bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transfer of brachialis branch of musculocutaneous nerve for finger flexion: Anatomic study and case report
Authors: Gu Yudong , Wang Huan , Zhang Liyin , Zhang Gaomeng , Zhao Xin , Chen Lin
Published: July 2004

Based on an anatomic study, a transfer of the brachialis muscle branch of the musculocutaneous nerve (BMBMCN) to finger flexor functional fascicles of the median nerve was designed. Preliminary results of clinical application of this new procedure are reported. Dissection of 32 cadaver upper limbs revealed that BMBMCN derives from the musculocutaneous nerve at the distal 1/3 upper arm level. Mostly it is of single‐branch type, with an average dissectable length of 5.2 cm. At this level, functional fascicles of finger flexors are located at the posterior 1/3 of the median nerve. BMBMCN can be directly coapted to these finger flexion fascicles. In one case of brachial plexus lower trunk injury, this neurotization procedure was done. No impairment of elbow flexion and wrist flexion was found postoperatively. Recovery of finger and thumb flexion was seen 1 year postoperatively. This neurotization is safe and effective for treating lower trunk injuries. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Microsurgery 24:1–5, 2004.
Proteasomal activity in mammalian spermatozoa
Authors: Pizarro Eduardo , Pastén Consuelo , Kong Milene , Morales Patricio
Published: July 2004

The proteasome is a multicatalytic cellular complex, which possess three different enzymatic activities, trypsin‐like, chymotrypsin‐like, and peptidylglutamyl peptidase. Its function is to remove abnormal or aged proteins. Recently, it has been suggested the participation of the sperm proteasome during mammalian fertilization. In this study, we present evidence that indicates that sperm extracts from several mammalian species, including hamster, mice, rats, bovine, rabbits, and humans all possess proteasome activity. We characterized the three specific activities of the proteasome using specific synthetic substrates and specific proteasome inhibitors. The results indicates that the highest specific activity detected was in mouse sperm toward the trypsin substrates and it was 1,114% of the activity of human sperm toward the chymotrypsin substrate Suc‐Leu‐Leu‐Val‐Tyr‐AMC (SLLVY‐AMC, which was considered as 100%). In all cases, the lowest activity was toward substrates for the peptidylglutamyl peptidase hydrolyzing activity, and it was lowest for rabbit sperm (1.7% of the activity of human sperm toward the chymotrypsin substrate SLLVY‐AMC). In addition, specific proteasome inhibitors were able to block all proteasome activities almost 100%, with the exception of clasto‐Lactacystin β‐lactone upon rat sperm. All sperm extracts tested evidenced bands of about 29–32 kDa by Western blots using a monoclonal antibody against proteasome subunits α1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7. In conclusion, sperm from several mammals possess enzymatic activities that correspond to the proteasome. The proteasome from the different species hold similar but distinctive enzymatic characteristics. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 69: 87–93, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Rapid and improved method for windowing eggs accessing the stage X chicken embryo
Authors: Andacht Tracy , Hu Wei , Ivarie Robert
Published: July 2004

The chick stage X blastoderm is routinely accessed through a small window in a freshly laid egg. However, windowing severely compromises embryo survival with hatch rates as low as a few percent. We previously reported a simple modification to the standard method that reduced introduction of air into the sealed egg and improved the hatchability to 32%. Here, we describe an even simpler and more rapid method for sealing a windowed egg using hot glue or paraffin in which the hatch rate increased to an average of 63% of the unwindowed control eggs. The primary reason for low hatchability can be attributed to air trapped within the egg during windowing and/or leakage during incubation, as shown by increased lethality by artificially introducing air into windowed and sealed eggs. Although the hatch rate was considerably improved, air can still enter the egg during incubation and is likely to account for less than 100% hatchability of the sealed eggs. The success of this new windowing method will facilitate high throughput for the production of transgenic birds and find use in developmental biology, toxicity testing, and avian disease research. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 69: 31–34, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Identification of differentially regulated genes in bovine blastocysts using an annealing control primer system
Authors: Hwang Kyu‐Chan , Cui Xiang‐Shun , Park Se‐Pill , Shin Mi‐Ra , Park Sae‐Young , Kim Eun‐Young , Kim Nam‐Hyung
Published: July 2004

The identification of embryo‐specific genes would provide insights into early embryonic development. However, the current methods employed to identify the genes that are expressed at a specific developmental stage are labor intensive and suffer from high rates of false positives. Here we employed a new and accurate reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) technology that involves annealing control primers (ACPs) to identify the genes that are specifically or prominently expressed in bovine early blastocysts and hatched blastocysts produced in vitro. Using these techniques, a total of nine expressed sequence tags (ESTs) of genes that were differentially expressed in hatched blastocysts, as compared to blastocyst embryos, were cloned and sequenced. The cloned genes or ESTs (C1–C9) all exhibited significant sequence similarity with known bovine genes (99–100%; FTL, RPS12, LAPTM4a, and RPL12) or ESTs (80–94%; AIBP, CULLIN‐1, HDLP, COX5a, and RECS1) of other species. As revealed by real time RT‐PCR, these genes were regulated upstream in the hatched blastocyst stage during early implantation. These results suggest that this new, PCR‐based differential display RT‐PCR technique is a very useful tool for the identification of stage‐specific genes of preimplantation embryos. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 69: 43–51, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Vitellogenin mRNA expression in Cherax quadricarinatus during secondary vitellogenic at first maturation females
Authors: Serrano‐Pinto Vania , Landais Igor , Ogliastro Marie‐Helene , Gutiérrez‐Ayala Meliza , Mejía‐Ruíz Humberto , Villarreal‐Colmenares Humberto , García‐Gasca Alejandra , Vázquez‐Boucard Celia
Published: July 2004

PCR products of 1.1 and 0.9 kb were generated using Cherax quadricarinatus genomic DNA in the first case, and hepatopancreas and ovary cDNAs in the second case. These PCR products were cloned and analyzed for nucleotide sequences. The 1.1 kb fragment was used as a probe for Northern hybridization, revealing a transcript of approximately 8 kb in both tissues. Results from both Northern blot and RT‐PCR analyses showed that the mRNA enconding the 3′ end of the vitellogenin cDNA was present simultaneously in both hepatopancreas and ovary tissues in secondary vitellogenic at first maturation females, but was not detected in male hepatopancreas. The deduced amino acid sequences of Vitellogenin (Vg) cDNAs from ovary and hepatopancreas confirmed the existence at least two different Vg genes, and two different sites of synthesis. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 69: 17–21, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Administration of insulin‐like growth factor‐I improves fatigue resistance of skeletal muscles from dystrophic mdx mice
Authors: Gregorevic Paul , Plant David R. , Lynch Gordon S.
Published: July 2004

Muscle fatigue occurs in many neuromuscular diseases, including the muscular dystrophies, and it contributes to a loss of functional capacity and reduced quality of life for affected patients. An improvement in fatigue resistance has been observed in diaphragm muscles of mdx mice following insulin‐like growth factor‐I (IGF‐I) administration. Whether similar treatment can improve locomotor muscle function in mdx mice is not known. We examined the efficacy of IGF‐I administration (1 mg/kg daily s.c. for 8 weeks) on structural, metabolic, and functional properties of extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and soleus muscles of mdx mice, and tested the hypothesis that IGF‐I treatment would improve function in these muscles. After treatment, muscles were more resistant to fatigue during repeated maximal contractions than muscles from untreated mice, an improvement associated with increased muscle fiber succinate dehydrogenase activity in the absence of changes in cellular (single‐fiber) contractile activation characteristics. The findings have important clinical implications, not just for the dystrophinopathies, but for all neuromuscular pathologies where fatigue of locomotor muscles limits functional capacity and decreases quality of life. Muscle Nerve 30: 295–304, 2004
Muscle loading as a method to isolate the underlying tremor components in essential tremor and Parkinson's disease
Authors: Burne John A. , Blanche Tim , Morris John J.
Published: July 2004

Tremor is clinically evaluated and classified on the basis of its response to limb posture (resting, postural, and kinetic tremor), but the mechanisms underlying this powerful influence remain unclear and no satisfactory method exists to identify or quantify underlying tremor subtypes. Postural change is closely linked to changes in gravitational load. We therefore assessed the effect of changes in muscle load on essential tremor (ET) and parkinsonian tremor (PT) independently of postural change. A motor accurately delivered a series of constant (0.2–1.2 Nm) flexion and extension torques about the affected wrist while subjects maintained a constant wrist angle by isometrically contracting wrist flexors or extensors against the applied loads. Linear regression of tremulous electromyogram (EMG) spectral peak amplitude against the applied loads estimated the magnitudes of the load‐dependent (LDT) and load‐independent (LIT) tremor components. The amplitude of ET was linearly related to increase in gravitational load. It thus contained a large LDT component and a small or absent LIT component. Muscle loading revealed significant LDT and LIT components in PT. LIT was dominant at zero load (classic rest tremor) but both components were present during loading (classic postural tremor). Muscle loading more clearly identifies tremor subtypes than postural effects alone. The method could be applied in clinical and pathophysiological studies. Muscle Nerve 30: 347–355, 2004
Do F‐wave measurements detect changes in motor neuron excitability?
Authors: Lin Jenny Z. , Floeter Mary Kay
Published: July 2004

The use of F waves to assess motor neuron excitability in experimental paradigms has never been validated. Our objective was to determine whether F‐wave area, amplitude, and persistence measurements change in response to manipulations known to alter the excitability of motor neurons. The effects of muscle vibration, contraction of a remote muscle, and high‐intensity stimulation of ipsilateral or contralateral fingers were assessed in 12 healthy volunteers. F‐wave area, amplitude, and persistence all declined with ipsilateral cutaneous stimulation. The other maneuvers facilitated some, but not all, of the F‐wave measurements. Changes in F‐wave area and amplitude were correlated, but neither correlated with changes in persistence. A sample size of 50–75 F waves was needed to approximate amplitude and area results from 100 F waves with an accuracy of ±25%. We conclude that changes in F waves are better at detecting inhibition than facilitation of motor neurons. F waves reflect motor neuron excitability in a general way but do not allow for accurate measures of short‐term changes in excitability. Muscle Nerve 30: 289–294, 2004
A probabilistic analysis of a fixed partition policy for the inventory‐routing problem
Authors: Anily Shoshana , Bramel Julien
Published: July 2004

We consider the Inventory‐Routing Problem (IRP) where n geographically dispersed retailers must be supplied by a central facility. The retailers experience demand for the product at a deterministic rate, and incur holding costs for keeping inventory. Distribution is performed by a fleet of capacitated vehicles. The objective is to minimize the average transportation and inventory costs per unit time over the infinite horizon. We focus on the set of Fixed Partition Policies (FPP). In an FPP, the retailers are partitioned into disjoint and collectively exhaustive sets. Each set of retailers is served independently of the others and at its optimal replenishment rate. Previous research has measured the effectiveness of an FPP solution relative to a lower bound over all policies. We propose an additional measure that is relative to the optimal FPP. In this paper we construct a polynomial‐time partitioning scheme that is shown to yield an FPP whose cost is asymptotically within 1.5% + ϵ of the cost of an optimal FPP, for arbitrary ϵ > 0. In addition, in some cases, our polynomial‐time scheme yields an FPP whose cost is asymptotically within 1.5% + ϵ of the minimal policy's cost (over all feasible policies). © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2004
Structure‐property relationships in polymer blend nanocomposites
Authors: Lee Keun Yong , Goettler Lloyd A.
Published: July 2004

Nanocomposites comprising nanoscale platelets derived from layered silicates treated with an organic modifier in thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPV) and PP/EPDM blends were prepared by direct melt intercalation. The interlayer spacing and dispersion of the nanoclay are greatly affected by polar forces between the nanoclay and the polymeric matrix material. The mechanical properties strongly depend on the structure and morphology of the nanocomposites, which can be modified by phase partitioning of the reinforcements. Morphology characterization by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) provides the basis for understanding the observed structure‐property relationships in this class of materials. With the increase of organoclay loading, the tensile modulus of TPV/clay nanocomposites increases by up to 170% at 8 wt% organoclay loading, while tensile strength gradually decreases with increase of organoclay loading. In the physical blend systems, the tensile modulus increases for all PP/EPDM blend compositions and generally shows higher values in the case of selectively reinforced phases in blends having a continuous PP matrix. The tensile strength of those blends decreases at higher nanoclay content no matter how blending is performed. However, the tensile strength may increase when sufficient selectively reinforced EPDM phase is present. Polym. Eng. Sci. 44:1103–1111, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.
Addressing the interface in polymer‐clay nanocomposites by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy on surfactant probes
Authors: Jeschke G. , Panek G. , Schleidt S. , Jonas U.
Published: July 2004

The structure and dynamics of the surfactant layer in organoclays prepared from synthetic clays (Laponites, expandable fluoromica) and in their composites with polystyrene are studied in order to understand the influence of the interface layer on composite properties and composite formation from melt or solution. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy of nitroxide‐labeled surfactants is used to examine length scales between a few Ångstrøms and a few nanometers and time scales between 10 ps and 1 μs. The nitroxide labels are stable up to at least 433 K, so that dynamics can be studied at temperatures relevant for melt intercalation. For organoclays prepared with an excess of surfactant with respect to cation exchange capacity, two or three fractions of surfactants with different mobility exist, the number of fractions, their relative amount, and the mobility differences being determined by the type of clay. Dynamics close to the region of the anchor groups depends on the type of clay and, for large clay particles, on the presence and molecular weight of polystyrene. For dispersions of organoclay in toluene‐d8, deuterium electron spin echo envelope modulation evidences penetration of solvent molecules into the surfactant layer down to the region of the anchor groups. Changes in spatial distribution of the anchor groups caused by intercalation can be detected. Polym. Eng. Sci. 44:1112–1121, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.
Polypropylene/graphite nanocomposites by thermo‐kinetic mixing
Authors: Gopakumar T. G. , Pagé D. J. Y. S.
Published: July 2004

Polypropylene (PP)/graphite nanocomposites have been prepared by melt‐mixing PP with different levels of graphite (G) and graphite oxide (GO) using maleated PP(PP‐g‐MA) and graphite oxide (GO) as interface modifiers. Melt‐mixing was achieved using a Gelimat, a high‐speed thermo‐kinetic mixer. The Gelimat system is specifically designed to handle difficult compounding and dispersion applications by completely mixing, heating and compounding products within a few minutes. Therefore, the thermal history of the compounded polymer is very short, which limits degradation. Interfacial modification by addition of maleated PP and graphite oxide is essential for producing PP/G nanocomposite. The graphite oxide then interacts with the maleic anhydride group of the PP‐g‐MA. The structure and properties of PP/PP‐g‐MA/GO/G nanocomposites were compared by different techniques. Evidence of the nanoscale dispersion of graphite sheets within the PP were provided by wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) and supported by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The high mechanical shear stresses generated by the Gelimat greatly reduced the ordering initially measured by WAXD between graphite sheets and sheet aggregates, indicating a dispersion of the graphite in the polymer to the extent that graphite particles could hardly be observed by SEM. It was found that the addition of PP‐g‐MA and GO leads to excellent dispersion of G within the PP matrix. The flow behavior of the material was also studied by means of a parallel‐plate rheometer. The addition of graphite to PP caused a drastic change in the flow behavior of PP. The thermal degradation behavior, studied using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), showed higher thermal stability of the nanocomposite than that of pure polypropylene. The dispersion of the graphite in the resin promoted the nucleation of β crystallites in PP. The β crystallites, normally less abundant than α crystallites in pure PP, were found to constitute the dominant phase in the nanocomposite. Polym. Eng. Sci. 44:1162–1169, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.
Estimation of stress for separation of two platelets
Authors: Cho Yong G. , Kamal Musa R.
Published: July 2004

A theoretical model is proposed to describe the exfoliation process of clays in polymer melt flows. It shows that exfoliation is a function of shear rate, viscosity of the matrix, the Hamaker constant, overlapped fraction, gallery spacing, and aspect ratio. The stress ratios (i.e., stretching stress/van der Waals' stress) are significantly dependent on the orientation of the connector vector. Tactoids with more clay layers can be broken more easily. The predictions of the model appear to be in harmony with experimental observations reported in the literature. Polym. Eng. Sci. 44:1187–1195, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.
Intramolecular structural relaxation in excited hetarylazole cations
Authors: Volchkov Valery V. , Hoa Gaston Hui Bon , Kossanyi Jean A. , Gromov Sergey P. , Alfimov Mikhail V. , Uzhinov Boris M.
Published: July 2004

Neutral quinolyl‐and pyridyl‐substituted hetarylazoles and their protonated (ethylated) cations with anomalously high Stokes shifts were investigated. Fluorescence measurements at different temperatures and pressures confirmed the viscosity‐dependent activation relaxation of the latter. Fluorescence kinetic analyses at various temperatures showed that in the range 293–77 K, the k̄f values of cations increase 2–8‐fold whereas those of neutral molecules change only 0.3–1.5‐fold. The low‐temperature time‐resolved emission spectra of 1a, 1H+ and 5a were found to be consistent with the model: A→A*↔B*, where A* is the local excited planar and B* is the relaxed twisted state of the molecule. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A General Model for Prediction of Caco‐2 Cell Permeability
Authors: Nordqvist Anneli , Nilsson Jonas , Lindmark Tuulikki , Eriksson Alf , Garberg Per , Kihlén Mats
Published: July 2004

Permeability across the epithelium is one of the major barriers to drug absorption and is one property subject to in silico prediction attempts. Prediction models provide a possibility to address absorption issues, early in drug discovery, for a large number of compounds. The aim of this study was to develop a general comprehensive partial least square projection to latent structures (PLS)‐model for prediction of Caco‐2 cell permeability using theoretically calculated descriptors suited for large virtual libraries. In order to deal with current issues of data quantity and quality the well‐established Caco‐2 cell model was used to generate accurate permeability data of apparent passive transport for a large set of structurally diverse compounds. PLS statistics was used to correlate calculated descriptors to log Papp. This new prediction model for Caco‐2 cell permeability has incorporated many different descriptor types to deal with the multivariate nature of permeability. The model is designed to classify discovery compounds as low, medium or high permeable. A good statistical model was derived (R2=0.79, Q2=0.65, n=46) using 70 descriptors including lipophilicity, hydrogen bonding, polar surface area, size and charge descriptors and some nonlinear terms. The model has been tested and proved valid on two different external test sets (n=5 and n=125 respectively). Root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) was 0.45 for the small external test set. The model predicted 82% of the compounds in the test sets as members to the correct class, 18% were classified wrong. No low permeable compounds were classified as high permeable and only one high permeable compound was classified as low permeable. With this model it has been shown that the in silico prediction models for Caco‐2 cell permeability has taken a step closer to meet the expectations of a high throughput filter tool applied in early phase drug discovery.
Verbundbrücke Pöcking – Innovative VFT‐Träger mit Betondübeln
Authors: Schmitt Victor , Seidl Günter , Hever Marc , Zapfe Cedrik
Published: July 2004

Eine neue Bauweise für Verbundbrücken stellt die Brücke in Pöcking dar. Die seit einigen Jahren eingesetzte VFT®‐Bauweise und der Betondübel finden darin ihre Weiterentwicklung. Betondübel, die durch einen speziellen Trennschnitt des Walzträgers entstehen, verbinden das Betonfertigteil mit dem Stahl zu einem vorgefertigten Stahlverbundträger. Mit einem hohen Grad an Vereinheitlichung und Vorfertigung entsteht ein System mit wirtschaftlichem Materialeinsatz und sehr hoher Qualität. An der nun unter Verkehr stehenden Brücke in Pöcking werden statisch‐konstruktive Details und Gesichtspunkte der Herstellung näher beleuchtet.
FEM‐Berechnungen an geschweißten und gegossenen Knotenpunkten im Stahlbau
Authors: Moschner Thomas
Published: July 2004

Filigrane Stahlkonstruktionen werden in ihrer optischen Wirkung hauptsächlich durch die Ausbildung der Knotenpunkte beeinflußt. Neben den rein wirtschaftlichen Betrachtungen sollte daher auch die Gestaltung der Konstruktion bei der Tragwerksplanung eine wichtige Rolle spielen. Anzustreben sind harmonische Übergänge zwischen den einzelnen Bauteilen ohne auftragende Elemente wie Knotenbleche oder Kopfplattenstöße etc.

Da es sich bei den Knotenpunkten infolge der Konzentration von Kräften naturgemäß um die am höchsten beanspruchten Bauteile eines Tragwerkes handelt, kommt hier der Optimierung der Konstruktion hinsichtlich der statischen Ausnutzung eine große Bedeutung zu. Im Beitrag werden anhand von einigen ausgeführten Beispielen von Fachwerk‐ und Auflagerknoten die Möglichkeiten und Vorteile einer FEM‐Analyse aufgezeigt.
Schweißen unter Betriebsbeanspruchung – Werkstoffkennwerte für einen S 355 J2G3 unter Temperaturen bis 1200 °C
Authors: Peil Udo , Wichers Michael
Published: July 2004

Erhaltungs‐ und Erneuerungsmaßnahmen an bestehenden Bauwerken gewinnen zunehmend an Bedeutung. Im Zuge dieser Maßnahmen stellt sich die Frage, ob an unter Beanspruchung stehenden Konstruktionen geschweißt werden darf. Insbesondere gewinnt diese Fragestellung an Bedeutung, wenn eine Bewegung der Schweißnahtflanken während des Fügeprozesses nicht ausgeschlossen oder verhindert werden kann. Mittels schweißtechnischer Versuche sowie numerischer Simulationen soll daher die technische Machbarkeit untersucht werden. Für die Beschreibung des werkstofflichen Modells, innerhalb der numerische Simulation, ist die korrekte Annahme der Werkstoffparameter von entscheidender Bedeutung. In der nachstehenden Ausführung werden die ersten Ergebnisse zum mechanischen Verhalten eines Baustahls S 355 J2G3 bis in den Hochtemperaturbereich dargestellt.
Early Escharotomy as a Measure to Reduce Intraabdominal Hypertension in Full‐Thickness Burns of the Thoracic and Abdominal Area
Authors: Tsoutsos Demosthenis , Rodopoulou Stavroula , Keramidas Evangelos , Lagios Miltiadis , Stamatopoulos Konstantinos , Ioannovich John
Published: July 2004

Intraabdominal hypertension (IAH) can occur in critically ill patients who have undergone surgery, who have required fluid resuscitation after intraabdominal operations, or whose abdominal surgical wound closure was under tension. If IAH remains unrelieved, it can lead to development of the abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS). The latter presents with severe cardiorespiratory and urinary symptoms such as hypotension, hypoventilation, and oliguria, and it can become fatal if it is not diagnosed early and treated properly. Moreover, IAH has been documented in the context of major burns, complicating the initial resuscitation of these patients. This study was set up to investigate the role of full‐thickness burns of the thoracic and abdominal areas in IAH during the early resuscitation period, to determine whether escharotomy could influence its levels. During the past 2 years 10 burn patients were enrolled in this study, as they fulfilled the necessary criteria: >35% total body surface area (TBSA) full‐thickness burn affecting the anterior, lateral, and most of the posterior surface of the thorax and abdomen (torso), no respiratory mechanical support at admission, and initial evaluation at another facility and transfer to our burn center 2–6 h postburn. Upon admission, the following parameters (indicative of intraabdominal hypertension, IAH) were measured: bladder pressure and gastric pressure. Also, we monitored inferior vena cava pressure, and as a routine, central venous pressure, systolic blood pressure, and arterial blood gases. Elevated intraabdominal pressure to hazardous levels was documented in all patients included in our study. The same escharotomy pattern was performed in every case, and 5–10 min after the procedure all measurements were repeated. Immediate improvement of all the parameters measured was recorded, and the alterations were found statistically significant. These results were indicative of significant relief of the elevated intraabdominal pressure in all patients after escharotomy, as well as the efficacy of the procedure. It is thus demonstrated that full‐thickness burns of the thoracic and abdominal areas can cause a significant early increase in intraabdominal pressure that, if left untreated, can lead to the development of ACS. However, the application of simple decompression techniques can offer remarkable, immediate, and often lifesaving results and is absolutely indicated for this reason, as well as for its well‐known beneficial effects on respiratory function.
Acardiac Twin with Externalized Intestine Adherent to Placenta: Unusual Manifestation of Omphalocele
Authors: Emery Shawn Clark , Vaux Keith K. , Pretorius Dolores , Masliah Eliezer , Benirschke Kurt
Published: July 2004

TRAP (twin reversed arterial perfusion) syndrome produces an acardiac twin (acardiac monster, acardius, acardiacus, chorioangiopagus parasiticus, etc.). Acardiacs result from monozygotic multiple births in which three anatomic anomalies occur: (1) a fetus' cardiac development is disturbed; (2) artery–artery anastomosis carries blood from a normal (“pump”) twin to the acardiac; (3) vein–vein anastomosis carries blood from the acardiac back to the normal twin. Whether reversal of blood flow in the acardiac results from or causes cardiac dysmorphogenesis has not been resolved. Acardiac twins demonstrate a complex constellation of malformations usually thought to result from reversed blood flow; omphalocele is particularly common. We report monochorionic monoamnionic male twins in which an acardiac twin demonstrated externalized intestines adherent to the placenta. The twins were delivered from a 30-year-old primigravida mother by cesarean section without maternal complications at 33 w. The mother has no significant past medical history. The macerated acardius had a 4-cm long attenuated umbilical cord with indeterminate number of vessels. Structures rostral to the thorax were absent save for one poorly developed hand and arm. The abdomen contained loose mesenchyme and no organs. The entire intestine (21 cm) along with two testes was located in a sac on the surface of the placenta. No histopathologic anomalies of formed structures were identified aside from spatial relationships and incomplete development. The normal twin required no intensive care and is doing well. To our knowledge, this is the first report of externalized intestine, which may represent an unusual consequence of omphalocele.
Purifying Genomic DNA from Whole Blood on Automated, High-Throughput, and Moderate-Throughput Platforms
Authors: Bitner Rex , Koller Susan , Sankbeil Jacqui , Denkart Mark , Shenoi Hemanth
Published: July 2004

We describe three new automated methods for purifying genomic DNA from whole blood. The MagneSil® Blood Genomic, Max Yield System uses MagneSil® paramagnetic particles (PMPs) in a 96-well format to purify the maximal amount of DNA from a 200-μL blood sample. In contrast, the MagneSil® ONE, Fixed Yield Blood Genomic System uses MagneSil® Fixed Yield PMPs to purify a normalized amount of DNA from 60 μL of blood in a 96-well format. These methods are implemented on the Beckman Coulter Biomek® FX automated workstation. The MagneSil® KF Genomic System uses MagneSil® PMPs to purify DNA from 1 to 15 samples of 200-μL blood using the moderate-throughput Thermo Electron KingFisher® mL instrument. The MagneSil® Blood Genomic System typically yields > 4 μg per 200 μL of whole blood, depending on the white blood cell content. The MagneSil® ONE System is best suited where there is a requirement for purification of a narrow concentration range of DNA. This system purifies 1 μg(±50%) of DNA from 60 μL of blood. The MagneSil® KF System purifies 2 to 6 μg of DNA from 200 μL of blood. DNA purified using all of these methods is suitable for PCR, STR, EADIT® SNP genotype analysis, and multiplexed PC analysis.
Risk Management for Laboratory Automation Projects
Authors: McDowall R.D.
Published: July 2004

This tutorial outlines some of the common risks that may be associated throughout the development and implementation of a laboratory automation project such as a laboratory information management system (LIMS) or another automation project. It presents a scheme for undertaking risk management to help assess and mitigate the degree of risk associated with each of these factors. In the case of high-risk factors, suggestions are presented to manage or help avoid the problem.

Risk management is an ongoing process. It begins at the start of a project and should be reassessed at intervals throughout the project to re-evaluate existing risks and to see if any factors have changed or new ones have emerged.
Spatially‐localized correlation of dGEMRIC‐measured GAG distribution and mechanical stiffness in the human tibial plateau
Authors: Samosky Joseph T. , Burstein Deborah , Grimson W. Eric , Howe Robert , Martin Scott , Gray Martha L.
Published: July 2004

The concentration of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) in articular cartilage is known to be an important determinant of tissue mechanical properties based on numerous studies relating bulk GAG and mechanical properties. To date limited information exists regarding the relationship between GAG and mechanical properties on a spatially‐localized basis in intact samples of native tissue. This relation can now be explored by using delayed gadolinium‐enhanced MRI of cartilage (dGEMRIC—a recently available non‐destructive magnetic resonance imaging method for measuring glycosaminoglycan concentration) combined with non‐destructive mechanical indentation testing. In this study, three tibial plateaus from patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty were imaged by dGEMRIC. At 33–44 test locations for each tibial plateau, the load response to focal indentation was measured as an index of cartilage stiffness. Overall, a high correlation was found between the dGEMRIC index (T) and local stiffness (Pearson correlation coefficients r = 0.90, 0.64, 0.81; p < 0.0001) when the GAG at each test location was averaged over a depth of tissue comparable to that affected by the indentation. When GAG was averaged over larger depths, the correlations were generally lower. In addition, the correlations improved when the central and peripheral (submeniscal) areas of the tibial plateau were analyzed separately, suggesting that a factor other than GAG concentration is also contributing to indentation stiffness. The results demonstrate the importance of MRI in yielding spatial localization of GAG concentration in the evaluation of cartilage mechanical properties when heterogeneous samples are involved and suggest the possibility that the evaluation of mechanical properties may be improved further by adding other MRI parameters sensitive to the collagen component of cartilage. © 2004 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Zivilcourage und Hilfeverhalten
Authors: Fischer Peter , Greitemeyer Tobias , Schulz-Hardt Stefan , Frey Dieter , Jonas Eva , Rudukha Tatjana
Published: July 2004

Zusammenfassung: In der vorliegenden interkulturellen Studie werden die mentalen Repräsentationen der Konstrukte “Zivilcourage” und “Hilfeverhalten” untersucht. Es wird überprüft, ob prosoziales Verhalten eher als zivilcouragiert bezeichnet wird, wenn der Akteur negative soziale Konsequenzen zu erwarten hat, wogegen die Zuschreibung von Hilfeverhalten unabhängig von den antizipierten negativen sozialen Konsequenzen auftreten sollte. Probanden aus Deutschland und der Ukraine erhielten vier Szenarien, in denen das prosoziale Verhalten einer Person dargestellt wurde. Diese Person hatte entweder hohe oder niedrige negative soziale Konsequenzen zu erwarten. Die Probanden gaben für jedes Szenario an, inwieweit es sich beim dargestellten Verhalten um Zivilcourage bzw. um Hilfeverhalten handelt. Wie erwartet wirkte sich die Manipulation der antizipierten negativen sozialen Konsequenzen nur auf die Zuschreibung von Zivilcourage, nicht aber auf die Zuschreibung von Hilfeverhalten aus.
Geschlechtsspezifische Identitätsentwicklung und bulimisches Essverhalten bei Jugendlichen
Authors: Klingenspor Barbara , Rastetter Daniela
Published: July 2004

Zusammenfassung: Bulimische Essstörungen werden fast ausschließlich bei Frauen diagnostiziert. Es wird angenommen, dass sozialpsychologische Faktoren - insbesondere stereotype Vorstellungen, die mit dem Geschlecht bestimmte Persönlichkeitseigenschaften verknüpfen - das Essverhalten beeinflussen und Essstörungen verursachen können. Wir vermuten, dass die Unterdrückung von maskulinen Eigenschaften bulimisches Essverhalten hervorruft. Um diese Hypothese zu prüfen, wurde die Diskrepanz zwischen der Selbstwahrnehmung von geschlechtstypischen Eigenschaften und dem persönlichen Idealbild bei Jugendlichen im Alter von 13 bis 20 Jahren ermittelt und als Ursache von niedrigem Selbstwertgefühl und bulimischen Symptomen untersucht. Die Daten wurden in einer anonymen Fragebogenstudie erhoben und mit Strukturgleichungsmodellen analysiert. Mit zunehmendem Alter wurde die Diskrepanz zum Idealbild in Bezug auf maskuline Eigenschaften bei Mädchen größer, während die feminine Diskrepanz in beiden Geschlechtsgruppen kleiner wurde. Unabhängig vom Geschlecht wurde bulimisches Essverhalten durch maskuline Diskrepanzen indirekt verursacht, via Selbstwertgefühl und Diäten zur Gewichtsreduktion.
Determinanten zivilcouragierten Verhaltens: Ergebnisse einer Fragebogenstudie
Authors: Labuhn Andju S. , Wagner Ulrich , van Dick Rolf , Christ Oliver
Published: July 2004

Zusammenfassung: Untersucht wird die Frage, wie Zivilcourage definiert werden kann und wovon zivilcouragiertes Verhalten beeinflusst wird. Dazu wird auf die Forschungsgebiete zu Hilfeleistung, Vorurteilen und Gewalt zurückgegriffen. Einer Stichprobe von 1079 Schülerinnen und Schülern einer Gesamtschule werden fünf Vignetten vorgelegt, die Situationen beinhalten, die zivilcouragiertes Verhalten erforderlich machen könnten. Die Befragten werden gebeten, ihr Verhalten in jeder Vignette anhand von neun Items zu beschreiben. Außerdem werden relevante individuelle Prädiktoren aus der Hilfeleistungs-, Vorurteils- und Gewaltforschung erhoben. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Absicht, zivilcouragiert einzugreifen, positiv mit Empathie für das Opfer und interethnischen Kontakten und negativ mit der sozialen Dominanzorientierung der Befragten zusammenhängt. Implikationen für die Entwicklung von Trainings für Zivilcourage werden diskutiert.
Remote sensing of possible plasma density bubbles in the inner Jovian dayside magnetosphere
Authors: Farrell W. M. , Kaiser M. L. , Kurth W. S. , Desch M. D. , Gurnett D. A. , Hospodarsky G. B. , MacDowall R. J.
Published: July 2004

During the 2001 Cassini encounter with Jupiter, the Radio and Plasma Wave Science (RPWS) instrument detected fine spectral and temporal structure with broadband kilometric radiation. Applying known electron cyclotron harmonic radiation models, this microstructure is interpreted as originating from a plasma density depletion or bubble at the edge of the Io torus. The microstructure became very complicated at the event beginning and end (formation of broadband bursty structures), and this is interpreted as originating from high‐frequency (3–4 s period) density waves or fingers found at the edge of the larger density bubble. Such high‐frequency structure at the edges of plasma bubbles is reminiscent of small‐scale structure associated with terrestrial spread‐F density irregularities. We suggest that the narrow extended fingers, observed on a convex portion of the Io torus surface, result from the interchange instability that is shredding the outer edges of the plasma bubble. A similar set of circumstances occurring on a larger scale may explain the emission of Jovian radio bull's‐eye emission observed previously by Ulysses.
Boussinesq modeling of breaking waves: Description of turbulence
Authors: Briganti R. , Musumeci R. E. , Bellotti G. , Brocchini M. , Foti E.
Published: July 2004

Improved turbulent closures for use in fully nonlinear Boussinesq‐type models are described here. The approach extends previous works in order to give a more flexible and accurate description of the turbulence due to a breaking wave. Turbulent stresses are handled by means of the Boussinesq hypothesis, and the eddy viscosity is assumed to vary over the water depth according to different laws. The model is described in detail, and its performances are evaluated both against available analytical solutions and against experimental data of regular waves breaking over a slope. The influence of the vertical structure of turbulence under a breaking wave is analyzed by means of four different vertical profiles of eddy viscosity; the differences in terms of hydrodynamic features are also discussed. Among the four selected profiles, two of them (the uniform one and that with uniform eddy viscosity over the top half of the water column which linearly decreases to zero over the lower half) give better overall performances when compared with experimental data concerning velocity profiles.
Impact of communication and information on a complex heterogeneous closed water catchment environment
Authors: Tisdell John G. , Ward John R. , Capon Tim
Published: July 2004

This paper uses an experimental design that combines the use of an environmental levy with community involvement in the formation of group agreements and strategies to explore the impact of information and communication on water use in a complex heterogeneous environment. Participants in the experiments acted as farmers faced with monthly water demands, uncertain rainfall, possible crop loss, and the possibility of trading in water entitlements. The treatments included (1) no information on environmental consequences of extraction, (2) the provision of monthly aggregate environmental information, (3) the provision of monthly aggregate extraction information and a forum for discussion, and (4) the public provision of individual extraction information and a forum for discussion giving rise to potential verbal peer sanctions. To account for the impact of trade, the treatments were blocked into three market types: (1) no trade, (2) open call auctions, and (3) closed call auctions. The cost to the community of altering the natural flow regime to meet extractive demand was socialized through the imposition of an environmental levy equally imposed on all players.
Reliable groundwater management in hydroecologically sensitive areas
Authors: Feyen Luc , Gorelick Steven M.
Published: July 2004

A stochastic groundwater management model is formulated to account for prediction uncertainty when maximizing regionally distributed groundwater production yet obeying regulations to maintain the hydroecological balance in wetland areas. The water table elevation in sensitive wetland areas is lowered by the withdrawal of groundwater at supply wells. Substantial uncertainty exists because drawdowns depend on both the unknown spatial distribution of hydraulic conductivity and regional boundary conditions. Planning in the face of uncertain predictions of water table changes means that optimal production must be prudently reduced. A stochastic simulation‐optimization formulation is developed that provides a robust water production plan. Prediction uncertainty is dealt with through stochastic simulation‐optimization using a multiple‐realization approach. On the basis of analyses involving solution of over 8 million aquifer models and 36,000 stochastic‐optimization solutions, the nature and reliability of the optimal groundwater production scheme are inspected to determine the effects of uncertainty in spatially variable hydraulic conductivity, conditioning on local measurements, and the type of boundary conditions imposed in the nonlinear aquifer model. We propose a new measure to predict the expected reliability of meeting water level constraints in wetland areas. Monte Carlo simulations based on numerous optimal groundwater production schemes confirm that the expected reliability is a quantifiable function of the number of hydraulic conductivity realizations included in the stochastic‐optimization formulation and the variance of log hydraulic conductivity.
Aqueous alteration of Mars‐analog rocks under an acidic atmosphere
Authors: Bullock Mark A. , Moore Jeffrey M.
Published: July 2004

We report on laboratory experiments in which we allowed an SNC‐analog mineral mixture to react with water under a simulated Mars atmosphere containing the added gases SO2, HCl and NO2. The addition of acidic gases was designed to simulate the atmospheric effects of periods of increased volcanic activity on Mars. The S/Cl ratio in our experimental brines was about 200, compared with an average value of approximately 5 measured in martian fines at the Mars Pathfinder and Viking 1 and 2 landing sites. This suggests that if salts were produced under an atmosphere higher in acidic volatiles than at present, they would have produced evaporite deposits higher in S than is presently found in the martian fines. Erosion of these high‐sulfur evaporites and mixing with eroded mafic basalts could have produced the globally homogenous, salt‐rich mobile fines that are present on Mars today.
On the baroclinic structure of the Brazil Current–Intermediate Western Boundary Current system at 22°–23°S
Authors: da Silveira I. C. A. , Calado L. , Castro B. M. , Cirano M. , Lima J. A. M. , Mascarenhas A. d. S.
Published: July 2004

The baroclinic structure of the Brazil Current(BC)‐Intermediate Western Boundary Current (IWBC) at 22°–23°S was investigated. A reanalysis of the pioneer velocity profile measurements of the TRANSCOBRA Experiment [Evans and Signorini, 1985] revealed that the BC‐IWBC system is about 75–80% baroclinic. Mapped velocity structure showed flow reversal at about 450 m, an IWBC thickness of 1200 m and core velocities exceeding 0.30 m s−1. Total (baroclinic) transports for BC (southwestwards) and IWBC (northeastwards) were 5.6 (4.2) Sv and 3.6 (4.1) Sv, respectively. The strong baroclinic character of the BC‐IWBC system and the lack of direct velocity observations in the area yielded us to propose the use of the cross‐shelf version of the Princeton Ocean Model to generate absolute baroclinic velocities from hydrographic data. These velocities presented a similar reversal depth, and the transports of about 6–7 Sv for both BC‐IWBC were also comparable to values reported in the literature.
Iron‐induced changes in oceanic sulfur biogeochemistry
Authors: Turner S. M. , Harvey M. J. , Law C. S. , Nightingale P. D. , Liss P. S.
Published: July 2004

The IronEx studies showed that in situ addition of iron in “high‐nitrate‐low‐chlorophyll” regions of the Pacific Ocean increased the amount of dimethylsulfide (DMS) available for emission to the atmosphere. Here we show results from two similar experiments in the Southern Ocean (SOIREE, 61°S and EisenEx, 48°S). DMS concentrations increased up to 8‐fold and we find marked similarity in the changes in dimethylsulfonioproprionate (the algal precursor of DMS) during the Pacific and Southern Ocean experiments, despite large differences in algal community, temperature, light and mixed layer depth. These results may lend support to a link between paleo‐climatic variations in iron availability, emissions of DMS and, hence, atmospheric albedo and global temperature. Further, if large‐scale iron fertilization is to be considered as a strategy for mitigating the increase in man‐made CO2 in the atmosphere then the climatic affects of DMS and a number of other trace gases must be assessed.
On the bound of the Lyapunov exponents for continuous systems
Authors: Li Changpin , Xia Xiaohua
Published: July 2004

In this paper, both upper bounds and lower bounds for all the Lyapunov exponents of continuous differential systems are determined. Several examples are given to show the application of the estimates derived here.
Rayleigh–Marangoni horizontal convection of low Prandtl number fluids
Authors: Bucchignani E. , Mansutti D.
Published: July 2004

In this paper we describe the results of the numerical study of the Boussinesq–Navier–Stokes equations for the convection flow in an open top three-dimensional parallelepipedic cavity (4×1×1) driven by a horizontal temperature difference at two opposite vertical walls in presence of thermocapillary effects. Two fluids have been considered with Prandtl number Pr=0.015 and Pr=1, at fixed Rayleigh number, Ra=150; simulations for several values of the Marangoni number (Ma) have been developed in order to detect fully three-dimensional flow configurations. From the analysis of the numerical flows we reach the following conclusions: the increase of the Prandtl number enhances the coupling of the heat and mass transfer phenomena, moreover while at Pr=0.015 a fully three-dimensional behavior is observed at Ma⩾200, at Pr=1 the flow configuration appears clearly three dimensional just at Ma=30; the increase of the Marangoni number induces the appearance of secondary counter-rotating vortices around to the primary one. The values of the Nusselt number at the main stream perpendicular middle plane are provided.