bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association of Depression and Antidepressant Use with Mortality in a Large Cohort of Patients with Nondialysis-Dependent CKD
Authors: Balogun Rasheed A. , Abdel-Rahman Emaad M. , Balogun Seki A. , Lott Evan H. , Lu Jun Ling , Malakauskas Sandra M. , Ma Jennie Z. , Kalantar-Zadeh Kamyar , Kovesdy Csaba P.
Published: August 2012

Background and objectives

Depression is common and is associated with higher mortality in patients with ESRD or CKD (stage 5). Less information is available on earlier stages of CKD. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression and any association with all-cause mortality in patients with varying severity of nondialysis-dependent CKD.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

This is a retrospective study of a national cohort of 598,153 US veterans with nondialysis-dependent CKD stages 1–5 followed for a median of 4.7 years in the US Department of Veterans Affairs Health System. Diagnosis of depression was established as a result of systematic screening and administration of antidepressants. Association of depression with all-cause mortality overall and stratified by CKD stages were examined with the Kaplan–Meier method and in Cox models.

Results

There were 179,441 patients (30%) with a diagnosis of depression. Over median follow-up of 4.7 years, depression was associated with significantly higher age-adjusted mortality overall (hazard ratio, 1.55; 95% confidence interval, 1.54–1.57; P<0.001). Sequential adjustments for sociodemographic characteristics and especially for comorbid conditions attenuated this association, which nevertheless remained significant (hazard ratio, 1.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.23–1.26).

Conclusions

In this large cohort of predominantly elderly male patients with CKD, prevalence of depression and antidepressant use is high (30%) and is associated with significantly higher all-cause mortality independent of comorbid conditions.
Treatment time, outcome, and anchorage loss comparisons of self-ligating and conventional brackets
Authors: Machibya Ferdinand M. , Bao Xingfu , Zhao Lihua , Hu Min
Published: August 2012

Objective:

To compare the treatment time, outcome, and anchorage loss among orthodontic patients treated by self-ligating brackets (SLBs) and conventional brackets (CBs).

Materials and Methods:

A retrospective cohort study compared 34 patients (SLB group) treated by SmartClip brackets (3M Unitek, Monrovia, Calif) to 35 patients (CB group) treated by conventional preadjusted Victory series brackets (3M Unitek) and ligated by stainless steel wire ligatures. Pretreatment (T1) and posttreatment (T2) lateral cephalograms were traced and analyzed using Pancherz sagittal-occlusion analysis to obtain skeletal and dental changes in the maxilla and the mandible. The dental cast models were assessed by the Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) Index for the treatment outcomes.

Results:

The mean treatment time for SLBs (19.19 months) did not show a statistically significant difference from 21.25 months of CBs; the treatment time and pretreatment PAR scores were strongly correlated. There was no difference in anchorage loss between the SLB and CB groups. There were significant dental and skeletal changes among adolescent orthodontic patients regardless of the bracket used. The lingual inclination of the mandibular incisors in the CB group was 3.62° more than in the SLB group (P < .01).

Conclusions:

The treatment time and anchorage loss are not influenced by the type of bracket used. There are significant dental and skeletal changes among adolescent orthodontic patients regardless of the bracket used. There is significantly greater lingual inclination of mandibular incisors in the CB group than in the SLB group.
French Retrospective Multicentric Study of Neonatal Hemochromatosis: Importance of Autopsy and Autoimmune Maternal Manifestations
Authors: Collardeau-Frachon Sophie , Heissat Sophie , Bouvier Raymonde , Fabre Monique , Baruteau Julien , Broue Pierre , Cordier Marie-Pierre , Debray Dominique , Debiec Hanna , Ronco Pierre , Guigonis Vincent
Published: August 2012

Neonatal hemochromatosis is a rare disease that causes fetal loss and neonatal death in the 1st weeks of life and is one of the most common causes of liver failure in the neonate. The diagnosis is mostly made retrospectively, based on histopathologic features of severe liver fibrosis associated with hepatic and extrahepatic siderosis. Several etiologies may underlie this phenotype, including a recently hypothesized gestational alloimmune disease. Fifty-one cases of liver failure with intrahepatic siderosis in fetuses and neonates were analyzed retrospectively. Maternal and infant data were collected from hospitalization and autopsy reports. All available slides were reviewed independently by 3 pathologists. Immunologic studies were performed on maternal sera collected immediately after delivery. The diagnosis of neonatal haemochromatosis was retained in 33 cases, including 1 case with Down syndrome and 1 case with myofibromas. Liver siderosis was inversely proportional to fibrosis progression. In fetuses, iron storage was more frequent in the thyroid than in the pancreas. Perls staining in labial salivary glands was positive in 1 of 5 cases. Abnormal low signal intensity by magnetic resonance imaging was detected in the pancreas in 2 of 7 cases. Renal tubular dysgenesis was observed in 7 of 23 autopsy cases. Chronic villitis was seen in 7 of 15 placentas. Half of the mothers presented with an autoimmune background and/or autoantibodies in their sera. Our work highlights the importance of autopsy in cases of neonatal hemochromatosis and marshals additional data in support of the hypothesis that neonatal hemochromatosis could reflect maternal immune system dysregulation.
Pentalogy of Cantrell with Complete Ectopia Cordis in a Fetus with Asplenia
Authors: Ludwig Kathrin , Salmaso Roberto , Cosmi Erich , Iaria Loredana , De Luca Alessandro , Margiotti Katia , Citton Valentina , Manara Renzo , Rugge Massimo
Published: August 2012

Cantrell's pentalogy (CP) is a rare, mainly sporadic spectrum of congenital midline thoracoabdominal defects that includes sternal anomalies, ventral diaphragmatic hernia, partial absence of the pericardium, supraumbilical abdominal wall defects, and congenital heart malformations. The approximate incidence is 1 in 100 000, with a 2:1 male predominance. A 25-year-old pregnant woman was referred to the Prenatal Diagnosis Unit of the University Hospital of Padua for multiple congenital malformations at 21 weeks of gestation. A level 2 ultrasound scan was performed and confirmed the presence of multiple anomalies compatible with the diagnosis of CP associated with complete ectopia cordis. Fetal autopsy furthermore revealed asplenia, which usually presents as part of the heterotaxia spectrum. To our knowledge, an association of CP and complete ectopia cordis with asplenia has never been reported so far.
Myofibroblastoma: Report of a Rare Entity in the Pediatric Population
Authors: Chami Rose , Ertresvaag Kjetil , Azzie Georges , Thorner Paul Scott
Published: August 2012

Fibroblastic and myofibroblastic tumors constitute an important group of neoplasms in children and adolescents. These span the full spectrum of clinical behavior, ranging from benign to intermediate and malignant. We report a case of a benign mesenchymal tumor with myofibroblastic differentiation in a 9-year-old girl arising in the left groin that met the histologic features described for myofibroblastoma in adults. Two types are recognized in adults: angiomyofibroblastoma and mammary-type myofibroblastoma of soft tissue. Our case shared features of both these subtypes but was not typical of either one, and we therefore designated our case simply as “myofibroblastoma.” Our case showed expression of estrogen receptor protein, which is characteristic of adult lesions, but not a deletion of 13q14, as has been reported in some adult cases. In the English-language literature, only 6 cases have been reported in patients under 21 years of age, and all but 1 were teenagers. Pediatric surgeons, oncologists, and pathologists should be aware that such a benign entity can occur in this patient population and could be confused with other lesions, including malignant ones.
14C Dating with the Icels Liquid Scintillation Counting System Using Fixed-Energy Balance Counting Window Method
Authors: Tudyka Konrad , Pazdur Anna
Published: August 2012

This article presents an application of a fixed-energy balance counting window in radiocarbon dating of geological peat samples. We determine a fixed-energy balance counting window with an inexpensive liquid scintillation counting ICELS system. We show long-term modern biosphere standard records that show stability sufficient for dating samples up to approximately 30,000 14C yr BP. We then compare our results to ones obtained previously using a Quantulus 1220™.
14C Levels in Tree Rings Located Near Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant, China
Authors: Wang Zhongtang , Xiang Yuanyi , Guo Qiuju
Published: August 2012

Specific activities of radiocarbon in annual tree rings corresponding to 1980-2009 are reported for a pine tree located 2 km from the Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant (Qinshan NPP), China. While a negligible enhanced 14C activity due to operation of the Qinshan NPP Plant I is evident, a relative increase (1.8–62.6 Bq/kg C) was observed in the specific activity after operation of the Qinshan NPP Plant II in 2002 and Plant III in 2003. The enhanced values were primarily affected by the 14C discharged from Plant III (CANDU-type reactor), and a good correlation was found between the 14C discharged from Plant III in the growing season and the 14C excess value. The excess 14C activities peaked in 2005 (at 302.0 Bq/kg C, which is 62.6 Bq/kg C above the “clean air” 14C level), and then declined due to the improvement in 14C discharge management of Plant III. In 2009, the 14C-specific activity was near the background level.
Modeling Regional Radiocarbon Trends: A Case Study from the East Texas Woodland Period
Authors: Selden Robert Z
Published: August 2012

The East Texas Radiocarbon Database contributes to an analysis of tempo and place for Woodland era (∼500 BC–AD 800) archaeological sites within the region. The temporal and spatial distributions of calibrated14C ages (n= 127) with a standard deviation (ΔT) of 61 from archaeological sites with Woodland components (n= 51) are useful in exploring the development and geographical continuity of the peoples in cast Texas, and lead to a refinement of our current chronological understanding of the period. While analysis of summed probability distributions (SPDs) produces less than significant findings due to sample size, they are used here to illustrate the method of date combination prior to the production of site- and period-specific SPDs. Through the incorporation of this method, the number of14C dates is reduced to 85 with a ΔTof 54. The resultant data set is then subjected to statistical analyses that conclude with the separation of the east Texas Woodland period into the Early Woodland (∼500 BC–AD 0), Middle Woodland (∼AD 0–400), and Late Woodland (∼AD 400–800) periods.
The Marine Radiocarbon Bomb Pulse Across the Temperate North Atlantic: A Compilation of Δ14C Time Histories fromArctica IslandicaGrowth Increments
Authors: Scourse James D , Wanamaker Alan D , Weidman Chris , Heinemeier Jan , Reimer Paula J , Butler Paul G , Witbaard Rob , Richardson Christopher A
Published: August 2012

Marine radiocarbon bomb-pulse time histories of annually resolved archives from temperate regions have been underexploited. We present here series of Δ14C excess from known-age annual increments of the long-lived bivalve molluskArctica islandicafrom 4 sites across the coastal North Atlantic (German Bight, North Sea; Troms⊘, north Norway; Siglufjordur, north Icelandic shelf; Grimsey, north Icelandic shelf) combined with published series from Georges Bank and Sable Bank (NW Atlantic) and the Oyster Ground (North Sea). The atmospheric bomb pulse is shown to be a step-function whose response in the marine environment is immediate but of smaller amplitude and which has a longer decay time as a result of the much larger marine carbon reservoir. Attenuation is determined by the regional hydrographic setting of the sites, vertical mixing, processes controlling the isotopic exchange of14C at the air-sea boundary,14C content of the freshwater flux, primary productivity, and the residence time of organic matter in the sediment mixed layer. The inventories form a sequence from high magnitude-early peak (German Bight) to low magnitude-late peak (Grimsey). All series show a rapid response to the increase in atmospheric Δ14C excess but a slow response to the subsequent decline resulting from the succession of rapid isotopic air-sea exchange followed by the more gradual isotopic equilibration in the mixed layer due to the variable marine carbon reservoir and incorporation of organic carbon from the sediment mixed layer. The data constitute calibration scries for the use of the bomb pulse as a high-resolution dating tool in the marine environment and as a tracer of coastal ocean water masses.
High-Level 14C Contamination and Recovery at Xi'an AMS Center
Authors: Zhou Weijian , Wu Shugang , Lange Todd E , Lu Xuefeng , Cheng Peng , Xiong Xiaohu , Cruz Richard J , Liu Qi , Fu Yunchong , Zhao Wennian
Published: August 2012

A sample with a radiocarbon concentration estimated to be greater than 105 times Modern was inadvertently graphitized and measured in the Xi'an AMS system last year. Both the sample preparation lines and the ion source system were seriously contaminated and a series of cleaning procedures were carried out to remove the contamination from them. After repeated and careful cleaning as well as continuous flushing with dead CO2 gas, both systems have recovered from the contamination event. The machine background is back to 2.0 x 10–16 and the chemical blank is beyond 50 kyr.
Coverings and dimensions in infinite profinite groups
Authors: Maga Peter
Published: August 2012

Answering a question of Miklós Abért, we prove that an infinite profinite group cannot be the union of less than continuum many translates of a compact subset of box dimension less than 1. Furthermore, we show that it is consistent with the axioms of set theory that in any infinite profinite group there exists a compact subset of Hausdorff dimension 0 such that one can cover the group by less than continuum many translates of it.
Relationship between the decrease of degree of polymerisation of cellulose and the loss of groundwood pulp paper mechanical properties during accelerated ageing
Authors: Vizárová Katarína , Kirschnerová Soňa , Kačík František , Briškárová Anna , Šutý Štefan , Katuščák Svetozár
Published: August 2012

During natural ageing, paper undergoes colour changes and becomes brittle. It is mainly due to the degradation of cellulose, the main component of paper fibres. From the viewpoint of conservation/protection of paper-based information carriers, as well as of the utilisation of secondary fibres, knowledge of the impact of a decrease of the degree of polymerisation (DP) of cellulose on mechanical properties of paper becomes of key importance. In this paper, correlations between the decrease of DP of cellulose and the loss of paper folding endurance (FE) using three model samples (pure cellulose, groundwood pulp paper, and degraded groundwood pulp paper) at accelerated ageing were investigated. The existence of such correlations between DP and FE is supported by experimental results; the correlations are linear for pure cellulose and groundwood pulp paper ageing, while exponential correlation was observed in case of degraded groundwood pulp paper. The results indicate that the rate of paper degradation can be evaluated by means of the rate of glycosidic bonds breaking in cellulosic polymer chains both for cellulose and groundwood pulp paper.
Comparison of Public–Private Partnerships and Traditional Procurement Methods in North American Highway Construction
Authors: Chasey Allan D. , Maddex William E. , Bansal Ankit
Published: August 2012

The number of public–private partnership (P3) projects in North America has increased significantly since the early 1990s, as policy makers and transportation officials seek alternative methods to supplement traditional funding sources to finance and deliver projects. Scholars have compared the cost and schedule overruns of P3 projects against publicly funded projects in mature P3 markets in Europe, but not in the North American market. This paper begins filling that gap by comparing the cost- and schedule-overrun results of 12 completed large-scale (greater than ~US$90 million) P3 highway projects in North America with previous research studies reporting on large-scale design–bid–build (DBB) or design–build (DB) highway projects. P3 project performance data were collected through interviews with project executives, and then findings were used from previous studies of traditional projects for comparative benchmarking data. Research results indicate that the P3 sample cost overruns averaged 0.81% and schedule overruns averaged 20.30%, compared with 1.49% cost overruns and 11.04% schedule overruns for DB projects and 12.71% cost overruns and 4.34% schedule overruns for publicly financed large-scale DBB highway projects. With a relatively small universe of completed construction phase efforts to examine, it is premature to draw explicit conclusions, yet results reported in this study point to tighter control of highway construction costs and delivery schedules when projects are delivered by the P3 method. Findings from this study provide empirical evidence for various theoretical advantages and limitations of P3 projects, as well as serve as a reference tool to compare the appropriateness of different project delivery methods.
Evaluating Effects of Volumetric and Mechanistic Test Variability on Predicted Performance of Asphalt Pavement
Authors: Mohammad Louay N. , Elseifi Mostafa A. , Cooper Samuel B. , Raghavendra Amar
Published: August 2012

The objective of this study is to evaluate, with the Mechanistic–Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG), the effects of volumetric and mechanistic variability on predicted performance of asphalt pavements. In addition, the effect of volumetric variability on predicted mechanistic properties of asphalt mixtures, as determined with the Fonseca–Witczak predictive model, was quantified with the use of a Monte Carlo simulation. Data collected from NCHRP Project 9–48, Field Versus Laboratory Volumetric and Mechanical Properties, were used to quantify the variability in volumetric and mechanistic properties. The effects of mechanistic variability on the design outcomes were evaluated with a sensitivity analysis of the MEPDG. According to the results, the average coefficient of variation (CV) in the dynamic complex modulus calculated from the Fonseca–Witczak model was 8.1%, which was less than the CV of 13.9% determined from the dynamic modulus test data presented in NCHRP Project 9–48. Predicted pavement distresses from the MEPDG indicated that a variability level in the dynamic complex modulus of 10% or less resulted in a change in the predicted level of performance of 10% or less. In contrast, variability in the dynamic modulus of 20% changed the design life of the pavement structures by up to 42% and the design hot-mix asphalt thickness by as much as 19%.
Solution to Nonnormality in Quality Assurance and Acceptance Quality Characteristics Data
Authors: Uddin Moin , Goodrum Paul M. , Mahboub Kamyar C. , Stromberg Arnold
Published: August 2012

Previous studies have identified high nonnormality in the form of skewness and kurtosis in highway construction data (hot-mix asphalt, portland cement concrete pavement, and aggregate materials) on the basis of analysis of field quality assurance data. [The authors use “nonnormality,” rather than “abnormality,” and define it as a term used in any discipline that involves statistical data analysis. —Ed.] The presence of high nonnormality in lot data is a significant finding because such nonnormality violates most state transportation agencies' normality assumption for quality assurance data analysis (e.g., F-test and t-test) and quality measure calculation (e.g., percent within limits). High nonnormality can have several adverse effects, such as increased variability in lot data and decreased efficiency of statistical verification tests in finding differences between contractor's and agency's data sets. Most important, however, nonnormal lot data tend to misdirect contractor payment; such misdirection can manifest in incorrectly penalizing contractors that deliver acceptable construction and rewarding contractors that deliver poor construction. A modified Box–Cox transformation using the golden section search algorithm is proposed: it can substantially reduce pay biases due to nonnormality even when lot sample size is small. The method is efficient and ensures fair and equitable payment to state agencies and contractors.
Determining the Influence of Plant Type and Production Parameters on Performance of Plant-Produced Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement Mixtures
Authors: Mogawer Walaa S. , Austerman Alexander J. , Bonaquist Ramon
Published: August 2012

The purpose of this research study was to evaluate the effects of plant type and production parameters on the stiffness, performance, and degree of blending between the aged and virgin binders of plant-produced reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) mixtures. Mixtures from a batch and a drum plant and the corresponding production information were obtained. The stiffness of each mixture was evaluated by measuring the dynamic modulus. Moisture susceptibility and rutting potential were evaluated with the Hamburg wheel tracking device. Low-temperature cracking characteristics were evaluated with the asphalt concrete cracking device. Finally, the workability of the mixtures was evaluated with an asphalt workability device. Binder was extracted from each mixture to measure the degree of blending between the aged and virgin binder. The degree of blending between the aged RAP and virgin binder in each mixture was evaluated with an analysis approach that used the ratio of the mixture dynamic modulus to the recovered binder shear modulus. Batch and drum plants produced RAP mixtures that performed similarly to the control mixtures and exhibited good blending. None of the RAP mixture tested showed increased susceptibility to moisture damage, rutting, and low-temperature cracking susceptibility as the RAP content was increased. Workability testing identified a potential construction issue as the mixture workability decreased as the amount of RAP in the mixture increased. Finally, the performance data indicated the importance of the proper virgin binder grade selection for mixtures with higher amounts of RAP.
Improving Quality Control of Hot-Mix Asphalt Paving with Intelligent Compaction Technology
Authors: Horan Robert D. , Chang George K. , Xu Qinwu , Gallivan Victor L.
Published: August 2012

This paper answers whether existing intelligent compaction (IC) technology can be used in a practical way to improve the quality control (QC) process for hot-mix asphalt (HMA) paving projects. Specifically, the paper investigates the use and the benefits of IC technology for tandem drum vibratory rollers used to construct HMA materials. There is a need to improve QC practices for most typical HMA paving operations. This paper identifies and discusses major shortcomings in conventional compaction equipment and current QC practices. The use of IC technology can address these shortcomings and provide innovative QC tools to contractors and agencies. The paper is based on the findings of the Intelligent Compaction Pooled Fund (ICPF) project that included 16 field demonstration projects in 12 participating states. The ICPF projects were actual highway construction projects in which various pavement materials were placed and compacted with both conventional compaction equipment and rollers that were equipped with IC technology from various suppliers. Eight of the projects included placement and compaction of HMA materials. On these projects, IC was used for only a portion of the project. A case study of the Wisconsin project illustrates the benefits that could have been obtained if IC technology and specifications had been used for the entire project from beginning to end.
Comprehensive Evaluation of Compaction of Asphalt Pavements and a Practical Approach for Density Predictions
Authors: Kassem Emad , Scullion Tom , Masad Eyad , Chowdhury Arif
Published: August 2012

The compaction of asphalt mixtures has a significant influence on their performance. Insufficient compaction leads to several distresses, such as premature permanent deformation, excessive aging, and moisture damage, even if all desirable mixture design characteristics are met. Currently, no acceptable method relates asphalt pavement density to the compaction pattern. The compaction pattern required to achieve the desired density is established on the basis of experience and trial and error, a process that is time-consuming and expensive. This study involved comprehensive experimental evaluation of several test sections that were constructed with different asphalt mixtures by various compaction methods. Results of these experiments were used to determine the effects of compaction temperature, compaction method, mixture design, and base type on the compactability of asphalt mixtures. In addition, the paper presents a systematic method to determine the compaction pattern required to achieve the desired density of asphalt pavements. This method lends itself to integration in an automated system that can be used by roller operators to estimate density during construction.
Erection of Steel Bridges for Shinkansen High-Speed Rail
Authors: Minami Kuniaki , Saito Masamichi , Shimizu Kenji
Published: August 2012

Two lines of the Japanese high-speed rail (Shinkansen) were newly inaugurated in 2010 and 2011. In the newly constructed lines, the share of steel bridges is low. The 15 steel bridges in the new lines were selected primarily because of construction conditions, such as construction space constraints, construction period, operation time, and ground conditions. To enable construction under these constraints, the steel bridges were constructed by various erection methods. For that reason, erection methods were often taken into account in the structural planning stage. This paper describes conditions and viewpoints in the selection of construction methods for high-speed rail. When construction methods are selected, cost is a primary consideration. Conventional crane erection with temporary bents, or the crane-bent method, is a basic construction method because of its low cost. If constraints that prevented the crane-bent method from being used were encountered in the construction sites, other erection methods, such as the large block method, lateral transfer method, launching method, rotation method, and jack-up method, were selected to allow for bridges to be built under existing constraints. This paper describes each construction method and provides examples of recent steel railway bridge construction work on the new Shinkansen lines.
Patient Reports of: Lifestyle Advice in Primary Care
Authors: Brauer Paula M. , Sergeant Lee Anne , Davidson Bridget , Goy Rick , Dietrich Linda
Published: August 2012

Purpose: Patients’ perceptions of preventive lifestyle in primary care practice were examined.

Methods: Practice was assessed with a modified version of the Primary Care Assessment Survey (PCAS). This was mailed to random samples of patients twice, using practice mailing lists from three Ontario Family Health Networks (FHNs). Family Health Networks are physician-based group practices, with additional nurse-led telephone advisory services to provide care 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The PCAS questionnaire consisted of nine scales (ranging from 0 to 100). For preventive counselling, additional questions on diet and exercise counselling were included to determine how the physician delivered the intervention.

Results: Of the 2184 survey questionnaires mailed to patients, 22% were undeliverable. The response rate was 62% at valid addresses (49% of all mailed questionnaires). Of the nine scales, scores (± standard deviation) for preventive counselling were lowest at 33 ± 25. In particular, rates of diet (37%) and exercise (24%) counselling were low in the FHNs. For most other aspects of primary care services, patients generally rated FHNs highly. The majority of patients advised about diet and exercise were given verbal advice or pamphlets.

Conclusions: In these primary health care organizations, considerable room exists for increased preventive counselling, especially about diet and exercise.
Household Food Insecurity and Canadian Aboriginal Women’s: Self-efficacy in Food Preparation
Authors: Mercille Genevieve , Receveur Olivier , Potvin Louise
Published: August 2012

Purpose: Determinants of self-efficacy related to food preparation using store-bought food were examined in women belonging to the Atikamekw Nation. Also examined was whether self-efficacy was associated with household food insecurity.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 107 women responsible for household food supplies. Two selfefficacy scores were calculated, one for healthy food preparation and one for food preparation in general. Household food insecurity was measured with an adapted version of the United States Food Security Core Module. The other variables were household composition, income sources, food supplies, tobacco use, participants’ health status, and lifestyle and sociodemographic characteristics. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze associations between self-efficacy and household food insecurity in 99 participants.

Results: Severe household food insecurity was associated with significantly lower healthy food preparation scores in Atikamekw women. Other associated variables were food supplies, marital status, alcohol consumption, weight status, and understanding of the native language.

Conclusions: Application of the concept of self-efficacy contributes to a better understanding of the factors influencing food preparation in Atikamekw women. In this study, self-efficacy in healthy food preparation was linked to food insecurity and obesity, particularly in the most serious cases. Efforts to improve diet will require not only behavioural interventions, but public policies.
George W. Smith, M.D. (1916–1964)
Authors: Viers Angela , Allen Marshall B. , Alleyne Cargill H.
Published: August 2012

Dr. George W. Smith is credited with developing the Smith-Robinson procedure, the automatic drill, the vessel-encircling aneurysm clip, and treatment of tic douloureux with stilbamidine. His contributions to neurosurgery were unfortunately truncated by his untimely death. This article highlights his career and his contributions.
Hospital care of childhood traumatic brain injury in the United States, 1997–2009: a neurosurgical perspective
Authors: Piatt Joseph H. , Neff Daniel A.
Published: August 2012

Object

The goal in this paper was to study hospital care for childhood traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a nationwide population base.

Methods

Data were acquired from the Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) for the years 1997, 2000, 2003, 2006, and 2009. Admission for TBI was defined by any ICD-9-CM diagnostic code for TBI. Admission for severe TBI was defined by a principal diagnostic code for TBI and a procedural code for mechanical ventilation; admissions ending in discharge home alive in less than 4 days were excluded.

Results

Estimated raw and population-based rates of admission for all TBI, for severe TBI, for death from severe TBI, and for major and minor neurosurgical procedures fell steadily during the study period. Median hospital charges for severe TBI rose steadily, even after adjustment for inflation, but estimated nationwide hospital charges were stable. Among 14,932 actual admissions for severe TBI captured in the KID, case mortality was stable through the study period, at 23.9%.

In a multivariate analysis, commercial insurance (OR 0.86, CI 0.77–0.95; p = 0.004) and white race (OR 0.78, CI 0.70–0.87; p < 0.0005) were associated with lower mortality rates, but there was no association between these factors and commitment of resources, as measured by hospital charges or rates of major procedures. Increasing median income of home ZIP code was associated with higher hospital charges and higher rates of major and minor procedures. Only 46.8% of admissions for severe TBI were coded for a neurosurgical procedure of any kind. Fewer admissions were coded for minor neurosurgical procedures than anticipated, and the state-by-state variance in rates of minor procedures was twice as great as for major procedures. Possible explanations for the “missing ICP monitors” are discussed.

Conclusions

Childhood brain trauma is a shrinking sector of neurosurgical hospital practice. Racial and economic disparities in mortality rates were confirmed in this study, but they were not explained by available metrics of resource commitment. Vigilance is required to continue to supply neurosurgical expertise to the multidisciplinary care process.
Radiation-associated meningiomas in children: clinical, pathological, and cytogenetic characteristics with a critical review of the literature
Authors: Elbabaa Samer K. , Gokden Murat , Crawford John R. , Kesari Santosh , Saad Ali G.
Published: August 2012

Object

Radiation-associated meningiomas (RAMs) arise after treatment with radiation to the cranium and are recognized as clinically separate from sporadic meningiomas. Compared with their sporadic counterparts, RAMs are often aggressive or malignant, likely to be multiple, and have a high recurrence rate. However, limited information exists about the clinical, pathological, and cytogenetic features of RAMs in pediatric patients. The authors report the findings in 9 children with meningiomas following therapeutic radiation to the cranium. In addition, they performed a critical review of the English language literature on pediatric RAMs.

Methods

Medical files were searched for patients who demonstrated meningiomas after a history of radiation to the brain. Only those patients in whom a meningioma occurred before the age of 18 years were included in this study. Clinical and demographic data along with the MIB-1 labeling index and cytogenetic studies were evaluated.

Results

The patients consisted of 5 males and 4 females with a median age of 5 years (range 2–10 years) at radiation therapy. The latency period was a median of 10 years after radiation therapy (range 6–13 years). The MIB-1 labeling index was a median of 6.6% (range 4%–10%). Five patients (55.6%) displayed multiple meningiomas at the first presentation. Histological types included clear cell meningioma in 1 patient, fibroblastic meningioma in 2, chordoid meningioma in 2, meningothelial meningioma in 7 (atypical in 2 cases), xanthomatous meningioma in 1, and chordoid meningioma in 1. Cytogenetic studies showed that the loss of 22q12.2 was the most common abnormality (3 patients), followed by complex cytogenetic abnormalities (2 patients) and rearrangements between chromosomes 1 and 12 (1 patient) and a 1p deletion (1 patient).

Conclusions

In contrast to RAMs occurring in adults, those in pediatric patients show an increased incidence of multiplicity on first presentation and unusual histological variants, some of which are described here for the first time. There was no difference in the MIB-1 labeling index in children with RAMs as compared with that in children with non-RAMs.
Surgical treatment of sacral metastases: indications and results
Authors: Feiz-Erfan Iman , Fox Benjamin D. , Nader Remi , Suki Dima , Chakrabarti Indro , Mendel Ehud , Gokaslan Ziya L. , Rao Ganesh , Rhines Laurence D.
Published: August 2012

Object

Hematogenous metastases to the sacrum can produce significant pain and lead to spinal instability. The object of this study was to evaluate the palliative benefit of surgery in patients with these metastases.

Methods

The authors retrospectively reviewed all cases involving patients undergoing surgery for metastatic disease to the sacrum at a single tertiary cancer center between 1993 and 2005.

Results

Twenty-five patients (21 men, 4 women) were identified as having undergone sacral surgery for hematogenous metastatic disease during the study period. Their median age was 57 years (range 25–71 years). The indications for surgery included palliation of pain (in 24 cases), need for diagnosis (in 1 case), and spinal instability (in 3 cases). The most common primary disease was renal cell carcinoma.

Complications occurred in 10 patients (40%). The median overall survival was 11 months (95% CI 5.4–16.6 months). The median time from the initial diagnosis to the diagnosis of metastatic disease in the sacrum was 14 months (95% CI 0.0–29.3 months). The numerical pain scores (scale 0–10) were improved from a median of 8 preoperatively to a median of 3 postoperatively at 90 days, 6 months, and 1 year (p < 0.01). Postoperative modified Frankel grades improved in 8 cases, worsened in 3 (due to disease progression), and remained unchanged in 14 (p = 0.19). Among patients with renal cell carcinoma, the median overall survival was better in those in whom the sacrum was the sole site of metastatic disease than in those with multiple sites of metastatic disease (16 vs 9 months, respectively; p = 0.053).

Conclusions

Surgery is effective to palliate pain with acceptable morbidity in patients with metastatic disease to the sacrum. In the subgroup of patients with renal cell carcinoma, those with the sacrum as their solitary site of metastatic disease demonstrated improved survival.
Spinal cord stimulation paresthesia and activity of primary afferents
Authors: North Richard B. , Streelman Karen , Rowland Lance , Foreman P. Jay
Published: August 2012

A patient with failed back surgery syndrome reported paresthesia in his hands and arms during a spinal cord stimulation (SCS) screening trial with a low thoracic electrode. The patient's severe thoracic stenosis necessitated general anesthesia for simultaneous decompressive laminectomy and SCS implantation for chronic use. Use of general anesthesia gave the authors the opportunity to characterize the patient's unusual distribution of paresthesia. During SCS implantation, they recorded SCS-evoked antidromic potentials at physiologically relevant amplitudes in the legs to guide electrode placement and in the arms as controls. Stimulation of the dorsal columns at T-8 evoked potentials in the legs (common peroneal nerves) and at similar thresholds, consistent with the sensation of paresthesia in the arms, in the right ulnar nerve. The authors' electrophysiological observations support observations by neuroanatomical specialists that primary afferents can descend several (in this case, at least 8) vertebral segments in the spinal cord before synapsing or ascending. This report thus confirms a physiological basis for unusual paresthesia distribution associated with thoracic SCS.
The Entropy of a Discrete Real Variable
Authors: Funkhouser Scott
Published: August 2012

The discrete Shannon entropy H was formulated only to measure indeterminacy effected through a set of probabilities, but the indeterminacy in a real-valued discrete variable depends on both the allowed outcomes x and the corresponding probabilities Þ. A fundamental measure that is sensitive to both x and p is derived here from the total differential entropy of a continuous real variable and its conjugate in the discrete limit, where the conjugate is universally eliminated. The asymptotic differential entropy recovers H plus the new measure, named ≡, which provides a novel probe of intrinsic organization in sequences of real numbers.
The Long-Term Prospects of Biofuels in the EU-15 Countries
Authors: Ajanovic Amela , Jungmeier Gerfried , Beermann Martin , Haas Reinhard
Published: August 2012

The core objective of this paper is to analyze the energy and CO2 reduction potentials as well as the market prospects of biofuels in EU-15 in a dynamic framework till 2050. The most important result of this analysis is that 2nd generation biofuels might become economically competitive between 2020 and 2030, yet this can only be achieved if the following preconditions are fulfilled: (1) achievement of significant learning effects leading to considerably lower plant costs; (2) significant improvement of conversion efficiency from feedstock to fuel leading to lower feedstock costs and better ecological performance; (3) increases in conventional diesel and gasoline prices, e.g., due to CO2 based taxes.
Experimental Study on the Combustion and Microexplosion of Freely Falling Gelled Unsymmetrical Dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) Fuel Droplets
Authors: Liu Zejun , Hu Xiaoping , He Zhen , Wu Jianjun
Published: August 2012

The increasing demand for high energy density fuels and the concern for their safety have propelled research in the field of gelled propellants, where understanding the combustion of single gelled fuel droplets is the first stage to predict the spray combustion characteristics. The experiments utilized single-isolated freely falling gelled unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) droplets instead of the conventional suspended droplet approach, in order to eliminate the perturbation associated with the suspension mechanism. Morphological transformations of the gelled droplet involved in the combustion processes were monitored by employing a high-speed digital camera, while the effects of ambient pressure and oxygen concentration on burning rate constants were also studied. The experimental results show that four main phenomena (droplet deformation, bubble formation and growth, vapor jetting and luminous jetting flame with “horn” shape) and three distinct phases were identified in the droplet combustion process; the high yield stress and polymer chain structure of polymer gellant are responsible for the appearance of bubbles with almost the same order of magnitude as the droplets. Increasing the ambient pressure can increase the burning rate, postpone the appearance of microexplosions, and weaken microexplosion intensity; while increasing the ambient oxygen concentration can promote the appearance of microexplosions, strengthen microexplosion intensity and increase the burning rate.
A Complementary Biodiesel Blend from Soapnut Oil and Free Fatty Acids
Authors: Chen Yi-Hung , Tang Ting-Cheng , Chiang Tsung-Han , Huang Bo-Yu , Chang Ching-Yuan , Chiang Pen-Chi , Shie Je-Lueng , Franzreb Matthias , Chen Lu-Yen
Published: August 2012

Blends of biodiesels produced from soapnut oil and high-oleic free fatty acids (FFAs), which are potential non-edible oil feedstocks, were investigated with respect to their fuel properties. The soapnut oil methyl esters (SNME) had satisfactory fuel properties with the exception of its high cold filter plugging point. In contrast, the biodiesel from the FFAs had favorable fuel properties such as a low cold filter plugging point of −6 °C; however, it exhibits poor oxidation stability with an induction period (IP) of 0.2 h. The complementary blend of the SNME and the FFA-based biodiesel at various weight ratios was studied to improve the fuel properties. As a result, the biodiesel blend at a weight ratio of 70:30 can successfully meet all the biodiesel specifications, except the marginal oxidation stability. Furthermore, the effectiveness of N,N’-di-sec-butyl-p-phenylenediamine at the concentration between 100 and 500 ppm on the improvement in the oxidation stability of the biodiesel blend was examined. The relationship between the IP values associated with the consumption of antioxidants in the biodiesel blends was described by first-order reaction rate kinetics. In addition, the natural logarithm of IP (ln IP) at various concentrations of antioxidant presented a linear relation with the test temperature. The IP at ambient temperature can be predicted based on the extrapolation of the temperature dependence relation.
Children’s Exposures to Pyrethroid Insecticides at Home: A Review of Data Collected in Published Exposure Measurement Studies Conducted in the United States
Authors: Morgan Marsha K.
Published: August 2012

Pyrethroid insecticides are frequently used to control insects in residential and agriculture settings in the United States and worldwide. As a result, children can be potentially exposed to pyrethroid residues in food and at home. This review summarizes data reported in 15 published articles from observational exposure measurement studies conducted from 1999 to present that examined children’s (5 months to 17 years of age) exposures to pyrethroids in media including floor wipes, floor dust, food, air, and/or urine collected at homes in the United States. At least seven different pyrethroids were detected in wipe, dust, solid food, and indoor air samples. Permethrin was the most frequently detected (>50%) pyrethroid in these media, followed by cypermethrin (wipes, dust, and food). 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA), a urinary metabolite of several pyrethroids, was the most frequently (≥67%) detected pyrethroid biomarker. Results across studies indicate that these children were likely exposed to several pyrethroids, but primarily to permethrin and cypermethrin, from several sources including food, dust, and/or on surfaces at residences. Dietary ingestion followed by nondietary ingestion were the dominate exposure routes for these children, except in homes with frequent pesticide applications (dermal followed by dietary ingestion). Urinary 3-PBA concentration data confirm that the majority of the children sampled were exposed to one or more pyrethroids.
Simulation of Regionally Ecological Land Based on a Cellular Automation Model: A Case Study of Beijing, China
Authors: Xie Hualin , Kung Chih-Chun , Zhang Yanting , Li Xiubin
Published: August 2012

Ecological land is like the “liver” of a city and is very useful to public health. Ecological land change is a spatially dynamic non-linear process under the interaction between natural and anthropogenic factors at different scales. In this study, by setting up natural development scenario, object orientation scenario and ecosystem priority scenario, a Cellular Automation (CA) model has been established to simulate the evolution pattern of ecological land in Beijing in the year 2020. Under the natural development scenario, most of ecological land will be replaced by construction land and crop land. But under the scenarios of object orientation and ecosystem priority, the ecological land area will increase, especially under the scenario of ecosystem priority. When considering the factors such as total area of ecological land, loss of key ecological land and spatial patterns of land use, the scenarios from priority to inferiority are ecosystem priority, object orientation and natural development, so future land management policies in Beijing should be focused on conversion of cropland to forest, wetland protection and prohibition of exploitation of natural protection zones, water source areas and forest parks to maintain the safety of the regional ecosystem.
Biogenesis and Mechanism of Action of Small Non-Coding RNAs: Insights from the Point of View of Structural Biology
Authors: Costa Marina C. , Leitão Ana Lúcia , Enguita Francisco J.
Published: August 2012

Non-coding RNAs are dominant in the genomic output of the higher organisms being not simply occasional transcripts with idiosyncratic functions, but constituting an extensive regulatory network. Among all the species of non-coding RNAs, small non-coding RNAs (miRNAs, siRNAs and piRNAs) have been shown to be in the core of the regulatory machinery of all the genomic output in eukaryotic cells. Small non-coding RNAs are produced by several pathways containing specialized enzymes that process RNA transcripts. The mechanism of action of these molecules is also ensured by a group of effector proteins that are commonly engaged within high molecular weight protein-RNA complexes. In the last decade, the contribution of structural biology has been essential to the dissection of the molecular mechanisms involved in the biosynthesis and function of small non-coding RNAs.