bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
4D flow magnetic resonance imaging in bicuspid aortic valve disease demonstrates altered distribution of aortic blood flow helicity
Authors: Lorenz R. , Bock J. , Barker A. J. , von Knobelsdorff‐Brenkenhoff F. , Wallis W. , Korvink J. G. , Bissell M. M. , Schulz‐Menger J. , Markl M.
Published: May 2013

Purpose

Changes in aortic geometry or presence of aortic valve (AoV) disease can result in substantially altered aortic hemodynamics. Dilatation of the ascending aorta or AoV abnormalities can result in an increase in helical flow.

Methods

4D flow magnetic resonance imaging was used to test the feasibility of quantitative helicity analysis using equidistantly distributed 2D planes along the entire aorta. The evaluation of the method included three parts: (1) the quantification of helicity in 12 healthy subjects, (2) an evaluation of observer variability and test–retest reliability, and (3) the quantification of helical flow in 16 patients with congenitally altered bicuspid AoVs.

Results

Helicity quantification in healthy subjects revealed consistent directions of flow rotation along the entire aorta with high clockwise helicity in the aortic arch and an opposite rotation sense in the ascending and descending aorta. The results demonstrated good scan–rescan and inter‐ and intraobserver agreement of the helicity parameters. Helicity quantification in patients revealed a significant increase in absolute peak relative helicity during systole and a considerably greater heterogeneous distribution of mean helicity in the aorta.

Conclusion

The method has the potential to serve as a reference distribution for comparisons of helical flow between healthy subjects and patients or between different patient groups. Magn Reson Med 71:1542–1553, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Crossed responses found in human trapezius muscles are not H‐reflexes
Authors: Vangsgaard Steffen , Nørgaard Lars T. , Madeleine Pascal , Taylor Janet L.
Published: May 2013

Introduction: We sought to confirm the presence of crossed short‐latency reflexes in trapezius. Methods: Mmax and Hmax were measured in the ipsilateral trapezius in 10 subjects by percutaneous electrical stimulation of the accessory nerve and the cervical nerves of C3/4 respectively. Repeated stimulation of the C3/4 cervical nerves was performed during 3 different tasks (relaxation, contraction of ipsilateral side, contraction of contralateral side). Results: Ipsilaterally, responses increased significantly with an increase in the prestimulus electromyogram (EMG) and decreased significantly with a decrease in prestimulus EMG. Contralateral potentials increased significantly with contraction of the trapezius ipsilateral to the stimulus compared with contraction of the muscle in which they were recorded and decreased significantly with increasing distance from the ipsilateral side. Conclusions: We found ipsilateral and contralateral responses consistent with previous findings. However, we conclude that the contralateral response in trapezius is not a crossed reflex. Muscle Nerve 49:362–369, 2014
Complete Tangent Stiffness for eXtended Finite Element Method by including crack growth parameters
Authors: Mougaard J.F. , Poulsen P.N. , Nielsen L.O.
Published: May 2013

The eXtended Finite Element Method (XFEM) is a useful tool for modeling the growth of discrete cracks in structures made of concrete and other quasi‐brittle and brittle materials. However, in a standard application of XFEM, the tangent stiffness is not complete. This is a result of not including the crack geometry parameters, such as the crack length and the crack direction directly in the virtual work formulation. For efficiency, it is essential to obtain a complete tangent stiffness. A new method in this work is presented to include an incremental form the crack growth parameters on equal terms with the degrees of freedom in the FEM‐equations. The complete tangential stiffness matrix is based on the virtual work together with the constitutive conditions at the crack tip. Introducing the crack growth parameters as direct unknowns, both equilibrium equations and the crack tip criterion can be handled within the same standard nonlinear iterations. This new solution strategy is believed to provide the modeling capabilities to deal with simultaneous growth of several cracks. A cohesive crack modeling is used. The method is applied to a partly cracked XFEM element of linear strain triangle type with the crack length as the unknown crack growth parameter. In this paper, two examples are given. The first example verifies the theory and the implementation. The second example is the benchmark test three point bending test, where the efficiency of the complete tangential behavior is shown. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A solid‐shell corotational element based on ANDES, ANS and EAS for geometrically nonlinear structural analysis
Authors: Mostafa M. , Sivaselvan M.V. , Felippa C.A.
Published: May 2013

This paper describes an eight‐node, assumed strain, solid‐shell, corotational element for geometrically nonlinear structural analysis. The locally linear kinematics of the element is separated into in‐plane (which is further decoupled into membrane and bending), thickness and transverse shear components. This separation allows using any type of membrane quadrilateral formulation for the in‐plane response. Assumed strain fields for the three components are constructed using different approaches. The Assumed Natural Deviatoric Strain approach is used for the in‐plane response, whereas the Assumed Natural Strain approach is used for the thickness and transverse shear components. A strain enhancement based on Enhanced Assumed Strain concepts is also used for the thickness component. The resulting element passes well‐known shell element patch tests and exhibits good performance in a number of challenging benchmark tests. The formulation is extended to the geometric nonlinear regime using an element‐independent corotational approach. Some key properties of the corotational kinematic description are discussed. The element is tested in several well‐known shell benchmarks and compared with other thin‐shell and solid‐shell elements available in the literature, as well as with commercial nonlinear FEM codes. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An enhanced cell‐based smoothed finite element method for the analysis of Reissner–Mindlin plate bending problems involving distorted mesh
Authors: Wu C. T. , Wang H. P.
Published: May 2013

In this work, an enhanced cell‐based smoothed finite element method (FEM) is presented for the Reissner–Mindlin plate bending analysis. The smoothed curvature computed by a boundary integral along the boundaries of smoothing cells in original smoothed FEM is reformulated, and the relationship between the original approach and the present method in curvature smoothing is established. To improve the accuracy of shear strain in a distorted mesh, we span the shear strain space over the adjacent element. This is performed by employing an edge‐based smoothing technique through a simple area‐weighted smoothing procedure on MITC4 assumed shear strain field. A three‐field variational principle is utilized to develop the mixed formulation. The resultant element formulation is further reduced to a displacement‐based formulation via an assumed strain method defined by the edge‐smoothing technique. As the result, a new formulation consisting of smoothed curvature and smoothed shear strain interpolated by the standard transverse displacement/rotation fields and smoothing operators can be shown to improve the solution accuracy in cell‐based smoothed FEM for Reissner–Mindlin plate bending analysis. Several numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the accuracy of the proposed formulation.Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evidence of silicic acid leakage to the tropical Atlantic via Antarctic Intermediate Water during Marine Isotope Stage 4
Authors: Griffiths James D. , Barker Stephen , Hendry Katharine R. , Thornalley David J. R. , van de Flierdt Tina , Hall Ian R. , Anderson Robert F.
Published: May 2013

Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) and Subantarctic Mode Water (SAMW) are the main conduits for the supply of dissolved silicon (silicic acid) from the deep Southern Ocean (SO) to the low‐latitude surface ocean and therefore have an important control on low‐latitude diatom productivity. Enhanced supply of silicic acid by AAIW (and SAMW) during glacial periods may have enabled tropical diatoms to outcompete carbonate‐producing phytoplankton, decreasing the relative export of inorganic to organic carbon to the deep ocean and lowering atmospheric pCO2. This mechanism is known as the “silicic acid leakage hypothesis” (SALH). Here we present records of neodymium and silicon isotopes from the western tropical Atlantic that provide the first direct evidence of increased silicic acid leakage from the Southern Ocean to the tropical Atlantic within AAIW during glacial Marine Isotope Stage 4 (~60–70 ka). This leakage was approximately coeval with enhanced diatom export in the NW Atlantic and across the eastern equatorial Atlantic and provides support for the SALH as a contributor to CO2 drawdown during full glacial development.
Evolution of gender options in multiple pregnancy management
Authors: Evans Mark I. , Rosner Mara , Andriole Stephanie , Alkalay Avishai , Gebb Juliana , Britt David W.
Published: May 2013

Objective

Fetal reduction (FR) in multiples dramatically improves outcomes. We prioritize FR decisions for health and historically declined to factor gender. As male preferences apparently diminished, our bioethicist encouraged a re‐evaluation.

Methods

Three hundred ninety‐six patients reducing triplets or twins were categorized as 3➔2, 3➔1, and 2➔1, Major (M) anomaly or minor (m) anomaly, same gender (SG), and those for whom gender preference (GP) was possible. Higher order and non chorionic villus sampling were excluded. FR decisions were prioritized by M anomaly, Suspicious, or m anomaly. If neither, we considered GP.

Results

Of 319, 214 (67%) had either M/m or SG. Of those, 3➔2 with gender option: 71/79 chose male and female or had no preferences, one chose male/male, and seven chose female/female. We reduced monochorionic twins in 33/35 3➔1 cases. Of 20 with GP choice, 10 chose male and 10 chose female. Of 162 2➔1, 54 had M or m, 50 were SG, but of the 44 M/F twins, 20 chose male and 24 chose female.

Conclusions

There has been a cultural shift mostly preferring one of each or having no preference. When reducing to one, >50% prefer a girl. In addition to identifying abnormalities, chorionic villus sampling before FR expands patient autonomy. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Facile preparation of magnetic graphene double‐sided mesoporous composites for the selective enrichment and analysis of endogenous peptides
Authors: Yin Peng , Sun Nianrong , Deng Chunhui , Li Yan , Zhang Xiangmin , Yang Pengyuan
Published: May 2013

In this work, magnetic graphene double‐sided mesoporous nanocomposites (mag‐graphene@mSiO2) were synthesized by coating a layer of mesoporous silica materials on each side of magnetic grapheme. The surfactant (CTAB) mediated sol‐gel coating was performed using tetraethyl orthosilicate as the silica source. The as‐made magnetic graphene double‐sided mesoporous silica composites were treated with high‐temperature calcination to remove the hydroxyl on the surface. The novel double‐sided materials possess high surface area (167.8 cm2/g) and large pore volume (0.2 cm3/g). The highly open pore structure presents uniform pore size (3.2 nm) and structural stability. The hydrophobic interior pore walls could ensure an efficient adsorption of target molecules through hydrophobic–hydrophobic interaction. At the same time, the magnetic Fe3O4 particles on both sides of the materials could simplify the process of enrichment, which plays an important role in the treatment of complex biological samples. The magnetic graphene double‐sided nanocomposites were successfully applied to size‐selective and specific enrichment of peptides in standard peptide mixtures, protein digest solutions, and human urine samples. Finally, the novel material was applied to selective enrichment of endogenous peptides in mouse brain tissue. The enriched endogenous peptides were then analyzed by LC‐MS/MS, and 409 endogenous peptides were detected and identified. The results demonstrate that the as‐made mag‐graphene@mSiO2 have powerful potential for peptidome research.
The Effect of Shear Strain on Texture in Pressed Plastic Bonded Explosives
Authors: Schwarz Ricardo B. , Brown Geoffrey W. , Thompson Darla G. , Olinger Barton W. , Furmanski Jevan , Cady Howard H.
Published: May 2013

The insensitive explosive PBX 9502 contains 95 wt‐% of TATB crystals and a plastic bonding agent (Kel‐F). The TATB crystals have plate‐like morphology, similar to that of graphite or boron nitride. We have used X‐ray diffraction to measure the preferred orientation (texture) of the TATB crystals in parts fabricated by pressing PBX 9502 powder. Independently, we have used finite‐element calculations to derive the direction and magnitude of the shear imposed during the consolidation of this composite material. Based on our results, we propose that the texture develops because the applied shear causes the TATB crystals to rotate such that their (002) basal planes are parallel to shear planes. The texture predicted by this model agrees qualitatively with that measured at various locations within the PBX 9502 compact. Further validation of this model is obtained by the measurement of the thermal expansion coefficient of PBX 9502, which is highly anisotropic.
High quantum efficiency UV detection using a‐Se based photodetector
Authors: Masuzawa Tomoaki , Onishi Masanori , Saito Ichitaro , Yamada Takatoshi , Koh Angel T. T. , Chua Daniel H. C. , Ogawa Shuichi , Takakuwa Yuji , Mori Yusuke , Shimosawa Tatsuo , Okano Ken
Published: May 2013

High‐sensitivity ultraviolet (UV) photodetection has been attempted by utilizing the carrier multiplication effect in amorphous selenium. The prototype photodetector presented in this Letter showed an extremely high sensitivity to UV light, so that up to 1000 carriers are generated per incident photon. This result should lead to the development of an ultrahigh‐sensitivity photodetector that can be used for spectrometric applications covering the visible to UV region. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Systems Integration: Key Perspectives, Experiences, and Challenges
Authors: Madni Azad M. , Sievers Michael
Published: May 2013

As systems continue to grow in scale and complexity, systems integration (SI) has become a key concern. This is especially the case in defense and aerospace. SI involves interfacing and enabling the interactions of component elements to collectively provide the functionality needed by the system to accomplish its goals. SI is part of the overall system development life cycle. SI increases in complexity when there are legacy systems that need to be integrated, and when humans are an integral part of the system. An added layer of complexity is introduced when the system has to exhibit resilience and adaptability in the face of contingencies in the operational environment. This paper addresses key perspectives and challenges in SI. Specifically, it presents the integration continuum, ranging from loose to tight integration. It presents a SI ontology that captures the key issues and concerns in a standard language. It also presents various categories of integration and their unique challenges. This paper is intended to clarify various types of integration and to stimulate new ways of thinking about SI.
Systems Theory as the Foundation for Understanding Systems
Authors: Adams Kevin MacG. , Hester Patrick T. , Bradley Joseph M. , Meyers Thomas J. , Keating Charles B.
Published: May 2013

As currently used, systems theory is lacking a universally agreed upon definition. The purpose of this paper is to offer a resolution by articulating a formal definition of systems theory. This definition is presented as a unified group of specific propositions which are brought together by way of an axiom set to form a system construct: systems theory. This construct affords systems practitioners and theoreticians with a prescriptive set of axioms by which a system must operate; conversely, any set of entities identified as a system may be characterized by this set of axioms. Given its multidisciplinary theoretical foundation and discipline‐agnostic framework, systems theory, as it is presented here, is posited as a general approach to understanding system behavior. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng 17:
Current and future challenges facing transboundary river basin management
Authors: Zeitoun Mark , Goulden Marisa , Tickner David
Published: May 2013

This review employs academic and policy literature to gage the relative importance and concerns associated with the main challenges facing the management of transboundary river basins: increasing pressures; management and policy that has not kept pace with a broadened set of actors; the influence of climate change; and the politics of reconciling political borders and basin boundaries. The persistence of the supply‐side management philosophy within current political economies is also reviewed, along with infrastructure and institutional responses to the challenges (e.g., IWRM, dams, treaties). An analytical frame developed from the review is applied to three basins where there has been successful, considerable, or no effort at transboundary basin management: the Rhine, the Nile, and the Euphrates. International politics and national self‐interest are found to be the key challenge facing international basins, though each of the challenges is interconnected and should be considered in combination. If transboundary basin management is to confront the challenges successfully, it should develop along two paths: away from a supply‐side management paradigm toward adaptive management, and away from sovereignty and unilateralism to multilateralism. While infrastructure built under a paradigm of reducing uncertainty is found to reduce the adaptation options set, adaptive management that can make the most of the increasingly diverse governance and confront the supply‐management philosophy is seen as best‐suited to meet future challenges. The disabling effect of sovereignty and international politics may best be addressed by confronting resistance of the promotion of ‘shared sovereignty’ and fair water‐sharing. WIREs Clim Change 2013, 4:331–349. doi: 10.1002/wcc.228

This article is categorized under:

Climate and Development > Social Justice and the Politics of Development
Polyethylenimines for siRNA and miRNA delivery in vivo
Authors: Höbel Sabrina , Aigner Achim
Published: May 2013

The discovery of RNA interference (RNAi) as a naturally occurring mechanism for gene knockdown has attracted considerable attention toward the use of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) for therapeutic purposes. Likewise, microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as important cellular regulators of gene expression, and their pathological underexpression allows for novel therapeutic strategies (‘miRNA replacement therapy’). To address issues related to the instability, charge, and molecular weight of small RNA molecules, nanoparticle formulations have been explored for their in vivo application. Polyethylenimines (PEIs) are positively charged, linear, or branched polymers that are able to form nanoscale complexes with small RNAs, leading to RNA protection, cellular delivery, and intracellular release. This review highlights the important properties of various PEIs with regard to their use for in vivo RNA delivery. PEI modifications for increased efficacy, altered pharmacokinetic properties, improved biocompatibility and, upon covalent coupling of ligands, targeted delivery are described. An overview of various modified PEIs and a comprehensive list of representative studies using PEI‐based siRNA or miRNA delivery in vivo are given. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2013. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1228

This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Neurological Disease

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease
Paleohydrogeology of the Cretaceous sediments of the Williston Basin using stable isotopes of water
Authors: Hendry M. Jim , Barbour S. L. , Novakowski K. , Wassenaar L. I.
Published: May 2013

Hydraulic and isotopic data collected from aquifers are routinely used to characterize hydrogeological conditions within sedimentary basins, but similar data from confining units are generally not collected despite their ability to provide insights on important water/solute transport controls. We characterized paleogroundwater flow and solute transport mechanisms across 384 m of Cretaceous shale (aquitard) in the Williston Basin, Canada, using high‐resolution depth profiles of water isotopes (δ18O, δ2H). Water samples were also collected from wells installed in the underlying regional sandy aquifer (Mannville Fm; 93 m thick) and from seepage inflows into potash mine shafts (to 825 m below ground). The 1‐D numerical transport modeling of δ18O profiles provided insight into large‐scale/long‐term solute transport in both Cretaceous sediments and the basin. Despite the potential for significant advective migration during glaciations, molecular diffusion appears to be the dominant solute transport mechanism through the aquitard. Simulations suggest average vertical groundwater velocities of <0.05 m/10 ka and an average excess hydraulic head of <10 m; these values are much less than anticipated by successive glaciations. The dominant paleoevent reflected in present‐day profiles is introduction during the Pleistocene of glaciogenic meteoric water to the aquifer underlying the shale, likely along an aquifer outcrop area east of the site or through local vertical conduits. Simulations suggest these recharge events occurred during one or more glacial periods. The isotopic profile over the upper 25 m of Pleistocene till and shale is consistent with glacial deposition and transport processes within these units over the Holocene (past 10 ka).
Trading water to improve environmental flow outcomes
Authors: Connor Jeffery D. , Franklin Brad , Loch Adam , Kirby Mac , Wheeler Sarah Ann
Published: May 2013

As consumptive extractions and water scarcity pressures brought about by climate change increase in many world river basins, so do the risks to water‐dependent ecological assets. In response, public or not for profit environmental water holders (EWHs) have been established in many areas and bestowed with endowments of water and mandates to manage water for ecological outcomes. Water scarcity has also increasingly spawned water trade arrangements in many river basins, and in many instances, EWHs are now operating in water markets. A number of EWHs, especially in Australia, begin with an endowment of permanent water entitlements purchased from irrigators. Such water entitlements typically have relatively constant interannual supply profiles that often do not match ecological water demand involving flood pulses and periods of drying. This article develops a hydrologic‐economic simulation model of the Murrumbidgee catchment within the Murray‐Darling Basin to assess the scope of possibilities to improve environmental outcomes through EWH trading on an annual water lease market. We find that there are some modest opportunities for EWHs to improve environmental outcomes through water trade. The best opportunities occur in periods of drought and for ecological outcomes that benefit from moderately large floods. We also assess the extent to which EWH trading in annual water leases may create pecuniary externalities via bidding up or down the water lease prices faced by irrigators. Environmental water trading is found to have relatively small impacts on water market price outcomes. Overall our results suggest that the benefits of developing EWH trading may well justify the costs.
Copper(II) Complex with the Tridentate Ligand N,N‐bis(2‐ethyl‐4‐methyl‐imidazol‐5‐ylmethyl)phenylethylamine (biaq). X‐ray Crystal Structure and Biological Activity on Bacillussubtilis of [Cu(biaq)Cl2].
Authors: Mendoza Ángeles , Mendoza‐Díaz Guillermo , Pedraza‐Reyes Mario , Bernès Sylvain
Published: May 2013

The ligand N,N‐bis(2‐ethyl‐4‐methyl‐imidazol‐5‐ylmethyl)‐1‐phenylethylamine (biaq) was prepared by Mannich reaction of 2‐ethyl‐4‐methyl‐1H‐imidazole, (R)‐1‐phenylethylamine and formaldehyde. It was characterized by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy. This ligand reacts with CuCl2 to give a coordination compound with formula [Cu(biaq)Cl2]. In this compound, biaq acts as a tridentate ligand with one tertiary amine and two azole nitrogen atoms coordinated to the central metal atom. The complex was characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and X‐ray diffraction. The X‐ray structure of [Cu(biaq)Cl2] shows a pentacoordinate cooper(II) atom, where two chloride ions and the three nitrogen atoms of the biaq ligand are coordinated in a distorted square pyramidal arrangement. The biological activity of the complex [Cu(biaq)Cl2] was tested using the Gram positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis as a model. Results revealed that the copper complex interfered with bacterial growth, inducing cell death, most probably by altering the primary structure of the chromosome, since a significant increase of the mutation frequency to rifampicin resistance was observed.
Positivity bounds on double parton distributions
Authors: Diehl Markus , Kasemets Tomas
Published: May 2013

Abstract

Double hard scattering in proton-proton collisions is described in terms of double parton distributions. We derive bounds on these distributions that follow from their interpretation as probability densities, taking into account all possible spin correlations between two partons in an unpolarized proton. These bounds constrain the size of the polarized distributions and can for instance be used to set upper limits on the effects of spin correlations in double hard scattering. We investigate the stability of the bounds under leading-order DGLAP evolution to higher scales.
Finite-width effects in unstable-particle production at hadron colliders
Authors: Falgari P. , Papanastasiou A.S. , Signer A.
Published: May 2013

Abstract

We present a general formalism for the calculation of finite-width contributions to the differential production cross sections of unstable particles at hadron colliders. In this formalism, which employs an effective-theory description of unstable-particle production and decay, the matrix element computation is organized as a gauge-invariant expansion in powers of Γ
X

/m

X
, with Γ
X
and m

X
the width and mass of the unstable particle. This framework allows for a systematic inclusion of off-shell and non-factorizable effects whilst at the same time keeping the computational effort minimal compared to a full calculation in the complex-mass scheme. As a proof-of-concept example, we give results for an NLO calculation of top-antitop production in the
$ q\overline{q} $
partonic channel. As already found in a similar calculation of single-top production, the finite-width effects are small for the total cross section, as expected from the naïve counting ~ Γ
t

/m

t
~ 1%. However, they can be sizeable, in excess of 10%, close to edges of certain kinematical distributions. The dependence of the results on the mass renormalization scheme, and its implication for a precise extraction of the top-quark mass, is also discussed.
Effects of preoperative exposure to a high-fat versus a low-fat diet on ingestive behavior after gastric bypass surgery in rats
Authors: Seyfried Florian , Miras Alexander D. , Bueter Marco , Prechtl Christina G. , Spector Alan C. , le Roux Carel W.
Published: May 2013

Background

The consumption of high fat and sugar diets is decreased after gastric bypass surgery (GB). The mechanisms remain unclear, with tests of motivated behavior toward fat and sugar producing conflicting results in a rat model. These discrepancies may be due to differences in presurgical maintenance diets. The authors used their GB rat model to determine whether the fat content of preoperative maintenance diets affects weight loss, calorie intake, and macronutrient selection after surgery.

Methods

Male Wistar rats were either low-fat diet fed (LFDF) with normal chow or high-fat diet fed (HFDF) before randomization to GB or sham surgery. In food preference test 1, the animals were offered the choice of a vegetable drink (V8) or a high-calorie liquid (Ensure), and in food preference test 2, they could choose normal chow or a solid high-fat diet.

Results

The GB groups did not differ significantly in terms of body weight loss or caloric intake. In food preference test 1, both groups responded similarly by reducing their preference for Ensure and increasing their preference for V8. In food preference test 2, the HFDF-GB rats reduced their preference for a solid high-fat diet gradually compared with the immediate reduction observed in the LFDF-GB rats.

Conclusion

The consumption of presurgical maintenance diets with different fat contents did not affect postoperative weight loss outcomes. Both the LFDF-GB and HFDF-GB rats exhibited behaviors consistent with the possible expression of a conditioned taste aversion to a high-fat stimulus. These results suggest that for some physiologic parameters, low-fat-induced obesity models can be used for the study of changes after GB and have relevance to many obese humans who consume high-calorie but low-fat diets.
Normal dose of pilsicainide showed marked negative inotropic effects in a patient who had no underlying heart disease
Authors: Yoshida Masayoshi , Ando Shin‐ichi , Chishaki Akiko , Makita Naomasa , Hasegawa Yoshiyuki , Narita Sumito , Momii Hidetoshi , Kadokami Toshiaki
Published: May 2013

We report the case of an otherwise healthy 64‐year‐old female who developed cardiopulmonary arrest after the administration of pilsicainide for treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. She had had an episode of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, but no liver dysfunction, renal dysfunction, or echocardiographic abnormality before her admission. On the day of admission and the following day, 50 mg of pilsicainide was administered intravenously over 10 min (total 100 mg). Shortly after the second injection, she developed marked bradycardia and hypotension and eventually fell into a state of pulseless electrical activity. Immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation was started. Although application of a temporary pacemaker restored her heart rate, echocardiography revealed no left ventricular contraction. We started percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS) and intra‐aortic balloon pumping (IABP). Her cardiac contraction gradually recovered and returned to completely normality 3 days after the onset. The patient was discharged in an ambulatory condition.
From the Front Line: The State as a Failed Parent
Authors: Ainsworth Frank , Hansen Patricia
Published: May 2013

The focus of this article is young women aged 16–17 years who, while in State care in New South Wales gave birth, and from whom the child was then removed by the same department that is responsible for the mother's care. This topic is rarely examined due to two constraints. One is the lack of available data about the incidence of events of this kind. The second is the confidentiality provision in the New South Wales Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 which defines the Children's Court as a closed court and prohibits the reporting of identifiable case information.

As a consequence much of this article is based on the authors' direct observation of cases involving young women of this age that they have encountered while undertaking professional duties in the Children's Court. The article also explores the further issue of the adoption of children removed from mothers who are still in State care.

Because of the lack of data this article can be classified as an opinion piece which attempts to raise awareness about an important care issue. The article has a New South Wales focus but the authors expect that the same concerns are echoed in other Australian states and territories.
Competency-Based Standardized Training for Humanitarian Providers: Making Humanitarian Assistance a Professional Discipline
Authors: Johnson Kirsten , Idzerda Leanne , Baras Rachel , Camburn Jessica , Hein Karen , Walker Peter , Burkle Frederick M.
Published: May 2013

The number of people employed in international humanitarian care is growing at a yearly rate of 6%. The demand for better coordination, accountability, and training has led to a need for standardized humanitarian training programs for providers. Training should be based on comprehensive core competencies that providers must demonstrate in addition to their skill-specific competencies. This report explores the competencies specific to humanitarian training that are practice- and application-oriented, teachable, and measurable. Competency-based, standardized programs will be used to select humanitarian workers deployed in future crises and to guide the professionalization of this discipline.
Faster growth rate inad libitum-fed cats: a risk factor predicting the likelihood of becoming overweight during adulthood
Authors: Serisier Samuel , Feugier Alexandre , Venet Claudie , Biourge Vincent , German Alexander J.
Published: May 2013

In human subjects, the risk of becoming overweight (OW) in adulthood is largely determined early in childhood. However, early-life factors have not been considered for feline obesity. A total of eighty colony cats, fedad libitum, were studied; various breeds, ages and sex were included, with thirty-six (45 %) being OW and forty-four (55 %) being of ideal weight (IW). The effects of various factors (including age, sex, neuter status, breed (purev. mixed), mean daily food intake (FI), housing status (indoor with outdoor accessv. exclusively indoor) and body weight at 1 year of age (BW1y)) on weight status were assessed. Initial statistical analyses identified BW1y as the main significant variable. Body weight (BW) and FI were then assessed between 1 and 8·5 years of age, with group differences (OWv. IW) noted for BW, which increased significantly with age only in the OW group (P < 0·001). However, no difference in BW (P = 0·17) was noted when BW1y was included as a covariate in the model. FI did not change with age in either group. Finally, given the importance of BW1y, changes in BW from 3 to 12 months were then assessed with BW at 3 months of age included as a covariate. Whereas at 3 months of age, no group difference in BW was observed, a faster rate of weight gain was seen in OW cats. In conclusion, as in human subjects, the rate of growth is a key risk factor for cats becoming OW, although the factors responsible are currently not known.
High sodium:potassium intake ratio increases the risk for all-cause mortality: the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study
Authors: Judd Suzanne E. , Aaron Kristal J. , Letter Abraham J. , Muntner Paul , Jenny Nancy S. , Campbell Ruth C. , Kabagambe Edmond K. , Levitan Emily B. , Levine Deborah A. , Shikany James M. , Safford Monika , Lackland Daniel T.
Published: May 2013

Increased dietary Na intake and decreased dietary K intake are associated with higher blood pressure. It is not known whether the dietary Na:K ratio is associated with all-cause mortality or stroke incidence and whether this relationship varies according to race. Between 2003 and 2007, the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) cohort enrolled 30 239 black and white Americans aged 45 years or older. Diet was assessed using the Block 98 FFQ and was available on 21 374 participants. The Na:K ratio was modelled in race- and sex-specific quintiles for all analyses, with the lowest quintile (Q1) as the reference group. Data on other covariates were collected using both an in-home assessment and telephone interviews. We identified 1779 deaths and 363 strokes over a mean of 4·9 years. We used Cox proportional hazards models to obtain multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HR). In the highest quintile (Q5), a high Na:K ratio was associated with all-cause mortality (Q5v. Q1 for whites: HR 1·22; 95 % CI 1·00, 1·47,Pfor trend = 0·084; for blacks: HR 1·36; 95 % CI 1·04, 1·77,Pfor trend = 0·028). A high Na:K ratio was not significantly associated with stroke in whites (HR 1·29; 95 % CI 0·88, 1·90) or blacks (HR 1·39; 95 % CI 0·78, 2·48), partly because of the low number of stroke events. In the REGARDS study, a high Na:K ratio was associated with all-cause mortality and there was a suggestive association between the Na:K ratio and stroke. These data support the policies targeted at reduction of Na from the food supply and recommendations to increase K intake.
Association of schizophrenia with T102C (rs6313) and 1438 A/G (rs6311) polymorphisms of HTR2A gene
Authors: Yildiz Saliha Handan , Akilli Asli , Bagcioglu Erman , Ozdemir Erdogan Mujgan , Coskun Kerem Senol , Alpaslan Ahmet Hamdi , Subasi Burak , Arikan Terzi Evrim Suna
Published: May 2013

Objective

The aim of this study is to investigate whether there were any associations between the T102C and 1438 A/G polymorphisms of the 5-HT2A receptor gene and schizophrenia. We conducted a case–control study of the T102C and 1438 A/G polymorphisms in Turkish patients.

Methods

We compared genotypes and allele frequencies of T102C and 1438 A/G polymorphisms of 5-HT2A receptor gene in 102 patients with schizophrenia diagnosed, according to DSM-IV, and 107 healthy controls. Genotyping was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Results

We found no significant association between schizophrenia and genotypic or allele frequencies of HTR2A gene 102T/C (rs6313) and 1438 A/G (6311) polymorphisms. However, comparison of HTR2A gene 102 T/C and 1438 A/G polymorphisms in terms of genotypic and allele frequencies between the two patient groups, with or without a family history of schizophrenia, shows that T- and A-allele frequencies were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the case group that has a history of schizophrenia in their family.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our results do not support the hypothesis that the T102C and 1438 A/G polymorphisms in the 5-HT2A receptor gene are associated with schizophrenia, but further studies in a larger sample are needed.
A Newly Discovered Horse Engraving from La Madeleine (Dordogne), France
Authors: Langley Michelle C.
Published: May 2013

A new engraving of a horse head has been discovered during a recent re-examination of the Magdalenian osseous projectile point assemblage from La Madeleine curated in the Musée d'Archéologie Nationale (St-Germain-en-Laye, France). Found on one side of an unmodified tip of reindeer tine, this piece was uncovered in amongst a collection of distal (tip) fragments of antler sagaies. While this piece is not unique to La Madeleine – a number of similar pieces having been recovered in early excavations at this site – it nonetheless contributes another small piece of information regarding Magdalenian mobiliary art. The horse engraving is compared with other known finds from La Madeleine, as well as several additional Magdalenian sites in order to outline its place in the current state of knowledge regarding these enigmatic artefacts.
AN ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ADVERSE EVENTS, ANXIETY AND BODY SIZE OF ADOLESCENTS
Authors: HANĆ TOMASZ , JANICKA KLAUDIA , DURDA MAGDALENA , CIEŚLIK JOACHIM
Published: May 2013

The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between adverse life events, a tendency to respond with a high level of anxiety, and height and adiposity of adolescents. The sample included 575 persons (309 girls and 266 boys) aged 10–15 (mean 12.73) from the Wielkopolska region of Poland. The influence of adverse events during the 6 months before the examination and anxiety trait, as assessed with a STAIC questionnaire, on body height and BMI was analysed. Also sex, age, chronic diseases and socioeconomic status indicators were assessed. One-way and two-way ANOVA was used for assessment of relationships. Adverse events had no influence on body height and BMI. Subjects with a high level of anxiety trait (>34 score) were shorter (differencez=0.21) than subjects with a normal level of anxiety trait (≤34 score). The association of anxiety trait and body height was significant after adjustment for sex, age, chronic diseases and history of adverse life events. The analysis showed no statistically significant influence of adverse life events on height and BMI and a significant relationship between the general tendency to respond with anxiety and body height of adolescents. This suggests that psychological characteristics associated with the cognitive tendency to interpret events as threatening, and consequently, to respond with stress, may be involved in the variability of biological traits regardless of the objective harmfulness of the situation.
Increase of sea turtles stranding records in Rhodes Island (eastern Mediterranean Sea): update of a long-term survey
Authors: Corsini-Foka Maria , Kondylatos Gerasimos , Santorinios Elias
Published: May 2013

A total of 209 strandings of sea turtles (152 loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta, 42 green turtles Chelonia mydas, 15 unidentified) were recorded during the period 1984–2011 along the coasts of Rhodes (Aegean Sea, Greece). The proportion of dead to live individuals was different in the two species. Stranded Caretta caretta were larger than Chelonia mydas. The size range of stranded green turtles, usually juveniles, appeared to increase since 2000, including the largest specimens ever observed in Greek waters. For both species, a tendency to strand more frequently on the west coast of the island, along fishing ground areas, was noted. The higher incidence of loggerhead turtle strandings was observed in summer, while more green turtle strandings were documented in winter. Factors involved in the increased trend of stranding records of both species, along with the acceleration of this phenomenon in the last decade, are discussed. Data from Rhodes provide evidence that human activities detrimentally affect mainly larger-sized loggerhead turtles living in shallow waters.
Rethinking the Twentieth-Century History of Mumbai
Authors: HAYNES DOUGLAS E.
Published: May 2013

This review examines three major books on the history of Bombay. Historians of the city have tended to focus primarily on the period before 1930; this tendency has seriously limited our understanding of the dramatic transformations that have taken place in Bombay over the course of the twentieth century. Each of the studies reviewed here devotes considerable attention to developments since the 1920s. Collectively these works make a significant contribution to the appreciation of such matters as working-class politics, the changing character of workers’ neighbourhoods, land use, urban planning, and the ways the city has been imagined and experienced by its citizens. At the same time, these works all shift their analytic frameworks as they approach more contemporary periods and this restricts the authors' ability to assess fully the character of urban change. This paper calls upon historians to continue to apply the tools of social history, particularly its reliance on close microcosmic studies of particular places and groups over long periods of time, as they try to bridge the gap between the early twentieth century and the later twentieth century. At the same time, it suggests that historians need to consider Gyan Prakash's view of cities as ‘patched-up societies’ whose entirety cannot be understood through single, linear models of change.
Establishment of a European-type strain of Echinococcus multilocularis in Canadian wildlife
Authors: GESY K. , HILL J. E. , SCHWANTJE H. , LICCIOLI S. , JENKINS E. J.
Published: May 2013

In 2009, a haplotype closely related to European strains of Echinococcus multilocularis was detected in a dog from the Quesnel region of British Columbia, Canada. We now report the establishment of this same haplotype in 7 coyotes (Canis latrans) trapped within 40 km of Quesnel, BC. In addition, 3 coyotes and 1 red fox (Vulpes vulpes) harboured adult cestodes morphologically compatible with that of E. multilocularis (overall prevalence 33% in 33 carnivores). None of 156 potential intermediate hosts, including 131 representatives of two highly suitable rodent species, Peromyscus maniculatus and Microtus pennsylvanicus, trapped from a region 120–210 km south of Quesnel were infected. This report confirms the establishment and local transmission of a European-type strain of E. multilocularis (the causative agent of human alveolar hydatid disease), in wildlife in a forested region of North America where this cestode had not been previously detected, with significance for public and animal health.
Population structure and canopy use by Coussapoa microcarpa, a strangler hemiepiphyte from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest
Authors: Coelho Luís Francisco Mello , Pizo Marco Aurélio
Published: May 2013

We studied density, size structure, and establishment sites of Coussapoa microcarpa in the Brazilian Atlantic rain forest. This species is a hemiepiphyte that begins its life in the tops of trees and survives the death of its host to become a free-standing tree. All individuals of C. microcarpa already rooted in the ground were recorded in a 3.43 ha (1.75 ha in lowland and 1.68 ha in submontane) sample of forest plots. Data on total height, root diameter at breast height, host height and diameter at breast height, as well as height, type and diameter of the establishment site were collected. Coussapoa microcarpa present a high density (36.5 ind. ha−1) and the population studied was composed mainly of young individuals. Young and adults differed in establishment sites. The diameter of establishment sites of young was narrower than the diameter of establishment sites of adults, which points out to a limiting factor (diameter of establishment site) regulating the establishment of C. microcarpa.
Changes in pollinator assemblages following hurricanes affect the mating system ofLaguncularia racemosa(Combretaceae) in Florida, USA
Authors: Landry Carol L.
Published: May 2013

Hurricanes are major disturbance events in Neotropical mangrove communities, potentially affecting the reproductive success of mangrove species. This was the first investigation of changes in mangrove pollinator assemblages following hurricanes, and the effect of these changes on the mating system ofLaguncularia racemosa. Insect pollinator assemblages were investigated in three Florida mangrove communities in 2001–2003, 2005 and 2009; two hurricanes affected the area in 2004. Visitation rates were estimated from 1445 insects observed during 272 10-min intervals; the number of flowers visited by each insect was also recorded. Pollinator diversity was estimated with the Shannon Index. Following the hurricanes, species richness was reduced by 43–65% and diversity declined by 36–70%. Significant declines in insect visitation toL. racemosaresulted in reduced outcrossing frequencies in 2005.Laguncularia racemosaflowers autogamously self-pollinate without insect visitors, so fruit set still occurred. Visitation rates returned to pre-hurricane levels by 2009, but foraging behaviours differed from pre-hurricane patterns; outcrossing was further favoured by reduced frequencies of long foraging bouts and increased frequencies of short foraging bouts. The mixed mating system ofL. racemosaprovides reproductive assurance following hurricane disturbances, when pollinator abundance is low.