bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Discriminating Consumer: Product Proliferation and Willingness to Pay for Quality
Authors: Bertini Marco , Wathieu Luc , Iyengar Sheena S.
Published: September 2011

The authors propose that a crowded product space motivates consumers to better discriminate between options of different quality. Specifically, this article reports evidence from three controlled experiments and one natural experiment that people are prepared to pay more for high-quality products and less for low-quality products when they are considered in the context of a dense, as opposed to a sparse, set of alternatives. To explain this effect, the authors argue that consumers uncertain about the importance of quality learn from observing market outcomes. Product proliferation reveals that other consumers care to discriminate among similar alternatives, and in turn, this inference raises the importance of quality in decision making.
Effect of Infrared Drying on Drying Kinetics, Color, Total Phenols and Water and Oil Holding Capacities of Orange (Citrus Sinensis) Peel and Leaves
Authors: Kammoun Bejar Asma , Ghanem Nesrine , Mihoubi Daoued , Kechaou Nabil , Boudhrioua Mihoubi Nourhène
Published: September 2011

The aims of this work were to determine the desorption isotherms of “Maltaise” orange peel and leaves and to investigate the effect of the infrared drying on the drying kinetics and on the physical and functional properties. The moisture desorption curves showed a sigmoïd shape (type II on the BET classification). GAB was found to be the best model for describing the desorption curves. The infrared drying rate increased, with temperature increasing at the same moisture ratio. High drying temperatures preserved initial color parameter values of “Maltaise” orange peels (from 21.893 ± 0.629 to 24.793 ± 0.525, from 37.973 ± 0.941 to 45.44 ± 0.390 and from 45.350 ± 1.077 to 50.439 ± 0.740 for a*, b* and C, respectively) and leaves (from -5.98 ± 1.651 to -5.276 ± 0.342, from 10.73 ± 1.547 to 16.42 ± 0.174 and from 12.283 ± 2.263 to 17.247 ± 0.384 for a*, b* and C, respectively) and maximal phenolic content. Nevertheless, water and oil holding capacities decreased significantly. Low temperatures gave the best functional properties.
Stability of soybean seed composition
Authors: Balesevic-Tubic Svetlana , Djordjevic Vuk , Miladinovic Jegor , Djukic Vojin , Tatic Mladen
Published: September 2011

Stability of protein and oil content of 13 soybean varieties were examined
using linear model across seven locations and during six years. Due to
heterogeneity of environments all year/locations was distributed in to two
groups, based on achieved yield. Stability of protein content differed in the
low and high yielding environments, while average values show only minor
differences. In contrast, oil content stability was slightly changed in the
low and high yielding environments, while the average oil content were
significantly higher in the low yielding environments. Environmental factors
influenced the correlation between oil and protein content in soybeans.
Negative correlation between protein and oil content was observed only in the
high yielding environments, while varieties in low yielding environments lack
this well known inverse relation.
Quantitative trait loci for yield and morphological traits in maize under drought stress
Authors: Nikolic Ana , Andjelkovic Violeta , Dodig Dejan , Ignjatovic-Micic Dragana
Published: September 2011

Drought is one of the most important factors contributing to crop yield loss.
In order to develop maize varieties with drought tolerance, it is necessary
to explore the genetic basis. Mapping quantitative trait loci (QTL) that
control the yield and associate agronomic traits is one way of understanding
drought genetics. QTLs associated with grain yield (GY), leaf width (LW3,
LW4) plant height (PH), ear height (EH), leaf number (NL), tassel branch
number (TBN) and tassel length (TL) were studied with composite interval
mapping. A total of 43 QTLs were detected, distributed on all chromosomes,
except chromosome 9. Phenotypic variability determined for the identified
QTLs for all the traits was in the range from 20.99 to 87.24%. Mapping
analysis identified genomic regions associated with two traits in a manner
that was consistent with phenotypic correlation among traits, supporting
either pleiotropy or tight linkage among QTLs.
Characterization of vegetative and grain filling periods of winter wheat by stepwise regression procedure: I. Vegetative period
Authors: Przulj Novo , Momcilovic Vojislava
Published: September 2011

Modeling plant growth by mathematical functions is important for
understanding plant development and growth. Most of the models of dry matter
accumulation in small cereals simulated the period of grain filling while
small attention has been devoted to mathematical simulation of vegetative
period till anthesis. The aim of this research was to determine the most
appropriate polynomial non-linear regression for dry matter accumulation till
anthesis in winter wheat. Pobeda, a medium early variety, was used as model
genotype for this research. A 5-year field data were analyzed by the forward
procedure of stepwise regression. Although the procedure requires the maximum
power of the polynomial regression to be used, we suggest using a lower power
since it is easier for understanding and explanation and it is taking into
account literature sources and biological laws. It can be accepted that
quadratic regression model appropriately fits the process of dry matter
accumulation till anthesis in winter wheat.
Small grain cereals compared for dietary fibre and protein contents
Authors: Zilic Sladjana , Dodig Dejan , Milasinovic-Seremesic Marija , Kandic Vesna , Kostadinovic Marija , Prodanovic Slaven , Savic Djordje
Published: September 2011

The content of dietary fibres (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, NDF, ADF),
tryptophan and proteins, as well as their quality index were determined in
whole grains of bread and durum wheat, rye, hull-less barley and hull-less
oat, each represented with four genotypes. In addition, content of ?-glucans
in hull-less barley were determined. In average, hull-less barley and oat had
the lowest content of hemicellulose (22.54 and 13.11% d.m., respectively),
cellulose (1.36 and 1.41% d.m., respectively), lignin (0.98 and 0.49% d.m.,
respectively), as well as NDF (24.84 and 15.16% d.m., respectively) and ADF
(2.30 and 2.04% d.m., respectively). In average, the highest content of
hemicellulose was in durum wheat (33.47% d.m.), followed by rye (29.63%
d.m.), and bread wheat (23.24% d.m.). Among tested hull-less barley genotypes
the the content of ?-glucans ranged from 4.1% d.m. (IWHBON 97-18) to 5.6%
d.m. (Apolon). The highest content of proteins (on average 15.65% d.m.) and
tryptophan (on average 0.206% d.m.) was in hull-less oat. Hull-less barley
had the highest protein quality index (1.48%) followed by bread and durum
wheat and hull-less oat (IQ 1.35, 1.34 and 1.31%, respectively), and rye (IQ
0.93%). The results indicate that there is genetic diversity in content of
dietary fibres and proteins among tested genotypes and that it should be
possible to selectively breed for lines with high nutrition capacities, as
well as, to improved diet requirements.
Flowering time and incompatibility groups: Cultivar combination in commercial sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) orchards
Authors: Radicevic Sanja , Cerovic Radosav , Maric Sladjana , Djordjevic Milena
Published: September 2011

The paper presents results of eight-year study (1999-2006) of flowering
phenophase in 21 introduced sweet cherry cultivars grown under the
agro-environmental conditions of West Serbia. Flowering time, as well as
progress and abundance of flowering were studied, and classification of the
studied cultivars according to flowering time was derived. On the basis of
mean several-year overlap in phenophase of full flowering and on the grounds
of so far known data on classification of these cultivars among
incompatibility groups, we have offered a recommendation for their
cultivation in orchards whereby the most effective pollination and
fertilization can be ensured as well as good fruit-set and satisfactory fruit
yields.
Variability of nitrogen content in the needles of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii Mir/Franco) provenances
Authors: Lavadinovic Vera , Isajev Vasilije , Miletic Zoran , Krstic Milun
Published: September 2011

Nitrogen content in the needles of twenty Douglas-fir provenances,
originating from different sites within the native range of the species in
the USA, was studied in a Douglas-fir provenance test established at the
montane beech site on acid brown soil. Based on the variability of nitrogen
content in the needles, the intensity and dynamics of the physiological
processes of Douglas-fir mineral nutrition were analyzed as the indicators of
Douglas-fir adaptive potential to the sites in Serbia. All the trees of the
study provenances were of the same age and grown under the same site and
population conditions. The quantities of nitrogen absorbed in Douglas-fir
needles were correlated with the geographical characteristics of the native
sites of the observed provenances. The differences in nitrogen content in
Douglas-fir needles point out the variability in the intensity of the
physiological processes in the genotypes of the different provenances. Since
the study Douglas-fir trees are cultivated on relatively small areas, in more
or less equal general conditions, it can be concluded that the parameters of
mineral nutrition depend on the genotypes constituting the gene pool of the
study Douglas-fir provenances.
Intimomedial thickness of the vertebral arteries complex: A new useful parameter for the assessment of atheroclerotic process?
Authors: Jovanikic Olivera , Lepic Toplica , Raicevic Ranko , Veljancic Dragana , Ristic Andjelka , Gligic Branko
Published: September 2011

Bacground/Aim. An integral part of Doppler ultrasound examination of cervical
blood vessels is determination of intimomedial thicknes (IMT) of the common
carotid. The aim of the study was to estimate the relations between IMT of
the common carotid and vertebral arteries in order to determine if the value
of IMT obtained on the vertebral artery could be applied in clinical
practice. Methods. We measured IMT in a randomized, prospective and
crosssectional study, performed on 50 persons both sexes (29 men and 21
women), at the age from 18 to 79 years (mean age 52.4 ? 17.63 years). All the
persons were healthy, what was confirmed with clinical examination and
laboratory analyses. Measurements were perfomed from January 2006 until
September 2008. Intimomedial thickness was recorded by twodimensional
ultrasonography in B-mode on both common carotid arteries: one value was
obtained as average of three successeful measurements (measurements were
perform on different places). We measured IMT on the first segment of both
vertebral arteries, 1.5 cm proximal from the connection of the first and
second segments (we got results of the measurement of IMT on the vertebral
arteries in the same way: mean value from the three records). Results. (IMT =
0.782 ? 0.248 mm), obtained from 50 healthy persons, was higher than that
measured on the vertabral artery on the first segment (IMT = 0.585 ? 0.134
mm). The values of IMT after measurement on two different places were
statistically highly different (t = 7.03, SD = 0.028, p < 0.01). Coefficient
of variability of IMT values in carotid circulation (CV = 34.4%) was higher
than that in vertebral circulation (22.9%). Values of IMT on vertebral
arteries were in statistically significant correlation with those in carotid
circulation (r = 0.24 and t- = 2.48; p < 0.02). There were no statistically
significant difference between IMT measurement on the right and the left side
so they were analysed as the same set Conclusion. Values of IMT on the
vertebral arteries are one more undependent parameter of doplersonographic
examination of cervical vessels, which significantly correlates with IMT
values on common carotid artery. Variability of this parameter is lower, and
absolute values lower than the same in the common carotid artery. Therefore,
this parameter is probably not so sensitive. On the other hand, lower
variability of IMT values on the vertebral artery might be of higher
specificity for prediction of atherosclerotic progress by the increased
values of this parameter than based on IMT values obtained on the common
carotid arteries.
Ultrasound measurement of visceral fat in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis
Authors: Alempijevic Tamara , Jesic Rada , Svorcan Petar , Sokic-Milutinovic Aleksandra , Kovacevic Nada , Radaljac Tatjana , Popovic Dragan , Popovic Dusan , Krstic Miodrag
Published: September 2011

Background/Aim. Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a progressive, chronic
liver disease with elevated serum lipids, but it is unclear whether
hyperlipidemia in PBC patients is associated with atherosclerosis. Metabolic
syndrome promotes development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
related to abdominal type obesity and insulin resistance. The aim of our
study was to assess abdominal adiposity in patients with PBC. Methods. The
study included 40 patients with PBC and 50 healthy controls. Age, sex and
anthropometric measurements (weight, height, body mass index and waist
circumference) were registered for all patients and controls. We used
ultrasonography to measure subcutaneous (SF) and visceral fat (VF) diameter,
subcutaneous area (SA) and visceral area (VA), as well as perirenal fat
diameter (PF). Results. Values of SF, VF and PF thicknesses in PBC patients
were 19.23 ? 5.85 mm, 10.92 ? 3.63 mm, and 7.03 ? 1.82 mm, respectively. In
controls these measurements were 22.73 ? 6.70 mm, 16.84 ? 5.51 mm and 10.50 ?
2.70 mm respectively. In PBC patients SA and VA were calculated to 983.64 ?
322.68 mm2 and 403.64 ? 166.97 mm2 and in controls 1124.89 ? 366.01 mm2 and
720.57 ? 272.50 mm2 respectrively. Significant difference was found for VF,
VA and RF values. Conclusions. Considering that the amount of visceral fat
plays an important role in development of metabolic syndrome and
cardiovascular diseases, we concluded that the lower amount of visceral fat
in PBC patients could be related to lower incidence of cardiovascular events,
despite hyperlipidemia.
Bone bruise of the knee associated with the lesions of anterior cruciate ligament and menisci on magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Jelic Djordje , Masulovic Dragan
Published: September 2011

Background/Aim. Bone bruise is a common finding in acutely injured knee
examined by magnetic resonance (MR). The aim of the study was to determine
the association of bone bruise frequency with postinjury lesions of anterior
cruciate ligament (ACL) and menisci. Bone bruise involves posttraumatic bone
marrow change with hemorrhages, edema and microtrabecular fractures without
disruption of adjacent cortices or articular cartilage. MR imaging is a
method of choice for detecting bone bruises which can not be seen on
conventional radiographic techniques. Methods. A representative review of 120
MR examinations for the acute knee trauma was conducted. All the patients
were examined within one month of trauma. All MR examinations were performed
by using a 0.3T MR unit. Results. Posttraumatic bone bruise was seen in 39
(32.5%) patients out of 120. Three patients had fracture of the cortex,
so-called ?occult? fracture (not seen on plain radiography). We analyzed only
bone bruises without these fractures of the cortex. Bone bruise was
associated with the lesion of ACL in 27 (69%) patients. In 28 (72%) patients
bone bruise was in combination with the lesion of menisci. Only two patients
with bone bruise had neither ACL nor menisci lesions. There were 78 patients
without bone bruise but 33 (43%) of them had lesions of ACL and 49 (63%) had
lesions of menisci. Conclusion. Bone bruise is best seen in STIR (Short TI
Inversion Recovery) images and is very often found in acute knee trauma. Very
often it is associated with posttraumatic lesions of ACL and menisci, so
attention must be paid to this when bone bruise is seen. The difference in
frequency of internal structures of the knee lesions in patients with bone
bruise is highly statistically significant as compared to patients with no
bone bruise.
Arterial hypertension in the elderly
Authors: Ivanovic Branislava , Dincic Dragan , Tadic Marijana , Simic Dragan
Published: September 2011

nema
Nutrigenomics: The science of the 21st century
Authors: Stojanovic Dusica , Markovic Danica
Published: September 2011

nema
Brain tumors in patients primarly treated psychiatrically
Authors: Ignjatovic-Ristic Dragana , Pusicic Vesna , Pejovic Sanja , Djukic-Dejanovic Slavica , Milovanovic Dragan , Ravanic Dragan , Janjic Vladimir
Published: September 2011

Introduction. Psychiatric symptoms are not rare manifestations of brain
tumors. Brain tumors presented by symptoms of raised intracranial pressure,
focal neurological signs, or convulsions are usually first seen by the
neurologist or less frequently by the neurosurgeon in routine diagnostic
procedures. On the other hand, when psychiatric symptoms are the first
manifestation in ?neurologically silent? brain tumors, the patients are sent
to the psychiatrist for the treatment of psychiatric symptoms and brain
tumors are left misdiagnosed for a long period of time. Case Report. We
presented three patients with the diagnosed brain tumor where psychiatrist
had been the first specialist to be consulted. In all three cases
neurological examination was generally unremarkable with no focal signs or
features of raised intracranial pressure. CT scan demonstrated right insular
tumor in a female patient with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD); right
parietal temporal tumor in a patient with delusions and depression and left
frontal tumor in a patient with history of alcohol dependency. Conclusion.
Psychiatric symptoms/disorders in patients with brain tumors are not specific
enough and can have the same clinical presentation as the genuine psychiatric
disorder. Therefore, we emphasize the consideration of neuroimaging in
patients with abrupt beginning of psychiatric symptoms, in those with a
change in mental status, or when headaches suddenly appear or in cases of
treatment resistant psychiatric disorders regardless the lack of neurological
symptoms.
Patron's review. The role of images in the development of Renaissance natural history
Authors: Kusukawa Sachiko
Published: September 2011

This review surveys recent scholarship on the history of natural history with special attention to the role of images in the Renaissance. It discusses how classicism, collecting and printing were important catalysts for the Renaissance study of nature. Classicism provided inspiration of how to study and what kind of object to examine in nature, and several images from the period can be shown to reflect these classical values. The development of the passion for collecting and the rise of commerce in nature's commodities led to the circulation of a large number of exotic flora and fauna. Pictures enabled scholars to access unobtainable objects, build up knowledge of rare objects over time, and study them long after the live specimens had died away. Printing replicated pictures alongside texts and enabled scholars to share and accumulate knowledge. Images, alongside objects and text, were an important means of studying nature. Naturalists' images, in turn, became part of a larger visual culture in which nature was regarded as a beautiful and fascinating object of admiration.
Eric Fitch Daglish (1892–1966): naturalist, illustrator, author and editor
Authors: Moore P. G.
Published: September 2011

Eric Fitch Daglish (1892–1966) was a naturalist by inclination, a free-lance author and editor in business and, by practice, a wood-engraver of high repute. Taught wood-engraving skills by Paul Nash, he was a close friend also of other famous engravers (John Nash, Eric Gill) within the Society of Wood Engravers. He applied these skills to illustrating his own books for popular audiences on topics ranging from flowers to birds, beasts and the English countryside. Fluent in German, he translated books from that language to supplement his income in the years succeeding the First World War. He is perhaps best known for his bird books: Woodcuts of British birds, The life story of birds and Birds of the British Isles, but was also a prolific writer about dogs. His oeuvre is examined, and his contribution compared with other contemporary bird artists who embraced wood-engraving techniques. A bibliography of his natural history works as author and as editor is included.
An annotated catalogue of the marine biological paintings of Thomas Alan Stephenson (1898–1961)
Authors: Williams R. B. , Moore P. G.
Published: September 2011

Thomas Alan Stephenson (1898–1961) was a greatly gifted marine biologist and artist. The British sea anemones (1928, 1935) and his essay on beauty in nature and art, Seashore life and pattern (1944), both of which he illustrated himself, are his best-known works. A participant with his wife Anne in the Great Barrier Reef Expedition of 1928–1929, the couple subsequently travelled world-wide studying rocky-shore zonation patterns, summarized eleven years after Stephenson's death in Life between tidemarks on rocky shores (1972). During those travels Stephenson painted marine organisms (mostly invertebrates and algae) and shorescapes, many of which were reproduced in books and scientific papers. His paintings represent a valuable artistic and scientific resource of international significance that deserves to be better known. Some are listed in the catalogues prepared for a memorial exhibition in 1964. Others were discovered from letters between Stephenson and museum curators, and yet more were identified from further diverse sources. Catalogued here are 99 paintings on various marine themes in watercolour, gouache or oil, of which 55 are known in institutional collections or in private hands; the rest could not be traced. Yet more marine biological artworks probably remain undocumented.
The contribution of Thomas Pennant (1726–1798), Welsh naturalist, to the Australian ornithology of Cook's first voyage (1768–1771)
Authors: Medway David G.
Published: September 2011

Thomas Pennant – Welsh traveller, antiquary, naturalist, and author – visited Joseph Banks in September 1771 shortly after Banks returned from his voyage around the world (1768–1771) with James Cook. It was almost certainly on the occasion of this visit that Pennant was given access to manuscript descriptions of various birds and other animals that had been met with on the voyage, saw the specimens Banks had brought back to England, and was given some of them. Among the Pennant papers in the National Library of Wales is a collection of descriptions in Pennant's handwriting that relate to birds met with by Banks on Cook's voyage. These descriptions may be only part of what was once a more extensive collection in that regard. Of especial interest and importance among them are those of 13 Australian landbird species. Some years later, Pennant must have noticed that John Latham, in his monumental A general synopsis of birds (1781–1785), had not described some species that Pennant possessed specimens or descriptions of, or that Latham's information about some of those he described was deficient in certain respects. Pennant communicated descriptions and notes on those birds to Latham, most notably in relation to several landbirds that had been collected in eastern Australia by Banks in the course of his voyage with Cook. It is apparent from the sources discussed in this paper that Banks took more specimens of Australian birds back to England from the first Cook voyage than has previously been realised. It is a strange quirk of history that, today, more evidence in that regard is available from Pennant, who did not go on the voyage, than from Banks who did.
The history of arid-land fox discoveries in North America
Authors: Clark H. O.
Published: September 2011

Meriwether Lewis and William Clark in 1805 wrote the first substantial details of an arid-land fox. It was not until 1823, however, that Thomas Say described this same species of fox scientifically, and gave it a Latin name. Since then several other arid-dwelling foxes have been discovered. It almost seems that each south-western state in the United States and northern Mexico had its own fox, neatly described and named. But with the advent of modern biology and genetics, and the re-thinking of the “species concept”, has the rich history of arid-land fox discoveries become just a footnote? In this paper I bring the work of nineteenth- and twentieth-century explorers and naturalists to the modern reader, providing the historical accounts that can only be found in library archives. I focus only on foxes that occur in North American desert and prairie habitats, excluding those fox species that occur in woodland and forested communities.
Natural history as entrepreneurship: Maria Sibylla Merian's correspondence with J. G. Volkamer II and James Petiver
Authors: Kinukawa T.
Published: September 2011

The artist, naturalist and entrepreneur Maria Sibylla Merian (1647–1717) constructed her network by exchanging natural history specimens with other naturalists in Europe, created a market for her publication Metamorphosis insectorum Surinamensium (1705), and had her book reviewed in major literary journals in northwestern Europe. Two collections of letters provide information on this process: those exchanged between James Petiver (1664–1718) and his correspondents in Amsterdam and those between the German physician and botanist J. G. Volkamer II (1662–1744) and his friends in Amsterdam. Merian's strategies demonstrate that patronage played a limited role in her success as naturalist, while her skill as an entrepreneur provided a chance to engage in communication with other naturalists and have other naturalists receive her work positively. Merian's work epitomizes the growing role played by entrepreneur-naturalists in the accumulation of knowledge about the natural resources of overseas colonies and the distribution of this knowledge to European readers. Although her gender prevented her from obtaining membership of academies, Merian's book was reviewed by major European literary journals, including Acta eruditorum in Leipzig. The article analyses her letters in the context of larger networks of correspondence between Holland, England and Germany.
Probability Machines
Authors: Malley J. D. , Kruppa J. , Dasgupta A. , Malley K. G. , Ziegler A.
Published: September 2011

Background: Most machine learning approaches only provide a classification for binary responses. However, probabilities are required for risk estimation using individual patient characteristics. It has been shown recently that every statistical learning machine known to be consistent for a nonparametric regression problem is a probability machine that is provably consistent for this estimation problem.

Objectives: The aim of this paper is to show how random forests and nearest neighbors can be used for consistent estimation of individual probabilities.

Methods: Two random forest algorithms and two nearest neighbor algorithms are described in detail for estimation of individual probabilities. We discuss the consistency of random forests, nearest neighbors and other learning machines in detail. We conduct a simulation study to illustrate the validity of the methods. We exemplify the algorithms by analyzing two well-known data sets on the diagnosis of appendicitis and the diagnosis of diabetes in Pima Indians.

Results: Simulations demonstrate the validity of the method. With the real data application, we show the accuracy and practicality of this approach. We provide sample code from R packages in which the probability estimation is already available. This means that all calculations can be performed using existing software.

Conclusions: Random forest algorithms as well as nearest neighbor approaches are valid machine learning methods for estimating individual probabilities for binary responses. Freely available implementations are available in R and may be used for applications.
A Remote Operating Slit Lamp Microscope System
Authors: Tanabe N. , Go K. , Sakurada Y. , Imasawa M. , Mabuchi F. , Chiba T. , Abe K. , Kashiwagi K.
Published: September 2011

Objectives: To develop a remote-operating slit lamp microscope system (the remote slit lamp) as the core for highly specialized ophthalmology diagnoses, and to compare the utility of this system with the conventional slit lamp microscope system (the conventional slit lamp) in making a diagnosis.

Methods: The remote slit lamp system was developed. Three factors were evaluated in comparison to the conventional slit lamp. The ability to acquire skills was investigated using a task loading system among specialists and residents in ophthalmology. Participants repeated a task up to ten times and the time required for each task was analyzed. The consistency of the two systems in making a diagnosis was investigated using eyes of patients with ocular diseases as well as healthy volunteers.

Results: The remote slit lamp is composed of a patient’s unit and ophthalmologist’s unit connected by high-speed internet. The two units share images acquired by the slit lamp in addition to the images and voices of patients and ophthalmologists. Both ophthalmology specialists and residents could minimize the completion times after several trials. The remote slit lamp took more time than the conventional slit lamp. Both systems showed a high consistency in evaluations among eyes with healthy eyes or those with ocular diseases.

Conclusions: The remote slit lamp has a similar diagnostic ability, but required more examination time in comparison to the conventional slit lamp. The currently developed remote slit lamp has the potential to be employed for telemedicine purposes in the field of ophthalmology.
IMPACT: A Generic Tool for Modelling and Simulating Public Health Policy
Authors: Carruthers E. , Couch P. , Green N. , O’Flaherty M. , Sperrin M. , Williams R. , Asghar Z. , Capewell S. , Buchan I. E. , Ainsworth J. D.
Published: September 2011

Background: Populations are under-served by local health policies and management of resources. This partly reflects a lack of realistically complex models to enable appraisal of a wide range of potential options. Rising computing power coupled with advances in machine learning and healthcare information now enables such models to be constructed and executed. However, such models are not generally accessible to public health practitioners who often lack the requisite technical knowledge or skills.

Objectives: To design and develop a system for creating, executing and analysing the results of simulated public health and health-care policy interventions, in ways that are accessible and usable by modellers and policy-makers.

Methods: The system requirements were captured and analysed in parallel with the statistical method development for the simulation engine. From the resulting software requirement specification the system architecture was designed, implemented and tested. A model for Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) was created and validated against empirical data.

Results: The system was successfully used to create and validate the CHD model. The initial validation results show concordance between the simulation results and the empirical data.

Conclusions: We have demonstrated the ability to connect health policy-modellers and policy-makers in a unified system, thereby making population health models easier to share, maintain, reuse and deploy.
A Regional Health Care Network: eHealth.Braunschweig
Authors: Bartkiewicz T. , Bautsch W. , Gerlach A. , Goldapp M. , Haux R. , Heller U. , Kierdorf H. P. , Kleinschmidt T. , Ludwig W. , Markurth U. , Pfingsten-Würzburg S. , Plischke M. , Reilmann H. , Schubert R. , Seidel C. , Warnke R. , Gusew N.
Published: September 2011

Background: Health care network eHealth.Braunschweig has been started in the South-East region of Lower Saxony in Germany in 2009. It composes major health care players, participants from research institutions and important local industry partners.

Objectives: The objective of this paper is firstly to describe the relevant regional characteristics and distinctions of the eHealth.Braunschweig health care network and to inform about the goals and structure of eHealth.Braunschweig; secondly to picture and discuss the main concepts and domain fields which are addressed in the health care network; and finally to discuss the architectural challenges of eHealth.Braunschweig regarding the addressed domain fields and defined requirements.

Methods: Based on respective literature and former conducted projects we discuss the project structure and goals of eHealth.Braunschweig, depict major domain fields and requirements gained in workshops with participants and discuss the architectural challenges as well as the architectural approach of eHealth.Braunschweig network.

Results: The regional healthcare network eHealth.Braunschweig has been established in April 2009. Since then the network has grown constantly and a sufficient progress in network activities has been achieved. The main domain fields have been specified in different workshops with network participants and an architectural realization approach for the transinstitutional information system architecture in the healthcare network has been developed. However, the effects on quality of information processing and quality of patient care have not been proved yet. Systematic evaluation studies have to be done in future in order to investigate the impact of information and communication technology on the quality of information processing and the quality of patient care.

Conclusions: In general, the aspects described in this paper are expected to contribute to a systematic approach for the establishment of regional health care networks with lasting and sustainable effects on patient-centered health care in a regional context.
Bromine–lithium exchange: An efficient tool in the modular construction of biaryl ligands
Authors: Bonnafoux Laurence , Leroux Frédéric R , Colobert Françoise
Published: September 2011

Regioselective bromine–lithium exchange reactions on polybrominated biaryls enable the modular synthesis of various polysubstituted biphenyls such as bis(dialkylphosphino)-, bis(diarylphosphino)- and dialkyl(diaryl)phosphinobiphenyls. All permutations of substituents at the ortho positions of the biphenyls are possible. In a similar manner, one can gain access to monophosphine analogues. So far, such a process, based on the effective discrimination between bromine atoms as a function of their chemical environment, has been observed only sporadically.
Universal Profiling of HIV-1 Pol for Genotypic Study and Resistance Analysis Across Subtypes
Authors: Nie Ting , Detorio Mervi , Schinazi Raymond F
Published: September 2011

Background

The increased use of anti-HIV-1 treatments in developing countries primarily infected by non-B subtypes necessitates development of novel tools to assess susceptibility and resistance. HIV-1 genomes are highly polymorphic and present challenges for the development of universal protocols capable of screening across subtypes. Currently available viral genotyping methods are useful for viral quantification, but are inadequate for sequence profiling or comprehensive mutation detection in the variable regions of HIV polymerase ( pol).

Methods

A novel set of universal primers within pol, with consensus among a variety of HIV-1 subtypes, was developed. One-round amplification was performed by one-step reverse transcription PCR on 79 samples from HIV-1 subtypes. Using a second set of primers, the amplified fragment was sequenced and assembled to produce a profile database per sample.

Results

First-round amplification using universal primers generated a unique amplicon encompassing the major pol regions in all tested HIV-1 subtype samples. Sequence analysis of the amplified fragment not only confirmed the subtype of each HIV-1 isolate but also identified resistance mutations in the pol genes of HIV-1, including protease, reverse transcriptase, connection, RNase H, and integrase. Last, some of these primers were used to develop a viral load test using quantitative real time-PCR.

Conclusions

A novel protocol was produced to effectively identify and simultaneously generate extensive sequence profiles of pol genes across HIV-1 subtypes. This protocol allows for expeditious and cost-effective mutation detection, genotypic evaluation and viral load determination in multiple HIV-1 subtypes.
Etravirine and Rilpivirine Resistance in HIV-1 Subtype Crf01_Ae-Infected Adults Failing Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor-Based Regimens
Authors: Bunupuradah Torsak , Ananworanich Jintanat , Chetchotisakd Ploenchan , Kantipong Pacharee , Jirajariyavej Supunnee , Sirivichayakul Sunee , Munsakul Warangkana , Prasithsirikul Wisit , Sungkanuparph Somnuek , Bowonwattanuwong Chureeratana , Klinbuayaem Virat , Petoumenos Kathy , Hirschel Bernard , Bhakeecheep Sorakij , Ruxrungtham Kiat
Published: September 2011

Background

We studied prevalence of etravirine (ETR) and rilpivirine (RPV) resistance in HIV-1 subtype CRF01_AE infection with first-line non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) failure.

Methods

A total of 225 adults failing two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) plus 1 NNRTI in Thailand with HIV RNA>1,000 copies/ml were included. Genotypic resistance results and HIV-1 subtype were interpreted by Stanford DR database. ETR resistance was calculated by the new Monogram weighted score (Monogram WS; ≥4 indicating high-level ETR resistance) and by DUET weighted score (DUET WS; 2.5–3.5 and ≥4 resulted in intermediate and reduce ETR response, respectively). RPV resistance interpretation was based on previous reports.

Results

Median (IQR) age was 38 (34–42) years, 41% were female and CDC A:B:C were 22%:21%:57%. HIV subtypes were 96% CRF01_AE and 4% B. Antiretrovirals at failure were lamivudine (100%), stavudine (93%), nevirapine (90%) and efavirenz (10%) with a median (IQR) duration of 3.4 (1.8–4.5) years. Median (IQR) CD4+ T-cell count and HIV RNA were 194 (121–280) cells/mm3 and 4.1 (3.6–4.6) log10 copies/ml, respectively. The common NNRTI mutations were Y181C (41%), G190A (22%) and K103N (19%). The proportion of patients with Monogram WS score ≥4 was 61.3%. By DUET WS, 49.8% and 7.5% of patients were scored 2.5–3.5 and ≥4, respectively. Only HIV RNA≥4 log10 copies/ml at failure was associated with both Monogram WS≥4 (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.3–3.9; P=0.003) and DUET WS≥2.5 (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1–3.3; P=0.02). The RVP resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) detected were K101P (1.8%), Y181I (2.7%) and Y181V (3.6%). All patients with RPV mutation had ETR resistance. No E138R/E138K mutations were detected.

Conclusions

Approximately 60% of patients had high-level ETR resistance. The role of ETR in second-line therapy is limited in late NNRTI failure settings. RVP RAMs were uncommon, but cross-resistance between ETR and RVP was high.
In utero exposure to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate does not impair growth and bone health in HIV-uninfected children born to HIV-infected mothers
Authors: Viganò Alessandra , Mora Stefano , Giacomet Vania , Stucchi Sara , Manfredini Valeria , Gabiano Clara , Salvini Filippo , Cellini Monica , Tamburrini Enrica , Puzzovio Maria , Zuccotti Gian Vincenzo
Published: September 2011

Background

Growth impairment and bone toxicity due to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) fetal exposure has been described mainly in animals. We evaluated growth pattern and bone health in TDF-exposed HIV-uninfected children born to HIV-infected mothers, defined as seroreverters (SR).

Methods

This was a multicentre observational cross-sectional cohort study enrolling 68 SR who were in utero exposed to an antiretroviral regimen including (TDF+) or not including (TDF-) tenofovir. Neonatal data and duration of antiretroviral exposure were recorded. At enrolment, anthropometric measures, tibial speed of sound (SOS) by quantitative ultrasound and several parameters of bone metabolism were assessed.

Results

Gestational age and median in utero antiretroviral exposure were similar in subjects exposed to TDF ( n=33) and those non-exposed ( n=35). Age at enrolment was comparable in the two groups (TDF-exposed range 11.8–76.2 months and TDF non-exposed range 11.8–77.9 months). The incidence of low weight and length measurements (<10th percentiles) at birth was similar in TDF-exposed and TDF non-exposed. Normal growth development was found in both groups of subjects at enrolment. The median (0.6; range -2.4–2.6) SOS z-score of TDF-exposed was similar to the median (0.8; range -2.2–4.4) SOS z-score of TDF non-exposed (Student's t=0.84; P=0.40). Parameters of bone metabolism were similar in the two groups.

Conclusions

Exposure to TDF during pregnancy does not impair growth patterns, bone health and markers of bone metabolism in SR infants and young children born to HIV-infected women.
Unprecedented slow growth and mortality of the rare colonial cyanobacterium, Nostoc zetterstedtii, in oligotrophic lakes
Authors: Sand-Jensen Kaj , Møller Claus Lindskov
Published: September 2011

Centimeter‐large colonies of Nostoc zetterstedtii from a Swedish oligotrophic lake had the lowest growth and mortality rates of any studied temperate macrophyte. Annual growth rates at two shallow sites averaged 0.57‐0.73 × 10−3 d−1, corresponding to doubling times of colony dry weight in 2.6‐3.3 yr. With such low growth rates, the largest colonies measuring 7 cm in diameter are 24‐31 yr old. We found no mortality of incubated colonies and calculated the mortality rate to < 7.3 × 10−5 d−1 and the life span to > 24 yr in accordance with age of the largest colonies. The firm gelatinous tissue of high mass density, low nutrient content, and antibacterial property can account for the low growth and mortality rates. The measured daily surplus of photosynthesis minus respiration can support only small increments of the large mass per colony surface in accordance with the low growth rates. Growth and mortality rates of N. zetterstedtii correspond best with general allometric relationships for macroalgae using surface area to carbon biomass as the scaling parameter, but measurements are lower than predictions probably because of extra costs to sustain the substantial colony matrix. N. zetterstedtii is adapted to pristine Lobelia lakes with clear water and chronically low nutrient levels, but it is threatened by strong attenuation of light by brownification or eutrophication.
Phosphatases relieve carbon limitation of microbial activity in Baltic Sea sediments along a redox‐gradient
Authors: Steenbergh Anne K. , Bodelier Paul L. E. , Hoogveld Hans L. , Slomp Caroline P. , Laanbroek Hendrikus J.
Published: September 2011

The relationship between phosphatase activity and the element limiting microbial activity (carbon [C], nitrogen [N], or phosphorus [P]) was studied experimentally in sediment from four stations in the Baltic Sea located along a depth transect from oxic to anoxic bottom waters. The role of extracellular phosphatases was assessed by determining the percentages of intact cells that could be labeled with an artificial substrate for phosphatases (i.e., enzyme‐labeled fluorescence 97 phosphatase substrate [ELF]) using a flow cytometer. Phosphatase activity was detected in sediment slurries from all sites either with or without prior incubation under oxic or anoxic conditions. In addition, ELF‐labeled cells were detected in all incubated sediments, indicating that intact cells bearing phosphatases contribute to the phosphatase activity. Phosphatase activities and percentages of ELF‐labeled cells were lower for the anoxic than for the oxic slurry incubations. Phosphatases are likely used to relieve the limitation of microbial activity by utilizable C in these recently deposited, organic C‐rich sediments in the Baltic Sea. In marine sediments overlain by anoxic bottom waters, the biological and chemical mechanisms of P retention are often less efficient than in oxic settings and the P released to relieve C limitation escapes to the overlying water. This explains the ongoing higher P fluxes from sediments overlain by anoxic bottom waters.
Sir James Berry (1860-1946) (To the 150th Anniversary)
Authors: Romanchishen Anatoly F , Vabalayte Kristina V , Tovbina Marina H
Published: September 2011

James Berry was born at Kingston, Ontario, where his father had business interests, but was educated at Whitgift School, South Croydon, London. He spent his student time at St Bartholomew's Hospital and became a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. Later, he became consultant surgeon and emeritus lecturer for clinical surgery at the Royal Free Hospital in London. He retired from praxis in 1927. Berry pioneered thyroid surgery in England and wrote a textbook on the subject . With his first wife he assembled and led a medical team to Serbia in World War I. They were captured by the Hungarians and repatriated through Switzerland, only to return to continue their work in Romania.
Use of Retroauricular Temporal Flap for Large Post Oncosurgical Glabellar and Forehead Defects
Authors: Saraiya Hemant
Published: September 2011

Introduction

Reconstruction of large defect in glabellar and forehead areas poses a perplexing problem for a reconstructive surgeon. Although coverage of small defect can be straight forward, few options are available for the coverage of large area.

Materials and methods

Two patients were operated for recurrent basal cell carcinoma and dermatofibrosarcoma respectively. Excision left very large defect which was reconstructed by retroauricular temporal flap.

Results

Both flaps survived completely. Flap cutting and final insetting was done on 21st day. The postoperative result was very satisfactory.

Conclusions

Retroauricular temporal (Washio) flap is a robust and reliable flap. It satisfactorily caters the need of the recipient area. The scars are oncologically and esthetically acceptable. We believe that this technique is a simple and effective solution to a difficult problem.
Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies: Current Perspectives and Applications for the Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Blein Stanislas , Hou Sam
Published: September 2011

Over the past two decades, monoclonal antibodies have emerged as a versatile class of therapeutics with unique properties. More than 30 therapeutic antibodies are now approved in the United States and European Union, with numerous candidates filling the preclinical and clinical pipeline of every major pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology firms. Monoclonal antibodies have the advantage over traditional medicines in that they are able to specifically bind to the desired targets with little to no associated toxicity. In the recent years, monoclonal antibodies approved for oncology treatments have gained in notoriety and are now used as adjuvants or neo-adjuvants to radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery. In the field of head and neck cancer, the anti-EGF receptor antibody Erbitux has paved the way for new targeted treatments to SCCHN. This review introduces some basic concepts and recent perspectives on monoclonal antibodies with a focus on head and neck cancer treatments.
Parapharyngeal Space Tumors
Authors: Khandawala Pratima S
Published: September 2011

Parapharyngeal space is a potential space in the neck extending from skull base to the greater cornu of hyoid bone. It is divided in prestyloid and poststyloid compartment by the fascia joining styloid process to tensor veli palatini. Tumors of parapharyngeal space are uncommon, comprising of less than 1% of all head and neck neoplasms. CT Scanning and MRI investigations is complimentary and both studies should be performed for evaluation of lesions in this area. Complete surgical excision is the mainstay of treatment.