bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
La protection des intérêts britanniques en Égypte par la Suisse en 1956 : une stratégie de compensation
Authors: Pfirter Eva
Published: February 2011

Résumé Le mandat pour la Grande-Bretagne en Égypte, de 1956 à 1959, a été difficile à remplir. Le gouvernement égyptien a compliqué le travail de la puissance protectrice suisse de manière considérable. Malgré tous ses efforts, la puissance protectrice n’a pu protéger que partiellement les civils britanniques, le personnel diplomatique et les prisonniers de guerre, ce qui relevait de ses devoirs principaux. La défense des intérêts britanniques en Égypte en 1956 était également problématique du point de vue d’une politique neutre. Non seulement elle n’a pas contribué à un changement de politique des bons offices, mais elle a démontré de manière exemplaire les problèmes de conception de la politique extérieure suisse des années 1950, politique dans laquelle les bons offices étaient censés compenser l’absence de la Suisse dans l’ onu .
La représentation des intérêts étrangers au Département fédéral des Affaires étrangères : témoignage d'un diplomate
Authors: Nordmann François
Published: February 2011

Résumé La représentation des intérêts étrangers est, depuis la Seconde Guerre mondiale, l’un des fleurons de la diplomatie suisse : les services rendus à de nombreux États étrangers renforçaient la valeur de la neutralité. Associé en 1971 à la gestion par la centrale du double mandat confié à la Suisse par l’Inde et le Pakistan lors de la guerre d’indépendance du Bangladesh, l’auteur retrouva celle des intérêts étrangers treize ans plus tard en prenant ses fonctions d’ambassadeur de Suisse au Guatemala. Berne y représentait en effet les intérêts britanniques, à la suite de l’indépendance du Belize. La Suisse favorisa discrètement les efforts des deux pays pour renouer leurs relations en 1986, au milieu de péripéties parfois cocasses.
La protection dans la politique extérieure suisse d'aujourd'hui
Authors: Calmy-Rey Micheline
Published: February 2011

Résumé L’idée maîtresse qui sous-tend le mandat de puissance protectrice humanitaire, la protection de la population civile en période de conflit armé, est au cœur de la politique étrangère suisse. Par ailleurs, lorsque deux États en conflit rompent leurs relations diplomatiques, l’instauration d’un mandat de puissance protectrice contribue significativement à accroître la sécurité humaine. Le double mandat Russie-Géorgie récemment assumé par la Suisse démontre que le rôle de puissance protectrice garde toute sa pertinence. La Suisse a également développé son offre de bons offices et, au nom de sa neutralité active, a intensifié son engagement pour contribuer à empêcher ou à résoudre les conflits armés par des mesures concrètes de promotion civile de la paix et de renforcement des droits humains.
Comportamiento colectivo de animales “swarming” y patrones complejos
Authors: Cañizo J. A. , Rosado J. , Carrillo J. A.
Published: February 2011

En esta nota repasamos algunos modelos basados en individuos para describir el movimiento colectivo de agentes, a lo que nos referimos usando la voz inglesa swarming. Estos modelos se basan en EDOs (ecuaciones diferenciales ordinarias) y muestran un comportamiento asintótico complejo y rico en patrones, que mostramos numéricamente. Además, comentamos cómo se conectan estos modelos de partículas con las ecuaciones en derivadas parciales para describir la evolución de densidades de individuos de forma continua. Las cuestiones matemáticas relacionadas con la estabilidad de de estos modelos de EDP's (ecuaciones en derivadas parciales) despiertan gran interés en la investigación en biología matemática.
Algunas cuestiones abiertas relativas al crecimiento biológico
Authors: Escudero Carlos
Published: February 2011

En este trabajo revisamos brevemente las propiedades de las superficies que crecen de forma radial y su conexión con el crecimiento biológico. Nos vamos a concentrar en modelos simplificados que resultan de la abstracción de sólo considerar el crecimiento del dominio y no la curvatura de la interfaz. Las ecuaciones lineales se pueden resolver exactamente y la fenomenología del crecimiento puede ser inferida de las soluciones explítas. Las ecuaciones no lineales dan lugar a interesantes problemas abiertos que vamos a resumir aquí.
¿Estamos asistiendo a una era de teorización de la biología?
Authors: Velázquez Juan J. L.
Published: February 2011

Durante los últimos años ha habido un creciente interés por parte de físicos y matemáticos en el estudio de problemas que surgen al tratar de comprender cuestiones de biología. Por otra parte los avances en las técnicas experimentales están permitiendo obtener una gran cantidad de información sobre los mecanismos que emplean las células en su funcionamiento. En este artículo se describen algunas líneas de investigación en matemáticas cuyo estudio ha sido motivado por el estudio de problemas biológicos.
¿Flujo acústico, la “pequeña invención” de las cianobacterias?
Authors: Koiller Jair , Ehlers Kurt M. , Chalub Fabio
Published: February 2011

Los mecanismos de bombeo en microingeniería aparecieron al principio de la década de los 90. El principio detrás de esto es el de flujo acústico. ¿Ha descubierto la Naturaleza este invento de hace 2.700 millones de años? Algunas cianobacterias marinas de la especie Synechococcus nadan 25 diámetros por segundo sin ningún medio visible de propulsión. Especulamos en este artículo que vibraciones de amplitud de nanoescala del estrato S (una cáscara cristalina que cubre las membranas exteriores en las cepas móviles) y con frecuencias del orden de 0,5-1,5 MHz (y esto es factible por los motores moleculares), podrían producir velocidades de deslizamiento del fluido, en el exterior de la frontera de la región Stokes. Dentro de esta capa límite (que para nuestra sorpresa resulta ser relativamente ancha) el comportamiento del flujo es rotacional (y en consecuencia, ventajoso desde el punto de vista biológico). Adicionalmente a este supuesto mecanismo que se podria llamar “nadando cantando”, mostramos otros posibles ejemplos biológicos de corrientes acústicas. Sir James Lighthill ha sugerido que el flujo acústico también se da en la cóclea del oído de los mamíferos, y son muy sugerentes los nuevos hallazgos en las células ciliadas externas. Otras posibilidades son flujos acústicos producidos por vibraciones de las membranas en células de levadura, mejorando su química (¡cerveza y pan!), el contoneo de los glóbulos rojos en los tubos capilares y el bombeo de fluido producido por las diatomeas.
Sitagliptin: A DPP-4 Inhibitor for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Johnson Kathryn MS , Schurr Kathleen
Published: February 2011

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has become an epidemic, with worldwide projections indicating that more than 336 million people will be afflicted with the disease by 2030. T2DM is characterized by inappropriately high blood glucose levels due to a deficiency in insulin secretion, action, or both. Despite the horrific complications that occur with chronic elevations of blood glucose levels, less than half of those with T2DM do not maintain proper glycemic control. Sitagliptin (Januvia, Merck and Co., Whitehouse Station, New Jersey) is a novel diabetes therapy approved for use in the U.S. and Europe. This small molecule inhibits the activity of DPP-4, a peptidase that degrades the glucoregulatory hormone GLP-1. Sitagliptin increases glucoregulation in individuals with T2DM both as a monotherapy and in combination with other antihyperglycemic drugs, with a low risk of adverse side effects.
A Note about Analytic Solvability of Complex Planar Vector Fields with Degeneracies
Authors: da Silva Paulo L. Dattori
Published: February 2011

This paper deals with the analytic solvability of a special class of complex vector fields defined on the real plane, where they are tangent to a closed real curve, while off the real curve, they are elliptic.
Sex Differences in Mortality Rates Have Increased in China Following the Single-Child Law
Authors: Kruger Daniel J , Polanski Stephen P
Published: February 2011

Male behavior and physiology is designed for enhanced competitiveness at the expense of longevity, resulting in higher mortality rates compared to females in most species. These differences vary across populations consistent with factors indicating the intensity of male mating competition. Reproductive dynamics are strongly influenced by the relative proportions of potentially reproductive males and females in a population. Because the reproductive strategies of men and women are somewhat divergent, market influences on the intensity of mating competition and selectivity for partners produce different outcomes in female biased and male biased populations. The single-child law implemented in China in 1979 has led to increasing proportions of men in the Chinese population. Using historical mortality data, we found a trend for increasing sex differences in Chinese mortality rates from 1982 to 2000. This increase was most prevalent in young adulthood, when male mating competition is most intense as males reach sexual maturity and seek female partners. In contrast, males exhibited more survival gains than females in infancy and early childhood.
Solar irradiance at the earth's surface: long-term behavior observed at the South Pole
Authors: Frederick J. E. , Hodge A. L.
Published: February 2011

Abstract. This research examines a 17-year database of UV-A (320–400 nm) and visible (400–600 nm) solar irradiance obtained by a scanning spectroradiometer located at the South Pole. The goal is to define the variability in solar irradiance reaching the polar surface, with emphasis on the influence of cloudiness and on identifying systematic trends and possible links to the solar cycle. To eliminate changes associated with the varying solar elevation, the analysis focuses on data averaged over 30–35 day periods centered on each year's austral summer solstice. The long-term average effect of South Polar clouds is a small attenuation, with the mean measured irradiances being about 5–6% less than the clear-sky values, although at any specific time clouds may reduce or enhance the signal that reaches the sensor. The instantaneous fractional attenuation or enhancement is wavelength dependent, where the percent deviation from the clear-sky irradiance at 400–600 nm is typically 2.5 times that at 320–340 nm. When averaged over the period near each year's summer solstice, significant correlations appear between irradiances at all wavelengths and the solar cycle as measured by the 10.7 cm solar radio flux. An approximate 1.8 ± 1.0% decrease in ground-level irradiance occurs from solar maximum to solar minimum for the wavelength band 320–400 nm. The corresponding decrease for 400–600 nm is 2.4 ± 1.9%. The best-estimate declines appear too large to originate in the sun. If the correlations have a geophysical origin, they suggest a small variation in atmospheric attenuation with the solar cycle over the period of observation, with the greatest attenuation occurring at solar minimum.
Cloud optical thickness and liquid water path. Does the k coefficient vary with droplet concentration?
Authors: Brenguier J.-L. , Burnet F. , Geoffroy O.
Published: February 2011

Abstract. Cloud radiative transfer calculations in general circulation models involve a link between cloud microphysical and optical properties. Indeed, the liquid water content expresses as a function of the mean volume droplet radius, while the light extinction is a function of their mean surface radius. There is a small difference between these two parameters because of the droplet spectrum width. This issue has been addressed by introducing an empirical multiplying correction factor to the droplet concentration. Analysis of in situ sampled data, however, revealed that the correction factor decreases when the concentration increases, hence partially mitigating the aerosol indirect effect. Five field experiments are reanalyzed here, in which standard and upgraded versions of the droplet spectrometer were used to document shallow cumulus and stratocumulus topped boundary layers. They suggest that the standard probe noticeably underestimates the correction factor compared to the upgraded versions. The analysis is further refined to demonstrate that the value of the correction factor derived by averaging values calculated locally along the flight path overestimates the value derived from liquid water path and optical thickness of a cloudy column, and that there is no detectable correlation between the correction factor and the droplet concentration. It is also shown that the droplet concentration dilution by entrainment-mixing after CCN activation is significantly stronger in shallow cumuli than in stratocumulus layers. These various effects are finally combined to produce the best estimate of the correction factor to use in general circulation models.
First space-based derivation of the global atmospheric methanol emission fluxes
Authors: Stavrakou T. , Guenther A. , Razavi A. , Clarisse L. , Clerbaux C. , Coheur P.-F. , Hurtmans D. , Karagulian F. , De Mazière M. , Vigouroux C. , Amelynck C. , Schoon N. , Laffineur Q. , Heinesch B. , Aubinet M. , Müller J.-F.
Published: February 2011

Abstract. This study provides improved methanol emission estimates on the global scale, in particular for the largest methanol source, the terrestrial biosphere, and for biomass burning. To this purpose, one complete year of spaceborne measurements of tropospheric methanol columns retrieved for the first time by the thermal infrared sensor IASI aboard the MetOp satellite are compared with distributions calculated by the IMAGESv2 global chemistry-transport model. Two model simulations are performed using a priori biogenic methanol emissions either from the new MEGANv2.1 emission model, which is fully described in this work and is based on net ecosystem flux measurements, or from a previous parameterization based on net primary production by Jacob et al. (2005). A significantly better model performance in terms of both amplitude and seasonality is achieved through the use of MEGANv2.1 in most world regions, with respect to IASI data, and to surface- and air-based methanol measurements, even though important discrepancies over several regions are still present. As a second step of this study, we combine the MEGANv2.1 and the IASI column abundances over continents in an inverse modelling scheme based on the adjoint of the IMAGESv2 model to generate an improved global methanol emission source. The global optimized source totals 187 Tg yr−1 with a contribution of 100 Tg yr−1 from plants, only slightly lower than the a priori MEGANv2.1 value of 105 Tg yr−1. Large decreases with respect to the MEGANv2.1 biogenic source are inferred over Amazonia (up to 55%) and Indonesia (up to 58%), whereas more moderate reductions are recorded in the Eastern US (20–25%) and Central Africa (25–35%). On the other side, the biogenic source is found to strongly increase in the arid and semi-arid regions of Central Asia (up to a factor of 5) and Western US (factor of 2), probably due to a source of methanol specific to these ecosystems which is unaccounted for in the MEGANv2.1 inventory. Detailed comparisons of the model with a number of aircraft and surface observations of methanol, as well as new methanol measurements in Europe and in the Reunion Island show that the satellite-derived methanol emissions improve significantly the agreement with the independent data, giving thus credence to the IASI dataset.
Characterization of wildfire NOx emissions using MODIS fire radiative power and OMI tropospheric NO2 columns
Authors: Mebust A. K. , Russell A. R. , Hudman R. C. , Valin L. C. , Cohen R. C.
Published: February 2011

Abstract. We use observations of fire radiative power (FRP) from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and tropospheric NO2 column measurements from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) to derive NO2 wildfire emission coefficients (g MJ−1) for three land types over California and Nevada. Retrieved emission coefficients were 0.279 ± 0.077, 0.342 ± 0.053, and 0.696 ± 0.088 g MJ−1 NO2 for forest, grass and shrub fuels, respectively. These emission coefficients reproduce ratios of emissions with fuel type reported previously using independent methods. However, the magnitude of these coefficients is lower than prior estimates, which suggests either a negative bias in the OMI NO2 retrieval over regions of active emissions, or that the average fire observed in our study has a smaller ratio of flaming to smoldering combustion than measurements used in prior estimates of emissions. Our results indicate that satellite data can provide an extensive characterization of the variability in fire NOx emissions; 67% of the variability in emissions in this region can be accounted for using an FRP-based parameterization.
ULIRS, an optimal estimation retrieval scheme for carbon monoxide using IASI spectral radiances: sensitivity analysis, error budget and simulations
Authors: Illingworth S. M. , Remedios J. J. , Boesch H. , Moore D. P. , Sembhi H. , Dudhia A. , Walker J. C.
Published: February 2011

Abstract. This paper presents a new retrieval scheme for tropospheric carbon monoxide (CO), using measured radiances from the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) onboard the MetOp-A satellite. The University of Leicester IASI Retrieval Scheme (ULIRS) is an optimal estimation retrieval scheme, which utilises equidistant pressure levels and a floating pressure grid based on topography. It makes use of explicit digital elevation and emissivity information, and incorporates a correction for solar surface reflection in the daytime with a high resolution solar spectrum. The retrieval scheme has been assessed through a formal error analysis, via the simulation of surface effects and by an application to real IASI data over a region in Southern Africa. The ULIRS enables the retrieval of between 1 and 2 pieces of information about the tropospheric CO vertical profiles, with peaks in the sensitivity at approximately 5 and 12 km. Typical errors for the African region relating to the profiles are found to be ~20% at 5 and 12 km, and on the total columns to range from 18 to 34%. Finally the performance of the ULIRS is shown for a range of simulated geophysical conditions.
Synoptic relationships between surface Chlorophyll-a and diagnostic pigments specific to phytoplankton functional types
Authors: Hirata T. , Hardman-Mountford N. J. , Brewin R. J. W. , Aiken J. , Barlow R. , Suzuki K. , Isada T. , Howell E. , Hashioka T. , Noguchi-Aita M. , Yamanaka Y.
Published: February 2011

Abstract. Error-quantified, synoptic-scale relationships between chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) and phytoplankton pigment groups at the sea surface are presented. A total of ten pigment groups were considered to represent three Phytoplankton Size Classes (PSCs, micro-, nano- and picoplankton) and seven Phytoplankton Functional Types (PFTs, i.e. diatoms, dinoflagellates, green algae, prymnesiophytes (haptophytes), pico-eukaryotes, prokaryotes and Prochlorococcus sp.). The observed relationships between Chl-a and PSCs/PFTs were well-defined at the global scale to show that a community shift of phytoplankton at the basin and global scales is reflected by a change in Chl-a of the total community. Thus, Chl-a of the total community can be used as an index of not only phytoplankton biomass but also of their community structure. Within these relationships, we also found non-monotonic variations with Chl-a for certain pico-sized phytoplankton (pico-eukaryotes, Prokaryotes and Prochlorococcus sp.) and nano-sized phytoplankton (Green algae, prymnesiophytes). The relationships were quantified with a least-square fitting approach in order to enable an estimation of the PFTs from Chl-a where PFTs are expressed as a percentage of the total Chl-a. The estimated uncertainty of the relationships depends on both PFT and Chl-a concentration. Maximum uncertainty of 31.8% was found for diatoms at Chl-a = 0.49 mg m−3. However, the mean uncertainty of the relationships over all PFTs was 5.9% over the entire Chl-a range observed in situ (0.02 < Chl-a < 4.26 mg m−3). The relationships were applied to SeaWiFS satellite Chl-a data from 1998 to 2009 to show the global climatological fields of the surface distribution of PFTs. Results show that microplankton are present in the mid and high latitudes, constituting only ~10.9% of the entire phytoplankton community in the mean field for 1998–2009, in which diatoms explain ~7.5%. Nanoplankton are ubiquitous throughout the global surface oceans, except the subtropical gyres, constituting ~45.5%, of which prymnesiophytes (haptophytes) are the major group explaining ~31.7% while green algae contribute ~13.9%. Picoplankton are dominant in the subtropical gyres, but constitute ~43.6% globally, of which prokaryotes are the major group explaining ~26.5% (Prochlorococcus sp. explaining 22.8%), while pico-eukaryotes explain ~17.2% and are relatively abundant in the South Pacific. These results may be of use to evaluate global marine ecosystem models.
Degradation capability of the coastal environment adjacent to the Itata River in central Chile (36.5° S)
Authors: Pantoja S. , Gutiérrez M. H. , Ampuero P. , Tejos E.
Published: February 2011

Abstract. The response of the coastal ocean influenced by both river discharges and inputs of photosynthetically derived organic carbon product of upwelling, was evaluated by estimating rates of microbial hydrolysis of macromolecules with the goal of estimating the degradation capability of the coastal ecosystem off central Chile. Extracellular enzymatic hydrolysis in seawater was dominated by aminopeptidase activity on substrate MCA-leu (1.2 to 182 nM h−1), which surpassed that of substrates MUF-glu (0.08–61 nM h−1) and MUF-cel (0.15–6.8 nM h−1), with the fastest rates measured during spring-summer. In riverine waters, extracellular enzymatic hydrolysis remained within the range of 45 to 131 nM h−1 for MCA-leu and ca. 20 nM h−1 for glucosidic substrates, year-round. Contrary to the observed for the marine water column, surface sediment extracellular enzymatic hydrolysis of MCA-leu (0.04 to 6.13 nmol gdw−1 h−1) was in the same order of magnitude as the rates observed for MUF-cel (0.004 to 2.58 nmol gdw−1 h−1) and MUF-glu (0.007 to 10.5 nmol gdw−1 h−1). Moreover, hydrolysis was characterized by higher rates during winter compared with spring-summer in the coastal and estuarine zone. The five years of data allowed us to construct a carbon budget for winter and spring-summer in the coastal area adjacent to the Itata River discharge. The comparison of fluxes evidenced a deficit of photosynthetic carbon to fuel extracellular hydrolysis in the water column during both periods (winter 20% and spring-summer 35%). We estimated that the Itata River is a feasible source of dissolved organic carbon, specially during winter, in the form of macromolecules, although non-focal sources may be also significant for the area.
Sea-surface salinity variations in the northern Caribbean Sea across the Mid-Pleistocene Transition
Authors: Sepulcre S. , Vidal L. , Tachikawa K. , Rostek F. , Bard E.
Published: February 2011

Abstract. By reconstructing past hydrologic variations in the Northern Caribbean Sea and their influence on the stability of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) during the last 940 ka, we seek to document climate changes in this tropical area in response to the Mid-Pleistocene Transition (MPT). Using core MD03-2628, we estimated past changes in sea surface salinity (SSS) using Δδ18O, the difference between the modern, and the past δ18O of seawater (obtained by combining alkenone thermometer data with the δ18O of the planktonic foraminifera Globigerinoides rube (white) and corrected for ice-sheet volume effects). Today, the lowest SSS values in the area studied are associated with the northernmost location of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). The Δδ18O record obtained from core MD03-2628 exhibits glacial/interglacial cyclicity with higher values during all glacial periods spanning the last 940 ka, indicating increased SSS. A long-term trend was also observed in the Δδ18O values that exhibited a shift toward lower values for interglacial periods during the last 450 ka, as compared to interglacial stages older than 650 ka. A rise in SSS during glacial stages may be related to the southernmost location of the ITCZ, which is induced by a steeper cross-equator temperature gradient and associated with reduced northward cross-equatorial oceanic transport. Therefore, the results suggest a permanent link between the tropical salinity budget and the AMOC during the last 940 ka. Following the MPT, lower salinities during the last five interglacial stages indicated a northernmost ITCZ location that was forced by changes in the cross-equator temperature gradient and that was associated with the poleward position of Southern Oceanic Fronts that amplify the transport of heat and moisture to the North Atlantic. These processes may have contributed to the amplification of the climate cycles that followed the MPT.
Evaluation of catchment contributing areas and storm runoff in flat terrain subject to urbanisation
Authors: Barron O. V. , Pollock D. , Dawes W.
Published: February 2011

Abstract. Contributing Catchment Area Analysis (CCAA) is a spatial analysis technique developed and used for estimation of the hydrological connectivity of relatively flat catchments. It allows accounting for the effect of relief depressions on the catchment rainfall-runoff relationship which is not commonly considered in hydrological modelling. Analysis of distributed runoff was based on USDA runoff curves numbers (USDA, 1986), which utilised the spatial information on land cover and soil types, while CCAA was further developed to define catchment area contributing to river discharge under individual rainfall events. The method was applied to the Southern River catchment, Western Australia, showing that contributing catchment area varied from less than 20% to more than 60% of total catchment area under different rainfall and soil moisture conditions. Such variability was attributed to a compensating effect of relief depressions. CCAA was further applied to analyse the impact of urbanisation on the catchment rainfall-runoff relationship. It was demonstrated that in addition to an increase in runoff coefficient, urbanisation leads to expansion in the catchment area contributing to the river flow. This effect was more evident for the most frequent rainfall events, when an increase in contributing area was responsible for a 30–100% rise in predicted catchment runoff.
Desert shrub stemflow and its significance in soil moisture replenishment
Authors: Wang X.-P. , Wang Z.-N. , Berndtsson R. , Zhang Y.-F. , Pan Y.-X.
Published: February 2011

Abstract. Stemflow of xerophytic shrubs represents a significant component of water replenishment to the soil-root system influencing water utilization of plant roots at the stand scale, especially in water scarce desert ecosystems. In this study, stemflow of Caragana korshinskii was quantified by an aluminum foil collar collection method on re-vegetated sand dunes of the Shapotou restored desert ecosystem in northwestern China. Time domain reflectometry probes were inserted horizontally at 20 different soil profile depths under the C. korshinskii shrub to monitor soil moisture variation at hourly intervals. Results indicated that 2.2 mm precipitation was necessary for the generation of stemflow for C. korshinskii. Stemflow averaged 8% of the gross precipitation and the average funnelling ratio was as high as 90. The soil moisture in the uppermost soil profile was strongly correlated with individual rainfall and the stemflow strengthened this relationship. Therefore, it is favourable for the infiltrated water redistribution in the deeper soil profile of the root zone. Consequently, stemflow contributes significantly to a positive soil moisture balance in the root zone and the replenishment of soil moisture at deeper soil layers. This plays an important role in plant survival and the general ecology of arid desert environments.
Unusual Systemic Signs in a Dog with Sterile Neutrophilic-Macrophagic Lymphadenitis and Nodular Panniculitis
Authors: Dandrieux Julien R. S. , Timm Katrin , Roosje Petra J. , Welle Monika , Howard Judith , Brühschwein Andreas , Francey Thierry
Published: February 2011

A 7 mo old female English springer spaniel was presented with diarrhea, vomiting, apathy, and hyperthermia. Further examinations revealed generalized lymphadenomegaly consistent with sterile neutrophilic-macrophagic lymphadenitis and pulmonary involvement. Subcutaneous nodules developed one day after presentation. Histology was consistent with sterile idiopathic nodular panniculitis and vasculitis. No infectious organism was isolated. The dog responded to prednisolone, but relapsed during medication tapering. Cyclosporine had to be added to control the disease. No further relapse had occurred 98 wk after the first presentation. This is an unusual presentation of a systemic sterile neutrophilic-macrophagic lymphadenitis with nodular panniculitis and vasculitis associated with gastrointestinal and pulmonary signs.
Polycythemia and Inappropriate Erythropoietin Concentrations in Two Dogs with Renal T-cell Lymphoma
Authors: Durno Alexandra S. , Webb Jinelle A. , Gauthier Meredith J. , Bienzle Dorothee
Published: February 2011

Two dogs presented with suspected renal disease and polycythemia. Abdominal ultrasound examinations performed on both dogs revealed coalescing masses causing bilateral renomegaly. Serum erythropoietin (EPO) concentrations were physiologically inappropriate. Postmortem examinations revealed renal T-cell lymphoma in both dogs. One of the two dogs also had involvement of the liver and mesentery. EPO-immunohistochemistry on tissue samples demonstrated positive staining in tumor cells and occasional normal renal cells. This report illustrates that paraneoplastic EPO production may induce polycythemia. The pattern of EPO-immunohistochemistry staining suggested that the mechanism of production was due to tumor production of EPO and local hypoxia-induced EPO production from compression of normal renal cells and vasculature.
Fatal Aortic Endocarditis Associated with Community-Acquired Serratia marcescens Infection in a Dog
Authors: Perez Cristina , Fujii Yoko , Fauls Megan , Hummel James , Breitschwerdt Edward
Published: February 2011

A 12 yr old Dalmatian was referred for evaluation of acute lethargy, fever, neurologic signs, and a recently ausculted heart murmur. Echocardiography in combination with blood cultures resulted in a diagnosis of nonhospital-acquired Serratia marcescens bacteremia and aortic valve endocarditis. Despite early diagnosis and aggressive therapy, the dog failed to respond to antimicrobials and died within 6 hr after admission. Necropsy findings included aortic valve endocarditis, septicemia, and diffuse thromboembolic disease. There was no history of pre-existing underlying disease or immunosuppressive therapy, and the dog had not been hospitalized before referral.
Diagnosis and Management of Ureteroceles in Two Female Dogs
Authors: Green Todd A. , Arble Jason B. , Chew Dennis J. , Dudley Robert M.
Published: February 2011

Two intact female dogs were examined for refractory pollakiuria and stranguria. One of these two dogs also exhibited urinary incontinence. Ectopic ureteroceles were diagnosed via ultrasonography and cystoscopy in both dogs. Both dogs were taken to surgery for ureterocele resection and neoureterostomy, resulting in complete resolution of clinical signs. Although uncommonly reported in the veterinary literature, ectopic ureteroceles can be associated with recurrent lower urinary tract infection with and without urinary incontinence. With a correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment, prognosis for ectopic ureteroceles can be good provided there is not a concurrent significant loss of renal function.
The impact and management of acquired platelet dysfunction
Authors: Rahman M. M. , Seidel H. , Scharf R. E.
Published: February 2011

Platelet function can be abnormally increased, as in association with acute vascular events, or defective, as in a variety of clinical settings. Acquired platelet dysfunction may occur at any age and range in severity from mild to life-threatening haemorrhages. Diagnostic work-up of platelet disorders requires meticulous evaluation of medical history, specifically of any drugs interfering with platelet function, careful clinical examination and a staged laboratory protocol to assess the underlying platelet defect(s). To identify hyperactive platelets ex vivo, costly procedures may be required using flow cytometry and distict epitope-specific monoclonal antibodies. Currently, this approach can be recommended for research purposes only. Drugs represent the most common cause of platelet dysfunction in our overmedicated society. While aspirin, clopigogrel (more recently also prasugrel) and integrin αIIbβ3 (GPIIb-IIIa) receptor antagonists (ab-ciximab, eptifibatide and tirofiban) are well-known prototypes of antiplatelet drugs, other widely used agents (e.g. nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, serotonin reup-take inhibitors and volume expanders) can also impair platelet function and thus cause or aggravate hemorrhages. Identification of individual patients with pre-existing hemostatic defects remains crucial (i) to prevent bleeding complications, (ii) to manage symptoms adequately, (iii) to minimize the risk from invasive procedures, and (iv) to avoid unnecassary exposure to blood products. Screening for platelet dysfunction can be performed by point-of-care testing followed by platelet aggregometry in response to various agonists. While mild bleeding episodes due to antiplatelet therapy can be managed by withdrawal of the drug(s), severe hemorrhages may require immediate platelet transfusions. Apart from that, the prohemostatic armamentarium is limited to desmopressin, antifi-brinolytic agents, and recombinant factor VIIa.
Monitoring of antiplatelet therapy
Authors: Seidel H. , Rahman M. M. , Scharf R. E.
Published: February 2011

Screening of platelet function can be performed by point-of-care testing followed by platelet aggregometry in response to agonists such as collagen, adenosine diphosphate, epinephrine, and arachidonic acid. Despite in use for decades, this technique is not well standardized. Monitoring of antiplatelet therapy is increasingly applied in patients at high risk for re-thrombosis or bleeding. To assess pharmacological inhibition of platelet function, agonist-induced platelet aggregation, thromboxane B2 (TxB2) and vasodilator-stimulated protein phosphorylation (VASP) are being measured. While serum TxB2 levels of < 2 ng/ml reflect aspirin-induced inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase-1 activity with high sensitivity, VASP exhibits a wide variability upon treatment with clopidogrel or prasugrel. Multiple studies reveal an association between high residual platelet reactivity and adverse cardiovascular events in patients on antiplatelet therapy. However, despite the plethora of platelet function assays currently under investigation, their use in daily practice cannot be recommended. This is due to several reasons: (i) there is no consensus on the method and a respective cut-off value associated with clinical adverse outcome, and (ii) data demonstrating any benefit of tailored antiplatelet therapy and its monitoring (based on assessment of platelet functions) are still limited. Thus, appropriate identification of ‘resistant’ or ‘poor responders’ to antiplatelet agents remains challenging in clinical practice.
Haemostasis management of massive bleeding
Authors: Ivaskevicius V. , Pötzsch B.
Published: February 2011

Trauma-induced coagulopathy (TIC) is a frequent complication of severely injured patients. The etiology of TIC is complex. Contributing factors include overwhelming generation of thrombin and activated protein C, consumption of coagulation factors and platelets, hyperfibrinolysis, and dilution of clotting factors through administration of fluids. In addition, hypothermia and shock-associated metabolic acidosis augment the clotting dysfunctions. The occurrence of TIC has been shown to be an independent risk factor for death after trauma warranting aggressive treatment. On admission to the emergency room patients with massive blood loss should be employed on basis of clinical and diagnostic variables to identify patients at high risk of coagulopathy. Patients at high risk should be treated with tranexamic acid (1 g bolus followed by 1 g/8 h), and critical factor and platelet deficiencies should be corrected by transfusion of factor concentrates and platelet concentrates. In addition, plasma should be administered in a 1 : 1 ratio with red cells. The use of recombinant factor VIIa should be considered if major bleeding persists despite best-practive use of blood products.
Old and new anticoagulants
Authors: Harbrecht U.
Published: February 2011

Vitamin-K-antagonists (VKA) and heparins have been complementary anticoagulants for prevention and treatment of thrombosis for almost 70 years. In contrast to heparins, VKA have not been modified pharmacologically, however treatment surveillance has improved by introducing INR and self-monitoring/management. Disclosure of the molecular basis of interaction with VKORC1, the target enzyme of VKA, has helped to better understand coumarin sensitivity and resistance. New oral anticoagulants have now been approved and stimulated expectations in patients and physicians to get rid of the burdening frequent controls of VKA without loss of efficacy and safety.

This review will summarize the development and profile of the new substances. Main difference compared to VKA is their direct mode of action against one clotting factor which is factor IIa in dabigatran and factor Xa in rivaroxaban and other “xabanes” currently under intensive investigation. Half lifes of the new anticoagulants are much shorter than that of the mainly used coumarins (phenprocoumon, warfarin), making “anticoagulation bridging” unnecessary before surgery. Therapeutic width of direct thrombin inhibitors and factor Xa inhibitors is broader and they are given at fixed doses. Clinical studies in thromboprophylaxis, thromboembolism and atrial fibrillation indicate at least non-inferiority or even superior efficacy compared with enoxaparin and VKA at comparable safety outcomes. Limitations of the new substances may arise from gastrointestinal side effects, mode of metabolism and route of elimination. Specific antidots are not available for none of them.

Undoubtedly, the new oral anticoagulants are very promising. But, although thousands of study patients already have been treated, there are questions to be answered such as treatment adherence in absence of monitoring, safety and efficacy in risk patients, dosage adjustment and interactions with other drugs, before conclusions can be drawn towards their potential to replace VKA.
Measurement of Type I Interferon Production
Authors: Seeds Rosalind E. , Miller Joanna L.
Published: February 2011

The Basic Protocol in this unit describes measurement of murine interferon (IFN)α/β by intracellular staining for these cytokines and detection by flow cytometry. Alternate protocols detail an enzyme‐linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) for IFNα and a biological assay to measure IFN. The FACS assay allows measurement of IFNα/β production by defined cell populations, while ELISA measures secreted IFNα. The bioassay measures functional antiviral activity and is the most sensitive of the assays discussed. These assays therefore provide complementary methods to assess IFN production by murine cells. Curr. Protoc. Immunol. 92:14.21.1‐14.21.11. © 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Learning a map of environment: The role of visuo‐spatial abilities in young and older adults
Authors: Meneghetti Chiara , Fiore Felicia , Borella Erika , De Beni Rossana
Published: February 2011

The present study examines age‐related differences between young and older adults in spatial mental representation derived from learning a realistic city map. A sample of 30 young (20–30‐years) and 30 older (60–72 years) adults learned a simplified map of a city; afterwards participants performed map‐drawing and pointing‐aligned and counter‐aligned tasks. Tasks measuring visuo‐spatial abilities were also administered to explore their relationship with map learning. Results showed an age‐related impairment in older adults in both map tasks, as well as in visuo‐spatial ones. Furthermore, performance on counter‐aligned pointing was poorer than on aligned pointing in young and older adults, and its relationship with visuo‐spatial abilities changed as a function of age group: The performance of counter‐aligned pointing in older adults was related to all visuo‐spatial abilities, and in young adults with perspective‐taking measures only. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High‐Performance Micro‐Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Fabricated on Nanoporous Anodic Aluminum Oxide Templates
Authors: Kwon Chang‐Woo , Son Ji‐Won , Lee Jong‐Ho , Kim Hyun‐Mi , Lee Hae‐Weon , Kim Ki‐Bum
Published: February 2011

Micro‐solid oxide fuel cells (μ‐SOFCs) are fabricated on nanoporous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates with a cell structure composed of a 600‐nm‐thick AAO free‐standing membrane embedded on a Si substrate, sputter‐deposited Pt electrodes (cathode and anode) and an yttria‐stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte deposited by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Initially, the open circuit voltages (OCVs) of the AAO‐supported μ‐SOFCs are in the range of 0.05 V to 0.78 V, which is much lower than the ideal value, depending on the average pore size of the AAO template and the thickness of the YSZ electrolyte. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis reveals the formation of pinholes in the electrolyte layer that originate from the porous nature of the underlying AAO membrane. In order to clog these pinholes, a 20‐nm thick Al2O3 layer is deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD) on top of the 300‐nm thick YSZ layer and another 600‐nm thick YSZ layer is deposited after removing the top intermittent Al2O3 layer. Fuel cell devices fabricated in this way manifest OCVs of 1.02 V, and a maximum power density of 350 mW cm−2 at 500 °C.
Highly Efficient Redox Isomerization of Allylic Alcohols and Transfer Hydrogenation of Ketones and Aldehydes Catalyzed by Ruthenium Complexes
Authors: Liu Pei Nian , Ju Kun Dong , Lau Chak Po
Published: February 2011

A dicationic dichloro‐bipyridine‐ruthenium complex shows very high catalytic activity in redox isomerization of allylic alcohols but a relatively low one in transfer hydrogenation of ketones; surprisingly, the analogous dimethyl‐bipyridine‐ruthenium complex shows reverse catalytic activities in the two reactions.
Rhodium or Palladium‐Catalyzed Cascade Aryl Addition/ Intramolecular Lactonization of Phthalaldehyde with Potassium Organotrifluoroborates to Access 3‐Arylphthalides
Authors: Luo Fang , Pan Shen , Pan Changduo , Qian Pengcheng , Cheng Jiang
Published: February 2011

An efficient rhodium‐catalyzed lactonization of phthalaldehyde with potassium organotrifluoroborates to access 3‐arylphthalides has been developed. Moreover, palladium is a also good catalyst for such transformation.
Reusable and Durable Immobilized‐Cationic Gold(I) Catalysts for Environmentally Benign Bond‐Forming Reactions
Authors: Egi Masahiro , Azechi Kenji , Akai Shuji
Published: February 2011

Polystyrene‐immobilized cationic gold catalysts 2a and 2b were synthesized for the first time and found to be highly effective catalysts for the bond‐forming reactions via the activation of the CC triple bonds. The immobilized 2a was easily and quantitatively recovered from the reaction mixture and reused at least seven times while maintaining the original catalytic activity. Furthermore, a flow reactor containing 2a was developed for a larger scale continuous production.
Phosphoric Acid‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Transfer Hydrogenation of N‐Aryl‐ortho‐Hydroxybenzophenone Ketimines
Authors: Nguyen Thanh Binh , Bousserouel Hadjira , Wang Qian , Guéritte Françoise
Published: February 2011

The first enantioselective chiral phosphoric acid‐catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of N‐aryl‐ortho‐hydroxybenzophenone ketimines using a Hantzsch ester as hydrogen source was developed to afford, after removal of the N‐aryl group, the corresponding chiral diarylmethylamines in high yields and enantioselectivities.
Double Mannich Reaction and Tandem Cyclization of Imines with Ketones Catalyzed by Indium(III) Chloride Tetrahydrate: Stereoselective Synthesis of Highly Substituted 4‐Piperidones
Authors: Jia Xiao‐Dong , Wang Wen‐Juan , Huo Cong‐De , Ren Yan , Chen Xiang‐Ning , Xu Xiao‐Lan , Wang Xi‐Cun
Published: February 2011

A double Mannich reaction followed by tandem cyclization of imines and ketones catalyzed by indium(III) chloride tetrahydrate (InCl3⋅4 H2O) was investigated, and a series of 1,2,6‐triaryl‐4‐piperidones was synthesized in a stereoselective way. In this reaction, aromatic imines substituted by electron‐withdrawing groups exhibited high reactivity toward the cyclization to 4‐piperidones. A variety of ketones are tolerated in this tandem process, including those that are sterically encumbered.
Synthesis of Azomethines from α‐Oxocarboxylates, Amines and Aryl Bromides via One‐Pot Three‐Component Decarboxylative Coupling
Authors: Rudolphi Felix , Song Bingrui , Gooßen Lukas J.
Published: February 2011

A bimetallic palladium/copper catalyst system allows the highly modular synthesis of azomethines via the decarboxylative coupling of aryl halides and α‐iminocarboxylates, generated in situ from potassium α‐oxocarboxylates and primary amines. The reaction proceeds already at 100 °C, a new record for redox‐neutral decarboxylative cross‐coupling reactions.
N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Catalyzed Intramolecular Hydroacylation of Activated Alkynes: Synthesis of Chromones
Authors: Vedachalam Seenuvasan , Wong Qian‐Ling , Maji Biswajit , Zeng Jing , Ma Jimei , Liu Xue‐Wei
Published: February 2011

An organocatalytic intramolecular Stetter‐type hydroacylation reaction between an aldehyde and an activated alkyne has been developed. This study induces salicylaldehyde‐derived alkyne derivatives to assemble into a series of chromone derivatives using a catalytic amount of thiazolium‐based carbene catalyst.
Old Yellow Enzyme‐Catalyzed Dehydrogenation of Saturated Ketones
Authors: Schittmayer Matthias , Glieder Anton , Uhl Michael K. , Winkler Andreas , Zach Simone , Schrittwieser Jörg H. , Kroutil Wolfgang , Macheroux Peter , Gruber Karl , Kambourakis Spiros , Rozzell J. David , Winkler Margit
Published: February 2011

Enzymes from extremophiles have always been of great interest for biotechnology because of their ruggedness against various stress factors. We have isolated, cloned, heterologously expressed and characterized a thermostable old yellow enzyme (OYE) from Geobacillus kaustophilus. In addition to the expected ‘enone’ reduction, GkOYE also catalyzes the reverse reaction, i.e., the desaturation of CC bonds adjacent to a carbonyl to give the corresponding α,β‐unsaturated ketone. The reaction proceeds at the expense of molecular oxygen without the need for a nicotinamide cofactor and represents an environmentally benign alternative to known chemical dehydrogenation methods.
Enantioselective Conjugate Silyl Additions to α,β‐Unsaturated Aldehydes Catalyzed by Combination of Transition Metal and Chiral Amine Catalysts
Authors: Ibrahem Ismail , Santoro Stefano , Himo Fahmi , Córdova Armando
Published: February 2011

We report that transition metal‐catalyzed nucleophilic activation can be combined with chiral amine‐catalyzed iminium activation as exemplified by the unprecedented enantioselective conjugate addition of a dimethylsilanyl group to α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes. These reactions proceed with excellent 1,4‐selectivity to afford the corresponding β‐silyl aldehyde products 3 in high yields and up to 97:3 er using inexpensive bench stable copper salts and simple chiral amine catalysts. The reaction can also generate a quaternary stereocenter with good enantioselectivity. Density functional calculations are performed to elucidate the reaction mechanism and the origin of enantioselectivity.