bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Key Genes in Lung Cancer Translational Research: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Amelung J.T. , Bührens R. , Beshay M. , Reymond M.A.
Published: March 2010

In lung cancer, integrating translational data from various histologies obtained in different patients under different conditions can increase their robustness. This is a meta-analysis of cDNA array data obtained in 688 tumor patients (541 non-small cell lung cancer, 33 small cell lung cancer and 114 others) and 205 controls. 1,206 genes were found to be dysregulated in one of the 12 transcriptomics studies available. 748 results (62%) were obtained only once and might be questioned. 38% of observations could be reproduced twice or more. 346 genes were reported twice, 80 three times, 27 four and 5 five times. A common set of genes dysregulated in lung cancer was obtained, including BPA1, DUSP6, ASCL1, RNAS1 and S100P. p63 and CK 5/6 p63 are useful for differentiating adenocarcinoma and small cell lung cancer from squamous cell carcinoma. TFF-3 and MUC1 are over-expressed in adenocarcinoma. INSM1, SGNE1 and H2AFZ are typical for small cell lung cancer. Using a meta-analysis approach, it was possible to detect a robust set of genes differentially expressed in lung cancer and to determine a limited number of key genes linked to subtypes in lung cancer molecular pathology.
Negative Regulation of the Tight Junction Protein Tricellulin by Snail-Induced Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Gastric Carcinoma Cells
Authors: Masuda Risayo , Semba Shuho , Mizuuchi Eri , Yanagihara Kazuyoshi , Yokozaki Hiroshi
Published: March 2010

Objective: Tricellulin plays a central role in the sealing of epithelia at tricellular contacts. We examined the effects of Snail, an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related transcription factor, on the regulation of tricellulin expression in human gastric carcinoma (GC)-derived cells. Method: Six human GC-derived cell lines were used in this study. Expression and localization of tricellulin was analyzed by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Also, a Snail expression vector was transfected into HSC-45 cells to examine altered mRNA levels of tricellulin,E-cadherin, vimentin, N-cadherin and several EMT transcription factors by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Results: Abundant tricellulin expression was detected in all GC-derived cells examined. In HSC-45 cells, transduction of Snail decreased the expression levels of tricellulin and E-cadherin but increased vimentin and N-cadherin, which was accompanied by induction of EMT transcription factors such as Twist1, Twist2 and Slug. In normal gastric mucosa, tricellulin protein was localized at the tricellular tight junction; however, in HSC-45 cells, tricellulin protein was distributed in the cytoplasm. In GC tissues, tricellulin expression at the cellular membrane was retained in a subset of EMT-negative GCs, and it disappeared in EMT-positive GCs. Conclusions: The findings in the present study suggest that repression of tricellulin expression may be related to Snail-induced EMT in human GCs.
Prenatal Diagnosis of a Mixed Type of Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return
Authors: Cormier Clint M. , Kramer Larry A. , Gupta-Malhotra Monesha
Published: March 2010

Total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) is a congenital heart malformation that can be diagnosed in the fetus by indirect indicators on an echocardiogram, such as inability to demonstrate the pulmonary veins returning to the left atrium by color Doppler, the presence of a chamber or the pulmonary venous confluence behind the left atrium, presence of a dilated superior vena cava, discrepancy between the right and left heart chambers and great arteries, and the demonstration of the ascending or descending common pulmonary vein or vertical vein. Some cases of TAPVR can be missed in utero, especially in a mixed type of TAPVR or a TAPVR associated with complex cardiac malformation. We report a case of a mixed TAPVR with complex cardiac malformation which was diagnosed in the fetal period by direct visualization of anomalous pulmonary venous drainage and was confirmed by postnatal echocardiogram and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.
Intestinal Atresia, Encephalocele, and Cardiac Malformations in Infants with 47,XXX: Expansion of the Phenotypic Spectrum and a Review of the Literature
Authors: Bağci Soyhan , Müller Andreas , Franz Axel , Heydweiller Andreas , Berg Christoph , Nöthen Markus M. , Bartmann Peter , Reutter Heiko
Published: March 2010

Identification of the 47,XXX karyotype often occurs adventitiously during prenatal fetal karyotyping in cases of advanced maternal age. Although most females with 47,XXX appear healthy at birth, various types of congenital malformations have been reported, of which urinary tract anomalies are the most frequent. We report on 2 newborns with 47,XXX and congenital cardiac defects, one of whom had duodenal atresia and the other an occipital encephalocele. This expands the spectrum of malformations reported in association with the triple-X syndrome. We also present a review of the literature on non-urinary tract malformations in females with 47,XXX. We conclude that prenatal identification of the 47,XXX karyotype is an indication for detailed fetal ultrasonography which should include examination of multiple organ systems. Such prenatal screening for possible associated congenital malformations should help to ensure optimal perinatal clinical management of 47,XXX cases.
Cytosine-Arabinoside-Induced Keratopathy: A Model of Corneal Proliferation Kinetics
Authors: Guthoff Tanja , Tietze Bettina , Meinhardt Berit , Becher Jan , Guthoff Rainer
Published: March 2010

Aims: The use of the chemotherapeutic cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) causes an ocular toxic reaction, characterized by aspecific keratopathy. We examined the pathway of the damaged cells by in vivo confocal microscopy. Methods: Prospective study of 11 patients with acute myeloic leukemia treated with high-dose Ara-C. Ten eyes developed fluorescein-negative punctate keratopathy, and were examined by slit lamp and in vivo confocal biomicroscopy at days 1, 3–4 and 9–14 after the beginning of ocular symptoms. Results: In vivo confocal microscopy revealed disseminated highly reflective granular irregular intraepithelial elements in the central cornea, which affected about 3% of epithelial cells. At day 1 of symptoms, these elements were present only in the basal epithelial layer (median 275.5/mm2), at days 3–4 they were mainly found in the basal (187.5/mm2) but also in the apical layers (96/mm2), at days 9–14 they mainly presented in more superficial layers (115/mm2 apically vs. 15.5/mm2 in the basal layers). Discussion: The intraepithelial distribution of cells with a granular cytosolic signal evolved over time, reflecting the migration of the necrotic basal cells to the wing cell layer and finally to apical epithelial layers. The desquamation of the necrotic cells is related to the resolution of symptoms, according to the period of the epithelial cell turnover. By confocal microscopy, we could follow the intraepithelial route of cells damaged by Ara-C in vivo.
Performance of the Automated COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan HIV-1 Test on a Genetically Diverse Panel of Specimens from China: Comparison to the COBAS Amplicor HIV-1 Monitor Test, v1.5
Authors: Xu Sihong , Song Aijing , Li Xiuhua , Nie Jianhui , Zhang Chuntao , Wang Youchun
Published: March 2010

Objectives: To investigate the impact of genetically diverse HIV samples from China on the performance of the automated COBAS® AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan® HIV-1 Test (CAP/CTM). Methods: 185 samples from untreated HIV-1-infected patients were used to assess the performance of the CAP/CTM Test and COBAS Amplicor HIV-1 Monitor Test, v1.5 (Cobas). Results: A comparison of the qualitative results of both assays showed concordance for 1 negative and 184 positive samples (100%, ĸ = 1.000). A significant correlation (R = 0.862, p < 0.001) and high agreement (95.53%) was observed for 179 samples with viral loads within the dynamic ranges of both assays. For samples of clades predominant in China, the fitted regression line differed significantly from the line of equality, although significant correlations (R = 0.694–0.899, p < 0.05) and high agreements (91.30–95.35%) were found for the two assays. The mean differences for samples from clades B’ and BC were significant (p < 0.001) whilst no great difference (7.19–10.88%) between the quantitative values for both assays was found by plotting the regression line. Conclusion: The viral loads of different HIV genotypes in China measured by the CAP/CTM and Cobas assays were comparable.
Deer Antlers – A Model of Mammalian Appendage Regeneration: An Extensive Review
Authors: Kierdorf Uwe , Kierdorf Horst
Published: March 2010

Background: Compared with other vertebrate taxa, mammals possess a very limited capacity for appendage regeneration. The antlers of deer are an exception in that they are periodically lost and fully regenerated throughout the life of an individual. Objective: In this paper we compare certain aspects of antler regeneration with regenerative processes in other vertebrates. Methods: Review of the literature. Results: Recent studies suggest that antler regeneration is a stem cell-based process and that these stem cells are located in the pedicle periosteum. There is evidence that signaling pathways known to operate during appendage regeneration in other vertebrates are also activated during antler regeneration. There are, however, also differences between antlers and other systems of epimorphic regeneration. Thus, contrary to amphibian limb regeneration, signaling from the wound epidermis appears not to be of crucial importance for antler regeneration. Healing of the casting wound typically involves no or only minor scarring, making antlers interesting subjects for researchers attempting to reduce scar formation during wound healing in humans. The fact that despite their enormous growth rate the antlers of intact and castrated deer appear to be resistant to malignant transformation furthermore offers research opportunities for cancer biology. Conclusions: Studying antler renewal as an example of mammalian appendage regeneration may provide crucial information for regenerative medicine to achieve its ultimate goal of stimulating limb regeneration in humans. A deeper understanding of the developmental mechanisms involved in antler renewal can also be useful for controlling induced regeneration processes in mammals.
Primary Angioplasty Versus Fibrinolysis in Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Nielsen Peter H. , Maeng Michael , Busk Martin , Mortensen Leif S. , Kristensen Steen D. , Nielsen Torsten T. , Andersen Henning R.
Published: March 2010

Background—

The Danish Acute Myocardial Infarction 2 (DANAMI-2) study found that primary angioplasty (primary percutaneous coronary intervention [pPCI]) compared with fibrinolysis reduced 30-day adverse events in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. The present study investigated whether the benefit of pPCI was maintained at a long-term follow-up.

Methods and Results—

We randomly assigned 1572 patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction—1129 patients at referral hospitals and 443 patients at invasive hospitals—to pPCI or fibrinolysis. Median time from randomization to arrival in the catheterization laboratory for patients admitted to referral hospitals was 67 minutes, with 96% of patients arriving in the catheterization laboratory within 120 minutes. The primary study end point was a composite of death or reinfarction. Median follow-up time was 7.8 years. For the primary end point, 8-year cumulative incidence (1-Kaplan–Meier) was 34.8% in the pPCI group and 41.3% in the fibrinolysis group (hazard ratio, 0.78; 95% confidence interval, 0.66 to 0.92). Reinfarction rates were reduced in the pPCI group (11.7% versus 18.5%; hazard ratio, 0.60; 95% confidence interval, 0.46 to 0.77). Among patients randomized at referral hospitals, pPCI reduced reinfarction (13% versus 18.5%; hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% confidence interval, 0.49 to 0.89) and mortality (26.7% versus 33.3%; hazard ratio, 0.78; 95% confidence interval, 0.63 to 0.97).

Conclusions—

The benefit of pPCI over fibrinolysis was maintained at a long-term follow-up. pPCI reduced the risk of reinfarction in the overall cohort and reduced reinfarction and mortality among patients randomized at referral hospitals. This result reinforces that pPCI should be offered to ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients when interhospital transport to an invasive hospital can be completed within 120 minutes.
Improvement of Surface Longwave Flux Algorithms Used in CERES Processing
Authors: Gupta Shashi K. , Kratz David P. , Stackhouse Paul W. , Wilber Anne C. , Zhang Taiping , Sothcott Victor E.
Published: March 2010

An improvement was developed and tested for surface longwave flux algorithms used in the Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System processing based on lessons learned during the validation of global results of those algorithms. The algorithms involved showed significant overestimation of downward longwave flux for certain regions, especially dry–arid regions during hot times of the day. The primary cause of this overestimation was identified and the algorithms were modified to (i) detect meteorological conditions that would produce an overestimation, and (ii) apply a correction when the overestimation occurred. The application of this correction largely eliminated the positive bias that was observed in earlier validation studies. Comparisons of validation results before and after the application of correction are presented.
Role of Polar Amplification in Long-Term Surface Air Temperature Variations and Modern Arctic Warming
Authors: Bekryaev Roman V. , Polyakov Igor V. , Alexeev Vladimir A.
Published: March 2010

This study uses an extensive dataset of monthly surface air temperature (SAT) records (including previously unutilized) from high-latitude (>60°N) meteorological land stations. Most records have been updated by very recent observations (up to December 2008). Using these data, a high-latitude warming rate of 1.36°C century−1 is documented for 1875–2008—the trend is almost 2 times stronger than the Northern Hemisphere trend (0.79°C century−1), with an accelerated warming rate in the most recent decade (1.35°C decade−1). Stronger warming in high-latitude regions is a manifestation of polar amplification (PA). Changes in SAT suggest two spatial scales of PA—hemispheric and local. A new stable statistical measure of PA linking high-latitude and hemispheric temperature anomalies via a regression relationship is proposed. For 1875–2008, this measure yields PA of ∼1.62. Local PA related to the ice–albedo feedback mechanisms is autumnal and coastal, extending several hundred kilometers inland. Heat budget estimates suggest that a recent reduction of arctic ice and anomalously high SATs cannot be explained by ice–albedo feedback mechanisms alone, and the role of large-scale mechanisms of PA of global warming should not be overlooked.
The Upstream Spreading of Bottom-Trapped Plumes
Authors: Matano Ricardo P. , Palma Elbio D.
Published: March 2010

It is well known that numerical simulations of freshwater discharges produce plumes that spread in the direction opposite to that of the propagation of coastally trapped waves (the upstream direction). The lack of a theory explaining these motions in unforced environments deemed the numerical results suspect. Thus, it became a common practice in numerical studies to add a downstream mean flow to arrest the development of the upstream perturbation. This approach is generally unjustified, and it remains a matter of interest to determine if the upstream displacement produced by models is a geophysical phenomenon or a consequence of erroneous assumptions in the model setup. In this article, the results of highly idealized numerical experiments are used to investigate these matters. It is shown that this phenomenon is associated with the geostrophic adjustment of the discharge and that upstream motion is endemic to the baroclinic structure of bottom-trapped plumes. It is also shown that downstream displacements are generated by the cross-shelf barotropic pressure gradient generated by the propagation of coastally trapped waves. Sensitivity experiments indicate that the speed of upstream propagation and the density structure of the plume are affected by bottom friction, the slope of the bottom, and the magnitude of the density anomaly. Bottom friction in particular slows down the progression of the plume and changes its density structure, producing a more homogeneous downstream region and a more stratified upstream region.
Dependence of Wind-Driven Current on Wind Stress Direction in a Small Semienclosed, Homogeneous Rotating Basin
Authors: Hinata Hirofumi , Kanatsu Nobuyoshi , Fujii Satoshi
Published: March 2010

The dependence of wind-driven current (WDC) on wind stress direction in a small semienclosed, homogeneous rotating basin is investigated using a linear steady-state analytical model based on Ekman solutions. The model is applicable to the middle of the basin (midbasin), and the current is driven by a constant wind stress of an arbitrary direction. The WDC is made up of wind stress–driven current (WSDC) and pressure-driven current (PDC) components. The laterally varying water depth of the basin confines the total volume transport in the longitudinal direction while the wind stress–driven volume transport changes direction according to the wind stress direction. Therefore, the pressure-driven volume transport or, equivalent, the pressure gradient depends on the wind stress direction: the relationship between the pressure gradient and the wind stress is anisotropic. As a result, the midbasin WDC is also dependent on the wind stress direction. The dependence varies according to the lateral position and Ekman number E. For large E (small rotation), the longitudinal volume transport is generally proportional to the longitudinal wind stress component. Hence, the ratio of the volume transport driven by the wind stress of direction θ (θ > 0) to that driven by the longitudinal wind stress (θ = 0) becomes cosθ. For small E (large rotation), the ratio becomes larger than cosθ. The extent to which each component of wind stress contributes to the generation of the pressure gradient to satisfy no-net-longitudinal and no-lateral transports is determined by a wind stress–pressure gradient transformation matrix, whose components depend on the lateral position and E.
Overuse Injuries in High School Athletes
Authors: Cuff Steven , Loud Keith , O'Riordan Mary Ann
Published: March 2010

Purpose. To evaluate relationships between seasonal patterns of athletic participation and overuse injuries in high school athletes. Methods. Self-reported survey of sports played and injuries sustained during the preceding 12 months administered anonymously to 9th-12th graders in school. Results. Females suffered more overuse injuries than males. Overuse injuries increased slightly with age and with seasons of sports played per calendar year. Students who played sports all year long had 42% increased risk of overuse injury compared to those who played fewer than 4 seasons. Conclusions. Reducing the number of sport seasons played by high school athletes could decrease their rate of overuse injuries, with the greatest gains potentially achieved by taking at least one season off from sports entirely each calendar year.
Between Business and Bureaucrats: Pingtan Storytelling in Maoist and Post-Maoist China
Authors: Qiliang He
Published: March 2010

This article examines the complex relationship of the state, market, and artists in pingtan storytelling in post-1949 China. By focusing on Su Yuyin, a pingtan storyteller, and his performing career, this article explores the persistence of cultural markets after the Communist victory in 1949 and argues that the market continued to play a significant role in shaping China’s popular culture, which the government was keen on patronizing and politicizing. By comparing the regime’s management of pingtan storytelling before and after the Cultural Revolution (1966—1976), this article further argues that the regime’s censorship of popular culture in the 1950s and 1960s was handicapped by its lack of financial resources and the continued existence of cultural markets. The result was that censorship was not as strictly and efficiently enforced as has been assumed.
Emotional Intelligence in Applicant Selection for Care-Related Academic Programs
Authors: Zysberg Leehu , Levy Anat , Zisberg Anna
Published: March 2010

Two studies describe the development of the Audiovisual Test of Emotional Intelligence (AVEI), aimed at candidate selection in educational settings. Study I depicts the construction of the test and the preliminary examination of its psychometric properties in a sample of 92 college students. Item analysis allowed the modification of problem items, resulting in acceptable reliability (intraclass correlation = .67) and moderate to good discrimination indices. Study II examined criterion-related validity of the AVEI based on a sample of 102 nursing students in a large university in northern Israel. The results suggest that the AVEI correlated with students’ performance in field practice and in human relations training courses better than with any other relevant variable (e.g., GMA, GPA). Associations remained in the .45 to .60 range, even after controlling for factors such as academic ability, GPA, and gender. These results suggest that the AVEI may be a valid instrument in student selection for care-related programs.
Biological effects of low level exposures to ionizing radiation: Theory and practice
Authors: Liu Shu-Zheng
Published: March 2010

This paper briefly reviewed recent reports on the epidemiological and experimental data on low dose radiation effects that support the concept of radiation hormesis. These reports point to the possibility of existence of a threshold dose in cancer induction by ionizing radiation and in some cases the occurrence of hormetic effects with stimulation of host defense mechanisms. The possibility of the use of low dose radiation in cancer treatment to improve the outcome of conventional radiotherapy was raised by citing previous reports on experimental studies, which showed increased efficacy in tumor control with significant reduction of total dose of radiation when low dose radiation was used in the combined treatment protocol.
What dose metaphor?
Authors: Jonas Wayne B
Published: March 2010

The concept of hormesis, or low-dose U-shaped responses, is now well established in toxicology and pharmacology but requires development in medicine and therapeutics. In doing so, care must be taken to not confuse metaphorical and chemical uses of the term hormesis. Low dose, continuous adaptive responses are fundamentally different than conventional pharmacology, and they may improve the scientific underpinning for complementary medicine, nutrition and lifestyle therapies.
Globalization, Mega-projects and the Environment
Authors: Douglass Michael
Published: March 2010

The geographical pattern of the expansion of a city has a direct relationship with its environmental quality, particularly water flows and flooding. A key question for urban policy and planning is how to direct these changes in ways that minimize environmental impacts and risks by, for example, steering urban expansion away from forested upland areas or regional aquifers. Answering this question in Asia is made all the more problematic by, first, the tremendous rates of population and economic growth that have focused on a few mega-urban regions (MURs) and, second, the intensity of urban transformations linked to processes of globalization. From the early 1980s the Indonesian government began to attempt to guide the direction of the expansion of the Jakarta MUR ( Jabodetabek) to better ensure its environmental sustainability. The tools used for implementation in the early 1980s could not, however, cope with the advent of a new age of megaprojects and global consumption coming to the region along with the bubble economy of the 1990s and neoliberal policy turn thereafter. With massive flooding an increasingly frequent event in Jakarta, the need for more effective means of guiding urban growth and change becomes ever more apparent.
Sustainable Urban Development?
Authors: Baud I.S.A. , Bokhorst J.R. , van de Loo T.J.C. , Quaedvlieg J.G.J. , Rothuizen J.V. , Tulleners B.A.W.
Published: March 2010

This article deals with the question of what contributions fuel transitions can make to more sustainable development in urban areas in India. A major sector of private collective transportation is studied—the auto-rickshaw sector, in which a private sector-led transition to gas has taken place. The gas-kit models implemented in Hyderabad and Bangalore are analyzed in terms of environmental, economic and social aspects. An important conclusion is that fuel transition should not be assessed along a single dimension; here lower costs combine with lower emissions and potentially better environmental conditions. The success of such a development depends on its necessity at different levels as to be supportive governmental policies.
Urbanization and Local Governance Challenges in Pakistan
Authors: Haider Murtaza , Badami Madhav G.
Published: March 2010

The state of municipal services and infrastructure has deteriorated in Pakistan over the years. With the rapid increase in urbanization in Pakistan the need for effective and efficient local governments is felt more now than ever. The checkered history of local government initiatives in the country has contributed to the poor state of municipal service delivery. The military regimes, in the past, used local governments to create a loyal cadre of politicians who the military later pitted against the democratic forces. With the return of civilian democratic rule in Pakistan, the local governments were often abolished because these institutions were viewed as part and parcel of the military dictatorships. The tug-of-war between the democratic governments and military regimes has left Pakistan with an inadequate local government framework. The challenge for the democratic forces in Pakistan is to realize the importance of local governments and there-fore to take steps to offer them constitutional cover. Failing to do so may lead to further deterioration of urban and rural environments.
Empowerment, Vision, and Positive Leadership: An Interview With Alan Mulally, Former CEO, Boeing Commercial—Current CEO, Ford Motor Company
Authors: Kaipa Prasad , Kriger Mark
Published: March 2010

In September 2006 Alan Mulally was named the President and CEO of Ford Motor Company, succeeding William Clay Ford, Jr. He took over "The Way Forward" restructuring plan at Ford to turn around its massive losses, declining market share and lead Ford to become the only U.S. automobile to avoid bankruptcy. At the time of this interview Mr. Mulally was finishing his tenure as the President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, which is responsible for all of the company's commercial airplane programs and related services. In this interview Mulally discusses defining moments in his career, his leadership role models, business lessons he learned in becoming a corporate leader, the importance of long-term vision and creating meaningful work, having a positive outlook - and his views on the role of loving others and what one does in the workplace.
Whose Issue? Representations of Human-Elephant Conflict in Indian and International Media
Authors: Barua Maan
Published: March 2010

The media play a key role in communicating conservation issues such as human-wildlife conflict, but corresponding literature on how issues are represented is limited. This article traces the depiction of human-elephant conflict in the media by examining (a) how conflicts are framed and (b) how ultimate and proximate causes are communicated in Indian and international newspapers. Issues were often polarized or framed in dramatic terms, and consonance in reporting causes was lacking. Active engagement with the media is needed to produce a nuanced debate on conflict, for which recognizing the role of different actors and working closely with individual journalists are vital.
Asymptomatic Saddle Pulmonary Embolism: Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Musani Muzammil H.
Published: March 2010

Saddle pulmonary embolism is defined as a visible thromboembolus straddling the bifurcation of the main pulmonary artery trunk. Patient with saddle pulmonary embolism have a 2-week mortality of 5.8%. 46 years old, hypertensive male, presented with right leg swelling and pain, with no evidence of cardiopulmonary distress. CTA showed a large saddle pulmonary embolus. Doppler ultrasound of right lower extremity, revealed a large filling defect extending from the common femoral vein distally involving the deep femoral vein, femoral vein and popliteal vein on the right.

Diagnosis of saddle embolus on its own is not associated with an unfavorable outcome, therefore should not influence management of PE. Echocardiography done within 48hours in-patient with symptomatic saddle pulmonary embolism reveals mild to moderate right ventricular enlargement in 90% and mild to severe right ventricular dysfunction in 80%. Emerging evidence suggest that primary therapy with thrombolytics and embolectomy, should be used in PE patients who presents with hypotension plus moderate to severe right ventricular dysfunction on echo cardiogram.

Patients with saddle pulmonary embolism can have normal cardiopulmonary reserve; these patients can be managed with conventional treatment for pulmonary embolism in hospital settings, in order to deal with any complications developed during management. Aggressive management should be reserved for patients who are hemodynamically unstable as well as those with echocardiographic evidence of severe right ventricular strain. Physicians should decrease their threshold for suspicion of pulmonary embolism in patients with deep venous thrombosis in the hope of revealing more and more hidden cases of pulmonary embolism.
Prothrombin Complex Concentrate Such as Therapy and Prophylaxis in Factor X-Deficient Patient (Friuli Variant)
Authors: Barillari Giovanni , Pasca Samantha , Gonano Nevio , Daminato Roberto
Published: March 2010

Background: Factor X (FX) deficiency is a serious, rare bleeding disorder, with 1 in 500 000 affected people. Hemorrhages, hematuria, epistaxis, and other bleeding complications are frequent. Case Report: Now, we report a case of a well-known 77-year-old FX-deficient patient (Friuli variant, level <1%, mutation Pro343→Ser, exon VIII) with hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and chronic gastritis, admitted many times to hospital due to surgical complications after aortic abdominal aneurysm (AAA) repair. Use of prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) such as hemostatic therapy during surgeries and prophylaxis after discharge is shown in this article. Three consecutive surgeries were considered. First, endoleak postendoprosthesis; second, AAA breakage; and third, planned surgery, a new endovascular prosthesis positioning and femur-femoral bypass. No adverse events due to PCC were found by local physicians. Discussion: We discuss the methods commonly used in the treatment and prophylaxis of patients with FX deficiency to reduce hemorrhagic risk and to improve their quality of life. Conclusion: Waiting for specific therapeutic options for FX deficiency, currently, the best treatment is represented by PCC. Its correct use permits an improvement in life quality and a reduction in bleeding frequency in FX-deficient patients.
Mass Conservation in Modeling Moisture Diffusion in Multi-layer Composite and Sandwich Structures
Authors: Nurge Mark A. , Youngquist Robert C. , Starr Stanley O.
Published: March 2010

Moisture diffusion in multi-layer composite and sandwich structures is difficult to model using finite-difference methods due to the discontinuity in moisture concentration between adjacent layers of differing materials. Applying a mass-conserving approach at these boundaries proved to be effective at accurately predicting moisture uptake for a sample exposed to a fixed temperature and relative humidity. Details of the model developed are presented and compared with actual moisture uptake data gathered over 130 days from a graphite/epoxy composite sandwich coupon with a Rohacell® foam core.
“Upside Down Decolonization” in Subnational Island Jurisdictions: Questioning the “Post” in Postcolonialism
Authors: Baldacchino Godfrey
Published: March 2010

Most subnational (and mainly island) jurisdictions around the world today are actively conspiring in the dogged pursuit of protracted and extended colonial relationships—what is referred to as “upside down decolonization”—rather than aspiring to full independence. Various metropolitan powers are also discovering that island territories can be excised and rejigged as jurisdictional enclaves, able to perform (and get away with) exceptional functions. These can range from detention centers to low-tax regimes, from military bases to exclusive processing zones. In spite of the lingering rhetoric about the virtues of sovereignty, these “infinite pauses” in decolonization call for a more adequate conceptual assimilation within postcolonial theory.
Identification of Parameters in Building Concentration Dispersion Model
Authors: Calogine D. , Boyer H. , Ndoumbe S. , Rivière C. , Miranville F.
Published: March 2010

The aim of this work was to simulate the transport of pollutants in buildings. Focusing mainly on the presence of carbon dioxide, we resolved the airflow equations for two typical validation cases. These numerical results were compared to COMIS and CONTAM software, and they were used to evaluate the evolution of carbon dioxide concentration in different rooms. In order to obtain different parameters and filters of the proposed model, we used a statistical method based on Bayesian inference. This statistical adjustment allowed us to obtain a significant variation of contaminants in different cases. This tool seems to be a good candidate for the fitting of models.
Improving Labour Standards in Clothing Factories
Authors: Shea Anna , Nakayama Mariko , Heymann Jody
Published: March 2010

This article studies the effects of the United States—Cambodia Textile Agreement (UCTA, 1999—2004) on labour standards in Cambodia. The authors find that the Agreement’s labour initiatives have led to relative improvements in the working conditions in garment factories. The study draws on extensive fieldwork conducted in Phnom Penh in 2006: in-depth interviews with dozens of respondents from all key stakeholders (labour, management, NGOs, governments and the trade agreement’s labour projects — Better Factories Cambodia and the Arbitration Council); and observations of these groups’ activities. The article also presents a systematic analysis of the reports produced by the UCTA-provided monitoring. Policy implications are discussed.
Does the Australian Football League Draft Undervalue Indigenous Australian Footballers?
Authors: Mitchell Heather , Stavros Constantino , Stewart Mark F.
Published: March 2010

Economics assumes that behavior is based on rational expectations and market efficiency. However, previous research into professional sports indicates that there are cases where decisions are consistently made that do not conform to this. This article examines this issue within the context of how indigenous Australian footballers are recruited via the Australian Football League (AFL) draft. A panel data econometric model was used to look at the relationship between player performance and the expectations placed on these players when they were first drafted. The results show that, on average, indigenous Australian footballers outperform their expectations. Therefore, the question is ‘‘Why do AFL teams not draft more indigenous players?’’ Some of the reasons why teams may be averse to drafting such players are discussed, although we are unable to rule out irrationality as a possible explanation.
The Cinemas of Transactions: The Exchangeable Currency of the Digital Attraction
Authors: Gurevitch Leon
Published: March 2010

This article argues that the computerization of audiovisual culture has led to a “cinemas of transactions.” Asserting that computer-generated image forms now function as a single currency across multiple audiovisual economies, this article posits a new understanding of digital attractions as constituting a cinemas of transactions. Neither a singular, unitary “cinema” nor a singular “transaction,” the cinemas of transactions constitutes a complex and multiply interrelated system of textual, technological, aesthetic, and economic developments whereby computer-generated attractions and promotional practices span many media and textual forms. Most importantly, however, the cinemas of transactions does not represent a radical break from past configurations of cinematic and audiovisual promotional history; rather (as the name suggests), it represents the continuation of a relationship initiated at the inception of cinema history.
Meditations on Immediate Resistance
Authors: Foust Christina R.
Published: March 2010

Inspired by a graduate seminar (led by the writer), this piece is structured as a series of meditations that perform, in style and in argument, that which they theorize: immediate resistance. Borrowing from performance and poststructuralist theory, immediate resistance names oppositional acts that mix body and mind to exceed ideological significance. As the writer performs in the piece, immediate resistance threatens to render the self dissonant, even immobilized by contradiction. The meditations’ form and content allow the writer to play with multivalenced, open-ended interpretive and writing practices. The meditations are written to be free standing (but resonant), pleasurable (but nonclimactic), and accessible (but not transparent). Like immediate resistance, they risk incoherence and a violation of “real politics.” It is hoped that the meditations may provoke further resistance—particularly critical practice and performative writing, which might unhinge the modernist logics that persist in neoliberal capitalism and the academy.
Moving Around Seoul
Authors: Kim Soochul
Published: March 2010

This article is a critical reflection on the author’s perambulatory experiences in Seoul as he follows the curves and strokes of contemporary Seoul’s streets. In theories of mobile communication technologies, there are few discussions about how and why people move and what happens during those movements. As the author manages his presence in the metropolitan environment of Seoul, he focuses on the new connections of social space and mobile communication technologies such as mobile phones, laptops, digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) receivers, and GPS (global positioning system) navigation. By concentrating on corporeal and incorporeal motions via walking, driving, and riding public transportation, the author discusses how the usage of new mobile communication technologies reshapes urban movement and private and public, inside and outside, near and far, and here and there conceptions of social space.
Music as Performance Method: “The Score” in Experimental Performance
Authors: Stephenson Shaffer Tracy
Published: March 2010

This article answers Philip Auslander’s call for theatre and performance scholars to take music seriously as an object of study. The study also extends that call by considering music as a performance method in experimental work. Specifically, the author offers an analysis of her own practice in a performance she created entitled “The Life and Times of King Kong” as a way to continue this conversation. Drawing on popular notions of a film’s score, the author offers multiple possibilities for including original music in live performance. Given the growing accessibility and interest in digital-electronic music making, this timely article encourages others to consider including original music in their productions. It ends with a practical list of possibilities for the use of original music in live performance.
Performance Prediction Method in the Early Design Stage for Outdoor Ventilated Crawl Spaces Based on Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Yverås Veronica
Published: March 2010

The purpose of this article is to explore the possibility of using a tool based on artificial intelligence and real-life data. The aim is to develop and analyze one artificial intelligence method for one design part of a single-family house. Real-life data from documented experiences have been used as training data to develop a neural network to predict the performance of a specified design part, in this case, the outdoor ventilated crawl space. The results of this study indicate that this is an approach that could usefully be developed and investigated further. The tool managed to predict smell 100%, mold 76%, and rot 92% correctly.
Microarray Analysis of Defective Cartilage in Hoxc8- and Hoxd4-Transgenic Mice
Authors: Kruger Claudia , Kappen Claudia
Published: March 2010

Objective: Homeobox genes of the Hox class are required for proper patterning of skeletal elements and play a role in cartilage differentiation. In transgenic mice with overexpression of Hoxc8 and Hoxd4 during cartilage development, the authors observed severe defects, namely, physical instability of cartilage, accumulation of immature chondrocytes, and decreased maturation to hypertrophy. To define the molecular basis underlying these defects, the authors performed gene expression profiling using the Affymetrix microarray platform. Results: Primary chondrocytes were isolated from Hoxc8- and Hoxd4-transgenic mouse embryo rib cartilage at 18.5 days of gestation. In both cases, differentially expressed genes were identified that have a role in cell proliferation and cell cycle regulation. A comparison between the controls for both experimental groups did not reveal significant differences, as expected. However, the repertoires of differentially expressed genes were found not to overlap between Hoxc8- and Hoxd4-transgenic cartilage. This included different Wnt genes, cell cycle, and apoptosis regulators. Conclusion: Overexpression of Hoxc8 and Hoxd4 transcription factors alters transcriptional profiles in chondrocytes at E18.5. The differences in repertoires of altered gene expression between the 2 transgenic conditions suggest that the molecular mechanisms underlying the cartilage defects may be different in both transgenic paradigms, despite apparently similar phenotypes.
Is Depression a Modifiable Risk Factor for Diabetes Burden?
Authors: Molife Cliff
Published: March 2010

The purpose of this review article was to examine the empirical evidence supporting depression as a risk factor for diabetes complications and associated burden. A database search using keywords located recent clinical and population studies addressing the association between depression and type 2 diabetes. Both cross-sectional and cohort studies were reviewed. Depression appears to exacerbate the progression of type 2 diabetes. The evidence is strong supporting the hypothesis that depression in persons with diabetes increases the risk of diabetes-related burden, including suboptimal glycemic control, complications, functionality, mortality, and health care utilization. Screening for depression among patients with diabetes should be increased in primary care. Newer approaches to diabetes care management may help to slow the progression of diabetes.
Increased Frequency of No-Shows in Residents’ Primary Care Clinic Is Associated With More Visits to the Emergency Department
Authors: Nguyen Douglas L. , DeJesus Ramona S.
Published: March 2010

The high prevalence of no-shows in residents’ primary care clinic acts as a barrier to continuity of care, results in loss of outpatient learning opportunities, and may result in more emergency department (ED) visits. The authors seek to identify if high rates of no-shows correlate with more ED visits. In a selected primary care internal medicine (PCIM) continuity clinic, 650 patients were randomly selected, with 325 patients each from the faculty and resident practices. The number of ED visits between January 1, 2006, and December 30, 2008, was recorded. Demographic characteristics of the population were obtained, and comparisons between the faculty and resident groups were performed using Student t test. Linear multiple regression analysis was performed to compare frequency of ED visits between the faculty and the resident groups, controlling for age, interpreter requirement, number of ED visits, proportion of no-shows, and insurance type. A P value <.05 was considered statistically significant. During 2006-2008, the average number of ED visits per patient in the faculty’s practice was 2.1 compared with 4.1 in the resident’s practice ( P < .001). A multiple linear regression model showed that patients who had more ED visits were likely to be younger ( P = .004), had shorter duration of care in the PCIM clinic ( P < .001), and had a higher proportion of no-shows to the PCIM clinic ( P < .001). There was no statistical difference between faculty and resident practice after adjusting for the above-mentioned variables. Shorter duration in the PCIM clinic and higher proportion of missed appointments were associated with more ED visits, but the use of interpreters and Medicaid insurance did not result in more ED visits. Future interventions are necessary to reduce the no-show rate in the clinic as this may result in a reduction of ED visits.
Pegylated interferon-α, ribavirin, and rituximab combined therapy of hepatitis C virus–related mixed cryoglobulinemia: a long-term study
Authors: Dammacco Franco , Tucci Felicia Anna , Lauletta Gianfranco , Gatti Pietro , De Re Valli , Conteduca Vincenza , Sansonno Silvia , Russi Sabino , Mariggiò Maria Addolorata , Chironna Maria , Sansonno Domenico
Published: March 2010

This study illustrates the use and efficacy of a combination of pegylated interferon-α (Peg-IFN-α) and ribavirin (RBV), with or without rituximab (RTX), in hepatitis C virus (HCV)–related mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC). Twenty-two patients with HCV-related MC received Peg-IFN-α (2a: 180 μg or 2b: 1.5 μg/kg) weekly plus RBV (1000 or 1200 mg) daily for 48 weeks, and RTX (375 mg/m2) once a week for 1 month followed by two 5-monthly infusions (termed PIRR). Fifteen additional patients received Peg-IFN-α/RBV with the same modalities as the PIRR schedule. Complete response was achieved in 54.5% (12/22) and in 33.3% (5/15) of patients who received PIRR and Peg-IFN-α/RBV, respectively (P < .05). Clearance of HCV RNA and conversion of B-cell populations from oligoclonal to polyclonal in liver, bone marrow, and peripheral blood was maintained for up to 3 years in 10 of 12 (83.3%) and in 2 of 5 (40%) patients receiving PIRR and Peg-IFN-α/RBV, respectively (P < .01). Cryoproteins in 22.7% (5/22) of patients with PIRR and in 33.3% (5/15) with Peg-IFN-α/RBV persisted despite sustained HCV RNA clearance. No response occurred in remaining 5 patients of both groups. PIRR therapy is well tolerated and more effective than Peg-IFN-α/RBV combination in HCV-related MC. Its effect may last for more than 3 years.