bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of porcine oocytes from preovulatory follicles of different sizes after maturation in media supplemented with follicular fluids
Authors: Yoon Ki-Won , Shin Tae-Young , Park Jong-Im , Roh Sangho , Lim Jeong M. , Lee Byeong-Chun , Hwang Woo-Suk , Lee Eun-Song
Published: January 2006

The development of porcine oocytes from large (3.1–8.0 mm in diameter)
or small (<3.1 mm) follicles was examined after maturation culture in
medium containing porcine follicular fluid (pFF). Large follicles yielded
larger (256 m v. 221 m; P<0.05)
cumulus–oocyte complexes and more (22 v.
14%) morphologically normal oocytes than small follicles (Experiment
1). In Experiments 2–4, maturation media supplemented with mixed pFF
(10%) from small and large follicles was used. More oocytes from large
follicles matured (58% v. 91%), formed
pronuclei (81% v. 90%) and developed to
the blastocyst stage (2% v. 10%) than
oocytes from small follicles. In Experiments 5–7, the effects of pFF
collected from either small or large follicles on oocyte development were
examined. Regardless of the source of oocytes, large-follicle-derived pFF more
significantly enhanced preimplantation development than did
small-follicle-derived pFF. The highest rate of blastocyst formation
(16%) was found when oocytes from large follicles were cultured in
maturation medium containing large-follicle-derived pFF. These results suggest
that oocytes from large follicles have greater developmental potential than
oocytes from small follicles, and that the origin of pFF, which is added to
the maturation media, might be an important factor for improving
in vitro development of porcine oocytes.
Screening the foods of an endangered parrot, the kakapo (Strigops habroptilus), for oestrogenic activity using a recombinant yeast bioassay
Authors: Fidler Andrew E. , Zwart Sharon , Pharis Richard P. , Weston Roderick J. , Lawrence Stephen B. , Jansen Paul , Elliott Graeme , Merton Donald V.
Published: January 2006

In recent years the possibility of environmental oestrogens affecting the
reproduction of vertebrates has become an issue of both public and scientific
interest. Although the significance of such chemicals remains controversial
there is clear evidence that, in some contexts, environmental oestrogens can
influence the fertility of vertebrates. Highly endangered species represent a
situation in which even modest reductions in the fertility of key individuals
may have implications for the survival of the entire species. This paper
reports the screening of both natural and supplementary foods of the kakapo
(Strigops habroptilus), a critically endangered New
Zealand nocturnal parrot, for oestrogenic activity using a recombinant yeast
based bioassay. Low levels of oestrogenic activity were detected in one of the
‘chick-raising’ foods, but no oestrogenic activity was detected in
the adult supplementary foods. The oestrogenicity of a range of phytochemicals
possibly associated with the kakapo natural diet was also examined. Two such
phytochemicals, podocarpic acid and its reduced derivative podocarpinol,
showed weak oestro-genic activity (approximately 10
–6 and 10 –4 of the
activity of 17-b -oestradiol, respectively).
Observations on the genus Elymus (Poaceae: Triticeae) in Australia
Authors: Murphy Michelle A. , Jones Christine E.
Published: January 2006

In Australia, the genus Elymus L., as currently interpreted, includes two species: E. scaber (R.Br.)Á.Löve [with two varieties E. scabervar. scaber and E. scaber var.plurinervis (Vickery) B.K.Simon]; andE. multiflorus (Hook.f.) Löve & Connor. A thirdspecies, apomictic E. rectisetus (Nees)Á.Löve & Connor, which is naturalised in New Zealand from Australia has not been included in Australian regional Floras except as asynonym of E. scaber. A preliminary phenetic analysis ofmorphological characters of 19 specimens and reports on recent work indicatethat at least four major entities exist: short-awnedentities (E. scaber sensu Labillardière);long-awned apomictic entities (sensu E. rectisetus);long-awned entities with large glumes (E. scaber var.plurinervis); and very short-awned entities(E. multiflorus). In a study of seed set, long-awnedentities of E. scaber exhibited relatively low seed set(12–26%), a reported feature ofE. rectisetus. The results, taxonomy, and recent studiesof the reproductive biology, geo- graphic distribution and genome constitutionof taxa of Elymus common to Australia and New Zealandare discussed, and a revision of the current taxonomic ranking is suggested
The Radiologic Diagnosis of Endolymphatic Sac Tumors
Authors: Patel Nirmal P. , Wiggins Richard H. , Shelton Clough
Published: January 2006

Objective: To identify and classify radiologic criteria for the diagnosis of endolymphatic sac tumors.

Study Design: Retrospective case review. Tertiary referral center.

Methods: 31 adult patients (32 tumors) with imaging (computed tomography [CT], magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], and/or angiography) and histopathologic diagnoses of lesions that involved the posterior temporal bone from July 1995 to August 2004 were included in the study. Interventions were diagnostic. Main outcome measures were CT, MRI (T1, T1 with gadolinium enhancement and T2‐weighted), and angiographic features of seven patients (eight temporal bones) with endolymphatic sac tumors were examined and compared to the radiologic findings of the 24 historical control patients with various lesions involving the posterior temporal bone.

Results: CT findings of endolymphatic sac tumors revealed lesions centered over the endolymphatic sac, retrolabyrinthine, and presigmoid regions of the temporal bone. Central calcific spiculation and posterior rim calcification was present in all lesions (100%) on CT examination. T1‐weighted MRI scans showed hyperintense foci in seven of eight lesions (88%). T1‐weighted post‐gadolinium scans showed heterogeneous enhancement in all cases (100%). T2‐weighted images showed heterogeneous signals in all lesions (100%). Angiography (traditional or magnetic resonance angiography [MRA]) identified exclusive external carotid supply for lesions less than 3 cm. Tumors greater than 3 cm were supplied by external carotid, internal carotid, and posterior fossa circulation arteries.

Conclusions: Reliable radiologic criteria to preoperatively identify endolymphatic sac tumors exist. Preoperative diagnosis of posterior temporal bone lesions enables appropriate surgical planning and treatment of the pathology.
Osteonecrosis of the Mandible or Maxilla Associated with the use of New Generation Bisphosphonates
Authors: Farrugia Matthew C. , Summerlin Don‐John , Krowiak Edward , Huntley Tod , Freeman Stephen , Borrowdale Richard , Tomich Charles
Published: January 2006

Objective: The use of bisphosphonates is well established for the treatment of patients with metastatic bone disease, osteoporosis, and Paget's disease. Osteonecrosis of the mandible or maxilla associated with the use of bisphosphonates is a newly described entity never before discussed in the otolaryngology literature. In this paper, we review a series of patients diagnosed with osteonecrosis, all treated with new generation bisphosphonates. Our objective is to inform and educate others, particularly otolaryngologists/head and neck surgeons, about this drug induced entity, a condition that should be recognized early to avoid potential devastating consequences.

Study Design: Retrospective chart review of a series of patients from a tertiary referral center.

Methods: Pathology reports of specimens submitted from either the mandible or maxilla were reviewed from the previous 12 months. Any patient diagnosed with osteonecrosis without evidence of metastatic disease at that site was included; those with a previous history of radiation therapy were excluded. Each patient's medical history and profile were reviewed.

Results: Twenty‐three patients were identified with osteonecrosis of the mandible or maxilla. All of these were associated with the use of new generation bisphosphonates: zolendronate (Zometa, Novartis), pamidronate (Aredia, Novartis), and alendronate (Fosamax, Merck). Eighteen patients with known bone metastases had been treated with the intravenous form, whereas five patients with either osteoporosis or Paget's disease were using oral therapy. Patients typically presented with a nonhealing lesion, often times the result of previous dental intervention. Although the majority of these patients were treated with conservative surgical debridement, we present a case requiring a near total maxillectomy.

Conclusions: Drug induced osteonecrosis of the mandible or maxilla has been recently recognized as a sequelae of treatment with the new generation of bisphosphonates. Most patients can be treated with conservative surgical debridement and cessation of bisphosphonate therapy, whereas a few may require radical surgical intervention. Other recommendations include regimented prophylactic care with an assessment of dental status before the administration of bisphosphonates, avoidance of dental procedures, and close monitoring of oral hygiene.
Vitamin E‐Coated Tympanostomy Tube Insertion Decreases the Quantity of Free Radicals in Tympanic Membrane
Authors: Üneri Cüneyd , Sari Murat , Akboğa Jülide , Yüksel Meral
Published: January 2006

Objective: Tympanosclerosis is a common sequela of ventilation tube treatment of otitis media with effusion causing hearing disability. It is associated with an increased production of free radicals (also known as reactive oxygen species) after myringotomy. Vitamin E is a scavenger of different free radicals by working as an antioxidant. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of vitamin E‐coated tympanostomy tube insertion at quantity of free radicals in rat tympanic membrane.

Methods: This prospective, controlled animal study consisted of male Sprague‐Dawley rats divided into two groups of 10 animals each. Ordinary silcone tubes were applied to the right ears of the first group and vitamin E‐coated silcone tubes were applied to the right ears of the second group. The left ears were used as controls. Then, the animals were killed and chemiluminescence measurements were made for tympanic membranes.

Results: Reactive oxygen species levels (ROS) were significantly increased in right ears of the first group when compared with the control ears (P < .0001), and the levels were statistically significant decreased in right ears of the second group as compared with the operated ears of the first group (P < .0001). The free radical levels of right and left ears in the second group were similar.

Conclusions: Our results indicate that vitamin E‐coated tube insertion decreases the quantity of reactive oxygen species in tympanic membrane after myringotomy and tympanostomy tube insertion.
Ultraviolet signals fighting ability in a lizard
Authors: Stapley Jessica , Whiting Martin J
Published: January 2006

Ultraviolet (UV) signals are used in female mate choice in numerous taxa; however, the role of UV signals in male contests remains relatively unexplored. We experimentally reduced throat UV of free-ranging lizards (Platysaurus broadleyi) to test whether UV acts as a signal of fighting ability during male contests. We found that UV-reduced males were more likely to be challenged than control males. However, contest outcome was not influenced by UV-reduction, and this was despite other obvious asymmetries between opponents, such as body size and residency. Throat UV was confirmed as a signal of fighting ability because contests were more likely to escalate when one contestant had reduced UV. Therefore, throat UV, not body size or residency, was used during the initial stage of opponent assessment, but this did not influence contest outcome. The results suggest that UV overrides other traits that could function as signals during rival assessment.
Global nonlinear stability in porous convection with a thermal non-equilibrium model
Authors: Straughan B
Published: January 2006

We show that the global nonlinear stability threshold for convection with a thermal non-equilibrium model is exactly the same as the linear instability boundary. This result is shown to hold for the porous medium equations of Darcy, Forchheimer or Brinkman. This optimal result is important because it shows that linearized instability theory has captured completely the physics of the onset of convection. The equivalence of the linear instability and nonlinear stability boundaries is also demonstrated for thermal convection in a non-equilibrium model with the Darcy law, when the layer rotates with a constant angular velocity about an axis in the same direction as gravity.
Diurnal variations in the auto‐ and heterotrophic activity of cyanobacterial phycospheres (Gloeotrichia echinulata) and the identity of attached bacteria
Authors: EILER ALEXANDER , OLSSON JAN A. , BERTILSSON STEFAN
Published: January 2006

1. We assessed the role of cyanobacterial–bacterial consortia (Gloeotrichia echinulata phycospheres) for net changes in inorganic carbon, primary production (PP) and secondary production in Lake Erken (Sweden).

2. At the time of sampling, large colonies of G. echinulata formed a massive bloom with abundances ranging from 102 colonies L−1 in the pelagic zone to 5000 colonies L−1 in shallow bays. These colonies and their surrounding phycospheres contributed between 17 and 92% of total PP, and phycosphere‐associated bacteria contributed between 8.5 and 82% of total bacterial secondary production. PP followed a diurnal cycle, whereas bacterial production showed no such pattern. Over a 24 h period, carbon dioxide measurements showed that the phycospheres were net autotrophic in the top layer of the water column, whereas they were net heterotrophic below 2 m depth.

3. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA genes of attached bacteria revealed a diverse bacterial community that included populations affiliated with Proteobacteria, Bacteriodetes, Acidobacteria, Fusobacteria, Firmicutes, Verrucomicrobia, and other Cyanobacteria.

4. Compared with their planktonic counterparts, bacteria associated with cyanobacterial phycospheres had lower affinity for arginine, used as a model compound to assess uptake of organic compounds.

5. Extrapolation of our data to the water column of lake Erken suggests that microorganisms that were not associated with cyanobacteria dominated CO2 production at the ecosystem scale during our experiments, as CO2 fixation balanced CO2 production in the cyanobacterial phycospheres.
Assessing lake eutrophication using chironomids: understanding the nature of community response in different lake types
Authors: LANGDON PETER G. , RUIZ ZOE , BRODERSEN KLAUS P. , FOSTER IAN D. L.
Published: January 2006

1. Total phosphorus (TP) and chlorophyll a (Chl a) chironomid inference models (Brodersen & Lindegaard, 1999; Brooks, Bennion & Birks, 2001) were used in an attempt to reconstruct changes in nutrients from three very different lake types. Both training sets were expanded, particularly at the low end of the nutrient gradient, using contemporary chironomid assemblages and environmental parameters from 12 British lakes, although this had little improvement on the model performances.

2. Dissimilarity analyses showed that the historic chironomid assemblages did not have good analogues in the original calibration or extended datasets. However, since the transfer functions are based on weighted averages of the trophic optima for the taxa present and not on community similarities, reasonable downcore inferences were produced. Ordination analyses also showed that the lakes retain their ‘identity’ over time, as the sample dissimilarities within lakes were less than the dissimilarities between lakes.

3. Analysis of the three historic lake profiles showed a range of chironomid community responses to lake development. Chironomids from a shallow lake, Slapton Ley, responded indirectly to nutrient enrichment (TP), probably through altered substrate, macrophyte and fish conditions, rather than directly to primary productivity (Chl a). A stratified lake, Old Mill Reservoir, showed a loss of the profundal chironomid fauna due to increasing primary productivity (Chl a) coupled with increasing hypoxia. A response to nutrients (TP or total nitrogen (TN)) at this site is also indirect, and the TP reconstruction therefore cannot be reliably interpreted. The third lake, March Ghyll Reservoir has little change in historic chironomid communities, suggesting that this well mixed, relatively unproductive lake has changed less than the other lakes.

4. Using chironomids to reconstruct nutrient histories does not follow a simple scheme. The response to changes in nutrients may be direct, but mediated through other ecosystem components. As alternative stable states are possible at a given level of TP it is also likely that alternative chironomid communities exist under similar nutrient conditions. Changes in biological communities can thus occur over thresholds, and it is only biological proxies that can reflect such ecosystem switches within palaeoenvironmental investigations.
Congenital factor VII deficiency: therapy with recombinant activated factor VII – a critical appraisal
Authors: MARIANI G. , KONKLE B. A. , INGERSLEV J.
Published: January 2006

Summary.  Congenital factor VII (FVII) deficiency is a rare bleeding disorder with high phenotypic variability, and optimal management has yet to be determined. Treatment has traditionally involved FVII replacement therapy using fresh frozen plasma, prothrombin complex concentrates or plasma‐derived FVII concentrates. Recombinant activated FVII (rFVIIa, NovoSeven®), the first recombinant treatment option, has recently been approved in the European Union for use in congenital FVII deficiency, but has been available on an emergency and compassionate use basis since 1988. In FVII deficiency, rFVIIa serves as substitution therapy as it provides the physiological ligand (FVIIa) for tissue factor, its receptor exposed at the site of vascular injury. This paper provides an overview of published and unpublished experience with rFVIIa in patients with congenital FVII deficiency from the NovoSeven compassionate and emergency use programmes (1988–99) and of independent reports in the literature. Recombinant FVIIa has been reported to provide effective haemostasis in patients of all ages and in a range of bleeding situations, including acute central nervous system/life‐threatening bleeding episodes (15 episodes in 12 patients), non‐life‐threatening bleeding episodes (>32 episodes in 17 patients), surgery (>40 interventions in 25 patients) and childbirth (three women). Preliminary reports suggest that it may also be effective prophylactically. The risk of thrombosis in FVII‐deficient patients treated with rFVIIa is unknown, as is the occurrence of inhibiting antibodies. A postlicensure pharmacovigilance registry (Seven Treatment Evaluation Registry) has been set up to continue to monitor the efficacy and safety (including alloantibody development) of rFVIIa in patients with FVII deficiency.
‘Andean‐centred’ genera in the short‐branch clade of Annonaceae: testing biogeographical hypotheses using phylogeny reconstruction and molecular dating
Authors: Pirie Michael D. , Chatrou Lars W. , Mols Johan B. , Erkens Roy H. J. , Oosterhof Jessica
Published: January 2006

Aim  We test biogeographical hypotheses regarding the origin of Andean‐centred plant groups by reconstructing phylogeny in the short‐branch clade (SBC) of Annonaceae, and estimating the timing of diversifications in four apparently Andean‐centred genera: Cremastosperma R.E.Fr., Klarobelia Chatrou, Malmea R.E.Fr. and Mosannona Chatrou. The SBC includes species distributed in both the Old and New World tropics. A number of the Neotropical genera display ‘Andean‐centred’ distribution patterns, with high species richness on both sides of the Andes mountain range. In particular, we test whether these groups could have originated on the South American continent during the time frame of the Andean orogeny [from c. 23 Ma (Miocene) to the present].

Methods  Chloroplast DNA sequences were used to reconstruct phylogeny in related Annonaceae taxa plus outgroups, under maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference. The markers rbcL, trnL‐trnF and psbA‐trnH were sampled for 96 accessions to test the monophyly of each of the genera, and thus whether they might be para‐ or polyphyletic with respect to related groups distributed across Amazonia. To determine the sister groups of the four genera, the additional markers matK, ndhF, trnT‐trnL, trnS‐trnG and atpB‐rbcL were sampled for 23 of the 96 accessions. Molecular dating techniques (nonparametric rate‐smoothing; penalized likelihood; Bayesian inference) were then applied to estimate the age of the crown group of each genus and the age of their sister groups.

Results  Monophyly was confirmed in Cremastosperma, Malmea and Mosannona. The monotypic genus Pseudephedranthus Aristeg. was found to be nested within Klarobelia, the species of which otherwise formed a monophyletic group, and a South American‐centred (SAC) clade was identified. The SAC clade comprises all the SBC genera distributed in South America and generally to a limited extent into Central America, but not those endemic to Africa, Asia and Central America. Age estimations for clades within the SBC were no older than around 60 Myr; those for the crown groups of Cremastosperma, Klarobelia, Malmea and Mosannona fell largely within the last 10–20 Myr.

Main conclusions  The distribution patterns of Cremastosperma, Klarobelia, Malmea and Mosannona are not the arbitrary result of the definition of para‐ or polyphyletic groups. We infer the presence of a common ancestor of the four genera in South America, but not by vicariance of an ancestral population on Gondwana. The age estimations, instead, may suggest that the SAC clade originated in South America by dispersal across the Boreotropics. Although the strength of this test was limited by imprecision in the molecular dating results, the ages of crown groups of the four genera suggest that diversifications occurred within the time frame of the orogeny of the Northern Andes.
Burden of Atopic dermatitis in Canada
Authors: Barbeau Martin , Bpharm Hélène Lalonde
Published: January 2006

Background  Atopic dermatitis (AD) is relatively common worldwide; costs associated with the disease have been reported recently for various countries, but no estimates of costs in Canada are currently available. The objective of this study was to estimate the costs associated with AD in Canada, assessed from resource use determined for a Canadian setting.

Methods  Seventy‐six patients in Ontario with AD were surveyed to determine information about severity of disease, healthcare practitioner visits, over‐the‐counter medication use, household expenses and absenteeism relating to their condition. Based on this information, costs were determined based on the Ontario billing schedule, estimated prescription use, reported out‐of‐pocket expenses and stated family income. Data about sleep disturbance and concern over topical corticosteroid use were also obtained.

Results  Patients reported an average of 3.6 publicly funded doctor visits per year for AD; 58% of these visits were to general practitioners and 28% to dermatologists. The annual per patient expenditure was estimated to be Cdn$282, $454 and $1242 for patients with mild, moderate and severe AD, respectively. The total cost of AD in Canada was estimated to be Cdn$1.4 billion annually. More than half of the patients experienced sleep disturbances owing to their condition, and 71% reported having concerns about topical corticosteroid use.

Conclusions  Although the cost per patient of AD in Canada is relatively low, owing to the prevalence of the disease, the total cost to society is large. Most of the cost is borne by patients and their employers, primarily owing to indirect costs associated with absenteeism.
Defining patients with high‐risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Veness Michael J
Published: January 2006

Non‐melanoma skin cancers occur at an epidemic rate in Australia. With an ageing population more Australians will develop these cancers and at an increasing rate. In the majority of cases, local treatment, usually excision, is highly curative. However, a subset of the population are diagnosed with a high‐risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, defined as a patient having a higher risk of subclinical metastases to regional lymph nodes based on unfavourable primary lesion features and patient factors. Despite treatment, patients developing metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma experience mortality and morbidity usually as a consequence of uncontrolled metastatic nodal disease. It is therefore important that clinicians treating skin cancers have an understanding and awareness of these high‐risk patients. The aim of this article is to discuss the features that define a high‐risk patient and to present some of the issues pertinent to their treatment.
Quality of life in psoriasis improves after standardized administration of narrowband UVB phototherapy
Authors: Lim Cathy , Brown Pam
Published: January 2006

Psoriasis is a chronic fluctuating dermatosis with demonstrable impact on patients’ quality of life. Our aim was to investigate if narrowband UVB phototherapy administered to psoriatic patients in a standardized manner leads to an improvement in patients’ perceived quality of life. A total of 138 patients with psoriasis were recruited from referrals to the Skin and Cancer Foundation, Australia between January 1998 and September 2002. Patients had psoriasis inadequately controlled by topical therapies alone and no contraindications to the use of phototherapy. Patients completed a pre‐ and post‐therapy questionnaire on quality of life parameters. The differences in mean and standard deviation of quality of life parameters were measured using a paired sample t‐test based on pre‐ and post‐phototherapy questionnaires. Ninety patients were included in the study. Forty‐eight patients were excluded as they had not completed post‐phototherapy questionnaires. The course of narrowband UVB phototherapy was found to significantly improve quality of life in psoriasis patients (P ≤ 0.005). We conclude that narrowband UVB phototherapy improves quality of life in patients with psoriasis.
Spatial and temporal variations in species occurrence rate affect the accuracy of occurrence models
Authors: Bulluck Lesley , Fleishman Erica , Betrus Chris , Blair Rob
Published: January 2006

Aim Predictive models of species occurrence have potential for prioritizing areas for competing land uses. Before widespread application, however, it is necessary to evaluate performance using independent data and effective accuracy measures. The objectives of this study were to (1) compare the effects of species occurrence rate on model accuracy, (2) assess the effects of spatial and temporal variation in occurrence rate on model accuracy, and (3) determine if the number of predictor variables affected model accuracy.

Location We predicted the distributions of breeding birds in three adjacent mountain ranges in the Great Basin (Nevada, USA).

Methods For each of 18 species, we developed separate models using five different data sets — one set for each of 2 years (to address the effects of temporal variation), and one set for each of three possible pairs of mountain ranges (to address the effects of spatial variation). We evaluated each model with an independent data set using four accuracy measures: discrimination ability [area under a receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC)], correct classification rate (CCR), proportion of presences correctly classified (sensitivity), and proportion of absences correctly classified (specificity).

Results Discrimination ability was not affected by occurrence rate, whereas the other three accuracy measures were significantly affected. CCR, sensitivity and specificity were affected by species occurrence rate in the evaluation data sets to a greater extent than in the model‐building data sets. Discrimination ability was the only accuracy measure affected by the number of variables in a model.

Main conclusions Temporal variation in species occurrence appeared to have a greater impact than did spatial variation. When temporal variation in species distributions is great, the relative costs of omission and commission errors should be assessed and long‐term census data should be examined before using predictive models of occurrence in a management setting.
A dynamic model for suspended particulate matter (SPM) in rivers
Authors: Håkanson Lars
Published: January 2006

Aim  To present a general, process‐based river model for suspended particulate matter (SPM).

Location  General approach based on processes; data from Europe and Israel.

Methods  The model has been tested and calibrated using an empirical river model for SPM and validated (blind‐tested) using data from seven European sites. This modelling gives mean monthly SPM concentrations in water for defined river sites. The model is based on processes in the entire upstream river stretch (and not for given river segments) and calculates the transport of SPM from land to water, primary production of SPM (within the upstream river stretch), resuspension, mineralization and retention of SPM in the upstream river stretch (but not bed load of friction materials, such as sand). The catchment area is differentiated into inflow (∼ dry land) areas and outflow area (∼ wetland areas dominated by relatively fast horizontal SPM‐fluxes). The model is simple to apply in practice as all driving variables may be accessed readily from maps. The driving variables are: latitude, altitude, continentality, catchment area and mean annual precipitation.

Results  Modelled values have been compared to independent empirical data from sites covering a relatively wide domain (catchment areas from 93 to 5250 km2, precipitation from 400 to 660 mm year−1, altitudes from −210 to 150 m a.s.l., latitudes from 47 to 59° N and continentalities from 200 to 1000 km from the ocean). When blind‐tested, the model predicts annual SPM‐fluxes well.

Conclusion  When modelled values are compared to empirical data, the slope is almost perfect (1.03) and the r2‐value is 0.9996. This is good, given the fact that there are several simplifications in the model structure. It must, however, be stressed that there are only seven validation cases and that this model has not been tested for small catchments.
NAPECOR's Risk Management Venture: Note to Instructors
Authors: Fairbanks Stewart , Vance David A. , Chrisman James J.
Published: January 2006

This case illustrates that intrapreneurial ventures, just like firms, proceed through stages and that when the product or service being provided is information based, it creates the impetus for organizational change. This case highlights the difficulties and trade–offs involved in making the transition from one stage of organizational development to another. A complicating factor in this case is the matter of scaling up a new venture involving a novel computer application that promises a significant competitive advantage, but may create large organizational upheaval.
Minimizing the Losses in Penile Lengthening: “V-Y Half-Skin Half-Fat Advancement Flap” and “T-Closure” Combined with Severing the Suspensory Ligament
Authors: Shaeer Osama , Shaeer Kamal , El-Sebaie Ashraf
Published: January 2006

Introduction

The technique most commonly used for penile lengthening is the release of the suspensory ligament in combination with an inverted V-Y skin plasty. This technique has drawbacks such as the possibility of reattachment of the penis to the pubis, a hump that forms at the base of the penis, in addition to alteration in the angle of erection.

Aim

In this work, we describe a new technique that overrides these drawbacks and minimize the loss of gained length.

Methods

The suspensory ligament was released through a penopubic incision. The caudal flap of the resected ligaments was reflected caudally and sutured to the Buck's fascia. The V flap was incised. The caudal half of the V was deskinned, leaving a cranial skin-covered V flap, and a caudal, rectangular fat flap. The fat flap was pulled into the gap between the base of the penis and the pubis and secured in position by suturing its deep surface and lower edge to the pubis. This maneuver filled up the gap. The V incision was closed as a Y. The penopubic incision was closed as a T shape, to avoid pulling the penis back at skin closure. A stay suture stretched from the glans to the thigh, maintaining the penis in the stretched position. A urinary catheter was inserted.

Results

Six months after surgery, there was no loss in the length gained. The angle of erection (as reported by the patient) was similar to that prior to the procedure. The skin incisions left no hump and a faint scar that was not troublesome to the patient.

Conclusion

“V-Y half-skin half-fat advancement flap” and “T-closure” may improve the results of suspensory ligament release for penile lengthening. The reported techniques minimize the losses compromising length gain, whether in-surgery or following it.
Impact of Oral Contraceptives on Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin and Androgen Levels: A Retrospective Study in Women with Sexual Dysfunction
Authors: Panzer Claudia , Wise Sarah , Fantini Gemma , Kang Dongwoo , Munarriz Ricardo , Guay Andre , Goldstein Irwin
Published: January 2006

Introduction

Oral contraceptives (OCs) have been the preferred method of birth control because of their high rate of effectiveness. OC use, however, has been associated with women's sexual health complaints and androgen insufficiency. OC use is associated with a decrease of androgen ovarian synthesis and an increase in the production of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). There have been limited studies assessing SHBG values after discontinuation of OC use.

Aim

To retrospectively investigate SHBG levels before and after discontinuation of OC use.

Main Outcome Measure

Sex hormone-binding globulin values were compared at baseline, while on the OC, and well beyond the 7-day half-life of SHBG at 49–120 (mean 80) days and >120 (mean 196) days after discontinuation of OCs.

Methods

A total of 124 premenopausal women with sexual health complaints for >6 months met inclusion/exclusion criteria. Three groups of women were defined: (i) “Continued-Users” (N = 62; mean age 32 years) had been on OCs for >6 months and continued taking them; (ii) “Discontinued-Users” (N = 39; mean age 33 years) had been on OCs for >6 months and discontinued them; and (iii) “Never-Users” (N = 23; mean age 36 years) had never taken OCs.

Results

Sex hormone-binding globulin values in the “Continued-Users” were four times higher than those in the “Never-User” group (mean 157 ± 13 nmol/L vs. 41 ± 4 nmol/L; P < 0.0001). Despite a decrease in SHBG values after discontinuation of OC use, SHBG levels in “Discontinued-Users” remained elevated in comparison with “Never-Users” (N = 26; P < 0.0001 for >120 days).

Conclusion

In women with sexual dysfunction, SHBG changes in “Discontinued-Users” did not decrease to values consistent with “Never-Users.” Long-term sexual, metabolic, and mental health consequences might result as a consequence of chronic SHBG elevation. Does prolonged exposure to the synthetic estrogens of OCs induce gene imprinting and increased gene expression of SHBG in the liver in some women? Prospective research is needed.
Effective interventions for lifestyle change after myocardial infarction or coronary artery revascularization
Authors: Cobb Stephanie L. , Brown Debra J. , Davis Leslie L.
Published: January 2006

Purpose: This science clinical paper reviews medical literature and examines interventions that are currently used to assist patients in achieving lifestyle change after myocardial infarction or coronary artery revascularization. Interventions that focused on both provider‐ and patient‐implemented strategies were included. The effectiveness of these interventions to significantly reduce coronary heart disease risk factors was explored.

Data sources: Original longitudinal research studies or reviews indexed in PubMed between 1999 and 2004 were included. Eight studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria and presented successful interventions to increase participants’ adherence to recommended lifestyle changes.

Conclusions: Current strategies for achieving recommended risk factor reductions include frequent follow‐up, intensive diet changes, individualized and group exercise, coaching, group meetings, education on lifestyle modification and behavior change, and formal cardiac rehabilitation programs.

Implications for practice: Nurse Practitioners can help close the gap between evidence‐based recommendations and clinical practice by implementing education programs in their practices and in the community. Recommendations include frequent follow‐up visits, negotiating personalized treatment plans, and a general emphasis on therapeutic lifestyle change as an essential component of the treatment plan.
Analysis of Thermal Stress in Cryosurgery of Kidneys
Authors: He Xiaoming , Bischof John C.
Published: January 2006

In this study, the thermal stress distribution in cryosurgery of kidney was investigated using a multiphysics finite element model developed in ANSYS (V8.1). The thermal portion of the model was verified using experimental data and the mechanics portion of the model (elastic) was verified using classic analytical solutions. Temperature dependent thermal and mechanical properties were used in the model. Moreover, the model accounts for thermal expansion due to both thermal expansion in single phase and volumetric expansion associated with phase change of tissue water to ice. For a clinical cylindrical cryoprobe inserted into the renal cortex from the top–middle renal capsule, it was found that the thermal stress distributions along the radial position are very different at different depths from the top renal capsule. The thermal stress is much higher at both ends than in the middle of the cryoprobe surface. It was found that there might be more tissue next to the top renal capsule than other region undergoing microcrack formation or plastic deformation. Furthermore, it was found that macrocrack formation is more likely to occur in tissue adjacent to the cryoprobe surface (especially on the sharp point tip) and during the thawing phase of cryosurgery. It was further found that the volumetric expansion associated with phase change induced much higher thermal stress than thermal expansion in a single phase and might therefore be the main cause of the frequently observed crack formation shortly after initiation of thawing in cryosurgery. Because the thermal stress adjacent to the cryoprobe is much higher than the yield stress of frozen renal tissue, a plastic stress model is required for better modeling of the thermal stress distribution in cryosurgery of kidney in future. However the computational effort will then be drastically increased due to the strong nonlinear nature of the plastic model and more experimental studies are indispensable for better understanding of the mechanical behavior of frozen tissue in cryosurgery.
Dynamic Motion Planning for the Design of Robotic Gait Rehabilitation
Authors: Wang Chia-Yu E. , Bobrow James E. , Reinkensmeyer David J.
Published: January 2006

In this paper we examine a method to control the stepping motion of a paralyzed person suspended over a treadmill using a robot attached to the pelvis. A leg swing motion is created by moving the pelvis without contact with the legs. The problem is formulated as an optimal control problem for an underactuated articulated chain. The optimal control problem is converted into a discrete parameter optimization and an efficient gradient-based algorithm is used to solve it. Motion capture data from an unimpaired human subject is compared to the simulation results from the dynamic motion optimization. Our results suggest that it is feasible to drive repetitive stepping on a treadmill by a paralyzed person by assisting in torso movement alone. The optimized, pelvic motion strategies are comparable to “hip-hiking” gait strategies used by people with lower limb prostheses or hemiparesis. The resulting motions can be found at the web site http://www.eng.uci.edu/∼chwang/project/stepper/stepper.html.
Long range source localization from single hydrophone spectrograms
Authors: Kuperman W. A. , D’Spain G. L. , Heaney K. D.
Published: January 2006

A source near the deep sound channel axis excites mode groups (or paths) that involve both deep sound channel and boundary interacting propagation. Dispersion from a broadband source as measured on a single hydrophone can be used to estimate source range. Furthermore, modal group speeds have a functional transition when passing through purely refractive to boundary reflecting phase speed regions which, under certain conditions, provides additional arrival structure to aid in source localization. This additional arrival structure is in the form of a focal region in a spectrogram. Indeed, different data sets from the Acoustic Thermometry of the Ocean Climate (ATOC) Program [ATOC Consortium, Science 281, 1327–1332 (1998)] show that localization can be accomplished using this focal region and/or the overall dispersion properties as originally suggested fifty years ago [M. Ewing and J. L. Worzel, Geo. Soc. Am., Memoir 27 (1948)].
The effect of intensity perturbations on speech intelligibility for normal-hearing and hearing-impaired listeners
Authors: van Schijndel Nicolle H. , Houtgast Tammo , Festen Joost M.
Published: January 2006

Hearing-impaired listeners are known to suffer from reduced speech intelligibility in noise, even if sounds are above their hearing thresholds. This study examined the possible contribution of reduced acuity of intensity coding to this problem. The “distortion-sensitivity model” was used: the effect of reduced acuity of auditory intensity coding on intelligibility was mimicked by an artificial distortion of the speech intensity coding, and the sensitivity to this distortion for hearing-impaired listeners was compared with that for normal-hearing listeners. Stimuli (speech plus noise) were wavelet coded using a Gaussian wavelet (1/4-octave bandwidth). The intensity coding was distorted by multiplying the modulus of each wavelet coefficient by a random factor. Speech-reception thresholds (SRTs) were measured for various degrees of intensity perturbation. Hearing-impaired listeners were classified as suffering from suprathreshold deficits if intelligibility of undistorted speech was worse than predicted from audibility by the speech intelligibility index model [ANSI, ANSI S3.5-1997 (1997)]. Hearing-impaired listeners without suprathreshold deficits were as sensitive to the intensity distortion as the normal-hearing listeners. Hearing-impaired listeners with suprathreshold deficits appeared to be less sensitive. Results indicate that reduced acuity of auditory intensity coding may be a factor underlying reduced speech intelligibility in noise for the hearing impaired.
The lower limit of melodic pitch
Authors: Pressnitzer Daniel , Patterson Roy D. , Krumbholz Katrin
Published: January 2006

An objective melody task was used to determine the lower limit of melodic pitch (LLMP) for harmonic complex tones. The LLMP was defined operationally as the repetition rate below which listeners could no longer recognize that one of the notes in a four-note, chromatic melody had changed by a semitone. In the first experiment, the stimuli were broadband tones with all their components in cosine phase, and the LLMP was found to be around 30 Hz. In the second experiment, the tones were filtered into bands about 1 kHz in width to determine the influence of frequency region on the LLMP. The results showed that whenever there was energy present below 800 Hz, the LLMP was still around 30 Hz. When the energy was limited to higher-frequency regions, however, the LLMP increased progressively, up to 270 Hz when the energy was restricted to the region above 3.2 kHz. In the third experiment, the phase relationship between spectral components was altered to determine whether the shape of the waveform affects the LLMP. When the envelope peak factor was reduced using the Schroeder phase relationship, the LLMP was not affected. When a secondary peak was introduced into the envelope of the stimuli by alternating the phase of successive components between two fixed values, there was a substantial reduction in the LLMP, for stimuli containing low-frequency energy. A computational auditory model that extracts pitch information with autocorrelation can reproduce all of the observed effects, provided the contribution of longer time intervals is progressively reduced by a linear weighting function that limits the mechanism to time intervals of less than about 33 ms.
Maximum entropy approach for modeling random uncertainties in transient elastodynamics
Authors: Soize Christian
Published: January 2006

A new approach is presented for analyzing random uncertainties in dynamical systems. This approach consists of modeling random uncertainties by a nonparametric model allowing transient responses of mechanical systems submitted to impulsive loads to be predicted in the context of linear structural dynamics. The information used does not require the description of the local parameters of the mechanical model. The probability model is deduced from the use of the entropy optimization principle, whose available information is constituted of the algebraic properties related to the generalized mass, damping, and stiffness matrices which have to be positive-definite symmetric matrices, and the knowledge of these matrices for the mean reduced matrix model. An explicit construction and representation of the probability model have been obtained and are very well suited to algebraic calculus and to Monte Carlo numerical simulation in order to compute the transient responses of structures submitted to impulsive loads. The fundamental properties related to the convergence of the stochastic solution with respect to the dimension of the random reduced matrix model are analyzed. Finally, an example is presented.
Linear degrees of freedom in speech production: Analysis of cineradio- and labio-film data and articulatory-acoustic modeling
Authors: Beautemps Denis , Badin Pierre , Bailly Gérard
Published: January 2006

The following contribution addresses several issues concerning speech degrees of freedom in French oral vowels, stop, and fricative consonants based on an analysis of tongue and lip shapes extracted from cineradio- and labio-films. The midsagittal tongue shapes have been submitted to a linear decomposition where some of the loading factors were selected such as jaw and larynx position while four other components were derived from principal component analysis (PCA). For the lips, in addition to the more traditional protrusion and opening components, a supplementary component was extracted to explain the upward movement of both the upper and lower lips in [v] production. A linear articulatory model was developed; the six tongue degrees of freedom were used as the articulatory control parameters of the midsagittal tongue contours and explained 96% of the tongue data variance. These control parameters were also used to specify the frontal lip width dimension derived from the labio-film front views. Finally, this model was complemented by a conversion model going from the midsagittal to the area function, based on a fitting of the midsagittal distances and the formant frequencies for both vowels and consonants.