bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correlation of Fluvial Rainbow Trout Spawning Life History with Severity of Infection by Myxobolus cerebralis in the Blackfoot River Basin, Montana
Authors: Pierce Ron , Podner Craig , Davidson Michael , Vincent E. Richard
Published: February 2009

To assess the exposure of Blackfoot River rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss to the exotic parasite Myxobolus cerebralis, the causal agent of whirling disease, we investigated the spawning life histories of adult rainbow trout with respect to the distribution and severity of infection in spawning and early rearing areas in two distinct reaches of the Blackfoot River. Radiotelemetry confirmed that Blackfoot River rainbow trout express a fluvial life history and migrate from wintering sites within the Blackfoot River to spawning sites in the lower reaches of tributaries. Spawning peaked in late April, and fry emergence was estimated to occur within a narrow window of time in early July during the known period of high parasite exposure. However, the severity of infection varied between study reaches. Spawning of lower Blackfoot River rainbow trout was dispersed among the lowermost reaches of smaller, colder, higher‐gradient tributaries, most of which fell below our ability to detect infection. By contrast, a majority of the telemetered rainbow trout in the middle Blackfoot River spawned higher in the drainage and within a single, low‐gradient stream where fry emerged under infectious conditions. For fluvial rainbow trout, the risk of infection varies from the tributary to the subbasin scale and relates to the geographical arrangement and properties of the tributaries, the longitudinal relationship of the pathogen to spawning and early rearing areas, and the rate and timing of dispersing age‐0 fry to downstream parasite‐positive waters. Before the introduction of M. cerebralis, the middle Blackfoot River was identified as having recruitment limitations caused by winter mortality and anthropogenic activities. According to our results, riparian restoration and habitat enhancement with emphasis on migratory native fish within and upstream of the pathogen may buffer fish from the effects of the disease.
Nutrient Excretion Rates of Anadromous Alewives during Their Spawning Migration
Authors: Post David M. , Walters Annika W.
Published: February 2009

Excretion is one of the processes through which anadromous fishes move marine‐derived nutrients into freshwater ecosystems, but no direct estimates of nutrient excretion rates by anadromous fish exist. We estimated the mass‐specific nutrient excretion rates of anadromous alewives Alosa pseudoharengus during their spring spawning migration into Bride Lake, Connecticut. Anadromous alewives excreted an average of 2.17 μg of phosphorus per gram of wet fish mass per hour and 24.71μg of nitrogen. The mean N:P ratio (by mass) of nutrient excretion was 11.7. Most of the nitrogen excreted was in the form of NH4+. Our results suggest that excretion by anadromous fish can affect local food webs and ecosystem function when ecosystems are relatively small and fish aggregate at high densities, such as at the peak of the spawning run.
Name change for Asturiella Blessi Hoare, 2007
Authors: Hoare Richard D.
Published: February 2009

Luis C. Sánchez de Posado of Oviedo University was kind to point out that Asturiella blessi Hoare, 2007 is a junior homonym of Asturiella blessi Becker, 1971. It is proposed to change the name to Asturiella pecki, named for the late Raymond E. Peck of the University of Missouri.
Neoproterozoic microfossils from the northeastern margin of the East European Platform
Authors: Vorob'eva Nataliya G. , Sergeev Vladimir N. , Knoll Andrew H.
Published: February 2009

The Kel'tminskaya-1 borehole, drilled along the northeastern margin of the East European Platform (EEP), reveals some 3,600 m of Neoproterozoic sedimentary rocks, mostly confined to the subsurface. The upper 1,000 m of the drilled section correlates with late Ediacaran Redkino and Kotlin successions on the EEP, whereas the lowermost 2,000 m can be related to pre-Sturtian (Upper Riphean) deposits in the Ural Mountains. In between lies the Vychegda Formation, a 600 m siliciclastic succession that has no counterpart in classic EEP stratigraphy.

Vychegda microfossils can be separated into three assemblages. The upper part of the formation contains large, profusely ornamented acritarchs broadly comparable to those of the Ediacaran Complex Acanthomorph Palynoflora, including species of the generaAlicesphaeridium, Asterocapsoides, CavaspinaandTanariumconfined to Ediacaran-aged assemblages elsewhere. Diverse large acanthomorphs are known from Ediacaran strata around the world, but have not previously been recognized from the EEP, an absence attributed to a hiatus between the glacial Laplandian (>635 Ma) and Redkino (mostly <555 Ma) successions. The large acanthomorphic acritarchs record eukaryotic organisms with resting stages in their life cycles and likely include egg or diapause cysts of early animals. In contrast, the lower Vychegda assemblage, found in the basal 10 m of the succession, contains taxa typical of earlier Neoproterozoic successions. The middle assemblage contains only simple filaments and spheroidal acritarchs.

The most parsimonious interpretation of Vychegda biostratigraphy is that pre-Marinoan rocks in the basal part of the formation are separated by a cryptic unconformity from early and middle Ediacaran deposits above. This interpretation is consistent with data from China and Australia, which indicate that the major paleontological transition to diverse ECAP assemblages took place within the Ediacaran Period and not in association with the preceding ice age. Vychegda acritarch assemblages thus contribute to a biostratigraphic model for the initial Ediacaran boundary.
Emsian (Late Early Devonian) sponges from west-central and south-central Alaska
Authors: Rigby J. Keith , Blodgett Robert B. , Anderson Nicolle K.
Published: February 2009

Relatively common specimens of the hypercalcified agelasiid spongeHormospongia labyrinthicaRigby and Blodgett, 1983 and specimens of associated species ofHormospongiahave been previously reported from Emsian and Eifelian stratigraphic units at several localities in south-central and southeastern Alaska (Rigby and Blodgett, 1983). Those sponges were first described from the type section of the Eifelian Cheeneetnuk Limestone in the McGrath A-5 quadrangle. Since then several additional specimens ofHormospongia labyrinthicahave also been collected from a new locality in the Talkeetna C-6 quadrangle in south-central Alaska (Figs. 1, 2.1), and are documented here.
Ontogeny, systematics, and evolution of the effaced Early Cambrian trilobitesPeachellaWalcott, 1910 andEopeachellanew genus (Olenelloidea)
Authors: Webster Mark
Published: February 2009

Although used in biostratigraphy and in studies of early Cambrian trilobite evolution, the olenelloid genusPeachellahas received little research attention. The ontogenetic and evolutionary origins of its derived features—an effaced cephalon and grossly inflated genal spines—have remained mysterious. Based on examination of new and existing collections,P. iddingsiandP. brevispinaare here described in detail, including aspects of their respective ontogenies and the first description of the thorax ofP. iddingsi.A new monotypic genus,Eopeachella, is also described from recently collected material from the Delamar Member of the Pioche Formation, Nevada.Eopeachella angustispinan. gen. n. sp., is less derived and stratigraphically older than bothPeachellaspecies and bridges the morphological gap betweenPeachellaand typical olenelloids. The study reveals that cephalic effacement was progressively attained during both ontogeny and phylogeny in theEopeachella + Peachellaclade. Comparative ontogeny with other olenelloids reveals that progressive effacement was a trend superimposed upon and independent of a conserved pattern of ontogenetic shape change in the glabella and did not represent a peramorphic “extension” of glabellar ontogeny. Genal spine inflation was also achieved progressively (in a proximal-to-distal direction) through both ontogeny and phylogeny in theEopeachella + Peachellaclade. Genal spine inflation that convergently arose in later trilobite groups may have been similarly ontogenetically dynamic. Discovery ofE. angustispinaandP. brevispinain the Delamar Member raises olenelloid diversity in this member to at least 20 species; a higher diversity than in any coeval unit.
NanshanophyllumandShensiphyllum(Silurian Rugosa) from the Kurosegawa Terrane, southwest Japan, and their paleobiogeographic implications
Authors: Kido Erika
Published: February 2009

Three rugose species in two genera—Nanshanophyllum hamadain. sp.,N. gokasensen. sp., andShensiphyllumsp.—are described for the first time from the Kurosegawa Terrane, Southwest Japan. These species occur in the Middle Member of the Gionyama Formation, which is Late Llandovery to Early Ludlow (Silurian) in age. The two genera,NanshanophyllumandShensiphyllum, formerly were known only from South China and Qaidam. The occurrence of these two genera in Japan may indicate a paleogeographic connection between ‘Proto-Japan’ and the South China Block during the Silurian.
Major Dutch collections of Permian fossils from Timor Amalgamated
Authors: Meijer Hanneke J. M. , Donovan Stephen K. , Renema Willem
Published: February 2009

Ninety-five percent of the surface geology of The Netherlands consists of various Pleistocene sedimentary sequences. Of the other five percent, the principal area of ‘solid’ geology is in the south around Maastricht, in the province of Limburg, justifiably famous for its highly fossiliferous Upper Cretaceous succession, including the type section of the Maastrichtian Stage. Paleozoic exposures are very rare and, most relevant to the discussion herein, there is no exposed Permian succession. Yet the colonial history of The Netherlands makes it a haven for Permian researchers. The purpose of this brief communication is to alert interested researchers to the amalgamation of the Dutch Timor collections by the recent acquisition by the Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum - Naturalis, Leiden (NNM), of more than 10,000 specimens of Permian fossils, mainly marine invertebrates, from West Timor, Indonesia. Together with the collections already present at Naturalis, this easily forms the largest concentration of fossils from Timor in any museum.
Kempfia, A new name for the genus Bairdiacratia Crasquin, 2008, non Jiang, 1983
Authors: Crasquin Sylvie
Published: February 2009

Crasquin proposed (in Crasquin et al., 2008) the generic name Bairdiacratia (p. 244-246) for a Bairdioidea ostracod (Crustacea) recorded from the latest Permian of the Southern Alps (Italy) and Guizhou, Zhejiang, and Hubei Provinces (South China). Unfortunately, I discovered recently that the name was already used for an ostracod genus from the Middle Devonian of eastern Yunnan Province (China) by Jiang (1983).
Modesticoncha, A new name for Modestella Hautmann, 2001 (Bivalvia, Trigonoida) [non Modestella Owen, 1961 (Brachiopoda, Terebratulida)]
Authors: Hautmann Michael
Published: February 2009

Dr. Philippe Bouchet, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, kindly brought to my attention that the name Modestella Hautmann, 2001, which I introduced for a Triassic trigonoid bivalve genus (type species: Trigonia zlambachensis Haas, 1909), is preoccupied by Modestella Owen (in Casey), 1961 (Brachiopoda, Terebratulida). I therefore propose to replace Modestella Hautmann, 2001 by the new name Modesticoncha. The new name derives from the combination modestus (Latin) = modest, referring to the lack of ornamentation, and concha (Latin) = shell.
Wisarcadiaspis, a replacement name for Arcadiaspis Westrop and Palmer, preoccupied
Authors: Westrop Stephen R. , Palmer Allison R.
Published: February 2009

In 2005, we (Westrop and Palmer, in Westrop et al.) proposed the name Arcadiaspis for a new genus of eurekiid trilobite from the Jordan Sandstone of Wisconsin. We thank Jonathan Adrain, John Page, and John Paterson, all of whom pointed out that this name is preoccupied by Arcadiaspis Bognibova (in Chernysheva, 1971), a trilobite genus from the Middle Cambrian of Russia. We propose the name Wisarcadiaspis which refers to the collecting locality at Arcadia, Wisconsin, as a replacement.
Extrapolation of available acute and chronic toxicity test data to population-level effects for ecological risk management of chemicals
Authors: Lin Bin-Le , Meng Yaobin
Published: February 2009

An extrapolation approach is proposed using available acute (median lethal or effect concentration) and chronic (no-observed-effect concentration) toxicity test data at the organism level to derive a reference value contributing to the development of predicted-no-effect concentration on population persistence for population-level ecological risk assessment of chemicals. A matrix population model of wild medaka (Oryzias latipes) was employed as the tool to integrate the available organism-level toxicity test data on reproduction and survival into a finite population growth rate (λ) that provides information regarding the status of the population persistence. After demonstrating the approach using the acute and chronic toxicity test data of alcohol ethyxolate on fish to calculate the reference value defined as the concentration at λ = 1 (Cλ-1), the proposed approach was then evaluated by a comparison of the Cλ-1 value derived by the extrapolation approach to those Cλ-1 values calculated by two other approaches, in which different amounts of toxicity information contained in the same full life-cycle toxicity test data set on 4-nonylphenol were employed. It was concluded that this extrapolation approach is widely applicable and is promising for performing population-level ecological risk assessment on a more general basis that can support reasonable chemical management.
Pore-Scale Simulation of Dispersion in Porous Media
Authors: Garmeh Gholamreza , Johns Russell Taylor , Lake Larry W.
Published: February 2009

Mixing of miscible gas with oil in a reservoir decreases the effective strength of the gas, which can adversely affect miscibility and recovery efficiency. The level of true mixing that occurs in a reservoir, however, is widely debated and often ignored in reservoir simulation in which very large grid blocks are used. Large grid blocks create artificially large mixing that can cause errors in predicted oil recovery.

This paper examines mixing that occurs in porous media by solving for single-phase flow in a connected network of pores. We differentiate between true mixing that can reduce the effective strength of a miscible gas or surfactant from apparent mixing caused by convective spreading. This work differs from network models in that we directly solve the Navier-Stokes equation and the convection-diffusion equation to determine the velocities and concentrations at any location within the pores. Flow in series and layered heterogeneous porous media are modeled through use of many grains in different arrangements. We consider slug, continuous, and partial injection as well as echo tests (single-well tracer tests) and transmission tests (interwell tracer tests). We match the concentrations from the pore-scale simulations to the analytical convection-dispersion solution that includes both transverse- and longitudinal-dispersion coefficients.

The results show that for flow in series and in layers, echo- and transmission-longitudinal dispersivities become equal and reach an asymptotic value if complete mixing over a cross section perpendicular to flow has occurred. In practice, the asymptotic value of dispersivity may never be reached, depending on pattern-scale heterogeneity and well spacing. Transverse-dispersion coefficients also are scale dependent, but they decrease with traveled distance. We further demonstrate that the classical Perkins-Johnston relationship between longitudinal-dispersion coefficient and fluid velocity is obtained. We conclude that echo dispersivities are reliable indicators of true mixing in porous media.
Accurate Corrosion Prediction Through an Integrated Approach
Authors: Bondos J. C. , Reddy R. V. , Pugh D. V. , Norman D. A. , Pacheco J. L. , Nelson J. L.
Published: February 2009

The ability to optimize the use of carbon steel in corrosive service presents many economic advantages, including minimizing the use of expensive corrosion-resistant alloys (CRAs), reducing well count by enabling optimized large-bore completions, and eliminating unnecessary offshore pipelines and facilities. An integrated approach to corrosion modeling and testing can enable reliable extension of carbon steel application.

The integrated approach to predicting corrosion has five primary elements:

Rigorously establish the environmental conditions by conducting thermodynamic and compositional hydraulic analyses, and characterize how these conditions are expected to change over time. Identify and model the local environmental conditions and the types of corrosion that are expected to occur (e.g., weight loss, pitting, environmental cracking), including sensitivity and upset cases. Conduct realistic corrosion tests under the identified field conditions by simulating brine chemistry, dissolved acid gas concentrations, hydrocarbon effects, fluid shear stresses, and flow regimes in appropriate laboratory equipment. Specialized laboratory test apparatus, such as a large-diameter sour multiphase flow loop and large-volume high-pressure high-temperature autoclave test cells, has been designed and constructed to ensure proper replication of field conditions. Mathematically extrapolate the results of the laboratory tests to the field, enabling calculation of expected tubular life. Conduct life-cycle cost analysis.

This paper will describe how this integrated approach to predicting corrosion has been used to evaluate the use of carbon steel in oil and gas production environments. Emphasis will be placed on the prediction of pitting corrosion in H2S-containing environments.
Digital Transmission of Well Logs by Radio and Telephone
Authors: Eaton F.M. , Decker G.J.
Published: February 2009

A new telemetry system enables remote point recording of electrical welllogs. Simultaneously with logging operations on offshore Louisiana wells, filmrecords are being produced in a New Orleans office more than 100 miles away. The system, using microwave as a data link, was installed to reduce costlyshut-down time caused by delays in transporting logs to the office, and toextend well coverage by key personnel.

At the well site, simultaneously with the recording of an optical log, aportable quantizer converts log data to digital signals suitable fortransmission over microwave and/or telephone facilities. At the receiving endthe transmitted data are decoded into analog signals and recorded on film in astandard optical recorder. The film recording at the receiver is synchronizedwith the offshore logging operation and the log is available at the office assoon as at the well.

An alternate procedure is to record the digital output on magnetic tape forsubsequent transmission. This procedure is used when microwave facilities arenot immediately available on the well platform. The tape may then be taken tothe nearest microwave station or telephone for transmission.

The system is applicable to the transmission of most types of electricalwell logs. Induction-electrical surveys and Sonic logs have been successfullytransmitted.

Introduction

A new era in logging is opened by the recently developed DART system fortransmitting well logs by radio and/or telephone lines. Using a designprototype of this new system, well logs are now recorded simultaneously atoffshore platforms and at a New Orleans office over 100 miles away. In thisparticular application, a microwave system supplies the necessary link betweenwell site and receiving office. However, the equipment has worked equally wellover telephone lines, and has been tested using FM radio facilities.

The rapid conveyance of logs from well site to a decision-making level hasalways been important - particularly on offshore wells where rig costs arehigh. In such operations, airplanes and speedboats are often used to deliverlogs so that time lost waiting on orders can be reduced to a minimum. In manyinstances, key personnel go to the well site.

However, with the DART system, logs are available in the office at the sametime as at the remote well. Thus, a team of experts in the office can monitorlogging operations, study the logs and issue instructions - all with a minimumof lost time. Records and files on adjacent wells that might be too bulky totake to a location are readily available in the office. Furthermore, with thelogs transmitted to the office, a team of experts can, in effect, be availableon several offshore locations in a single day. The DART system thus offersappreciable savings of time - savings not only of expensive rig time, but alsothe time of key personnel who make important decisions.
Fracture Initiation From Inclined Wellbores in Anisotropic Formations
Authors: Ong See Hong , Roegiers Jean-Claude
Published: February 2009

This paper presents a wellbore stability design code that can be used to optimally drill, complete and stimulate inclined wells. The design code was developed for the most general case where the borehole, in-situ stress, and rock property coordinate frames are totally independent of each other. It essentially consists of a three-dimensional linear elastic stress analysis in anisotropic formations. Although this particular paper is only limited to tensile failure, based on the minimum normal stress theory, the numerical model is also able to consider shear failure by involving a generalized three-dimensional anisotropic yield criterion. The design code enables the selection of the most optimum borehole orientation and wellbore fluid gradient to avoid fracture initiation. It is also useful in conducting sensitivity studies, particularly when the data is scanty. A remarkable finding by exercising such code was that fracture initiation is strongly dependent on the formation an isotropy; a contradiction to the current industry thinking.

Introduction

Sedimentary rocks, because of their depositional environments, have a laminated structure with directional properties which are best described as transversely isotropic. Rahn showed that the moduli of elasticity of a foliatedrock can vary by about 50%, if measured normally and parallel to the beddingplane. Shale, a common sedimentary rock which accounts for 75% of the drilled sections in the world and causes 90% of the wellbore stability problems, is a transversely isotropic material. Coal, another sedimentary r6ck commonly encountered during drilling of shallow formations, is an orthotropic material which has also been known to cause considerable borehole instability problems.

Fracture initiation occurs when the stress at the borehole wall, or its vicinity, goes into tension and exceeds the rock's tensile strength. This usually happens when there is an excessive wellbore pressurization such as during hydraulic fracturing stimulations or during highly overbalanced drilling operations. Traditionally, fracturing due to tensile splitting of the rock was predicated using the linear elastic stress distribution around a wellbore in homogenous and isotropic media. However, in view of the inadequacy of simple isotropic models to describe the behavior of real rocks, a more complex model describing more realistically the rock response, needed to be developed.
A Fast, Highly Accurate Means of Modeling Transient Flow in Gas Pipeline Systems by Variational Methods
Authors: Rachford H.H. , Dupont Todd
Published: February 2009

The cost-effective design of real pipeline systems must consider thetransient response induced by equipment failure and sales rate changes. Hereare described methods developed over the past decade for simulating slowtransient response; these are followed by a presentation of a new variationalmethod. The latter is formulated to treat fast as well as slow transients, andgives results in excellent agreement with data for diverse cases.

The computer resources required are small enough that a 1,000-pipe networkcan be simulated in core on widely available computing facilities (CDC 6600).On the average, 1 hour of 1,000-pipe system operation can be simulated in 100seconds of CDC 6600 central processor time.

Introduction

To design and operate a gas transmission system cost-effectively requiresaccounting for its response under unsteady or transient conditions. Even thoughcare is given to the optimum design of a system to support steady loads, suchloads represent only a theoretical condition. Actua1 operations invariablyencounter transient states. The loss of a compressor, the addition or loss ofsupply or sale points, replacement of equipment, and customers who demandvariable sale rates are a few of the causes of line transients.

The design for cost-effective operation of a system should be completed beforeany capital is spent. For pipeline systems this should begin with optimizingthe required facilities to meet the projected sales rates. But engineering isnecessary beyond that to provide the pipe and compression for steady deliveryof gas. If some of the projected sales are time varying, a quantitative studyshould be made of the fraction of the varying demand that can be met by linepack and the fraction that must be satisfied by local peaking facilities. Onlyby approaching the cost optimum among feasible pipe sizes, compression levels, and peaking facility capabilities can cost-effective use be made of availablecapital.

Other facets of cost-effective design for operation are the sizing and locationof standby equipment, its relationship to the capacity of the transmissionsystems, and the cost of failure of the system to meet commitments. Anymechanical system is subject to failure. The allowable time for bringingstandby equipment on line so as to meet all commitments depends upon thecapacity of the standby equipment, the capacity and response rate of thetransmission system, and the amount and location of excess compression or othercapacities elsewhere in the system.
In Praise of More Primitive Finance
Authors: Bhidé Amar
Published: February 2009

Amar Bhidé, the Glaubinger Professor of Business at Columbia University, argues for a return to narrow banking.
Letter: Robert J. Barro's "Voodoo Multipliers" Misunderstands Keynes
Authors: Hill Greg
Published: February 2009

According to Greg Hill, Robert J. Barro thinks an effective stimulus plan must assume "sticky wages and prices" when, in fact, it need only assume the absence of comprehensive futures markets.
The Stimulatory Effects of Topical Application of Radioactive Lantern Mantle Powder on Wound Healing
Authors: Mortazavi SMJ , Rahmani SMJ , Rahnama A , Saeed-Pour A , Nouri E , Hosseini N , Aghaiee MM
Published: February 2009

Some people in different parts of Iran use burned mantles as a wound healing medicine. To perform surface area measurement, twenty rats were divided randomly into two groups of 10 animals each. The 1st group received topical burned radioactive lantern mantle powder at 1st-3rd day after making excision wounds. The 2nd group received non-radioactive lantern mantle powder. For histological study, 36 male rats randomly divided into two groups of 18 animals each. Full thickness excision wound (314±31.4 mm2) was made on the dorsal neck in all animals after inducing general anesthesia. For the first 3 days, cases received topical application of the radioactive lantern mantle powder. Finally, to measure the tensile strength, an incision was made on the dorsal neck of the rats. Surface area measurement of the wounds showed a progressive surface reduction in both groups. Histological study showed a significant statistically difference between cases and controls with respect to fibrinoid necrosis and neutrophilic exudate at the days 3 and 14. Considering the existence of granulation tissue, a significant difference was observed between case and control groups at days 3 and 7. Tensile strength study showed no significant difference between the cases and controls until 30 days after excision.
The Prevalence of Chronic Deciduitis in Cases of Preterm Labor without Clinical Chorioamnionitis
Authors: Edmondson Nadeen , Bocking Alan , Machin Geoffrey , Rizek Rose , Watson Carole , Keating Sarah
Published: February 2009

Preterm labor is a major cause of perinatal mortality and morbidity, and in approximately 30% of cases a clinical cause is not identified. Acute chorioamnionitis is found histologically in a significant percentage of placentas from preterm deliveries, and the mother is often asymptomatic. Although such subclinical acute chorioamnionitis is known to play a role in preterm labor, this study explores the hypothesis that chronic deciduitis with plasma cells is seen more frequently in cases of preterm labor than in control placentas. Thirty-nine singleton placentas from patients with idiopathic preterm labor were examined microscopically and compared in a blinded fashion with 39 gestational age-matched control placentas. Cases of clinical acute chorioamnionitis and known chronic maternal diseases were excluded. Thirty-nine control singleton placentas were obtained from patients undergoing induction of labor for fetal structural abnormalities, excluding aneuploidy. The presence or absence of acute chorioamnionitis, acute fetal inflammatory response, chronic deciduitis, chronic villitis, infarction, and decidual vasculopathy was noted. Immunohistochemical staining was undertaken to further define leukocyte subtypes. Forty-one percent of cases and 15% of controls showed chronic deciduitis ( P = 0.022). Forty-six percent of cases and 18% of controls showed histologic acute chorioamnionitis ( P = 0.015). There were 8 cases demonstrating acute fetal inflammatory response but only 1 control ( P = 0.029). Little difference was seen in the distribution of lymphocyte subsets between cases and control placentas. Our findings suggest that chronic deciduitis plays a role in the etiology of some cases of preterm labor.
Universal Nephroblastomatosis with Bilateral Hyperplastic Nephromegaly in Siblings
Authors: Katzman Philip J. , Arnold Georgianne L. , Lagoe Erin C. , Huff Vicki
Published: February 2009

We present an unusual renal developmental disorder in a female infant and male sibling born in a subsequent pregnancy. Both children had prenatally diagnosed bilateral nephromegaly and survived for 6 and 10 days after birth, respectively. Both infants demonstrated the presence of bilaterally large cerebriform kidneys with numerous small lobulations containing immature glomeruli admixed with primarily intralobar nephrogenic rests without Wilms tumor. The pathology was most consistent with universal nephroblastomatosis with nephromegaly, a rare entity described in only 4 cases and in only 1 of these as a possible inherited disorder.
Spatial Dimensions of Fear in a High-Crime Community: Fear of Crime or Fear of Disorder?
Authors: Kohm Steven A.
Published: February 2009

This article presents findings from a two-year study of fear of crime and victimization in a high-crime, inner-city neighbourhood in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Face-to-face interviews were carried out in 2007 with a sample of 394 neighbourhood residents. Respondents provided qualitative, quantitative, and spatial data on levels of fear, patterns of victimization, and experience with neighbourhood disorder. Despite high levels of criminal victimization and worry about crime, neighbourhood residents cited concerns with disorder rather than crime as determinate of locations of highest fear in the community. Spatial and qualitative measures of fear in this neighbourhood suggest support for the link between disorder and fear of crime even in high-crime communities.
Exploring Drug Sourcing among Regular Prescription Opioid Users in Canada: Data from Toronto and Victoria
Authors: Fischer Benedikt , Anthony De Leo Joseph , Allard Christiane , Firestone-Cruz Michelle , Patra Jayadeep , Rehm Jürgen
Published: February 2009

Recent North American data document increased prescription opioid (PO) misuse in general and street-drug-user populations. One aspect of this phenomenon – as distinct from illicit drug use – appears to be sourcing, since POs may be obtained through various forms of diversion from the medical system and other sources. However, the overall function of street-drug markets for POs remains unclear.

Regular street users of POs in Toronto (N = 43) and Victoria (N = 39) were recruited by community-based methods and completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire exploring features of PO sourcing from street-drug markets.

Respondents were PO- and non-opioid poly-drug users, with few holding their own prescription for POs. Regular sources for POs were more common in Toronto. Sizeable proportions of respondents in both sites reported exchanging and selling illicit drugs, involving both PO and non-PO drugs in Toronto, yet mainly restricted to the latter in Victoria. Respondents suggested a possible demarcation line between street market sources for POs and street market sources for illicit drugs. The availability of, demand for, and prices for PO-drugs was observed to have increased in recent years.

Street-drug markets appear to be one key source feeding increasing levels of PO use among street users. Our data suggest that there may be distinct market patterns for POs, findings which are important for developing interventions and future research.
The Good Captain and the Bad Captain: Joseph Vilsmaier's 'Die Gustloff' and the Erosion of Complexity
Authors: Niven Bill
Published: February 2009

This article provides an interpretation of Josef Vilsmaier's two-part television feature film, Die Gustloff (2008), which depicts the sinking of that ship in January 1945. It argues that Vilsmaier, at the expense of historical fact, pins blame for the fateful decisions that led to the ship being vulnerable to attack on the Navy, while simultaneously seeking to exculpate and even glorify the Merchant Navy representatives on board. Die Gustloff seeks to distinguish between a “bad” captain and a “good” one, between hard-hearted military indifference and uncorrupted civilian decency in the face of the plight of German refugees. Generally, in its portrayal of the civilian as a realm untainted by Nazism, it seeks to resist trends in contemporary historiography that show such distinctions to be untenable. It is thus deeply revisionist in character, and, in many ways, represents the nadir of the “Germans as victims” trend in contemporary German culture.
Recognizing Human Activities from Sensors Using Hidden Markov Models Constructed by Feature Selection Techniques
Authors: Cilla Rodrigo , Patricio Miguel A. , García Jesús , Berlanga Antonio , Molina Jose M.
Published: February 2009

In this paper a method for selecting features for Human Activity Recognition from sensors is presented. Using a large feature set that contains features that may describe the activities to recognize, Best First Search and Genetic Algorithms are employed to select the feature subset that maximizes the accuracy of a Hidden Markov Model generated from the subset. A comparative of the proposed techniques is presented to demonstrate their performance building Hidden Markov Models to classify different human activities using video sensors.
Correction: Gruia, M.-I. et al. The Antioxidant Response Induced by Lonicera caerulaea Berry Extracts in Animals Bearing Experimental Solid Tumors. Molecules 2008, 13, 1195-1206
Authors: Gruia Maria Iuliana , Oprea Eliza , Gruia Ion , Negoita Valentina , Farcasanu Ileana Cornelia
Published: February 2009

In the original published version of this paper [1] we omitted to acknowledge that the work was supported by a grant-in-aid. The acknowledgment is hereby published as follows. [...]
Detection of Neolithic Settlements in Thessaly (Greece) Through Multispectral and Hyperspectral Satellite Imagery
Authors: Alexakis Dimitrios , Sarris Apostolos , Astaras Theodoros , Albanakis Konstantinos
Published: February 2009

Thessaly is a low relief region in Greece where hundreds of Neolithic settlements/tells called magoules were established from the Early Neolithic period until the Bronze Age (6,000 – 3,000 BC). Multi-sensor remote sensing was applied to the study area in order to evaluate its potential to detect Neolithic settlements. Hundreds of sites were geo-referenced through systematic GPS surveying throughout the region. Data from four primary sensors were used, namely Landsat ETM, ASTER, EO1 - HYPERION and IKONOS. A range of image processing techniques were originally applied to the hyperspectral imagery in order to detect the settlements and validate the results of GPS surveying. Although specific difficulties were encountered in the automatic classification of archaeological features composed by a similar parent material with the surrounding landscape, the results of the research suggested a different response of each sensor to the detection of the Neolithic settlements, according to their spectral and spatial resolution.
Improvement of the Accuracy of InSAR Image Co-Registration Based On Tie Points – A Review
Authors: Zou Weibao , Li Yan , Li Zhilin , Ding Xiaoli
Published: February 2009

Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) is a new measurement technology, making use of the phase information contained in the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images. InSAR has been recognized as a potential tool for the generation of digital elevation models (DEMs) and the measurement of ground surface deformations. However, many critical factors affect the quality of InSAR data and limit its applications. One of the factors is InSAR data processing, which consists of image co-registration, interferogram generation, phase unwrapping and geocoding. The co-registration of InSAR images is the first step and dramatically influences the accuracy of InSAR products. In this paper, the principle and processing procedures of InSAR techniques are reviewed. One of important factors, tie points, to be considered in the improvement of the accuracy of InSAR image co-registration are emphatically reviewed, such as interval of tie points, extraction of feature points, window size for tie point matching and the measurement for the quality of an interferogram.
A New Method for Node Fault Detection in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Jiang Peng
Published: February 2009

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are an important tool for monitoring distributed remote environments. As one of the key technologies involved in WSNs, node fault detection is indispensable in most WSN applications. It is well known that the distributed fault detection (DFD) scheme checks out the failed nodes by exchanging data and mutually testing among neighbor nodes in this network., but the fault detection accuracy of a DFD scheme would decrease rapidly when the number of neighbor nodes to be diagnosed is small and the node’s failure ratio is high. In this paper, an improved DFD scheme is proposed by defining new detection criteria. Simulation results demonstrate that the improved DFD scheme performs well in the above situation and can increase the fault detection accuracy greatly.
Patulin determination in apples with rotten areas
Authors: Celli M. , Coelho A. , Wosiacki G. , Boscolo M. , Garcia Cruz C.
Published: February 2009

Patulin is a mycotoxin produced by Penicillium and Aspergillus species, and in particular by P. expansum in apple-rotting fungus. In this work, we evaluated the patulin content in apples with rotten areas of different sizes (with green and/or blue moulds), and we studied the diffusion behaviour of patulin into unspoiled areas of the apples. An analytical procedure based on high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection was used to analyse 35 apples with rotten areas. Separations were performed on a 250×4.6 mm i.d. C18 analytical column of 5 µm diameter. Acetonitrile/water (5:95) was used as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.5 ml/min and the elution was monitored by UV absorption at 275 nm, performed at 40 °C. The detection limit by HPLC-UV detector for pure standard was 6.7 ng/ml and the quantification limit was 0.03 µg/ml. The affected areas represented different percentages of the total weight of the whole apple and ranged from 2.5 to 52.3%. Three apples had patulin concentrations below the limit of detection; the remaining 32 apples had varying patulin levels (from 1.01 to 120.40 mg/kg). To evaluate if the mycotoxin could migrate to the areas not yet affected by rot, we analysed the unspoiled portion of each apple, showing 1.91 µg/kg as the median concentration of patulin and the highest value of 5,020 µg/kg; these results confirmed that patulin could migrate through apple tissue that has not yet been spoiled.
Long-term Survival in the Intensive Care Unit After Erythrocyte Blood Transfusion
Authors: Engoren Milo , Arslanian-Engoren Cynthia
Published: February 2009

Background Erythrocyte blood transfusions are commonly used in intensive care units, yet little is known about their effects on long-term survival.

Objective To determine the effect of erythrocyte blood transfusion in intensive care units on long-term survival.

Methods Retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database of 2213 patients admitted January 27, 2001, to April 30, 2002, to the cardiac, burn, neurological-neurosurgical, and combined medical-surgical intensive care units in a tertiary care, university-affiliated, urban medical center. Further analysis was done on a case-control subgroup (n = 556) formed by matching scores on the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II and propensity scores.

Results Although transfusion was univariably associated with increased risk of death at all 3 times (0–30, 31–180, and >180 days after admission to the unit), multivariable adjustment with Cox modeling showed that transfusion had no association with mortality for the first 2 intervals (0–30 and 31–180 days), but was associated with a 25% lower risk of death (hazard ratio, 0.75; 95% confidence interval, 0.57–0.99; P = .04) in patients who survived at least 180 days after admission to the unit. In the case-control patients, after correction for APACHE II risk of death and propensity to receive a transfusion, transfusion had no association with mortality for the first 2 intervals, but was associated with 29% lowered risk of death (hazard ratio, 0.71; 95% confidence interval, 0.50–0.99; P=.046).

Conclusion Blood transfusion was associated with a decreased risk of late (>180 days) death in intensive care patients.
Acute Intermittent Porphyria as a Cause of Respiratory Failure: Case Report
Authors: Asselbergs Folkert W. , Kremer Hovinga Ton K. , Bouwsma Cees , van Ingen Jan
Published: February 2009

A 45-year-old man with end-stage renal disease due to polycystic kidney disease was admitted to the hospital because of recurrent abdominal pain, progressive peripheral motor neuron neuropathy, and respiratory failure. The diagnosis of acute intermittent porphyria was confirmed by an elevated porphyrin concentration in the urine and the presence of an R167Q mutation in the porphobilinogen deaminase gene. Use of hydroxyzine, weight loss, and/or a mild upper respiratory viral infection might have been the provoking factor of the acute intermittent porphyria. Treatment with intravenous hemin (3 mg/kg) and a high-carbohydrate diet (3000 kcal/d) had no clinical effect. Tetraplegia and chronic respiratory insufficiency developed, and the patient needed a pacemaker because of a symptomatic sinus bradycardia due to autonomic dysfunction. The patient died 10 months after the first manifestation of acute intermittent porphyria.
Intensive Care Units, Communication Between Nurses and Physicians, and Patients’ Outcomes
Authors: Manojlovich Milisa , Antonakos Cathy L. , Ronis David L.
Published: February 2009

Background Various factors in hospitals can adversely affect patients’ outcomes, including faulty communication between nurses and physicians. Whether specific communication elements (timeliness, accuracy, openness, understanding) can influence adverse outcomes is unknown.

Objectives To determine the relationships between patients’ outcomes and (1) nurses’ perceptions of elements of communication between nurses and physicians and (2) characteristics of the practice environment.

Methods A cross-sectional survey design was used. Information on ventilator-associated pneumonia, bloodstream infection associated with a central catheter, and pressure ulcers was collected from 25 intensive care units in southeastern Michigan. Simultaneously, 462 nurses in those units (response rate, 53.3%) were anonymously surveyed. The Conditions for Work Effectiveness Questionnaire-II and the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index were used to measure characteristics of the practice environment. The Intensive Care Unit Nurse-Physician Questionnaire was used to measure communication between nurses and physicians. Statistical tests included correlation and multiple regression. Analyses were conducted at the unit level.

Results Unit response rates varied from 6% to 100%. Together, variability in understanding communication and capacity utilization were predictive of 27% of the variance in ventilator-associated pneumonia. Timeliness of communication was inversely related to pressure ulcers (r= −0.38; P=.06), and workplace empowerment and scores on the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation III were positive predictors of ventilator-associated pneumonia (R2=0.36; P=.005).

Conclusions Not all elements of communication were related to the selected adverse outcomes. The connection between characteristics of the practice environment at the unit level and adverse outcomes remains elusive.
Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Epidural Abscess With Bacteremia and Multiple Lung Abscesses: Case Report
Authors: Bruns Aaron S. , Sood Namita
Published: February 2009

A systemic infection due to community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus occurred in a hospital-naive 17-year-old girl with no history of soft-tissue infection. Although the initial signs and symptoms were indolent, systemic manifestations occurred, including extensive lung parenchymal damage and acute respiratory distress syndrome. The patient required long-term mechanical ventilation and was given linezolid for 8 weeks. Blood cultures eventually became negative for the staphylococci, and the patient was discharged to a rehabilitation facility. A probable source of the infection was the patient’s self-cutting and self-piercing.