bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Radiofrequency coblation for treatment of advanced laryngotracheal recurrent respiratory papillomatosis
Authors: Carney A S , Evans A S , Mirza S , Psaltis A
Published: December 2009

Background:

A variety of treatment modalities are currently used to treat recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. We aimed to study the efficacy of radiofrequency cold ablation (coblation) for the treatment of laryngotracheal recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, by comparing treatment intervals for coblation and CO2 laser vaporisation.

Method:

Retrospective case series of adult patients with advanced laryngotracheal recurrent respiratory papillomatosis.

Results:

Six patients were treated for at least two years by CO2 laser vaporisation with or without intralesional cidofovir. All six subsequently underwent treatment with radiofrequency coblation with or without intralesional cidofovir. Coblation resulted in longer periods between interventions, compared with CO2 laser (p = 0.03).

Conclusion:

Radiofrequency coblation appears to be an attractive alternative technique to CO2 laser for the surgical treatment of advanced laryngotracheal papillomata.
Occurrence and histopathological effects of Monstrilla sp. (Copepoda: Monstrilloida) and other parasites in the brown mussel Perna perna from Brazil
Authors: Suárez-Morales Eduardo , Scardua Marcos Paiva , da Silva Patricia Mirella
Published: December 2009

During a parasitological survey of the brown mussel Perna perna from highly productive culture fields in the southern sector of Brazil, monstrilloid copepods were discovered in the mantle of this mytilid bivalve. Numerous specimens of endoparasitic copepods were found within nodules in the mantle of the host; they belong to an undetermined species of Monstrilla. Monstrilloid copepods were known to be endoparasitic in polychaetes and in one species of prosobranch mollusc only; their occurrence as parasites of bivalve molluscs has not been previously documented. This is also the first record of these crustaceans infecting commercial molluscs. The prevalence of Monstrilla sp. infecting the brown mussel was 25.6%. At the histological level, it was observed that the larvae induced a strong haemocytic infiltration resulting from the complete larval encapsulation within the host mantle. The effect of this monstrilloid in the cultured populations of P. perna deserves further study.
Lorenz-like flows: exponential decay of correlations for the Poincaré map, logarithm law, quantitative recurrence
Authors: GALATOLO S. , PACIFICO MARIA JOSÉ
Published: December 2009

In this paper we prove that the Poincaré map associated to a Lorenz-like flow has exponential decay of correlations with respect to Lipschitz observables. This implies that the hitting time associated to the flow satisfies a logarithm law. The hitting time τr(x,x0) is the time needed for the orbit of a point x to enter a ball Br(x0) centered at x0, with small radius r, for the first time. As the radius of the ball decreases to 0 its asymptotic behavior is a power law whose exponent is related to the local dimension of the physical measure at x0: for each x0 such that the local dimension dμ (x0) exists, holds for μ almost each x. In a similar way, it is possible to consider a quantitative recurrence indicator quantifying the speed of an orbit to come back to its starting point. Similar results hold for this recurrence indicator.
Task-priority motion planning of underactuated systems: an endogenous configuration space approach
Authors: Ratajczak Adam , Karpińska Joanna , Tchoń Krzysztof
Published: December 2009

This paper presents a task-priority motion planning algorithm for underactuated robotic systems. The motion planning algorithm combines two features: the idea of the task-priority control of redundant manipulators and the endogenous configuration space approach. This combination results in the algorithm which solves the primary motion planning task simultaneously with one or more secondary tasks ordered in accordance with decreasing priorities. The performance of the task-priority motion planning algorithm has been illustrated with computer simulations of the motion planning problem for a container ship.
Object movement in preschool children's word learning
Authors: SCOFIELD JASON , MILLER ANDREA , HARTIN TRAVIS
Published: December 2009

Two studies examined whether preschool children preferred to select a moving object over stationary objects when determining the referent of a novel word. In both studies three- and four-year-olds observed three novel objects, one moving object and two stationary objects. In Study 1, children (n=44) were asked to select the object that best matched a novel word. In Study 2, children (n=45) were asked to select the object that best matched a novel fact. Results across the two studies indicated that three- and four-year-olds showed a preference for selecting the moving object and that this preference was similar for both words and facts. These results suggest that preschool children are able to use movement to determine the referent of a novel word, especially when other cues are unavailable or unhelpful, but that movement may not be uniquely helpful for word learning.
Plasticity of fixation in patients with central vision loss
Authors: TARITA-NISTOR LUMINITA , GONZÁLEZ ESTHER G. , MARKOWITZ SAMUEL N. , STEINBACH MARTIN J.
Published: December 2009

The aim of this study was to explore the plasticity of fixation in patients with central vision loss. Most of these patients use preferred retinal loci (PRLs) in the healthy eccentric part of the retina to fixate, but fixation stability and retinal location are not always optimal for best visual performance. This study examined whether fixation stability and a new PRL location can be trained and whether these changes in ocular motor control transfer into better reading performance. Six patients with age-related macular degeneration participated in the study. Fixation stability measurements, microperimetry, and auditory biofeedback training were performed with the MP-1 microperimeter. The auditory biofeedback was used during five 1-h long training sessions to improve fixation and relocate the PRL. Fixation location and stability were recorded while viewing four different targets: a cross, a letter, a word, and a nine-cycle radial grating. Visual acuity was assessed with the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) chart and reading performance with the MNRead test. The results showed that all patients developed a new PRL in an optimal location for reading, and they were able to use it consistently while viewing different targets. Fixation stability improved 53% after training. Learning transferred to the old PRL even though fixation stability at this location was not trained. All these improvements in ocular motor control translated into better reading performance: reading speed improved 38% and reading acuity and critical print size gained two lines. We conclude that the ability of the ocular motor system to fixate is flexible in patients with central vision loss: a new PRL can be trained, fixation stability can be improved, and learning transfers to an untrained location. These gains in ocular motor control result in better visual performance. This property can be successfully used to optimize the residual vision of patients with central vision loss.
Cell type-specific and light-dependent expression of Rab1 and Rab6 GTPases in mammalian retinas
Authors: HUANG WEI , WU GUANGYU , WANG GUO-YONG
Published: December 2009

The Ras-like Rab1 and Rab6 GTPases modulate protein traffic along the early secretory pathway and are involved in the regulation of maturation of rhodopsin in the outer retina. However, Rab GTPases have not been studied in the inner retinas. Here, we analyzed the anatomatic distribution and expression of Rab1 and Rab6 in the mouse and rat retinas by immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting. We found that Rab1 was specifically expressed in the rod bipolar cells, while Rab6 was expressed in a different cell type(s) from rod bipolar cells in the inner retina. We also demonstrated that expression of Rab1 and Rab6 was increased with light. These data provided the first evidence implicating that Rab1 and Rab6 may be involved in the regulation of the retinal adaptation.
The effect and mode of action of saponins on the microbial populations and fermentation in the rumen and ruminant production
Authors: Patra A. K. , Saxena J.
Published: December 2009

The growing public concerns over chemical residues in animal-derived foods and threats of antibiotic-resistant bacteria have renewed interest in exploring safer alternatives to chemical feed additives in ruminant livestock. Various bioactive phytochemicals including saponins appear to be potential ‘natural’ alternatives to ‘chemical’ additives in modulating rumen fermentation favourably and animal performance. Saponins are a diverse group of glycosides present in many families of plants. The primary effect of saponins in the rumen appears to be to inhibit the protozoa (defaunation), which might increase the efficiency of microbial protein synthesis and protein flow to the duodenum. Furthermore, saponins may decrease methane production via defaunation and/or directly by decreasing the activities (i.e. rate of methanogenesis or expression of methane-producing genes) and numbers of methanogens. Saponins may also selectively affect specific rumen bacteria and fungi, which may alter the rumen metabolism beneficially or adversely. The ammonia-adsorption and modulation of digesta passage in the rumen by saponins have also been implicated in altering rumen metabolism, but their physiological responses are likely to be negligible compared with microbiological effects. The effects of saponins on rumen fermentation have not been found to be consistent. These discrepancies appear to be related to the chemical structure and dosage of saponins, diet composition, microbial community and adaptation of microbiota to saponins. There is need for systematic research based on chemical structures of saponins, nutrient composition of diets and their effects on rumen microbial ecosystem to obtain consistent results. The present paper reviews and discusses the effects and mode of action of saponins on microbial community and fermentation in the rumen, and ruminant performance.
Functional foods for dyslipidaemia and cardiovascular risk prevention
Authors: Sirtori Cesare R. , Galli Claudio , Anderson James W. , Sirtori Elena , Arnoldi Anna
Published: December 2009

A food can be regarded as ‘functional’ if it can demonstrate a beneficial efficacy on one or more target functions in the body in a convincing way. Beyond adequate nutritional qualities, functional foods should either improve the state of health and wellbeing and/or reduce the risk of disease. Functional foods that are marketed with claims of heart disease reduction focus primarily on the major risk factors, i.e. cholesterol, diabetes and hypertension. Some of the most innovative products are designed to be enriched with ‘protective’ ingredients, believed to reduce risk. They may contain, for example, soluble fibre (from oat and psyllium), useful both for lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, or fructans, effective in diabetes. Phytosterols and stanols lower LDL-cholesterol in a dose-dependent manner. Soya protein is more hypocholesterolaemic in subjects with very high initial cholesterol and recent data indicate also favourable activities in the metabolic syndrome.n-3 Fatty acids appear to exert significant hypotriacylglycerolaemic effects, possibly partly responsible for their preventive activity. Dark chocolate is gaining much attention for its multifunctional activities, useful both for the prevention of dyslipidaemia as well as hypertension. Finally, consensus opinions about tea and coffee have not emerged yet, and the benefits of vitamin E, garlic, fenugreek and policosanols in the management of dyslipidaemia and prevention of arterial disease are still controversial.
Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in older people
Authors: Shah N , Agbobu A , Costello I , Beri A , Minhas K
Published: December 2009

Prion diseases are rare degenerative disorders of the nervous system caused by abnormal accumulation and/or metabolism of prion proteins. They are invariably fatal. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is the most common human prion disease and the sporadic form accounts for 85% of cases, whilst about 15% are genetic and 1% is iatrogenic. Variant CJD (vCJD) was mostly seen in the UK and France and mainly affected young people. Sporadic CJD (sCJD) occurs throughout the world with mean age of onset in the seventh decade. It typically presents with rapidly declining cognition that may get confused with other forms of dementia. Thus identification of sCJD in older people depends on a judicious awareness of the clinical features. Here we present a clinical, pathological, therapeutic and diagnostic review of sCJD.
Online Conflict-Free Colouring for Hypergraphs
Authors: BAR-NOY A. , CHEILARIS P. , OLONETSKY S. , SMORODINSKY S.
Published: December 2009

We provide a framework for online conflict-free colouring of any hypergraph. We introduce the notion of a degenerate hypergraph, which characterizes hypergraphs that arise in geometry. We use our framework to obtain an efficient randomized online algorithm for conflict-free colouring of any k-degenerate hypergraph with n vertices. Our algorithm uses O(k log n) colours with high probability and this bound is asymptotically optimal. Moreover, our algorithm uses O(k log k log n) random bits with high probability. We introduce algorithms that are allowed to perform a few recolourings of already coloured points. We provide deterministic online conflict-free colouring algorithms for points on the line with respect to intervals and for points on the plane with respect to half-planes (or unit disks) that use O(log n) colours and perform a total of at most O(n) recolourings.
Some Inequalities for Whitney–Tutte Polynomials
Authors: MANI ARUN P.
Published: December 2009

We introduce and prove a family of inequalities satisfied by the Whitney rank generating function of a matroid in the positive quadrant of ℝ2. These can be interpreted as correlation inequalities at those points where the polynomial is known to count the number of independent sets, bases or spanning sets of the matroid. Our proofs also introduce an idea of rank dominating bijections in matroids, which are then used to obtain some simple extensions of the submodular property of matroid ranks.
The effect of bovine embryo culture without proteins supplements until day 4 on transcription level of hyaluronan synthases, receptors and mtDNA content
Authors: Palasz A.T. , Breña P. Beltrán , De la Fuente J. , Gutiérrez-Adán A.
Published: December 2009

The effect of bovine embryo culture on a flat surface, (without a surface-active compound) on the level of mRNA expression of hyaluronan (HA) synthases (Has1, Has2 and Has3), Ha receptors RHAMM and C44 receptors was evaluated by mitochondrial DNA concentration andin vitrodevelopment. Cultures were evaluated up to 96 h post-insemination (hpi) using SOFaa medium. Of the three Has isoforms, Has2 expression only increased in the bovine serum albumin (BSA)-only supplemented groups regardless of time of BSA addition. Expression of RHAMM receptors was highly dependent on the addition of HA, irrespective of the presence of BSA in the medium. In contrast, expression of the CD44 receptor gene was not affected by any treatment. The cleavage rates and number of embryos that developed to ≤8-cell stage by day 4 were not affected by lack of BSA in the medium, but increased numbers of blastocysts developed in medium supplemented with BSA from days 1 or 4 with or without HA than in medium that had HA only. Addition of both HA and BSA at day 4 increased mtDNA copy numbers at the blastocyst stage. Data suggest that the addition of BSA and/or HA at 96 hpi increased expression ofRHAMMandHas2genes, but notCD44,Has1orHas3genes. Higher expression levels of Has2 than Has1 and the three isoforms indicate that high- rather than low-molecular-weight HA should be used for preimplantation bovine embryo culture.
Validating the Chinese version of the Verbal Learning Test for screening Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: CHANG CHIUNG CHIH , KRAMER JOEL H. , LIN KER NENG , CHANG WEN NENG , WANG YA-LING , HUANG CHI-WEI , LIN YU TING , CHEN CHING , WANG PEI NING
Published: December 2009

Episodic memory tasks are one of the most sensitive tools to discriminate Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This study aimed to validate a shorter version verbal memory test that will efficiently assess Chinese elderly with memory complaints. One hundred and eighty-five elderly with normal cognition (NC) and 217 AD patients were evaluated. Each participant received the Chinese Version Verbal Learning Test (CVVLT) consisting of 9 two-character nouns with 4 learning trials, 2 delayed recalls in 30 seconds and 10 minutes, and a word recognition test. In the NC elderly, age and sex had significant effects on recall scores in CVVLT, while education level showed an inverse correlation with 3 different patterns of errors made during the learning, recall, and recognition trials. AD patients had lower scores across all recall tests. In those with lower educational level, NC elderly had higher perseveration errors than AD patients. The cutoff value between the AD and NC groups in the 10-minute recall was 4/5 for those aged >75 years and 5/6 for those aged <75 years. This study has good validity in discriminating AD participants and the data here can help in diagnosing AD and mild cognitive impairment using the CVVLT. (JINS, 2010, 16, 244–251.)
Neuropsychological performance following a history of multiple self-reported concussions: A meta-analysis
Authors: BELANGER HEATHER G. , SPIEGEL ERIC , VANDERPLOEG RODNEY D.
Published: December 2009

Debate continues about the long-term neuropsychological impact of multiple mild traumatic brain injuries (MTBI). A meta-analysis of the relevant literature was conducted to determine the impact of having a history of more than one self-reported MTBI (versus just one MTBI) across seven cognitive domains, as well as symptom complaints. The analysis was based on 8 studies, all conducted with athletes, involving 614 cases of multiple MTBI and 926 control cases of a single MTBI. The overall effect of multiple MTBI on neuropsychological functioning was minimal and not significant (d= 0.06). However, follow-up analyses revealed that multiple self-reported MTBI was associated with poorer performance on measures of delayed memory and executive functioning. The implications and limitations of these findings are discussed. (JINS, 2010,16, 262–267.)
Characteristics of executive function impairment in Parkinson’s disease patients without dementia
Authors: MCKINLAY AUDREY , GRACE RANDOLPH C. , DALRYMPLE-ALFORD JOHN C. , ROGER DEREK
Published: December 2009

Executive function impairments in Parkinson’s disease (PD) are well documented. However, uncertainties remain regarding the impact of these deficits on other areas of cognitive functioning. The goal of this study was to provide a comprehensive assessment of cognitive characteristics in patients with PD without dementia and to assess how any such deficits affected other areas of cognitive functioning. Forty PD patients without dementia were compared to healthy controls using measures of attention and speed of processing and a comprehensive set of executive function tests including working memory, planning, and problem solving. Measures of memory/learning and visuospatial skills were also included to examine the relationship between aspects of executive function and other areas of cognition. Patients with PD showed deficits on measures of executive function, problem solving, and visuospatial skills. However, they were unimpaired on measures of planning, attention, and memory/learning. Deficits in problem solving were only evident for tasks with a high visuospatial content and were no longer significant when visuospatial skills were controlled for. While deficits in executive function and visuospatial skills were apparent for PD patients compared to controls, many aspects of cognition remained intact. These can provide a focus for cognitive intervention strategies that can be effective in delaying decline for PD patients. (JINS, 2010, 16, 268–277.)
Interstimulus jitter facilitates response control in children with ADHD
Authors: RYAN MATTHEW , MARTIN REBECCA , DENCKLA MARTHA B. , MOSTOFSKY STEWART H. , MAHONE E. MARK
Published: December 2009

Interstimulus “jitter” involves randomization of intervals between successive stimulus events, and can facilitate performance on go/no-go tests among healthy adults, though its effect in clinical populations is unclear. Children with Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) commonly exhibit deficient response control, leading to increased intra-subject variability (ISV), which has been linked to anomalous functioning within frontal circuits, as well as their interaction with posterior “default mode” regions. We examined effects of interstimulus jitter on response variability in 39 children, ages 9–14 years (25 ADHD, 14 controls). Participants completed 2 computerized go/no-go tests: one with fixed interstimulus interval (ISI) and one with jittered ISI. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed a significant group–by test interaction, such that introduction of jitter produced a significant decrease in ISV among children with ADHD, but not among controls. Whereas children with ADHD were significantly more variable than controls on the go/no-go test with fixed ISI, their performance with jittered ISI was equivalent to that of controls. Jittering stimulus presentation provides a nonpharmacologic mechanism for improving response control in ADHD. This bottom-up approach may be mediated by increases in vigilance through noradrenergic circuits that facilitate maintenance of frontal circuits critical to response control. (JINS, 2010, 16, 388–393.)
Longitudinal patterns of semantic and episodic memory in frontotemporal lobar degeneration and Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: XIE SHARON X. , LIBON DAVID J. , WANG XINGMEI , MASSIMO LAUREN , MOORE PEACHIE , VESELY LUISA , KHAN ALEA , CHATTERJEE ANJAN , COSLETT H. BRANCH , HURTIG HOWARD I. , LIANG TSAO-WEI , GROSSMAN MURRAY
Published: December 2009

The longitudinal assessment of episodic and semantic memory was obtained from 236 patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD, n = 128) and with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD, n = 108), including patients with a social comportment/dysexecutive (SOC/EXEC) disorder, progressive nonfluent aphasia (PNFA), semantic dementia (SemD), and corticobasal syndrome (CBS). At the initial assessment, AD patients obtained a lower score on the delayed free recall test than other patients. Longitudinal analyses for delayed free recall found converging performance, with all patients reaching the same level of impairment as AD patients. On the initial evaluation for delayed recognition, AD patients also obtained lower scores than other groups. Longitudinal analyses for delayed recognition test performance found that AD patients consistently produced lower scores than other groups and no convergence between AD and other dementia groups was seen. For semantic memory, there were no initial between-group differences. However, longitudinal analyses for semantic memory revealed group differences over illness duration, with worse performance for SemD versus AD, PNFA, SOC/EXEC, and CBS patients. These data suggest the presence of specific longitudinal patterns of impairment for episodic and semantic memory in AD and FTLD patients suggesting that all forms of dementia do not necessarily converge into a single phenotype. (JINS, 2010, 16, 278–286.)
Child L2 development of syntactic and discourse properties of Spanish subjects
Authors: PLADEVALL BALLESTER ELISABET
Published: December 2009

The apparent optionality in the use of null and overt pronominal subjects and the apparently free word order or distribution of preverbal and postverbal subjects in Spanish obey a number of discourse–pragmatic constraints which play an important role in Spanish L2 subject development. Although research on subject properties at the syntax–discourse interface has been conducted in adult L2A and bilingual L1A, child L2A has not been extensively explored in this respect. This paper explores the L2 development of syntactic and discourse properties of subjects by British child L2 learners of Spanish in the context of a Spanish immersion school and in three different age groups, namely five-, ten- and seventeen-year-old children whose age of first exposure was at four years old, and in three corresponding control groups. Research is carried out by means of grammaticality and preference judgment experimental tasks and results suggest that children can indeed acquire the syntactic properties of Spanish subjects, although not fully in the case of the first two age groups, while the acquisition of discourse properties seems to be delayed and remains problematic even for the older/more advanced group, as has been suggested for adult L2 learners.
The role of semantics in translation recognition: effects of number of translations, dominance of translations and semantic relatedness of multiple translations
Authors: LAXÉN JANNIKA , LAVAUR JEAN-MARC
Published: December 2009

This study aims to examine the influence of multiple translations of a word on bilingual processing in three translation recognition experiments during which French–English bilinguals had to decide whether two words were translations of each other or not. In the first experiment, words with only one translation were recognized as translations faster than words with multiple translations. Furthermore, when words were presented with their dominant translation, the recognition process was faster than when words were presented with their non-dominant translation. In Experiment 2, these effects were replicated in both directions of translation (L1–L2 and L2–L1). In Experiment 3, we manipulated number-of-translations and the semantic relatedness between the different translations of a word. When the two translations of a word (i.e., bateau) were related in meaning (synonyms such as the English translations boat and ship), the translation recognition process was faster than when the two translations of a word (i.e., argent) were unrelated in meaning (the two translations money and silver). The consequences of translation ambiguities are discussed in the light of the distributed conceptual feature model of bilingual memory (De Groot, 1992b; Van Hell and De Groot, 1998b).
Activité de la Société française en 1876
Authors: Monseigneur S. A. R.
Published: December 2009

Avant d'entrer dans le détail de cet exposé, je mettrai tout d'abord en lumière un fait dont l'influence va désormais dominer nos services, et dont les amis de notre Œuvre accueilleront avec joie la première nouvelle.

M. le Ministre de la guerre vient d'arrêter un projet de règlement par lequel il rattache, dans des conditions nouvelles, la participation de notre Société à toutes les branches du service sanitaire des armées en campagne, et par lequel il lui reconnaît, en échange des grands devoirs qu'il lui impose, le caractère d'une Œuvre privilégiée, auxiliaire permanente du service de santé officiel et principale dispensatrice des ressources de l'assistance volontaire.
Présidence de la Société belge
Authors: Sigart F. , Bougard
Published: December 2009

Le Comité international a reçu la lettre suivante en date de Bruxelles le 5 novembre 1879:

Monsieur le Président du Comité international de la Croix rouge, à Genève.

Monsieur,

Le 3 juillet dernier, la mort a enlevé à l'Association belge de secours aux militaires blessés son vénéré Président, M. le lieutenant-général Renard.

Le Conseil général de l'Association, dans sa dernière séance, a procédé à son remplacement. A l'unanimité, il a appelé à la présidence M. le lieutenant-général Liagre, ministre de la guerre, qui a bien voulu accepter ces fonctions.
A propos du premier pansement sur le champ de bataille
Authors: Dr Ferrière
Published: December 2009

A la suite d'un rapport présenté à la Société de médecine militaire française, le 11 avril dernier, par M. le Dr Daussat, sur le meilleur pansement à employer sur le champ de bataille et dans les formations sanitaires de campagne, une intéressante discussion s'est élevée dans cette société.
De Quelques procédés récents pour le transport des blessés
Authors: Dr Ferrière
Published: December 2009

Bien qu'aucun des différents systèmes d'adaptation des roues de bicyclettes, on des bicyclettes montées, au transport des brancards, n'ait obtenu de récompense au récent concours de S. M. l'Impératrice de Russie, à Loudres, ces moyens de transport sont destinés, inévitablement, à rendre des services sur les champs de bataille, en particulier sur la seconde ligne. Mais peut-être aucun des nombreux systèmes proposés jusqu'ici n'a-t-il encore fait ses preuves; aussi se défie-t-on instinctivement d'appareils qui n'ont rien de la solidité, on pourrait presque dire de la massivité des moyens de transport en usage dans les armées. Mais cette massivité, est-elle une condition sine qua non de l'attirail des armées, et un appareil pour lequel le matériel est partout facilement à disposition et aisément remplaçable, ne doit-il pas, de droit, entrer en compétition, là surtout où le besoin s'en fait impérieusement sentir? Cela saute aux yeux. Aussi espérons-nous que le prochain concours quinquennal de la Croix Rouge aura l'occasion de se prononcer sur ce mode de transport et d'en consacrer l'utilité, tout au moins pour les guerres en pays civilisés où il y a partout des routes bien tracées.
Éducation des médecins militaires
Authors: Dr Ferrière
Published: December 2009

Une innovation heureuse a été introduite récemment en Autriche. Il existe à Vienne, sous le nom de Freiwillige Rettungsgesellschaft, une société de secours en cas d'accident, admirablement organisée, jadis entreprise de-charité privée, maintenant œuvre municipale, et qui possède de nombreux postes, voitures et un personnel d'ambulance.
Dr Legrand. — L'assistance féminine en temps de guerre
Authors: Dr Brisard
Published: December 2009

Nous empruntons au Caducée l'excellent compte rendu que M. le Dr Brisard consacre à l'ouvrage de M. le Dr Legrand.

«L'œuvre d'assistance aux blessés peut devenir le symbole le plus exact, le plus touchant de la nation armée. Toute la charité de France se dressant devant l'ennemi, c'est le geste incomparable ébauché par la femme et qu'il lui faut achever.»
Accession à la Convention de la Haye
Authors: Hannemer
Published: December 2009

Nous avons reçu du Ministère des affaires étrangères, direction du protocole, la communication suivante:

La Haye, le 26 juillet 1907.
Accession à la Convention de Genève de 1906
Authors: Brenner  , Ringier
Published: December 2009

Nous avons l'honneur d'informer Votre Excellence que, par note du 8 juillet dernier, le Ministère vénézuélien des Relations extérieures nous a remis l'instrument d'accession des Etats-Unis du Vénézuéla à la convention signée à Genève le 6 juillet 1906 pour l'amélioration du sort des blessés et malades dans les armées-en campagne.
A numerical method for investigating crystal settling in convecting magma chambers
Authors: Verhoeven J. , Schmalzl J.
Published: December 2009

Magma chambers can be considered as thermochemically driven convection systems. We present a new numerical method that describes the movement of crystallized minerals in terms of active spherical particles in a convecting magma that is represented by an infinite Prandtl number fluid. The main part focuses on the results we obtained. A finite volume thermochemical convection model for two and three dimensions and a discrete element method, which is used to model granular material, are combined. The new model is validated with floating experiments using particles of different densities and an investigation of single and multiparticle settling velocities. The resulting velocities are compared with theoretical predictions by Stokes's law and a hindered settling function for the multiparticle system. Two fundamental convection regimes are identified in the parameter space that is spanned by the Rayleigh number and the chemical Rayleigh number, which is a measure for the density of the particles. We define the T regime that is dominated by thermal convection. Here the thermal driving force is strong enough to keep all particles in suspension. As the particles get denser, they start settling to the ground, which results in a C regime. The C regime is characterized by the existence of a sediment layer with particle‐rich material and a suspension layer with few particles. It is shown that the presence of particles can reduce the vigor of thermal convection. In the frame of a parameter study we discuss the change between the regimes that is systematically investigated. We show that the so‐called TC transition fits a power law. Furthermore, we investigate the settling behavior of the particles in vigorous thermal convection, which can be linked to crystal settling in magma chambers. We develop an analytical settling law that describes the number of settled particles against time and show that the results fit the observations from numerical and laboratory experiments.
Azimuthal structures of ray auroras at the beginning of auroral substorms
Authors: Sakaguchi K. , Shiokawa K. , Donovan E.
Published: December 2009

The time evolution of optical structures in brightening auroras was examined for two substorm events that occurred on January 15, 2008 and February 27, 2009. The onsets of both auroral substorms were captured in the field of view of an all‐sky TV camera at Gillam, Canada. We found that in both cases, the brightening auroras formed vertical structures, or so‐called ‘ray auroras’, which lined up longitudinally for several tens of seconds before luminosity increased sharply. The ray structure implies precipitating electrons accelerated over a broad energy range at substorm onset. Two dimensional Fourier transform analysis of the auroral images showed the ray auroras have characteristic wavenumbers and harmonics that develop within a few seconds of the initial brightening. These results suggest that dispersive Alfvén waves containing turbulent parallel electric fields form in brightening regions at the beginning of auroral substorms.
Composition, Morphology, and Stratigraphy of Noachian Crust around the Isidis basin
Authors: Mustard J. F. , Ehlmann B. L. , Murchie S. L. , Poulet F. , Mangold N. , Head J. W. , Bibring J.‐P. , Roach L. H.
Published: December 2009

Definitive exposures of pristine, ancient crust on Mars are rare, and the finding that much of the ancient Noachian terrain on Mars exhibits evidence of phyllosilicate alteration adds further complexity. We have analyzed high‐resolution data from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in the well‐exposed Noachian crust surrounding the Isidis basin. We focus on data from the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars as well as imaging data sets from High Resolution Imagine Science Experiment and Context Imager. These data show the lowermost unit of Noachian crust in this region is a complex, brecciated unit of diverse compositions. Breccia blocks consisting of unaltered mafic rocks together with rocks showing signatures of Fe/Mg‐phyllosilicates are commonly observed. In regions of good exposure, layered or banded phyllosilicate‐bearing breccia rocks are observed suggestive of pre‐Isidis sedimentary deposits. In places, the phyllosilicate‐bearing material appears as a matrix surrounding mafic blocks, and the mafic rocks show evidence of complex folded relationships possibly formed in the turbulent flow during emplacement of basin‐scale ejecta. These materials likely include both pre‐Isidis basement rocks as well as the brecciated products of the Isidis basin–forming event at 3.9 Ga. A banded olivine unit capped by a mafic unit covers a large topographic and geographic range from northwest of Nili Fossae to the southern edge of the Isidis basin. This olivine‐mafic cap combination superimposes the phyllosilicate‐bearing basement rocks and distinctly conforms to the underlying basement topography. This may be due to draping of the topography by a fluid or tectonic deformation of a previously flatter lying morphology. We interpret the draping, superposed olivine‐mafic cap combination to be impact melt from the Isidis basin–forming event. While some distinct post‐Isidis alteration is evident (carbonate, kaolinite, and serpentine), the persistence of olivine from the time of Isidis basin suggests that large‐scale aqueous alteration processes had ceased by the time this unit was emplaced.
Coordination of genomic structure and transcription by the main bacterial nucleoid‐associated protein HU
Authors: Berger Michael , Farcas Anca , Geertz Marcel , Zhelyazkova Petya , Brix Klaudia , Travers Andrew , Muskhelishvili Georgi
Published: December 2009

The histone‐like protein HU is a highly abundant DNA architectural protein that is involved in compacting the DNA of the bacterial nucleoid and in regulating the main DNA transactions, including gene transcription. However, the coordination of the genomic structure and function by HU is poorly understood. Here, we address this question by comparing transcript patterns and spatial distributions of RNA polymerase in Escherichia coli wild‐type and hupA/B mutant cells. We demonstrate that, in mutant cells, upregulated genes are preferentially clustered in a large chromosomal domain comprising the ribosomal RNA operons organized on both sides of OriC. Furthermore, we show that, in parallel to this transcription asymmetry, mutant cells are also impaired in forming the transcription foci—spatially confined aggregations of RNA polymerase molecules transcribing strong ribosomal RNA operons. Our data thus implicate HU in coordinating the global genomic structure and function by regulating the spatial distribution of RNA polymerase in the nucleoid.
The nuclear cofactor DOR regulates autophagy in mammalian and Drosophila cells
Authors: Mauvezin Caroline , Orpinell Meritxell , Francis Víctor A , Mansilla Francisco , Duran Jordi , Ribas Vicent , Palacín Manuel , Boya Patricia , Teleman Aurelio A , Zorzano Antonio
Published: December 2009

The regulation of autophagy in metazoans is only partly understood, and there is a need to identify the proteins that control this process. The diabetes‐ and obesity‐regulated gene (DOR), a recently reported nuclear cofactor of thyroid hormone receptors, is expressed abundantly in metabolically active tissues such as muscle. Here, we show that DOR shuttles between the nucleus and the cytoplasm, depending on cellular stress conditions, and re‐localizes to autophagosomes on autophagy activation. We demonstrate that DOR interacts physically with autophagic proteins Golgi‐associated ATPase enhancer of 16 kDa (GATE16) and microtubule‐associated protein 1A/1B‐light chain 3. Gain‐of‐function and loss‐of‐function studies indicate that DOR stimulates autophagosome formation and accelerates the degradation of stable proteins. CG11347, the DOR Drosophila homologue, has been predicted to interact with the Drosophila Atg8 homologues, which suggests functional conservation in autophagy. Flies lacking CG11347 show reduced autophagy in the fat body during pupal development. All together, our data indicate that DOR regulates autophagosome formation and protein degradation in mammalian and Drosophila cells.
RNA‐directed DNA methylation and plant development require an IWR1‐type transcription factor
Authors: Kanno Tatsuo , Bucher Etienne , Daxinger Lucia , Huettel Bruno , Kreil David P , Breinig Frank , Lind Marc , Schmitt Manfred J , Simon Stacey A , Gurazada Sai Guna Ranjan , Meyers Blake C , Lorkovic Zdravko J , Matzke Antonius J M , Matzke Marjori
Published: December 2009

RNA‐directed DNA methylation (RdDM) in plants requires two RNA polymerase (Pol) II‐related RNA polymerases, namely Pol IV and Pol V. A genetic screen designed to reveal factors that are important for RdDM in a developmental context in Arabidopsis identified DEFECTIVE IN MERISTEM SILENCING 4 (DMS4). Unlike other mutants defective in RdDM, dms4 mutants have a pleiotropic developmental phenotype. The DMS4 protein is similar to yeast IWR1 (interacts with RNA polymerase II), a conserved putative transcription factor that interacts with Pol II subunits. The DMS4 complementary DNA partly complements the K1 killer toxin hypersensitivity of a yeast iwr1 mutant, suggesting some functional conservation. In the transgenic system studied, mutations in DMS4 directly or indirectly affect Pol IV‐dependent secondary short interfering RNAs, Pol V‐mediated RdDM, Pol V‐dependent synthesis of intergenic non‐coding RNA and expression of many Pol II‐driven genes. These data suggest that DMS4 might be a regulatory factor for several RNA polymerases, thus explaining its diverse roles in the plant.
Constructing ribosomes along the Danube
Authors: Warner Jonathan R.
Published: December 2009

The EMBO Conference on Ribosome Synthesis explored the latest breakthroughs in ribosome assembly and how it impacts disease. Both of these topics have seen important advances that enlighten how translation is orchestrated and the consequences of its malfunction.
Nix is a selective autophagy receptor for mitochondrial clearance
Authors: Novak Ivana , Kirkin Vladimir , McEwan David G , Zhang Ji , Wild Philipp , Rozenknop Alexis , Rogov Vladimir , Löhr Frank , Popovic Doris , Occhipinti Angelo , Reichert Andreas S , Terzic Janos , Dötsch Volker , Ney Paul A , Dikic Ivan
Published: December 2009

Autophagy is the cellular homeostatic pathway that delivers large cytosolic materials for degradation in the lysosome. Recent evidence indicates that autophagy mediates selective removal of protein aggregates, organelles and microbes in cells. Yet, the specificity in targeting a particular substrate to the autophagy pathway remains poorly understood. Here, we show that the mitochondrial protein Nix is a selective autophagy receptor by binding to LC3/GABARAP proteins, ubiquitin‐like modifiers that are required for the growth of autophagosomal membranes. In cultured cells, Nix recruits GABARAP‐L1 to damaged mitochondria through its amino‐terminal LC3‐interacting region. Furthermore, ablation of the Nix:LC3/GABARAP interaction retards mitochondrial clearance in maturing murine reticulocytes. Thus, Nix functions as an autophagy receptor, which mediates mitochondrial clearance after mitochondrial damage and during erythrocyte differentiation.
The mousepox experience
Authors: Selgelid Michael J , Weir Lorna , Jackson Ronald , Ramshaw Ian
Published: December 2009

Can dual‐use research be conducted safely, or are some things simply too dangerous to ever be appropriate research topics? Ronald Jackson and Ian Ramshaw offer their own perspectives in interviews about their groundbreaking work with mousepox virus.
Anodic vacuum arc developed nanocrystalline Cu–Ni and Fe–Ni thin film thermocouples
Authors: Mukherjee S. K. , Sinha M. K. , Pathak B. , Rout S. K. , Barhai P. K.
Published: December 2009

This paper deals with the development of nanocrystalline Cu–Ni and Fe–Ni thin film thermocouples (TFTCs) by using ion-assisted anodic vacuum arc deposition technique. The crystallographic structure and surface morphology of individual layer films have been studied by x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The resistivity, temperature coefficient of resistance, and thermoelectric power of as deposited and annealed films have been measured. The observed departure of these transport parameters from their respective bulk values can be understood in terms of intrinsic scattering due to enhanced crystallite boundaries. From the measured values of thermoelectric power and the corresponding temperature coefficient of resistance of annealed Cu, Ni, and Fe films, the calculated values of log derivative of the mean free path of conduction electrons at the Fermi surface with respect to energy (U) are found to be −0.51, 3.22, and −8.39, respectively. The thermoelectric response of annealed Cu–Ni and Fe–Ni TFTCs has been studied up to a maximum temperature difference of 300°C. Reproducibility of TFTCs has been examined in terms of the standard deviation in thermoelectric response of 16 test samples for each pair. Cu–Ni and Fe–Ni TFTCs agree well with their wire thermocouple equivalents. The thermoelectric power values of Cu–Ni and Fe–Ni TFTCs at 300°C are found to be 0.0178 and 0.0279mV∕°C, respectively.
Energy levels and symmetry assignments for Stark components of Ho3+(4f10) in yttrium gallium garnet (Y3Ga5O12)
Authors: Gruber John B. , Burdick Gary W. , Valiev Uygun V. , Nash Kelly L. , Rakhimov Sharof A. , Sardar Dhiraj K.
Published: December 2009

Absorption and fluorescence spectra observed between 1950 and 320 nm at sample temperatures of 8, 78, and 293 K, representing more than 900 transitions between 24 multiplets L2S+1J of Ho3+(4f10) split by the crystal field, have been analyzed in Czochralski-grown single crystals of Ho3+ doped-yttrium gallium garnet (Y3Ga5O12 or YGG). The Ho3+ ions replace Y3+ ions in sites of D2 symmetry during crystal growth. Associated with each multiplet manifold are 2J+1 nondegenerate crystal-field split sublevels (Stark levels) characterized by one of four different irreducible representations (irreps) associated with D2 symmetry. The energy and irrep assignments for individual experimental Stark levels were established by an algorithm that makes use of the selection rules for electric-dipole (ED) and magnetic-dipole (MD) transitions between Stark levels. Nearly degenerate Stark levels (quasidoublets) in several manifolds have been observed and investigated by magneto-optical methods reported in a separate study. Of the 252 predicted Stark levels associated with the 24 multiplet manifolds, 241 were experimentally determined of which 161 had symmetry irreps unambiguously identified by the algorithm method and confirmed by crystal-field modeling studies. A final least-squares fitting between 241 calculated-to-experimental Stark levels was obtained with a standard deviation of 4.86 cm−1 (rms error of 4.60 cm−1). The algorithm works best for identifying irreps when neighboring excited Stark levels are sufficiently separated so that a pattern of temperature-dependent (“hot band”) transitions can be unambiguously associated with each excited Stark level.
Interfacial electronic structure of copper phthalocyanine on a gold surface studied by synchrotron radiation photoemission
Authors: Pi Tun-Wen , Lee Guan-Ru , Wei Ching-Hsuan , Chen Wen-Yen , Cheng Chiu-Ping
Published: December 2009

We have studied copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) molecules deposited on a clean gold surface via synchrotron radiation photoemission. The persistent appearance of Au4f surface core-level emission in a series of depositions suggests columnar growth of the adsorbed molecules covering only one-fifth of the surface. Molecular adsorption reduced the line intensity of emission from the Au surface slightly and also produced a shortened core-level shift, which demonstrates weakened s-d hybridization of the surface band. Moreover, manifestation of excess charge in the C1s core, along with an induced component in the Au4f core, indicates that charge polarization occurred at the organic/metal contact. The interface introduces an electronic state 1.09 eV below the Fermi level. Further analysis reveals that only the carbon atoms in the benzene rings are affected upon adsorption, suggesting that the molecular plane lies flat on the surface without changing the nominal bent configuration.