bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Increasing Burden of HIV-Associated Malignancies in Resource-Limited Regions
Authors: Casper Corey
Published: January 2010

Cancer is increasingly recognized as a complication of HIV infection in both resource-rich and resource-limited areas. The traditional AIDS-defining cancers, including Kaposi sarcoma, cervical cancer, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, have become common comorbidities afflicting HIV-positive individuals and lack adequate prevention and management options. Additionally, several non-AIDS-defining cancers have increased in incidence in resource-limited regions, including Hodgkin lymphoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and lung cancer. This review outlines the epidemiology of HIV-associated malignancies in resource-poor and resource-rich areas, including the impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy on the incidence of these cancers. The pathogenesis of HIV-associated cancers is considered in relation to potential strategies for their prevention and treatment.
Update on Sleep and Its Disorders
Authors: Pack Allan I. , Pien Grace W.
Published: January 2010

Inadequate sleep and sleep disorders have important adverse consequences on multiple systems. This review covers three areas: (a) Genetic determinants of sleep disorders. Common gene variants with small effects have been identified for both restless legs syndrome and narcolepsy with cataplexy. Rare variants with large effects have been found in familial phase advance syndrome and in subjects with short sleep durations. (b) Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA is an oxidative stress disorder. Prospective cohort studies show an increased risk of cardiovascular events in patients with untreated severe OSA. (c) The impact of sleep disorders on obesity and diabetes. Inadequate sleep results in changes in insulin resistance and in hormone levels leading to increases in appetite. Hence, inadequate sleep is associated with development of obesity. OSA is also an independent risk factor for insulin resistance; treatment of OSA can improve insulin sensitivity.
Clostridium difficile and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: Emerging Concepts in Vaccine Development
Authors: Kaslow David C. , Shiver John W.
Published: January 2010

Both Clostridium difficile and Staphylococcus aureus asymptomatically colonize a significant percentage of humans, particularly during the first year of life. The epidemiology of both has been and continues to be quite dynamic; presently, we are in the midst of epidemics of infections by C. difficile and S. aureus. These ancient microbes are now armed with more potent virulence factors, which have extended their reach from the hospital into community settings, and from the elderly and debilitated hosts into the younger and otherwise healthy population. This review presents some emerging concepts that will likely shape efforts to develop active and passive immunization interventions in response to the reemergence of these bacterial pathogens.
State of the Art in Therapeutic Hypothermia
Authors: Lampe Joshua W. , Becker Lance B.
Published: January 2010

Historically, hypothermia was induced prior to surgery to enable procedures with prolonged ischemia, such as open heart surgery and organ transplant. Within the past decade, the efficacy of hypothermia to treat emergency cases of ongoing ischemia such as stroke, myocardial infarction, and cardiac arrest has been studied. Although the exact role of ischemia/reperfusion is unclear clinically, hypothermia holds significant promise for improving outcomes for patients suffering from reperfusion after ischemia. Research has elucidated two distinct windows of opportunity for clinical use of hypothermia. In the early intra-ischemia window, hypothermia modulates abnormal cellular free radical production, poor calcium management, and poor pH management. In the more delayed post-reperfusion window, hypothermia modulates the downstream necrotic, apoptotic, and inflammatory pathways that cause delayed cell death. Improved cooling and monitoring technologies are required to realize the full potential of this therapy. Herein we discuss the current state of clinical practice, clinical trials, recommendations for cooling, and ongoing research on therapeutic hypothermia.
Cognitive Therapy: Current Status and Future Directions
Authors: Beck Aaron T. , Dozois David J.A.
Published: January 2010

Cognitive therapy is a system of psychotherapy with a powerful theoretical infrastructure, which has received extensive empirical support, and a large body of research attesting to its efficacy for a wide range of psychiatric and medical problems. This article provides a brief overview of the conceptual and practical components of cognitive therapy and highlights some of the empirical evidence regarding its efficacy. Cognitive therapy (often labeled generically as cognitive behavior therapy) is efficacious either alone or as an adjunct to medication and provides a prophylaxis against relapse and recurrence.
Deep Brain Stimulation for Intractable Psychiatric Disorders
Authors: Goodman Wayne K. , Alterman Ron L.
Published: January 2010

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has virtually replaced ablative neurosurgery for use in medication-refractory movement disorders. DBS is now being studied in severe psychiatric conditions, such as treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and intractable obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Effects of DBS have been reported in ∼100 cases of OCD and ∼50 cases of TRD for seven (five common) anatomic targets. Although these published reports differ with respect to study design and methodology, the overall response rate appears to exceed 50% in OCD for some DBS targets. In TRD, >50% of patients responded during acute and long-term bilateral electrical stimulation in a different target. DBS was generally well tolerated in both OCD and TRD, but some unique, target- and stimulation-specific adverse effects were observed (e.g., hypomania). Further research is needed to test the efficacy and safety of DBS in psychiatric disorders, compare targets, and identify predictors of response.
Muscle Wasting in Cancer Cachexia: Clinical Implications, Diagnosis, and Emerging Treatment Strategies
Authors: Dodson Shontelle , Baracos Vickie E. , Jatoi Aminah , Evans William J. , Cella David , Dalton James T. , Steiner Mitchell S.
Published: January 2010

Cancer cachexia is a complex metabolic condition characterized by loss of skeletal muscle. Common clinical manifestations include muscle wasting, anemia, reduced caloric intake, and altered immune function, which contribute to increased disability, fatigue, diminished quality of life, and reduced survival. The prevalence of cachexia and the impact of this disorder on the patient and family underscore the need for effective management strategies. Dietary supplementation and appetite stimulation alone are inadequate to reverse the underlying metabolic abnormalities of cancer cachexia and have limited long-term impact on patient quality of life and survival. Therapies that can increase muscle mass and physical performance may be a promising option; however, there are currently no drugs approved for the prevention or treatment of cancer cachexia. Several agents are in clinical development, including anabolic agents, such as selective androgen receptor modulators and drugs targeting inflammatory cytokines that promote skeletal muscle catabolism.
Immunogenetics of Spontaneous Control of HIV
Authors: Carrington Mary , Walker Bruce D.
Published: January 2010

Host genetic variation is presently estimated to account for about one-fourth of the observed differences in control of HIV across infected individuals. Genome-wide association studies have confirmed that polymorphism within the HLA class I locus is the primary host genetic contributor to determining outcome after infection. Here we progress beyond the genetic associations alone to consider the functional explanations for these correlations. In this process, the complex and multidimensional effects of HLA molecules in viral disease become apparent.
Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Laubach Jacob , Richardson Paul , Anderson Kenneth
Published: January 2010

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a B cell neoplasm of the bone marrow with a complex array of clinical manifestations including anemia, bone lesions, hypercalcemia, renal dysfunction, and compromised immune function. It accounts for 10%–15% of all hematologic malignancies, and 20% of deaths related to cancers of the blood and bone marrow. The diagnosis of MM is based on the presence of neoplastic plasma cells in the bone marrow or other extramedullary sites, along with evidence of disease-related organ dysfunction. Although the disease remains incurable, significant advances in both basic and translational research have enhanced understanding of disease pathogenesis and guided the development of new and more effective therapies. These agents include the immunomodulatory drugs thalidomide and lenalidomide, the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib, and other therapeutics that are currently being evaluated. This review highlights important historical landmarks in the field of MM, examines the pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of the disease, and outlines principles of both diagnosis and treatment of MM.
Pharmacogenetics of Endocrine Therapy for Breast Cancer
Authors: Higgins Michaela J. , Stearns Vered
Published: January 2010

The selective estrogen receptor modulator tamoxifen has been used for more than three decades for the treatment, and more recently prevention, of breast cancer in women of all ages. The conversion of tamoxifen to active metabolites involves several cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes. CYP2D6 is the key enzyme responsible for the conversion of N-desmethyl tamoxifen to endoxifen. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the CYP2D6 gene are not uncommon, and some alleles code for enzymes with reduced, null, or increased activity. Multiple studies suggest that women who carry one or two variant CYP2D6 alleles that encode enzymes with null or reduced activity may have an inferior breast cancer outcome when treated with tamoxifen in the adjuvant setting compared to women carrying two alleles encoding an enzyme with normal activity. Unfortunately, the data are not uniformly concordant, and definitive evidence that would change routine clinical practice is not yet available. CYP2D6 activity can also be reduced by concomitant use of drugs that inhibit the enzyme, including antidepressants used for psychiatric conditions or to relieve hot flashes, and these should be avoided in tamoxifen users whenever possible. Emerging data suggest that host factors may also predict interpatient variability in response to aromatase inhibitors.
Genome-Wide Association Studies: Results from the First Few Years and Potential Implications for Clinical Medicine
Authors: Hirschhorn Joel N. , Gajdos Zofia K. Z.
Published: January 2010

Most common diseases and quantitative traits are heritable: determined in part by genetic variation within the population. The inheritance is typically polygenic in that combined effects of variants in numerous genes, plus nongenetic factors, determine outcome. The genes influencing common disease and quantitative traits remained largely unknown until the implementation in 2006 of genome-wide association (GWA) studies that comprehensively surveyed common genetic variation (frequency >5%). By 2010, GWA studies identified >1,000 genetic variants for polygenic traits. Typically, these variants together account for a modest fraction (10%–30%) of heritability, but they have highlighted genes in both known and new biological pathways and genes of unknown function. This initial effort prefigures new studies aimed at rarer variation and decades of functional work to decipher newly glimpsed biology. The greatest impact of GWA studies may not be in predictive medicine but rather in the development over the next decades of therapies based on novel biological insights.
The Impact of Intervention on Sexual Practices of HIV Positive Individuals in Southeast Nigeria
Authors: Obi S. N. , Ifebunandu N. A. , Onah H. E. , Onyebuchi A. K.
Published: January 2010

Objective. To describe the impact of repeating behavioral educational intervention on sexual practices of HIV positive individuals.Method. A prospective cohort study of HIV positive individual was conducted in southeast Nigeria from June 2007 to May 2008. Information on sexual practices was collected at initial visit; education was given and its impact was evaluated afterwards.Results. Knowledge about risk of unprotected intercourse increased by 41%, condom use by 27%  and consistent condom use by 55% . The significant predictors of consistent condom use include male gender, multiple sexual partner, as well as good knowledge of HIV transmission, higher educational status and being married. Non use of condom at postintervention survey were characterized by female gender (), monogamous relationship (), little or no education (), and unmarried () respondents.Conclusion. Repeated behavioral education intervention improves consistent condom use among HIV positive individuals and will help curb the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Restoration of Endodontically Treated Teeth Review and Treatment Recommendations
Authors: Slutzky-Goldberg Iris , Slutzky Hagay , Gorfil Colin , Smidt Ami
Published: January 2010

Coronal restorations and posts can positively influence the long-term prognosis of teeth following root canal therapy. Final sealing the canal by placing an appropriate post and core will minimize leakage of oral fluids and bacteria into the periradicular area and is recommended as soon as possible after completion of root canal filling. Glass ionomer or MTA placed over the residual root canal filling after post space preparation may be effective to prevent bacterial leakage. A ferrule of 1-2 mm of tooth tissue coronal to the finish line of the crown significantly improves the fracture resistance of the tooth and is more important than the type of the material the core and post are made of.
Improvements in Geometry‐Based Secret Image Sharing Approach with Steganography
Authors: Ulutas Mustafa , Nabiyev Vasif V. , Ulutas Guzin
Published: January 2010

Protection of the sensitive data is an important issue because of the fast development of applications that need exchange of the secret information over the Internet. Secret sharing is an idea proposed by Shamir and Blakley separately with different implementations in 1979. Lin and Tsai proposed a method that uses Steganography to create meaningful shares by using Shamir′s secret sharing scheme in 2004. In recent years, researchers work to remove some of the weaknesses of this method. However, all of these methods need cover images four times bigger than the secret image. This arises two problems: increased storage and bandwidth need for shares. We used cover images with the same size as the secret image by using both Blakley′s secret sharing approach and Steganography. Therefore, we achieved reduced storage and transmission bandwidth for shares. Besides, the proposed method creates meaningful shares by using Steganography instead of noise‐like shares, different from other studies that use Blakley′s approach.
Vanishing Power Values of Commutators with Derivations on Prime Rings
Authors: Dhara Basudeb
Published: January 2010

Let R be a prime ring of char R ≠ 2, d a nonzero derivation of R and ρ a nonzero right ideal of R such that for all x, y ∈ ρ, where n ≥ 0, m ≥ 0, t ≥ 1 are fixed integers. If [ρ, ρ]ρ ≠ 0, then d(ρ)ρ = 0.
Atmospheric Reentry Dynamics of Conic Objects
Authors: Saldia J. P. , Cimino A. , Schulz W. , Elaskar S. , Costa A.
Published: January 2010

One of the key issues in a reentry risk analysis is the calculation of the aerodynamic coefficients. This paper presents a methodology to obtain these coefficients and couple it to a code that computes re‐entry trajectories considering six degrees of freedom. To evaluate the different flight conditions encountered during the natural re‐entry of conical objects, the Euler Equations for gasdynamics flows are used. A new scheme TVD (Total Variation Diminishing) is incorporated to a finite volume unstructured cell‐centred formulation, for application to three‐dimensional Euler flows. Finally, numerical results are obtained for a conical body at different attack angles and Mach. With these results, the calculation of the trajectories during atmospheric re‐entry is completed.
“Pi of the Sky” Detector
Authors: Małek Katarzyna , Batsch Tadeusz , Czyrkowski Henryk , Ćwiok Mikołaj , Dąbrowski Ryszard , Dominik Wojciech , Kasprowicz Grzegorz , Majcher Ariel , Majczyna Agnieszka , Mankiewicz Lech , Nawrocki Krzysztof , Pietrzak Robert , Piotrowski Lech W. , Ptasińska Maria , Siudek Małgorzata , Sokołowski Marcin , Użycki Janusz , Wawer Piotr , Wawrzaszek Roman , Wrochna Grzegorz , Zaremba Marcin , Żarnecki Aleksander F.
Published: January 2010

“Pi of the Sky” experiment has been designed for continuous observations of
a large part of the sky, in search for astrophysical phenomena characterized
by short timescales, especially for prompt optical counterparts of Gamma
Ray Bursts (GRBs). Other scientific goals include searching for novae and
supernovae stars and monitoring of blasars and AGNs activity. “Pi of the Sky” is a fully autonomous, robotic detector, which can operate for long periods of time without a human supervision. A crucial element of the detector is
an advanced software for real‐time data analysis and identification of short
optical transients. The most important result so far has been an independent
detection and observation of the prompt optical emission of the “naked‐eye” GRB080319B.
Similarity and Diversity in Macrophage Activation by Nematodes, Trematodes, and Cestodes
Authors: Jenkins Stephen J. , Allen Judith E.
Published: January 2010

This review summarizes current knowledge of macrophages in helminth infections, with a focus not only on delineating the striking similarities in macrophage phenotype between diverse infections but also on highlighting the differences. Findings from many different labs illustrate that macrophages in helminth infection can act as anti-parasite effectors but can also act as powerful immune suppressors. The specific role for their alternative (Th2-mediated) activation in helminth killing or expulsion versus immune regulation remains to be determined. Meanwhile, the rapid growth in knowledge of alternatively activated macrophages will require an even more expansive view of their potential functions to include repair of host tissue and regulation of host metabolism.
Simulation of Human Episodic Memory by Using a Computational Model of the Hippocampus
Authors: Sato Naoyuki , Yamaguchi Yoko
Published: January 2010

The episodic memory, the memory of personal events and history, is essential for understanding the mechanism of human intelligence. Neuroscience evidence has shown that the hippocampus, a part of the limbic system, plays an important role in the encoding and the retrieval of the episodic memory. This paper reviews computational models of the hippocampus and introduces our own computational model of human episodic memory based on neural synchronization. Results from computer simulations demonstrate that our model provides advantage for instantaneous memory formation and selective retrieval enabling memory search. Moreover, this model was found to have the ability to predict human memory recall by integrating human eye movement data during encoding. The combined approach between computational models and experiment is efficient for theorizing the human episodic memory.
Power Characterisation for Fine-Grain Reconfigurable Fabrics
Authors: Becker Tobias , Jamieson Peter , Luk Wayne , Cheung Peter Y. K. , Rissa Tero
Published: January 2010

This paper proposes a benchmarking methodology for characterising the power consumption of the fine-grain fabric in reconfigurable architectures. This methodology is part of the GroundHog 2009 power benchmarking suite. It covers active and inactive power as well as advanced low-power modes. A method based on random number generators is adopted for comparing activity modes. We illustrate our approach using five field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) that span a range of process technologies: Xilinx Virtex-II Pro, Spartan-3E, Spartan-3AN, Virtex-5, and Silicon Blue iCE65. We find that, despite improvements through process technology and low-power modes, current devices need further improvements to be sufficiently power efficient for mobile applications. The Silicon Blue device demonstrates that performance can be traded off to achieve lower leakage.
Magnetic Resonance Diffusion Tensor Imaging of the Optic Nerves to Guide Treatment of Pediatric Suprasellar Tumors
Authors: Salmela Michael B. , Cauley Keith A. , Andrews Trevor , Gonyea Jay V. , Tarasiewicz Izabela , Filippi Christopher G.
Published: January 2010

Background/Aims: As a preoperative planning tool, conventional magnetic resonance (MR) imaging may have limited value in differentiating tumors from white matter tracts. MR diffusion tensor imaging (MRDTI) has become a useful tool for evaluating white matter tracts in relation to surrounding structures and has been used in surgical planning for brain tumors involving white matter. We investigated the use of DTI of the optic nerves in surgical planning for pediatric suprasellar tumors. Methods: We present findings in 10 pediatric control patients and 2 cases of pediatric suprasellar tumors in which a routine 6-direction DTI of the brain was performed at 3 T. Postprocessing permitted the study of the diffusion tensor parameters, as well as the tractography, of the optic nerves. Results: The control patients demonstrated the optimization of the technique and permitted the quantitation of fractional anisotropy and apparent diffusion coefficient values. The tumor cases demonstrated the utility of optic nerve DTI to differentiate between optic nerves and suprasellar/chiasmatic brain tumors. Conclusions: A routine 6-direction DTI of the pediatric brain at 3 T permits a detailed DTI study of the optic nerves. Optic nerve tractography can be used to aid in the evaluation and treatment of pediatric brain tumors in the area of the optic chiasm.
Family History and Adaptation among Centenarians and Octogenarians
Authors: Hensley Bob , Martin Peter , MacDonald Maurice , Poon Leonard
Published: January 2010

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze various ‘family history’ variables (i.e. childhood health, financial situation while growing up, living with grandparents before age 17, and number of children) among participants of the Georgia Centenarian Study. Objective: To determine whether family history variables predict critical outcome areas such as cognitive functioning, activities of daily living, mental health, and economic dependence. Methods: A total of 318 older adults (236 centenarians and 82 octogenarians) were assessed with regard to their mental status, ADL (activities of daily living) functioning, depression, family history, loneliness, and perceived economic status. Results: Analyses indicated that the number of children significantly predicted the ability to engage in activities of daily living and loneliness. In essence, the more children, the higher the activities of the daily living score and the lower the loneliness scores. In addition, childhood health significantly predicted loneliness. The poorer one’s health in childhood, the higher the loneliness scores. Conclusion: The results of this study confirm the importance of distal family history variables on present-day functioning.
Treatment of Acrodermatitis Continua of Hallopeau with TNF-Blocking Agents: Case Report and Review
Authors: Puig Lluís , Barco Didac , Vilarrasa Eva , Alomar Agustín
Published: January 2010

Acrodermatitis continua of Hallopeau (ACH) is a rare acropustular eruption, characterized by sterile pustules, paronychia and atrophic skin changes, onychodystrophy and osteolysis of the distal phalanges of the fingers and toes. It is considered to be a variant of pustular psoriasis with a chronic relapsing course and frequent refractoriness to many therapeutic modalities, which can be amenable to successful treatment by tumor necrosis factor α antagonists. We report 1 patient with pustular psoriasis and ACH whom we have treated successfully with etanercept (for 30 months) and then adalimumab (for 13 months and ongoing). Blanching was initially achieved with etanercept 50 mg twice a week, but suppression of periungual inflammation then required combination therapy with etanercept 50 mg twice a week and methotrexate 10 mg weekly; lower doses of both drugs did not allow complete control of the disease. Eventually, adalimumab 40 mg every 2 weeks has provided the most cost-effective response in this patient, allowing maintenance of response with partial nail regrowth under monotherapy.
Repeat Operations in Pediatric Patients with Recurrent Craniopharyngiomas
Authors: Jang Woo Young , Lee Kwan-Sung , Son Byung Chul , Jeun Sin-Soo , Hong Yong-Kil , Lee Sang Won , Yang Seung-Ho
Published: January 2010

Background: Controversy continues over the optimal management of recurrent craniopharyngiomas. Our strategy for approaching repeatedly recurrent craniopharyngiomas in pediatric patients has been to decompress vital structures and relieve the symptoms as early as possible. The purpose of this study was to present our experiences of repeatedly recurrent craniopharyngiomas and the pattern of failure associated with treatment. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on 7 pediatric patients who underwent resection >2 times in a single institution between 1990 and 2004. Resections were performed 3–8 times for each patient. Variables including tumor size, consistency and location, extent of resection, adjuvant therapy and morbidity were evaluated. Results: Thirty-two operations were performed in 7 pediatric patients. Total resection was not achieved by the third surgery and thereafter, and the interval between each surgery became shorter. Appetite disorders, neurocognitive disorders and behavioral disorders occurred following repeat surgeries. Conclusion: Repeat operations are associated with a high failure rate of tumor control, even though they can help relieve neurologic symptoms. It is suggested that the number of repeat operations should be limited.
Pediatric Neurosurgical Practice Patterns Designed to Prevent Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunt Infection
Authors: Gruber Thomas J. , Riemer Sara , Rozzelle Curtis J.
Published: January 2010

Background/Aims: Various factors have been associated with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt infection risk, leading to many recommendations intended to reduce that risk. We sought to assess current North American pediatric neurosurgical practice patterns in this regard via a web-based survey. Particular attention was paid to the use of antibiotic-impregnated materials and prophylactic perioperative antibiotics. Methods: The membership of the section on pediatric neurological surgery of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons was invited to complete a survey of current practices intended to minimize CSF shunt infection risk. To be eligible for participation in this study, the respondent had to maintain an active neurosurgical practice within North America and place or revise at least 25 shunts in pediatric patients (<21 years) per year. Responses to the questionnaire were then analyzed. Results: A total of 100 responses were analyzed. All respondents were familiar with antibiotic-impregnated shunt catheters, and 61 of 100 had actually used them. Eleven of 61 respondents use them universally, 20 of 61 in >50% of cases, and 30 of 61 in <50% of cases. Antibiotic-impregnated suture material was known to 59% of respondents, of whom 28% (14 of 59) reported having actually used antimicrobial suture. All respondents use perioperative intravenous antibiotics with vancomycin, first-generation cephalosporins, and then second-generation cephalosporins being the most common. Routine use of intraventricular antibiotics was reported by 27%. An assessment of surgical techniques revealed that 90% limit shunt contact with patient’s skin, 62% use the double-gloving technique, 45% handle shunt components only with instruments, and 34% use an antiseptic shampoo preoperatively. Conclusion: Our survey reveals a wide range of practices intended to prevent shunt infection and captures, in particular, current trends in the use of antibiotic-impregnated materials and perioperative antibiotics for CSF shunting procedures.
The Assessment of Individual Usual Food Intake in Large-Scale Prospective Studies
Authors: Illner Anne-Kathrin , Nöthlings Ute , Wagner Karen , Ward Heather , Boeing Heiner
Published: January 2010

Recent research has called into question the current practice to estimate individual usual food intake in large-scale studies. In such studies, usual food intake has been defined as diet over the past year. The aim of this review is to summarise the concepts of dietary assessment methods providing food intake data over this time period. A conceptualised framework is given to help researchers to understand the more recent developments to improve dietary assessment in large-scale prospective studies, and also to help to spot the gaps that need to be addressed in future methodological research. The conceptual framework illustrates the current options for the assessment of an individual’s food consumption over 1 year. Ideally, a person’s food intake on each day of this year should be assessed. Due to participants’ burden, and organisational and financial constraints, however, the options are limited to directly requesting the long-term average (e.g. food frequency questionnaires), or selecting a few days with detailed food consumption measurements (e.g. 24-hour dietary recalls) or using snapshot techniques (e.g. barcode scanning of purchases). It seems necessary and important to further evaluate the performance of statistical modelling of the individual usual food intake from all available sources. Future dietary assessment might profit from the growing prominence of internet and telecommunication technologies to further enhance the available data on food consumption for each study participant. Research is crucial to investigate the performance of innovative assessment tools. However, the self-reported nature of the data itself will always lead to bias.
Burden of Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Subclinical Atherosclerosis, and Incident Cardiovascular Events Across Dimensions of Religiosity: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis
Authors: Feinstein Matthew , Liu Kiang , Ning Hongyan , Fitchett George , Lloyd-Jones Donald M.
Published: January 2010

Background—

Religious involvement has been associated with improved health practices and outcomes; however, no ethnically diverse community-based study has examined differences in cardiac risk factors, subclinical cardiovascular disease, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) events across levels of religiosity.

Methods and Results—

We included 5474 white, black, Hispanic, and Chinese participants who attended examination 2 of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). We compared cross-sectional differences in cardiac risk factors and subclinical CVD and longitudinal CVD event rates across self-reported levels of religious participation, prayer/meditation, and spirituality. Multivariable-adjusted regression models were fitted to assess associations of measures of religiosity with risk factors, subclinical CVD, and CVD events. MESA participants (52.4% female; mean age, 63) with greater levels of religious participation were more likely to be female and black. After adjustment for demographic covariates, participants who attended services daily, compared with never, were significantly more likely to be obese (adjusted odds ratio 1.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12 to 1.72) but less likely to smoke (adjusted odds ratio 0.39, 95% CI 0.26 to 0.58). Results were similar for those with frequent prayer/meditation or high levels of spirituality. There were no consistent patterns of association observed between measures of religiosity and presence/extent of subclinical CVD at baseline or incident CVD events during longitudinal follow-up in the course of 4 years.

Conclusions—

Our results do not confirm those of previous studies associating greater religiosity with overall better health risks and status, at least with regard to CVD. There was no reduction in risk for CVD events associated with greater religiosity.
Carotid Baroreceptor Stimulation, Sympathetic Activity, Baroreflex Function, and Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Patients
Authors: Heusser Karsten , Tank Jens , Engeli Stefan , Diedrich André , Menne Jan , Eckert Siegfried , Peters Tim , Sweep Fred C.G.J. , Haller Hermann , Pichlmaier Andreas M. , Luft Friedrich C. , Jordan Jens
Published: January 2010

In animals, electric field stimulation of carotid baroreceptors elicits a depressor response through sympathetic inhibition. We tested the hypothesis that the stimulation acutely reduces sympathetic vasomotor tone and blood pressure in patients with drug treatment–resistant arterial hypertension. Furthermore, we tested whether the stimulation impairs the physiological baroreflex regulation. We studied 7 men and 5 women (ages 43 to 69 years) with treatment-resistant arterial hypertension. A bilateral electric baroreflex stimulator at the level of the carotid sinus (Rheos) was implanted ≥1 month before the study. We measured intra-arterial blood pressure, heart rate, muscle sympathetic nerve activity (microneurography), cardiac baroreflex sensitivity (cross-spectral analysis and sequence method), sympathetic baroreflex sensitivity (threshold technique), plasma renin, and norepinephrine concentrations. Measurements were performed under resting conditions, with and without electric baroreflex stimulation, for ≥6 minutes during the same experiment. Intra-arterial blood pressure was 193±9/94±5 mm Hg on medications. Acute electric baroreflex stimulation decreased systolic blood pressure by 32±10 mm Hg (range: +7 to −108 mm Hg;
P
=0.01). The depressor response was correlated with a muscle sympathetic nerve activity reduction (
r
2
=0.42;
P
<0.05). In responders, muscle sympathetic nerve activity decreased sharply when electric stimulation started. Then, muscle sympathetic nerve activity increased but remained below the baseline level throughout the stimulation period. Heart rate decreased 4.5±1.5 bpm with stimulation (
P
<0.05). Plasma renin concentration decreased 20±8% (
P
<0.05). Electric field stimulation of carotid sinus baroreflex afferents acutely decreased arterial blood pressure in hypertensive patients, without negative effects on physiological baroreflex regulation. The depressor response was mediated through sympathetic inhibition.
Effects of soil types and Meloidogyne hapla on the multi-purpose uses of arugula (Eruca sativa)
Authors: Melakeberhan Haddish , Kravchenko Alexandra , Dahl Jon , Warncke Darryl
Published: January 2010

Developing multi-purpose alternatives to synthetic nematicides for managing the northern root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne hapla, a problem in a variety of temperate vegetable and nursery crop production soils, continues to be challenging. Arugula (Eruca sativa), a high-end green vegetable crop with biofumigant and cover crop attributes, is an effective trap crop (dead-end host) for populations of M. hapla in sandy loam soil. Exploiting arugula's multi-purpose attributes, however, depends on understanding its interaction with M. hapla under a range of conditions. The objectives of this study were to determine if soil types affect: i) the ability of M. hapla to infect arugula; and ii) if M. hapla infection has any effect on arugula's vegetative quality in the respective soils. When 2-week-old arugula cv. Roquette seedlings were inoculated with either 0 (control), 4000 or 8000 M. hapla eggs per 300 cm3 of either sandy, sandy loam or muck soil, and maintained for 23 and 24 days (28±2°C), more nematodes were recovered from sandy loam soil. However, the numbers of nematodes recovered between the inocula were similar in the three soil types and nematode infection had no effect on plant growth or nutritional quality. However, the growth and leaf nutritional quantity of arugula were significantly affected by soil type. The results support the hypothesis that M. hapla will infect arugula in different soil types without affecting its vegetative quantity and quality, providing the basis for testing arugula's trap, vegetable and, possibly, biofumigant attributes from one seeding in fields where M. hapla exists.
Oscheius carolinensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Rhabditidae), a potential entomopathogenic nematode from vermicompost
Authors: Torres-Barragan Andrea , Ye Weimin , Cardoza Yasmin
Published: January 2010

Oscheius carolinensis n. sp. (Rhabditidae) was recovered through the Galleria bait method from vermicompost produced in Raleigh, NC, USA. Morphological studies with light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, as well as molecular analyses of the near-full-length small subunit rDNA gene (SSU), D2/D3 expansion segments of the large subunit rDNA gene (LSU) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS), revealed this as a new species, described herein as Oscheius carolinensis n. sp. The new species is characterised by a combination of characters including its unique DNA sequences, amphimictic reproduction, six separate lips with bristle-like sensilla, lateral field with four lines, leptoderan and open male bursa, arrangement of bursal papillae 1 + 1 + 1/3 + 3 + ph, evenly spaced first, second and third papillae, and separate spicules that are distally shaped like a crochet needle. Oscheius carolinensis n. sp. belongs to the Insectivorus-group and is closest to O. colombianus, O. chongmingensis n. comb., O. insectivorus and O. lucianii. A Bacillus-like bacterium appears to be associated with this nematode, based on our microscopic and SEM observations. Exposed Galleria larvae were killed within 5 days and numerous nematodes were recovered from the cadavers within 48 h. Preliminary tests revealed that this nematode is capable of infecting at least two other insect species (Pieris rapae and Tenebrio molitor) under laboratory conditions and therefore has potential as a biological control agent. The status of Heterorhabditidoides chongmingensis is discussed, the genus is proposed as a junior synonym of Oscheius, and O. chongmingensis n. comb. is proposed.
Climatology of Velocity and Temperature Turbulence Statistics Determined from Rawinsonde and ACARS/AMDAR Data
Authors: Frehlich Rod , Sharman Robert
Published: January 2010

The climatology of the spatial structure functions of velocity and temperature for various altitudes (pressure levels) and latitude bands is constructed from the global rawinsonde network and from Aircraft Communications, Addressing, and Reporting System/Aircraft Meteorological Data Relay (ACARS/AMDAR) data for the tropics and Northern Hemisphere. The ACARS/AMDAR data provide very dense coverage of winds and temperature over common commercial aircraft flight tracks and allow computation of structure functions to scales approaching 1 km, while the inclusion of rawinsonde data provides information on larger scales approaching 10 000 km. When taken together these data extend coverage of the spatial statistics of the atmosphere from previous studies to include larger geographic regions, lower altitudes, and a wider range of spatial scales. Simple empirical fits are used to approximate the structure function behavior as a function of altitude and latitude in the Northern Hemisphere. Results produced for spatial scales less than ∼2000 km are consistent with previous studies using other data sources. Estimates of the vertical and global horizontal structure of turbulence in terms of eddy dissipation rate ε and thermal structure constant CT2 are derived from the structure function levels at the smaller scales.
Climatological Conditions of Lake-Effect Precipitation Events Associated with the New York State Finger Lakes
Authors: Laird Neil , Sobash Ryan , Hodas Natasha
Published: January 2010

A climatological analysis was conducted of the environmental and atmospheric conditions that occurred during 125 identified lake-effect (LE) precipitation events in the New York State Finger Lakes region for the 11 winters (October–March) from 1995/96 through 2005/06. The results complement findings from an earlier study reporting on the frequency and temporal characteristics of Finger Lakes LE events that occurred as 1) isolated precipitation bands over and downwind of a lake (NYSFL events), 2) an enhancement of LE precipitation originating from Lake Ontario (LOenh events), 3) an LE precipitation band embedded within widespread synoptic precipitation (SYNOP events), or 4) a transition from one type to another. In comparison with SYNOP and LOenh events, NYSFL events developed with the 1) coldest temperatures, 2) largest lake–air temperature differences, 3) weakest wind speeds, 4) highest sea level pressure, and 5) lowest height of the stable-layer base. Several significant differences in conditions were found when only one or both of Cayuga and Seneca Lakes, the largest Finger Lakes, had LE precipitation as compared with when the smaller Finger Lakes also produced LE precipitation. In addition, transitional events containing an NYSFL time period occurred in association with significantly colder and drier air masses, larger lake–air temperature differences, and a less stable and shallower boundary layer in comparison with those associated with solitary NYSFL events.
Remote Sensing of Multilayer Cloud-Top Pressure Using Combined Measurements of MERIS and AATSR on board Envisat
Authors: Lindstrot Rasmus , Preusker Rene , Fischer Jürgen
Published: January 2010

A novel and unique algorithm for the retrieval of multilayer cloud-top pressure is presented, relying on synergetic observations of the Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) and Advanced Along Track Scanning Radiometer (AATSR) on board the Environmental Satellite (Envisat). The retrieval is based on the exploitation of the differing signals observed in the thermal infrared spectral region (AATSR) and the oxygen A band at 0.76 μm (MERIS). Past studies have shown that the cloud-top pressure retrieved from MERIS measurements is highly accurate in the case of low single-layered clouds. In contrast, in the presence of multilayered clouds like cirrus overlying water clouds, the derived cloud height is biased. In this framework, an optimal estimation algorithm for the correction of the measured O2 A transmission for the influence of the upper cloud layer was developed. The algorithm is best applicable in cases of optically thin cirrus (1 ≤ τ ≤ 5) above optically thick water clouds (τ > 5), as found frequently in the vicinity of convective or frontal cloud systems. The split-window brightness temperature difference technique is used for the identification of suitable cases. The sensitivities of the AATSR and MERIS measurements to multilayered clouds are presented and discussed, revealing that in the case of dual-layered clouds, the AATSR-derived cloud height is close to the upper cloud layer, even if it is optically thin. In contrast, the cloud height retrieved from MERIS measurements represents the optical center of the cloud system, which is close to the lower layer in cases where the upper layer is optically thin. Two case studies of convective, multilayered cloud systems above the northern Atlantic Ocean are shown, demonstrating the plausibility of the approach. The presented work is relevant especially in view of the upcoming Global Monitoring for Environment and Security Sentinel-3 satellite to be launched in 2012 that will carry the respective MERIS and AATSR follow-up instruments Ocean and Land Colour Instrument (OLCI) and Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer (SLSTR).
Validation of a Tropical Cyclone Steering Response Function with a Barotropic Adjoint Model
Authors: Hoover Brett T. , Morgan Michael C.
Published: January 2010

The steering of a tropical cyclone (TC) vortex is commonly understood as the advection of the TC vortex by an “environmental wind.” In past studies, the environmental steering wind vector has been defined by the horizontal and vertical averaging of the horizontal winds in a box centered on the TC. The components of this environmental steering have been proposed as response functions to derive adjoint-derived sensitivities of TC zonal and meridional steering. The appropriateness of these response functions in adjoint sensitivity studies of TC steering is tested using a two-dimensional barotropic model and its adjoint for a 24-h forecast. It is found that these response functions do not produce sensitivities to TC steering because perturbations to the model initial conditions that change the final-time location of the TC also change the response functions in ways that have nothing to do with the steering of the TC at model verification.

An alternate response function is proposed wherein the environmental steering vector is defined as the wind averaged over the response function box attributed to vorticity outside of that box. By redefining the response functions for the zonal and meridional steering as components of this environmental steering vector, the effect of small changes to the final-time location of the TC is removed, and the resultant sensitivity gradients can be shown to truly represent the sensitivity of TC steering to perturbations of the model forecast state.
A Direct Measure of Entrainment
Authors: Romps David M.
Published: January 2010

A method is introduced for directly measuring convective entrainment and detrainment in a cloud-resolving simulation. This technique is used to quantify the errors in the entrainment and detrainment estimates obtained using the standard bulk-plume method. The bulk-plume method diagnoses these rates from the convective flux of some conserved tracer, such as total water in nonprecipitating convection. By not accounting for the variability of this tracer in clouds and in the environment, it is argued that the bulk-plume equations systematically underestimate entrainment. Using tracers with different vertical profiles, it is also shown that the bulk-plume estimates are tracer dependent and, in some cases, unphysical. The new direct-measurement technique diagnoses entrainment and detrainment at the gridcell level without any recourse to conserved tracers. Using this method in large-eddy simulations of shallow and deep convection, it is found that the bulk-plume method underestimates entrainment by roughly a factor of 2. The directly measured entrainment rates are then compared to cloud height and cloud buoyancy. Contrary to existing theories, fractional entrainment is not found to scale like the inverse of height, the cloud buoyancy, or the gradient of cloud buoyancy. On the other hand, fractional detrainment is found to scale linearly with cloud buoyancy. Finally, direct measurement is used to diagnose the spatial distribution of entrainment and detrainment during the evolution of an individual deep cumulonimbus.