bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Skeletal nutrient vascular adaptation induced by external oscillatory intramedullary fluid pressure intervention
Authors: Lam Hoyan , Brink Peter , Qin Yi-Xian
Published: March 2010

Background

Interstitial fluid flow induced by loading has demonstrated to be an important mediator for regulating bone mass and morphology. It is shown that the fluid movement generated by the intramedullary pressure (ImP) provides a source for pressure gradient in bone. Such dynamic ImP may alter the blood flow within nutrient vessel adjacent to bone and directly connected to the marrow cavity, further initiating nutrient vessel adaptation. It is hypothesized that oscillatory ImP can mediate the blood flow in the skeletal nutrient vessels and trigger vasculature remodeling. The objective of this study was then to evaluate the vasculature remodeling induced by dynamic ImP stimulation as a function of ImP frequency.

Methods

Using an avian model, dynamics physiological fluid ImP (70 mmHg, peak-peak) was applied in the marrow cavity of the left ulna at either 3 Hz or 30 Hz, 10 minutes/day, 5 days/week for 3 or 4 weeks. The histomorphometric measurements of the principal nutrient arteries were done to quantify the arterial wall area, lumen area, wall thickness, and smooth muscle cell layer numbers for comparison.

Results

The preliminary results indicated that the acute cyclic ImP stimuli can significantly enlarge the nutrient arterial wall area up to 50%, wall thickness up to 20%, and smooth muscle cell layer numbers up to 37%. In addition, 3-week of acute stimulation was sufficient to alter the arterial structural properties, i.e., increase of arterial wall area, whereas 4-week of loading showed only minimal changes regardless of the loading frequency.

Conclusions

These data indicate a potential mechanism in the interrelationship between vasculature adaptation and applied ImP alteration. Acute ImP could possibly initiate the remodeling in the bone nutrient vasculature, which may ultimately alter blood supply to bone.
The 3020insC Allele of NOD2 Predisposes to Cancers of Multiple Organs
Authors: Lubiński Jan , Huzarski Tomasz , Kurzawski Grzegorz , Suchy Janina , Masojć Bartłomiej , Mierzejewski Marek , Lener Marcin , Domagała Wenancjusz , Chosia Maria , Teodorczyk Urszula , Mędrek Krzysztof , Dębniak Tadeusz , Złowocka Elżbieta , Gronwald Jacek , Byrski Tomasz , Grabowska Ewa , Nej Katarzyna , Szymańska Anna , Szymańska Jolanta , Matyjasik Joanna , Cybulski Cezary , Jakubowska Anna , Górski Bohdan , Narod Steven A.
Published: March 2010

The NOD2 gene has been associated with susceptibility to Crohn's disease and individuals with Crohn's disease are at increased risk for cancer at a number of organ sites. We studied the association between the 3020insC allele of the NOD2 gene and cancer among 2604 cancer patients and 1910 controls from Poland. Patients were diagnosed with one of twelve types of cancer in the Szczecin region between 1994 and 2004. Significant associations were found for colon cancer (OR = 1.8; 95% CI 1.2 to 2.6), for lung cancer (OR = 1.7; 95% CI = 1.1 to 2.5) and for ovarian cancer (OR = 1.6; 95% CI 1.1 to 2.3). In addition, a significant association was found for early-onset laryngeal cancer (OR = 2.9; 95% CI 1.4 to 6.2) and for breast cancer in the presence of DCIS (OR = 2.1 95% CI = 1.2 to 3.6). The NOD2 3020insC allele is relatively common (in Poland 7.3% of individuals) and may be responsible for an important fraction of cancer cases. We estimate that the lifetime cancer risk among carriers of this allele is 30% higher than that of individuals with two wild-type alleles.
Frequency of the Common MYH Mutations (G382D and Y165C) in MMR Mutation Positive and Negative HNPCC Patients
Authors: Ashton Katie A. , Meldrum Cliff J. , McPhillips Mary L. , Kairupan Carla F. , Scott Rodney J.
Published: March 2010

Recently mutations in the MYH gene have been associated with a milder form of adenomatous polyposis which is characterized by a variable level of colonic polyps ranging from a few to several hundred. In the context of HNPCC it is not unusual to identify patients with a smattering of polyps. The MYH gene product is involved in DNA repair and indeed the hMSH2/hMSH6 complex (both genes being essential elements of the DNA mismatch repair pathway) is required to stimulate MYH activity. We reasoned that because of the clinical similarity of a subset of HNPCC patients to those described with MYH mutations and the role of the hMSH2/hMSH6 complex in the activation of MYH protein that MYH mutations may account for a small proportion of HNPCC patients. In a study of 442 HNPCC patients we identified MYH mutations at the same frequency as that expected in the general population. Nevertheless, two HNPCC families were identified harbouring biallelic changes in MYH.
Clinical Outcome of Hereditary Breast Cancer in the Lithuanian Population
Authors: Elsakov Pavel , Kurtinaitis Juozas , Ostapenko Valerij
Published: March 2010

Breast cancer family history has been known to be one of the main cancer risk factors. Members of high-risk families should be given recommendations which may improve prophylaxis, early diagnosis and treatment. Detection of high-risk families is possible by identification of mutations in cancer susceptibility genes like BRCA1 and BRCA2 as well as by family history showing breast and/or ovary cancer aggregation. In a group of 521 breast cancer patients we identified 26 patients with hereditary breast cancer who fulfilled the following criteria: one more relative with breast cancer, vertical transmission, at least one breast cancer patient affected at the age under 50 years. 8 patients of these developed second primary breast cancer. We also compared the frequency of hereditary cancers in stage I-III with the frequency of respective cancers with negative family history. Hereditary breast cancers were diagnosed less frequently in stage I and more frequently in stage II and III (RR = 0.49, RR = 1.39, RR = 1.62, respectively). Because of importance of family history as well as genetic testing for breast cancer susceptibility genes (BRCA1/2), it is necessary to create a nationwide network of hereditary cancer clinics for proper diagnosis, treatment, and prophylaxis of these patients.
The NOD2 3020insC Mutation in Women with Breast Cancer from the Bydgoszcz Region in Poland. First Results
Authors: Janiszewska Hanna , Haus Olga , Lauda-Świeciak Anna , Bąk Aneta , Mierzwa Tomasz , Sir Jan , Laskowski Ryszard
Published: March 2010

The frameshift NOD2 gene mutation 3020insC is predominantly associated with Crohn's disease, but predisposes to many types of common cancers as well. We studied the frequency of this mutant NOD2 allele in 148 breast cancer women from the Bydgoszcz region in Poland. The NOD2 mutation was present in 8.8% of the patients. The mean age at breast cancer diagnosis of the mutation carriers was 43 years. We did not find any mutation in patients diagnosed with breast cancer after the age of 50 years. There was no association of the NOD2 mutation with a strong family history of breast cancer. On the contrary, the mutation frequency (11.4%) was two times higher in women from families with a single case of breast cancer and with aggregation of other common types of cancer, especially digestive tract cancers. Low risk of breast cancer in the mutation carriers seems to be confirmed by finding the 3020insC mutation in three healthy parents of probands aged 73, 74 and 83 years, from three separate families.
Pilot Study on Low Penetrance Breast and Colorectal Cancer Predisposition Markers in Latvia
Authors: Irmejs Arvids , Miklasevics Edvins , Boroschenko Viktors , Gardovskis Andris , Vanags Andrejs , Melbarde-Gorkusa Inga , Bitina Marianna , Suchy Janina , Gardovskis Janis
Published: March 2010

Introduction

It has not been established whether CHEK2 and NOD2 variants are present in Latvia and whether inherited variation in these genes influences cancer risk in this population.

Aim of the study

To evaluate the role of CHEK2 and NOD2 mutations in breast and colorectal cancers in the population of Latvia.

Materials and methods

Peripheral venous blood samples were collected from 185 breast cancer and 235 colorectal cancer consecutive hospital-based cases from 11/2003 to 06/2005. The population control group included blood samples from the clamped distal part of the umbilical cord from 978 consecutive anonymous newborns born between 03/2005 and 08/2005. All cases and controls were tested for the presence of NOD2 3020insC mutation and CHEK2 I157T mutation.

Results

NOD2 3020insC was present in 7.7% (18/235) of CRC cancers, in 9.2% (17/185) of breast cancers and in 7.7% (75/974) of controls. CHEK2 I157T variant was found in 7.6% (14/185) of breast cancer cases, 10.2% (24/235) of colon cancer cases and in 6.4% (63/978) of population controls. NOD2 3020insC variant was associated with increased risk of breast cancer (OR = 2.5, p < 0.05) for cases diagnosed at age between 51 and 60 years. CHEK2 I157T variant was associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer (OR = 1.7, p < 0.05) with the highest OR = 2.0 for cases diagnosed at age >70 yrs.

Conclusions

NOD2 3020insC, CHEK2 I157T variants may be associated with increased risk of colorectal and breast cancers in Latvia.
Sepsis biomarkers: a review
Authors: Pierrakos Charalampos , Vincent Jean-Louis
Published: March 2010

Introduction

Biomarkers can be useful for identifying or ruling out sepsis, identifying patients who may benefit from specific therapies or assessing the response to therapy.

Methods

We used an electronic search of the PubMed database using the key words "sepsis" and "biomarker" to identify clinical and experimental studies which evaluated a biomarker in sepsis.

Results

The search retrieved 3370 references covering 178 different biomarkers.

Conclusions

Many biomarkers have been evaluated for use in sepsis. Most of the biomarkers had been tested clinically, primarily as prognostic markers in sepsis; relatively few have been used for diagnosis. None has sufficient specificity or sensitivity to be routinely employed in clinical practice. PCT and CRP have been most widely used, but even these have limited ability to distinguish sepsis from other inflammatory conditions or to predict outcome.
Thyroid Hormone-Regulated Mouse Cerebral Cortex Genes Are Differentially Dependent on the Source of the Hormone: A Study in Monocarboxylate Transporter-8- and Deiodinase-2-Deficient Mice
Authors: Morte Beatriz , Ceballos Ainhoa , Diez Diego , Grijota-Martínez Carmen , Dumitrescu Alexandra M. , Di Cosmo Caterina , Galton Valerie Anne , Refetoff Samuel , Bernal Juan
Published: March 2010

Thyroid hormones influence brain development through the control of gene expression. The concentration of the active hormone T3 in the brain depends on T3 transport through the blood-brain barrier, mediated in part by the monocarboxylate transporter 8 (Mct8/MCT8) and the activity of type 2 deiodinase (D2) generating T3 from T4. The relative roles of each of these pathways in the regulation of brain gene expression is not known. To shed light on this question, we analyzed thyroid hormone-dependent gene expression in the cerebral cortex of mice with inactivated Mct8 (Slc16a2) and Dio2 genes, alone or in combination. We used 34 target genes identified to be controlled by thyroid hormone in microarray comparisons of cerebral cortex from wild-type control and hypothyroid mice on postnatal d 21. Inactivation of the Mct8 gene (Mct8KO) was without effect on the expression of 31 of these genes. Normal gene expression in the absence of the transporter was mostly due to D2 activity because the combined disruption of Mct8 and Dio2 led to similar effects as hypothyroidism on the expression of 24 genes. Dio2 disruption alone did not affect the expression of positively regulated genes, but, as in hypothyroidism, it increased that of negatively regulated genes. We conclude that gene expression in the Mct8KO cerebral cortex is compensated in part by D2-dependent mechanisms. Intriguingly, positive or negative regulation of genes by thyroid hormone is sensitive to the source of T3 because Dio2 inactivation selectively affects the expression of negatively regulated genes.
Prolactin Increases the Synthesis of 7α-Hydroxypregnenolone, a Key Factor for Induction of Locomotor Activity, in Breeding Male Newts
Authors: Haraguchi Shogo , Koyama Teppei , Hasunuma Itaru , Vaudry Hubert , Tsutsui Kazuyoshi
Published: March 2010

We recently found that the Japanese red-bellied newt, Cynops pyrrhogaster, actively produces 7α-hydroxypregnenolone, a previously undescribed amphibian neurosteroid. 7α-Hydroxypregnenolone stimulates locomotor activity of male newts. Locomotor activity of male newts increases during the breeding period as in other wild animals, but the molecular mechanism for such a change in locomotor activity is poorly understood. Here we show that the adenohypophyseal hormone prolactin (PRL) stimulates 7α-hydroxypregnenolone synthesis in the brain, thus increasing locomotor activity of breeding male newts. In this study, cytochrome P4507α (CYP7B), a steroidogenic enzyme catalyzing the formation of 7α-hydroxypregnenolone, was first identified to analyze seasonal changes in 7α-hydroxypregnenolone synthesis. Only males exhibited marked seasonal changes in 7α-hydroxypregnenolone synthesis and CYP7B expression in the brain, with a maximum level in the spring breeding period when locomotor activity of males increases. Subsequently we identified PRL as a key component of the mechanism regulating 7α-hydroxypregnenolone synthesis. Hypophysectomy decreased 7α-hydroxypregnenolone synthesis in the male brain, whereas administration of PRL but not gonadotropins to hypophysectomized males caused a dose-dependent increase in 7α-hydroxypregnenolone synthesis. To analyze the mode of PRL action, CYP7B and the receptor for PRL were localized in the male brain. PRL receptor was expressed in the neurons expressing CYP7B in the magnocellular preoptic nucleus. Thus, PRL appears to act directly on neurosteroidogenic magnocellular preoptic nucleus neurons to regulate 7α-hydroxypregnenolone synthesis, thus inducing seasonal locomotor changes in male newts. This is the first report describing the regulation of neurosteroidogenesis in the brain by an adenohypophyseal hormone in any vertebrate.
A latent capacity of theC. eleganspolycystins to disrupt sensory transduction is repressed by the single-pass ciliary membrane protein CWP-5
Authors: Miller Renee M. , Portman Douglas S.
Published: March 2010

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) results from loss-of-function mutations in PKD1 or PKD2. The products of these genes, the polycystins PC-1 and PC-2, form a transmembrane channel that is necessary for flow sensing by renal cilia. In C. elegans, the polycystin orthologs LOV-1 and PKD-2 function in sensory neurons that mediate male mating behavior. Here, we report that the novel single-pass membrane protein CWP-5 is necessary for polycystin signaling during the response step of mating behavior. As with the polycystins, CWP-5 localizes to neuronal cilia; this localization requires LOV-1. The response defect of cwp-5 mutants does not appear to result from disruption of ciliogenesis or polycystin localization. Instead, genetic and behavioral analyses indicate that CWP-5 represses a previously undescribed antagonistic effect of the polycystins on sensory function. Although cwp-5 does not have a primary-sequence ortholog in vertebrates, it has intriguing parallels with the autosomal recessive PKD gene FPC (also known as PKHD1). Together, this study identifies a new component of C. elegans polycystin signaling, demonstrates that the polycystins have a latent capacity to hinder sensory transduction, and suggests that aberrant functions of the polycystins could contribute to the pathogenesis of PKD.
Prediction of Log(IGC50)−1 for Benzene Derivatives to Ciliate Tetrahymena pyriformis from Their Molecular Descriptors
Authors: Fatemi Mohammad Hossein , Malekzadeh Hanieh
Published: March 2010

The purpose of this study was to develop the structure–toxicity relationships for a large group of organic compounds including 392 substituted benzenes to the ciliate Tetrahymena pyriformis (Log(IGC50)−1) using interpretable molecular descriptors. These descriptors were calculated using DRAGON and CODESSA software. Multiple linear regression and artificial neural network methods were used as linear and nonlinear feature-mapping techniques. The best obtained model was derived by MLR with seven descriptors which are: the molecular weight, the radial distribution function, the Kier shape index, the 26th component of atom-centered descriptors type of R–CX–R, the topographic electronic index, the H atoms attached to CO groups, the 24th component of atom-centered descriptors of R–CH–R. These descriptors can encode different features of molecules which are responsible for their steric, electronic, and lipophilicity interactions. The best obtained model had statistics of R2 = 0.822, F = 1386.806, and SE = 0.312 for training and R2 = 0.815, F = 361.384, and SE = 0.337 for prediction. The presented model shows better statistical parameters in comparison with a previous model. The reliability of the model was evaluated by using the leave-many-out cross-validation method (Q2 = 0.819 and SPRESS = 0.32) as well as by y-scrambling.
Tributyl Borate Mediated Biginelli Reaction: A Facile Microwave-Assisted Green Synthetic Strategy toward Dihydropyrimidinones
Authors: Ranjith Choorikkat , Srinivasan G V , Vijayan K K
Published: March 2010

Exploitation of a new boron-based catalyst, tributyl borate, for the formation of dihydropyrimidinones under solvent-free microwave-assisted conditions is described. The method is a simple, easy, fast, cost effective, and potentially green protocol for the formation of multi-functionalized pharmacologically active dihydropyrimidinones.
Organogels of Lignin-derived Stable Metabolic Intermediate, 2-Pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylic Acid (PDC), Bearing Cholesteryl Groups
Authors: Michinobu Tsuyoshi , Hiraki Kenta , Fujii Nozomu , Shikinaka Kazuhiro , Katayama Yoshihiro , Masai Eiji , Nakamura Masaya , Otsuka Yuichiro , Ohara Seiji , Shigehara Kiyotaka
Published: March 2010

The organogelation behavior of a lignin-derived stable metabolic intermediate bearing two cholesteryl groups was examined for the first time, and it was found that the carbamate spacers possessing a hydrogen-bonding ability are essential for gelation of aliphatic or aromatic organic solvents.
Is Screening Cargo Containers for Smuggled Nuclear Threats Worthwhile?
Authors: Merrick Jason R. W. , McLay Laura A.
Published: March 2010

In recent years, Customs and Border Protection has installed radiation sensors to screen cargo containers entering the United States. They are concerned that terrorists could use containers to smuggle radiological material into the country and carry out attacks with dirty bombs or a nuclear device. Recent studies have questioned the value of improving this screening system with new sensor technology. The cost of delays caused by frequent false alarms outweighs any reduction in the probability of an attack in an expected-cost analysis. We extend existing methodology in three ways to demonstrate how additional factors affect the value of screening investments. We examine the effect that screening has in discouraging terrorists. We model multiple levels of screening. Finally, we consider additional objectives beyond cost. We find that the conclusion about screening depends on key inputs to the probability model (reflecting uncertainties) and to the value function (reflecting the stakeholders' fundamental objectives).
Improving the Generation of Decision Objectives
Authors: Bond Samuel D. , Carlson Kurt A. , Keeney Ralph L.
Published: March 2010

Real decision makers exhibit significant shortcomings in the generation of objectives for decisions that they face. Prior research has illustrated the magnitude of this shortcoming but not its causes. In this paper, we identify two distinct impediments to the generation of decision objectives: not thinking broadly enough about the range of relevant objectives, and not thinking deeply enough to articulate every objective within the range that is considered. To test these explanations and explore ways of stimulating a more comprehensive set of objectives, we present three experiments involving a variety of interventions: the provision of sample objectives, organization of objectives by category, and direct challenges to do better, with or without a warning that important objectives are missing. The use of category names and direct challenges with a warning both led to improvements in the quantity of objectives generated without impacting their quality; other interventions yielded less improvement. We conclude by discussing the relevance of our findings to decision analysis and offering prescriptive implications for the elicitation of decision objectives.

In this version of the paper, “Improving the Generation of Decision Objectives” by Samuel D. Bond, Kurt A. Carlson, and Ralph L. Keeney, originally published online ahead of print March 10, 2010, the first panel heading of Figure 2 was corrected to read “Study 1 (Choice context = Dissertation),” as shown on page 243.
Equilibrium Returns Policies in the Presence of Supplier Competition
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Subhajyoti , Paul Anand A.
Published: March 2010

The pioneering Pasternack returns-policy model analyzed channel coordination with a single supplier catering to a retailer facing stochastic demand for a perishable product with a fixed price, and the model showed that giving partial returns of unsold stock to the retailer is the optimal policy for the entire supply chain. The result thus begs the question as to why manufacturers of perishable commodities widely accept full returns of unsold stock as the norm. We model the environment as one where two capacity-constrained manufacturers compete for shelf space with the same retailer, and we show that a complete-credit returns policy is in fact the only possible equilibrium of the game. Our results obviate the need for knowing the exact functional form of the demand distribution in order to compute the returns credit, as Pasternack's results would require. From a retailer's standpoint, we establish a simple procurement strategy and show that it is optimal. The same game with price-only contracting has a pure-strategy equilibrium when the supplier capacities are below a threshold value and a mixed-strategy equilibrium when the supplier capacities cross this threshold but are still so limited that no single supplier can with certainty supply all the quantity demanded.
Community radio broadcasting in Brazil: action rationales and public space
Authors: Leal Sayonara
Published: March 2010

This article is about the role played by Brazilian community radio stations as public spaces, including different action rationales and places where there are political, social and cultural discourses from various genres such as informative and opinionative, especially the latter. Such
spaces are embedded by communicative and instrumental actions as Habermas notes, manifest in the tensions and approximations between public and common spaces. Based upon a cross-case study from these media, the action rationales and the dynamics of the spaces are analysed. Stemming from the
way such radio stations work, it is possible to assess whether they are a locus for public debates, involving the community and favouring communication which addresses the common interest, or, to a large extent, social arenas for welfare appeals and criticisms and fulfilling immediate needs
from members of a particular locality. Data collection included unstructured and episodic interviews, radio programmes and analysis of documents from fifteen community radio stations in the Federal District and surroundings. After that, for more in-depth information, five case studies were
carried out in Brazil.
Evaluation of the Becton-Dickinson rapid serum tube: does it provide a suitable alternative to lithium heparin plasma tubes?
Authors: Dimeski Goce , Masci Paul P. , Trabi Manuela , Lavin Martin F. , de Jersey John
Published: March 2010

Background: Obtaining a suitable specimen for analysis in a timely manner is pivotal in clinical chemistry service provision. Serum is recognized as the preferred specimen for most assays, but because of time constraints for completion of clotting and an increasing number of patients on anti-coagulant therapy, latent clotting or no clotting is an outcome which can lead to errors and delay in delivery of critical results. Although lithium heparin plasma has unique problems, it has become an alternative in hospital-based laboratories.

Methods: The Becton-Dickinson (BD) rapid serum tube (RST) was evaluated in a hospital environment using a total of 53 participants, both healthy and anticoagulated, for 31 analytes against BD PST II and BD SST II tubes measured with Beckman DxC800 and DxI800 analyzers.

Results: Most results from the RST tube were comparable with those from the SST II tube. Potassium results were closer to the PST II plasma concentrations. Incomplete and latent clotting was encountered in the RST specimens from participants (cardiac and dialysis) who had received a total of >7000 units of heparin [activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) >150 s], warfarin/heparin combination, and specimens from cardiac surgery patients who had received a total of >25,000 units of heparin (APTT >200 s) at the time of collection of specimens.

Conclusions: The RST tube provides a suitable alternative to lithium heparin plasma tubes for most patients in a hospital environment. However, latent clotting continued to occur in specimens collected from participants who had received high concentrations of anticoagulants.

Clin Chem Lab Med 2010;48:651–7.
Comic vices and comic virtues
Authors: Morreall John
Published: March 2010

In the face of some people's naive enthusiasm about the benefits of humor, Victor Raskin (Is humor always good for you?, Oklahoma, 1997) has explored the question “Is humor always good for you?” Rod Martin (Psychological Bulletin 12: 504–519, 2001) has shown how some kinds of humor foster unhealthy attitudes. Avner Ziv (Humor research in education: Enthusiasm vs. data, 1995) has warned that some claims about humor's value in education are exaggerated. Elliott Oring (Engaging humor, University of Illinois Press, 2003: Ch. 4) has shown how humor can express ethnic hatred. All these caveats are useful in a culture where the prevailing attitude toward humor is positive. If we consider attitudes toward humor through most of history, however, they were mostly negative. In Western religion and philosophy, indeed, no other human trait has been associated with so many vices. This article helps explain the cultural shift from a generally negative to a generally positive evaluation of humor by examining the traditional moral objections to humor, and providing modern rebuttals to them. It then develops the idea that humor in which we transcend our personal perspectives can foster virtues such as openmindedness, patience, tolerance, graciousness, humility, perseverance, and courage.
Mow ‘em all down grandma: The “weapon” of humor in two Danish World War II occupation scrapbooks
Authors: Hong Nathaniel
Published: March 2010

The article examines the assumption that humour is wielded as a potent political weapon during political conflict. The rebellious character and ubiquity of the body of humor in a conflict is often marshalled as evidence of its power and efficacy. The question of whether oppositional humour operates as a weapon or not is examined through the use of anti-occupation humor in two extensive sets of Danish scrapbooks created during German occupation, 1940–1945. The differences discovered suggest that humor can be used both as a secondary reinforcement in the process of developing critical political consciousness necessary for challenge and resistance, and that it can also be a surrogate for conflict that ultimately contributes to escapism and acquiescence.
Electrochemical Techniques in Corrosion: Status, Limitations, and Needs
Authors: Frankel Gerald S.
Published: March 2010

The corrosion of metals occurs primarily by electrochemical processes involving metal oxidation and simultaneous reduction of some other species. The fundamental understanding of these processes has allowed the development of a number of electrochemical techniques for the study of the corrosion phenomena and assessment of the corrosion rate. In fact, electrochemical techniques are so ingrained in the field that many practitioners think of corrosion rates first in terms of current density rather than thickness or mass loss per unit time. Standard approaches for electrochemical corrosion rate determination are commonly used in the field for on-line monitoring of systems and facilities. Electrochemistry also provides powerful tools for developing fundamental understanding of corrosion phenomena. However, there are some limitations to the abilities of current electrochemical techniques and some needs for the future. This paper describes the status of electrochemical techniques, their limitations, where non-electrochemical methods are required, and future needs in the field.
On Using Laboratory Measurements to Predict Corrosion Service Lives for Engineering Applications
Authors: Ricker Richard E.
Published: March 2010

Issues concerning corrosion service life predictions on the basis of laboratory measurements are examined. Models for corrosion service life prediction will reduce corrosion failures and operation costs by enabling better design, alloy selection, full life-cycle cost analysis, and operation. An expected value approach for estimating corrosion damage accumulation and failure rates is proposed. Examination of this approach indicates that understanding the uncertainties due to the variability of the exposure environments will be a critical element of these predictions. It is concluded that, with properly developed, evaluated, and standardized corrosion defect sample designs and propagation rate measurement techniques, it will be possible to develop corrosion defect tolerant design approaches analogous to those used successfully to prevent fatigue failures.
Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy Measurement during Cathodic Disbondment Experiment of Pipeline Coatings
Authors: Papavinasam Sankara , Attard Michael , Revie R. Winston
Published: March 2010

Modified cathodic disbondment (CD) experiments were carried out over a period of 14 months using 13 coatings used to protect the external surfaces of oil and gas pipelines. During the experiments, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) data were recorded, and after the experiments the cathodic disbondment area was measured. From the EIS data, the increase in coating capacitance was determined. Based on the comparison of coating capacitance values obtained from EIS data with the cathodic disbondment data, the coatings were broadly divided into three types: (1) high-performance coatings that did not disbond despite increasing coating capacitance; (2) poor-performance coatings that disbonded more than predicted from the increase in coating capacitance; and (3) average-performance coatings that disbonded at a rate proportional to the increase in coating capacitance.
Performance of an Enzyme Electrode Designed for a Sulfide Monitoring Biosensor
Authors: Sooknah Reeta , Papavinasam Sankara , Attard Michael , Revie R. Winston , Gould W. Douglas , Dinardo Orlando
Published: March 2010

The construction and evaluation of an enzyme electrode designed for a sulfide monitoring biosensor, are reported in this work. The enzyme, which is immobilized in a carbon (graphite) paste with 1,1 ′ dimeth-ylferrocene, catalyzes the oxidation of sulfide to sulfur.Amperometric measurements were carried out at room temperature, and a fixed potential of 0.3 V with reference to a saturated calomel electrode, using Tris-HCI buffer (pH 7.5) as the electrolyte, and sodium sulfide solution as the substrate. Under deaerated conditions, the biosensor responded linearly to the tested sulfide concentration range of 0–4mM, giving an average apparent Michaelis constant of 3mM, and maximum current responses between 0.7 and 3.6 uA. The sensitivity of the electrodes tested ranged from 0.2–0.3 μA mM−1.
Electrochemical Quartz Crystal Microbalance Technique to Monitor External Polymeric Pipeline Coatings
Authors: Papavinasam Sankara , Attard Michael , Revie R. Winston
Published: March 2010

Electrochemical Quartz Crystal Microbalance (EQCM) can be used to monitor changes in several material properties, including mass, electrochemical, viscosity, adsorption, and deposition. In this paper, EQCM was evaluated to determine if it can monitor changes to the metal-coating interface well before any visible∕physical changes to the coating. Modified cathodic disbondment (CD) experiments were carried out over a period of 14 months on 13 coatings used to protect the external surfaces of oil and gas pipelines. During the experiments, EQCM measurements were recorded by placing the quartz crystal at the coating-steel interface. After the experiments, the CD area was measured and compared with the EQCM measurements. Of the 117 panels of 13 different pipeline coatings tested, for 67 % of coatings EQCM correctly predicted the coating performance. Twenty-five percent of coatings performed better than that predicted from EQCM data. Only for 8 % of coatings EQCM measurements predicted better performance but the coatings disbonded during CD area measurement. Based on these observations it was concluded that microscopic changes to the metal-coating interface could be assessed from oscillation frequency of the EQCM crystal placed at the metal-coating interface. However, in order to obtain useful information, extreme care should be exercised in placing the fragile EQCM crystal at the metal-coating interface.
Comparison of Measurements Provided by Several Corrosion Rate Meters with Modulated Confinement of the Current
Authors: Martinez I. , Andrade C. , Marie-Victoire E. , Bouteiller V. , Rebolledo N.
Published: March 2010

The main difficulty for the application of Rp on site is the vanishing of the current with the distance which has been overcome with the use of a modulated confinement of the current only feasible if the guard ring is monitored during the measurement by means of electrodes able to detect the distance reached by the current. In the present paper after a short review of existing corrosion rate meters to measure on site, results of a comparison made of reinforced concrete slabs with various degradations such as carbonation or chloride among several using a guard ring with modulated confinement of the current is presented in order to have a reproducibility and repeatability for the measurements. Results show a good correlation among all the methods used for the corrosion rate evaluation.
Corrosion of Phosphoric Irons in Acidic Environments
Authors: Sahoo Gadadhar , Balasubramaniam R.
Published: March 2010

The corrosion behavior of phosphoric irons (i.e., Fe-P alloys containing low phosphorus in the range 0.1 to 0.5 wt. %), prepared by ingot metallurgy route, was evaluated in acidic and chloride environments, e.g., 0.25 M H2SO4 of pH 0.6, 0.5 M Na2SO4 of pH 3 and 3.5 % NaCl of pH 6.8. A plain carbon steel and a low alloy (Cu-Cr) steel were also studied for comparison purpose. The effect of Cu and Cr additions was beneficial in a highly acidic condition. While similar corrosion rates observed for plain carbon steel and low alloy steel in 0.5 M Na2SO4 of pH 3, a slightly higher corrosion rate was observed for phosphoric irons. All alloys exhibited lowest and similar corrosion rates in neutral 3.5 % NaCl corrosive media. The linearity of Tafel slopes in the cathodic region varied with the pH of the solution. Corrosion rates were higher at lower pH due to the major contribution of hydrogen evolution reaction to the cathodic current.
Measurement of Corrosion Potentials of the Internal Surface of Operating High-Pressure Oil and Gas Pipelines
Authors: Demoz Alebachew , Papavinasam Sankara , Michaelian Kirk , Revie R. Winston
Published: March 2010

Corrosion potential is a fundamental electrochemical parameter critical to understanding the thermodynamic aspects of corrosion. Many corrosion theories are based on corrosion potentials. Corrosion potential is routinely and easily measured in the laboratory. In order to transfer this scientific knowledge from the laboratory to the field, it is necessary to determine the corrosion potential under operating field conditions. In this paper, the unique challenges measuring corrosion potentials in an industrial environment are described using measurements of the corrosion potentials of the internal surfaces of pipelines as examples.
Murder By Omission: Some Observations on a Mismatch Between The General and Special Parts
Authors: Wilson William
Published: March 2010

Practices of criminalization, reflected in the surprising absence of convictions across a range of common law jurisdictions, imply that the threshold for liability in murder may differ depending upon whether the conduct element is an omission or an act. These practices hint at possible doctrinal ramifications of imposing liability for omissions. These ramifications, I shall argue, include the desirability both of a looser causal nexus and a stricter fault element. The looser causal nexus is justified so long as it remains fair to attribute the death of the victim to the wrongful conduct of the defendant, and I shall argue that it will be fair if there is a correspondingly stricter fault requirement, namely (direct) intention. By virtue of such fault element, doctrine is also able to sidestep certain issues of context and motivation that are of key significance for an appropriate model of responsibility where death is caused by omission.
Digging Deeper into, and Thinking Better about, the Interplay of Families and Criminal Justice
Authors: Berman Douglas A.
Published: March 2010

The book Privilege or Punish: Criminal Justice and the Challenge of Family Ties1 is a must-read for anyone interested in family law and American criminal justice doctrines. The book is an extraordinary contribution not only because it effectively documents the significant interaction between family status and formal criminal law, but also because it critically assesses the history of and justifications for family status criminal law doctrines. I consider profoundly important the book's descriptive account of "how family members and their interests intersect with . . . the American criminal justice system" (xii), but I find the authors' description of this intersection disappointingly shallow. More significantly, I am troubled by what seem to be key normative assumptions and arguments the authors make in Privilege or Punish.
Rewarding Cooperation: The Moral Complexities of Procuring Accomplice Testimony
Authors: Lippke Richard L.
Published: March 2010

Cooperation rewards are reductions in charges or sentences given to criminal defendants in exchange for their willingness to provide testimony or other evidence against their former accomplices. Such rewards are scrutinized on the grounds that they encourage vice by rewarding betrayal, promote absolute and comparative injustices in sentencing, and yield unreliable evidence. Though the objections do not demonstrate that such rewards should be altogether abandoned, they do suggest that such rewards should be kept modest in most cases. In the course of analyzing cooperation rewards, attention is paid to the contemporary context in which too much conduct is prohibited, punished excessively, or policed inequitably.
Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of thyroid nodules: stratification of malignancy risk using follicular proliferation grading, clinical and ultrasonographic features
Authors: Rorive Sandrine , D'Haene Nicky , Fossion Caroline , Delpierre Isabelle , Abarguia Nizar , Avni Freddy , Decaestecker Christine , Salmon Isabelle
Published: March 2010

Objective

To evaluate the diagnostic value of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology and the additive contribution brought by clinical and ultrasound (US) features.

Method

Cytological and histological diagnoses were compared in a series of 924 patients who underwent US-guided FNA before surgery. We additionally developed a grading system for follicular proliferation (FP) FNA diagnosis, and investigated its impact on the malignancy risk as well as the additive contribution of clinical and US features by means of decision tree analysis.

Results

Excluding FP cases (n=395), our data demonstrated that strictly benign or malignant FNA diagnoses exhibit great concordance with benign or malignant histological diagnoses (97.8% accuracy). Our grading system that was applied to the 395 FP cases revealed that grades 1, 2 and 3 were associated with a 7.7, 17.7 and 45.7% incidence of malignancy respectively. Decision tree analysis resulted in a classification model which involved FP grade, patient's age, serum thyroglobulin level, nodule size and nodule uniqueness. This model identified a subgroup of patients with grade 1 FP nodules who were older than 50 years, and who had a higher risk of malignancy (17.9%). In addition, high serum thyroglobulin levels were associated with a very high malignancy risk (75.0%) for patients with grade 3 FP nodules. Finally, among grade 2 FP patients, unique and large nodules were associated with a high malignancy risk of 36.1%.

Conclusions

The integration of FP grade, clinical and US features allows the stratification of patients with FP cytology according to their risk of malignancy.
Mingus, Cassavetes, and the Birth of a Jazz Cinema
Authors: Lipman Ross
Published: March 2010

In November 1958, John Cassavetes premiered his revolutionary independent film Shadows in a series of midnight screenings at the Paris Theater in New York City. Village Voice critic Jonas Mekas immediately proclaimed it a work of genius, calling it “the most frontier-breaking American feature in at least a decade.” Most audience members, including Cassavetes, hated it.Cassavetes reassembled his cast and crew and shot extensive new footage, modifying old scenes and adding new ones. The final version premiered at Amos Vogel’s legendary Cinema 16 on November 11, 1959, and was an overnight critical sensation.One of the myths that propelled Shadows to instant notoriety was its improvisational origins. It’s considered by many to be the first “true” cinematic jazz narrative, both for its racially charged subject and its unconventional, unscripted making in the streets of Manhattan.4 It’s been further celebrated for an original score by one of the all-time jazz greats, Charles Mingus. However much of the legend is deceptive. Little of Mingus’s music appears in the final film. Actual jazz scenes are conspicuously absent. And recent writingsby Ray Carney, Tom Charity and others have attempted to debunk or clarify much of the improvisation myth.
Métodos de pesquisa em avaliação de tecnologia em saúde
Authors: Nita Marcelo Eidi , Secoli Silvia Regina , Nobre Moacyr , Ono-Nita Suzane Kioko
Published: March 2010

Existe, atualmente, grande demanda para se aumentar a eficiência do ato médico e isto pode ser alcançado através de pesquisas de avaliação de tecnologia em saúde, a ATS. Esta visa, por um lado, determinar a melhor evidência de eficácia ou efetividade de um dado tratamento em saúde, por outro, determinar os custos associados com tal tratamento médico. Somente as alternativas com custo e efetividade comprovados, ou seja, que sejam eficientes, serão adotados doravante nos hospitais e sistemas de saúde público e privados. Exemplo são os custos crescentes de tratamentos com biológicos, por exemplo, em doença inflamatória intestinal ou hepatites virais, ou mesmo em oncologia. Há necessidade de se desenvolver pesquisas em ATS para a identificação não somente dos tratamentos que funcionam dos que não funcionam, mas também se os custos a eles associados compensam o seu uso. Este artigo introduz esta terminologia e os métodos para se desenvolver esses estudos.
Associação entre lesões da mucosa gastroduodenal e Helicobacter Pylori em pacientes com doença hepática crônica
Authors: Wyszomirska Rozangela Maria de Almeida Fernandes , Ribeiro Laércio Tenório , Monteiro Jackellyne Santos , Vidal Bruno Pontes de Miranda , Melo Roberta Maria Pereira Albuquerque de , Miranda Cláudio Torres
Published: March 2010

CONTEXTO: A relação entre a infecção por Helicobacter pylori e lesões da mucosa gastroduodenal em pacientes com doença hepática crônica permanece controversa. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a presença de lesões da mucosa gastroduodenal e sua relação com Helicobacter pylori em pacientes com doença hepática crônica. MÉTODOS: Estudaram-se 46 pacientes e 27 controles com dispepsia funcional, submetidos a endoscopia digestiva alta. Foram consideradas lesões da mucosa gastroduodenal a gastropatia da hipertensão portal, erosão e úlcera péptica. O Helicobacter pylori foi detectado através de duas amostras de biopsia do antro e do corpo gástrico, pelo método de Giemsa. RESULTADOS: As lesões da mucosa gastroduodenal foram identificadas em 38 (82,6%) pacientes com doença hepática crônica, significantemente mais frequente que nos controles (P = 0,02). A presença de Helicobacter pylori foi observada em 13 (28,2%) dos pacientes com doença hepática e em 17 (62,9%) dos controles. A estimativa de risco mostrou interação significante entre lesão da mucosa e doença hepática crônica (P = 0,04; OR 5,1 IC 95%, 1,6-17,3). Quando associada à presença do Helicobacter pylori, o risco foi mais elevado na ausência da bactéria (P = 0,005; OR 13,0 IC 95%, 1,4-327,9). CONCLUSÃO: Pacientes com doença hepática crônica mostram risco aumentado de desenvolver lesões da mucosa gastroduodenal, independente da presença de Helicobacter pylori.
Surgical treatment of familial adenomatous polyposis: ileoretal anastomosis or restorative proctolectomy?
Authors: Campos Fábio Guilherme , Perez Rodrigo Oliva , Imperiale Antônio Rocco , Seid Víctor Edmond , Nahas Sérgio Carlos , Cecconello Ivan
Published: March 2010

CONTEXT: Controversy regarding the best operative choice for familial adenomatous polyposis lays between the morbidity of restorative proctocolectomy and the supposed mortality due to rectal cancer after ileorectal anastomosis. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate operative complications and oncological outcome after ileorectal anastomosis and restorative proctocolectomy. METHODS: Charts from patients treated between 1977 and 2006 were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical and endoscopic data, results of treatment, pathological reports and information regarding early and late outcome were recorded. RESULTS: Eighty-eight patients - 41 men (46.6%) and 47 women (53.4%) - were assisted. At diagnosis, 53 patients (60.2%) already had associated colorectal cancer. Operative complications occurred in 25 patients (29.0 %), being 17 (19.7%) early and 8 (9.3%) late complications. There were more complications after restorative proctocolectomy (48.1%) compared to proctocolectomy with ileostomy (26.6%) and ileorectal anastomosis (19.0%) (P = 0,03). There was no operative mortality. During the follow-up of 36 ileorectal anastomosis, cancer developed in the rectal cuff in six patients (16,6%). Cumulative cancer risk after ileorectal anastomosis was 17.2% at 5 years, 24.1% at 10 years and 43.1% at 15 years of follow-up. Age-dependent cumulative risk started at 30 years (4.3%), went to 9.6% at 40 years, 20.9% at 40 years and 52% at 60 years. Among the 26 patients followed after restorative proctocolectomy, it was found cancer in the ileal pouch in 1 (3.8%). CONCLUSIONS: 1. Operative complications occurred in about one third of the patients, being more frequently after the confection of ileal reservoir; 2. greater age and previous colonic carcinoma were associated with the development of rectal cancer after ileorectal anastomosis; 3. patients treated by restorative proctocolectomy are not free from the risk of pouch degeneration; 4. the disease complexity and the various risk factors (clinical, endoscopic, genetic) indicate that the best choice for operative treatment should be based on individual features discussed by a specialist; 5. all patients require continuous and long-term surveillance during postoperative follow-up.