bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Urine Proteomics and Biomarkers in Renal Disease
Authors: Kim Min Jeong , Frankel Andrew H. , Tam Frederick W.K.
Published: May 2011

The application of urine proteomics is a useful approach to the study of the proteins involved in healthy and diseased kidneys and may provide a noninvasive approach to assess disease activity and to monitor clinical response in patients with renal diseases. This technique may provide an additional tool in clinical trials and for the assessment of prognosis for patients. Both soluble proteins and membrane-bound (exosomal) proteins may be studied, and multiple approaches are available. Discovery proteomics is an unbiased approach to detect novel proteins in urine samples. Mass spectrometry (MS) is often needed to identify specific protein fragments. Targeted proteomics often involves specific immunoassays or modified MS, which enables a hypothesis-based design. These approaches may be integrated. For example, specific proteins may be identified by the discovery approach or laboratory study of disease mechanisms. These proteins will then be studied further by targeted proteomics. In order to translate to clinical practice, the specific assays need vigorous validation by means of sufficiently statistically powered clinical trials.
Inflammatory Gene Expression in OVE26 Diabetic Kidney during the Development of Nephropathy
Authors: Yang Lu , Brozovic Suzana , Xu Jianxiang , Long Yunshi , Kralik Patricia M. , Waigel Sabine , Zacharias Wolfgang , Zheng Shirong , Epstein Paul N.
Published: May 2011

Aim: To define renal gene expression during the development of severe albuminuria in OVE26 diabetic mice. Methods: Kidney microarray analysis was performed at 2, 4 and 8 months. Data were validated by RT-PCR, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Results: Gene expression differences between control and diabetic mice increased 10-fold from 2 to 8 months. This change was most obvious for inflammatory genes. Three inflammatory genes, complement C3, VCAM1 and CD44 were upregulated more than 4-fold. Inflammatory gene expression correlated with albuminuria and C3 and CD44 increased in tubules that accumulated albumin. VCAM1 was induced in different tubules that were neither dilated nor accumulated albumin. Six of 8 genes previously reported to be markers of human advanced diabetic nephropathy and the NF-ĸB_IFN_x promoter module were elevated in the oldest diabetic mice. Vitamin D inhibits diabetic renal inflammation. Vitamin D and mRNA for vitamin D synthetic enzyme CYP2B1 were elevated in kidneys of young OVE26 mice. Conclusions: OVE26 mice induce inflammatory genes consistent with advanced renal disease, associated with severe albuminuria and to a greater extent than reported in other diabetic models. They provide an excellent model of diabetic nephropathy to assess the effect of induction of inflammatory proteins.
Reward-Related Genes and Personality Traits in Alcohol-Dependent Individuals: A Pilot Case Control Study
Authors: Landgren Sara , Berglund Kristina , Jerlhag Elisabet , Fahlke Claudia , Balldin Jan , Berggren Ulf , Zetterberg Henrik , Blennow Kaj , Engel Jörgen A.
Published: May 2011

Components of the brain reward system, i.e. the mesolimbic dopamine, laterodorsal cholinergic and ghrelin signaling systems, have been implicated in alcohol reward in preclinical studies. Genetic variants of these systems have previously been linked to alcohol dependence. Here, we genotyped 31 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): 1 SNP in the dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) gene, 20 SNPs in 5 different nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit (CHRN*) genes, and 10 SNPs in the genes encoding pro-ghrelin (GHRL) and its receptor (GHSR), in a pilot study of type 1 alcoholics (n = 84) and healthy controls (n = 32). These individuals were characterized using the Temperament and Character Inventory. None of the SNPs were associated with risk of alcohol dependence in this population. The GG genotype of SNP rs13261190 in the CHRNB3 was associated with increased novelty seeking, while SNPs of the ghrelin signaling system were associated with decreased self-directedness (AA of rs495225, GHSR) and alterations in self-transcendence (AA of both rs42451 and rs35680, GHRL). In conclusion, this pilot study suggests that reward-related genes are associated with altered personality scores in type 1 alcohol dependence, which warrants future studies of these associations in larger study samples.
Differences and Similarities on Neuronal Activities of People Being Happily and Unhappily in Love: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study
Authors: Stoessel Christina , Stiller Juliane , Bleich Stefan , Boensch Dominikus , Doerfler Arnd , Garcia Meritxell , Richter-Schmidinger Tanja , Kornhuber Johannes , Forster Clemens
Published: May 2011

Background: Brain activity was studied in grief following frustrated love compared to romantic love, and it was hypothesized that unhappy lovers compared to happy lovers would have decreased brain activity in regions specific to emotional and reward circuits, such as frontal brain areas, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), bilateral insula or posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). Methods: Twelve volunteers intensely in love and 12 volunteers recently separated from their romantic partners were scanned performing 3 runs of functional magnetic resonance imaging acquisition. Subjects viewed partner pictures versus erotic pictures during the first run of the scanning process, autobiographical pictures versus neutral pictures during the second and autobiographical texts versus neutral texts during the third run. The Passionate Love Scale (PLS) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were additionally recorded. Results: Decreased brain activity in unhappy lovers compared to happy lovers occurred in frontal areas, ACC and PCC and bilateral insula. Unhappy lovers also revealed clinical depressive symptoms in the BDI. Conclusion: Unhappy lovers compared to happy lovers exhibited clinical depressive symptoms and reduced blood oxygen level dependency changes in a brain network which has been described as being involved in major depression. This might be a cue for the close relationship between grief and depression.
Stromal Cell-Derived Factor-1 Retention and Cardioprotection for Ischemic Myocardium
Authors: Kanki Sachiko , Segers Vincent F.M. , Wu Weitao , Kakkar Rahul , Gannon Joseph , Sys Stanislas U. , Sandrasagra Anthony , Lee Richard T.
Published: May 2011

Background—

Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) is a chemoattractant of stem/progenitor cells, and several studies have shown that SDF-1 may improve ventricular function after infarction. SDF-1 is cleaved by proteases including matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and CD26/dipeptidylpeptidase-4 (DPP-4), which are activated in injured tissues.

Methods and Results—

We investigated the biodistribution and functional roles of SDF-1 in experimental ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats. Radiolabeled SDF-1 given by intracoronary injection was selectively concentrated in ischemic myocardium. The enhanced uptake of SDF-1 in ischemic myocardium was not mediated by its receptor, CXCR4. Mass spectrometry and Western analyses showed that SDF-1 was cleaved by DPP-4 in plasma and myocardium, whereas a bioengineered MMP-2/DPP-4–resistant form of SDF-1, SSDF-1(S4V), was highly stable. A single dose of SSDF-1(S4V) exhibited greater potency for cardioprotection than wild-type SDF-1. SSDF-1(S4V) improved cardiac function in rats even after a 3-hour ischemic period.

Conclusions—

These results show that a single dose of protease-resistant SSDF-1(S4V) after myocardial infarction leads to dramatic improvement in angiogenesis and ventricular function even 3 hours after the onset of ischemia, revealing a simple, clinically feasible approach to prevention of heart failure.
Relationship Between Reactive Pulmonary Hypertension and Mortality in Patients With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure
Authors: Aronson Doron , Eitan Amnon , Dragu Robert , Burger Andrew J.
Published: May 2011

Background—

In patients with heart failure, pulmonary hypertension (PH) predicts higher risk for morbidity and mortality. However, few data are available on the prognostic implications of reactive (precapillary) PH superimposed on passive (postcapillary) PH.

Methods and Results—

We performed a subgroup analysis of 242 patients with acute decompensated heart failure assigned to pulmonary artery catheter placement in the Vasodilation in the Management of Acute Congestive Heart Failure trial. Patients were classified into 3 groups, using the final (posttreatment) hemodynamic measurements: (1) no PH (mean pulmonary artery pressure ≤25 mm Hg; (2) passive PH (mean pulmonary artery pressure >25, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure >15 mm Hg, and pulmonary vascular resistance≤3 Wood units); and (3) reactive PH (mean pulmonary artery pressure >25, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure >15 mm Hg, and pulmonary vascular resistance >3 Wood units). Fifty-eight patients were classified as normal mean pulmonary artery pressure, 124 with passive PH and 60 with reactive PH. During follow-up of 6 months, 5 (8.6%), 27 (21.8%), and 29 (48.3%) deaths occurred in patients without PH, patients with passive PH, and with reactive PH, respectively (
P
<0.0001). After multivariable adjustments, reactive PH remained an independent predictor of death, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 4.8 compared with patients without PH, and 2.8 compared with patients with passive PH (95% confidence interval, 1.7 to 4.7,
P
=0.0001). Similar results were obtained when reactive PH was defined on the basis of transpulmonary gradient.

Conclusions—

Reactive PH is common among patients with acute decompensated heart failure after initial diuretic and vasodilator therapy. The adverse outcome associated with PH is predominantly due to increased mortality rates in the subgroup of patients with reactive PH.
Myocardial Infarction After Carotid Stenting and Endarterectomy
Authors: Blackshear Joseph L. , Cutlip Donald E. , Roubin Gary S. , Hill Michael D. , Leimgruber Pierre P. , Begg Richard J. , Cohen David J. , Eidt John F. , Narins Craig R. , Prineas Ronald J. , Glasser Stephen P. , Voeks Jenifer H. , Brott Thomas G. ,   for the CREST Investigators
Published: May 2011

Background—

The Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy Versus Stenting Trial (CREST) found a higher risk of stroke after carotid artery stenting and a higher risk of myocardial infarction (MI) after carotid endarterectomy.

Methods and Results—

Cardiac biomarkers and ECGs were performed before and 6 to 8 hours after either procedure and if there was clinical evidence of ischemia. In CREST, MI was defined as biomarker elevation plus either chest pain or ECG evidence of ischemia. An additional category of biomarker elevation with neither chest pain nor ECG abnormality was prespecified (biomarker+ only). Crude mortality and risk-adjusted mortality for MI and biomarker+ only were assessed during follow-up. Among 2502 patients, 14 MIs occurred in carotid artery stenting and 28 MIs in carotid endarterectomy (hazard ratio, 0.50; 95% confidence interval, 0.26 to 0.94;
P
=0.032) with a median biomarker ratio of 40 times the upper limit of normal. An additional 8 carotid artery stenting and 12 carotid endarterectomy patients had biomarker+ only (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% confidence interval, 0.27 to 1.61;
P
=0.36), and their median biomarker ratio was 14 times the upper limit of normal. Compared with patients without biomarker elevation, mortality was higher over 4 years for those with MI (hazard ratio, 3.40; 95% confidence interval, 1.67 to 6.92) or biomarker+ only (hazard ratio, 3.57; 95% confidence interval, 1.46 to 8.68). After adjustment for baseline risk factors, both MI and biomarker+ only remained independently associated with increased mortality.

Conclusions—

In patients randomized to carotid endarterectomy versus carotid artery stenting, both MI and biomarker+ only were more common with carotid endarterectomy. Although the levels of biomarker elevation were modest, both events were independently associated with increased future mortality and remain an important consideration in choosing the mode of carotid revascularization or medical therapy.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00004732.
Role of Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Inhibition in the Development of Hypertrophy in the Hyperthyroid Rat Heart
Authors: Atherton Helen J. , Dodd Michael S. , Heather Lisa C. , Schroeder Marie A. , Griffin Julian L. , Radda George K. , Clarke Kieran , Tyler Damian J.
Published: May 2011

Background—

Hyperthyroidism increases heart rate, contractility, cardiac output, and metabolic rate. It is also accompanied by alterations in the regulation of cardiac substrate use. Specifically, hyperthyroidism increases the ex vivo activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase, thereby inhibiting glucose oxidation via pyruvate dehydrogenase. Cardiac hypertrophy is another effect of hyperthyroidism, with an increase in the abundance of mitochondria. Although the hypertrophy is initially beneficial, it can eventually lead to heart failure. The aim of this study was to use hyperpolarized magnetic resonance spectroscopy to investigate the rate and regulation of in vivo pyruvate dehydrogenase flux in the hyperthyroid heart and to establish whether modulation of flux through pyruvate dehydrogenase would alter cardiac hypertrophy.

Methods and Results—

Hyperthyroidism was induced in 18 male Wistar rats with 7 daily intraperitoneal injections of freshly prepared triiodothyronine (0.2 mg · kg
−1
· d
−1
). In vivo pyruvate dehydrogenase flux, assessed with hyperpolarized magnetic resonance spectroscopy, was reduced by 59% in hyperthyroid animals (0.0022±0.0002 versus 0.0055±0.0005 second
−1
;
P
=0.0003), and this reduction was completely reversed by both short- and long-term delivery of dichloroacetic acid, a pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase inhibitor. Hyperpolarized [2-
13
C]pyruvate was also used to evaluate Krebs cycle metabolism and demonstrated a unique marker of anaplerosis, the level of which was significantly increased in the hyperthyroid heart. Cine magnetic resonance imaging showed that long-term dichloroacetic acid treatment significantly reduced the hypertrophy observed in hyperthyroid animals (100±20 versus 200±30 mg;
P
=0.04) despite no change in the increase observed in cardiac output.

Conclusions—

This work has demonstrated that inhibition of glucose oxidation in the hyperthyroid heart in vivo is mediated by pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase. Relieving this inhibition can increase the metabolic flexibility of the hyperthyroid heart and reduce the level of hypertrophy that develops while maintaining the increased cardiac output required to meet the higher systemic metabolic demand.
Familial Evaluation in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Quarta Giovanni , Muir Alison , Pantazis Antonios , Syrris Petros , Gehmlich Katja , Garcia-Pavia Pablo , Ward Deirdre , Sen-Chowdhry Srijita , Elliott Perry M. , McKenna William J.
Published: May 2011

Background—

With recognition of disease-causing genes in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, mutation analysis is being applied.

Methods and Results—

The role of genotyping in familial assessment for arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy was investigated, including the prevalence of mutations in known causal genes, the penetrance and expressivity in genotyped families, and the utility of the 2010 Task Force criteria in clinical diagnosis. Clinical and molecular genetic evaluation was performed in 210 first-degree and 45 second-degree relatives from 100 families. In 51 families, the proband was deceased. The living probands had a high prevalence of ECG abnormalities (89%) and ventricular arrhythmia (78%) and evidence of more severe disease than relatives. Definite or probable causal mutations were found in 58% of families and 73% of living probands, of whom 28% had an additional desmosomal variant (ie, mutation or polymorphism). Ninety-three relatives had a causal mutation; 33% fulfilled the 2010 criteria, whereas only 19% satisfied the 1994 version (
P
=0.03). An additional desmosomal gene variant was found in 10% and was associated with a 5-fold increased risk of developing penetrant disease (odds ratio, 4.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 20.4;
P
=0.04).

Conclusions—

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy is a genetically complex disease characterized by marked intrafamilial phenotype diversity. Penetrance is definition dependent and is greater with the 2010 criteria compared with the 1994 criteria. Relatives harboring >1 genetic variant had significantly increased risk of developing clinical disease, potentially an important determinant of the phenotypic heterogeneity seen within families with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.
Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia/Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Cox Moniek G.P.J. , van der Zwaag Paul A. , van der Werf Christian , van der Smagt Jasper J. , Noorman Maartje , Bhuiyan Zahir A. , Wiesfeld Ans C.P. , Volders Paul G.A. , van Langen Irene M. , Atsma Douwe E. , Dooijes Dennis , van den Wijngaard Arthur , Houweling Arjan C. , Jongbloed Jan D.H. , Jordaens Luc , Cramer Maarten J. , Doevendans Pieter A. , de Bakker Jacques M.T. , Wilde Arthur A.M. , van Tintelen J. Peter , Hauer Richard N.W.
Published: May 2011

Background—

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C) is an autosomal dominant inherited disease with incomplete penetrance and variable expression. Causative mutations in genes encoding 5 desmosomal proteins are found in ≈50% of ARVD/C index patients. Previous genotype-phenotype relation studies involved mainly overt ARVD/C index patients, so follow-up data on relatives are scarce.

Methods and Results—

One hundred forty-nine ARVD/C index patients (111 male patients; age, 49±13 years) according to 2010 Task Force criteria and 302 relatives from 93 families (282 asymptomatic; 135 male patients; age, 44±13 years) were clinically and genetically characterized. DNA analysis comprised sequencing of plakophilin-2 (
PKP2
), desmocollin-2, desmoglein-2, desmoplakin, and plakoglobin and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification to identify large deletions in
PKP2.
Pathogenic mutations were found in 87 index patients (58%), mainly truncating
PKP2
mutations, including 3 cases with multiple mutations. Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification revealed 3
PKP2
exon deletions. ARVD/C was diagnosed in 31% of initially asymptomatic mutation-carrying relatives and 5% of initially asymptomatic relatives of index patients without mutation. Prolonged terminal activation duration was observed more than negative T waves in V
1
to V
3
, especially in mutation-carrying relatives <20 years of age. In 45% of screened families, ≥1 affected relatives were identified (90% with mutations).

Conclusions—

Pathogenic desmosomal gene mutations, mainly truncating
PKP2
mutations, underlie ARVD/C in the majority (58%) of Dutch index patients and even 90% of familial cases. Additional multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification analysis contributed to discovering pathogenic mutations underlying ARVD/C. Discovering pathogenic mutations in index patients enables those relatives who have a 6-fold increased risk of ARVD/C diagnosis to be identified. Prolonged terminal activation duration seems to be a first sign of ARVD/C in young asymptomatic relatives.
Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide Terminates Long-Lasting Vasopressor Responses to Endothelin 1 In Vivo
Authors: Meens Merlijn J.P.M.T. , Mattheij Nadine J.A. , Nelissen Jelly , Lemkens Pieter , Compeer Matthijs G. , Janssen Ben J.A. , De Mey Jo G.R.
Published: May 2011

Slow dissociation of endothelin 1 from its endothelin A receptors is responsible for the long-lasting vasoconstrictor effects of the peptide. We showed recently that calcitonin gene-related peptide selectively terminates long-lasting contractile responses to endothelin 1 in isolated rat mesenteric arteries. Here we assessed whether the antiendothelinergic effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide is vascular bed specific and may terminate long-lasting pressor responses to exogenous and locally produced endothelin 1 in vivo. Regional heterogeneity of the calcitonin gene-related peptide/endothelin A receptor cross-talk was explored in arteries isolated from various rat organs. Endothelin A receptor-mediated arterial contractions were terminated by calcitonin gene-related peptide in rat mesenteric, renal, and spermatic arteries but not in basilar, coronary, epigastric, gastric, splenic, and saphenous arteries. Endothelin A receptor antagonism only ended endothelin 1–induced contractions in spermatic arteries. In anesthetized rats, instrumented with Doppler flow probes to record regional blood flows, long-lasting pressor and vasoconstrictor responses to an intravenous bolus injection of endothelin 1 or big endothelin 1 were transiently reduced by sodium nitroprusside (NO donor) but terminated by intravenously administered calcitonin gene-related peptide. In conscious rats, calcitonin gene-related peptide but not sodium nitroprusside terminated prolonged (>60-minute) pressor responses to endothelin 1 but not those to intravenous infusion of phenylephrine. In conclusion, pressor responses to circulating and locally produced endothelin 1 that are resistant to endothelin receptor antagonism and NO can be terminated by a regionally selective effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide. Calcitonin gene related peptide receptor agonism may represent a novel strategy to treat endothelin 1–associated cardiovascular pathologies.
Endothelial Function and Circulating Biomarkers Are Disturbed in Women and Children After Preeclampsia
Authors: Kvehaugen Anne Stine , Dechend Ralf , Ramstad Heidi Bente , Troisi Rebecca , Fugelseth Drude , Staff Anne Cathrine
Published: May 2011

Preeclampsia is a long-term cardiovascular risk factor for the mother and possibly the offspring. Preeclampsia and cardiovascular diseases share common pathophysiological features, including endothelial dysfunction. We explored whether endothelial function, measured noninvasively, as well as circulating biomarkers reflecting lipid metabolism, angiogenesis, and inflammation, differed in paired mothers and offspring 5 to 8 years after delivery. Twenty-six mother and child pairs after pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia were compared with 17 mother and child pairs after uncomplicated pregnancies. In addition, we assessed whether concentrations of maternal circulating biomarkers at delivery predicted findings 5 to 8 years postpartum. We also included an assessment of early onset preeclampsia and specifically addressed the effects of small for gestational age. Endothelial function was significantly reduced in both mothers and children after preeclampsia when combined with a small-for-gestational-age infant compared with mothers and children after pregnancies without a small-for-gestational-age infant (mothers:
P
<0.001; children:
P
<0.05). Postpartum maternal soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (
P
=0.05) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (
P
=0.02) were elevated in the preeclampsia group compared with controls. High concentrations of these maternal biomarkers both at delivery and 5 to 8 years postpartum were also more frequent in preeclampsia compared with controls (
P
<0.05). The novelty of our study is the parallel finding of reduced endothelial function in mother and child pairs 5 to 8 years after small-for-gestational-age preeclamptic pregnancies, accompanied by increased inflammatory and antiangiogenic maternal biomarkers. This finding supports the concept of transgenerational risk of cardiovascular disease after preeclampsia.
National Security and the Choice of International Humanitarian Aid: Denmark and the Korean War, 1950–1953
Authors: Midtgaard Kristine
Published: May 2011

Denmark was among five countries contributing humanitarian assistance to United Nations (UN) forces during the Korean War. In August 1950, Denmark offered to place at the disposal of the UN a fully equipped hospital ship. The decision reflected the Danish government's reluctance to send combat troops to Korea but its desire to take part in other ways. This article analyzes the political, organizational, and practical aspects of Danish policy, showing how Denmark's engagement in Korea was civilian rather than military in its orientation. The assistance was organized by the Danish Red Cross, and the staff was mainly civilian. In addition to treating wounded UN soldiers, the civilian Danish hospital staff treated civilian Korean patients. Denmark balanced its aversion to sending military forces with its desire to ensure goodwill in Washington.
SAC at Thule: Greenland in U.S. Polar Strategy
Authors: Petersen Nikolaj
Published: May 2011

This article discusses the so-called polar strategy of the U.S. Strategic Air Command (SAC) from 1958, when SAC decided to build Thule Air Force Base in Greenland, until 1968, when Airborne Alert flights over Greenland were abandoned after a fully armed B-52 crashed near Thule. The article traces the implementation of the polar strategy from a “bottom-up” perspective, concentrating on deployments and rotations to Thule and training missions and operations out of Thule. The analysis, based on U.S. Air Force unit histories and Danish military reports, shows that the early polar strategy operated under difficult conditions but gradually became more feasible. In 1957 the strategy was implemented at Thule, but paradoxically it did not come to full fruition until the introduction of the B-52, which was not dependent on support from Thule. By 1960, SAC had left Thule, the emblem of the early polar strategy, but SAC bombers continued to fly missions in Greenland's airspace until 1968.
Interannual to Interdecadal Variabilities of the Indonesian Throughflow Source Water Pathways in the Pacific Ocean
Authors: Valsala Vinu , Maksyutov Shamil , Murtugudde Raghu
Published: May 2011

Some of the possible interannual to interdecadal variabilities of the Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) source water pathways in the Pacific Ocean are identified from an ocean reanalysis product provided by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) under the name Ocean Reanalysis, version S3 (ORA-S3). The data were used in an offline mode to evolve adjoint pathways of a passive tracer, which is injected from the key channels of the Indonesian straits where the ITF enters into the Indian Ocean. The adjoint pathways are simulated using interannually varying circulations for 41 yr starting from December 2000 to January 1960 with reversed currents and other physical parameters (control run). A climatological run for the 41 yr is produced with the reversed currents and other physical parameters as a monthly climatology. The adjoint pathway variability is found by subtracting the climatological run from the control run. The empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis carried out over the monthly differences between the tracer concentrations of the control run and the climatological run shows that the ITF is largely supplied from the northwestern tropical Pacific during a normal year, whereas the supply from the south equatorial Pacific is dominant during El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) years at a lag of 6 months. The interannual variability of the ITF source water pathways in the Pacific is largely determined by the ENSO variability and they are confined to the tropical Pacific, whereas the corresponding interdecadal variability is controlled by the meridional overturning circulations in the tropical and subtropical Pacific. The adjoint pathways hint that the ITF volume transport may have interdecadal variability; they are closely related to the variability of the subtropical cells (STCs) in the Pacific Ocean and can be quantified using the tropical convergence changes. The ITF is just an active member of the recharge–discharge of tropical warm waters at all time scales, and its role in the coupled climate variability of the Indo-Pacific needs to be assessed in that context.
Rossby Wave Scales, Propagation, and the Variability of Eddy-Driven Jets
Authors: Barnes Elizabeth A. , Hartmann Dennis L.
Published: May 2011

The eddy-driven jet is located in the midlatitudes, bounded on one side by the pole and often bounded on the opposite side by a strong Hadley-driven jet. This work explores how the eddy-driven jet and its variability persist within these limits. It is demonstrated in a barotropic model that as the jet is located at higher latitudes, the eddy length scale increases as predicted by spherical Rossby wave theory, and the leading mode of variability of the jet changes from a meridional shift to a pulse. Looking equatorward, a similar change in eddy-driven jet variability is observed when it is moved equatorward toward a constant subtropical jet. In both the poleward and equatorward limits, the change in variability from a shift to a pulse is due to the modulation of eddy propagation and momentum flux. Near the pole, the small value of beta (the meridional gradient of absolute vorticity) and subsequent lack of wave breaking near the pole account for the change in variability, whereas on the equatorward side of the jet the strong subtropical winds can affect eddy propagation and restrict the movement of the eddy-driven jet or cause bimodal behavior of the jet latitude. Barotropic quasilinear theory thus suggests that the leading mode of zonal-wind variability will transition from a shift to a pulse as the eddy-driven jets move poleward with climate change, and that the eddy length scale will increase as the jet moves poleward.
The Global Characteristics of the Wavenumber Spectrum of Ocean Surface Wind
Authors: Xu Yongsheng , Fu Lee-Lueng , Tulloch Ross
Published: May 2011

The wavenumber spectra of wind kinetic energy over the ocean from Quick Scatterometer (QuikSCAT) observations have revealed complex spatial variability in the wavelength range of 1000–3000 km, with spectral slopes varying from −1.6 to −2.9. Here the authors performed a spectral analysis of QuikSCAT winds over the global ocean and found that (i) the spectral slopes become steeper toward the Poles in the Pacific and in the South Atlantic, and the slopes exhibit minimal longitudinal dependence in the South Pacific; (ii) the steepest slopes are in the tropical Indian Ocean and the shallowest slopes are in the tropical Pacific and Atlantic; and (iii) the spectra are steeper in winter than summer in most regions of the midlatitude Northern Hemisphere. The new findings reported in the paper provide a test bed for theoretical studies and atmospheric general circulation models.
Contracting Out Hospital Support Jobs: The Effects of Poverty Wages, Excessive Workload, and Job Insecurity on Work and Family Life
Authors: Zuberi Daniyal
Published: May 2011

Based on in-depth interviews with 70 hospital support workers in Vancouver, Canada, this article describes how the contracting out of their jobs to multinational corporations has had deleterious consequences for these workers, their families, and the health care system. Privatization and outsourcing resulted in a steep initial wage reduction for hospital support staff, decreasing by up to 50% from approximately $18 to $20 per hour to between $9 and $12 per hour—with much weaker job benefits. Despite recent wage increases as a result of Hospital Employees’ Union—led contract negotiations, workers still earn lower hourly wages than they did before contracting out and report challenges making ends meet. The concluding discussion presents the implications of these findings for the sociology of work and health and proposes some policy reforms for mitigating the negative consequences of privatization. The article also describes the beginning of a living-wage movement in Vancouver that has emerged in part as a result of this decision to outsource these hospital support jobs.
Light and Shadow in the Life and Work of Louise Nevelson
Authors: Wilson Laurie
Published: May 2011

The life and work of the artist Louise Nevelson are examined through the lens of her ideas about light and shadow. Nevelson developed several ways of dealing with a basic fault established in childhood. Some ideas of Christopher Bollas are used in understanding the artist’s relationships with art dealers who served her as transformational objects. The artist became the grandmother of environmental sculpture in America and saw her work as a bridge between the third and the fourth dimension—an idealized realm and a popular concept in twentieth-century art that she related directly to light and shadow. Colette Roberts, a dealer with whom she worked, allowed Nevelson to arrive at a signature style. Arne Glimcher, who represented her for twenty-four years, provided the material and psychological comfort that allowed Nevelson to explore new materials and new styles and to arrive at aesthetic solutions of remarkable power and sophistication through her eighty-ninth year. From the time she met Roberts in 1953 until the end of her life thirty-five years later, Nevelson’s ideas about light and shadow expressed not only her thoughts about visual perception but her experience of her mother as her original transformational object and unthought known.
Gossip for social control in natural and artificial societies
Authors: Giardini Francesca , Conte Rosaria
Published: May 2011

In this work we propose a theory of gossip as a means for social control. Exercising social control roughly means to isolate and to punish cheaters. However, punishment is costly and it inevitably implies the problem of second-order cooperation. Moving from a cognitive model of gossip, we report data from ethnographic studies and agent-based simulations to support our claim that gossip reduces the costs of social control without lowering its efficacy.
A comparison of robust Bayesian and LVQ neural network for visual uniformity recognition of nonwovens
Authors: Jianli Liu  , Baoqi Zuo  , Xianyi Zeng  , Vroman Philippe , Rabenasolo Besoa , Guangming Zhang
Published: May 2011

The visual uniformity recognition of nonwoven materials using image analysis and neural network is a typical application of pattern recognition in textile industry. In this paper, we try to find a solution to this problem by combining the generalized Gaussian density (GGD) model in wavelet domain and two types of neural networks, robust Bayesian and learning vector quantization (LVQ) neural network. The proposed model is constituted with two stages, i.e., texture representation and pattern recognition. For texture representation, each image is decomposed into four levels using the 9-7 bi-orthogonal wavelet base. The wavelet coefficients in each subband are independently modelled by the GGD model. Moreover, taken as textural features, the corresponding scale and shape parameters estimated from the wavelet coefficients distribution with the maximum likelihood (ML) estimation are extracted in order to train and test the neural network for visual uniformity classification. During the pattern recognition part, robust Bayesian neural network and LVQ neural network are used as classifier. Especially, the experiments based on robust Bayesian neural network are taken as the key point. Experimental results indicate that the robust Bayesian neural network perform superiorly.
The Changing Geography of Privately Rented Housing in England and Wales
Authors: Houston Donald , Sissons Paul
Published: May 2011

Since the beginning of the 1990s, growth in privately rented housing in England and Wales began to reverse a prolonged period of decline. In high-cost housing areas the sector is increasingly acting as a stop-gap for those seeking to enter owner-occupation, while in less economically buoyant areas it is accommodating households who would previously have been more likely to live in social housing. This paper reveals that some of the strongest proportional growth in the sector has been in less prosperous areas where it has traditionally been under-represented and that the sector is housing an increasing proportion of economically inactive tenants. However, in key cities, particularly London, the sector’s growth has been influenced by increasing numbers of mobile workers and students. More recently, growth has been influenced by ‘buy-to-let’ mortgages, borrowing constraints and homeowners unable to sell.
Abnormal Brain Structure and Function in Newborns With Complex Congenital Heart Defects Before Open Heart Surgery: A Review of the Evidence
Authors: Owen Mallory , Shevell Michael , Majnemer Annette , Limperopoulos Catherine
Published: May 2011

Newborns with complex congenital heart defects are at high risk for developing neurological abnormalities. It is important to understand the timing, progression, and extent of these abnormalities to better elucidate their potential impact on neurodevelopment, and their implications for early screening and intervention. This review synthesizes the recent literature describing neurological and neurobehavioral abnormalities observed in fetuses and newborns before cardiac surgery. A considerable proportion of newborns with complex congenital heart defects exhibit neurobehavioral and electrophysiological abnormalities preoperatively. Likewise, conventional neuroimaging studies reported that a high percentage of this population experienced brain injury. Advanced neuroimaging modalities indicated that fetuses showed delayed third trimester brain growth, and newborns showed impaired white matter maturation, reduced N-acetylaspartate, and increased lactate. These findings suggest a fetal or early postnatal onset of impaired brain growth and development. Consequently, reliable methods for early screening and subsequent developmental intervention must be implemented.
Diagnosis and Management of Life-Threatening Pulmonary Embolism
Authors: Marshall Peter S. , Mathews Kusum S. , Siegel Mark D.
Published: May 2011

Pulmonary embolus (PE) is estimated to cause 200 000 to 300 000 deaths annually. Many deaths occur in hemodynamically unstable patients and the estimated mortality for inpatients with hemodynamic instability is between 15% and 25%. The diagnosis of PE in the critically ill is often challenging because the presentation is nonspecific. Computed tomographic pulmonary angiography appears to be the most useful study for diagnosis of PE in the critically ill. For patients with renal insufficiency and contrast allergy, the ventilation perfusion scan provides an alternative. For patients too unstable to travel, echocardiography (especially transesophageal echocardiography) is another option. A positive result on lower extremity Doppler ultrasound can also aid in the decision to treat. The choice of treatment in PE depends on the estimated risk of poor outcome. The presence of hypotension is the most significant predictor of poor outcome and defines those with massive PE. Normotensive patients with evidence of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction, as assessed by echocardiography, comprise the sub-massive category and are at intermediate risk of poor outcomes. Clinically, those with sub-massive PE are difficult to distinguish from those with low-risk PE. Cardiac troponin, brain natriuretic peptide, and computed tomographic pulmonary angiography can raise the suspicion that a patient has sub-massive PE, but the echocardiogram remains the primary means of identifying RV dysfunction. The initial therapy for patients with PE is anticoagulation. Use of vasopressors, inotropes, pulmonary artery (PA) vasodilators and mechanical ventilation can stabilize critically ill patients. The recommended definitive treatment for patients with massive PE is thrombolysis (in addition to anticoagulation). In massive PE, thrombolytics reduce the risk of recurrent PE, cause rapid improvement in hemodynamics, and probably reduce mortality compared with anticoagulation alone. For patients with a contraindication to anticoagulation and thrombolytic therapy, surgical embolectomy and catheter-based therapies are options. Thrombolytic therapy in sub-massive PE results in improved pulmonary perfusion, reduced PA pressures, and a less complicated hospital course. No survival benefit has been documented, however. If one is considering the use of thrombolytic therapy in sub-massive PE, the limited documented benefit must be weighed against the increased risk of life-threatening hemorrhage. The role of surgical embolectomy and catheter-based therapies in this population is unclear. Evidence suggests that sub-massive PE is a heterogeneous group with respect to risk. It is possible that those at highest risk may benefit from thrombolysis, but existing studies do not identify subgroups within the sub-massive category. The role of inferior vena cava (IVC) filters, catheter-based interventions, and surgical embolectomy in life-threatening PE has yet to be completely defined.
Extending the role of computational fluid dynamics in screw machines
Authors: Kovacevic A , Stosic N , Mujic E , Smith I K , Guerrato D
Published: May 2011

Previous publications show that computational fluid dynamics (CFD) can be readily used for the flow prediction and analysis of screw compressors. Several case studies are presented in this article to show the scope and applicability of such methods. These include solid–fluid interaction in screw compressors, prediction of flow generated noise in screw machines, cavitation modelling in gear pumps, and flow in multiphase pumps for oil and gas industry. Numerical grids for all these cases were generated by the authors using an in-house grid generator, while the CFD calculations were performed with a variety of commercially available CFD codes.

In order to validate the accuracy of the CFD calculations, an extended test programme was carried out using laser Doppler velocimetry to measure the mean and fluctuating velocity distribution in screw compressor flow domains. The measurement results are then compared with the CFD simulations. The results confirm the viability of the developed techniques.

It is shown in this publication that the flexibility of the developed method creates further opportunities for a broader use of CFD for analysis of twin screw machines in a range of new applications.
Analysis of plastic deformation in cortical bone after insertion of coated and non-coated self-tapping orthopaedic screws
Authors: Koistinen A P , Korhonen H , Kiviranta I , Kröger H , Lappalainen R
Published: May 2011

Insertion of internal fracture fixation devices, such as screws, mechanically weakens the bone. Diamond-like carbon has outstanding tribology properties which may decrease the amount of damage in tissue. The purpose of this study was to investigate methods for quantification of cortical bone damage after orthopaedic bone screw insertion and to evaluate the effect of surface modification on tissue damage. In total, 48 stainless steel screws were inserted into cadaver bones. Half of the screws were coated with a smooth amorphous diamond coating. Geometrical data of the bones was determined by peripheral quantitative computed tomography. Thin sections of the bone samples were prepared after screw insertion, and histomorphometric evaluation of damage was performed on images obtained using light microscopy. Micro-computed tomography and scanning electron microscopy were also used to examine tissue damage. A positive correlation was found between tissue damage and the geometric properties of the bone. The age of the cadaver significantly affected the bone mineral density, as well as the damage perimeter and diameter of the screw hole. However, the expected positive effect of surface modification was probably obscured by large variations in the results and, thus, statistically significant differences were not found in this study. This can be explained by natural variability in bone tissue, which also made automated image analysis difficult.
Application of finite element analysis in pre-operative planning for deformity correction of abnormal hip joints – a case series
Authors: Rhyu K H , Kim Y H , Park W M , Kim K , Cho T-J , Choi I H
Published: May 2011

In experimental and clinical research, it is difficult to directly measure responses in the human body, such as contact pressure and stress in a joint, but finite element analysis (FEA) enables the examination of in vivo responses by contact analysis. Hence, FEA is useful for pre-operative planning prior to orthopaedic surgeries, in order to gain insight into which surgical options will result in the best outcome. The present study develops a numerical simulation technique based on FEA to predict the surgical outcomes of osteotomy methods for the treatment of slipped capital femoral epiphyses. The correlation of biomechanical parameters including contact pressure and stress, for moderate and severe cases, is investigated. For severe slips, a base-of-neck osteotomy is thought to be the most reliable and effective surgical treatment, while any osteotomy may produce dramatic improvement for moderate slips. This technology of pre-operative planning using FEA can provide information regarding biomechanical parameters that might facilitate the selection of optimal osteotomy methods and corresponding surgical options.
Aging and Executive Control: Reports of a Demise Greatly Exaggerated
Authors: Verhaeghen Paul
Published: May 2011

I report a series of meta-analyses on aging and executive control. A first set of analyses failed to find evidence for specific age-related deficits in tasks of selective attention (inhibition of return, negative priming, flanker, and Stroop) or tasks tapping local task-shifting costs (reading with distractors is an exception) but found evidence for specific age-related deficits in tasks of divided attention (dual tasking and global task-shifting costs). The second set examined whether executive control explained any age-related variance in complex cognition (episodic memory, reasoning, spatial abilities) over and beyond the effects of speed and working memory; it did not. Thus, the purported decline in executive control with advancing age is clearly not general, and it may ultimately play only a small role in explaining age-related deficits in complex cognition.
Making Meaning out of Negative Experiences by Self-Distancing
Authors: Kross Ethan , Ayduk Ozlem
Published: May 2011

Both common wisdom and findings from multiple areas of research suggest that it is helpful to understand and make meaning out of negative experiences. However, people’s attempts to do so often backfire, leading them to ruminate and feel worse. Here we attempt to shed light on these seemingly contradictory sets of findings by examining the role that self-distancing plays in facilitating adaptive self-reflection. We begin by briefly describing the “self-reflection paradox.” We then define self-distancing, present evidence from multiple levels of analysis that illustrate how this process facilitates adaptive self-reflection, and discuss the basic science and practical implications of this research.
Two Mechanisms for Simulating Other Minds
Authors: Waytz Adam , Mitchell Jason P.
Published: May 2011

People often attempt to understand other minds by using their own thoughts and experiences as a proxy for those of others, a process known broadly as simulation. Recent research in cognitive neuroscience has identified the neural bases of two forms of simulation: mirroring and self-projection. Mirroring involves a vicarious response in which a perceiver experiences the same current mental state as that of another person, and has been linked recently to brain regions that “mirror” the experiential states of others. In contrast, self-projection involves imagining oneself in the same situation as another person, predicting one’s thoughts and feelings in that hypothetical scenario and assuming that the other would think and feel the same way. This form of simulation has been linked to a set of regions known collectively as the default network and includes the medial prefrontal cortex, precuneus and posterior cingulate, and lateral parietal cortex. Although most discussions of simulation have conflated these two processes, here we describe the conceptual and empirical reasons to distinguish between self-projection and mirroring and suggest the unique role each plays in understanding others.