bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of the Anti Poison Center in Disasters
Authors: De Giacomo M. , Addario C. , Magalini S.I.
Published: August 2012

The constant increase of accidental and selfpoisoning has become one of the most important problems of clinical practice and the institution of specialized centers for the care and prevention of these cases has become necessary.

The problems of providing information for clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic uses are several:

— the number of data required to identify a poison

— the synonyms of generic products and commercial preparations

— the need for a data bank with continuous updating

— the need to provide the information in real time

The use of a computer in an anti-poison center has been potentially rewarding for solving these problems.
Epidemiological Surveillance Linked to an Outreach Psychological Support Program after the Xynthia Storm in Charente-Maritime, France, 2010
Authors: Raguenaud Marie-Eve , Germonneau Philippe , Leseigneur Jackie , Chavagnat Jean-Jacques , Motreff Yvon , Vivier-Darrigol Martine , Pirard Philippe
Published: August 2012

Introduction

Following the Xynthia storm of February 2010 in France, an outreach program was initiated by the regional health authorities during the post-emergency phase to improve access to mental health care for the population exposed to the floods. The program was designed to complement routine health and social care services. It relied on a special telephone service and outreach consultations located in the town halls of the five most affected cities. The objective of this outreach service was to provide initial psychological counseling free of charge and without appointment. Another objective was to refer persons for appropriate treatment and follow-up by routine health care services. A surveillance program was developed to monitor the use of mental health services by first-time users, describe outreach service users with psychological manifestations, and provide timely information to decision makers.

Methods

Health providers working in affected towns were asked to complete an individual record sheet for each person who displayed psychological manifestations directly or indirectly linked with the storm on their first visit, and to send it to the regional health office. Participation was voluntary. Data analysis was performed monthly during the six-month surveillance period.

Results

Only mental health providers participated in the surveillance. A total of 227 individual files were sent from April 7 through September 19, 2010. New cases were mainly female adults, and one fifth had a past history of psychiatric illness. Depressive signs and anxiety were the most commonly reported symptoms, followed by signs of post-traumatic stress disorder. A total of five feedback reports were produced for surveillance participants (informants) and authorities.

Conclusion

With initiation in the post-emergency phase of a disaster and timely regular feedback, the surveillance program enabled the authors to describe the occurrence of psychological distress, monitor mental health service use by first-time users, and provide guidance to health authorities. This research showed the advantages of integrating epidemiology in the development of strategy for mental health and psychosocial support in the aftermath of natural catastrophes.

RaguenaudM-E, GermonneauP, LeseigneurJ, ChavagnatJJ, MotreffY, Vivier-DarrigolM, PirardP. Epidemiological surveillance linked to an outreach psychological support program after the Xynthia storm in Charente-Maritime, France, 2010. Prehosp Disaster Med.2012;27(5):1-6.
OSWALD TOYNBEE FALK: KEYNES’ MODEL ECONOMIST?
Authors: MILLMOW ALEX
Published: August 2012

Oswald ‘Foxy’ Falk was the enigmatic figure who understood, probably more than any other person, how the mind of Maynard Keynes operated. Regrettably, Falk never wrote a memoir on Keynes or even expanded upon his long professional association with him. Equally, there has been relatively little written of Falk in the economics literature. This article attempts, at least, to address that gap. The character and philosophy of Falk are examined through the prism of a lengthy correspondence he had with another businessman who knew Keynes, William Sydney Robinson. Their letters reveal why Keynes fell out with his former business partner but also, more importantly, how, in talking about the great and the good, lesser mortals are inclined to tell the occasional mistruth.
Longitudinal Volumetric Changes following Traumatic Brain Injury: A Tensor-Based Morphometry Study
Authors: Farbota Kimberly D.M. , Sodhi Aparna , Bendlin Barbara B. , McLaren Donald G. , Xu Guofan , Rowley Howard A. , Johnson Sterling C.
Published: August 2012

After traumatic injury, the brain undergoes a prolonged period of degenerative change that is paradoxically accompanied by cognitive recovery. The spatiotemporal pattern of atrophy and the specific relationships of atrophy to cognitive changes are ill understood. The present study used tensor-based morphometry and neuropsychological testing to examine brain volume loss in 17 traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients and 13 controls over a 4-year period. Patients were scanned at 2 months, 1 year, and 4 years post-injury. High-dimensional warping procedures were used to create change maps of each subject's brain for each of the two intervals. TBI patients experienced volume loss in both cortical areas and white matter regions during the first interval. We also observed continuing volume loss in extensive regions of white matter during the second interval. Neuropsychological correlations indicated that cognitive tasks were associated with subsequent volume loss in task-relevant regions. The extensive volume loss in brain white matter observed well beyond the first year post-injury suggests that the injured brain remains malleable for an extended period, and the neuropsychological relationships suggest that this volume loss may be associated with subtle cognitive improvements. (JINS, 2012,18, 1–13)
The 2011 Virginia earthquake: What are scientists learning?
Authors: Horton J. Wright , Williams Robert A.
Published: August 2012

Nearly 1 year ago, on 23 August, tens of millions of people in the eastern United States and southeastern Canada were startled in the middle of their workday (1:51 P.M. local time) by the sudden onset of moderate to strong ground shaking from a rare magnitude (M) 5.8 earthquake in central Virginia. Treating the shaking as if it were a fire drill, millions of workers in Washington, D. C., New York City, and other eastern cities hurriedly exited their buildings, exposing themselves to potentially greater danger from falling bricks and glass; “drop, cover, and hold” would have been a better response. Fortunately, the strong shaking stopped after about 5 seconds and did not cause widespread severe damage or serious injuries. The central Virginia earthquake, among the largest on the eastern seaboard during the approximately 400‐year historic record, occurred as the result of reverse slip on a previously unrecognized north‐to‐northeast striking fault within the Central Virginia seismic zone (CVSZ) (Figure 1a). Many old faults are mapped in the CVSZ, yet no individual strands were previously confirmed to be active. However, persistent low‐level seismicity has been observed during historical times, and instrumental recordings since about 1970 detect ongoing distributed seismicity within the CVSZ [Bollinger and Hopper, 1971], which has been identified by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) as an area of elevated earthquake hazard since 1976 [Algermissen and Perkins, 1976].
An experimental evaluation of the use of C3δ13C plant tissue as a proxy for the paleoatmospheric δ13CO2 signature of air
Authors: Lomax B. H. , Knight C. A. , Lake J. A.
Published: August 2012

Previous work suggests that the relationship between the carbon isotope composition of air (δ13Ca) and plant leaf tissue (δ13Cp) can be used to track changes in the carbon isotope composition of paleo‐atmospheric CO2. Here we test this assertion in a series of experiments using the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana grown under a range of atmospheric CO2 concentrations relevant to geologic time (380, 760, 1000, 1500, 2000 and 3000 ppm). Nested within these CO2 experiments water availability was controlled (giving two sets of experimental plants; low and high water treatment at each CO2 concentration) to manipulate stomatal opening, a key process governing carbon fixation and isotope discrimination. Results show a highly significant relationship between δ13Ca and δ13Cp under both experimental water treatments. To test the utility of δ13Cp to predict δ13Ca we compare calculated δ13Ca to measured values of δ13Ca. These data show that although there is a significant relationship between calculated and measured δ13Ca, there is disparity between the two values of δ13Ca and a large difference between calculated values under different water treatments even when grown in a common CO2 concentration. These results demonstrate that environmental factors that alter stomatal opening can severely impact on the use and reliability of δ13Cp to predict δ13Ca and as such, results should be interpreted with caution.
Increased ice loading in the Antarctic Peninsula since the 1850s and its effect on glacial isostatic adjustment
Authors: Nield Grace A. , Whitehouse Pippa L. , King Matt A. , Clarke Peter J. , Bentley Michael J.
Published: August 2012

Antarctic Peninsula (AP) ice core records indicate significant accumulation increase since 1855, and any resultant ice mass increase has the potential to contribute substantially to present‐day glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA). We derive empirical orthogonal functions from climate model output to infer typical spatial patterns of accumulation over the AP and, by combining with ice core records, estimate annual accumulation for the period 1855–2010. In response to this accumulation history, high resolution ice‐sheet modeling predicts ice thickness increases of up to 45 m, with the greatest thickening in the northern and western AP. Whilst this thickening is predicted to affect GRACE estimates by no more than 6.2 Gt/yr, it may contribute up to −7 mm/yr to the present‐day GIA uplift rate, depending on the chosen Earth model, with a strong east‐west gradient across the AP. Its consideration is therefore critical to the interpretation of observed GPS velocities in the AP.
Enceladus' extreme heat flux as revealed by its relaxed craters
Authors: Bland Michael T. , Singer Kelsi N. , McKinnon William B. , Schenk Paul M.
Published: August 2012

Enceladus' cratered terrains contain large numbers of unusually shallow craters consistent with deformation by viscous relaxation of water ice under conditions of elevated heat flow. Here we use high‐resolution topography to measure the relaxation fraction of craters on Enceladus far from the active South Pole. We find that many craters are shallower than expected, with craters as small as 2 km in diameter having relaxation fractions in excess of 90%. These measurements are compared with numerical simulations of crater relaxation to constrain the minimum heat flux required to reproduce these observations. We find that Enceladus' nominal cold surface temperature (70 K) and low surface gravity strongly inhibit viscous relaxation. Under such conditions less than 3% relaxation occurs over 2 Ga even for relatively large craters (diameter 24 km) and high, constant heat fluxes (150 mW m−2). Greater viscous relaxation occurs if the effective temperature at the top of the lithosphere is greater than the surface temperature due to insulating regolith and/or plume material. Even for an effective temperature of 120 K, however, heat fluxes in excess of 150 mW m−2are required to produce the degree of relaxation observed. Simulations of viscous relaxation of Enceladus' largest craters suggest that relaxation is best explained by a relatively short‐lived period of intense heating that decayed quickly. We show that infilling of craters by plume material cannot explain the extremely shallow craters at equatorial and higher northern latitudes. Thus, like Enceladus' tectonic terrains, the cratered regions of Enceladus have experienced periods of extreme heat flux.
Ocean heat uptake and its consequences for the magnitude of sea level rise and climate change
Authors: Kuhlbrodt T. , Gregory J. M.
Published: August 2012

Under increasing greenhouse gas concentrations, ocean heat uptake moderates the rate of climate change, and thermal expansion makes a substantial contribution to sea level rise. In this paper we quantify the differences in projections among atmosphere‐ocean general circulation models of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project in terms of transient climate response, ocean heat uptake efficiency and expansion efficiency of heat. The CMIP3 and CMIP5 ensembles have statistically indistinguishable distributions in these parameters. The ocean heat uptake efficiency varies by a factor of two across the models, explaining about 50% of the spread in ocean heat uptake in CMIP5 models with CO2increasing at 1%/year. It correlates with the ocean global‐mean vertical profiles both of temperature and of temperature change, and comparison with observations suggests the models may overestimate ocean heat uptake and underestimate surface warming, because their stratification is too weak. The models agree on the location of maxima of shallow ocean heat uptake (above 700 m) in the Southern Ocean and the North Atlantic, and on deep ocean heat uptake (below 2000 m) in areas of the Southern Ocean, in some places amounting to 40% of the top‐to‐bottom integral in the CMIP3 SRES A1B scenario. The Southern Ocean dominates global ocean heat uptake; consequently the eddy‐induced thickness diffusivity parameter, which is particularly influential in the Southern Ocean, correlates with the ocean heat uptake efficiency. The thermal expansion produced by ocean heat uptake is 0.12 m YJ−1, with an uncertainty of about 10% (1 YJ = 1024 J).
A real‐time forecast service for the ionospheric equatorial zonal electric field
Authors: Manoj C. , Maus S.
Published: August 2012

The zonal electric field is the primary driver of two important features of the equatorial ionosphere: (1)The Equatorial Ionization Anomaly (EIA), and (2) plasma density irregularities, also known as spread‐F. During propagation through the ionosphere, communication and navigation radio signals are attenuated, delayed and scattered by these ionospheric features. Prediction of the zonal electric field is therefore a key to the real‐time specification of the ionosphere. We divide the zonal electric field into a climatological contribution plus the prompt‐penetration contribution predicted by a transfer‐function model applied to the interplanetary electric field measured by the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) satellite. The zonal electric field is predicted about one hour in advance, covering all local times and longitudes. The real‐time prediction is available as a Google application at http://www.geomag.us/models/PPEFM/RealtimeEF.html. The benefit of this application to space weather forecasting is twofold: As the driver of the equatorial plasma fountain, the predicted zonal electric field is a leading indicator by 2–3 h of the EIA and the Total Electron Content (TEC) of the equatorial ionosphere. Second, rapid uplift of the ionosphere by strong eastward electric field is known to induce spread‐F. Prediction of enhanced prompt penetration electric field in the eastward direction therefore enables the forecast of radio communication and navigation outages in the equatorial region.
Truncated militarinone fragments identified by total chemical synthesis induce neurite outgrowth
Authors: Schmid Fabian , Jessen Henning J. , Burch Patrick , Gademann Karl
Published: August 2012

Short analogs of militarinone D were prepared that omit the configurationally unstable triene side chain bearing stereogenic centers and cut down the number of synthetic steps by 12. These short natural product fragments induce neuritogenesis at markedly lower concentrations.
Upgrade of the JET far infrared interferometer diagnostic
Authors: Boboc A. , Gil C. , Pastor P. , Spuig P. , Edlington T. , Dorling S. ,   JET-EFDA Contributors
Published: August 2012

In recent years there has been a major upgrade of the JET far infrared diagnostic system consisting of a new laser system with the wavelength at 118.8 μm at and more advanced processing electronics for phase counting. This provides a second colour measurement of the electron plasma density on the vertical system. Due to the shorter wavelength, the plasma induced laser beam refraction is reduced by a factor of three alleviating density errors caused by loss of signal (so-called “fringe jumps” [A. Murari et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 77, 073505 (2006)]10.1063/1.2219731), in particular during high performance plasmas experiments in JET.
Theory of signal and noise in double-gated nanoscale electronic pH sensors
Authors: Go Jonghyun , Nair Pradeep R. , Alam Muhammad A.
Published: August 2012

The maximum sensitivity of classical nanowire (NW)-based pH sensors is defined by the Nernst limit of 59 mV/pH. For typical noise levels in ultra-small single-gated nanowire sensors, the signal-to-noise ratio is often not sufficient to resolve pH changes necessary for a broad range of applications. Recently, a new class of double-gated devices was demonstrated to offer apparent “super-Nernstian” response (>59 mV/pH) by amplifying the original pH signal through innovative biasing schemes. However, the pH-sensitivity of these nanoscale devices as a function of biasing configurations, number of electrodes, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) remains poorly understood. Even the basic question such as “Do double-gated sensors actually resolve smaller changes in pH compared to conventional single-gated sensors in the presence of various sources of noise?” remains unanswered. In this article, we provide a comprehensive numerical and analytical theory of signal and noise of double-gated pH sensors to conclude that, while the theoretical lower limit of pH-resolution does not improve for double-gated sensors, this new class of sensors does improve the (instrument-limited) pH resolution.
A new double imaging velocity focusing coincidence experiment: i2PEPICO
Authors: Bodi Andras , Hemberger Patrick , Gerber Thomas , Sztáray Bálint
Published: August 2012

The vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) beamline of the Swiss Light Source has been upgraded after two years of operation. A new, turntable-type monochromator was constructed at the Paul Scherrer Institut, which allows for fast yaw-alignment as well as quick grating change and exchange. In addition to the original imaging photoelectron photoion coincidence endstation (iPEPICO), a second, complementary double imaging setup (i2PEPICO) has been built. Volatile samples can be introduced at room temperature or in a molecular beam, a pyrolysis source allows for radical production, and non-volatile solids can be evaporated in a heated cell. Monochromatic VUV radiation ionizes the sample and both photoelectrons and photoions are velocity map imaged onto two fast position sensitive detectors and detected in delayed coincidence. High intensity synchrotron radiation leads to ionization rates above 105 s−1. New data acquisition and processing approaches are discussed for recording coincidence processes at high rates. The setup is capable of resolving pulsed molecular beam profiles and the synchrotron time structure temporally. The latter is shown by photoelectron autocorrelation, which displays both the 1.04 MHz ring clock frequency as well as resolving the micro-pulses with a separation of 2 ns. Kinetic energy release analysis on the dissociative photoionization of CF4 indicates a dissociation mechanism change in the Franck–Condon allowed energy range of the first ion state.
Scale coupling in Richtmyer-Meshkov flows induced by strong shocks
Authors: Stanic M. , Stellingwerf R. F. , Cassibry J. T. , Abarzhi S. I.
Published: August 2012

We perform the first systematic study of the nonlinear evolution and scale coupling in Richtmyer-Meshkov (RM) flows induced by strong shocks. The smoothed particle hydrodynamics code (SPHC) is employed to ensure accurate shock capturing, interface tracking and accounting for the dissipation processes. We find that in strong-shock-driven RMI the background motion is supersonic. The amplitude of the initial perturbation strongly influences the flow evolution and the interfacial mixing that can be sub-sonic or supersonic. At late times the flow remains laminar rather than turbulent, and RM bubbles flatten and decelerate. In the fluid bulk, reverse cumulative jets appear and “hot spots” are formed—local heterogeneous microstructures with temperature substantially higher than that in the ambient. Our numerical simulations agree with the zero-order, linear, weakly nonlinear, and highly nonlinear theoretical analyses as well as with the experiments and suggest that the evolution of RMI is a multi-scale and heterogeneous process with a complicated character of scale coupling.
Rapid voltage oscillations and ac-dc interference phenomena in the two-dimensional charge-ordered organic conductor β″-(bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene)3(ClO4)2
Authors: Itose Fumitake , Kawamoto Tadashi , Mori Takehiko
Published: August 2012

Giant nonlinear conductivity and rapid voltage oscillations are investigated in a two-dimensional organic conductor β″-(BEDT-TTF)3(ClO4)2, where BEDT-TTF is bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene. Below the metal-insulator transition temperature at TMI=170 K, remarkable negative differential resistance appears, where voltage oscillation with a frequency of 20–60 kHz is observed, and the frequency increases in proportion to the applied current. This phenomenon is reminiscent of narrow band noise originating from the sliding charge density waves in one-dimensional conductors, but the oscillation appears in two directions of the two-dimensional non-stripe charge order. The ac-dc interference phenomena are investigated; when alternating current is superposed, an anomalous jump appears in the current-voltage characteristics at the position where the applied frequency coincides with the internal frequency corresponding to the applied dc current. The jump is interpreted in analogy with the Shapiro steps in the ac Josephson effect, in which the step height changes following the first-order Bessel function of the applied ac current.
Analysis of codon usage patterns of the chloroplast genomes in the Poaceae family
Authors: Zhang Yuerong , Nie Xiaojun , Jia Xiaoou , Zhao Cunzhen , Biradar Siddanagouda S. , Wang Le , Du Xianghong , Weining Song
Published: August 2012

Codon usage patterns of 23 Poaceae chloroplast genomes were analysed in this study. Neutrality analysis indicated that the codon usage patterns have significant correlations with GC12 and GC3 and also showed strong bias towards a high representation of NNA and NNT codons. The Nc-plot showed that although a large proportion of points follow the parabolic line of trajectory, several genes with low ENc values lie below the expected curve, suggesting that mutational bias played a major role in the codon biology of the Poaceae chloroplast genome. Parity Rule 2 plot analysis showed that T was used more frequently than A in all the genomes. Correspondence analysis of relative synonymous codon usage indicated that the first axis explained only a partial amount of variation of codon usage. Furthermore, the gene length and expression level were also found to drive codon usage variation. These findings revealed that besides natural selection, other factors might also exert some influences in shaping the codon usage bias in Poaceae chloroplast genomes. The optimal codons of these 23 genomes were also identified in this study.
Phenological development and grain yield of canola as affected by sowing date and climate variation in the Yangtze River Basin of China
Authors: Wang Sha , Wang Enli , Wang Fei , Tang Liang
Published: August 2012

Canola is a major oil crop in the Yangtze River Basin of China, and its yield and oil content vary significantly from year to year due to changes in sowing time and inter-annual climate variability. However, there have been no studies to quantify the impacts of sowing time and climate variability. Experimental data to analyse the response of canola growth to sowing date are limited to a few seasons; however, combining these data with modelling provides an efficient means to study the impact of sowing date and historical climate variation. The APSIM-Canola model was calibrated and tested using data from three field experimental sites in the Yangtze River Basin. These experiments included different cultivars and sowing dates, and recorded major phenological stages, biomass, and grain yield. After calibration of the phenological parameters and maximum harvest index, the model was able to simulate the onset of phenological stages with different sowing dates, and to explain 75% of the variation in biomass and yield caused by late sowings. However, the model overestimated canola yield under late sowing dates. The results revealed that canola yield declined linearly with late sowing time, mainly due to shortened vegetative growth stages, and varied significantly due to inter-annual climate variability. The yield potential at the study region is ~3 t/ha, on average. However, this potential cannot be achieved in the rice–canola double-cropping system due to later sowing time after rice harvest in mid–later October. Transplanting canola may still be an effective measure against the constraint of season length to achieving higher yields of both rice and canola.
Assessing spatial gaps in sexually transmissible infection services and morbidity: an illustration with Texas county-level data from 2007
Authors: Owusu-Edusei Kwame , Doshi Sonal R.
Published: August 2012

Background In the United States, sexually transmissible infection (STI) and family planning (FP) clinics play a major role in the detection and treatment of STIs. However, an examination of the spatial distribution of these service sites and their association with STI morbidity and county-level socioeconomic characteristics is lacking. We demonstrate how mapping and regression methods can be used to assess the spatial gaps between STI services and morbidity. Methods: We used 2007 county-level surveillance data on chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis), gonorrhoea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae) and syphilis. The geocoded STI service (STI or FP clinic) locations overlaid on the Texas county-level chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis morbidity map indicated that counties with high incidence had at least one STI service site. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between having STI services and county-level socioeconomic characteristics. Results: Twenty-two percent of chlamydia high-morbidity counties (>365 out of 100 000); 32% of gonorrhoea high-morbidity counties (>136 out of 100 000) and 23% of syphilis high-morbidity counties (≥4 out of 100 000 and at least two cases) had no STI services. When we controlled for socioeconomic characteristics, high-morbidity syphilis was weakly associated with having STI services. The percent of the population aged 15–24 years, the percent of Hispanic population, the crime rate and population density were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with having STI services. Conclusion: Our results suggest that having an STI service was not associated with high morbidity. The methods used have demonstrated the utility of mapping to assess the spatial gaps that exist between STI services and demand.
Improvement in antenatal testing for sexually transmissible infections and blood-borne viruses in Western Australian hospitals, 2007 to 2010
Authors: Kwan Kellie S. H. , Giele Carolien M. , Combs Barry , Mak Donna B.
Published: August 2012

Objective Antenatal testing for specified sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and blood-borne viruses (BBVs) is recommended by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG). In 2007, the Department of Health, Western Australia (DoHWA) issued an operational directive (OD) recommending universal testing for chlamydia and additional testing for women in the STI endemic regions of Western Australia (WA). To assess adherence to these guidelines, seven WA public hospitals were audited. Design and setting: Demographic details and testing information of the last 200 women who gave birth immediately before 30 June 2007 (baseline audit) and 30 June 2010 (follow-up audit) were obtained from each hospital’s antenatal records. Results: Data from 2718 women who delivered at ≥36 weeks’ gestation were analysed (baselinen = 1353; follow-upn = 1365). Testing at the first antenatal visit in accordance with the guidelines improved over time (RANZCOG: 68–74%; χ2-test = 13.96, d.f. = 1, P < 0.001; DoHWA OD: 12–40%; χ2-test = 279.71, d.f. = 1, P < 0.001). Retesting at 28–36 weeks’ gestation in the STI endemic regions improved for chlamydia (3–10%; χ2-test = 17.40, d.f. = 1, P < 0.001) and gonorrhoea (3–7%; χ2-test = 6.62, d.f. = 1, P < 0.05), but not for syphilis or HIV. Chlamydia prevalence was 3% and 8% among nonAboriginal and Aboriginal women, respectively. Conclusion: The proportion of women delivering in WA public hospitals who had antenatal STI and BBV tests improved after publication and promotion of the OD.
Treatment options for anal intraepithelial neoplasia and evidence for their effectiveness
Authors: Fox Paul A.
Published: August 2012

There is a growing range of treatment options for anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN). In HIV-positive patients, sustained treatment is often required to achieve clearance. The treatments considered are topically applied fluorouracil, imiquimod, cidofovir and trichloroacetic acid, the potential treatments of topical lopinavir and photodynamic therapy with aminolevulenic acid, and the surgical methods of electrosurgery, infrared coagulation and laser. Destructive treatment methods, possibly including TCA, are more effective than self applied topical treatments. Combining or alternating different treatments should be considered.
Effects of Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Education and Training on Nursing Students’ Attitudes toward Working with Patients who Use Alcohol and Drugs
Authors: Puskar Kathryn , Gotham Heather J. , Terhorst Lauren , Hagle Holly , Mitchell Ann M. , Braxter Betty , Fioravanti Marie , Kane Irene , Talcott Kimberly S. , Woomer Gail R. , Burns Helen K.
Published: August 2012

Background: Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) can reduce alcohol use and negative health outcomes in patients with risky substance use. However, negative attitudes that some health care professionals have toward patients who use substances are a barrier to implementing SBIRT. Methods: The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, in partnership with the Institute for Research, Education, and Training in Addictions (IRETA), developed a curriculum to train baccalaureate student nurses to deliver SBIRT. Results: Following SBIRT education and training, students’ perceived attitudes toward patients who use alcohol became more positive. Less robust changes were found for attitudes related to patients who use drugs. Conclusions: Nurses composing the largest group of healthcare workers are in key positions to screen, intervene, and provide education about substance use.
Making Sense of Financial Crisis and Scandal: A Danish Bank Failure in the First Era of Finance Capitalism
Authors: Hansen Per H.
Published: August 2012

In this paper I discuss a dramatic financial collapse and scandal in Denmark in the interwar period. I analyze the asset price bubble from 1914 to 1920 and the subsequent failure in 1922 of Scandinavia's largest bank, the Danish Landmandsbanken, as well as the downfall of its CEO Emil Glückstadt. I discuss the sense-making process, first during the bubble and then following Landmandsbanken's collapse and Glückstadt's fall from power in 1922, and finally until the introduction of a new bank act in 1930. I further argue that such crises and scandals force contemporaries to make sense of the dramatic fall from the top of society of these icons and of their role in the collapse of their banks. I view the sense-making process as centered on the construction of narratives that explain the crisis and enable or constrain institutional response to the crisis. To conclude, I argue that the process of sense-making in the case of Landmandsbanken can be generalized as the way in which society enforces norms and values in cases of dramatic financial crisis and scandal.
First Confirmed Report of Tobacco ringspot virus in Cucurbits Crops in Oklahoma
Authors: Abdalla O. A. , Bruton B. D. , Fish W. W. , Ali A.
Published: August 2012

Cucurbits are major cash crops of vegetable growers in Oklahoma, particularly watermelon, which is the official state vegetable. In 2010, during a survey for cucurbit viruses (1), symptomatic leaf samples of cucumber (Cucumis sativus), cantaloupe (Cucumis melo), pumpkin, (Cucurbita pepo), squash (Cucumis maxima), and watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) showing mild to severe mosaic, mottling, and chlorotic spots were collected in Atoka, Blaine, Jefferson, and Tulsa counties. A total of 161 samples were tested by dot-immunobinding assay (DIBA) (2) using Tobacco ringspot virus (TRSV; genus Nepovirus, family Comoviridae) specific antiserum. Fourteen samples of cantaloupe, pumpkin, and watermelon from Blaine, Jefferson, and Tulsa counties were positive serologically to TRSV. At least one to two samples from each representative cucurbit collected in the field above were used as a source for mechanical inoculation. Sap was extracted from symptomatic leaves using 0.1 M K2HPO4 buffer (pH 7.2) and rub-inoculated to two squash (cv Elite) seedlings at cotyledonary stage pre-dusted with Carborundum. Seven to 10 days post-inoculation, all inoculated plants produced typical TRSV symptoms including chlorotic spots, systemic ringspot, severe leaf deformation, mottling, and stunting. Sap and total RNA was extracted from 10 mechanically inoculated squash seedlings and tested by DIBA and reverse transcription (RT)-PCR using specific TRSV primers (F: 5′-TACAGTGAGGATGCATG-3′ and R: 5′-AGTAGCTGCGACAAGCCA-3′). All of the tested samples were positive by DIBA except the negative control. Similarly, all samples from mechanically inoculated plants were also positive by PCR showing the expected 1,039-bp PCR product when analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Total RNA obtained from mock-inoculated squash seedlings used as a control was negative by PCR. Amplified PCR product (1,039 bp) was directly sequenced from three infected squash seedlings. Sequence analysis confirmed that the virus shared 90 to 92% nucleotide and 94% amino acid identities with RNA2 of TRSV isolate from the U.S. (Accession No AY363727) available in the GenBank database. Total RNA extracted from original tissues of 14 DIBA positive samples collected from field were also positive by RT-PCR. The presence of TRSV could pose a serious threat to many vegetable crops, particularly cucurbits and other agricultural crops, due to its wide host range (3). This report confirms the suspected occurrence of TRSV in 1956 from watermelon in Oklahoma (4).

References: (1) Ali et al. Plant Dis. 96:243, 2012 (2) A. Ali and J. W. Randles. Plant Dis. 81:343, 1997 (3) M. J. Adams and J. F. Antoniw. Outlooks Pest Manage. 16:268, 2005 (4) R. J. Shephered and F. B. Struble. Phytopathology 46:358, 1956.
Unanticipated Difficult Airway in Obstetric Patients
Authors: Balki Mrinalini , Cooke Mary Ellen , Dunington Susan , Salman Aliya , Goldszmidt Eric
Published: August 2012

Background

The objective of this study was to develop a consensus-based algorithm for the management of the unanticipated difficult airway in obstetrics, and to use this algorithm for the assessment of anesthesia residents' performance during high-fidelity simulation.

Methods

An algorithm for unanticipated difficult airway in obstetrics, outlining the management of six generic clinical situations of "can and cannot ventilate" possibilities in three clinical contexts: elective cesarean section, emergency cesarean section for fetal distress, and emergency cesarean section for maternal distress, was used to create a critical skills checklist. The authors used four of these scenarios for high-fidelity simulation for residents. Their critical and crisis resource management skills were assessed independently by three raters using their checklist and the Ottawa Global rating scale.

Results

Sixteen residents participated. The checklist scores ranged from 64-80% and improved from scenario 1 to 4. Overall Global rating scale scores were marginal and not significantly different between scenarios. The intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.69 (95% CI: 0.58, 0.78) represents a good interrater reliability for the checklist. Multiple critical errors were identified, the most common being not calling for help or a difficult airway cart.

Conclusions

Aside from identifying common critical errors, the authors noted that the residents' performance was poorest in two of our scenarios: "fetal distress and cannot intubate, cannot ventilate" and "maternal distress and cannot intubate, but can ventilate." More teaching emphasis may be warranted to avoid commonly identified critical errors and to improve overall management. Our study also suggests a potential for experiential learning with successive simulations.
A Perioperative Smoking Cessation Intervention with Varenicline
Authors: Wong Jean , Abrishami Amir , Yang Yiliang , Zaki Amna , Friedman Zeev , Selby Peter , Chapman Kenneth R. , Chung Frances
Published: August 2012

Background

The efficacy of perioperative tobacco interventions on long-term abstinence and the safety of smoking cessation less than 4 weeks before surgery is unclear. Our objective was to determine the efficacy and safety of a perioperative smoking cessation intervention with varenicline to reduce smoking in elective surgical patients.

Methods

In a prospective, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 286 patients were randomized to receive varenicline or placebo. Both groups received in-hospital and telephone counseling during 12 months. The primary outcome was the 7-day point prevalence abstinence rate 12 months after surgery. Secondary outcomes included abstinence at 3 and 6 months after surgery. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent variables related to abstinence.

Results

The 7-day point prevalence abstinence at 12 months for varenicline versus placebo was 36.4% versus 25.2% (relative risk: 1.45; 95%: CI: 1.01-2.07; P = 0.04). At 3 and 6 months, the 7-day point prevalence abstinence was 43.7% versus 31.9% (relative risk: 1.37; 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.86; P = 0.04), and 35.8% versus 25.9% (relative risk: 1.43; 95%: CI 1.01-2.04; P = 0.04) for varenicline versus placebo, respectively. Treatment with varenicline (odds ratio: 1.76; 95% CI: 1.03-3.01; P = 0.04), and preoperative nicotine dependence (odds ratio: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.68 to 0.98; P = 0.03) predicted abstinence at 12 months. The adverse events profile in both groups was similar except for nausea, which occurred more frequently for varenicline versus placebo (13.3% vs. 3.7%, P = 0.004).

Conclusions

A perioperative smoking cessation intervention with varenicline increased abstinence from smoking 3, 6, and 12 months after elective noncardiac surgery with no increase in serious adverse events.
Effect of Subanesthetic Ketamine on Intrinsic Functional Brain Connectivity
Authors: Niesters Marieke , Khalili-Mahani Najmeh , Martini Christian , Aarts Leon , van Gerven Joop , van Buchem Mark A. , Dahan Albert , Rombouts Serge
Published: August 2012

Background

The influence of psychoactive drugs on the central nervous system has been investigated with positron emission tomography and task-related functional magnetic resonance imaging. However, it is not known how these drugs affect the intrinsic large-scale interactions of the brain (resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging connectivity). In this study, the effect of low-dose S(+)-ketamine on intrinsic brain connectivity was investigated.

Methods

Twelve healthy, male volunteers received a 2-h intravenous S(+)-ketamine infusion (first hour 20 mg/70 kg, second hour 40 mg/70 kg). Before, during, and after S(+)-ketamine administration, resting-state brain connectivity was measured. In addition, heat pain tests were performed between imaging sessions to determine ketamine-induced analgesia. A mixed-effects general linear model was used to determine drug and pain effects on resting-state brain connectivity.

Results

Ketamine increased the connectivity most importantly in the cerebellum and visual cortex in relation to the medial visual network. A decrease in connectivity was observed in the auditory and somatosensory network in relation to regions responsible for pain sensing and the affective processing of pain, which included the amygdala, insula, and anterior cingulate cortex. Connectivity variations related to fluctuations in pain scores were observed in the anterior cingulate cortex, insula, orbitofrontal cortex, and the brainstem, regions involved in descending inhibition of pain.

Conclusions

Changes in connectivity were observed in the areas that explain ketamine's pharmacodynamic profile with respect to analgesia and psychedelic and other side effects. In addition, pain and ketamine changed brain connectivity in areas involved in endogenous pain modulation.
Design principles underpinning the regulatory diversity of protein kinases
Authors: Oruganty Krishnadev , Kannan Natarajan
Published: August 2012

Protein phosphorylation in eukaryotes is carried out by a large and diverse family of protein kinases, which display remarkable diversity and complexity in their modes of regulation. The complex modes of regulation have evolved as a consequence of natural selection operating on protein kinase sequences for billions of years. Here we describe how quantitative comparisons of protein kinase sequences from diverse organisms, in particular prokaryotes, have contributed to our understanding of the structural organization and evolution of allosteric regulation in the protein kinase domain. An emerging view from these studies is that regulatory diversity and complexity in the protein kinase domain evolved in a ‘modular’ fashion through elaboration of an ancient core component, which existed before the emergence of eukaryotes. The core component provided the conformational flexibility required for ATP binding and phosphoryl transfer in prokaryotic kinases, but evolved into a highly regulatable domain in eukaryotes through the addition of exaggerated structural features that facilitated tight allosteric control. Family and group-specific features are built upon the core component in eukaryotes to provide additional layers of control. We propose that ‘modularity’ and ‘conformational flexibility’ are key evolvable traits of the protein kinase domain that contributed to its extensive regulatory diversity and complexity.
Modular evolution of phosphorylation-based signalling systems
Authors: Jin Jing , Pawson Tony
Published: August 2012

Phosphorylation sites are formed by protein kinases (‘writers’), frequently exert their effects following recognition by phospho-binding proteins (‘readers’) and are removed by protein phosphatases (‘erasers’). This writer–reader–eraser toolkit allows phosphorylation events to control a broad range of regulatory processes, and has been pivotal in the evolution of new functions required for the development of multi-cellular animals. The proteins that comprise this system of protein kinases, phospho-binding targets and phosphatases are typically modular in organization, in the sense that they are composed of multiple globular domains and smaller peptide motifs with binding or catalytic properties. The linkage of these binding and catalytic modules in new ways through genetic recombination, and the selection of particular domain combinations, has promoted the evolution of novel, biologically useful processes. Conversely, the joining of domains in aberrant combinations can subvert cell signalling and be causative in diseases such as cancer. Major inventions such as phosphotyrosine (pTyr)-mediated signalling that flourished in the first multi-cellular animals and their immediate predecessors resulted from stepwise evolutionary progression. This involved changes in the binding properties of interaction domains such as SH2 and their linkage to new domain types, and alterations in the catalytic specificities of kinases and phosphatases. This review will focus on the modular aspects of signalling networks and the mechanism by which they may have evolved.
Foetal Exposure to Maternal Passive Smoking Is Associated with Childhood Asthma, Allergic Rhinitis, and Eczema
Authors: Lee S. L. , Lam T. H. , Leung T. H. , Wong W. H. S. , Schooling M. , Leung G. M. , Lau Y. L.
Published: August 2012

Objective. We examined the hypothesis that foetal exposure to maternal passive smoking is associated with childhood asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema.Methods. The study was a population-based cross-sectional survey of Hong Kong Chinese children aged ≤14 years carried out in 2005 to 2006.Results. Foetal exposure to maternal passive smoking was significantly associated with wheeze ever (OR 2.05; 95% CI 1.58–2.67), current wheeze (OR 2.06; 95% CI 1.48–2.86), allergic rhinitis ever (OR 1.22; 95% CI 1.09–1.37), and eczema ever (OR 1.61; 95% CI 1.38–1.87). Foetal exposure to maternal active smoking was significantly associated with asthma ever (OR 2.10; 95% CI 1.14–3.84), wheeze ever (OR 2.46; 95% CI 1.27–4.78), and current wheeze (OR 2.74; 95% CI 1.24–6.01) but not with allergic rhinitis ever (OR 1.01; 95% CI 0.70–1.46) or eczema ever (OR 1.38; 95% CI 0.87–2.18). The dose response relationship between wheeze ever and current wheeze with increasing exposure, from no exposure to maternal passive smoking and then to maternal active smoking, further supports causality.Conclusion. There is significant association between foetal exposure to maternal passive smoking and maternal active smoking with childhood asthma and related atopic illnesses. Further studies are warranted to explore the potential causal relationship.
Impact of the SpittlebugMahanarva spectabilison Signal Grass
Authors: Resende Tiago Teixeira , Auad Alexander Machado , Fonseca Marcy das Graças , dos Santos Thiago Henrique , Vieira Tamiris Moreira
Published: August 2012

The aim of this study was to determine the damage inBrachiaria ruziziensis(Germain & Edvard) according to the density of and exposure time to adults ofMahanarva spectabilis(Distant, 1909) (Hemiptera:Cercopidae). Each plant was kept with 0, 12, 18, or 24 adults ofM. spectabilisfor five or ten days. Then, the insects were removed from the plant, and the following parameters were evaluated: content and loss of chlorophyll, visual damage score, shoot dry mass, and the capability for regrowth. In fact, plants exposed to the highest level of infestation for 10 days showed an 80.97% loss of chlorophyll, which is 25% higher than that shown by the plants exposed for five days. The damage score also increased with infestation levels. In the levels of 12 and 18 adults per plant, the damage score increased with increasing time of exposure. The dry mass content was higher in plants exposed to 24 insects for 10 days, suggesting that the attack of spittlebugs caused premature drying of the plant. These effects caused significant reduction in the number of tillers of infested plants. Our results indicate that exposure to adults ofM. spectabiliscauses significant damage and affects the development and persistence ofB. ruziziensisplants.