bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Triassic eclogite from northern Vietnam: inferences and geological significance
Authors: NAKANO N. , OSANAI Y. , SAJEEV K. , HAYASAKA Y. , MIYAMOTO T. , MINH N. T. , OWADA M. , WINDLEY B.
Published: October 2009

The first finding of low‐temperature eclogites from the Indochina region is reported. The eclogites occur along the Song Ma Suture zone in northern Vietnam, which is widely regarded as the boundary between the South China and Indochina cratons. The major lithology of the area is pelitic schist that contains garnet and phengite with or without biotite, chloritoid, staurolite and kyanite, and which encloses blocks and lenses of eclogite and amphibolite. The eclogites commonly consist of garnet, omphacite, phengite, rutile, quartz and/or epidote with secondary barroisite. Omphacite is commonly surrounded by a symplectite of Na‐poor omphacite and Na‐rich plagioclase. In highly retrograded domains, diopside + tremolite + plagioclase symplectites replace the primary phases. Estimated peak‐pressure metamorphic conditions based on isochemical phase diagrams for the eclogites are 2.1–2.2 GPa and 600–620 °C, even though thermobarometric results yield higher pressure and temperature conditions (2.6–2.8 GPa and 620–680 °C). The eclogites underwent a clockwise P–T trajectory with a post‐peak‐pressure increase of temperature to a maximum of >750 °C at 1.7 GPa and a subsequent cooling during decompression to 650 °C and 1.3 GPa, which was followed by additional cooling before close‐to‐isothermal decompression to ∼530 °C at 0.5 GPa. The surrounding pelitic schist (garnet–chloritoid–phengite) records similar metamorphic conditions (580–600 °C at 1.9–2.3 GPa) and a monazite chemical age of 243 ± 4 Ma. A few monazite inclusions within garnet and the cores of some zoned monazite in garnet–phengite schist record an older thermal event (424 ± 15 Ma). The present results indicate that the Indochina craton was deeply (>70 km) subducted beneath the South China craton in the Triassic. The Silurian cores of monazite grains may relate to an older non‐collisional event in the Indochina craton.
Luminescence and Site Symmetry Studies of New Red Phosphors (Ca, Ba)3(VO4)2:Eu3+ Under Blue Excitation
Authors: Lin Han‐Yu , Fang Ying‐Chien , Huang Xiao‐Rong , Chu Sheng‐Yuan
Published: October 2009

In this paper, the (Ca, Ba)3(VO4)2:Eu3+ red phosphors were prepared by the solid‐state reaction method for the first time, and the preferable sintered condition was obtained at 1050°C for 6 h. To improve the luminescence intensity of Ca2.82(VO4)2:0.12Eu3+, an attempt was made to replace Ca2+ by Ba2+. It was found that the substitution of 6.7%–9.9% Ba2+ ions instead of the Ca2+ ions enhanced the emission intensity under 465 nm excitation. According to the changes of the lattice constants, this enhancement can originate from the lower site symmetry of the Eu3+ ion in the center with noninversion symmetry. And we observed the optimum value of the Ba2+ content (y) was at 9.9 mol% in (Ca1−yBay)2.82(VO4)2:0.12Eu3+. Compared with commercial oxysulfide and sulfide red phosphors suitable for blue excitation, our synthesized phosphor (Ca, Ba)3(VO4)2:Eu3+ has the advantages of no chemical instability or sulfur pollution. In addition, the emission peak at 614 nm and the CIE (International Commission on Illumination) chromaticity points of (0.644, 0.355) for the (Ca0.901Ba0.099)2.82(VO4)2:0.12Eu3+ phosphor indicate this phosphor can be used as a potential candidate for the phosphor‐converted white light emitting diode with a blue chip (450–470 nm).
Low‐Temperature Sintering and Piezoelectric Properties of (Na0.5K0.5)NbO3 Lead‐Free Piezoelectric Ceramics
Authors: Park Hwi‐Yeol , Seo In‐Tae , Choi Jae‐Hong , Nahm Sahn , Lee Hyeung‐Gyu
Published: October 2009

(Na0.5K0.5)NbO3 (NKN) ceramic with 1.5 mol% CuO added (NKNC) was well sintered even at a low temperature of 900°C with the addition of ZnO. Most of the ZnO reacted with the CuO and formed the liquid phase that assisted the densification of the specimens at 900°C. A few Zn2+ ions entered the matrix of the specimens and increased the coercive field (Ec) and Qm values of the specimens. High‐piezoelectric properties of kp=0.37, Qm=755, and ɛ3T/ɛ0=327 were obtained from the NKNC ceramics containing 1.0 mol% ZnO sintered at 900°C for 2 h.
The heterogeneity of causes and courses of attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Authors: Steinhausen H‐C.
Published: October 2009

Objective:  Attention‐deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a frequent mental disorder with onset in childhood and persistence into adulthood in a sizeable number of people. Despite a rather simple clinical definition, ADHD has many facets because of frequent co‐morbid disorders and varying impact on psychosocial functioning. Thus, there is considerable heterogeneity in various domains.

Method:  A review of recent research findings in: i) selected domains of aetiology reflecting the role of genes, brain structures and functioning and the interplay of causal factors and ii) clinical heterogeneity in terms of co‐morbidities, gender effects, courses and outcomes.

Results:  Molecular genetic studies have identified a number of candidate genes which have a small effect on behavioural variation in ADHD. In the most recent Genome Scan Meta Analysis of seven ADHD linkage studies, genome‐wide significant linkage was identified on chromosome 16. The volume of both the total brain and various regions including the prefrontal cortex, the caudate nucleus and the vermis of the cerebellum is smaller in ADHD. Functional MRI has documented a specific deficit of frontostriatal networks in ADHD. Integrative aetiological models have to take the interaction of gene and environment on various dysfunctions into account. Clinical heterogeneity results from frequent associations with various co‐morbidities, the impact of the disorder on psychosocial functioning, and gender effects. Partly, these effects are evident also in the course and outcome of ADHD.

Conclusion:  ADHD is a chronic mental disorder with a complex aetiology. So far, various neurobiological factors have been identified that need to be studied further to better understand their interaction with environmental factors. The clinical presentation and the long‐term course of ADHD are manifold.
Lithium response across generations
Authors: Grof P. , Duffy A. , Alda M. , Hajek T.
Published: October 2009

Objective:  To describe and integrate observations from bipolar patients responsive to lithium stabilization and their children.

Method:  Selected findings are described from the clinical and biological investigations of adults meeting research criteria for bipolar disorder and for responsiveness to lithium stabilization; and from prospective studies of the children of lithium responders and non‐responders.

Results:  Response to prophylactic lithium identifies a valid subtype of bipolar disorder, however the search for biological markers of lithium response, while promising, has so far remained inconclusive. Adult responders to lithium stabilization exhibit definable clinical features which are also observable in their affected children. In prospective studies the children of bipolar parents develop symptoms earlier than reported previously, with marked differences between the offspring of lithium responders and non‐responders. The illness evolves in predictable clinical stages, first from non‐specific sleep and anxiety disorders to mood symptoms and then, often starting in adolescence, major depressive and later activated episodes.

Conclusion:  Investigating and comparing unequivocal responders and non‐responders to long‐term lithium treatment and their offspring is a fertile research strategy for addressing a multitude of clinical and research questions.
From age correction to genome‐wide association
Authors: Cohen‐Woods S. , Schosser A. , McGuffin P.
Published: October 2009

Objective:  Eric Strömgren was one of the pioneers of psychiatric genetics and family studies. There has now been an explosion of interest in this field and research progress, including linkage and association studies, whole genome genotyping, copy number variants and epigenetics is reviewed here.

Method:  An overview of this area of psychiatric research is presented and discussed based on the relevant literature aiming at giving a recent status of the progress.

Results:  Broadly speaking linkage and association are complementary approaches used to locate genes contributing to the genetic aetiology of psychopathology. Linkage can be detected over comparatively large distances, however power is problematic when searching for quantitative trait loci with small effect sizes. In contrast, association studies can detect small effects but only over very small distances. Therefore, while several genome‐wide linkage studies in psychiatric disorders have been performed, the majority of association studies have investigated specific functional candidate genes.

Conclusion:  Due to very recent technological advancements, genome‐wide association studies have now become possible and have identified some completely novel susceptibility loci. Other recent advances include the discovery of epigenetic phenomena and copy number variants.
The use of population based registers in psychiatric research
Authors: Allebeck P.
Published: October 2009

Objective:  Much of the knowledge we now take for granted regarding major mental disorders such as schizophrenia, suicide and other disorders, would not exist without the use of population based registers. The use of population based registers in psychiatric epidemiology have enabled analyses of associations that otherwise would not have been possible to address.

Method:  The use of registers in psychiatric research is described, exemplified, and discussed.

Results:  Methodological and validity aspects depend to a large part on the type of register being considered. A classification is proposed of different types of registers, each one implying specific methodological issues. These can be addressed according to the dimensions coverage, attrition, representativity and validity. Specific methodological consideration has still to be taken in relation to each specific research question. Thus, special validity studies usually need to be performed when embarking on studies using population based registers.

Conclusion:  With increasing burden of disease due to mental disorders worldwide, knowledge of the epidemiology of these disorders are of increasing interest. The Nordic countries have a strong history in this field of research, of great interest to the rest of the world. Universities and research funding agencies should recognize this valuable source of research capacity, and support fruitful continuation of a strong tradition.
Open flap debridement and guided tissue regeneration after 10 years in infrabony defects
Authors: Nickles Katrin , Ratka‐Krüger Petra , Neukranz Eric , Raetzke Peter , Eickholz Peter
Published: October 2009

Objective: Evaluation of the 10‐year results after open flap debridement (OFD) and guided tissue regeneration (GTR) therapy of infrabony defects in a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Materials and Methods: In 16 periodontitis patients OFD or polylactide acetyltributyl citrate barriers (GTR; n=23) were assigned randomly to 44 infrabony defects. In a subgroup of 10 patients exhibiting 2 contra‐lateral defects each OFD and GTR was assigned to either side (split‐mouth). At baseline, 12, and 120 ± 12 months after surgery clinical parameters were obtained.

Results: Fifteen patients (41 defects) were available at 120 months. Twelve and 120 ± 12 months after therapy both groups showed statistically significant (p<0.01) attachment gain (split‐mouth: OFD: 12 months: 3.60 ± 2.67 mm; 120 months: 3.65 ± 3.36 mm; GTR: 12 months: 3.50 ± 1.90 mm; 120 months: 2.85 ± 2.24 mm; parallel: OFD: 12 months: 3.47 ± 2.80 mm; 120 months: 3.41 ± 2.75 mm; GTR: 12 months: 3.67 ± 2.11 mm; 120 months: 2.89 ± 2.12 mm). From 12 to 120 months both groups experienced insignificant attachment changes, however, six teeth (two OFD, four GTR) were lost (all for prosthodontic reasons). The study failed to show statistically significant attachment gain differences between both groups after 120 months.

Conclusions: Ten years after OFD and GTR in infrabony defects 35 of 41 teeth were still in place.
Does allergic contact dermatitis from formaldehyde in clothes treated with durable‐press chemical finishes exist in the USA?
Authors: De Groot Anton C , Maibach Howard I.
Published: October 2009

Recent US studies have presented case series of patient with allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) allegedly caused by formaldehyde in clothes treated with durable‐press chemical finishes (DPCF), which are known formaldehyde releasers. However, the amounts of formaldehyde released by modern DPCF are thought to be well below the levels previously estimated to be able to elicit ACD. The objectives of this review are (i) to investigate whether clothes sold in the USA may contain enough free formaldehyde to elicit ACD in previously sensitized individuals and (ii) to assess the validity of US reports on ACD from formaldehyde in DPCF treated clothes. Literature was examined using various resources.

The threshold level for formaldehyde in clothes that may cause ACD in sensitized individuals is unknown; we present data suggesting that levels < 200 ppm will be safe for most patients and that textiles will rarely contain higher amounts. All US studies presenting patients with ACD from formaldehyde in clothes had some weaknesses and in no report was the diagnosis proven beyond doubt. Currently, there is no definite proof that textile ACD from formaldehyde in DPCF in the USA exists. Future research should be directed at establishing the elicitation threshold and the amounts of formaldehyde present in textiles.
Reactions to resin‐based dental materials in patients–type, time to onset, duration, and consequence of the reaction
Authors: Tillberg Anders , Stenberg Berndt , Berglund Anders
Published: October 2009

Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine the types of side‐effects occurring and for how long they lasted in a group of patients with side‐effects assessed to be caused by resin‐based materials.

Methods: A total of 618 reports were received by the Swedish National Register of Side‐Effects to Dental Materials, among which 36 were on patients with reactions assessed to be caused by resin‐based restorative materials. The group examined consisted of 25 women and 11 men, with a mean age of 47.8 ± 15.6 years. A follow‐up was done through a structured telephone interview.

Results: The majority of symptoms were intra‐oral or a combination of intra‐oral and extra‐oral symptoms that appeared within the first 24 hr after treatment. The most common adverse effects reported were skin problems, oral ulcers, and burning mouth. Within less than a week, the reactions had disappeared in 50% of the patients.

Conclusion: Immediate reactions to resin‐based materials were more prevalent than delayed allergic reactions, and the mechanism of the immediate reactions is probably non‐allergic in most cases. There is a need for developing provocation tests to verify the association between the reaction and the material, and also to identify the offending component.
Morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics of atypical fibroxanthoma with a special emphasis on potential diagnostic pitfalls: a review
Authors: Luzar Boštjan , Calonje Eduardo
Published: October 2009

The present manuscript gives emphasis on recognizing different morphological variants of atypical fibroxanthoma (AFX), on validation of immunohistochemical markers and on discussing potential diagnostic pitfalls.

Material and methods: Histological features analyzed in 66 AFXs were: ulceration, morphological variants, growth pattern, location in the skin and vascular/perineural invasion. The antibodies used were CK‐MNF116, CK‐AE1/AE3, S100, smooth muscle actin, desmin, CD31 and EMA.

Results: The study included 59 males, 7 females, aged 55–95 years, mean 77 years. All developed on sun damaged skin. Ulceration was present in 50%. Morphological patterns were pleomorphic spindle and epithelioid cells (60.6%), predominantly spindle cells (19.7%), purely spindle‐cells (13.6%), and predominantly epithelioid cells (6.1%). Most were localized in the dermis (57.6%). An expansile (36.4%) rather than infiltrative (6.1%) growth into superficial subcutis was also noted. No vascular/perineural invasion was seen. Additional changes were hemorrhagic and pseudoangiomatous areas (24.2%), granular cell change (22.7%), keloid‐like areas (9.1%), myxoid change (7.6%), osteoclast‐like giant cells (6.1%) and clear cell change (4.6%). AFXs were consistently negative for S100, CK‐MNF116, CK‐AE1/AE3 and desmin. Focal positivity for SMA (45.2%), EMA (24.4%) and CD 31 (9.5%) was seen.

Conclusions: A diagnosis of AFX is still made by exclusion of other malignant neoplasms with similar morphology. Immunohistochemistry plays a crucial role in this distinction, but can also be misleading. This study expands the spectrum of non‐vascular CD31 positive tumors.

Luzar B, Calonje E. Morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics of atypical fibroxanthoma with a special emphasis on potential diagnostic pitfalls.
Changes in heathland vegetation under goat grazing: effects of breed and stocking rate
Authors: Celaya Rafael , Jáuregui Berta M. , Rosa García Rocío , Benavides Raquel , García Urcesino , Osoro Koldo
Published: October 2009

Questions: How are heathland vegetation dynamics affected by different goat grazing management?

Location: Cantabrian heathlands in Illano, Asturias, northern Spain.

Methods: During 4 years, vegetation dynamics (structural composition, canopy height and floristic diversity) were studied under three goat grazing treatments with three replicates: high stocking rate (11.7 goats ha−1) with a local Celtiberic breed, and high (15 goats ha−1) and low (6.7 goats ha−1) stocking rates with a commercial Cashmere breed.

Results: The relative cover of woody plants, particularly heather species, decreased more while herbaceous cover increased more under local Celtiberic than under Cashmere breed grazing. Within Cashmere treatments, the cover and height of live shrubs decreased more and the herbaceous cover increased more under high than under low stocking rate. Redundancy analysis showed a significant effect of treatment × year interaction on floristic composition. Greater species richness was recorded under local goat grazing, but Shannon diversity index fell in the fourth year on these plots because of dominance by two grass species.

Conclusions: Local Celtiberic goat grazing at such a high stocking rate (11.7 goats ha−1) hinders the development of sustainable systems on these heathlands, both in environmental and productive terms, owing to the limitations in soil fertility. Nevertheless, Celtiberic goats could be useful for controlling excessive shrub encroachment and reducing fire hazard. Cashmere goat grazing at high stocking rate promoted the highest Shannon diversity by generating a better balance between woody and herbaceous plants, while shrub dominance was not altered under the low stocking rate.
Continuing Medical Education: A Case of Mechanical Failure with Proximal Perforation at the Time of Revision Surgery (CME)
Authors: Zanoni Matteo , Henry Gerard D.
Published: October 2009

Background

Implantation of inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) is a well-established treatment for medically refractory erectile dysfunction with proven long-term reliability. However, if an IPP fails, the subsequent surgery to fix the IPP can be more difficult with higher risks of complications than the primary implantation.

Aims

To review and evaluate a case of a difficult IPP replacement surgery for ways to improve surgical techniques and outcomes.

Materials & Methods

Perform a case report of a difficult IPP replacement surgery in which the patient had proximal perforation of the tunica albuginea with a review of the pertinent literature.

Results

The rear tip sling is a successful way to repair proximal perforation of the tunica albuginea. Recent publications show new surgical techniques to lower infection rates in IPP revision surgery.

Discussion

The rear tip sling appears to have better outcomes than a synthetic windsock for repairs of proximal perforation of the tunica albuginea. Recent publications have shown that the revision washout decreases penile prosthesis infection rates in revision surgeries.

Conclusion

While revision surgery for IPPs have higher risks than primary implantation, newer surgical techniques are helping to reduce these risks.
Controversies in Sexual Medicine: Is Sex Just Fun? How Sexual Activity Improves Health
Authors: Jannini Emmanuele A. , Fisher William A. , Bitzer Johannes , McMahon Chris G.
Published: October 2009

Introduction

With nonscientific, religious, or magic arguments, sexual activity has been regarded in the past as dangerous to health. This opinion is now rejected, and intercourse is generally considered healthy. However, while some aspects of the equation “more sex equals more health” have been demonstrated, others still need robust data for confirmation.

Methods

Four scientists (an endocrinologist, a psychologist, a gynecologist, and a urologist) with expertise in the area of sexual medicine were asked to contribute with their opinions.

Main Outcome Measure

Expert opinion supported by currently available literature.

Results

Expert 1, who is Controversy’s section editor, demonstrates that sexual activity stimulates testosterone production. He infers that this physiological stimulus to androgenic production is one of the reasons why sexual activity improves general health. He is partially supported by the psychological findings in the couple having sex dissected by expert 2 and by the experimental evidences discussed by expert 3, who found that general benefits of sexual activity are not just for men. Expert 4 critically discusses contrasting findings so far published on the relationship between sexual activity and prostate cancer. He, in general agreement with the remainder of the faculty, stresses the need for more research on this entire topic.

Conclusion

Readers of The Journal of Sexual Medicine will judge if safe, satisfactory, and frequent sexual activity can be prescribed as a medicine in order to improve both general and sexual health of individuals and of the couples.
Search for memory and inspiral gravitational waves from supermassive binary black holes with pulsar timing arrays
Authors: Seto Naoki
Published: October 2009

The merger of a supermassive binary black hole (SBBH) is one of the most extreme events in the universe with a huge amount of energy released by gravitational radiation. Although the characteristic gravitational wave (GW) frequency around the merger event is far higher than the nHz regime optimal for pulsar timing arrays (PTAs), non-linear GW memory might be a critical smoking gun of the merger event detectable with PTAs. In this Letter, basic aspects of this interesting observation are discussed for SBBHs, and the detection numbers of their memory and inspiral GWs are estimated for ongoing and planned PTAs. We find that the expected detection number would be smaller than unity for the two types of signals even with the Square Kilometre Array. We also provide various scaling relations that would be useful to study detection probabilities of GWs from individual SBBHs with PTAs.
Inferring the dynamics of stellar streams via distance gradients
Authors: Jin Shoko , Martin Nicolas F.
Published: October 2009

We present a simple result in which the distance gradient along a stream can be used to derive the transverse velocity (i.e. proper motion) along it, if the line-of-sight velocity is also known. We show its application to a mock orbit to illustrate its validity and usage. For less extended objects, such as globular clusters and satellite galaxies being tidally disrupted, the same result can be applied in its small-angle approximation. The procedure does not rely on energy or angular momentum conservation and hence does not require a Galactic model in order to deduce the local velocity vector of the stream.
Active Site Ring‐Opening of a Thiirane Moiety and Picomolar Inhibition of Gelatinases
Authors: Forbes Christopher , Shi Qicun , Fisher Jed F. , Lee Mijoon , Hesek Dusan , Llarrull Leticia I. , Toth Marta , Gossing Michael , Fridman Rafael , Mobashery Shahriar
Published: October 2009

(±)‐2‐[(4‐Phenoxyphenylsulfonyl)methyl]thiirane 1 is a potent and selective mechanism‐based inhibitor of the gelatinase sub‐class of the zinc‐dependent matrix metalloproteinase family. Inhibitor 1 has excellent activity in in vivo models of gelatinase‐dependent disease. We demonstrate that the mechanism of inhibition is a rate‐limiting gelatinase‐catalyzed thiolate generation via deprotonation adjacent to the thiirane, with concomitant thiirane opening. A corollary to this mechanism is the prediction that thiol‐containing structures, related to thiirane‐opened 1, will possess potent matrix metalloproteinase inhibitory activity. This prediction was validated by the synthesis of the product of this enzyme‐catalyzed reaction on 1, which exhibited a remarkable Ki of 530 pm against matrix metalloproteinase‐2. Thiirane 1 acts as a caged thiol, unmasked selectively in the active sites of gelatinases. This mechanism is unprecedented in the substantial literature on inhibition of zinc‐dependent hydrolases.
Atomic Interactions and Profile of Small Molecules Disrupting Protein–Protein Interfaces: the TIMBAL Database
Authors: Higueruelo Alícia P. , Schreyer Adrian , Bickerton G. Richard J. , Pitt Will R. , Groom Colin R. , Blundell Tom L.
Published: October 2009

Growing evidence of the possibility of modulating protein–protein interactions with small molecules is opening the door to new approaches and concepts in drug discovery. In this paper, we describe the creation of TIMBAL, a hand‐curated database holding an up to date collection of small molecules inhibiting multi‐protein complexes. This database has been analysed and profiled in terms of molecular properties. Protein–protein modulators tend to be large lipophilic molecules with few hydrogen bond features. An analysis of TIMBAL’s intersection with other structural databases, including CREDO (protein–small molecule from the PDB) and PICCOLO (protein–protein from the PDB) reveals that TIMBAL molecules tend to form mainly hydrophobic interactions with only a few hydrogen bonding contacts. With respect to potency, TIMBAL molecules are slightly less efficient than an average medicinal chemistry hit or lead. The database provides a resource that will allow further insights into the types of molecules favoured by protein interfaces and provide a background to continuing work in this area. Access at http://www‐cryst.bioc.cam.ac.uk/timbal
Effects of aerobic fitness on hypohydration‐induced physiological strain and exercise impairment
Authors: Merry T. L. , Ainslie P. N. , Cotter J. D.
Published: October 2009

Aim:  Hypohydration exacerbates cardiovascular and thermal strain and can impair exercise capacity in temperate and warm conditions. Yet, athletes often dehydrate in exercise, are hypervolaemic and have less cardiovascular sensitivity to acute hypervolaemia. We tested the hypothesis that trained individuals have less cardiovascular, thermoregulatory and performance affect of hypohydration during exercise.

Methods:  After familiarization, six trained [O2 peak = 64 (SD 8) mL kg−1 min−1] and six untrained [O2 peak = 45 (4) mL kg−1 min−1] males cycled 40 min at 70%O2 peak while euhydrated or hypohydrated by 1.5–2.0% body mass (crossover design), before a 40‐min work trial with euhydration or ad libitum drinking (in Hypohydration trial), in temperate conditions (24.3 °C, RH 50%, va = 4.5 m s−1). Baseline hydration was by complete or partial rehydration from exercise+heat stress the previous evening.

Results:  During constant workload, heart rate and its drift were increased in Hypohydration compared with Euhydration for Untrained [drift: 33 (11) vs. 24 beats min−1 h−1 (10), 95% CI 5–11] but not Trained [14 (3) vs. 13 beats min−1 h−1 (3), CI −2 to 3; P = 0.01 vs. Untrained]. Similarly, rectal temperature drift was faster in Hypohydration for Untrained only [by 0.57 °C h−1 (0.25); P = 0.03 vs. Trained], concomitant with their reduced sweat rate (P = 0.05) and its relation to plasma osmolality (P = 0.03). Performance power tended to be reduced for Untrained (−13%, CI −35 to 2) and Trained (−7%, CI: −16 to 1), without an effect of fitness (P = 0.38).

Conclusion:  Mild hypohydration exacerbated cardiovascular and thermoregulatory strain and tended to impair endurance performance, but aerobic fitness attenuated the physiological effects.
Hypermethylation and Transcriptional Downregulation of the TIMP3 Gene is Associated with Allelic Loss on 22q12.3 and Malignancy in Meningiomas
Authors: Barski Dimitri , Wolter Marietta , Reifenberger Guido , Riemenschneider Markus J.
Published: October 2009

The gene for the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3 (TIMP3) on 22q12.3 had been reported to be inactivated by promoter methylation in various types of cancers, with controversial findings in meningiomas. We performed direct sodium bisulfite sequencing in a series of 50 meningiomas, including 27 benign meningiomas [World Health Organization (WHO) grade I], 11 atypical meningiomas (WHO grade II) and 12 anaplastic meningiomas (WHO grade III), and found hypermethylation of TIMP3 in 67% of anaplastic meningiomas, but only 22% of atypical and 17% of benign meningiomas. Moreover, TIMP3 methylation scores were significantly inversely correlated with TIMP3 mRNA expression levels (P = 0.0123), and treatment of the meningioma cell line Ben‐Men‐1 with demethylating agents induced an increased TIMP3 mRNA expression. TIMP3 is located in the chromosomal band 22q12, the allelic loss of which occurs early in meningioma tumorigenesis and preferentially targets the NF2 tumor suppressor gene. In our tumor panel, all meningiomas with TIMP3 hypermethylation—except for a single case—exhibited allelic losses on 22q12.3. Thus, TIMP3 inactivation by methylation seems fairly exclusive to meningiomas with allelic losses on 22q12 but—in contrast to NF2 mutation—appears to be involved in meningioma progression as it is associated with a more aggressive, high‐grade meningioma phenotype.
Association of Lipid Abnormalities With Measures and Severity of Adiposity and Insulin Resistance Among Overweight Children and Adolescents
Authors: Dhuper Sarita , Sakowitz Sherry , Daniels Josephine , Buddhe Sujatha , Cohen Hillel W.
Published: October 2009

Obesity and lipid abnormalities in children may increase premature cardiovascular disease risk, but the relationship of dyslipidemia with adiposity among obese children is not well defined. The authors performed a cross‐sectional analysis of children and adolescents (N=698) in 3 age groups (3–8 years, 9–11 years, and 12–18 years; 53% female, 81% African American, and 16% Hispanic) attending an obesity treatment program. More than 50% of the sample had abnormal levels of triglycerides (TG) or high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol or both. Only HDL cholesterol and TG were significantly associated with adiposity measures and insulin resistance (measured by homeostasis model assessment [HOMA]) and only in adolescents. All measures of adiposity, adjusted for age and sex, among adolescents were modest predictors of abnormal TG and HDL cholesterol, but these associations were attenuated when adjusting for HOMA. Despite the high prevalence of dyslipidemia in overweight children and adolescents, severity of adiposity appears to be a poor predictor of lipid values except among adolescents. Insulin resistance may in part mediate the relationship of adiposity and dyslipidemia among obese adolescents.
Amlodipine/Atorvastatin Single‐Pill Therapy for Blood Pressure and Lipid Goals in African Americans: Influence of the Metabolic Syndrome and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Ferdinand Keith C. , Flack John M. , Saunders Elijah , Victor Ronald , Watson Karol , Kursun Attila , Jamieson Michael J. , Shi Harry
Published: October 2009

African Americans with diabetes ± the metabolic syndrome are at high risk for cardiovascular disease. This subanalysis of the Clinical Utility of Caduet in Simultaneously Achieving Blood Pressure and Lipid End Points (CAPABLE) trial studied attainment of the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7) and the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) blood pressure (BP) and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) goals by 8 flexibly titrated doses (5/10–10/80 mg) of amlodipine/atorvastatin single pill in 494 African Americans with hypertension and dyslipidemia, according to the presence of diabetes ± the metabolic syndrome. In 169 diabetic patients, the metabolic syndrome was associated with poorer BP goal attainment (38.5% vs 48.5% in diabetic patients without the metabolic syndrome). Among diabetic patients (± the metabolic syndrome) 61% to 62% reached LDL‐C goal. More than 60% of patients with diabetes uncontrolled for LDL‐C were maintained on suboptimal atorvastatin therapy (mean final dose: 29.9 mg vs maximum of 80 mg). Reluctance to intensify therapy to attain accepted targets in high‐risk individuals suggests a degree of clinical inertia not explained by objective evidence of dose‐dependent intolerance.
Isotope Dilution Determinations of Lu, Hf, Zr, Ta and W, and Hf Isotope Compositions of NIST SRM 610 and 612 Glass Wafers
Authors: Nebel Oliver , Morel Melanie L.A. , Vroon Pieter Z.
Published: October 2009

Isotope dilution determinations of Lu, Hf, Zr, Ta and W are reported for nine test portions (five for W) of NIST SRM 610 and 612 glass wafers. Additionally, all test portions were analysed for their Hf isotope compositions. In general, high field strength elemental (HFSE) distributions in NIST SRM 610 and 612 were reproducible to ∼± 1%, except for Zr (± 5%) in NIST SRM 612, and absolute reported concentrations agreed with previously published values, but with higher precision. The slightly worse reproducibility of Zr in NIST SRM 612 compared to other HFSE is interpreted to result from analytical scatter, rather than sample inhomogeneity. The analyses demonstrated elemental homogeneity for both glass wafers for samples of 1–2 mg with respect to the precision of the method, i.e., ± 1% or better. Average Hf isotope compositions for both glass wafers agreed within uncertainty and the weighted average of all determinations yielded a mean 176Hf/177Hf ratio of 0.282111 ± 0.000009 (95% confidence level). However, although mean values for NIST SRM 610 and 612 agreed within analytical limits, NIST SRM 610 test portions showed a tendency of systematically elevated isotope composition of ∼ 0.5 ɛHf units when compared to NIST SRM 612, which may indicate a slightly more radiogenic Hf isotope composition of NIST SRM 610. The results of this study suggest that NIST SRM 610 and 612 are valuable calibrators for HFSE in situ analyses within the given uncertainties.
From Research to Public Policy: An Essential Extension of the Translation Research Agenda
Authors: Mirvis David M.
Published: October 2009

Research translation typically includes translation from basic science into clinical research and from clinical research into everyday clinical practice. In this essay, we propose a greater emphasis on applying research findings, both basic and clinical, into effective public policies that promote health. Research can have important influences on policy by providing a scholarly basis for action research, and translation science units within academic health centers are in powerful positions to build bridges between the research and policy making communities to promote the development of evidence based policy. The results will benefit the researcher and the decision maker, as well as the research itself.
Targeted Disruption of KATP Channels Aggravates Cardiac Toxicity in Cocaine Abuse
Authors: Reyes Santiago , Kane Garvan C. , Zingman Leonid V. , Yamada Satsuki , Terzic Andre
Published: October 2009

Cocaine is the most frequently used illicit drug among individuals seeking emergency‐room care, with fatal outcome most often attributable to the cardiovascular manifestations of drug abuse. While the symptomatic presentations of cocaine toxicity are increasingly understood, the molecular determinants that define outcome remain largely unknown. Here, we report that the susceptibility to cocaine‐induced cardiotoxicity is genetically regulated. Targeted deletion of the KCNJ11‐encoded Kir6.2 pore‐forming subunit of sarcolemmal KATP channels resulted in amplified vulnerability to the toxic effects of chronic cocaine abuse. Under the hyperadrenergic stress, imposed by daily 3‐week‐long intraperitoneal administration of 30 mg/kg cocaine in Kir6.2‐knockout mice, failure to maintain cardiac homeostasis translated into decreased exercise tolerance revealed by poor treadmill stress performance, and dilated hypokinetic left hearts with aggravated cellular hypertrophy and pathognomonic characteristics of chronic cocaine‐induced cardiac toxicity. This study therefore reveals a previously unrecognized role of Kir6.2‐encoded KATP channels in determining cardiovascular outcome in chronic cocaine abuse, identifying a novel molecular determinant of cocaine cardiotoxicity.
Meta‐analysis: A Brief Introduction
Authors: Andrel Jocelyn A. , Keith Scott W. , Leiby Benjamin E.
Published: October 2009

Meta‐analysis is the process of combining data from multiple sources and analyzing it together to increase power and provide a clearer picture of the effect of intervention or exposure on an outcome. The process is not complicated, but requires a great deal of attention to detail. A specific set of inclusion criteria for studies must be defined. Published or available study results may be affected by publication bias of several different types, so the researcher should be sure to conduct a thorough search of available databases in order to include unpublished findings. Following selection, the group of studies should be examined using funnel plots or statistical tests. Meta‐analysis models themselves must be selected to properly reflect the combined studies. Both fixed‐ and random‐effects modeling are discussed. Two case studies are presented, illustrating a well‐conducted meta‐analysis and a meta‐analysis that was more controversial.
Occupational Stress and Psychological Well‐Being in Emergency Services
Authors: Malek Mohd Dahlan A. , Fahrudin Adi , Mohd Kamil Ida Shafinaz
Published: October 2009

Sources of occupational stress and their impact on job satisfaction and psychological well‐being were examined in a questionnaire survey of 617 Malaysian firefighters. The role of coping strategies and work motivation as moderating factors were also tested. Sources of occupational stress had significant reverse correlations with job satisfaction and well‐being. The hierarchical regression analysis was used to examine the moderating effect of work motivation and coping strategies on job satisfaction and psychological well‐being. The result suggested that coping strategies and work motivation are one of the potential moderating variables between sources of stress and job satisfaction.
Sex Differences in Perceived Family Functioning and Family Resources in Hong Kong Families: Implications for Social Work Practice
Authors: Ma Joyce L.C. , Wong Timothy K.Y. , Lau Yuk King
Published: October 2009

Although enhancing family functioning has become a rising concern of social workers in Chinese contexts such as Hong Kong, little has been known on perceived family functioning and family resources. To fill in this knowledge gap, this article reports part of the results of a telephone survey conducted in Hong Kong, aiming to identify the sex differences in these two areas. The results of the study have shown that Chinese women perceived better affective involvement, one of the crucial indicators of family functioning, than Chinese men. However, among the different family resources, men rated better physical and mental well‐being whereas women’s social connection was stronger than men’s. Further analysis have shown that the linkage of three family resources (namely stress coping efficacy, time spent with family and income) to perceived family functioning was statistically significant irrespective of genders. Implications of this study for social work practice are discussed at the end of the article.
Towards Establishing School Social Work in Malaysia
Authors: Hatta Zulkarnain A.
Published: October 2009

This paper calls for the introduction of school social work in Malaysia. Many industrialized countries have introduced school social work, partly because teachers are not able to tackle students' personal and social problems. Teachers are burdened with teaching tasks and are not trained to handle social problems. The introduction of school social work in these developed countries was an admission that there was only so much teachers could do in addressing the problems of school children. Even with school counselors, the problems have not decreased. Many parents in Malaysia perceive schools to be incapable of providing sufficient education to excel in the major exams. The existence of many private tuition institutions and private teachers is a testimony to that perception. If society has already deemed these teachers to be incapable of providing quality education, to expect them to look after students' social problems is presumptuous on society's part. The need for school personnel who understand the social ills of the community is urgently needed, and it is the contention of this paper that school social workers are best equipped for that responsibility.
Scheduling Truck Arrivals at an Air Cargo Terminal
Authors: Ou Jinwen , Hsu Vernon N. , Li Chung‐Lun
Published: October 2009

We consider the scheduling of truck arrivals at an air cargo terminal. By coordinating arrivals of cargo delivery trucks with outbound flight departure schedules, some of the shipments can be transferred directly to the departing flights, while others will be stored at the terminal's storage facility and incur extra handling and storage costs. The objective is to obtain a feasible schedule so as to minimize the total cost of operations. We formulate the problem as a time‐indexed integer program and show that, even with limited number of unloading docks at the terminal, the problem is non‐trivial (NP‐hard in the strong sense). Our solution method includes an exact solution procedure to determine an optimal unloading sequence for the shipments carried by each truck, together with a Lagrangian relaxation‐based heuristic for assigning trucks to truck docks and determining truck arrival times. We conducted computational experiments to test the performance of our solution method. Computational results show that our method can generate near‐optimal solutions efficiently. Our simulation results indicate that the scheduling approach proposed in this paper has the potential to generate significant cost savings over a first‐come, first‐served approach currently used at the air cargo terminal that we observed.
Quality of Reporting of Clinical Trials of Dogs and Cats and Associations with Treatment Effects
Authors: Sargeant J.M. , Thompson A. , Valcour J. , Elgie R. , Saint‐Onge J. , Marcynuk P. , Snedeker K.
Published: October 2009

Background: To address concerns about the quality of reporting of randomized controlled trials, and the potential for biased treatment effects in poorly reported trials, medical journals have adopted a common set of reporting guidelines, the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) statement, to improve the reporting of randomized controlled trials.

Hypothesis: The reporting of clinical trials involving dogs and cats might not be ideal, and this might be associated with biased treatment effects.

Animals: Dogs and cats used in 100 randomly selected reports of clinical trials.

Methods: Data related to methodological quality and completeness of reporting were extracted from each trial. Associations between reporting of trial features and the proportion of positive treatment effects within trials were evaluated by generalized linear models.

Results: There were substantive deficiencies in reporting of key trial features. An increased proportion of positive treatment effects within a trial was associated with not reporting: the method used to generate the random allocation sequence (P < .001), the use of double blinding (P < .001), the inclusion criteria for study subjects (P= .003), baseline differences between treatment groups (P= .006), the measurement used for all outcomes (P= .002), and possible study limitations (P= .03).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Many clinical trials involving dogs and cats in the literature do not report details related to methodological quality and aspects necessary to evaluate external validity. There is some evidence that these deficiencies are associated with treatment effects. There is a need to improve reporting of clinical trials, and guidelines, such as the CONSORT statement, can provide a valuable tool for meeting this need.
Increased cerebral activity suppresses baroreflex control of heart rate in freely moving mice
Authors: Masuki Shizue , Nose Hiroshi
Published: October 2009

We assessed whether increased cerebral activity suppressed baroreflex control of heart rate (HR) and, if so, whether this occurred prior to the onset of locomotion in daily activity of mice. We measured mean arterial pressure (MAP, arterial catheter), cerebral blood flow in the motor cortex (CBF, laser‐Doppler flowmetry), and electroencephalogram in free‐moving mice (n= 8) during 12 daytime hours. The contribution of baroreflex control of HR to MAP regulation was determined during a total resting period for ∼8 h from the cross‐correlation function (R(t)) between spontaneous changes in HR (ΔHR) and MAP (ΔMAP) every 4 s and the sensitivity was determined from ΔHR/ΔMAP where R(t) was significant (P < 0.05). The power density ratio of θ to δ wave band in electroencephalogram (θ/δ), determined every 4 s as an index of cerebral activity, was positively correlated with CBF during 73 ± 3% of the total resting period (P < 0.05) and with R(t) during 59 ± 2% (P < 0.05). When each measurement during the resting period was divided into seven bins according to the level of θ/δ, CBF was 91 ± 2% in the lowest bin and 118 ± 3% in the highest bin (P < 0.001), R(t) was −0.69 ± 0.06 and −0.27 ± 0.04 (P < 0.001) and ΔHR/ΔMAP (beats min−1 mmHg−1) was −12.4 ± 0.9 and −7.5 ± 0.9 (P < 0.001), respectively, with significant correlations with θ/δ (all P < 0.002). Moreover, mice started to move in ∼30 sec after the sequential increases of θ/δ and R(t), mice started to move at 5 times higher probability than after a given time, followed by a rapid increase in MAP by ∼10 mmHg. These results suggest that increased cerebral activity suppresses baroreflex control of HR and this might be related to the start of voluntary locomotion with a rapid increase in MAP.