bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hospital costs and outcomes among intravenous antifungal therapies for patients with invasive aspergillosis in the United States
Authors: Kim Aryun , Nicolau David P. , Kuti Joseph L.
Published: June 2010

This study determined the economic burden of aspergillosis‐related hospitalisations in the United States during years when new antifungal treatments were introduced. A retrospective observational cohort study from the hospital perspective was conducted using national administrative data from the Premier Perspective™ Database. Patients (n = 1603) coded for infection caused by Aspergillus species during 1835 admissions who received at least 3 days of intravenous antifungal therapy between 2000 and 2006 were included. All costs were inflated to $US 2006. Length of stay, hospital costs and mortality were compared after stratification by initial antifungal therapy. Median hospital costs were $52 803 (25 929–100 730) and did not differ by year over the study period. Intravenous antifungals accounted for 7.2% (range: 0.78–15.9%) of the cost of aspergillosis‐related hospitalisation. Crude mortality was 36.7% and was the lowest in the last 2 years of the study (2005, 2006). Although antifungal utilisation changed over the course of the study, initial antifungal choice was not independently associated with crude mortality. In contrast, initial therapy with intravenous voriconazole was associated with reduced total hospitalisation costs and length of hospital stay. Treatment with amphotericin B lipid complex or caspofungin was also independently associated with a reduced length of hospital stay. In this large US study, mortality and costs for aspergillosis‐related hospitalisations were considerable, but antifungals accounted for a small percentage of total costs associated with treatment and did not independently affect in‐hospital crude mortality. Only initial treatment with intravenous voriconazole was associated with reduced total hospitalisation costs.
Combined assessment of glycated albumin and fasting plasma glucose improves the detection of diabetes in Chinese subjects
Authors: Ma Xiao‐Jing , Pan Jie‐Min , Bao Yu‐Qian , Zhou Jian , Tang Jun‐Ling , Li Qing , Xiang Kun‐San , Jia Wei‐Ping
Published: June 2010

1. The aim of the present study was to assess the validity of glycated albumin (GA) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) as a screening tool for the early detection of diabetes in Chinese subjects.

2. A total of 1971 outpatient subjects underwent a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and GA measurement. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was plotted to examine the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of GA and FPG in detecting undiagnosed diabetes at the different cut‐off levels.

3. The prevalence of impaired glucose regulation and diabetes was 27.40% and 38.30%. For these diabetic individuals, 4.64% had isolated fasting hyperglycemia, 50.86% had isolated postprandial hyperglycemia and 44.50% had both. Using ROC analysis, a GA of 17.1% gave an optimal sensitivity of 76.82% (95% confidence interval: 73.64–79.79%) and specificity of 76.89% (74.42–79.23%) for the diagnosis of diabetes. Likewise, a FPG of 6.1 mmol/L gave an optimal sensitivity of 80.93% (77.94–83.67%) and specificity of 85.94% (83.86–87.84%). If subjects met both criteria, they were regarded as having diabetes; the positive predictive value of the combined criteria, FPG ≥ 6.1 mmol/L and GA ≥ 17.1%, was relatively high (84.79% (81.62–87.60%)), and this would have avoided 76% of the OGTT in our survey.

4. In conclusion, a GA value of 17.1%, an optimal cut‐off in Chinese subjects, identified a high proportion of potential diabetic individuals. Simultaneous measurement of FPG and GA would enhance the sensitivity of diabetes screening in our population and avoid 76% of OGTT.
Influence of plasma glucagon levels on glycemic control in children with type 1 diabetes
Authors: Urakami Tatsuhiko , Nagano Nobuhiko , Suzuki Junichi , Yoshida Ayako , Takahashi Shori , Mugishima Hideo
Published: June 2010

Objective:  The aim of this study was to investigate the association between plasma glucose (PG), HbA1c and plasma glucagons levels in children with type 1 diabetes to determine the influence of plasma glucagon on their glycemic control.

Methods:  The study was conducted in 60 Japanese children, aged 13.3 ± 4.6 years, with type 1 diabetes for at least 3 years of diabetes. Most of the subjects had absent pancreatic β‐cell function. We compared the glucagon levels among patient groups stratified according to the 2‐hour postprandial levels (<50, 50–99, 100–199, 200–299, and ≥300 mg/dL), and the HbA1c levels (<7.0, 7.0–7.9, 8.0–8.9, and ≥9%).

Results:  The mean 2‐hour postprandial PG, HbA1c and plasma glucagon levels were 174 ± 97 mg/dL, 7.7 ± 1.3% and 84.0 ± 32.6 pg/mL, respectively. The glucagon levels were highly correlated with the PG levels (r = 0.553, P < 0.0001) and mildly correlated with the HbA1c levels (r = 0.301, P = 0.0192). Patients with high PG levels had significantly higher levels of glucagon as compared with those with lower PG levels (139.4 ± 47.2, 78.4 ± 17.3, 82.4 ± 21.0, 98.3 ± 29.2 and 93.8 ± 18.3 pg/mL, P = 0.0009). On the other hand, there were no significant differences in plasma glucagon levels among patient groups stratified according to HbA1c levels (P = 0.1566), however, patients with HbA1c levels ≥ 9% had significantly higher levels of glucagon than those with HbA1c levels < 7% (113.3 ± 53.4 vs 80.8 ± 18.4 pg/mL, P = 0.0291).

Conclusion:  These results suggest that patients with high PG are likely to have high concentrations of plasma glucagon, which may aggravate glycemic control progressively, leading to elevation of HbA1c levels.
Adjuvant versus salvage radiation therapy for prostate cancer and the risk of death
Authors: D’Amico Anthony V. , Chen Ming‐Hui , Sun Leon , Lee W. Robert , Mouraviev Vladimir , Robertson Cary N. , Walther Philip J. , Polascik Thomas J. , Albala David M. , Moul Judd W.
Published: June 2010

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether salvage radiation therapy (RT) for prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) failure can provide the same result as adjuvant RT, which decreases the risk of all‐cause mortality (ACM) for men with positive margins (R1), or extra‐capsular or seminal vesicle extension (pT3).

METHODS

We studied 1638 men at Duke University who underwent radical prostatectomy for unfavourable‐risk prostate cancer and whose postoperative PSA was undetectable. Cox regression was used to evaluate whether salvage vs adjuvant RT in men with a rapid (<10 months) or slow (≥10 months) PSA doubling time (DT) was associated with the risk of ACM, adjusting for adverse features (pT3, R1, Gleason score 8–10), age, preoperative PSA level, comorbidity and hormonal therapy use.

RESULTS

Despite fewer men with two or more adverse features (61 vs 82%; P = 0.016), salvage for a rapid PSA DT vs adjuvant RT increased the risk of ACM [adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) = 3.42; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.27–9.20; P = 0.015]. There was no difference (AHR = 1.39; 95% CI = 0.50–3.90; P = 0.53) in the risk of ACM among men who received salvage for a slow PSA DT or adjuvant RT. Nearly all (90%) men with a slow PSA DT had Gleason score ≤7 and the majority (59%) had at most pT3 or R1 disease.

CONCLUSION

Radiation therapy after PSA failure as compared with adjuvant RT was not associated with an increased risk of ACM in men with Gleason score ≤7 and pT3R0 or pT2R1 disease.
The link between penile hypersensitivity and premature ejaculation
Authors: Wyllie Michael G. , Hellstrom Wayne J.G.
Published: June 2010

Study Type – Aetiology (case control) Level of Evidence 3b

What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add?

Very little is known about the aetiology of premature ejaculation. This analysis shows that many PE patients have a heightened penile sensitivity. This information could result in the design and development of new drugs.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the correlation between penile hypersensitivity and premature ejaculation (PE), as defined by the criteria identified by the International Society of Sexual Medicine (ISSM). Penile hypersensitivity as a cause of PE is based on historical clinical neurophysiological data and clinical efficacy of the topical desensitizing agent PSD502 in the treatment of PE. PSD502 is a eutectic‐like mixture of two local anaesthetics, lidocaine and prilocaine, whose primary action is to reduce neuronal conduction in sensory afferents.

METHODS

Historical neurophysiological data was reviewed, together with data from the recent PSD502 clinical trials, including the first published double‐blind clinical trial data evaluating a topical desensitizing agent in a population of men with PE, as per the new ISSM definition. The clinical profile of PSD502, based on its local anaesthetic properties, is used as a surrogate index of the role of sensory afferents in the ejaculatory reflex.

RESULTS

The published data does not support unequivocally penile hypersensitivity as the cause of PE. Interpretation of the data is hampered by the variability of the populations described as having PE across studies. Data from the PSD502 clinical trials clearly shows that PSD502 increases ejaculatory latency, and improves control and sexual satisfaction when applied topically to men with PE 5 min before intercourse, enabling subjects to delay ejaculation up to six times longer than those who used a placebo.

CONCLUSION

The clinical profile of PSD502 lends credibility to the penile hypersensitivity hypothesis for PE. The predominant action of local anaesthetics is to reduce neuronal firing in sensory afferents; the clinical profile of PSD502, which shows improvement of ejaculatory function in the absence of a generalized reduction in penile sensitivity, can most readily be explained based on an underlying hypersensitivity in patients with PE.
Essentialism in the absence of language? Evidence from rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta)
Authors: Phillips Webb , Shankar Maya , Santos Laurie R.
Published: June 2010

We explored whether rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) share one important feature of human essentialist reasoning: the capacity to track category membership across radical featural transformations. Specifically, we examined whether monkeys – like children (Keil, 1989) – expect a transformed object to have the internal properties of its original category. In two experiments, monkeys watched as an experimenter visually transformed a familiar fruit (e.g. apple) into a new kind of fruit (e.g. coconut) either by placing a fruit exterior over the original, or by removing an exterior shell and revealing the inside kind of fruit. The experimenter then pretended to place an inside piece of the transformed fruit into a box which the monkey was allowed to search. Results indicated that monkeys searched the box longer when they found a piece of fruit inconsistent with the inside kind, suggesting that the monkeys expected that the inside of the transformed fruit would taste like the innermost kind they saw. These results suggest that monkeys may share at least one aspect of psychological essentialism: They maintain category‐specific expectations about an object’s internal properties even when that object’s external properties change. These results therefore suggest that some essentialist expectations may emerge in the absence of language, and thus raise the possibility that such tendencies may emerge earlier in human development than has previously been considered.
Programmes of educational technology in China: Looking backward, thinking forward
Authors: Fuyin Xu , Jianli Jiao
Published: June 2010

There is a history of programmes in educational technology in colleges and universities in China going back about 70 years. This paper briefly reviews the developmental history of the educational technology programme in China, elaborates the status‐quo of the programme and looks ahead into the future trends of educational technology development in China. Finally, it expresses the authors' wishes to promote international exchange and cooperation in educational technology.
Reducing Plenoptic Camera Artifacts
Authors: Georgiev T. , Lumsdaine A.
Published: June 2010

The focused plenoptic camera differs from the traditional plenoptic camera in that its microlenses are focused on the photographed object rather than at infinity. The spatio‐angular tradeoffs available with this approach enable rendering of final images that have significantly higher resolution than those from traditional plenoptic cameras. Unfortunately, this approach can result in visible artifacts when basic rendering is used. In this paper, we present two new methods that work together to minimize these artifacts. The first method is based on careful design of the optical system. The second method is computational and based on a new lightfield rendering algorithm that extracts the depth information of a scene directly from the lightfield and then uses that depth information in the final rendering. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of these approaches.
Three‐dimensional morphometry of strained bovine periodontal ligament using synchrotron radiation‐based tomography
Authors: Bergomi Marzio , Cugnoni Joël , Anselm Wiskott H. W. , Schneider Philipp , Stampanoni Marco , Botsis John , Belser Urs C.
Published: June 2010

The periodontal ligament (PDL) is a highly vascularized soft connective tissue. Previous studies suggest that the viscous component of the mechanical response may be explained by the deformation‐induced collapse and expansion of internal voids (i.e. chiefly blood vessels) interacting with liquids (i.e. blood and interstitial fluids) flowing through the pores. In the present work we propose a methodology by means of which the morphology of the PDL vascular plexus can be monitored at different levels of compressive and tensile strains. To this end, 4‐mm‐diameter cylindrical specimens, comprising layers of bone, PDL and dentin covered by cementum, were strained at stretch ratios ranging from λ = 0.6 to λ = 1.4 and scanned using synchrotron radiation‐based computer tomography. It was concluded that: (1) the PDL vascular network is layered in two distinct planes of blood vessels (BVs): an inner layer (close to the tooth), in which the BVs run in apico‐coronal direction, and an outer layer (close to the alveolar bone), in which the BVs distribution is more diffuse; (2) during tension and compression, the porosity tissue is kept fairly constant; (3) mechanical straining induces important changes in BV diameters, possibly modifying the permeability of the PDL and thus contributing to the viscous component of the viscoelastic response observed under compressive forces.
Disability and Skill Mismatch*
Authors: JONES MELANIE K. , SLOANE PETER J.
Published: June 2010

This paper integrates two strands of literature on overskilling and disability using the 2004 British Workplace Employment Relations Survey (WERS). It finds that disabled workers are significantly more likely to be skill mismatched in the labour market and that the adverse effect of mismatch on earnings is particularly acute for this group. Giving workers more discretion over how they perform their work may significantly reduce these negative effects.
Source‐Goal Asymmetries in Motion Representation: Implications for Language Production and Comprehension
Authors: Papafragou Anna
Published: June 2010

Recent research has demonstrated an asymmetry between the origins and endpoints of motion events, with preferential attention given to endpoints rather than beginnings of motion in both language and memory. Two experiments explore this asymmetry further and test its implications for language production and comprehension. Experiment 1 shows that both adults and 4‐year‐old children detect fewer within‐category changes in source than goalobjectswhen tested for memory of motion events; furthermore, these groups produce fewer references to source than goal objects when describing the same motion events. Experiment 2 asks whether the specificity of encoding source/goalrelationsdiffers in both spatial memory and the comprehension of novel spatial vocabulary. Results show that endpoint configuration changes are detected more accurately than source configuration changes by both adults and young children. Furthermore, when interpreting novel motion verbs, both age groups expect more fine‐grained lexical distinctions in the domain of endpoint configurations compared to that of source configurations. These studies demonstrate that a cognitive‐attentional bias in spatial representation and memory affects both the detail of linguistic encoding during the use of spatial language and the specificity of hypotheses about spatial referents that learners build during the acquisition of the spatial lexicon.
Tyrosine kinase mutations in gastrointestinal stromal tumors in a nation‐wide study in Iceland
Authors: TRYGGVASON GEIR , HILMARSDOTTIR BYLGJA , GUNNARSSON GUðMUNDUR H. , JÓNSSON JÓN JÓHANNES , JÓNASSON JÓN G. , MAGNÚSSON MAGNÚS K.
Published: June 2010

Tryggvason G, Hilmarsdottir B, Gunnarsson GH, Jónsson JJ, Jónasson JG, Magnússon MK. Tyrosine kinase mutations in gastrointestinal stromal tumors in a nation‐wide study in Iceland. APMIS 2010; 118: 648–56.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common mesenchymal tumor of the gastrointestinal tract. It is characterized by activating mutations in the tyrosine kinase genes c‐kit or PDGFRA. This study examined the mutation rate and type in a population‐based material. All gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumors over the years 1990–2004 were evaluated and GIST tumors identified using immunohistochemistry (c‐kit) and conventional pathologic parameters. Paraffin sections from all tumors were subjected to mutation analysis on exons 9, 11, 13 and 17 of thec‐kitgene and exons 12 and 18 of thePDGFRAgene. To screen for mutations, we used a highly sensitive conformation‐sensitive gel electrophoresis (CSGE) and to define the mutated alleles, we employed direct automated DNA sequencing. All c‐kit‐positive gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumors were entered into the study. Fifty‐six tumors from 55 patients were analyzed. Mutations were found in 52 tumors representing a 92.9% mutational rate. Most of the mutations were found inc‐kitexon 11 (76.8%), followed byc‐kitexon 9 (10.7%).PDGFRAmutations were only found in three tumors. No correlation of mutation type with biologic behavior was found. This population‐based study, using a sensitive CSGE method, identifies mutations in the great majority of patients with GIST.
Activation of the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway in non‐melanoma skin cancer is not mediated by oncogenic PIK3CA and AKT1 hotspot mutations
Authors: Hafner Christian , Landthaler Michael , Vogt Thomas
Published: June 2010

Please cite this paper as: Activation of the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway in non‐melanoma skin cancer is not mediated by oncogenic PIK3CA and AKT1 hotspot mutations. Experimental Dermatology 2010; 19: e222–e227.

Abstract:  Non‐melanoma skin cancer represents the most frequent human cancer entity. Activation of the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway has been reported both in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin and in basal cell carcinoma (BCC). In many cancers, including SCC of the head and neck, the oesophagus and the penis, activation of this pathway is mediated by oncogenic PIK3CA and AKT1 mutations. We therefore screened 61 non‐melanoma skin cancer samples (30 SCC and 31 BCC) for the presence of activating PIK3CA and AKT1 mutations. PIK3CA hotspot mutations were analysed using a highly sensitive SNaPshot assay, and exon 4 of AKT1 was sequenced directly. In addition, immunohistochemistry was performed for phosphorylated AKT protein. Immunohistochemical expression of pAkt was observed both in SCC and in BCC samples, indicating an activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway. Although SCC showed higher expression levels than BCC, this difference was not significant. However, none of the 61 non‐melanoma skin cancer samples revealed any PIK3CA and AKT1 hotspot mutations at the investigated loci. We conclude that PIK3CA and AKT1 hotspot mutations do not contribute to the activation of the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway in non‐melanoma skin cancer. The distinct PIK3CA mutation spectrum between SCC of the skin and SCC of other tissues may reflect the different carcinogens which are involved into the mutagenesis of these cancers. PIK3CA and AKT1 hotspot mutations are obviously not caused by UV light exposure, the main risk factor in non‐melanoma skin cancer.
The physiological and phenotypic determinants of human tanning measured as change in skin colour following a single dose of ultraviolet B radiation
Authors: Wong Terence H. , Jackson Ian J. , Rees Jonathan L.
Published: June 2010

Please cite this paper as: The physiological and phenotypic determinants of human tanning measured as change in skin colour following a single dose of ultraviolet B radiation. Experimental Dermatology 2010; 19: 667–673.

Abstract:  Experimental study of the in vivo kinetics of tanning in human skin has been limited by the difficulties in measuring changes in melanin pigmentation independent of the ultraviolet‐induced changes in erythema. The present study attempted to experimentally circumvent this issue. We have studied erythemal and tanning responses following a single exposure to a range of doses of ultraviolet B irradiation on the buttock and the lower back in 98 subjects. Erythema was assessed using reflectance techniques at 24 h and tanning measured as the L* spectrophotometric score at 7 days following noradrenaline iontophoresis. We show that dose (P < 0.0001), body site (P < 0.0001), skin colour (P < 0.0001), ancestry (P = 0.0074), phototype (P = 0.0019) and sex (P = 0.04) are all independent predictors of erythema. Quantitative estimates of the effects of these variables are reported, but the effects of ancestry and phototype do not appear solely explainable in terms of L* score. Dose (P < 0.0001), body site (P < 0.0001) and skin colour (P = 0.0365) or, as an alternative to skin colour, skin type (P = 0.0193) predict tanning, with those with lighter skin tanning slightly more to a defined UVB dose. If erythema is factored into the regression, then only dose and body site remain significant predictors of tanning: therefore neither phototype nor pigmentary factors, such as baseline skin colour, or eye or hair colour, predict change in skin colour to a unit erythemal response.
Characterization of fibromodulin isolated from bovine periodontal ligament
Authors: Watanabe Toru , Kubota Takao
Published: June 2010

Although several proteoglycans (PGs) have been reported in bovine periodontal ligament (PDL), the composition of PGs in PDL has been poorly characterized. In the present study, we isolated and characterized keratan sulfate‐substituted PG (fibromodulin) in bovine PDL. Fibromodulin was purified from 4 m guanidine hydrochloride (GdmCl) extracts of bovine PDL tissues using DEAE Sephacel ion‐exchange chromatography and preparative electrophoresis. Fibromodulin appeared as a single polydisperse band with an apparent molecular weight (MW) of 80, 000 (80 kDa) on SDS‐PAGE. Digestion of fibromodulin with keratanase or neuraminidase reduced the apparent molecular size, and N‐glycanase treatment produced core protein bands of around 40 kDa. Fibromodulin reacted with keratan sulfate monoclonal antibody (5D4) and fibromodulin polyclonal antibodies (α‐FM). The keratanase‐digested fibromodulin reacted with α‐FM, but not with 5D4. These data suggest that fibromodulin is one of the small PGs in the PDL‐matrix and may fulfill construction and maintenance functions in this tissue.
EGF and IL‐1α modulate the release of collagenase, gelatinase and TIMP‐1 as well as the release of calcium by rabbit calvarial bone explants
Authors: van der Zee Erwin , Jansen Ineke , Hoeben Kees , Beertsen Wouter , Everts Vincent
Published: June 2010

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), among which is collagenase (MMP‐1), are likely to be involved in various steps of the bone resorption process. As both production of these enzymes and bone resorption appear to be mediated by cytokines, we investigated the effects of two cytokines, IL‐1α and EGF, on the release of collagenase, gelatinase A (MMP‐2), gelatinase B (MMP‐9), TIMP‐1 and calcium by rabbit calvariae. It was found that all these parameters increased under the influence of these cytokines. The release of calcium ‐ used as a parameter of bone resorption ‐ was highest in the combined presence of the cytokines. Although the absolute and relative enhancement by a combination of IL‐1α and EGF was most pronounced for collagenase (7‐fold), both gelatinase A (5‐fold) and gelatinase B (1.5‐fold) had increased simultaneously. Calvariae produced a high level of MMP inhibitor (TIMP‐1), especially under the influence of the cytokines; periosteum released little inhibitor. It is concluded that IL‐1α and EGF are likely to play a modulating role in the process of bone resorption.
Rapid chair‐side DNA probe assay of Bacteroides forsythus and Porphyromonas gingivalis
Authors: Tanner A. C. R. , Maiden M. F. J. , Zambon J. J. , Thoren G. S. , Kent R. L.
Published: June 2010

This study compared a rapid, colorimetric DNA probe assay designed to be performed in a dental office within 40 min, with anaerobic culture and indirect immunofluorescence microscopy (IFM) for detection of Bacteroides forsythus and Porphyromonas gingivalis in subgingival plaque samples. The DNA probe assay used the Periodontal Microbial Identification Test (Saigene Corporation, Bothell, Washington, USA). B. forsythus was detected in 46 (52%), 49 (55%) and 39 (44%) of the samples by DNA probe, culture (at levels ≥ 105) and IFM, respectively. P. gingivalis was detected in 24 (27%), 18 (20%) and 29 (33%) of the samples by DNA probe, culture (at levels ≥ 101) and IFM, respectively. Results from the DNA probe assay were compared to culture. Culture negative, probe positive samples were re‐evaluated by IFM, and IFM positive samples were considered positive in “resolved” data. Using resolved data, DNA probe detection sensitivity and specificity values for B. forsythus were 81% and 91% and for P. gingivalis were 80% and 95%, respectively. DNA probe test results were further compared with culture and IFM. For samples negative by both culture and IFM, probe specificity was 92% in 25 B. forsythus samples and 95% in 57 P. gingivalis samples. For samples positive by both reference methods, probe sensitivity was 82% in 27 B. forsythus samples and 73% in 15 P. gingivalis samples. B. forsythus was detected more frequently by culture compared with IFM; the reverse was observed for P. gingivalis. The rapid DNA probe assay for B. forsythus and P. gingivalis was comparable to cultivable and IF analyses.
Differential chemotactic effect of cementum attachment protein on periodontal cells
Authors: Metzger Z. , Weinstock B. , Dotan M. , Narayanan A. S. , Pitaru S.
Published: June 2010

Selective re‐population of the root surface by periodontal ligament cells is considered a key factor in Periodontal regeneration. A recently isolated cementum attachment protein (CAP) has been shown to enhance fibroblast attachment. In the present study the potential of CAP to selectively attract periodontal ligament cells (PLC) was studied in vitro in a micro‐chemotaxis system. Human periodontal ligament cells and gingival fibroblasts (GF) were compared for their chemotactic response to either cementum attachment protein or to fibronectin. Murine dermal fibroblasts (MDF) served as control, irrelevant to the periodontium. The chemotactic response of PLC to fibronectin at 10−8 M was of a similar magnitude as that of GF (16 ± 5 and 11 ± 3 cells/field, respectively), but both were significantly lower than the response of MDF (28 ± 3 cells/field). The chemotactic response of periodontal ligament cells to the cementum attachment protein at 10−7 M was higher (36 ± 5 cells/field) than that of gingival fibroblasts or murine dermal fibroblasts (14 ± 2 and 16 ± 2 cells/field, respectively). These results suggest that cementum attachment protein can influence the selective re‐population of root surfaces by periodontal ligament cells.
Distribution of macrophage lineage cells in rat gingival tissue after topical application of lipopolysaccharide: an immunohistochemical study using monoclonal antibodies: 0X6, ED1 and ED2
Authors: Miyauchi Mutsumi , Takata Takashi , Ito Hiroshi , Ogawa Ikuko , Kudo Yasusei , Takekoshi Toshitsugu , Nikai Hiromasa
Published: June 2010

To discuss the role of macrophage lineage cells on the periodontal tissue destruction, we immunohistochemically examined the phenotype and the dynamics of macrophage lineage cells 1 or 3 h or 1, 2, 3 or 7 d after topical application of LPS (5 mg/ml in physiological saline) from the rat gingival sulcus using 3 monoclonal antibodies: OX6 (antigen‐presenting cells), EDI (monocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells) and ED2 (resident macrophages). We could detect at least 3 different types of macrophage lineage cells, namely 0X6+ /ED1+ /ED2− dendritic cells and exudate macrophages and ED2+ resident macrophages. After LPS application the majority of macrophage lineage cells accumulated in the subjunctional epithelial area were newly extravasated 0X6+/EDI+/ED2− dendritic cells or macrophages. The number of these cells increased progressively with time and reached a maximum level at d 2. On the other hand, number and tissue distribution of ED2+ resident macrophages did not change. These results indicate that several types of macrophage lineage cells exist in rat gingival tissue and suggest that dendritic cells and exudate macrophages transiently accumulated after LPS application are responsible for various host immune response and tissue destruction caused by LPS.
Preparation and characterization of an Actinomyces naeslundii aggregation factor that mediates coaggregation with Porphyromonas gingivalis
Authors: Yamaguchi T. , Kasamo K. , Chuman M. , Machigashira M. , Inoue M. , Sueda T.
Published: June 2010

Intergeneric coaggregation is responsible for the complexity of the microbiota in human dental plaque and is believed to be important in the initial bacterial colonization of the human oral cavity. Actinomyces naeslundii, an early colonizer of the tooth surface, may enhance subsequent colonization by Porphyromonas gingivalis which is associated with adult periodontitis. The purpose of this study was to isolate and characterize the A. naeslundii aggregation factor (AnAF) that mediates coaggregation with P. gingivalis. AnAF was isolated from A. naeslundii sonic extract (SE) by gel nitration on a Sephacryl S‐400HR, by hydrophobic interaction chromatography on a HiTrap Octyl Sepharose 4FF, and by ion exchange chromatography on a HiTrap Q. The specific activity increased 12‐fold with a yield of 2.5%. SDS‐PAGE analysis of AnAF revealed a protein band of high molecular weight in excess of 200 kDa. Carbohydrate was detected as the only material coinciding with the protein band, indicating that the AnAF was a glycoprotein. Immunoblotting analysis indicated that AnAF directly bound to P. gingivalis cells. AnAF was sensitive to sodium metaperiodate treatment but not to heat or protease treatments. These results suggest that the AnAF carbohydrate component mediated coaggregation with P. gingivalis cells. AnAF also inhibited coaggregation with other periodontal disease‐associated bacteria such as Prevotella intermedia, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Capnocytophaga ochracea, but not streptococci.
Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein‐2 stimulates osteoblast differentiation and suppresses matrix metalloproteinase‐1 production in human bone cells isolated from mandibulae
Authors: Takiguchi T. , Kobayashi M. , Suzuki R. , Yamaguchi A. , Isatsu K. , Nishihara T. , Nagumo M. , Hasegawa K.
Published: June 2010

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), a member of the transforming growth factor superfamily, is one of the most potent growth factors that stimulate osteoblast differentiation and bone formation. We investigated the effects of recombinant human BMP‐2 (rhBMP‐2) on osteoblast differentiation and matrix metalloproteinase‐1 (MMP‐1) production in human bone cells (HBC) isolated from mandibulae of 3 adult patients. rhBMP‐2 at concentrations over 50 ng/ml significantly stimulated alkaline phosphatase activity and parathyroid hormone (PTH)‐dependent 3′, 5′‐cyclic adenosine monophosphate accumulation, which are early markers of osteoblast differentiation, in HBCs. rhBMP‐2 (500 ng/ml) also enhanced the level of PTH/PTH related‐peptide receptor mRNA expression in HBCs. Although neither HBCs untreated nor treated with rhBMP‐2 produced measurable amounts of osteocalcin, which is a marker of more mature osteoblasts, 1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3 [l,25(OH)2D3] induced ostocalcin mRNA expression and its protein synthesis in these cells. rhBMP‐2 inhibited l,25(OH)2D3‐induced osteocalcin synthesis in HBCs at both the mRNA and protein level. rhBMP‐2 also significantly suppressed MMP‐1 production and MMP‐1 mRNA expression at concentrations over 500 ng/ml. These results suggest that rhBMP‐2 exerts anabolic effects on human osteoblastic cells derived from mandibulae by stimulation of osteoblast differentiation and down‐regulation of MMP‐1 synthesis.
The orbital period in the supergiant fast X-ray transient IGR J16465-4507
Authors: Clark D. J. , Sguera V. , Bird A. J. , McBride V. A. , Hill A. B. , Scaringi S. , Drave S. , Bazzano A. , Dean A. J.
Published: June 2010

Timing analysis of the INTEGRAL-IBIS and Swift-BAT light curves of the supergiant fast X-ray transient (SFXT) IGR J16465−4507 has identified a period of 30.32 ± 0.02 d which we interpret as the orbital period of the binary system. In addition 11 outbursts (nine of which are previously unpublished) have been found between MJD 52652 and 54764, all of which occur close to the region of the orbit we regard as periastron. From the reported flux outbursts, we found a dynamical range in the interval ∼30–80. Although in this regard IGR J16465−4507 cannot be considered a classical SFXT for which typical dynamical ranges are >100, still our reported values are significantly greater than that of classical persistent variable supergiant HMXBs (<20), supporting the idea that IGR J16465−4507 is an intermediate SFXT system, much like few other similar cases reported in the literature.
Cheilitis glandularis: report of an unusual case affecting the upper lip
Authors: Nesbitt R.A. , Marley J.J. , James J.
Published: June 2010

Cheilitis glandularis (CG) is a rare inflammatory salivary gland disorder which normally affects the lower lip. The condition was first described in 1870 by von Volkmann. We present an unusual case of CG in a patient who was referred to our department with multiple cyst‐like lesions localised to his upper lip.
Climate change: helping nature survive the human response
Authors: Turner Will R. , Bradley Bethany A. , Estes Lyndon D. , Hole David G. , Oppenheimer Michael , Wilcove David S.
Published: June 2010

Climate change poses profound, direct, and well‐documented threats to biodiversity. A significant fraction of Earth's species is at risk of extinction due to changing precipitation and temperature regimes, rising and acidifying oceans, and other factors. There is also growing awareness of the diversity and magnitude of responses, both proactive and reactive, that people will undertake as lives and livelihoods are affected by climate change. Yet to date few studies have examined the relationship between these two powerful forces. The natural systems upon which people depend, already under direct assault from climate change, are further threatened by how we respond to climate change. Human history and recent studies suggest that our actions to cope with climate change (adaptation) or lessen its rate and magnitude (mitigation) could have impacts that match—and even exceed—the direct effects of climate change on ecosystems. If we are to successfully conserve biodiversity and maintain ecosystem services in a warming world, considerable effort is needed to predict and reduce the indirect risks created by climate change.
An Evaluation of the Positional Forces Affecting Design Strategy
Authors: Jun Cai
Published: June 2010

This paper describes and analyses the relationship between design strategy and design management. Design strategy involves the long long‐term planning and direction of brand and product development, whilest design management focuses on the implementation of design strategy through planning, operational delivery, and resource management. The positional forces of design strategy refer to branding, culture, costs, technology, and services, all of which have an important role in strategic design decision‐making.
Development of a Customer Experience‐Based Brand Strategy for the Lenovo Group to Explore the UK Market
Authors: Yin Yuanyuan , Holland Ray , Qin Shengfeng , Wu Weicheng
Published: June 2010

Since acquiring IBM's personal computing (PC) division, Lenovo has focused on exploring the UK market as part of its internationalization program. This paper presents the development of a customer experience‐based brand strategy for the Lenovo Group to explore the UK market. The key question in this study is how Lenovo uses customer experience design as a basis for creating an effective brand strategy to fully understand customer needs and develop a share in the UK market. The brand strategy was developed from user behavior, experience analysis, and brand development analysis. The customer analysis data have been collected through questionnaire, interview, and observational surveys. The authors adopt Cope and Schmitt's theoretical framework of customer behavior analysis and brand development process analysis as an underlying structure. The authors conceptualize a framework based on customer experience design of PCs, integrating specific analysis of details of customer experience during the PC purchasing process. The analysis led to the identification of the key factors related to the UK PC market environment, customer behavior, and the brand development process. The study established a new brand strategy that has been evaluated and will be integrated into the company's current brand strategy.
Numerical Simulations of an Unsteady Confined Natural Convection Flow
Authors: Leplat Gillian , Laroche Emmanuel , Reulet Philippe , Millan Pierre
Published: June 2010

A two-dimensional numerical analysis of a laminar natural convection flow within an air-filled enclosure is proposed in this paper from an unstable configuration previously studied experimentally. The flow is driven by a heated square-section cylinder located at the center of a square-section enclosure. Instabilities are observed for an aspect ratio (height of the cylinder over the height of the cavity) of 0.4 and cause the flow to turn into a three-dimensional and unsteady regime characterized by a symmetry breaking and large scale high amplitude flappings around the cylinder. The multi-physic computational software CEDRE, developed at the ONERA, is used to study this unstable behavior and a time-dependent compressible flow solver is used to perform the two-dimensional simulations under the low Mach number approximation, corresponding to the mid-depth cross-section of the enclosure from the experimental configuration. The first results on the investigation of the first unstable modes confirm the onset of the instabilities at the Rayleigh number of the experiment with asymmetrical motions of the fluid around the cylinder. Further analyses highlight the critical Rayleigh number that defines the instability threshold of the first bifurcation which origin and nature could have been identified. Finally, joint fluid-solid simulations are performed to determine more precisely the role of boundary conditions in the onset of instabilities.
A Mathematical Model for Cooling Effect of Sprinkler on Smoke Layer
Authors: Li S. C. , Chen Y. , Wei D. , Yang D. , Sun X. Q. , Huo R. , Hu L. H.
Published: June 2010

A mathematical model for predicting sprinkler cooling effect on smoke layer was developed. Results of calculation showed that the temperature difference between droplets and smoke layer and the thickness of smoke layer are major factors of the cooling effect. The cooling effect might lose its efficiency when the sprinkler pressure became relatively high. Experiments were carried out to validate the model and compared with Morgan model. The experimental results show that temperatures predicted by the current model agree well with the experimental results when temperature difference is high. However Morgan model is more suitable for low temperature difference.
Thermal Resistance of Silicon/Germanium Interfaces From Lattice Dynamics Calculations
Authors: Landry E. S. , McGaughey A. J. H.
Published: June 2010

Phonon scattering at the interface between two materials results in a thermal resistance, R [1]. An ability to accurately predict the thermal resistance of semiconductor interfaces is important in devices where phonon interface scattering is a significant contributor to the overall thermal resistance (e.g., computer chips with high component density). This ability will also lead to improvements in the design of semiconductor superlattices with low thermal conductivity, desirable in thermoelectric energy conversion applications [2].
Tomography-Based Analysis of Radiative Transfer in Reacting Packed Beds Undergoing a Solid-Gas Thermochemical Transformation
Authors: Haussener Sophia , Lipin´ski Wojciech , Wyss Peter , Steinfeld Aldo
Published: June 2010

A reacting packed bed undergoing a high-temperature thermochemical solid-gas transformation is considered. The steam-gasification of carbonaceous materials into syngas is selected as the model reaction. The exact 3D geometrical configuration of the packed bed is obtained by computer tomography, digitalized, and used in direct pore-level simulations to characterize its morphological and radiative transport properties as a function of the reaction extent. Two-point correlation functions and mathematical morphology operations are applied to calculate porosities, specific surfaces, particle size distributions, and representative elementary volumes. The collision-based Monte Carlo method is applied to determine the probability distribution of attenuation path length and direction of incidence at the solid-fluid boundary, which are linked to the extinction coefficient, scattering phase function, and albedo. These effective properties can then be incorporated in continuum domain modeling of the packed bed.
Characteristics of Pool Boiling Bubble Dynamics in Bead Packed Porous Structures
Authors: Li Calvin H. , Li Ting , Hodgins Paul , Peterson G. P.
Published: June 2010

Spherical glass and copper beads have been used to create bead packed porous structures for an investigation of two-phase heat transfer bubble dynamics under geometric constraints. The results demonstrated a variety of bubble dynamics characteristics under a range of heating conditions. At low heat flux of 18.9 kW/m2, a single spherical bubble formed at nucleation sites of a heating surface and departed to the interstitial spaces of porous structure. When heat flux increased to 47 kW/m2, a single bubble grew into a Y shape between beads layers and connected with others to generate a horizontal vapor column. As heat flux reached 76.3 kW/m2, vertical vapor columns obtained strong momentum to form several major vapor escaping arteries, and glass beads were pushed upward by the vapor in the escaping arteries. According to Zuber’s hydrodynamics theory, choking will take place when the size of vapor columns reaches a certain value that is comparable to the critical hydrodynamic wavelength of the vapor column in plain surface pool boiling. The experimental and simulation results of this investigation illustrated that, under the geometric constrains of bead packed porous structures, similar characteristics had been induced to trigger the earlier occurrence of vapor column chocking inside porous structures. The bubble generation, growth, and detachment during the nucleate pool boiling heat transfer have been filmed, the heating surface temperatures and heat flux were recorded, and theoretical models have been employed to study bubble dynamic characteristics. Computer simulation results were combined with experimental observations to clarify the details of the vapor bubble growth process and the liquid water replenishing the inside of the porous structures. This investigation has clearly shown, with both experimental and computer simulation evidence, that the millimeter scale bead packed porous structures could greatly influence pool boiling heat transfer by forcing a single bubble to depart at a smaller size as compared to that in a plain surface situation at low heat flux situations, and could trigger the earlier occurrence of critical heat flux (CHF) by trapping the vapor into interstitial space and forming a vapor column net. The results also proved data for further development of theoretical models of pool boiling heat transfer in bead packed porous structures.
Fractal Loop Heat Pipe Heat Flux and Operational Performance Testing
Authors: Silk Eric A. , Myre David
Published: June 2010

This study investigates heat flux performance for a LHP that includes a fractal based evaporator design. The prototype Fractal Loop Heat Pipe (FLHP) was designed and manufactured by Mikros Manufacturing Inc. and validation tested at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s Thermal Engineering Branch laboratory. Heat input to the FLHP was supplied via cartridge heaters mounted in a copper block. The copper heater block was placed in intimate contact with the evaporator. The evaporator had a circular cross-sectional area of 0.877 cm2. Twice distilled, deionized water was used as the working fluid. Thermal performance data was obtained for three different Condenser/Subcooler temperature combinations under degassed conditions (Psat = 25.3 kPa at 22°C). The FLHP demonstrated successful start-ups in each of the test cases performed. Test results show that the highest heat flux demonstrated was 75 W/cm2.
The Local Evaporation Flux Along the Interface of a Droplet
Authors: Duan Fei
Published: June 2010

In steady-state water evaporation, the local evaporation flux is found uniform before the thermocapillary convection transition at the droplet. If the thermocapillary flow is present, the local evaporation flux becomes nonuniform as a result of effects of thermal conduction from liquid and vapor phases, thermocapillary convection at interface, or the viscous dissipation after the interfacial turbulent transition. The local vapor-phase pressures predicted from statistical rate theory become nonuniform after the thermocapillary convection transition. But, the average predicted pressure agrees with the measured vapor-phase pressure.
Optical Characteristics of Nanoparticle Sintering and Coalescence for Electronics Fabrication
Authors: Pan Heng , Ko Seung Hwan , Grigoropoulos Costas P.
Published: June 2010

Low temperature sintering of metal nanoparticle (NP) inks is a promising technique in realizing large area and flexible electronics. Previous research efforts on laser patterning of nanoparticle-laden materials in micro-fabrication as well as potential applications in nano-fabrication have sparked great interest in understanding the fundamental phenomena involved in nanoscale phase change and coalescence transformation. Molecular dynamics simulation has been applied to study nanoparticle sintering behavior. Optical methods including in-situ pump and probe technique and spectroscopic ellipsometry have been employed to study the characteristics of nanoparticle sintering and coalescence including coalescence time, temperature history and percolation transition, etc.