bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does Nasal Colonization or Mupirocin Treatment Affect Recurrence of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Skin and Skin Structure Infections?
Authors: Rahimian Joseph , Khan Raymond , LaScalea Keith A.
Published: December 2007

Some patients with community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus skin and skin structure infections have experienced frequent recurrences. We performed a retrospective study and determined that the presence of nasal colonization did not affect recurrence and nasal mupirocin treatment marginally decreased recurrence
Pseudo-outbreak ofMycobacterium abscessusInfection Caused by Laboratory Contamination
Authors: Blossom D. B. , Alelis K. A. , Chang D. C. , Flores A. H. , Gill J. , Beall D. , Peterson A. M. , Jensen B. , Noble-Wang J. , Williams M. , Yakrus M. A. , Arduino M. J. , Srinivasan A.
Published: December 2007

Objective.

To investigate the cause(s) of an increased incidence of clinical cultures growingMycobacterium abscessusat a hospital in Florida.

Design.

Outbreak investigation.

Setting.

University-affiliated, tertiary-care hospital.

Methods.

A site visit was done during the first week of September 2006. We reviewed the medical records of patients from whomM. abscessuswas recovered during the period from January 1, 2003, through June 30, 2006. We collected environmental samples from various sites and evaluated specimen processing procedures in the microbiology laboratory. Isolates ofM. abscessusrecovered from the environment and from 12 randomly selected patients who sought medical care in 2006 were compared by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Follow-up case surveillance was continued through March 31, 2007.

Results.

Specimens from 143 patients obtained from various anatomical sites grewM. abscessuson culture in 2005-2006, compared with specimens from 21 patients in 2003-2004. The 12 isolates from patients that were selected for molecular typing had indistinguishable PFGE patterns. Observations revealed no major breaches in the processing of mycobacterial specimens in the laboratory. Isolates grew only after prolonged incubation (mean ± SD, 45 ± 15 days) in test tubes containing diagonally oriented Middlebrook and Cohn 7H10 agar or Lowenstein-Jensen medium. Environmental samples obtained from the inside of the specimen incubator grewM. abscessuson culture. A test tube containing diagonally oriented, uninoculated Middlebrook and Cohn 7H10 agar that was incubated in the same incubator as clinical specimens grewM. abscessuswith a PFGE pattern that matched the pattern of the patient isolates. Cases ofM. abscessusinfection decreased to baseline after the hospital changed suppliers of mycobacterial media and cleaned the incubator.

Conclusions.

Although the source was never confirmed, our investigation suggests that this was a pseudo-outbreak ofM. abscessusinfection that resulted from contamination of mycobacterial cultures during incubation. Our findings emphasize the need for guidance on the disinfection of specimen incubators.
Parental aggression against dependent young results in task partitioning in a cooperatively breeding bird
Authors: Raihani Nichola J , Ridley Amanda R
Published: December 2007

In cooperatively breeding species, helpers can alleviate reproductive constraints by assuming the role of primary carers to first-born young, liberating breeders to invest in subsequent broods. However, evidence on how first-born young are transferred to helpers is currently lacking. We propose that breeder–offspring aggression might facilitate inter-brood division and test this idea using data from a wild population of cooperatively breeding pied babblers (
Turdoides bicolor
). After second-brood young hatch, breeders become increasingly aggressive to first-brood fledglings and attack them when they beg for food. After an attack, fledglings reduce begging. Helpers are much less aggressive to begging fledglings and fledglings subsequently tend to target helpers, rather than breeders, when begging for food. In this way, first-born dependent young are transferred to helpers, resulting in a partitioning of tasks among breeders and helpers. Task partitioning in eusocial insects is thought to be determined by the morphological or physiological characteristics of individuals. This complementary study suggests that flexible behavioural strategies may also result in specialized roles in cooperatively breeding vertebrates.
Scaling of gas exchange cycle frequency in insects
Authors: Terblanche John S , White Craig R , Blackburn Tim M , Marais Elrike , Chown Steven L
Published: December 2007

Previously, it has been suggested that insect gas exchange cycle frequency (fC) is mass independent, making insects different from most other animals where periods typically scale as mass−0.25. However, the claim for insects is based on studies of only a few closely related taxa encompassing a relatively small size range. Moreover, it is not known whether the type of gas exchange pattern (discontinuous versus cyclic) influences thefC–mass scaling relationship. Here, we analyse a large database to examine interspecificfC–mass scaling. In addition, we investigate the effect of mode of gas exchange on thefC–scaling relationship using both conventional and phylogenetically independent approaches. Cycle frequency is scaled as mass−0.280(when accounting for phylogeneticnon-independence and gas exchange pattern), which did not differ significantly from mass−0.25. The slope of thefC–mass relationship was shallower with a significantly lower intercept for the species showing discontinuous gas exchange than for those showing the cyclic pattern, probably due to lower metabolic rates in the former. Insects therefore appear no different from other animals insofar as the scaling of gas exchangefCis concerned, although gas exchangefCmay scale in distinct ways for different patterns.
Rheological behaviour of aqueous suspensions of laponite: new insights into the ageing phenomena
Authors: Joshi Yogesh M , Reddy G.Ranjith K , Kulkarni Ajit L , Kumar Nishant , Chhabra Raj P
Published: December 2007

In this paper, the ageing behaviour of suspensions of laponite with varying salt concentration is investigated using rheological tools. It is observed that ageing is accompanied by an increase in the complex viscosity. The creep experiments performed at various ages show damped oscillations in the strain. The characteristic time scale of the damped oscillations, the retardation time, shows a prominent decrease with increasing age of the system. However, this dependence weakens with an increase in the salt concentration, which is known to change the microstructure of the system from glass like to gel like. We postulate that a decrease in the retardation time can be represented as a decrease in the viscosity (friction) of the dissipative environment surrounding the arrested entities that oppose elastic deformation of the system. We believe that ageing in colloidal glass leads to a greater ordering that enhances relative spacing between the constituents, thereby reducing the frictional resistance. However, since a gel state is inherently different in structure (fractal network) to that of a glass state (disordered), ageing in the gel does not induce ordering. Consequently, we observe an inverse dependence of retardation time on age, which becomes weaker with an increase in the salt concentration. We analyse these results from the perspective of ageing dynamics of both glass and gel states of laponite suspensions.
Symbiont-mediated protection
Authors: Haine Eleanor R
Published: December 2007

Despite the fact that all vertically transmitted symbionts sequester resources from their hosts and are therefore costly to maintain, there is an extraordinary diversity of them in invertebrates. Some spread through host populations by providing their hosts with fitness benefits or by manipulating host sex ratio, but some do not: their maintenance in host lineages remains an enigma. In this review, I explore the evolutionary ecology of vertically transmitted symbionts and their impact on host resistance, and provide an overview of the evidence for the three-way interactions between these symbionts, natural enemies and invertebrate hosts. A number of recent empirical and theoretical studies suggest that vertically transmitted symbionts may protect their hosts from pathogens. If this ‘symbiont-mediated protection’ is widespread, it is likely that vertically transmitted symbionts contribute significantly to variation in measures of invertebrate resistance to natural enemies.
Population synchrony in small-world networks
Authors: Ranta Esa , Fowler Mike S , Kaitala Veijo
Published: December 2007

Network topography ranges from regular graphs (linkage between nearest neighbours only) via small-world graphs (some random connections between nodes) to completely random graphs. Small-world linkage is seen as a revolutionary architecture for a wide range of social, physical and biological networks, and has been shown to increase synchrony between oscillating subunits. We study small-world topographies in a novel context: dispersal linkage between spatially structured populations across a range of population models. Regular dispersal between population patches interacting with density-dependent renewal provides one ecological explanation for the large-scale synchrony seen in the temporal fluctuations of many species, for example, lynx populations in North America, voles in Fennoscandia and grouse in the UK. Introducing a small-world dispersal kernel leads to a clear reduction in synchrony with both increasing dispersal rate and small-world dispersal probability across a variety of biological scenarios. Synchrony is also reduced when populations are affected by globally correlated noise. We discuss ecological implications of small-world dispersal in the frame of spatial synchrony in population fluctuations.
Risky Habits: on Risk Sharing, Habit Formation, and the Interpretation of International Consumption Correlations*
Authors: Fuhrer Jeffrey C. , Klein Michael W.
Published: December 2007

Standard international economic models with life cycle/permanent income consumption behavior predict that international portfolio diversification leads to high bilateral consumption correlations. Thus international consumption correlations have been empirically estimated as a test of international portfolio diversification and risk sharing. In this paper we investigate the international consumption correlations generated by a more general model which incorporates habit formation in consumption. We show that, in the presence of a common shock, habit formation itself can generate positive international consumption correlations even in the absence of any international risk sharing. Empirical evidence presented in this paper suggests habit formation characterizes consumption behavior among most of the G‐7 countries. Thus, the extent of international portfolio diversification may be even lower than that suggested by previous research which studied international consumption correlations.
A PRIORI PRESSURE FIELD CONSTRUCTION ITERATIVE METHOD FOR THE SOLUTION OF THE STEADY-STATE NAVIER–STOKES EQUATIONS USING GENERAL FINITE-VOLUME CO-LOCATED GRIDS
Authors: LAMAS JOSE A.
Published: December 2007

An iterative method has been developed for the solution of the Navier–Stokes equations and implemented using finite volumes with co-located variable arrangement. A pressure equation is obtained combining algebraic momentum and mass conservation equations resulting in a self-consistent set of equations. An iterative procedure solves the pressure equation consistently with mass conservation and then updates velocities based on momentum equations without introducing velocity or pressure correction equations. The process is repeated until velocities satisfy both mass and momentum conservation. Tests demonstrate a priori pressure field solution consistent with mass conservation, and solution of hydrostatic problems in one iteration.
TRANSIENT HEAT CONDUCTION IN FUNCTIONALLY GRADED MATERIALS
Authors: HAMZA-CHERIF S. M. , HOUMAT A. , HADJOUI A.
Published: December 2007

The h-p version of the finite element method (FEM) is considered to determine the transient temperature distribution in functionally graded materials (FGM). The h-p version may be regarded as the marriage of conventional h-version and p-version. The graded Fourier p-element is used to set up the two-dimensional heat conduction equations. The temperature is formulated in terms of linear shape functions used generally in FEM plus a variable number of trigonometric shape functions representing the internal degrees of freedom (DOF). In the graded Fourier p-element, the function of the thermal conductivity is computed exactly within the conductance matrix and thus overcomes the computational errors caused by the space discretization introduced by the FEM. Explicit and easily programmed trigonometric enriched capacitance, conductance matrices and heat load vectors are derived for plates and cylinders by using symbolic computation. The convergence properties of the h-p version proposed and the results of the numbers of test problems are in good agreement with the analytical solutions. Also, the effect of the non-homogeneity of the FGM on the temperature distribution is considered.
SIMILARITY SOLUTIONS OF THE MIXED CONVECTION BOUNDARY-LAYER FLOW IN A POROUS MEDIUM
Authors: KHURI S. A.
Published: December 2007

This paper deals with the asymptotic analysis of similarity solutions of the two-dimensional mixed convection boundary-layer flow over a vertical surface with a power law temperature. It is shown that the extended governing equations can be reduced, using a coordinate transform, to the case of the boundary-layer development of large time solutions for the unsteady mixed convection near the stagnation point on a vertical surface in a porous medium. The perturbation solutions for small and large values of the mixed convection parameter are obtained. The asymptotic behavior of the solution was examined for different values of the power law exponent parameter.
TRAVELING WAVE SOLUTIONS FOR NONLINEAR WAVE EQUATION WITH DISSIPATION AND NONLINEAR TRANSPORT TERM THROUGH FACTORIZATIONS
Authors: ABDUSALAM H. A. , FAHMY E. S.
Published: December 2007

In this work, we use the factorization method to find explicit exact particular traveling wave solutions for the nonlinear wave equation with dissipation and nonlinear transport term. The two-parameter solution is obtained by using the particular solution and the known solutions for the Newell–Whitehead equation, Kolmogorov–Petrovsky–Piscounov equation, Fitzhugh–Nagumo equation, and the Burgers equation with cubic nonlinearity obtained as special cases from the solutions of the nonlinear wave equation with dissipation and nonlinear term.
Translating symptoms into mechanisms: functional GI disorders
Authors: Collins Stephen M.
Published: December 2007

Functional gastrointestinal disorders are the most common problem in gastroenterological practice. They are defined by chronic abdominal symptom complexes that occur in the absence of underlying structural abnormalities. The pathogenesis of these disorders is heterogeneous and involves behavioral, infective, and inflammatory components. Common symptoms are abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, and bloating. Mechanisms underlying these symptoms include alterations in gastrointestinal motility, visceral perception, altered epithelial function, and disturbances in fermentation activity by gut commensal bacteria.
Civil litigation in twentieth century Europe
Authors: van Rhee C. H.
Published: December 2007

The present article adresses one of the many topics on which Raoul van Caenegem has focused during his long career: the history of civil procedure. It concentrates on the twentieth century and offers a comparative perspective. The year 1898, in which the influential Austrian Zivilprozessordnung (öZPO) of the 1st of August 1895 took effect, forms the starting point of the article. This Code inaugurated a new era in civil procedure since it introduced a judge with extensive case management powers. The final part of the article discusses the English Civil Procedure Rules, which came into force in 1999. In 1999, even the English judge, who until that time had acted as a mere 'umpire', acquired extensive case management powers. Case management by the judge is now a common European phenomenon.
Preparation of Silver Nanoparticles Having Low Melting Temperature Through a New Synthetic Process without Solvent
Authors: Kim Nam Hee , Kim Ju-Young , Ihn Kyo Jin
Published: December 2007

This study presents a new synthetic method of silver nanoparticles using a novel polyoxyethylene maleate-based surfactant (PEOM). Unlike conventional process using large amount of a solvent to dissolve silver salts, large amount of silver salts (AgNO3) can be dissolved and
stabilized by our surfactant without solvent. Silver salts can be dissociated within PEOM by the formation of charge complex between hydrophilic-COOH segments and Ag+NO3−, resulting in formation of self-assembled microstructures which acting as a nano-reactor
and stabilizer. After reduction using NaBH4, uniform sized silver nanoparticles were formed in the hydrophilic domain of PEOM. Silver contents in the colloids were changed by 0.5∼3 wt%. Distribution of silver nanoparticle sizes was investigated by using TEM and XRD. Melting
temperature of silver nanoparticles was measured by differential scanning calorimetry, which depends upon the particle size of silver nanoparticles. The lowest melting temperature of 112° was measured from 3.5 nm average-sized silver particles.
Synthesis of Mesoporous Tin Oxide and Its Application as a LNG Sensor
Authors: Kim Nam-Hyon , Kim Geon-Joong
Published: December 2007

The nanostructured SnO2 gas sensor with Au electrodes and Pt heater has been fabricated as one unit via screen printing process. The gas sensor was tested for CH4 sensing behavior at 350 °C in the concentration range of 500–10,000 ppm. Those mesoporous
SnO2 sensors exhibited the similar sensoring properties in CH4 and CO detection. The fast speed of response and high sensitivity were obtained for mesoporous tin oxide sensor as compared to non-porous one.
Electrical and Rheological Properties of Double Percolated Poly(methyl methacrylate)/Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposites
Authors: Jin Sung-Hun , Lee Dai-Soo
Published: December 2007

Electrical and rheological properties of nanocomposites based on poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) were studied from view points of double percolation by adding crosslinked methyl methacrylate-butadiene-styrene (MBS) copolymer particles to lower
percolation threshold concentration of MWCNTs. It was found that the critical concentrations of MWCNTs for the percolation in the nanocomposites decrease and then increase with increasing the MBS contents of the nanocomposites. It is postulated that the addition of MBS at low concentrations
results in double percolation of MWCNT and the significant decrease of critical concentration for the percolations. However, adding MBS particles in large amounts results in limited space for the distribution of MWCNTs and less efficient dispersion of the MWCNTs and the increase of the critical
concentrations of MWCNTs for the percolations. Rheological properties and change of Tgs reflect large interfacial areas in the well dispersed nanocomposite and were also interpreted to support the speculations for the effects of MBS contents and MWCNT concentrations of PMMA/MWCNT
nanocomposites.
Electrical Properties of Silver Paste Prepared from Nanoparticles and Lead-Free Frit
Authors: Park Sung Hyun , Seo Dong Seok , Lee Jong Kook
Published: December 2007

Recently, PbO containing glass systems in commercial silver paste have been used due to their low glass transition temperature, good thermal and electrical properties. However, PbO is a hazardous material to both health and the environment. In this study, Pb-free silver paste was prepared
by mixing commercial silver powder and silver nanoparticles. The commercial powder has an average particle size of 1.6 μm. The silver nanoparticles with particles size of 20–50 nm were synthesized by a chemical reduction method using surfactant. Pb-free frit was added into
the mixed silver powder as the amounts of 3, 6 and 9 wt%. Using the obtained paste, thick films were fabricated by a screen printing on alumina substrate and the films were fired at temperature from 400 to 550 °C. The films had thickness of 6–11 μm and sheet resistivity
of about 4–11 μΩ cm.
Ferromagnetic Signal in Nanosized Ag Particles
Authors: Jo Younghun , Jung Myung-Hwa , Kyum Myung-Chul , Lee Sung-Ik
Published: December 2007

A new technique using an inductively coupled plasma reactor equipped with a liquid-nitrogen cooling system was developed to prepare Ag nanoparticles. The magnetic signal from these Ag particles with diameters of 4 nm showed, surprisingly, a signal with combined ferromagnetic and diamagnetic
components, in contrast to the signal with only one diamagnetic component from bulk Ag. The same technique was used to prepare the Ag/Cu nanoparticles, which are Ag nanoparticles coated with a Cu layer. Compared to the Ag nanoparticles, these showed a greatly enhanced superparamagnetic signal
in addition to the same value of the ferromagnetism. The comparison between the Ag and the Ag/Cu nanoparticles indicated that the ferromagnetic components are a common feature of Ag nanoparticles while the greatly enhanced paramagnetic component of Ag/Cu, which dominates over the background
diamagnetic component from the Ag core, is from the outer Cu shell.
Characterization of Intrinsic a-Si:H Films Prepared by Inductively Coupled Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition for Solar Cell Applications
Authors: Jeong Chaehwan , Boo Seongjae , Jeon Minsung , Kamisako Koichi
Published: December 2007

The hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) films, which can be used as the passivation or absorption layer of solar cells, were prepared by inductively coupled plasma chemical vapor deposition (ICP-CVD) and their characteristics were studied. Deposition process of a-Si:H films was
performed by varying the parameters, gas ratio (H2/SiH4), radio frequency (RF) power and substrate temperature, while a working pressure was fixed at 70 m Torr. Their characteristics were studied by measuring thickness, optical bandgap (eV), photosensitivity, bond structure
and surface roughness. When the RF power and substrate temperature were 300 watt and 200 °C, respectively, optical bandgap and photosensitivity, similar to the intrinsic a-Si:H film, were obtained. The Si-H stretching mode at 2000 cm−1, which means a good quality of films,
was found at all conditions. Although the RF power increased up to 400 watt, average of surface roughness got better, compared to a-Si:H films deposited by the conventional PECVD method. These results show the potential for developing the solar cells using ICP-CVD, which have the relatively
less damage of plasma.
Preparation of Nanosized Pt-Au Alloy Catalyst and Its Activity in Methanol Oxidation
Authors: Kim Ki-Joong , Kim Yong-Hwa , Jeong Woon-Jo , Jeong Seung-Won , Park Jong-Che , Ahn Ho-Geun
Published: December 2007

The alloy catalyst has been widely used because it will be able to improve the activity and selectivity of the single metal catalyst in a given chemical reaction. In this study, the preparation and characteristics of nanosized Pt and Au particles on alumina and their catalytic activity
were described. Nanosized Pt–Au catalysts were prepared by impregnation (IMP) method and deposition (DP) method using alumina or ZnO/Al2O3 as support. The size of Pt and Au particles were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive spectroscope
(EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Catalytic activity for oxidation of methanol was measured using a flow reactor. It could be seen that the Pt particle size and dispersion in the alloy catalysts was rarely influenced by preparation methods and Au particles coated by deposition method were
well dispersed. TEM images showed that Au particles were well dispersed in the Pt/Au/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst of which Au particles was supported by deposition method. The catalytic activity for methanol are given in the order of Pt-Au[IMP]/ZnO/Al2O3 >
Pt[IMP]/Au[DP]/ZnO/Al2O3 > Au[DP]/Pt[IMP]/ZnO/Al2O3 > Pt-Au[DP]/ZnO/Al2O3. Therefore, Au particle size was doing not play an important role in increasing the oxidation activity, but the Au particles may promote the methanol
oxidation.
Effect of the Charge on the Morphology of Sodium Salt Form of the Randomly Sulfonated Polystyrene Ionomer Cast onto Silicon Wafers
Authors: Yu Jeong-A , Oh Sung-Hwa , Kim Joon-Seop
Published: December 2007

The morphology of the sodium salt form of randomly copolymerized polystyrene sulfonate (Na-PSS) in water/THF(99/1v/v) cast onto silicon wafers, was studied by using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The contents of the sulfonate repeat units in Na-PSS were 1.1, 2.4, 4.6, 10.8, and
15.6 mol%. Based on the observed SEM images, the morphology of the Na-PSS changed with increasing ionic group content. For 1.1 and 2.4 mol%, sphere-shaped aggregates were formed with average sizes of 90 nm and of 77 nm, respectively. For 4.6 mol% and 10.8 mol%, 20–30 nm-sized aggregates
were close-packed and fused together, resulting a surface with large roughness and ca. 10 nm-sized pores were formed. As the mol% increased to 15.6, the surface became smoother and flat films were formed.
The Adjustment of the Coupled Climate Model HadGEM1 toward Equilibrium and the Impact on Global Climate
Authors: Banks Helene T. , Stark Sheila , Keen Ann B.
Published: December 2007

Coupled climate models generally have a small residual radiative flux at the top of the atmosphere. In the Met Office climate model, Hadley Centre Global Environmental Model version 1 (HadGEM1), it is incoming (heating the planet) and reduces over a 350-yr period from 0.4 to 0.1 W m−2. The process of the adjustment in HadGEM1 is examined and is shown to be linked to excessive heat gain. In the tropical and South Atlantic, cold, fresh Antarctic Intermediate Water is replaced by anomalously warm, salty intermediate water. The loss of Antarctic Intermediate Water in the South Atlantic is related to a weak Agulhas retroflection. The erosion is enhanced in the tropical Atlantic by strong upwelling. The warm, salty anomalies are advected northward outcropping in the North Atlantic subpolar gyre. In the outcrop zone, sea surface temperature and salinity are increased, which lead to an increase in global mean surface temperature and a reduction in the sea ice area. This adjusts the top of the atmosphere balance via increased outgoing longwave radiation and is partly offset by a decrease in outgoing shortwave radiation. The increased surface salinity triggers convection in the Labrador Sea and leads to a strong flushing of the thermohaline circulation. These results demonstrate that adjustment time scales for coupled climate models can be in excess of 350 yr. The potential implications of the adjustment time scale of climate models need to be considered when planning scenario and sensitivity experiments, as model drifts can be nonlinear.
Is CEACAM1 a lymphangiogenic switch?
Authors: Öbrink Björn
Published: December 2007

Newly formed lymphatic capillaries closely associated with malignant tumors have a key role in metastasis, but much remains to be learned about the trigger and mechanisms of lymphangiogenesis. In this issue of Blood, Kilic and colleagues report that CEACAM1, recognized as a possible lymphangiogenic switch, is expressed in newly formed tumor-associated lymphatic capillaries, and that it can trigger reprogramming of microvascular endothelial cells to lymphatic endothelial cells.
Acute Myocardial Infarction and Proinflammatory Gene Variants
Authors: LICASTRO FEDERICO , CHIAPELLI MARTINA , CALDARERA CLAUDIO MARCELLO , CARUSO CALOGERO , LIO DOMENICO , CORDER ELIZABETH H.
Published: December 2007

Abstract:  We identified four genetic risk sets for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) from information on functional gene variants that favor inflammation or modulate cholesterol metabolism: IL6 ‐174 G/C, TNF ‐308 G/A, IL10 ‐1082 G/A, SERPINA3 ‐51 G/T, IFNG+874 T/A, HMGCR ‐911 C/A, and APOEɛ2/3/4; 316 patients and 461 healthy subjects, all Italian. Putative risk alleles are shown underlined. The sets were identified using grade‐of‐membership analysis. Membership scores in the sets are automatically generated for individuals. The ‘low intrinsic risk’ set had alleles that downregulate inflammation and cholesterol synthesis (IL6, TNF, ILl0, HMGCR). ‘AMI across a broad age range’ carried multiple proinflammatory alleles (IL6, TNF, IL10, SERPINA3): All 72 persons like this set were affected yet had relatively low plasma cholesterol levels. ‘A subset of AMI in middle age’ had numerous proinflammatory alleles (IL6, TNF, SERPINA3, IFNG, HMGCR). ‘AMI after age 80’ had a reduced risk set (IL6, IL10, IFNG). A total of 95% of cases had ≥50% membership in the high intrinsic risk sets. We conclude that proinflammatory gene variants taken together strongly determine an individual's risk for myocardial infarction. This information may better define the pathogenesis of myocardial infarction and identify individuals who might benefit from early interventions.
Real Aging Retardation in Humans through Diminishing Risks to Health
Authors: KRISTJUHAN ÜLO
Published: December 2007

Abstract:  Many biologists do not believe that practical means of postponing human aging are currently available. Human aging appears to result from the random accumulation of damage in cells, tissues, or the organism as a whole that occurs over the lifetime of the organism and increases the probability of death. It is possible to decrease the rate of this accumulation of damage in humans, as already does occur in developed countries. Initiating the sorts of changes that extend healthy life span has been a relatively slow process, because it has been a byproduct of general economic development, but it could be made to proceed more rapidly. Our research shows that it is possible to postpone age‐related changes by up to 20 years, by using what is already known about avoiding discomfort and risk factors to health in practical application.
Identification of Fasting‐induced Genes in the Rat Hypothalamus
Authors: CHIBA TAKUYA , FUJITA SATOSHI , KUBOTA HARUAKI , INOUE DAISUKE , MIZUNO AYA , KOMATSU TOSHIMITSU , YAMAZA HARUYOSHI , HIGAMI YOSHIKAZU , SHIMOKAWA ISAO
Published: December 2007

Abstract:  During food shortage, organisms activate defense mechanisms to maximize their chance of survival. At least in part, these responses are triggered by changes in hormonal status and neural status during starvation. The hypothalamus is organized as a collection of distinct autonomously active nuclei and is considered to play crucial roles in these survival responses. To isolate factors involved in these pathways, we carried out suppression subtractive hybridization analyses using complementary DNAs (cDNA) from the hypothalami of fasted and fed rats. We identified four genes, namely ubiquitin‐conjugating enzyme E2D 3 (UBE2D3), cAMP‐dependent protein kinase C beta subunit (PKCβ), excitatory amino acid carrier 1 (EAAC1), and ferritin heavy polypeptide 1 (Fth1), that were upregulated after a 48‐h fast compared to the fed status. According to previous reports, these genes have been implicated in protection against neuronal cell death under various neurodegenerative stresses, such as hypoxia–ischemia and oxidative stress. Thus, the increased expressions of the genes identified in the present study may have protective effects against neural damage that could otherwise result in cell death.
Effect of the Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor Trichostatin A in Human Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes as a Function of Donor Age
Authors: SOURLINGAS T. G. , KYPREOU K. P. , TOPAKAS G. N. , KARCHILAKI I. N. , STAVROPOULOS‐GIOKAS C. , SEKERI‐PATARYAS K. E.
Published: December 2007

Abstract:  The histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA) is a promising agent for the treatment of certain types of cancers alone or in synergistic combination with other anticancer agents. One of the advantages of the use of histone deacetylase inhibitors, such as TSA, is that its effects have been found to be more potent toward cancer cells compared to normal cells. The effect of anticancer agents on the immune system, and on lymphocytes in particular, is of major importance to the success of anticancer regimens. In this respect, information documenting the effect of such agents on normal lymphocytes compared to malignant cells may be of significant value for the successful designing of clinical protocols. Moreover, the parameter of age may be a factor in the differential effects of such protocols. Histone deacetylase inhibitors lead to the accumulation of acetylated histones and, depending on the cell type, may induce either apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, or differentiation. Previous work from our lab has shown that TSA induces the accumulation of histone H4 acetylation and apoptosis in human peripheral blood lymphocytes. In light of the above, we have extended our investigation of the effects of TSA on human lymphocytes to include the parameter of age, which has not been previously studied. Our results show that TSA induces apoptosis of lymphocytes from donors of all age groups, but no age‐related changes in the levels of apoptosis are observed.
Enhanced Photovoltaic Properties of SiO2-treated ZnO Nanocrystalline Electrode for Dye-sensitized Solar Cell
Authors: Shin Yu-Ju , Lee Jung-Hun , Park Ji-Hye , Park Nam-Gyu
Published: December 2007

SiO2-coated ZnO nanocrystalline electrode for dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) showed greatly enhanced solar energy conversion efficiency up to 5.2% under AM 1.5 global one sun condition, because of the increased surface stability to acidic dye molecules.
The use of a posterior lip augmentation device for a revision of recurrent dislocation after primary cemented Charnley/Charnley Elite total hip replacement
Authors: McConway J. , O’Brien S. , Doran E. , Archbold P. , Beverland D.
Published: December 2007

Between April 1992 and July 2005, 310 posterior lip augmentation devices were used for the treatment of recurrent dislocation of the hip in 307 patients who had received primary total hip replacements (THRs) using Charnley/Charnley Elite components with a cemented acetabulum. The mean number of dislocations before stabilisation with the device was five (1 to 16) with a mean time to this intervention from the first dislocation of 3.8 years (0 days to 22.5 years). The mean age of the patients at this reconstruction was 75.4 years (39 to 96).

A retrospective clinical and radiological review was carried out at a mean follow-up of six years and nine months (4.4 months to 13 years and 7 months). Of the 307 patients, 53 had died at the time of the latest review, with a functioning THR and with the posterior lip augmentation device in situ. There were four revisions (1.3%), one for pain, two for deep infection and one for loosening of the acetabular component. Radiolucent lines around the acetabular component increased in only six cases after insertion of the device which was successful in eliminating instability in 302 patients, with only five further dislocations (1.6%) occurring after its insertion.
Inhibition of fracture healing
Authors: Gaston M. S. , Simpson A. H. R. W.
Published: December 2007

This paper reviews the current literature concerning the main clinical factors which can impair the healing of fractures and makes recommendations on avoiding or minimising these in order to optimise the outcome for patients. The clinical implications are described.
The Capabilites of Voting Rules in the Absence of Coalitions
Authors: Tideman T. Nicolaus
Published: December 2007

This paper discusses the features of a variety of rules that might be used to make group choices. The rules are evaluated under an assumption that coalitions have no impact, as might be true when the number of voters is large and secret ballots are used. The contributions of a number of writers are discussed in a framework that exposes new relationships among a variety of ideas.

Some conditions that bear on the merit of a voting rule are as follows: Are all choices to be made between pairs of alternatives, or will some choices have to be made over three or more options? If there are multiple options, are they easily located in a Euclidean space? Is it essential that the voting rule involve relatively little calculation, or can it require extensive use of a computer? Is it necessary to treat all voters equally, or can the votes of some be weighted more heavily than those of others? Is there any readily identifiable basis for determining such weights? Could the voters be trusted to reveal intensities of preferences, to be used as weights, or would they behave erratically or strategically if asked to do so?
Television viewing and obesity among pre-school children: The role of parents
Authors: Vandebosch Heidi , Cleemput Katrien Van
Published: December 2007

Western societies are confronted with a growing number of overweight and obese (pre-school) children. Past studies have pointed to excessive television viewing as one of the causes of this phenomenon. The aim of the current study was to examine the influence of parental mediation and modeling on TV use and obesity among pre-school children.

A survey conducted among 608 parents of two-and-a-half to six year olds shows that obese children watch significantly more television, show more affinity towards television and more often have a TV set in their bedroom than normal weight and overweight children. For girls, parental restrictions on television viewing are negatively associated with their BMI. For boys, no similar relationship can be found. This study suggests that taking into account possible differences in television viewing behavior between pre-school boys and girls and paying attention to a wide range of television viewing variables can be fruitful for further research.
Humor comprehension: Lessons learned from cross-cultural communication
Authors: Bell Nancy D
Published: December 2007

Research on humor has tended to focus on its production. The understanding of humor, perhaps because it is more difficult to document, has received somewhat less attention, especially from a sociolinguistic perspective. The present paper addresses this gap by using examples of humor in crosscultural interaction to propose ways in which two earlier models suggesting how humor is perceived (Carrell 1997) and supported (Hay 2001) may be further developed. These examples show that joke competence is a somewhat dynamic construct, that understanding can be partial and that lack of full understanding need not preclude appreciation. In addition, I suggest that interlocutors' understanding of the wide variety of functions of humor must also be taken into consideration in any broader theory of how humor is perceived and understood. As understanding, like language use, is interactively constructed, I call for a view of humor comprehension that is social, as well as cognitive.
Depression, anxiety and quality of life in pediatric asthma
Authors: Szabó Alexandra , Mezei Györgyi , Cserháti Endre
Published: December 2007

Célkitűzés:
Gyermekkori asztmások körében vizsgáltuk a depresszió és a szorongás előfordulását, illetve az életminőség alakulását az életkor és az asztma súlyossága szerinti bontásban.
Módszer:
108 beteg gyermek, átlagéletkor: 11,75 ± 3,10 (átlag ± SD) életév (fiúk 11,6 ± 2,8 életév és lányok 12,1 ± 3,7 életév) töltötte ki a Child Depression Inventory kérdőívet, a State Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children kérdőívet, a Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life kérdőívet, valamint egy tüneti skálát. Az első másodperc alatti forszírozott kilégzést szintén regisztráltuk.
Eredmények:
Az átlag első másodperc alatti forszírozott kilégzésszázalék 97,4 ± 12,8 volt. 23 beteg (21%) intermittáló asztmásnak, 40 beteg (37%) enyhe perzisztáló, 43 beteg (40%) középsúlyos perzisztáló, 2 beteg (2%) súlyos perzisztáló asztmásnak bizonyult. Gyermekkori asztmás betegeink pontszáma a depresszió-kérdőíveken 9,36 ± 5,57. Ugyanannyi depresszív tünetről számoltak be, mint a magyar populációs átlag, kisiskolás asztmásaink még az átlagnál is kevesebb depressziós tünetet említettek. Asztmás betegeink pontszáma a szorongáskérdőíven: 31,16 ± 4,61; (fiúk 30,64 ± 4,29, lányok 32,67 ± 5,27), azaz egészséges társaikéval megegyező szorongást mutattak. Az életminőség-kérdőíven betegeink pontszáma 6,18 ± 1,00 (2,87–7,00); a kamasz asztmás lányok eredménye lett a legrosszabb (5,62 ± 1,28). Az asztmás fiúk életminősége az életkor előrehaladtával egyre javul (
p
= 0,02). A kamaszkorral a lányok életminősége csökkenő tendenciát mutat, bár ez statisztikailag nem szignifikáns. Az asztmás kamasz lányok rosszabb életminőségről számolnak be, mint az asztmás kamasz fiúk (
p
= 0,013). A depresszió, szorongás és életminőség tekintetében nem volt különbség az intermittáló és perzisztáló asztmás csoport között. A vizsgálat idején tüneteket említők rosszabb életminőségről számoltak be. Depresszió és szorongás tekintetében nem volt különbség az aktuálisan tünetmentes és a tünetes asztmások között. Életkor szerinti bontásban nem volt szignifikáns különbség sem a depresszióban, sem a szorongásban, sem pedig az életminőségben.
Következtetések:
Asztmás betegeink pszichés státusza meglepően jónak bizonyult. Az asztmás kamasz lányok rosszabb életminősége azonban figyelmet érdemel. A jó gyermekkori asztmagondozás segít a betegség pszichés hatásainak kivédésében.
Assistência à saúde e mortalidade de recém-nascidos de muito baixo peso
Authors: Carvalho Ana Berenice Ribeiro de , Brito Ângela Sara Jamusse de , Matsuo Tiemi
Published: December 2007

OBJETIVO: Analisar a mortalidade intra-hospitalar dos recém-nascidos de muito baixo peso, considerando a evolução clínica e os fatores associados à mortalidade. MÉTODOS: Estudo longitudinal que incluiu 360 recém-nascidos com peso entre 500 e 1.500g, em Londrina, Paraná, de 1/1/2002 a 30/6/2004. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevistas com as mães, análise dos prontuários e acompanhamento dos recém-nascidos. Para determinação de associação entre as variáveis utilizou-se o teste do qui-quadrado e análise de regressão logística com modelo hierarquizado, com nível de significância de 5%. RESULTADOS: A taxa de mortalidade foi de 32,5%. Na análise bivariada, as variáveis associadas ao óbito oram: não uso de corticosteróide antenatal, ausência de hipertensão arterial/pré-eclampsia, presença de trabalho de parto, parto normal, apresentação não cefálica, Apgar < 3 no primeiro e quinto minutos, Clinical Risk Index for Babies > 5, reanimação na sala de parto, sexo masculino, idade gestacional < 28 semanas, peso < 750g, síndrome do desconforto respiratório, pneumotórax, hemorragia intracraniana e ventilação mecânica. Após regressão logística, permaneceram como fatores de risco: baixa renda per capita, não uso de corticosteróide antenatal e não uso de pressão positiva contínua de vias aéreas. CONCLUSÕES: Mesmo com o uso de tecnologias, a mortalidade observada nos recém-nascidos de muito baixo peso foi alta quando comparada com os países desenvolvidos. A maior utilização do corticosteróide antenatal poderá diminuir a morbidade e mortalidade de recém-nascidos de muito baixo peso.
The load-bearing duct: biomimicry in structural design
Authors: Yiatros S. , Wadee M. A. , Hunt G. R.
Published: December 2007

The philosophical aspects of applying the principles of biomimicry are explored in a case study of structural design. Integrating structural engineering with services engineering can be regarded, to some extent, as taking principles from biological systems and applying them to large-scale conceptual design. The end-product discussed herein a so-called load-bearing duct, a functional naturally ventilated multi-storey office building that takes the applied loading efficiently both structurally and cost-effectively giving it the potential to be sustainable throughout its design life.
Hepatocyte Growth Factor and the Hepatocyte Growth Factor Receptor Signalling Complex as Targets in Cancer Therapies
Authors: Jiang W.G.
Published: December 2007

Since its discovery in the late 1980s [...]
Polymorphisms in xenobiotic‐metabolizing genes and the risk of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma in adult Russian patients
Authors: Gra Olga A. , Glotov Andrey S. , Nikitin Eugene A. , Glotov Oleg S. , Kuznetsova Viktoria E. , Chudinov Alexander V. , Sudarikov Andrey B. , Nasedkina Tatyana V.
Published: December 2007

Polymorphisms in genes coding xenobiotic‐metabolizing enzymes are considered as risk factors modifying susceptibility to cancer. We developed a biochip for the analysis of 18 mutations in 10 genes of metabolizing system: CYP1A1, CYP2D6, GSTT1, GSTM1, MTHFR, MTRR, NQO1, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and NAT2. Using allele‐specific hybridization on the biochip 76 T‐cell non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) patients, 83 B‐cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B‐CLL) patients, and 177 healthy donors were tested. Polymorphic CYP1A1 alleles were more frequent in B‐CLL patients relative to normal controls, for example, a combination of polymorphic variants 4887C > A, 4889A > G, and 6235T > C (OR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.0–3.1). The GSTM1 null genotype was more frequent in NHL patients relative to controls (OR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.1–3.1). The combination of unfavorable polymorphic CYP1A1 variants and GSTM1 null genotype was found more frequently in B‐CLL patients relative to controls (OR = 2.52, 95% CI = 1.3–4.9). In addition, male B‐CLL patients demonstrated a significantly increased occurrence of heterozygous and homozygous allele *2 of CYP2C9 gene (OR = 2.38, 95% CI = 1.1–5.2) as well as a combination of alleles *2 and *3 of the gene (OR = 2.09, 95% CI = 1.1–3.9). Thus, our findings show the association between polymorphic alleles of CYP1A1, GSTM1, and CYP2C9 genes and the risk to develop NHL or B‐CLL. The developed biochip can be considered as a convenient analytical tool for research studies and predictive analysis in oncohematology. Am. J. Hematol., 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Diffusion of biological molecules through hollow chitosan fibers
Authors: Peirano Francisco , Vincent Thierry , Guibal Eric
Published: December 2007

Hollow chitosan fibers were tested for the diffusion of a series of biological macromolecules, including amino acids, vitamins, and antibiotics. The hollow fibers were immersed in the permeant solution, and water was circulated and recycled inside the lumen of the fiber. The concentration of the permeant in the hollow fiber loop was analyzed online by ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry. The effect of process parameters such as the concentration, pH, and flow rate was tested. The permeability coefficient was calculated from the permeability. The limited influence of the flow rate indicated that resistance to film diffusion (at the surface of the fiber) was not the rate‐limiting step: the limiting step remained diffusion through the membrane. The pH would be expected to influence the protonation of chitosan amine groups and the acid–base properties of the permeant; however, the diffusion profiles were little affected by this parameter. The impact of pH on the permeability coefficient decreased in the following order: tryptophan > chloramphenicol > vitamin B12. The change in the concentration of the permeant had a limited impact on the permeability coefficient. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008