bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Piecewise affine systems approach to control of biological networks
Authors: Imura Jun-Ichi , Kashima Kenji , Kusano Masami , Ikeda Tsukasa , Morohoshi Tomohiro
Published: October 2010

In terms of a piecewise affine system representation, which is a kind of hybrid system model, this article discusses a series of approaches to modelling, analysing and synthesizing a biological network such as a gene-regulatory network. First, the input assignment problem, the controllable state set problem (CSP) and the input trajectory generation problem are emphasized as control problems to be addressed for biological networks. Subsequently, after the modelling issue on biological networks developed in the systems and control community is briefly explained, the CSP is described in detail with reference to control of the quorum-sensing system in the pathogen
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
. Finally, an optimal control design method to the quorum-sensing system is proposed as a solution to the input trajectory generation problem.
Stochastic hybrid systems for studying biochemical processes
Authors: Singh Abhyudai , Hespanha João P.
Published: October 2010

Many protein and mRNA species occur at low molecular counts within cells, and hence are subject to large stochastic fluctuations in copy numbers over time. Development of computationally tractable frameworks for modelling stochastic fluctuations in population counts is essential to understand how noise at the cellular level affects biological function and phenotype. We show that stochastic hybrid systems (SHSs) provide a convenient framework for modelling the time evolution of population counts of different chemical species involved in a set of biochemical reactions. We illustrate recently developed techniques that allow fast computations of the statistical moments of the population count, without having to run computationally expensive Monte Carlo simulations of the biochemical reactions. Finally, we review different examples from the literature that illustrate the benefits of using SHSs for modelling biochemical processes.
Mathematical modelling of prostate cancer growth and its application to hormone therapy
Authors: Tanaka Gouhei , Hirata Yoshito , Goldenberg S. Larry , Bruchovsky Nicholas , Aihara Kazuyuki
Published: October 2010

Hormone therapy in the form of androgen deprivation is a major treatment for advanced prostate cancer. However, if such therapy is overly prolonged, tumour cells may become resistant to this treatment and result in recurrent fatal disease. Long-term hormone deprivation also is associated with side effects poorly tolerated by patients. In contrast, intermittent hormone therapy with alternating on- and off-treatment periods is a possible clinical strategy to delay progression to hormone-refractory disease with the advantage of reduced side effects during the off-treatment periods. In this paper, we first overview previous studies on mathematical modelling of prostate tumour growth under intermittent hormone therapy. The model is categorized into a hybrid dynamical system because switching between on-treatment and off-treatment intervals is treated in addition to continuous dynamics of tumour growth. Next, we present an extended model of stochastic differential equations and examine how well the model is able to capture the characteristics of authentic serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) data. We also highlight recent advances in time-series analysis and prediction of changes in serum PSA concentrations. Finally, we discuss practical issues to be considered towards establishment of mathematical model-based tailor-made medicine, which defines how to realize personalized hormone therapy for individual patients based on monitored serum PSA levels.
Uptake of hepatitis C antibody testing in patients with end‐stage liver disease in Glasgow, 1993–2007
Authors: McDonald S. A. , Hutchinson S. J. , Cameron S. , Bird S. M. , Mills P. R. , McLeod A. , Goldberg D. J.
Published: October 2010

Summary.  Individuals infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) need to be diagnosed well before developing end‐stage liver disease to benefit from treatment. We aimed to ascertain what proportion of cases had been tested for HCV to inform on the effectiveness of current guidelines. Record linkage between national databases of HCV tests, hospital discharges and deaths identified 10 645 persons who were hospitalized or had died with mention of end‐stage liver disease in Glasgow, Scotland, between 1993 and 2007. We estimated HCV test uptake and prevalence of HCV infection within the study population. The associations between both HCV test uptake and HCV‐antibody status and sex, age group and deprivation quintile were estimated using logistic regression. We found that 43% of those hospitalized (n = 9153) and 23% of those who otherwise died (n = 1492) with first‐time mention of end‐stage liver disease had been tested for HCV during this period. Test uptake in those hospitalized increased from 13 (95% CI: 12–14%) in 1993–1997 to 58% (56–59%) in 2003–2007. The adjusted odds of being tested for HCV were significantly higher for men (OR=1.3, 95% CI: 1.2–1.5), for ages 25–54 (25–34 years: 2.7, 95% CI: 2.1–3.4; 35–44 years: 2.3, 95% CI: 2.0–2.6; 45–54 years: 1.5, 95% CI: 1.4–1.7) compared with 55+ years, and for those residing in the two most deprived quintiles (1.1, 95% CI: 1.0–1.2). Twenty‐eight per cent of the HCV testees aged 25–44 years were HCV infected. These results highlight the continuing need for raising awareness among medical professionals for comprehensive HCV testing in patients with liver disease.
Syndrome of inappropriate anti‐diuretic hormone in Kawasaki disease
Authors: Mori Jiro , Miura Masaru , Shiro Hiroyuki , Fujioka Kenichiro , Kohri Takeo , Hasegawa Tomonobu
Published: October 2010

Background:  The pathogenesis of hyponatremia in acute Kawasaki disease (KD) remains unclear. A recent case report of KD complicated by syndrome of inappropriate anti‐diuretic hormone (SIADH) led us to determine the prevalence of SIADH in acute KD patients.

Methods:  Subjects were 39 Japanese KD patients (2–84 months of age, 25 males and 14 females) treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), 2 g/kg/day and oral aspirin. SIADH was defined when hyponatremic patients (serum sodium concentration <135 mEq/L) had decreased serum osmolality <280 mOsm/kg H2O, elevated urine sodium concentration >20 mEq/L and elevated urine osmolality >100 mOsm/kg H2O without dysfunctions of renal, thyroid or adrenal gland. We also studied the relation between clinical course of SIADH and the amount of infused fluid during IVIG.

Results:  Before IVIG, 27 patients (69%) had hyponatremia and 11 (28% of total; 41% of hyponatremic patients) had SIADH while after IVIG, 13 (33%) hyponatremia and four (10%; 31% of hyponatremic patients) SIADH. Among 11 patients with SIADH before IVIG, SIADH improved in 10 after IVIG, but hyponatremia persisted in five. Significant correlation was observed between serum sodium concentration after IVIG and infusion amount in SIADH patients (r=−0.64, P= 0.03), but not in non‐SIADH patients.

Conclusions:  This is the first report to show that SIADH is common as a cause of hyponatremia in acute KD and hence careful management of water and sodium is warranted.
WIKINOMICS: THE SEQUEL
Authors: CRAINER STUART
Published: October 2010

Ever‐optimistic Don Tapscott and Anthony Williams, co‐authors of Wikinomics (Atlantic Books, 2008) and, individually, of a number of other books that study the Internet and its relation to society, are now working on a new book, one for which they're using the Internet to determine its title.
TRENDS TO TRACK
Authors: Kumar NIRMALYA
Published: October 2010

Investment and growth in emerging markets will bring new opportunities, but with them added responsibility. Will companies be able to rise to meet the new responsibility agenda? Deloitte's John Connolly thinks so and argues that the business case is overwhelming.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: MIND THE GAP
Authors: PETERS GEORGINA
Published: October 2010

Isabel Fernandez‐Mateo‘Cumulative gender disadvantage in contract employment’, American Journal of Sociology 114, no.4, 2009.
Expert Opinion: Efficacy of superficial chemical peels in active acne management – what can we learn from the literature today? Evidence‐based recommendations
Authors: Dréno B , Fischer TC , Perosino E , Poli F , Viera MS , Rendon MI , Berson DS , Cohen JL , Roberts WE , Starker I , Wang B
Published: October 2010

Background  Superficial chemical peels offer therapeutic results in a convenient, affordable treatment. Many clinicians use these peels in the treatment of acne and acne‐prone oily skin.

Objectives  This article examines the evidence base that supports the widespread use of superficial peels in this setting.

Methods  A search of the English language medical literature was performed to identify clinical trials that formally evaluated the use of chemical peeling in active acne.

Results  Search of the literature revealed very few clinical trials of peels in acne (N = 13); a majority of these trials included small numbers of patients, were not controlled and were open label. The evidence that is available does support the use of chemical peels in acne as all trials had generally favourable results despite differences in assessments, treatment regimens and patient populations. Notably, no studies of chemical peels have used an acne medication as a comparator. As not every publication specified whether or not concomitant acne medications were allowed, it is hard to evaluate clearly how many of the studies evaluated the effect of peeling alone. This may be appropriate, however, given that few clinicians would use superficial chemical peels as the sole treatment for acne except in rare instances where a patient could not tolerate other treatment modalities.

Conclusions  In the future, further study is needed to determine the best use of chemical peels in this indication.
Spectrum of autoantibodies other than anti‐desmoglein in pemphigus patients
Authors: Mejri K. , Abida O. , Kallel‐Sellami M. , Haddouk S. , Laadhar L. , Zarraa I.R. , Ben Ayed M. , Zitouni M. , Mokni M. , Lahmar H. , Fezaa B. , Turki H. , Tron F. , Masmoudi H. , Makni S.
Published: October 2010

Background  Pemphigus is a life‐threatening autoimmune blistering disease mediated by autoantibodies against adhesion molecule of the skin. Its concurrence with systemic and organ‐specific autoimmune disease was described in case reports.

Objectives  To evaluate the presence of a broad spectrum of organ‐specific and non‐organ‐specific autoantibodies other than anti‐desmoglein antibodies in pemphigus patients.

Patients and methods  Serum samples were obtained from 105 pemphigus foliaceus (PF) patients, 51 pemphigus vulgaris (PV) patients and 50 controls. Both indirect immunofluorescence assay and ELISA were used to assess the presence of autoantibodies related to connective tissue diseases, autoimmune hepatitis, vasculitis, rheumatoid arthritis, coeliac disease, diabetes and thyroiditis.

Results  Significant difference was observed between the three groups for anti‐thyroglobulin antibodies in the pemphigus foliaceus group (18% vs. 4%, P = 0.03). A significantly higher occurrence of IgM anti‐cardiolipin (P = 0.03), IgG anti‐reticulin (P = 0.01) and IgG anti‐gliadin antibodies (P = 0.008) were observed in the PV group. Cases with more than four autoantibodies were frequently positives for both anti‐desmoglein 1 and anti‐desmoglein 3.

Conclusion  Autoantibodies other than anti‐desmoglein antibodies are not rare in pemphigus patients. Clinical and serological follow‐up of pemphigus patients with positive autoantibodies are needed to clarify their impact in disease evolution.
Nonverbal Learning Disability explained: the link to shunted hydrocephalus
Authors: Rissman Barbara
Published: October 2010

Accessible summary

 Children with a Nonverbal Learning Disability (NLD) resulting from shunted hydrocephalus and spina bifida face many difficulties not experienced by those with a language learning disability.

 As they grow older and more autonomy is expected, friendships became harder to sustain and daily life can be full of fear if the nonverbal learning disability is not identified and managed.

 This paper explains the theorised cause of nonverbal learning disability – damage to right hemisphere white matter or myelin.

 Damage is believed to cause problems with planning, organisation, time management, problem‐solving, decision‐making and friendships, and the mismatch with articulate speech and a good vocabulary causes a functional profile that is difficult for educationists or nonmedical readers to understand.

 By linking the medical condition to the learning disability, this paper aims to reduce misunderstanding and false accusations of laziness. Implications and the Way Forward provide early guidelines to families, educators and others.

 The ‘final common pathway’ that links shunted hydrocephalus to nonverbal learning disability is explained in comprehensible language.

A nonverbal learning disability is believed to be caused by damage, disorder or destruction of neuronal white matter in the brain’s right hemisphere and may be seen in persons experiencing a wide range of neurological diseases such as hydrocephalus and other types of brain injury (Harnadek & Rourke 1994). This article probes the relationship between shunted hydrocephalus and nonverbal learning disability. Description of hydrocephalus and intelligence associated with hydrocephalus concludes with explication of the ‘final common pathway’ that links residual damage caused by the hydrocephalic condition to a nonverbal learning disability (Rourke & Del Dotto 1994, p. 37). The paper seeks to assist teachers, teacher aides, psychologists, guidance officers, support workers, parents and disability service providers whose role is to understand and advocate for individuals with shunted hydrocephalus and spina bifida.
Law and Lawbooks in Mediaeval Wales
Authors: Stacey Robin Chapman
Published: October 2010

Together with the Welsh language, mediaeval Welsh law has long been regarded as critical to Welsh national identity. The ongoing significance of the ‘law of Hywel’, together with the traditionally philological orientation of Celtic Studies as a discipline, have shaped the questions scholars have put to the laws over the past several decades. This article traces the manner in which the field has evolved, from an interest in Common Celtic institutions and comparisons with early Ireland, to the more contemporary emphasis on the Welsh lawbooks as part of the European‐wide resurgence of law in the 12th and 13th centuries. It suggests that the way forward lies both in providing modern editions of texts not yet accessible, and in incorporating new theoretical perspectives now being put to use in other legal history fields into the study of the laws.
Rituals, Kingship and Rebellion in Medieval Germany
Authors: Warner David A.
Published: October 2010

This essay attempts to place the current interest in medieval rituals in historical perspective, tracing the evolution of scholarly viewpoints from the age of Ranke to the present day. It chiefly focuses on Germany and on the tenth and early eleventh centuries, a classic period in the development of German kingship and ritual, but also a period marked by numerous uprisings against kings. The essay argues that the relevant historiography can roughly be divided into three chronologically overlapping schools: a liturgical school dominant around the middle of the twentieth century, an anthropological school which emerged in the 1970s, and a post‐modern school that emerged in the last decade of the twentieth century. The theories and methods embraced by each school and some of the work of some of their major figures are discussed, as well as the fundamental problems that each encountered. The essay concludes with an assessment of the current state of scholarship in the field.
Brain Imaging in Migraine Research
Authors: Borsook David , Hargreaves Richard
Published: October 2010

Understanding the pathophysiology and pharmacology of migraine has been driven by astute clinical observations, elegant experimental medicine studies, and importantly by studying highly effective anti‐migraine agents in the laboratory and the clinic. Significant progress has been made in the use of functional brain imaging to compliment observational studies of migraine phenotypes by highlighting pathways within the brain that may be involved in predisposition to migraine, modulating migraine pain or that could be sensitive to pharmacological or behavioral therapeutic intervention (Fig. 1). In drug discovery, molecular imaging approaches compliment functional neuroimaging by visualizing migraine drug targets within the brain. Molecular imaging enables the selection and evaluation of drug candidates by confirming that they engage their targets sufficiently at well tolerated doses to test our therapeutic hypotheses.

Imaging and defining the migraine brain disease state: from anatomy to chemical entities (targets) to functional systems (function and pathways) (from Borsook et al

31

with permission, Nature Publishing Group).

image

Migraine is a progressive disorder. Developing our knowledge of where drugs act in the brain and of how the brain is altered in both episodic migraine (interictal state and ictal state) and chronic migraine are important steps to understanding why there is such differential responsiveness to therapeutics among migraine patients and to improving how they are evaluated and treated.
On the Temporal Relationship Between Throbbing Migraine Pain and Arterial Pulse
Authors: Ahn Andrew H.
Published: October 2010

Objective and Background.— The characteristic throbbing quality of migraine pain is often attributed to the periodic activation of trigeminovascular sensory afferents triggered by the distension of cranial arteries during systole, but direct evidence for this model has been elusive.

Design and Methods.— Patients with throbbing migrainous pain were asked to signal in real time the occurrences of their subjective experience of pulsating pain, during which time their arterial pulse was independently monitored.

Results.— Overall, the throbbing pain rate (61.7 ± 5.5 SEM) was substantially slower than the arterial pulse rate (80 ± 2.6 SEM, P < .02), and among the few individuals in whom the 2 rates were the same or nearly the same, the occurrences of throbbing and arterial pulsations fell in and out of phase with each other.

Conclusions.— The lack of a simple correspondence between the subjective experience of throbbing pain and the arterial pulse would at the very least require extensive refinement of the prevailing view that the subjective experience of throbbing migraine pain is directly related to the distension of cranial arteries and activation of associated sensory afferents.
Method of Injection of OnabotulinumtoxinA for Chronic Migraine: A Safe, Well‐Tolerated, and Effective Treatment Paradigm Based on the PREEMPT Clinical Program
Authors: Blumenfeld Andrew , Silberstein Stephen D. , Dodick David W. , Aurora Sheena K. , Turkel Catherine C. , Binder William J.
Published: October 2010

Chronic migraine (CM) is a prevalent and disabling neurological disorder. Few prophylactic treatments for CM have been investigated. OnabotulinumtoxinA, which inhibits the release of nociceptive mediators, such as glutamate, substance P, and calcitonin gene‐related peptide, has been evaluated in randomized, placebo‐controlled studies for the preventive treatment of a variety of headache disorders, including CM. These studies have yielded insight into appropriate patient selection, injection sites, dosages, and technique. Initial approaches used a set of fixed sites for the pericranial injections. However, the treatment approach evolved to include other sites that corresponded to the location of pain and tenderness in the individual patient in addition to the fixed sites. The Phase III REsearch Evaluating Migraine Prophylaxis Therapy (PREEMPT) injection paradigm uses both fixed and follow‐the‐pain sites, with additional specific follow‐the‐pain sites considered depending on individual symptoms. The PREEMPT paradigm for injecting onabotulinumtoxinA has been shown to be safe, well‐tolerated, and effective in well‐designed, controlled clinical trials and is the evidence‐based approach recommended to optimize clinical outcomes for patients with CM.
A comparison of washed and volume‐reduced platelets with respect to platelet activation, aggregation, and plasma protein removal
Authors: Veeraputhiran Muthu , Ware Jerry , Dent Judith , Bornhorst Joshua , Post Ginell , Cottler‐Fox Michele , Pesek Gina , Theus John , Nakagawa Mayumi
Published: October 2010

BACKGROUND: Washed or volume‐reduced platelets (PLTs) are occasionally requested for patients with a history of allergic or anaphylactic transfusion reactions. However, conclusive data are not available as to which method is more suitable.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A direct comparison of saline‐washed and volume‐reduced PLTs was performed by splitting 11 units of 6‐day‐old apheresis PLT units. PLT activation, aggregation, plasma protein, and PLT count were determined before and after each procedure. To assess whether washing using neutral, calcium‐free Ringer's acetate (NRA) would better preserve PLT function, 8 additional units of apheresis PLTs were split and were washed in saline or NRA.

RESULTS: Saline washing resulted in significantly increased number of activated, P‐selectin–expressing PLTs compared to volume reduction (24.2% vs. 10.3%, p = 0.001). Aggregation was also significantly reduced (−40.6% vs. −0.8%, p = 0.004). Plasma protein removal was significantly better for saline‐washed than volume‐reduced PLTs (96% vs. 51.1%, p < 0.001). PLT recovery was not significantly different for saline‐washed versus volume‐reduced PLTs (70.5% vs. 80.7%, p = 0.079). There was no difference between washing in saline or NRA with regard to PLT activation and loss of aggregation.

CONCLUSIONS: PLT washing with saline or NRA significantly increases PLT activation and decreases PLT aggregability. On the other hand, volume reduction does not adequately remove plasma proteins. Therefore, PLT washing should be reserved for patients with a history of severe allergic or anaphylactic transfusion reactions. We suggest that fresher PLTs be selected to improve the functionality of washed PLTs.
A simple method for establishing concordance between short‐tandem‐repeat allele frequency databases
Authors: Condel Kevin , Salih M. Al.
Published: October 2010

BACKGROUND: Current paternity and forensic accreditation standards do not require concordance to be established between short‐tandem‐repeat allele frequency databases representing the same population. The current statistical methods for evaluating databases do not establish concordance. Although acceptable under current forensic statistical methods, databases representing the same population may have sufficient variation to influence the outcome of a nondirect relationship testing result (i.e., siblingship). Hence there is a need for a quantitative method to determine concordance between databases.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Local allele frequency databases were generated for major US ethnic groups. Statistical analysis was performed as recommended by international forensic standards. A new method was developed and used for evaluating concordance between the locally developed and published databases. Smaller deviation values signify greater concordance between compared databases. The results were quantitatively confirmed against data obtained from a multidimensional scaling analysis system (SPSS, SPSS, Inc.).

RESULTS: The locally developed database deviated from the mean of the published data by approximately 0.1073 for Caucasians, 0.1341 for US Hispanics, and 0.1287 for African Americans. Upon pairwise comparison, the published databases deviated from one another by 0.1210 in US Caucasians, 0.1457 in US Hispanics, and 0.1228 in African Americans. The local database was observed to be more concordant to published databases than some of the published data to themselves.

CONCLUSION: The developed database was shown to be concordant with four previously published databases using the new method. The results were confirmed by comparison to qualitative data obtained from the multidimensional scaling analysis system.
Word Recognition in Arabic as a Foreign Language
Authors: HANSEN GUNNA FUNDER
Published: October 2010

This study is an empirical investigation of the impact of the Arabic writing system in Arabic as a foreign language (AFL) learners’ visual word recognition. The study investigates the effect of unfamiliar graphemes and phonemes, whether the missing vowels inhibit reading speed and comprehension and whether learners are able to apply the system of root and pattern in Semitic morphology to compensate for the lack of vowel information. Participants are 71 learners of Arabic at 3 different proficiency levels and a control group of 24 native speakers. Results indicate that the Arabic writing system represents a major obstacle to the establishment of automatic word recognition, which is a prerequisite for “skilled reading”: Although both pseudoword decoding and text reading improves remarkably from the beginning to intermediate level, progression then stalls. Based on these results, extended and more explicit training of decoding skills in AFL teaching is recommended.
The Prevalence and Cost of the Faint and Fall Problem in the State of Utah
Authors: MALASANA GANGADHAR , BRIGNOLE MICHELE , DACCARETT MARCOS , SHERWOOD RANDALL , HAMDAN MOHAMED H.
Published: October 2010

Background:

Understanding the frequency and economic impact of faint and fall is a prerequisite for the creation of cost‐effective diagnostic approaches.

Methods:

We evaluated the total number of patients presenting with faint or fall to the University of Utah Health Care System between November 1, 2008, and October 31, 2009. Using these data, we estimated the prevalence and total cost of the faint and fall problem in the state of Utah.

Results:

A total of 1,936 and 6,043 patients presented with faint and fall resulting in a total number of visits equal to 2,701 and 8,163, respectively. The yearly prevalence of faints was 9.5 patients (13.2 visits) per 1,000 inhabitants and the yearly prevalence of falls was 29.8 patients (40.2 visits) per 1,000 inhabitants. The prevalence of faints and falls progressively increased with age, reaching the values of 40 and 115 per 1,000 inhabitants in subjects aged >80 years. In both patient populations, two‐thirds of visits were outpatient evaluations. While the cardiovascular service was involved in the outpatient evaluation of faint visits in 24% of the cases, <1% of outpatient fall visits resulted in a cardiovascular consultation. The average payments received per faint and fall patient evaluations were $2,517 and $3,200, respectively, resulting in an estimated yearly cost equal to $90,901,958 and $351,959,040, respectively.

Conclusion:

This study highlights the magnitude of the faint and fall problem in the state of Utah. Our results provide all stakeholders with a frame of reference for the creation of cost‐effective diagnostic approaches. (PACE 2011; 34:278–283)
Early Detection of Adverse Events with Daily Remote Monitoring versus Quarterly Standard Follow‐Up Program in Patients with CRT‐D
Authors: De RUVO ERMENEGILDO , GARGARO ALESSIO , SCIARRA LUIGI , De LUCA LUCIA , ZUCCARO LORENZO MARIA , STIRPE FEDERICA , REBECCHI MARCO , SETTE ANTONELLA , LIOY ERNESTO , CALÒ LEONARDO
Published: October 2010

Background:
 A relative high rate of clinical and device‐related adverse events (AE) is generally reported in patients with implantable defibrillators for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT‐D). Aim of this study was to compare a daily remote monitoring (RM) to a standard program of in‐office visits.

Methods and Results:
 We retrospectively analyzed RM database and hospital files of 99 CRT‐D consecutive patients who were visited in the out‐patient clinic every 3–4 months; thirty‐three patients were in addition controlled remotely with RM (RM group). Kaplan‐Meier curves of clinical or device‐related AE‐free rates were obtained. During a median follow‐up of 7 months, clinical AEs were: ventricular and atrial arrhythmias in 14 and 11 patients, low CRT pacing in nine, heart failure, strokes, or death in 15. Device‐related AEs were: insufficient pacing/sensing performances in nine patients, lead dislodgement in five. As comparing the RM group with the remaining patients, Kaplan‐Meier curves of clinical AEs diverged to significantly different rates: 23.8% (confidence interval [CI] 0.1%–47.5%) in the RM group and 48.7% (21.6–75.7%) in the remaining patients (P = 0.00002), with a hazard ratio of 0.14 (CI 0.06–0.37). Nondivergent Kaplan‐Meier curves were obtained for device‐related AE‐free rates.

Conclusion:
 CRT‐D patients followed with quarterly in‐office visits without a daily RM system had an 86% higher risk of delayed detection of clinical AEs, during a median follow‐up of 7 months. (PACE 2011; 34:208–216)
Shifting Winds: Explaining Variation in State Policies to Promote Small‐Scale Wind Energy
Authors: Wiener Joshua G. , Koontz Tomas M.
Published: October 2010

States have increasingly taken leading roles in U.S. environmental policymaking over the past two decades. As laboratories of democracy, states have developed different levels and mixes of policies to address climate change, nonpoint source pollution, alternative energy, and other challenging environmental issues. Policy scholars have sought to explain variation in state environmental policy through two primary theoretical lenses: internal determinants and regional diffusion. While our understanding of state environmental policy adoption has grown to identify which variables are most important, less is known about how these variables interact in particular states to influence policy adoption. This study examines the interactions of variables from both theories to explain how state policies for small‐scale wind energy promotion were adopted in three U.S. states. Our results highlight the nuanced role of citizen ideology, which may be important in contexts at either end of the ideological spectrum but less important in the middle—where economic development is more critical. Results also indicate that interstate competition may be over environmental as well as economic leadership. Interestingly, strength of the wind resource is not necessarily correlated with policy adoption for small‐scale wind energy promotion.
Comparison of rectal and tympanic core body temperature measurement in adult Guyanese squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus sciureus)
Authors: Long C.T. , Pacharinsak C. , Jampachaisri K. , McKeon G.P. , Howard A.M. , Albertelli M.A. , Felt S.A.
Published: October 2010

Background  Measuring core body temperature in a manner that is safe for animals and veterinary personnel is an important part of a physical examination. For nonhuman primates, this can involve increased restraint, additional stress, as well as the use of anesthetics and their deleterious effects on body temperature measurements. The purpose of this study was to compare two non‐invasive methods of infrared tympanic thermometry to standard rectal thermometry in adult squirrel monkeys.

Methods  Tympanic temperatures were collected from 37 squirrel monkeys and compared to rectal temperatures using a human and veterinary infrared tympanic thermometer.

Results  Compared with rectal temperature measurements, the human tympanic thermometer readings were not significantly different, while the veterinary tympanic thermometer measurements were significantly higher (P < 0.05). There were no differences between sexes.

Conclusions  The tympanic thermometer designed for use in humans can be used in adult squirrel monkeys as an alternative to rectal thermometry for assessing core body temperature.
Does a warmer lake mean smaller benthic algae? Evidence against the importance of temperature–size relationships in natural systems
Authors: Byllaardt Julie Vanden , Cyr Hélène
Published: October 2010

Ectotherms decrease in size with increasing ambient temperature. Temperature–size relationships (TSR) have been observed experimentally in a wide range of animals, algae, protozoans and bacteria. However, it is still unclear whether temperature is an important factor controlling the size of organisms in natural populations. In this study, we used natural variability in water temperature in the nearshore areas of a single lake to test TSR in populations of benthic diatoms. We deployed standard tile substrates at 5 m depth (similar light availability) at cold and warm sites that were exposed to different hydrodynamic forces. We compared cell sizes of three species of diatoms (Achnanthidium minutissimum, Gomphonema acuminatum and Gyrosigma acuminatum) at these sites. Counter to the TSR, diatom cells at warm sites were either larger (Achnanthidium, Gomphonema) or similar in size (Gyrosigma) compared to those at colder sites. Diatom size was also related to site exposure (hydrodynamic forces), but differently for species with different architectures. TSR were not detectable in the field for these three species of benthic diatom, even when tested within a single ecosystem at a given time of the year. The size of benthic diatoms, however, varied in a predictable way between sites, and such differences could affect the functioning of these primary producers in different parts of the littoral zone.
Central fatigue and neurotransmitters, can thermoregulation be manipulated?
Authors: Meeusen R. , Roelands B.
Published: October 2010

Fatigue is a complex phenomenon that can be evoked by peripheral and central factors. Although it is obvious that fatigue has peripheral causes such as glycogen depletion and cardiovascular strain, recent literature also focuses on the central origin of fatigue. It is clear that different brain neurotransmitters – such as serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline – are implicated in the occurrence of fatigue, but manipulation of these neurotransmitters produced no conclusive results on performance in normal ambient temperature. Exercise in the heat not only adds an extra challenge to the cardiorespiratory system, but also to the brain. This provides a useful tool to investigate the association between exercise‐induced hyperthermia and central fatigue. This review focuses on the effects of pharmacological manipulations on performance and thermoregulation in different ambient temperatures. Dopaminergic reuptake inhibition appears to counteract hyperthermia‐induced fatigue in 30 °C, while noradrenergic neurotransmission shows negative effects on performance in both normal and high temperature, and serotonergic manipulations did not lead to significant changes in performance. It is, however, unlikely that one neurotransmitter system is responsible for the delay or onset of fatigue. Further research is required to determine the exact mechanisms of fatigue in different environmental conditions.
Cognitive function in hot environments: a question of methodology
Authors: Gaoua N.
Published: October 2010

The physiological responses of thermal stress and its consequences on health have been well documented. However, the effect on cognitive function remains equivocal despite a substantial number of studies conducted in the area. Methodological discrepancies across different studies have made it difficult to conclude whether or not heat exposure per se has an adverse effect upon cognitive function and under what specific environmental and physiological conditions these alterations appear. This article gives an overview of the different confounding factors that have made it difficult to make conclusive interpretations. In addition, the current state of knowledge is presented and discussed with reference to the Global Workspace theory. Although previously presented conclusions are promising, much remains to be completed before understanding the mechanisms that could explain the relationship between heat exposure and cognitive function. Finally, recommendations are presented for further research in this area.
Distance running in hot environments: a thermal challenge to the elite runner
Authors: Maughan R. J.
Published: October 2010

Endurance performance is impaired in the heat, and a combination of high temperature and high humidity presents a major challenge to the elite marathon runner, who must sustain a high metabolic rate throughout the race. The optimum temperature for marathon performance is generally about 10–12 °C. The optimum temperature may be lower for faster runners than for slower runners. Sweat evaporation limits the rise in core temperature, but dehydration will impair cardiovascular function, leading to a fall in blood flow to muscle, skin and other tissues. There is growing evidence that the effects of high ambient temperature and dehydration on performance of exercise may be mediated by effects on the central nervous system. This seems to involve serotonergic and dopaminergic functions.
Physiological strain and countermeasures with firefighting
Authors: Cheung S. S. , Petersen S. R. , McLellan T. M.
Published: October 2010

Protective clothing is integral to the task of firefighting, but at the same time can increase physiological strain and impair work capacity. Encapsulation of the head and the high thermal resistance and/or low water vapor permeability of the clothing ensemble impede evaporative heat dissipation, thus elevating the rate of heat storage and creating a state of uncompensable heat stress (UHS). In addition, the additional weight from carrying a supplemental air supply and the greater respiratory work of breathing through a regulator can create a negative spiral of thermal hyperpnea from greater respiratory demands and metabolic heat production. The elevated respiratory demands also increase cardiac strain and potentially the risk for myocardial events. Tolerance time during UHS is determined by three factors: the core temperature at the beginning of the heat stress exposure, the core temperature that can be tolerated before exhaustion or collapse ensues, and the rate of increase in core temperature from the beginning to end of the heat stress exposure. Protective clothing is often employed in highly dynamic environments, making portability, longevity and integration with the task requirements and clothing critical design characteristics for countermeasures. To date, most countermeasures have been relatively indirect in nature, primarily with alterations in work scheduling along with physiological manipulations such as cooling manipulations during recovery periods. Advances are required in materials science to develop lighter and less restrictive protective equipment, concurrent with cooling strategies that target specific regions or which can be effectively implemented during exercise.
Examination of fatigue development in elite soccer in a hot environment: a multi‐experimental approach
Authors: Mohr M. , Mujika I. , Santisteban J. , Randers M. B. , Bischoff R. , Solano R. , Hewitt A. , Zubillaga A. , Peltola E. , Krustrup P.
Published: October 2010

The study examines fatigue in elite soccer played in hot conditions. High‐profile soccer players (n=20) were studied during match play at ∼31 °C. Repeated sprint and jump performances were assessed in rested state and after a game and activity profile was examined. Additionally, heart rate (HR), blood lactate, muscle temperature and body mass changes were determined. Repeated sprint and jump performances were reduced (P<0.05) by 2.6% and 8.2%, respectively, after the game. The fatigue index in the repeated sprint test was 6.0±0.7% after the game compared with 1.7±1.0% at rest (P<0.05). High‐intensity running was 57±4% lower (P<0.05) during the last 15‐min interval of the game compared with the first 15‐min period. No differences were observed in mean HR or blood lactates between halves. Muscle temperature was 40.5±0.4 °C after the first half, which was 0.8±0.2 °C higher (P<0.05) than after the second half. Net fluid loss during the game was >2% of the body mass. Correlations were observed between net‐fluid loss and repeated sprint test fatigue index after the game (r=0.73, P<0.05) and Yo‐Yo intermittent recovery, level 1 test performance and high‐intensity running during the final 15 min of the game (r=0.51, P<0.05). The study provides direct evidence of compromised repeated sprint and jump performances induced by soccer match play and pronounced reduction in high‐intensity running toward the end of an elite game played in a hot environment. This fatigue could be associated training status and hyperthermia/dehydration.
Living, training and playing in the heat: challenges to the football player and strategies for coping with environmental extremes
Authors: Maughan R. J. , Shirreffs S. M. , Ozgünen K. T. , Kurdak S. S. , Ersöz G. , Binnet M. S. , Dvorak J.
Published: October 2010

Dehydration and hyperthermia both, if sufficiently severe, will impair exercise performance. Dehydration can also impair performance of tasks requiring cognition and skill. Body temperature may exceed 40 °C in competitive games played in hot weather, but limited data are available. Football played in the heat, therefore, poses a challenge, and effects on some aspects of performance become apparent as environmental temperature increases above about 12–15 °C. Prior acclimatization will reduce the impact of high environmental temperatures but provides limited protection when humidity is also high. Ingestion of fluids is effective in limiting the detrimental effects on performance: drinks with added carbohydrate and electrolytes are generally more effective than plain water and drinks may be more effective if taken cold than if taken at ambient temperature. Pre‐exercise lowering of body temperature may aid some aspects of performance, but the efficacy has not been demonstrated in football.
CURRENT CARIES DETECTION DEVICES
Authors: Berg Joel H. , Swift Edward J.
Published: October 2010

What are today's most viable dental caries diagnostic/detection tools and what are the pros and cons of each? Why is there so much mystery around how to best diagnose occlusal, especially “hidden,” carious lesions? An oft‐studied key question: do more years of clinical experience help practitioners make better, more accurate diagnosis of occlusal carious lesions? What tools and skills improve the ability of clinicians to recommend an invasive versus noninvasive dental treatment approach? Can these tools be utilized worldwide, especially in areas that serve high‐risk pediatric and adult patients?
The Critical Reception of Lewis Nordan
Authors: Bjerre Thomas Ærvold
Published: October 2010

The essay covers the critical reception of Mississippi‐writer Lewis Nordan from his debut in 1983 to the boost in scholarly attention in the new millennium. The essay covers newspaper reviews but pays particular attention to the many academic essays that have placed Nordan as a writer in the southern literary tradition and have highlighted themes such as magical realism, the grotesque, race relations, music, and gender.
Nineteenth‐Century African American Literature and the ‘New Regionalism’
Authors: Gardner Eric
Published: October 2010

While the study of nineteenth‐century African American literature has gained a much stronger position in the academy and while authors like Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs are essentially canonized, the field often remains reduced to the study of stories of the South (especially slave narratives) published in a handful of northeastern urban centers. However, paired with recent recovery efforts, new attention to questions of location and especially to various understudied regions in the nineteenth‐century United States like the Black West may cause a radical rethinking of nineteenth‐century Black textual presences. This essay thus offers a preliminary discussion of the following questions surrounding the ‘new regionalism’ within the study of nineteenth‐century African American literature: How do ‘new regionalist’ scholars define and deploy ideas of ‘region,’ place, and location – especially given the period’s mobility and diversity? How do they engage with the expectations and stereotypes inherent in existing regional labels including those tied to race and racial absence? How do the (sometimes) micro‐historic approaches of ‘new regionalism’ fit in dialogue with seemingly broader conceptions of hemispheric studies and/or a ‘Black Atlantic’? What do ‘new regionalist’ approaches offer the field of African American literature and the broader community?
Men with Mild Erectile Dysfunction Benefit from Sildenafil Treatment
Authors: Bénard Francois , Carrier Serge , Lee Jay C. , Talwar Varun , Defoy Isabelle
Published: October 2010

Introduction

Sildenafil treatment has not been evaluated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled (DBPC) trial specific to men with mild erectile dysfunction (ED), defined by a 22–25 score on the International Index of Erectile Function-erectile function domain (IIEF-EF).

Aim

To assess sildenafil efficacy in sexually dissatisfied men with mild ED.

Main Outcome Measures

Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction (EDITS), IIEF, Quality of Erection Questionnaire (QEQ), Erection Hardness Score (EHS 4 = completely hard/fully rigid), general efficacy questions (GEQs), event log questions (hardness sufficient for penetration, duration sufficient for successful intercourse, ejaculation/orgasm, and second erection within 24 hours), and analog scales (erection firmness, reliability, and maintenance, and general sexual performance).

Methods

Eight-week DBPC flexible-dose (25, 50, or 100 mg) trial with 6-week, open-label (OL) extension.

Results

One hundred and seventy-six men were randomized (mean ± standard deviation: age, 50 ± 12 year; ED duration, 3.5 ± 3.2 year). Most had organic or mixed ED. For sildenafil vs. placebo, 66% vs. 89% titrated to 100 mg and efficacy at DBPC end was better, including the EDITS Index score (least squares mean [standard error], 80.3 [2.3] vs. 62.1 [2.5]; P < 0.0001); treatment satisfaction (EDITS Index score >50 in 89% vs. 63%; P = 0.0001); no ED (IIEF-EF ≥26 in 58% vs. 39%; P < 0.05); GEQs (≥4.9-fold greater odds of improved erections and ability to have sexual intercourse); and EHS 4 (47.2% vs. 25.2% of occasions; P < 0.0001). At OL end, 93% of men were satisfied (EDITS Index score > 50), 77% had no ED, and ≥89% were GEQ responders; mean scores on IIEF domains, the QEQ, and analog scales were >80% of the maximum; 60% of occasions had EHS 4; and event log responses were positive on >80% of occasions, except for second erections (41.9%). Headache, nasal congestion, and flushing, mostly mild to moderate, were the most common adverse events.

Conclusion

Men with mild ED derive substantial benefit from sildenafil treatment.