bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DIRECT TEST OF TIME REVERSAL INVARIANCE VIOLATION IN B-MESONS
Authors: ÁLVAREZ EZEQUIEL , SZYNKMAN ALEJANDRO
Published: August 2008

In this letter we reinterpret and reanalyze the available data of the B-meson factories showing the existence of direct experimental evidence of time reversal invariance violation in B-mesons. This reinterpretation consists of using the available observables to define a new observable which, in a model-independent way and without assuming CPT invariance, compares a transition between a B0 and a here-defined Bα-state, with its time reversed transition. The observable then offers a direct way to probe time reversal invariance and it is therefore independent of any conclusion obtained from current experimental information on CP violation and CPT invariance. As far as we are concerned, this is the first direct evidence of time reversal invariance violation in B-mesons and also the first one obtained from decaying particles whose mean lifetime difference is negligible.
MULTI-FACTOR JUMP-DIFFUSION MODELS OF ELECTRICITY PRICES
Authors: MEYER-BRANDIS THILO , TANKOV PETER
Published: August 2008

The recent deregulation of electricity markets has led to the creation of energy exchanges, where the electricity is freely traded. In this paper, we study the most salient statistical features of electricity prices with a particular attention to the European energy exchanges. These features can be adequately reproduced by the sum-OU model: a model representing the price as a sum of Lévy-driven Ornstein–Uhlenbeck (OU) processes. We present a new method for filtering out the different OU components and develop a statistical procedure for estimating the sum-OU model from data.
A Framework for Reusing and Repurposing Knowledge Work in Organisations
Authors: Salisbury Mark
Published: August 2008

This article describes a framework for managing the life cycle of knowledge in organisations and to utilise this framework for reusing and repurposing knowledge work. The framework emerges from years of work with the laboratories and facilities that are under the direction of the US Department of Energy (DOE). The article begins by describing the phases in the life cycle of knowledge in organisations. Next, the article describes the theoretical foundation for the framework, the Collaborative Cognition Model, followed by sections that detail the implementation of the framework. Finally, a discussion section summarises the framework and discusses future directions to enhance and extend the framework for reusing and repurposing knowledge work in organisations.
Towards a Model of Transformation: Manager's Perceptions of Transformation in an E-business Environment
Authors: Perrott Bruce E.
Published: August 2008

In the Entrepreneurial Millennium, companies and industries must come to terms with change. When change is radical, they must manage a metamorphosis by way of transformation. Here industry structures and relationships may change radically where new rules and guidelines are needed to manage the business and its customers in the transformed dimension. Some studies have conducted research and analysed findings according to the transformational impact on the organisations showing that early adopters of e-business show a trend towards cost reductions and administrative efficiencies while more mature users focus on strategic level change and advantage (Ash and Burn, 2003). Other researchers have studied the challenges that major organisations have encountered while expanding their ebusiness transformation strategy (Ranganathan, Shetty and Muthukumaran, 2004).

Managers therefore need to develop a better understanding of the theory and processes associated with the transformation in an e-business context. This paper reviews the findings of field research and uses it as a basis to propose a new model of transformation which may guide future research and lead to a better understanding of what is involved in the process.
The role of outcome feedback in improving the uncertainty assessment of software development effort estimates
Authors: Gruschke Tanja M. , Jørgensen Magne
Published: August 2008

Previous studies report that software developers are over-confident in the accuracy of their effort estimates.
Aim:
This study investigates the role of outcome feedback, that is, feedback about the discrepancy between the estimated and the actual effort, in improving the uncertainty assessments.
Method:
We conducted two in-depth empirical studies on uncertainty assessment learning. Study 1 included five student developers and Study 2, 10 software professionals. In each study the developers repeatedly assessed the uncertainty of their effort estimates of a programming task, solved the task, and received estimation accuracy outcome feedback.
Results:
We found that most, but not all, developers were initially over-confident in the accuracy of their effort estimates and remained over-confident in spite of repeated and timely outcome feedback. One important, but not sufficient, condition for improvement based on outcome feedback seems to be the use of explicitly formulated, instead of purely intuition-based, uncertainty assessment strategies.
50 Years young
Authors: Delman Scott E.
Published: August 2008

I've received dozens of email messages providing feedback on the July issue.
Privacy matters
Authors: Greengard Samuel
Published: August 2008

As concerns about protecting personal data increase, differential privacy offers a promising solution.
Future tenseWill
Authors: Bainbridge William Sims
Published: August 2008

Expect virtual immortality through enduring, realistic avatars based on published work and archived memory.
Fully dynamic algorithms for chordal graphs and split graphs
Authors: Ibarra Louis
Published: August 2008

We present the first dynamic algorithm that maintains a clique tree representation of a chordal graph and supports the following operations: (1) query whether deleting or inserting an arbitrary edge preserves chordality; and (2) delete or insert an arbitrary edge, provided it preserves chordality. We give two implementations. In the first, each operation runs in
O
(
n
) time, where
n
is the number of vertices. In the second, an insertion query runs in
O
(log
2
n
) time, an insertion in
O
(
n
) time, a deletion query in
O
(
n
) time, and a deletion in
O
(
n
log
n
) time. We also present a data structure that allows a deletion query to run in
O
(√m) time in either implementation, where
m
is the current number of edges. Updating this data structure after a deletion or insertion requires
O
(
m
) time.

We also present a very simple dynamic algorithm that supports each of the following operations in
O
(1) time on a general graph: (1) query whether the graph is split, and (2) delete or insert an arbitrary edge.
Dynamic routing schemes for graphs with low local density
Authors: Korman Amos , Peleg David
Published: August 2008

This article studies approximate distributed routing schemes on dynamic communication networks. The work focuses on dynamic weighted general graphs where the vertices of the graph are fixed, but the weights of the edges may change. Our main contribution concerns bounding the cost of adapting to dynamic changes. The update efficiency of a routing scheme is measured by the time needed in order to update the routing scheme following a weight change. A naive dynamic routing scheme, which updates all vertices following a weight change, requires Ω(
Diam
) time in order to perform the updates after every weight change, where
Diam
is the diameter of the underlying graph. In contrast, this article presents approximate dynamic routing schemes with average time complexity Θ˜(
D
) per topological change, where
D
is the local density parameter of the underlying graph. Following a weight change, our scheme never incurs more than
Diam
time; thus, our scheme is particularly efficient on graphs which have low local density and large diameter. The article also establishes upper and lower bounds on the size of the databases required by the scheme at each site.
Label-guided graph exploration by a finite automaton
Authors: Cohen Reuven , Fraigniaud Pierre , Ilcinkas David , Korman Amos , Peleg David
Published: August 2008

A finite automaton, simply referred to as a
robot
, has to explore a graph, that is, visit all the nodes of the graph. The robot has no a priori knowledge of the topology of the graph, nor of its size. It is known that for any
k
-state robot, there exists a graph of maximum degree 3 that the robot cannot explore. This article considers the effects of allowing the system designer to add short labels to the graph nodes in a preprocessing stage, for helping the exploration by the robot. We describe an exploration algorithm that, given appropriate 2-bit labels (in fact, only 3-valued labels), allows a robot to explore all graphs. Furthermore, we describe a suitable labeling algorithm for generating the required labels in linear time. We also show how to modify our labeling scheme so that a robot can explore all graphs of bounded degree, given appropriate 1-bit labels. In other words, although there is no robot able to explore all graphs of maximum degree 3, there is a robot R, and a way to color in black or white the nodes of any bounded-degree graph
G
, so that R can explore the colored graph
G
. Finally, we give impossibility results regarding graph exploration by a robot with no internal memory (i.e., a single-state automaton).
Ordinal embeddings of minimum relaxation
Authors: Alon Noga , Bădoiu Mihai , Demaine Erik D. , Farach-Colton Martin , Hajiaghayi Mohammadtaghi , Sidiropoulos Anastasios
Published: August 2008

We introduce a new notion of embedding, called
minimum-relaxation ordinal embedding
, parallel to the standard notion of minimum-distortion (metric) embedding. In an ordinal embedding, it is the relative order between pairs of distances, and not the distances themselves, that must be preserved as much as possible. The (multiplicative) relaxation of an ordinal embedding is the maximum ratio between two distances whose relative order is inverted by the embedding. We develop several worst-case bounds and approximation algorithms on ordinal embedding. In particular, we establish that ordinal embedding has many qualitative differences from metric embedding, and we capture the ordinal behavior of ultrametrics and shortest-path metrics of unweighted trees.
Approximation schemes for wireless networks
Authors: Nieberg Tim , Hurink Johann , Kern Walter
Published: August 2008

Wireless networks are created by the communication links between a collection of radio transceivers. The nature of wireless transmissions does not lead to arbitrary undirected graphs but to structured graphs which we characterize by the polynomially bounded growth property. In contrast to many existing graph models for wireless networks, the property of polynomially bounded growth is defined independently of geometric data such as positional information.

On such wireless networks, we present an approach that can be used to create polynomial-time approximation schemes for several optimization problems called the local neighborhood-based scheme. We apply this approach to the problems of seeking maximum (weight) independent sets and minimum dominating sets. These are two important problems in the area of wireless communication networks and are also used in many applications ranging from clustering to routing strategies. However, the approach is presented in a general fashion since it can be applied to other problems as well.

The approach for the approximation schemes is robust in the sense that it accepts any undirected graph as input and either outputs a solution of desired quality or correctly asserts that the graph presented as input does not satisfy the structural assumption of a wireless network (an NP-hard problem).
Approximation algorithms for a facility location problem with service capacities
Authors: Maßberg Jens , Vygen Jens
Published: August 2008

We present the first constant-factor approximation algorithms for the following problem. Given a metric space (
V
,
c
), a finite set
D
⊆
V
of terminals/customers with demands
d
:
D
→ R
+
, a facility opening cost
f
∈ R
+
and a capacity
u
∈R
+
, find a partition
D
=
D
1
⊍…⊍

D
k

and Steiner trees

T
i

for

D
i

(
i
= 1, …,
k
) with
c
(
E
(

T
i

)) +
d
(

D
i

) ≤
u
for
i
= 1,…,
k
such that Σ

i

= 1

k

c
(
E
(
T

i

)) +
kf
is minimum. This problem arises in VLSI design. It generalizes the bin-packing problem and the Steiner tree problem. In contrast to other network design and facility location problems, it has the additional feature of upper bounds on the service cost that each facility can handle. Among other results, we obtain a 4.1-approximation in polynomial time, a 4.5-approximation in cubic time, and a 5-approximation as fast as computing a minimum spanning tree on (
D
,
c
).
Acquisition of Morphology of an Indic Language from Text Corpus
Authors: Sharma Utpal , Kalita Jugal K. , Das Rajib K.
Published: August 2008

This article describes an approach to unsupervised learning of
morphology from an unannotated corpus for a highly inflectional
Indo-European language called Assamese spoken by about 30 million
people. Although Assamese is one of Indias national languages, it
utterly lacks computational linguistic resources. There exists no
prior computational work on this language spoken widely in
northeast India. The work presented is pioneering in this respect.
In this article, we discuss salient issues in Assamese morphology
where the presence of a large number of suffixal determiners,
sandhi, samas, and the propensity to use suffix sequences make
approximately 50% of the words used in written and spoken text
inflected. We implement methods proposed by Gaussier and Goldsmith
on acquisition of morphological knowledge, and obtain F-measure
performance below 60%. This motivates us to present a method more
suitable for handling suffix sequences, enabling us to increase the
F-measure performance of morphology acquisition to almost 70%. We
describe how we build a morphological dictionary for Assamese from
the text corpus. Using the morphological knowledge acquired and the
morphological dictionary, we are able to process small chunks of
data at a time as well as a large corpus. We achieve approximately
85% precision and recall during the analysis of small chunks of
coherent text.
Reliability analysis for flexible electronics
Authors: Huang Tsung-Ching , Cheng Kwang-Ting (Tim) , Tseng Huai-Yuan , Kung Chen-Pang
Published: August 2008

Flexible electronics fabricated on thin-film, lightweight, and bendable substrates (e.g., plastic) have great potential for novel applications in consumer electronics such as flexible displays, e-paper, and smart labels; however, the key elements, namely thin-film transistors (TFTs), for implementing flexible circuits often suffer from electrical instability. Therefore, thorough reliability analysis is critical for flexible circuit design to ensure that the circuit will operate reliably throughout its lifetime. In this article we propose a methodology for reliability simulation of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) TFT circuits. We show that: (1) the threshold voltage (

V
TH

) shift of a single TFT can be estimated by analyzing its operating conditions; and (2) the circuit lifetime can be predicted accordingly by using SPICE-like simulators with proper modeling. We also propose an algorithm to reduce the simulation time by orders of magnitude, with good prediction accuracy. To validate our analytical model and simulation methodology, we compare simulation results with the actual circuit measurements of an integrated a-Si:H TFT scan driver fabricated on a glass substrate and we demonstrate very good consistency.
SCT
Authors: Rad Reza , Tehranipoor Mohammad
Published: August 2008

Novel strategies are necessary to efficiently test and configure emerging reconfigurable nanoscale devices, in addition to providing defect tolerance. This is mainly due to the high defect densities that are expected for these devices. Among different approaches, reconfiguration-based defect avoidance has proven to be a practical solution. However, configuration time, test time, and defect-map size remain among the major challenges for these new devices. In this article, we propose a new approach (called SCT) that simultaneously performs test and configuration. The proposed method uses a built-in self-test (BIST) scheme for test and defect tolerance. The method is based on testing reconfigurable nanoblocks at the time of implementing a function of a desired application on that block. The SCT method considerably reduces the total test and configuration time. It also eliminates the need for storing the location of defects in a defect map on- or off-chip. The presented probabilistic analysis results show the effectiveness of this method in terms of test and configuration time for architectures with rich interconnect resources. Also, a Verilog simulation model is developed for crossbar-based nano-architectures. This model is used to implement several MCNC benchmarks based on the proposed SCT method. The simulation results demonstrate efficiency of the method in terms of test time and yield under different defect rates.
LIFELONG INTERACTIONSMemory impairment is a family affair
Authors: Wu Mike
Published: August 2008

As all of us know, whether we are seven or 77, each of us can have challenging needs when in good health or when we are suffering from any number of ailments. The reality of understanding users is that health issues can color our lives in ways we might never expect. In this issue's forum, Mike Wu discusses the pressing needs of adults with severe memory impairments and what can be done to support them and their families through technology. What this article reminds us is that even when we consider our older or younger users, we must also consider the people that live with them. Their care-givers, whether they be grown-children or parents, can play a critical role in the lives of family members at any age. This forum on life-long interactions celebrates not just one age of user, but all ages working together to make life a little better for all of us.

---Allison Druin
Enhanced angiogenesis in obesity and in response to PPARγ activators through adipocyte VEGF and ANGPTL4 production
Authors: Gealekman Olga , Burkart Alison , Chouinard My , Nicoloro Sarah M. , Straubhaar Juerg , Corvera Silvia
Published: August 2008

PPARγ activators such as rosiglitazone (RSG) stimulate adipocyte differentiation and increase subcutaneous adipose tissue mass. However, in addition to preadipocyte differentiation, adipose tissue expansion requires neovascularization to support increased adipocyte numbers. Paradoxically, endothelial cell growth and differentiation is potently inhibited by RSG in vitro, raising the question of how this drug can induce an increase in adipose tissue mass while inhibiting angiogenesis. We find that adipose tissue from mice treated with RSG have increased capillary density. To determine whether adipose tissue angiogenesis was stimulated by RSG, we developed a novel assay to study angiogenic sprout formation ex vivo. Angiogenic sprout formation from equally sized adipose tissue fragments, but not from aorta rings, was greatly increased by obesity and by TZD treatment in vivo. To define the mechanism involved in RSG-stimulated angiogenesis in adipose tissue, the expression of proangiogenic factors by adipocytes was examined. Expression of VEGFA and VEGFB, as well as of the angiopoietin-like factor-4 (ANGPTL4), was stimulated by in vivo treatment with RSG. To define the potential role of these factors, we analyzed their effects on endothelial cell growth and differentiation in vitro. We found that ANGPTL4 stimulates endothelial cell growth and tubule formation, albeit more weakly than VEGF. However, ANGPTL4 mitigates the growth inhibitory actions of RSG on endothelial cells in the presence or absence of VEGF. Thus, the interplay between VEGF and ANGPTL4 could lead to a net expansion of the adipose tissue capillary network, required for adipose tissue growth, in response to PPARγ activators.
Increased intracellular Ca2+and SR Ca2+load contribute to arrhythmias after acidosis in rat heart. Role of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II
Authors: Said M. , Becerra R. , Palomeque J. , Rinaldi G. , Kaetzel M. A. , Diaz-Sylvester P. L. , Copello J. A. , Dedman J. R. , Mundiña-Weilenmann C. , Vittone L. , Mattiazzi A.
Published: August 2008

Returning to normal pH after acidosis, similar to reperfusion after ischemia, is prone to arrhythmias. The type and mechanisms of these arrhythmias have never been explored and were the aim of the present work. Langendorff-perfused rat/mice hearts and rat-isolated myocytes were subjected to respiratory acidosis and then returned to normal pH. Monophasic action potentials and left ventricular developed pressure were recorded. The removal of acidosis provoked ectopic beats that were blunted by 1 μM of the CaMKII inhibitor KN-93, 1 μM thapsigargin, to inhibit sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+uptake, and 30 nM ryanodine or 45 μM dantrolene, to inhibit SR Ca2+release and were not observed in a transgenic mouse model with inhibition of CaMKII targeted to the SR. Acidosis increased the phosphorylation of Thr17site of phospholamban (PT-PLN) and SR Ca2+load. Both effects were precluded by KN-93. The return to normal pH was associated with an increase in SR Ca2+leak, when compared with that of control or with acidosis at the same SR Ca2+content. Ca2+leak occurred without changes in the phosphorylation of ryanodine receptors type 2 (RyR2) and was blunted by KN-93. Experiments in planar lipid bilayers confirmed the reversible inhibitory effect of acidosis on RyR2. Ectopic activity was triggered by membrane depolarizations (delayed afterdepolarizations), primarily occurring in epicardium and were prevented by KN-93. The results reveal that arrhythmias after acidosis are dependent on CaMKII activation and are associated with an increase in SR Ca2+load, which appears to be mainly due to the increase in PT-PLN.
Theoretical model of blood flow autoregulation: roles of myogenic, shear-dependent, and metabolic responses
Authors: Carlson Brian E. , Arciero Julia C. , Secomb Timothy W.
Published: August 2008

The autoregulation of blood flow, the maintenance of almost constant blood flow in the face of variations in arterial pressure, is characteristic of many tissue types. Here, contributions to the autoregulation of pressure-dependent, shear stress-dependent, and metabolic vasoactive responses are analyzed using a theoretical model. Seven segments, connected in series, represent classes of vessels: arteries, large arterioles, small arterioles, capillaries, small venules, large venules, and veins. The large and small arterioles respond actively to local changes in pressure and wall shear stress and to the downstream metabolic state communicated via conducted responses. All other segments are considered fixed resistances. The myogenic, shear-dependent, and metabolic responses of the arteriolar segments are represented by a theoretical model based on experimental data from isolated vessels. To assess autoregulation, the predicted flow at an arterial pressure of 130 mmHg is compared with that at 80 mmHg. If the degree of vascular smooth muscle activation is held constant at 0.5, there is a fivefold increase in blood flow. When myogenic variation of tone is included, flow increases by a factor of 1.66 over the same pressure range, indicating weak autoregulation. The inclusion of both myogenic and shear-dependent responses results in an increase in flow by a factor of 2.43. A further addition of the metabolic response produces strong autoregulation with flow increasing by a factor of 1.18 and gives results consistent with experimental observation. The model results indicate that the combined effects of myogenic and metabolic regulation overcome the vasodilatory effect of the shear response and lead to the autoregulation of blood flow.
Threshold Tuning Curves of Chinchilla Auditory Nerve Fibers. II. Dependence on Spontaneous Activity and Relation to Cochlear Nonlinearity
Authors: Temchin Andrei N. , Rich Nola C. , Ruggero Mario A.
Published: August 2008

Spontaneous activity and frequency threshold tuning curves were studied in thousands of auditory nerve fibers in chinchilla. The frequency distribution of spontaneous activity rates is strongly bimodal for auditory nerve fibers with characteristic frequency <3 kHz but only mildly bimodal for the entire sample. Spontaneous activity rates and thresholds at the characteristic frequency are inversely related. Auditory-nerve fibers with low spontaneous rate have tuning curves with lower tip-to-tail ratios and more sharply tuned tips than the tuning curves of fibers with high spontaneous rates. It is shown here that this dependence of tuning on spontaneous rates is consistent with a previously unnoticed nonmonotonic dependence on iso-velocity criterion of the frequency tuning of basilar membrane vibrations.
A Prospective Study on the Effect of Rapid Aneuploidy Testing (Amnio-PCR) on Anxiety Levels and Quality of Life Measures in Women and Their Partners with Positive Down Screening Result
Authors: Leung W.C. , Lau E.T. , Ngai C. , Lam H. , Leung K.Y. , Lee C.P. , Lao T.T. , Tang M.H.Y.
Published: August 2008

Objectives: To examine the effect of rapid aneuploidy testing by amnio-PCR on anxiety levels and quality of life measures in women and their partners with positive Down screening result. Methods: In the original design, screen-positive women were to be randomized to have amnio-PCR or not. Of the first 60 women approached to join the study between April 2004 and April 2005, 4 declined amniocentesis, 14 agreed to be randomized, while the other 42 (75%) chose to pay for the amnio-PCR themselves (3 excluded: 2 because of Down syndrome and 1 dropout). The study was thus performed as a prospective observational study on the remaining 39 women of the last group. The longitudinal profile of the state-anxiety and quality of life domain scores for this cohort were studied using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and WHO Quality of Life Measure – abbreviated version (Hong Kong) Questionnaire at 5 time points: (1) before amniocentesis, (2) 2 days after amniocentesis when amnio-PCR report was disclosed, (3) 3 weeks after amniocentesis when karyotyping report was disclosed, (4) 30–32 weeks’ gestation, (5) 6 weeks after delivery. Results: In the final cohort of 39 women and 27 partners, a significant reduction in their state-anxiety scores was found when they received the normal amnio-PCR report. On the other hand, there was no significant change in their quality of life domain scores. Conclusions: There is a demand from women and their partners who had a positive Down screening result for rapid aneuploidy testing (amnio-PCR) which can effectively alleviate their anxiety. A rapid aneuploidy test should be made available to women in a Down screening programme.
Successful Management of Pregnancy with Nephrotic Syndrome due to Preexisting Membranous Glomerulonephritis: A Case Report
Authors: Sebestyen Andras , Varbiro Szabolcs , Sara Levente , Deak Gyorgy , Kerkovits Lorant , Szabo Istvan , Kiss Istvan , Paulin Ferenc
Published: August 2008

The influence of membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN) on maternal and fetal outcome is controversial, as is the effect of pregnancy on the course of preexisting nephrotic syndrome. We report a case of successful management of a pregnancy with preexisting severe nephrotic syndrome due to biopsy-proven primary MGN. Our patient became pregnant in a non-compliance period, discontinued the nephrological follow-up program and her kidney disease decompensated. From the 22nd gestational week the patient was treated with intermittent pulses of methylprednisolone (250 mg i.v.) and a maintenance dose of 32–64 mg/day orally, along with azathioprine 100 mg/day. She also received antihypertensive, diuretic, and anticoagulant therapy, and supplementation with fresh frozen plasma and albumin. In the 33rd gestational week a cesarean section was performed due to deteriorating creatinine clearance, low serum total protein levels, increasing edema and progression of intrauterine growth retardation of the fetus. Three months after delivery, the patient’s renal disease went into complete remission. To our knowledge, this is the first report of using azathioprine during pregnancy with severe nephrotic syndrome due to primary MGN.
Cardiovascular Evaluation of Fetal Anemia due to Alloimmunization
Authors: Bigras Jean-Luc , Suda Kenji , Dahdah Nagib S. , Fouron Jean-Claude
Published: August 2008

Objective: To evaluate the cardiovascular impact of fetal anemia. Methods: We reviewed 53 echo-Doppler studies from 24 fetuses with anemia due to alloimmunization. Results: There was no difference between the severe and nonsevere anemia for heart rate, cardiothoracic ratio, and contractility. There was an increased left ventricular dimension, peak velocities of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) and a decreased pulsatility index of the umbilical artery (UAPI) in the severe group. The combination of MCA and UAPI had a high sensitivity (86%), specificity (91%), positive (80%) and negative (94%) predictive value as well as positive predictive likelihood ratio (9.6) to detect severe anemia. Conclusion: Standard echocardiograhic parameters are not useful to correlate anemia. The combination of MCA and UAPI improves the accuracy to detect severe anemia.
Dystrophic Calcification of Fetal Myocardium: A Case Report
Authors: Baysal Kemal , Haciomeroglu Pelin , Sungur Metin , Köse Behiye , Kandemir Bedri
Published: August 2008

Objective: A diagnosis of myocardial dystrophic calcification, a rare cause of fetal cardiac masses, is presented. Methods: The fetal echocardiography of a 26-year-old pregnant woman who was referred to the Pediatric Cardiology Department at 20 weeks’ gestation revealed an echogenic mass in the post wall of the left ventricle. Results: The pregnancy was terminated. The histopathology of the necropsy material revealed dystrophic calcification. Conclusion: The dystrophic calcification of myocardium must be kept in mind in prenatal differential diagnosis of intracardiac masses for patient management and genetic counseling.
Serum Beta-2-Microglobulin Levels in Intrauterine Growth-Restricted and Normal Pregnancies
Authors: Kontara Louiza , Briana Despina D. , Baka Stavroula , Boutsikou Maria , Marmarinos Antonios , Gourgiotis Dimitrios , Malamitsi-Puchner Ariadne
Published: August 2008

Objective: It was the aim of this study to investigate circulating levels of β2-microglobulin (a marker of renal function) in mothers and fetuses/neonates from intrauterine growth-restricted (IUGR, characterized by impaired nephrogenesis) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) pregnancies. Methods: Serum β2-microglobulin levels were determined in 40 parturients and their 20 IUGR and 20 AGA fetuses/neonates on postnatal days 1 (N1) and 4 (N4). Comparatively, creatinine concentrations were measured. Results: No significant differences in β2-microglobulin levels were observed between the 2 groups. In both groups, maternal serum β2-microglobulin levels were significantly lower than fetal, N1 and N4 levels (in all casesp < 0.001 in the AGA group and p ≤ 0.002 in the IUGR group). In the AGA and IUGR groups, N4 β2-microglobulin levels were significantly elevated compared with fetal (p = 0.004 and p = 0.001, respectively) and N1 levels (p = 0.002 andp = 0.001, respectively). In both groups, maternal and fetal β2-microglobulin levels did not correlate, but β2-microglobulin and creatinine levels positively correlated in maternal and neonatal samples (in all cases r ≧ 0.342 and p ≤ 0.031). Conclusions: Serum β2-microglobulin levels do not differ between IUGR and AGA groups, significantly increase after birth and are not associated with gender or gestational age. Furthermore, maternal levels do not correlate with fetal levels, implying the presence of a placental barrier.
Survival in Primary Congenital Pulmonary Lymphangiectasia with Hydrops Fetalis
Authors: Laje Pablo , Wilson R. Douglas , Guttenberg Marta , Liechty Kenneth W.
Published: August 2008

The recent advances in neonatal and pediatric intensive care have changed the outcome of patients with congenital pulmonary lymphangiectasia of different types, including those cases with early neonatal symptoms. However, the patients who present the most severe form of the disease, manifested by in utero hydrops (including those treated by in utero thoracoamniotic shunting to relieve the mediastinal compression), have had an unvaryingly fatal ending in all published reports, with most cases dying before birth, and the few born alive dying during the first days of life. We present a patient with primary congenital pulmonary lymphangiectasia complicated by hydrops fetalis, who was treated in utero, survived the neonatal period after intensive medical and surgical support, and was discharged home at the age of 2 months. She is currently 6 months old, and has minimal signs or symptoms of chronic lung disease. The different aspects of the management of congenital pulmonary lymphangiectasia are discussed in this report, together with a review of the literature.
Longitudinal Determination of Serum Placental Protein 13 during Development of Preeclampsia
Authors: Huppertz Berthold , Sammar Marei , Chefetz Ilana , Neumaier-Wagner Peruka , Bartz Clemens , Meiri Hamutal
Published: August 2008

Objective: To determine maternal serum placental protein 13 (PP13) in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia. Methods: A prospective, longitudinal study with 41 normal pregnant women, 18 cases with preterm delivery or cervix insufficiency and 4 with developing late-onset preeclampsia. Six hundred and sixty-six maternal blood samples were obtained every 2–4 weeks starting at 5–8 weeks gestation (10–12 samples/patient) and tested for serum PP13 by ELISA. Results: In normal pregnant women delivering at term, median maternal serum PP13 levels were growing from 166 to 202 pg/ml and 382 pg/ml in the first, second and third trimester, respectively. Preeclamptic women had significantly reduced PP13 levels in the first trimester (multiples of median of 0.14 at 7–8 weeks; p = 0.005 compared to normal). PP13 in the third trimester was significantly higher compared to normal at 35–36 weeks with PP13 multiples of median of 1.79. Conclusion: This preliminary study indicates that low levels of PP13 in early pregnancy identify at-risk pregnancies, whereas high levels precede the syndrome in late pregnancy and suggest syncytiotrophoblast necrosis.
Dental Caries Increments and Related Factors in Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Siudikiene J. , Machiulskiene V. , Nyvad B. , Tenovuo J. , Nedzelskiene I.
Published: August 2008

The aim of this study was to analyse possible associations between caries increments and selected caries determinants in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus and their age- and sex-matched non-diabetic controls, over 2 years. A total of 63 (10–15 years old) diabetic and non-diabetic pairs were examined for dental caries, oral hygiene and salivary factors. Salivary flow rates, buffer effect, concentrations of mutans streptococci, lactobacilli, yeasts, total IgA and IgG, protein, albumin, amylase and glucose were analysed. Means of 2-year decayed/missing/filled surface (DMFS) increments were similar in diabetics and their controls. Over the study period, both unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow rates remained significantly lower in diabetic children compared to controls. No differences were observed in the counts of lactobacilli, mutans streptococci or yeast growth during follow-up, whereas salivary IgA, protein and glucose concentrations were higher in diabetics than in controls throughout the 2-year period. Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that children with higher 2-year DMFS increments were older at baseline and had higher salivary glucose concentrations than children with lower 2-year DMFS increments. Likewise, higher 2-year DMFS increments in diabetics versus controls were associated with greater increments in salivary glucose concentrations in diabetics. Higher increments in active caries lesions in diabetics versus controls were associated with greater increments of dental plaque and greater increments of salivary albumin. Our results suggest that, in addition to dental plaque as a common caries risk factor, diabetes-induced changes in salivary glucose and albumin concentrations are indicative of caries development among diabetics.
Chronic Bronchitis and Acute Infections as New Risk Factors for Ischemic Stroke and the Lack of Protection Offered by the Influenza Vaccination
Authors: Piñol-Ripoll G. , de la Puerta I. , Santos S. , Purroy F. , Mostacero E.
Published: August 2008

Background and Purpose: Acute and chronic infections may play a role in promoting complications of atherosclerotic disease. We evaluated the importance of acute infections and chronic bronchitis (CB; as a chronic inflammatory state) in several subtypes of ischemic stroke, and we investigated whether the influenza vaccination was independently associated with a reduced likelihood of stroke. Methods: A case-control study was performed on 393 consecutive ischemic stroke patients and 393 control subjects matched for age, sex and time of year. Data were collected by a structured interview that assessed risk factors, acute infections within the preceding 2 months, CB and whether they had received the influenza vaccination. Results: Infections within the 2 months before stroke onset and CB were more common among patients than control subjects [23.3 vs. 16.3% (p = 0.014) and 17.2 vs. 8.5% (p = 0.001), respectively]. After adjustment for traditional risk factors, the risk of stroke was increased in the subjects with CB (OR = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.35–2.48, p = 0.016), but not with acute infection (OR = 1.32, 95% CI = 0.98–1.78, p = 0.16). Acute infections and CB increased the risk of ischemic events in all age groups; this reached significance for patients older than 60 years. The profile of vascular risk factors was similar in patients with and without previous infections. The influenza vaccination did not prevent ischemic stroke, and it did not reduce the rate of acute previous infections in stroke patients. Conclusions: CB and infections over the previous 2 months predicted the risk of ischemic stroke. The influenza vaccination was not associated with a reduction in the incidence of stroke in our group of patients.
Effect of Microleakage and Fluoride on Enamel-Dentine Demineralization around Restorations
Authors: Cenci M.S. , Tenuta L.M.A. , Pereira-Cenci T. , Del Bel Cury A.A. , ten Cate J.M. , Cury J.A.
Published: August 2008

There is no consensus about an association between microleakage and secondary caries, especially considering the presence of fluoride (F) at the tooth/restoration interface. Thus, a randomized, double-blind, crossover study was carried out to evaluate in situ the effect of microleakage on caries around enamel-dentine restorations in the presence of F from dental materials or dentifrice, either alone or in combination. In 4 phases of 14 days each, 14 volunteers wore palatal devices containing dental slabs restored with composite resin (CR) or resin-modified glass ionomer cement (GI). Restorations were made without leakage (L–), following the recommended adhesive procedures, or with leakage (L+), in the absence of adhesive procedures. Plaque-like biofilm (PLB) was left to accumulate on the restored slabs, which were exposed extraorally to a 20% sucrose solution 10×/day. The volunteers used a non-F (NF) or an F (FD) dentifrice 3×/day, depending on the experimental phase. No differences were found between L+ or L– restorations (p > 0.05). Higher demineralization in both enamel and dentine around CR restorations was observed under NF (p < 0.05). F concentration was higher in the fluid of PLB exposed to FD or formed onto GI restoration (p < 0.05). These results suggest that while microleakage does not affect caries development, GI or FD may maintain increased F levels in the PLB, thereby decreasing caries progression.
A New Formula for Predicting Liver Metastasis in Patients with Colorectal Cancer: Immunohistochemical Analysis of a Large Series of 439 Surgically Resected Cases
Authors: Ochiai Hiroki , Nakanishi Yukihiro , Fukasawa Yuri , Sato Yasunori , Yoshimura Kimio , Moriya Yoshihiro , Kanai Yae , Watanabe Masahiko , Hasegawa Hirotoshi , Kitagawa Yuko , Kitajima Masaki , Hirohashi Setsuo
Published: August 2008

Objective: The purpose of this study was to establish a new formula predicting liver metastasis in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: Nine previously reported predictive markers for liver metastasis and/or prognosis (COX-2, dysadherin, E-cadherin, β-catenin, Ki-67, p53, laminin5γ2, matrilysin and MUC-1) were immunohistochemically investigated in 439 consecutive patients with CRC. We tried to determine the combination of molecules which best predicted liver metastasis. A formula for predicting liver metastasis was constructed using a training cohort comprising 150 cases, and applied to a validation cohort comprising 190 cases and another comprising 99 cases from an outside hospital. Results: A combination of dysadherin, E-cadherin and matrilysin was identified to be best for predicting liver metastasis (area under the curve value, 0.807). The predictive formula: 3× dysadherin score [0 for low expression (≤50% of tumor cells positive) or 1 for high expression (>50%)] + 4× E-cadherin score [0 for preserved (>80% of tumor cells positive) or 1 for reduced (≤80%)] + 2× matrilysin score [0 for low expression (≤30% of tumor cells positive) or 1 for high expression (>30%)] was able to discriminate patients with liver metastasis in the training cohort with a sensitivity of 85.7% and a specificity of 58.9%. The discriminative capacity of the formula was validated in the first cohort with a sensitivity of 87.0% and a specificity of 66.5%, and in the second cohort with a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 60.0%. Conclusions: We have established a formula for predicting liver metastasis in patients with CRC, and confirmed that it has a high sensitivity potentially useful for clinical application.
Paclitaxel- and Platinum-Based Postoperative Chemotherapy for Primary Fallopian Tube Carcinoma: A Single Institution Experience
Authors: Papadimitriou Christos A. , Peitsidis Panagiotis , Bozas George , Grimani Irene , Vlahos George , Rodolakis Alexandros , Lianos Evangelos , Bamias Aristotelis , Lainakis George , Dimopoulos Meletios-A.
Published: August 2008

Background: Primary fallopian tube carcinoma (PFTC) is a rare gynecologic malignancy with very few data existing on the activity of the combination of paclitaxel with a platinum analogue as adjuvant chemotherapy. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 41 consecutive patients with PFTC who were treated postoperatively with paclitaxel- and platinum-containing chemotherapy regimens. Results: We observed 12 (63.2%) complete and 6 (31.6%) partial responses among 19 patients with measurable disease. The median time to disease progression (TTP) for all patients was 68 months. The median overall survival (OS) for all patients has not been reached yet. The median TTP was 84 months for patients with stage I/II disease and 34 months for patients with advanced disease (p = 0.017). Median OS has not been reached yet for patients with stage I/II PFTC, while it was 63.8 months for patients with stage III/IV disease (p = 0.002). Furthermore, OS has not been reached yet for patients with optimally debulked tumors, while it was 34.1 months for patients with residual disease >2 cm (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Adjuvant platinum- and paclitaxel-based chemotherapy should be regarded as the standard treatment in patients with PFTC. Early stage disease and optimal debulking are associated with improved TTP and OS.
Effect of Cysteine in Transgenic Mice on Healing of Corneal Epithelium after Excimer Laser Photoablation
Authors: Scorolli L. , Meduri A. , Morara M. , Scalinci S.Z. , Greco P. , Meduri R.A. , Colombati S.
Published: August 2008

Purpose: To evaluate the role of prepared cysteine per os in corneal epithelial healing in transgenic mice (B6(A)-Rpe65rd12/J) after excimer laser photoablation. Materials and Methods: In our prospective case series, 60 eyes of 30 mice had uneventful bilateral excimer laser photoablation. A first group, composed of 15 mice, received standard topical post-operative therapy with tobramycin, diclofenac and dexamethasone eyedrops, pluscysteine 5 mg 5 μg/10 μl phosphate-buffered saline (3 times a day for 1 week) per os or until corneal re-epithelialization was complete. The control group of 15 mice received standard post-operative therapy plus placebos. The mice were monitored daily, commencing the day after surgery, for 7 days to evaluate the corneal re-epithelialization rate using a video slit-lamp camera with a cobalt blue light. The mean diameters of corneal wounds were measured. Videotaped images were recorded and analysed by computer planimetry. Results: All the eyes of the mice treated withcysteine healed completely by day 5 after surgery, with a mean re-epithelialization time of 92 ± 10 h (SD); the mean re-epithelialization time was 125 ± 8 h in eyes that received the placebo. There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups in corneal haze presentation during follow-up, perhaps because the time period was too brief (7 days). However, corneal clarity in the study group was greater than in the control group, as shown on slit-lamp biomicroscopy. No side effects or toxic effects were documented. Conclusions: These data suggest that cysteine significantly accelerates epithelial healing after excimer photoablation. A further clinical study should be performed to confirm the results obtained in this study, and the long-term efficacy of cysteine in preventing corneal haze.
Progressive Ankylosis Gene (ank) Regulates Osteoblast Differentiation
Authors: Kirsch Thorsten , Kim Hyon Jong , Winkles Jeffrey A.
Published: August 2008

The progressive ankylosis gene (ank) is a transmembrane protein that transports intracellular pyrophosphate to the extracellular milieu. Human mutations of ank lead to craniometaphyseal dysplasia, a disease which is characterized by the overgrowth of craniofacial bones and osteopenia in long bones, suggesting that ANK plays a regulatory role in osteoblast differentiation. To determine the role of ANK in osteoblast differentiation, we suppressed ANK expression in the osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cell line using siRNA and determined the expression of osteoblastic marker genes and the transcription factors osterix and runx2. In addition, we determined the osteoblastic differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells isolated from the bone marrow of ank/ank mice, which express a truncated, nonfunctional ANK protein, or wild-type littermates. Suppression of ANK expression in MC3T3-E1 cells led to a decrease in bone marker gene expression, including alkaline phosphatase, bone sialoprotein, osteocalcin and type I collagen. In addition, osterix gene expression was decreased in ANK expression-suppressed MC3T3 cells, whereas runx2 expression was increased. Bone marrow stromal cells isolated from ank/ank mice cultured in the presence of ascorbate-2-phosphate for up to 35 days showed markedly reduced mineralization compared to the mineralization of bone marrow stromal cells isolated from wild-type littermates. In conclusion, these findings suggest that ANK is a positive regulator of differentiation events towards a mature osteoblastic phenotype.