences of their environment. This may be its first reported occurrence in Sri Lanka. Traditional knowledge from this and similar surveys may provide national fishery management with valuable insights and help improve conservation prospects for frigate tuna and other marine resources. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Size distribution approaches for monitoring and conservation of coastal Cymodocea habitats
Authors: Orfanidis S. , Papathanasiou V. , Gounaris S. , Theodosiou TH.
Published: September 2009

Cymodocea nodosa's leaf length distribution was studied as an easily measurable indicator to monitor and conserve Macedonian, North Aegean, Greek coastal habitats.

Three Cymodocea meadows off the eastern Kavala Gulf coast (Nea Karvali, Erateino, Agiasma), with that of Nea Karvali close to an industrial area being the most degraded, were sampled during the seagrass main growing season in July 2004. Two further meadows, one pristine to less degraded (Brasidas, Gulf of Kavala) and one degraded (Biamyl, Inner Thessaloniki Gulf), were sampled as benchmarks in July 2005. The results were evaluated using Gaussian fit curves, and non‐parametric and nested parametric ANOVA on a hierarchy of spatial scales: area (tens of metres), site (hundreds of metres) and meadow (kilometres).

Frequency (%) distribution of leaf length values and CymoSkew index variation were best associated with anthropogenic stress. Frequency (%) distribution of adult and intermediate photosynthetic leaf length values revealed a unimodal distribution possible to be fitted, at least at pristine to less degraded meadows, by normal distribution (R2>0.5).

Statistically significant variation was estimated for CymoSkew index, a quantitative expression of leaf length asymmetry, on the meadow scale (P<0.001). Biamyl (3.82) and Nea Karvali (3.64) were indicated as heavily degraded meadows, Erateino (2.93) as a degraded meadow, Agiasma (2.18) as a meadow with the first signs of degradation, and Brasidas (1.68) as a pristine to less degraded meadow. These results in combination with other meadow specific biotic parameters were used to suggest a preliminary angiosperm ‘Ecological Status Classes’ classification scheme useful for the implementation of WFD in the north Aegean Sea.

The CymoSkew index seems to respond to lower levels of stress than is needed for other more conservative plant modules and therefore, could be regarded as an early warning indicator of Cymodocea habitat degradation. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Keeping dissection alive for medical students
Authors: Chambers James , Emlyn‐Jones Daniel
Published: September 2009

Traditional dissection teaching is being reduced in a number of medical schools, particularly in the United Kingdom. In response to this, 12 medical students from Warwick University, UK, traveled to the Island of Grenada for an intensive extracurricular dissection course at St. George's University. This course not only benefited the host university through the creation of prosections for teaching but also allowed the participants to completely immerse themselves in anatomical study, by developing their dissection skills and consolidating anatomical knowledge. We believe that similar courses could be easily implemented by other medical schools, thereby allowing future students to keep traditional dissection alive. Anat Sci Educ 2: 302–303, 2009. © 2009 American Association of Anatomists.
Automatic testing and assessment of neuroanatomy using a digital brain atlas: Method and development of computer‐ and mobile‐based applications
Authors: Nowinski Wieslaw L. , Thirunavuukarasuu Arumugam , Ananthasubramaniam Anand , Chua Beng Choon , Qian Guoyu , Nowinska Natalia G. , Marchenko Yevgen , Volkau Ihar
Published: September 2009

Preparation of tests and student's assessment by the instructor are time consuming. We address these two tasks in neuroanatomy education by employing a digital media application with a three‐dimensional (3D), interactive, fully segmented, and labeled brain atlas. The anatomical and vascular models in the atlas are linked to Terminologia Anatomica. Because the cerebral models are fully segmented and labeled, our approach enables automatic and random atlas‐derived generation of questions to test location and naming of cerebral structures. This is done in four steps: test individualization by the instructor, test taking by the students at their convenience, automatic student assessment by the application, and communication of the individual assessment to the instructor. A computer‐based application with an interactive 3D atlas and a preliminary mobile‐based application were developed to realize this approach. The application works in two test modes: instructor and student. In the instructor mode, the instructor customizes the test by setting the scope of testing and student performance criteria, which takes a few seconds. In the student mode, the student is tested and automatically assessed. Self‐testing is also feasible at any time and pace. Our approach is automatic both with respect to test generation and student assessment. It is also objective, rapid, and customizable. We believe that this approach is novel from computer‐based, mobile‐based, and atlas‐assisted standpoints. Anat Sci Educ 2:244–252, 2009. © 2009 American Association of Anatomists.
Design and stability discussion of an hybrid intelligent controller for an unordinary system
Authors: Mohammadzaheri Morteza , Chen Lei
Published: September 2009

In this paper, the pitch angle control of a lab model helicopter is discussed. This problem has some specific features. As a major unusual feature, it is observed that the steady state control command is completely dependent on the setpoint, and for different setpoints, different steady state control commands are needed to keep the error around zero. Moreover, the system is one with highly oscillating dynamics. In order to solve this control problem, two controllers are designed: an artificial neural network (ANN), whose input is the setpoint, is used to provide steady state control command, and a fuzzy inference system (FIS), whose input is error, is used to provide transient control command. The total control command is the sum of the two aforementioned control commands. It is proven that both ANN and FIS are boundary‐input boundary‐output (BIBO) systems. Using this fact and considering two experimental assumptions, the closed‐loop stability is also proven. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society
Power, testosterone, and risk‐taking
Authors: Ronay Richard , von Hippel William
Published: September 2009

Power has been found to increase risk‐taking (Anderson & Galinsky, 2006) but this effect appears to be moderated by individual differences in power motivation (Maner, Gailliot, Butz, & Peruche, 2007). Among individuals high in power motivation, the experience of power leads to more conservative decisions. As testosterone is associated with the pursuit of power and status (Dabbs & Dabbs, 2000), we reasoned that high‐testosterone individuals primed with power might be similarly risk‐avoidant. Conversely, we hypothesized that high‐testosterone individuals primed with low power, would see risk‐taking as a vehicle for pursuing potential gains to their status and resources. We report findings from two experiments that are consistent with these predictions. In Experiment 1, higher testosterone males (as indicated by second–fourth digit ratio) showed greater risk‐taking when primed with low power. Experiment 2 replicated this effect and also showed that when primed with high power, higher testosterone males took fewer risks. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Assay and stability‐indicating micellar electrokinetic chromatography method for the simultaneous determination of valacyclovir, acyclovir and their major impurity guanine in pharmaceutical formulations
Authors: Al Azzam Khaldun M. , Saad Bahruddin , Makahleah Ahmad , Aboul‐Enein Hassan Y. , Elbashir Abdalla A.
Published: September 2009

A micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) method for the simultaneous determination of the antiviral drugs acyclovir and valacyclovir and their major impurity, guanine, was developed. The influences of several factors (surfactant and buffer concentration, pH, applied voltage, capillary temperature and injection time) were studied. Using tyramine hydrochloride as internal standard, the analytes were all separated in about 4 min. The separation was carried out in reversed polarity mode at 28°C, 25 kV and using hydrodynamic injection (15 s). The separation was effected in a fused‐silica capillary 100 μm × 56 cm and a background electrolyte of 20 mM citric acid–1 M Tris solution (pH 2.75), containing 125 mM sodium dodecyl sulphate and detection at 254 nm. The method was validated with respect to linearity, limit of detection and quantification, accuracy, precision and selectivity. Calibration curves were linear over the range 0.1–1 μg/mL (guanine) and from 0.1 to 120 μg/mL for both valacyclovir and acyclovir. The relative standard deviations of intra‐ and inter‐day migration times and corrected peak areas were less than 5.0%. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of the analytes in tablets and creams. From the previous study it is concluded that the stability‐indicating method developed for acyclovir and valacyclovir can be used for analysis of the drug in various stability samples. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Gas phase optical rotation calculated from coupled cluster theory with zero‐point vibrational corrections from density functional theory
Authors: Pedersen Thomas Bondo , Kongsted Jacob , Crawford T. Daniel
Published: September 2009

Molecular vibrations can have a significant influence on gas phase specific optical rotations. Mainly due to the large number of nuclear degrees of freedom in most chiral molecules, theoretical predictions of vibrational corrections quickly become prohibitively expensive. Here, we investigate an approach in which the purely electronic contribution is calculated at the coupled cluster singles and doubles level, while the zero‐point vibrational correction is computed using the less demanding density functional theory (B3LYP functional). By comparing to experimental gas phase results for seven molecules and two wavelengths, we find that the mixed coupled cluster/B3LYP approach performs significantly better than pure B3LYP predictions. In fact, we find that it is more important to use high‐level electron correlation for the electronic contribution than to include zero‐point vibrational corrections. Chirality 21:E68–E75, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Flow of Newtonian and power law liquids in tube bundles
Authors: Singh U. K. , Chhabra R. P.
Published: September 2009

In this work, the annular (tangential) flow of Newtonian and non‐Newtonian fluids in tube bundles has been studied experimentally. Extensive pressure drop data has been obtained embracing wide ranges of the Reynolds number (13–6600) and for two test modules of different geometrical arrangements, but of similar overall void fraction. Preliminary experiments suggest that the pressure drop is mainly determined by the overall void fraction of the bundle and is relatively insensitive to the detailed geometrical configuration of the bundle. A simple predictive correlation has been developed which reconciles the present results for Newtonian and power law fluids with acceptable levels of reliability.
Early Treatment for Non‐ST‐Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome Is Associated with Appropriate Discharge Care
Authors: Fermann Gregory J. , Raja Ali S. , Peterson Eric D. , Roe Matthew T. , Hoekstra James W. , Milford‐Beland Sarah , Diercks Deborah B. , Pollack Charles V. , Frank Peacock W. , Summers Richard , Magnus Ohman E. , Brian Gibler W.
Published: September 2009

Background

Acute treatment is associated with improved in‐hospital outcomes for patients with non‐ST‐segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE ACS).

Hypothesis

Patients who receive appropriate acute treatment are more likely to receive guideline‐recommended therapy at hospital discharge.

Methods

Use of aspirin (ASA), β‐blockers, and clopidogrel was evaluated in the first 24 hours and upon hospital discharge according to the 2002 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC AHA) guidelines for NSTE ACS. We compared the relationship between 3 groups: (1) ASA therapy given in the emergency department (ED); (2) ASA therapy not given in the ED, but within the first 24 hours; and (3) no acute ASA treatment. The ASA data set includes 10, 468 high risk patients with positive cardiac biomarkers or ischemic ST‐segment changes on ECG from the Can Rapid Risk Stratification of Unstable Angina Patients Suppress Adverse Outcomes with Early Implementation of the ACC/AHA Guidelines (CRUSADE) Quality Improvement Initiative. β‐Blocker therapy was evaluated in 11, 838 and clopidogrel treatment in 17, 513 patients presenting to over 345 US hospitals.

Results

Patients who received acute ASA in the ED, ASA in the first 24 hours but not in the ED, and patients who did not receive ASA therapy within 24 hours had discharge ASA treatment rates of 91.8%, 91.4%, and 55.6%, respectively (P < 0.0001). Patients eligible for β‐blocker and clopidogrel therapy had discharge β‐blocker treatment rates of 91.1%, 92.4%, and 46.6% (P < 0.0001), and discharge clopidogrel treatment rates of 86.6%, 92.4%, and 38.5% (P < 0.0001), respectively.

Conclusions

Acute treatment for NSTE ACS in‐hospital is associated with appropriate treatment on hospital discharge. This link between early treatment and discharge therapy may lead to new approaches ensuring the delivery of high‐quality, guideline‐based care for patients with NSTE ACS. Copyright © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Transcatheter Closure of Congenital Coronary Artery Fistulae: Immediate and Long‐Term Follow‐Up Results
Authors: Zhu Xian‐Yang , Zhang Duan‐Zhen , Han Xiu‐Min , Cui Chun‐Sheng , Sheng Xiao‐Tang , Wang Qi‐Guang , Cha Yong‐Mei , Abhiram Prasad , Rihal Charanjit S.
Published: September 2009

Background

Transcatheter closure of coronary artery fistulae (CAF) has emerged as an alternative to surgery, but there are no long‐term outcome results.

Objective

We report immediate and long‐term results in 24 patients after transcatheter closure of congen‐ ital CAF.

Methods

A total of 24 patients aged 5 to 56 years old with congenital CAF underwent attempted percutaneous transcatheter closure using various devices between November 1998 and August 2008. The immediate closure results and clinical follow‐up were reviewed.

Results

Of the 24 patients, 20 (83.3%) underwent successful transcatheter closure using various devices. An angiogram right after device deployment revealed complete occlusion in 15 patients (75%) and trivial‐ to mild‐ residual flow in 5 patients (25%). Four patients (20%) had transient ST‐T wave changes after the procedure. The left ventricular end‐diastolic volume decreased from 165±31.4 mm3 to 128.6±24.4 mm3 (P = 0.012) 24 hours after procedure, and the cardiothoracic ratio from 0.57±0.02 to 0.53±0.01 (P = 0.003). Follow‐up was 100% complete and ranged from 3 months to 10 years. There were no early or late deaths. All patients were asymptomatic with complete closure of CAF except 1 patient (5%) who had a recurrence of shunt at 6‐month follow‐up, which was re‐closed by percutaneous technique.

Conclusion

Transcatheter closure of CAF is feasible and safe in anatomically suitable vessels and is a promising alternative to surgery in most patients. Copyright © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Internally oxidized silver contact materials – a case for the elastoplasticity of an inhomogeneous body
Authors: Huang J. , Strunk H. P. , Wasserbäch W. , Franz S.
Published: September 2009

The mechanical properties of oxide dispersion strengthened silver after various extrusions, which is a material optimized for electrical contacts and typical of a mechanically inhomogeneous polycrystalline state, are analysed and correlated with the arising microstructure. It is shown that the positive (in view of engineering applications) changes in yield stress and ductility can be attributed essentially to the oxide particle distribution that becomes induced increasingly homogeneous within the extruded rods by the extrusions. These changes can well be understood by a simulation of a composite on the basis of Voigt‐type averaging of elastic properties. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
The identification and enumeration of dendritic cell populations from individual mouse spleen and Peyer's patches using flow cytometric analysis
Authors: Duriancik David M. , Hoag Kathleen A.
Published: September 2009

Dendritic cell (DC) research currently involves pooling of tissues from multiple animals followed by enrichment techniques to obtain sufficient numbers of DCs for analysis. Enrichment techniques take advantage of DC adherence, buoyant density properties, and/or positive or negative selection of cell populations using monoclonal antibodies. However, enrichment techniques may significantly change the maturation and/or activation status of DCs or selectively eliminate one or more subpopulations of DCs. To overcome these drawbacks, we designed a multicolor flow cytometric technique for simultaneous analysis of DC populations from tissues of individual mice. The spleens and Peyer's patches were mechanically and enzymatically digested, then incubated with a panel of six monoclonal antibody‐fluorochrome direct conjugate reagents. A BD® Biosciences LSR II flow cytometer and FCS Express® software were used to identify three subtypes of mature DCs (myeloid, lymphoid, and plasmacytoid), precursor DCs, polymorphonuclear neutrophils, B lymphocytes, and Gr‐1+/CD8α+ memory T lymphocytes in the spleen. Likewise, we also identified these DC subpopulations and B lymphocytes in the Peyer's patches. The three key parameters in analysis of the DC populations were bi‐exponential plotting in data analysis, collection of a minimum of 50,000 total events, and accurate color compensation. This procedure to analyze DCs from individual mice can lead to further understanding of the role of DCs in many other model systems as well as better understanding of how dietary or physiological factors may affect in vivo DC homeostasis. © 2009 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
FDE index for goodness‐of‐fit between measured and calculated response signals
Authors: Dragovich Jeff J. , Lepage Andres
Published: September 2009

A method is presented for determining the goodness‐of‐fit between measured and calculated structural response signals. The method is termed as the frequency domain error (FDE) index, which is a value between 0 and 1 where zero indicates a perfect correlation. The FDE is calculated from the Fourier spectra of the measured and calculated waveforms, using a relatively simple calculation procedure, readily implemented using standard fast Fourier transform (FFT) libraries. The FDE is demonstrated herein using three different types of problems: simple harmonic waves, a large number of earthquake response simulations, and a set of limited simulations. Along with the FDE concept, effective methods for displaying the results are presented. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Activated Monocytes in Peritumoral Stroma of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Promote Expansion of Memory T Helper 17 Cells
Authors: Kuang Dong-Ming , Peng Chen , Zhao Qiyi , Wu Yan , Chen Min-Shan , Zheng Limin
Published: September 2009

Although cancer patients exhibit a generalized immunosuppressive status, substantial evidence indicates that the inflammatory reaction at a tumor site can promote tumor growth and progression. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is usually derived from inflamed cirrhotic liver with extensive leukocyte infiltration. We recently found that proinflammatory T helper (Th)17 cells are accumulated in HCC tissue, where they promote disease progression by fostering angiogenesis. Here we show that interleukin (IL)-17-producing cells were enriched predominantly in peritumoral stroma of HCC tissues, and their levels were well correlated with monocyte/macrophage density in the same area. Most peritumoral CD68+ cells exhibited an activated phenotype. Accordingly, tumor-activated monocytes were significantly superior to the suppressive tumor macrophages in inducing expansion of Th17 cells from circulating memory T cells

in vitro

with phenotypic features similar to those isolated from HCCs. Moreover, we found that tumor-activated monocytes secreted a set of key proinflammatory cytokines that triggered proliferation of functional Th17 cells. Inhibition of monocytes/macrophages inflammation in liver markedly reduced the level of tumor-infiltrating Th17 cells and tumor growth

in vivo

.

Conclusion:

The proinflammatory Th17 cells are generated and regulated by a fine-tuned collaborative action between different types of immune cells in distinct HCC microenvironments, and allows the inflammatory response of activated monocytes to be rerouted in a tumor-promoting direction. Selectively modulating the “context” of inflammatory response in tumors might provide a novel strategy for anticancer therapy. (Hepatology 2009.)
the Homeobox Gene Hex Regulates Hepatocyte Differentiation From Embryonic Stem Cell–Derived Endoderm
Authors: Kubo Atsushi , Kim Yon Hui , Irion Stefan , Kasuda Shogo , Takeuchi Mitsuaki , Ohashi Kazuo , Iwano Masayuki , Dohi Yoshiko , Saito Yoshihiko , Snodgrass Ralph , Keller Gordon
Published: September 2009

We investigated the role of the hematopoietically expressed homeobox (

Hex

) in the differentiation and development of hepatocytes within embryonic stem cell (ESC)–derived embryoid bodies (EBs). Analyses of hepatic endoderm derived from

Hex

−/− EBs revealed a dramatic reduction in the levels of albumin (

Alb

) and alpha-fetoprotein (

Afp

) expression. In contrast, stage-specific forced expression of

Hex

in EBs from wild-type ESCs led to the up-regulation of

Alb

and

Afp

expression and secretion of

Alb

and transferrin. These inductive effects were restricted to c-kit+ endoderm-enriched EB-derived populations, suggesting that

Hex

functions at the level of hepatic specification of endoderm in this model. Microarray analysis revealed that

Hex

regulated the expression of a broad spectrum of hepatocyte-related genes, including fibrinogens, apolipoproteins, and cytochromes. When added to the endoderm-induced EBs, bone morphogenetic protein 4 acted synergistically with Hex in the induction of expression of

Alb

,

Afp

, carbamoyl phosphate synthetase, transcription factor 1, and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α. These findings indicate that Hex plays a pivotal role during induction of liver development from endoderm in this

in vitro

model and suggest that this strategy may provide important insight into the generation of functional hepatocytes from ESCs. (Hepatology 2010.)