bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PPARγ and MEK Interactions in Cancer
Authors: Burgermeister Elke , Seger Rony
Published: June 2008

Peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐gamma (PPARγ) exerts multiple functions in determination of cell fate, tissue metabolism, and host immunity. Two synthetic PPARγ ligands (rosiglitazone and pioglitazone) were approved for the therapy of type‐2 diabetes mellitus and are expected to serve as novel cures for inflammatory diseases and cancer. However, PPARγ and its ligands exhibit a janus‐face behaviour as tumor modulators in various systems, resulting in either tumor suppression or tumor promotion. This may be in part due to signaling crosstalk to the mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades. The genomic activity of PPARγ is modulated, in addition to ligand binding, by phosphorylation of a serine residue by MAPKs, such as extracellular signal‐regulated protein kinases‐1/2 (ERK‐1/2), or by nucleocytoplasmic compartmentalization through the ERK activators MAPK kinases‐1/2 (MEK‐1/2). PPARγ ligands themselves activate the ERK cascade through nongenomic and often PPARγ‐independent signaling. In the current review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms and physiological implications of the crosstalk of PPARγ with MEK‐ERK signaling and its potential as a novel drug target for cancer therapy in patients.
Choice of a High‐Level Fault Modelfor the Optimization of Validation Test Set Reused for Manufacturing Test
Authors: Joannon Yves , Beroulle Vincent , Robach Chantal , Tedjini Smail , Carbonero Jean-Louis
Published: June 2008

With the growing complexity of wireless systems on chip integrating hundreds‐of‐millions of transistors, electronic design methods need to be upgraded to reduce time‐to‐market. In this paper, the test benches defined for design validation or characterization of AMS & RF SoCs are optimized and reused for production testing. Although the original validation test set allows the verification of both design functionalities and performances, this test set is not well adapted to manufacturing test due to its high execution time and high test equipment costs requirement. The optimization of this validation test set is based on the evaluation of each test vector. This evaluation relies on high‐level fault modeling and fault simulation. Hence, a fault model based on the variations of the parameters of high abstraction level descriptions and its related qualification metric are presented. The choice of functional or behavioral abstraction levels is discussed by comparing their impact on structural fault coverage. Experiments are performed on the receiver part of a WCDMA transceiver. Results show that for this SoC, using behavioral abstraction level is justified for the generation of manufacturing test benches.
Mesothelioma and Asbestos-Related Pleural Diseases
Authors: Greillier Laurent , Astoul Philippe
Published: June 2008

At present, the use of asbestos is not regulated at a worldwide scale. Moreover, there is a latency period between asbestos exposure and the manifestations of asbestos-related diseases. Consequently, pulmonologists are still dealing with consequences of asbestos exposure, which mainly occur at the pleural surface. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of asbestos-related pleural diseases. We summarized the most relevant data for the diagnosis and the management of benign asbestos pleural effusions, pleural plaques, diffuse pleural thickening and rounded atelectasis. Special attention is dedicated to malignant pleural mesothelioma, given the challenging issues of this disease, the recent advances in its management and the dynamism of research in this area.
Current Concepts of Enzyme Histochemistry in Modern Pathology
Authors: Meier-Ruge William A. , Bruder Elisabeth
Published: June 2008

Enzyme histochemistry serves as a link between biochemistry and morphology. It is based on metabolization of a substrate provided to a tissue enzyme in its orthotopic localization. Visualization is accomplished with an insoluble dye product. It is a sensitive dynamic technique that mirrors even early metabolic imbalance of a pathological tissue lesion, combined with the advantage of histotopographic enzyme localization. With the advent of immunohistochemistry and DNA-oriented molecular pathology techniques, the potential of enzyme histochemistry currently tends to be underrecognized. This review aims to draw attention to the broad range of applications of this simple, rapid and inexpensive method. Alkaline phosphatase represents tissue barrier functions in brain capillaries, duodenal enterocyte and proximal kidney tubule brush borders. Decrease in enzyme histochemical alkaline phosphatase activity indicates serious functional impairment. Enzyme histochemical increase in lysosomal acid phosphatase activity is an early marker of ischemic tissue lesions. Over the last four decades, acetylcholinesterase enzyme histochemistry has proven to be the gold standard for the diagnosis of Hirschsprung disease and is one of the most commonly applied enzyme histochemical methods today. Chloroacetate esterase and tartrate-resistant phosphatase are both resistant to formalin fixation, EDTA decalcification and paraffin embedding. Early enzyme histochemical insight into development of a pathologic tissue lesion and evaluation of function and vitality of tissue enhance our understanding of the pathophysiology of diseases. In this process, enzyme histochemistry constitutes a valuable complement to conventional histology, immunohistochemistry and molecular pathology for both diagnostic and experimental pathology.
Human Papillomavirus Infection in Oral Verrucous Carcinoma: Genotyping Analysis and Inverse Correlation with p53 Expression
Authors: Fujita Shuichi , Senba Masachika , Kumatori Atsushi , Hayashi Tomayoshi , Ikeda Tohru , Toriyama Kan
Published: June 2008

Objective: Verrucous carcinoma (VC) is a rare subtype of squamous cell carcinoma, occurring mostly in oral mucosa. To clarify the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in VC tumorigenesis, we investigated localization and genotypes of HPV and p53 expression in oral VC. Methods: We studied paraffin-embedded specimens of 23 VCs and 10 control non-neoplastic lesions in oral mucosa. To investigate HPV infection, HPV genotypes and p53 expression, we respectively employed in situ hybridization (ISH), sequence analysis following short PCR fragment-PCR assay and immunohistochemistry. Results: Of the 23 VC specimens, 11 (48%) had HPV-DNA (detectable by PCR), and 6 (26%) had intranuclear HPV in the upper portion of the squamous epithelium (detectable by ISH). Nine of the 11 PCR-positive specimens showed multiple infections with low- and high-risk HPVs. No HPV-16 infection was detected. Although HPV-6 and HPV-18 were frequently detected by PCR, no HPV could be found in control specimens by ISH. p53 expression was inversely correlated with HPV infection. Conclusion: Thus, multiple infections with low- and high-risk HPVs and their rapid replication during hyperkeratinization may participate in the histogenesis of oral VC. Oral VC tumorigenesis may involve the inactivation of p53, which is associated with HPV infection.
Mortality and Restenosis Rate of Surgical Coarctation Repair in Infancy: A Study of 191 Patients
Authors: Hager Alfred , Schreiber Christian , Nützl Silvia , Hess John
Published: June 2008

Study Design: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study to analyze mortality and the rate of restenosis in the follow-up of patients after surgical repair of isolated aortic coarctation in infancy. Patients and Methods: From 1974 to 2003, 191 patients underwent surgical repair of aortic coarctation in infancy. Follow-up data of 2,432 patient-years were extracted from the clinical files of our outpatient department or from family practitioners. Results: Five patients died (total mortality 2.6%): 1 patient intraoperatively and 2 within 30 days after surgery (early mortality 1.6%). The other 2 patients died within 3 months. All deaths were contributed to patients that underwent surgery in the years up to 1981 and within the first 43 days of life. Of the surviving 186 patients, 31 had reintervention because of restenosis and another 11 patients had a noninvasive brachial-ankle systolic blood pressure gradient >20 mm Hg, suggesting current restenosis. Risk factors for death or restenosis were a hypoplastic aortic arch and a low body length at surgery. Conclusions: Nowadays, surgical repair of coarctation can be performed in infancy with minimal risk. The restenosis rate is considerably high (23%). It is mainly caused by the size of the whole aortic arch, but can also develop during later follow-up.
Drug-Eluting Stents Compared with Bare Metal Stents Improve Late Outcome after Saphenous Vein Graft but Not after Large Native Vessel Interventions
Authors: Jeger Raban V. , Schneiter Stefan , Kaiser Christoph , Bonetti Piero O. , Brunner-La Rocca Hanspeter , Handke Michael , Osswald Stefan , Buser Peter T. , Pfisterer Matthias E.
Published: June 2008

Objectives: To define long-term efficacy of different stent types in saphenous vein graft (SVG) interventions. Methods: In BASKET (Basel Stent Cost Effectiveness Trial), major adverse cardiac events (MACE), i.e. cardiac death, myocardial infarction and symptom-driven target vessel revascularization (TVR) were assessed after 18 months comparing drug-eluting stents (DES) versus bare metal stents (BMS), and SVG and large native vessels (≧3.0 mm). Results: Large vessel interventions were performed in 605 patients. Patients with SVG interventions (n = 47, 8%) were older and had more often hypertension, prior myocardial infarction, prior revascularization and multivessel disease and less frequent ST-elevation myocardial infarction than patients with large native vessel interventions (n = 558, 92%). Stent number and length were higher in SVG than in large native vessel interventions. Baseline characteristics were similar for DES and BMS. In SVG stenting, long-term outcome was better in DES- than in BMS-treated patients (MACE 21 vs. 62%, p = 0.007, mainly due to TVR 18 vs. 46%, p = 0.045), but for large native vessel stenting, no significant difference was noted (MACE: 13 vs. 16%, p = 0.40). Conclusions: Among patients with SVG disease, treatment with DES resulted in a better long-term outcome than treatment with BMS. In contrast, no DES benefit was found in similarly sized native vessels regarding MACE.
The Relationship of Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 Levels to the ST Deviation Pattern of Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Rott David , Leibowitz David , Finci-Yeheskel Zvezdana , Barak Vivian , Chajek-Shaul Tova , Weiss Teddy , Levin Mark , Urieli-Shoval Simcha
Published: June 2008

Objectives: Myocardial infarction (MI) may be classified as ST elevation MI (STEMI) or non-ST elevation MI (NSTEMI). Procoagulants such as plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) as well as markers of inflammation such as C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are elevated in acute coronary syndromes. However, no study has examined whether levels of these markers differ in patients with STEMI as opposed to NSTEMI. We sought to determine whether there are differences in plasma levels of PAI-1, CRP, SAA or IL-6 in patients with STEMI compared to patients with NSTEMI. Methods: Seventy-six consecutive patients presenting with acute MI (37 with STEMI and 39 with NSTEMI) were prospectively enrolled. Blood samples were obtained from patients within 6 h from presentation and plasma PAI-1, CRP, IL-6 and SAA concentrations were measured. Results: Plasma levels of PAI-1 were significantly higher in patients with STEMI compared to NSTEMI: 85.7 ± 5 vs. 61.3 ± 5 ng/ml (p < 0.001), while CRP, SAA and IL-6 levels were not significantly different between STEMI and NSTEMI patients. Conclusions: Higher plasma PAI-1 levels in STEMI patients may contribute to the predilection of these patients to occlusive thrombi and STEMI.
Latent Development of Occlusive Coronary Atherosclerosis as a Cause of Decompensation of Non-Ischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Authors: White Bryan M. , Mehta Rohit , Binkley Philip F. , Leier Carl V.
Published: June 2008

Four patients with chronically well-compensated, non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDC) presented with occlusive atherosclerotic coronary artery disease as the cause of subacute decompensation (FC III–IV heart failure) 8–13 years following the diagnosis of NIDC. In addition to the atherogenic condition of heart failure, 3 of the patients acquired major atherosclerotic risk factors (dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus) during the interval between the diagnoses of NIDC and problematic atherosclerotic coronary disease. For each patient, dyspnea on exertion was the primary symptom during the subacute decompensation. Only 1 patient noted precordial chest pain in the form of atypical angina during some of the dyspneic events. The diagnosis of occlusive coronary artery disease was made by coronary angiography, followed by angioplasty-stent deployment in 3 patients and coronary artery bypass surgery in 1; all improved to their baseline FC I–II status following these coronary interventions. As survival of patients with NIDC increases, occlusive coronary artery disease may enter an otherwise stable clinical course to provoke unanticipated decompensation (principally dyspnea), and can do so without causing angina pectoris as a heralding symptom.
Intracoronary Delivery of Bone Marrow Cells to the Acutely Infarcted Myocardium
Authors: Meluzín Jaroslav , Vlašín Michal , Groch Ladislav , Mayer Jiří , Křen Leoš , Raušer Petr , Tichý Boris , Horňáček Ivan , Sitar Jan , Palša Stanislav , Klabusay Martin , Kořístek Zdeněk , Doubek Michael , Pospíšilová Šárka , Lexmaulová Leona , Dušek Ladislav
Published: June 2008

Objectives: Intracoronary cell transplantation during catheter balloon inflations may be associated with adverse events. We studied the effectiveness of an alternative transplantation technique – intracoronary cell infusion. Methods: Fourteen pigs, which had survived acute myocardial infarction, were randomized into 2 treatment groups and 2 controls. Three days after infarction, 12 pigs underwent allogeneic intracoronary mononuclear bone marrow cell transplantation using either the standard technique (short-term cell injections during repeat balloon inflations, technique A, n = 6) or continuous intracoronary cell infusion without balloon inflations (technique B, n = 6). Implanted cells were stained with fluorescent dye. After transplantation, the pigs were euthanized and myocardial samples were analyzed by fluorescent microscopy. Results: The mean numbers of fluorescently labeled bone marrow cells in the infarction border zone, in the infarction mid-area and in the center of myocardial infarction were 84, 72 and 55 using technique A, and 29, 57 and 46 using technique B, respectively. The mean cell retention in the infarction border zone of 84 cells for technique A and 29 cells for technique B differed significantly (p = 0.034, two-tailed t test). Conclusion: The continuous intracoronary cell infusion technique is a less efficient cell delivery technique as compared with the standard technique using repeat intracoronary balloon inflations.
PAF, rather than Histamine, Participates in Mouse Anaphylactic Hypotension
Authors: Shibamoto Toshishige , Liu Wei , Cui Sen , Zhang Wei , Takano Hiromichi , Kurata Yasutaka
Published: June 2008

We determined the roles of platelet-activating factor (PAF) and histamine in anaphylactic hypotension in ovalbumin-sensitized anesthetized BALB/c mice. The effects of PAF and histamine on hemodynamic variables were studied by measuring the systemic arterial (Psa), portal venous (Ppv) and central venous (Pcv) pressures. Intravenous PAF evoked a biphasic Psa response, an initial rapid and transient drop followed by marked hypotension, accompanied by a decrease in Pcv. Histamine caused only mild systemic hypotension. Both agents similarly increased Ppv by approximately 4 cm H2O at high doses. After an injection of antigen, Psa initially increased slightly and then decreased from the baseline of 94 ± 1 mm Hg to 46 ± 1 mm Hg at 10 min after antigen administration, with Pcv decreasing by 2.5 cm H2O. Ppv increased by 3.5 cm H2O at 5 min after antigen injection. Pretreatment with either CV-6209 (PAF receptor antagonist, 1 mg/kg) or diphenhydramine (histamine H1 receptor antagonist, 20 mg/kg) significantly attenuated an antigen-induced decrease in Psa. The inhibitory action of CV-6209 was greater than that of diphenhydramine, and the combination of these 2 antagonists almost completely inhibited the anaphylactic hypotension. In contrast, the antigen-induced increase in Ppv was attenuated by CV-6209 alone but augmented by diphenhydramine. It is concluded that anaphylactic hypotension is mainly mediated by PAF and, to a lesser extent, by histamine in anesthetized BALB/c mice.
Efficacy of a Polyethylene Glycol Marker System in Urine Drug Screening in an Opiate Substitution Program
Authors: Schneider Harald Jörn , Rühl Birgit , Meyer Kirsten , Keller Ruprecht , Backmund Markus
Published: June 2008

Aims: Screening for concomitant drug consumption is necessary in opiate substitution therapy of opiate-dependent patients. Adulteration of samples is a common problem in this setting. A recently developed polyethylene glycol marker system allows reliable identification of urine samples. In this study, we aimed to compare the rates of drug detection in conventional and marker urine samples. Design: This cross-sectional evaluation was performed in an ambulatory opiate substitution program. We studied 55 opiate-dependent patients (32 men, 23 women). In all patients we compared the rates of drugs detected in the marker urine with the most recent conventional urine control. Additionally we assessed the rate of marker urine manipulation. Findings: In the conventional urine controls, opiates and benzodiazepines were found in 3.6 and 27%, respectively, whereas in the marker urine controls, these rates were 33 and 40%, respectively. Signs of urine manipulation were present in 35%. The rates of concomitant consumption and urine manipulation were higher among the patients without than among those with take-home substitution. Conclusions: With the marker urine, an unexpectedly high prevalence of concomitant consumption can be found. Marker urine testing has a significantly higher sensitivity for the detection of concomitant drug use.
How to Screen for Problematic Cannabis Use in Population Surveys
Authors: Annaheim B. , Rehm J. , Gmel G.
Published: June 2008

Background/Aims: Cannabis use is a growing challenge for public health, calling for adequate instruments to identify problematic consumption patterns. The Cannabis Use Disorders Identification Test (CUDIT) is a 10-item questionnaire used for screening cannabis abuse and dependency. The present study evaluated that screening instrument. Methods: In a representative population sample of 5,025 Swiss adolescents and young adults, 593 current cannabis users replied to the CUDIT. Internal consistency was examined by means of Cronbach’s alpha and confirmatory factor analysis. In addition, the CUDIT was compared to accepted concepts of problematic cannabis use (e.g. using cannabis and driving). ROC analyses were used to test the CUDIT’s discriminative ability and to determine an appropriate cut-off. Results: Two items (‘injuries’ and ‘hours being stoned’) had loadings below 0.5 on the unidimensional construct and correlated lower than 0.4 with the total CUDIT score. All concepts of problematic cannabis use were related to CUDIT scores. An ideal cut-off between six and eight points was found. Conclusions: Although the CUDIT seems to be a promising instrument to identify problematic cannabis use, there is a need to revise some of its items.
Office-Based Treatment in Opioid Dependence: A Critical Survey of Prescription Practices for Opioid Maintenance Medications and Concomitant Benzodiazepines in Vienna, Austria
Authors: Aeschbach Jachmann Crispa , Jagsch Reinhold , Winklbaur Bernadette , Matzenauer Christian , Fischer Gabriele
Published: June 2008

Background: The success of maintenance treatment for opioid dependence in office-based settings is influenced by the extent of treatment coverage, the availability of effective medications and the capacity of general practitioners to prescribe opioids in adequate doses with a minimum of concomitant benzodiazepine prescriptions. Methods: This study compares prescriptions for opioid maintenance and concomitant benzodiazepine from Viennese physicians in 2002 and 2005 using health insurance prescription records (n = 30,309). Results: Between 2002 and 2005, the number of patients prescribed opioids more than doubled (ratio 1:2.3), slow-release oral morphine replaced methadone as the most frequently prescribed medication (57.1 vs. 23.4%; buprenorphine 19.5%), and the ratio of benzodiazepine to opioid prescriptions significantly declined (0.76:1 vs. 0.42:1). Many patients were prescribed concomitant benzodiazepines (27%), in some cases from a secondary physician. Conclusion: Increased utilization of opioid medications in office-based settings will facilitate better treatment coverage. However, safeguards are necessary to ensure that general practitioners have sufficient training and support to safely and appropriately provide treatment, including the reduction in concomitant benzodiazepine use.
The Fine Line between Harm Reduction and Harm Production – Development of a Clinical Policy on Femoral (Groin) Injecting
Authors: Zador Deborah , Lintzeris Nick , van der Waal Rob , Miller Peter , Metrebian Nicola , Strang John
Published: June 2008

Background/Aims: The femoral region (‘groin’) appears to be increasingly commonly used by injecting drug users in the UK. With the advent of Britain’s first supervised prescribed injectable opioid treatment clinic, unprecedented decisions and judgements were required about the safe supervision of this practice, or whether to permit this behaviour on site at all. This paper reports the reasons for, and outcome of, development of a clinical policy on injecting into the deep femoral vein (groin injecting). Method: A small in-depth audit of the complications of femoral injecting was undertaken in a supervised injecting clinic. Results: All femoral injectors had had either local site-related medical complications or other health problems which could potentially be worsened by ongoing injection. This finding along with the personal and professional issues raised by staff for supervision of femoral injecting led to a revised policy focussing on achieving a shift towards lower-risk peripheral venous and intramuscular sites. Conclusion: While the clinic staff’s training may be more compatible with professional duties of care by encouraging cessation of femoral injecting, this does not tell us what advice harm reduction workers in the field should offer groin injectors. More research is needed into this high-risk, controversial injecting practice.
A Randomized Double-Blind Study to Investigate the Clinical Efficacy of Adding a Non-Migrating Antimicrobial to a Special Silk Fabric in the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: Stinco Giuseppe , Piccirillo Fabio , Valent Francesca
Published: June 2008

Background: A randomized, double-blind study designed to compare the efficacy of DermaSilk® versus a sleeve of similar structure but minus the AEM 5772/5 antimicrobial finish in the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). Objective: To evaluate the clinical effect of adding an antimicrobial finish to knitted silk garments on eczema severity and on pruritus in patients with AD. Methods: Thirty patients aged between 3 and 31 years (mean 14.2 ± 7.7) were enrolled. The inclusion criterion was that the patients presented with active AD with eczematous lesions located on the arms without any sign of infection. Each participant was given a set of 4 pairs of knitted silk tubular sleeves marked with seams of different colours. Only one colour was treated with AEGIS AEM 5772/5. This information was unknown to both the clinicians and the patients/parents. At baseline (T0) and after 7 (T7), 14 (T14), 21 (T21) and 28 (T28) days, the patients were evaluated using the following methods: photographic assessment, local modified SCORAD index adapted for only the arm, and parent/patient assessment of pruritus measured with a visual analogue scale. Results: The mean local SCORAD index of both the DermaSilk- and the unmodified-silk-covered arms decreased significantly between baseline (T0) and the end of study (T28). However, while the Derma-Silk group showed a constant decrease each week, the unmodified-silk group showed a significant decrease only in the first 2 weeks of the study. Also the decrease in pruritus values between T0 and T28 was greater for the DermaSilk group. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the importance of including the AEM 5772/5 finish to the specially knitted silk for a long-term improvement of atopic eczema symptoms.
Disseminated Giant Molluscum Contagiosum in a Patient with Idiopathic CD4+ Lymphocytopenia
Authors: Böhm Markus , Luger Thomas A. , Bonsmann Gisela
Published: June 2008

Idiopathic CD4+ lymphocytopenia is a rare disease without HIV infection or any other underlying immunodeficiency. Patients with this condition are predisposed to various opportunistic infections. We describe a 31-year-old woman with giant molluscum contagiosum disseminated over nearly the whole body. Immunologic analysis disclosed very low numbers of CD4+ lymphocytes (<11/µl, normal range: 240–3,100), an abnormal proliferative response of the patient’s lymphocytes to artificial mitogens and specific antigens, and an anergic delayed-type hypersensitivity skin response. HIV serology was repetitively negative. The diagnosis of idiopathic CD4+ lymphocytopenia was established. Systemic treatment with pegylated interferon-α2b (50 µg/week) for 16 months resulted in complete eradication of her disseminated giant molluscum contagiosum. In this report we will further describe the nature of idiopathic CD4+ lymphocytopenia and emphasize its relevance to clinical dermatology.
Seating-Induced Postural Hypotension Is Common in Older Patients with Decompensated Heart Failure and May Be Prevented by Lower Limb Compression Bandaging
Authors: Gorelik Oleg , Almoznino-Sarafian Dorit , Litvinov Vita , Alon Irena , Shteinshnaider Miriam , Dotan Eynat , Modai David , Cohen Natan
Published: June 2008

Background: Postural hypotension induced by transition from supine to sitting position and measures for its prevention in heart failure has not been investigated. Objective: Our purpose was to evaluate the prevalence of postural hypotension and associated clinical manifestations as well as the contribution of various risk factors for postural hypotension on transition from lying to sitting in older patients with decompensated heart failure, and to study the eventual preventive effect of leg bandaging. Methods: Seating-induced postural hypotension (≥20 mm Hg systolic and/or ≥10 mm Hg diastolic blood pressure fall) was assessed on the first study day in 108 patients aged ≥60 years, hospitalized for acutely decompensated heart failure. On the next day, in patients manifesting postural hypotension, compression bandages were applied along both legs before seating. Blood pressure, heart rate, O2 saturation, and the occurrence of dizziness or palpitations were recorded prior to and 1, 3 and 5 min following seating. Results: Postural hypotension occurred in 49.1% of patients. Dizziness and/or palpitations manifested in 25%. Diastolic (36.1%) versus systolic (23.1%) postural hypotension prevailed (p = 0.05). On univariate analysis, postural hypotension was associated with female sex (p = 0.03), more severe heart failure (p = 0.05), longer bedrest (p = 0.04), higher supine systolic (p = 0.01) or diastolic (p = 0.002) blood pressure, nonischemic heart failure (p = 0.002), and not using nitrates (p = 0.01). On multivariate analysis, longer bedrest (OR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.13–2.2, p < 0.001), higher supine diastolic blood pressure (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.1–1.61, p = 0.001), and nonischemic heart failure (OR = 3.48, 95% CI = 1.4–8.63, p = 0.009) were the most predictive of postural hypotension. Compression bandages prevented postural hypotension in 21 of 49 patients and decreased the degree of postural blood pressure fall (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Seating-induced postural hypotension is common among older inpatients with decompensated heart failure, especially with longer bedrest, higher supine diastolic blood pressure and non-ischemic etiology. Leg compression bandaging may be useful for the prevention of postural hypotension in these patients.
The Window of Vulnerability That Wasn't: Soviet Military Buildup in the 1970s—A Research Note
Authors: Podvig Pavel
Published: June 2008

The Soviet strategic modernization program of the 1970s was one of the most consequential developments of the Cold War. Deployment of new intercontinental ballistic missiles and the dramatic increase in the number of strategic warheads in the Soviet arsenal created a sense of vulnerability in the United States that was, to a large degree, responsible for the U.S. military buildup of the late 1970s and early 1980s and the escalation of Cold War tensions during that period. U.S. assessments concluded that the Soviet Union was seeking to achieve a capability to fight and win a nuclear war. Estimates of missile accuracy and silo hardness provided by the U.S. intelligence community led many in the United States to conclude that the Soviet Union was building a strategic missile force capable of destroying most U.S. missiles in a counterforce strike and of surviving a subsequent nuclear exchange. Soviet archival documents that have recently become available demonstrate that this conclusion was wrong. The U.S. estimates substantially overestimated the accuracy of the Soviet Union's missiles and the degree of silo reinforcement. As the data demonstrate, the Soviet missile force did not have the capability to launch a successful first strike. Moreover, the data strongly suggest that the Soviet Union never attempted to acquire a first-strike capability, concentrating instead on strategies based on retaliation.
Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Nonviolent Conflict
Authors: Stephan Maria J. , Chenoweth Erica
Published: June 2008

The historical record indicates that nonviolent campaigns have been more successful than armed campaigns in achieving ultimate goals in political struggles, even when used against similar opponents and in the face of repression. Nonviolent campaigns are more likely to win legitimacy, attract widespread domestic and international support, neutralize the opponent's security forces, and compel loyalty shifts among erstwhile opponent supporters than are armed campaigns, which enjoin the active support of a relatively small number of people, offer the opponent a justification for violent counterattacks, and are less likely to prompt loyalty shifts and defections. An original, aggregate data set of all known major nonviolent and violent resistance campaigns from 1900 to 2006 is used to test these claims. These dynamics are further explored in case studies of resistance campaigns in Southeast Asia that have featured periods of both violent and nonviolent resistance.
Closing Time: Assessing the Iranian Threat to the Strait of Hormuz
Authors: Talmadge Caitlin
Published: June 2008

How might Iran retaliate in the aftermath of a limited Israeli or U.S. strike? The most economically devastating of Iran's potential responses would be closure of the Strait of Hormuz. According to open-source order of battle data, as well as relevant analogies from military history and GIS maps, Iran does possess significant littoral warfare capabilities, including mines, antiship cruise missiles, and land-based air defense. If Iran were able to properly link these capabilities, it could halt or impede traffic in the Strait of Hormuz for a month or more. U.S. attempts to reopen the waterway likely would escalate rapidly into sustained, large-scale air and naval operations during which Iran could impose significant economic and military costs on the United States—even if Iranian operations were not successful in truly closing the strait. The aftermath of limited strikes on Iran would be complicated and costly, suggesting needed changes in U.S. force posture and energy policy.
'Lost in Translation': la désignation des chefs dans le Dodekapropheton
Authors: Dogniez Cécile
Published: June 2008

In this paper, an attempt is made to examine the process of deformation of the Hebrew original in the Greek version—by loss or by gain of meaning. The corpus is limited to the Twelve Prophets and the semantic field concerns the designation of chiefs or elites in the biblical world. The loss of some references to the political, military or religious authorities in the Dodekapropheton is not always due to the incompetence of the translators and may throw light on their creativity to restore a clear meaning of the biblical text to the Greek reader.
The Dictation of the Septuagint Version
Authors: van der Louw Theo
Published: June 2008

In Antiquity, original writing, copying and translating took place through dictation. It is likely that (parts of) the Septuagint was (were) committed to writing in that way. Traditions concerning the translation of Buddhist Sutras into Chinese help us to picture that process. The hypothesis that someone recited the Hebrew text, one translated orally and one or more scribes wrote the translation down contributes to LXX research. It explains (1) characteristic features of the Septuagint noted by Soisalon-Soininen, and (2) phonetic errors on both the Hebrew and the Greek sides. (3) It is compatible with the notion that learned scribes were involved but it lends no support to the "targumic origin" theory.
Sculpture, Space and the Poetics of Idolatry in Josephus' Bellum Judaicum
Authors: von Ehrenkrook Jason
Published: June 2008

Josephus' writings depict a rather tumultuous relationship between Jews and figurative art, especially sculpture. When taken at face value, this material seems to indicate that Jews during the Second Temple period interpreted the second commandment as a prohibition against any form of figural representation, regardless of context or function. Using his Bellum Judaicum as a test case, I aim to complicate this picture by shifting attention away from the referential value of these so-called iconoclastic narratives to their rhetorical function, i.e. to the way in which these narratives are uniquely shaped to contribute to larger rhetorical themes in Bellum.
Einige Beobachtungen zum Juda der Perserzeit in der Darstellung des Josephus, Antiquitates Buch 11
Authors: Höffken Peter
Published: June 2008

For Josephus 3 Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther are the main sources for the history of the Persian era. His description of the final phase of the Persian domination focuses on three major incidents: the fratricide in the temple and the intervention of Bagoses; the foundation of the Gerizim Temple, which originated in an inner-Judean conflict and Alexander's visit of Jerusalem. This material, as well as the account of the transition of the empire to the Macedonians, is structured on the basis of historical knowledge of the Persian period derived from Greek sources. The major themes of Josephus' account are: (1) a close political and religious relationship with the Persian kings; (2) conflicts with the surrounding nations (most prominently with the Samaritans), while maintaining a strong loyalty to the Persians; and (3) united political actions of the Judeans under the leadership of figures like Zerubbabel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Mordecai. Only in the last phase of Persian rule does this unity break down. In many respects the epoch is a prototype of the behavior of Judeans and Jews in relation to the dominant world power in later periods.
Philosophies of Difference and Religious Diversity
Authors: Hofmeyr H. Murray
Published: June 2008

The so-called postmodern era is charactherised by attempts to formulate a new concept of difference. These attempts belong within the discourse of Nihilism. Nothingness is usually see as the negation of the one and only. But it can also refer to the one's transformation into many others. The way into nothingness then no longer falls into an abyss, but becomes the way into multiplicity without unity. Preliminary meaning replaces ultimate meaning. Difference is the many without unity. But the many are also one, many times one. Multiplicity does not equal chaos, the fertile mythological chaos that cannot be repeated. But the between-us can become a creative space in which we weave Lyotard's patchwork of minorities. This in-betweenity is the precondition for respect for the other, which is more than tolerance. Against this theoretical background, and in view of some insights from intercultural plailosophy, the following issues are investigated: the equality of religions, universalism and relativism, and inter-religious dialogues.
Re-Visiting the Implications of Contemporary Epistemological Models for the Understanding of Religious Experience: an Overview
Authors: Veldsman Daniel P.
Published: June 2008

The more recently proposed epistemological models (cf Gregersen & Van Huyssteen, eds., Rethinking Theology and Science: Six Models for the Current Dialogue) within the context of the science and religion debate, have opened up galaxie,s of meanirzg on the interface of the debates which are inviting for exploralive, theological travelling. But how are we epistemologically to judge not only oui journets but also the rethinking of the implications of these epistemological models for our understanding of religious experience and our experience of transcendence? The interdisciplinary space that has been opened up in an exciting post-foundational manner zuithirz these very debates, leaves us as rational persons, embedded in a very specific social and historical context, with the haunting cognitive pluralist question on how to reach beyond the limits of our own epistemic traditions (Wentzel van Huyssteen). This question is pursued as an effort on the one hand to unmask epistemic arrogance and, on the other hand, not to take refuge in the insular comfort of internally closed language-systems. It is an effort to address relativism and a 'twentieth-century despair of any knozuledye of reality' (Polkinghorne). It is finally an effort to conceptually revisit the implications of tltese models for our understanding of our culturally embedded religious experience.
Composite Predictor Maps of Extraordinary Weather Events in the Sacramento, California, Region*
Authors: Grotjahn Richard , Faure Ghislain
Published: June 2008

Extraordinary weather events in the Sacramento, California, region are examined using a simple compositing technique. The extraordinary events identified are uncommon and the worst of their kind, but not necessarily severe. While the criteria outlined herein are drawn from Sacramento weather station data, the identified events are extraordinary elsewhere over much, if not all, of California’s Central Valley. Several types of extraordinary events are highlighted, including the hardest freezes, heaviest prolonged rain events, longest-duration fog, and worst heat waves (onset and end) in a 21-yr period. Bootstrap resampling establishes the statistical significance of features on the composite maps. The composite maps with statistically significant features highlighted allow a forecaster to search for key features in forecast maps that coexist with or that precede an extraordinary weather event. Local- and regional-scale extraordinary events have larger-scale signatures that can be traced back in time. Many of these features are intuitive and known to local forecasters (and that provides a check upon the methodology used here). However, some features appear to be unexpected. For example, a ridge (in height and thermal fields) over the southeastern United States generally occurs prior to the worst heat waves and hardest freezes. Some features appear to exhibit the theoretical concept of downstream development. Several extraordinary weather types are preceded by a ridge either over Alaska (hardest freezes and heaviest prolonged rain) or just west of Alaska (worst heat waves). While the Alaskan ridge passes a significance test, the presence of other features (such as the southeastern ridge) determines what, if any, extraordinary event occurs near Sacramento. However, a feature that passes the significance test for the composite might not occur in every member of a given extraordinary event. The height and thermal patterns over the West Coast and North Pacific are similar for summer’s worst heat waves and winter’s longest-duration fog: both types of events are preceded by a trough in the eastern mid-Pacific.
Using Precipitation Observations in a Mesoscale Short-Range Ensemble Analysis and Forecasting System
Authors: Fujita Tadashi , Stensrud David J. , Dowell David C.
Published: June 2008

A simple method to assimilate precipitation data from a synthesis of radar and gauge data is developed to operate alongside an ensemble Kalman filter that assimilates hourly surface observations. The mesoscale ensemble forecast system consists of 25 members with 30-km grid spacing and incorporates variability in both initial and boundary conditions and model physical process schemes. The precipitation assimilation method only incorporates information on when and where rainfall is observed. Model temperature and water vapor mixing ratio profiles at each grid point are modified if rainfall is observed but not predicted, or if rainfall is predicted but not observed. These modifications act to either increase or decrease, respectively, the likelihood that precipitation develops at that grid point.

Two cases are examined in which this technique is applied to assimilate precipitation data every 15 min from 1200 to 1800 UTC, while hourly surface observations are also assimilated at the same time using the more sophisticated ensemble Kalman filter approach. Results show that the simple method for assimilating precipitation data helps the model develop precipitation where it is observed, resulting in the precipitation area being reproduced more accurately than in the run without precipitation-data assimilation, while not negatively influencing the positive results from the surface data assimilation. Improvement is also seen in the reliability of precipitation probabilities for a 1 mm h−1 threshold after the assimilation period, indicating that assimilating precipitation data may provide improved forecasts of the mesoscale environment for a few hours.
Experiences with 0–36-h Explicit Convective Forecasts with the WRF-ARW Model
Authors: Weisman Morris L. , Davis Christopher , Wang Wei , Manning Kevin W. , Klemp Joseph B.
Published: June 2008

Herein, a summary of the authors’ experiences with 36-h real-time explicit (4 km) convective forecasts with the Advanced Research Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF-ARW) during the 2003–05 spring and summer seasons is presented. These forecasts are compared to guidance obtained from the 12-km operational Eta Model, which employed convective parameterization (e.g., Betts–Miller–Janjić). The results suggest significant value added for the high-resolution forecasts in representing the convective system mode (e.g., for squall lines, bow echoes, mesoscale convective vortices) as well as in representing the diurnal convective cycle. However, no improvement could be documented in the overall guidance as to the timing and location of significant convective outbreaks. Perhaps the most notable result is the overall strong correspondence between the Eta and WRF-ARW guidance, for both good and bad forecasts, suggesting the overriding influence of larger scales of forcing on convective development in the 24–36-h time frame. Sensitivities to PBL, land surface, microphysics, and resolution failed to account for the more significant forecast errors (e.g., completely missing or erroneous convective systems), suggesting that further research is needed to document the source of such errors at these time scales. A systematic bias is also noted with the Yonsei University (YSU) PBL scheme, emphasizing the continuing need to refine and improve physics packages for application to these forecast problems.
Use of Normalized Anomaly Fields to Anticipate Extreme Rainfall in the Mountains of Northern California
Authors: Junker Norman W. , Grumm Richard H. , Hart Robert , Bosart Lance F. , Bell Katherine M. , Pereira Frank J.
Published: June 2008

Extreme rainfall events contribute a large portion of wintertime precipitation to northern California. The motivations of this paper were to study the observed differences in the patterns between extreme and more commonly occurring lighter rainfall events, and to study whether anomaly fields might be used to discriminate between them. Daily (1200–1200 UTC) precipitation amounts were binned into three progressively heavier categories (12.5–50.0 mm, light; 50–100 mm, moderate; and >100 mm, heavy) in order to help identify the physical processes responsible for extreme precipitation in the Sierra Nevada range between 37.5° and 41.0°N.

The composite fields revealed marked differences between the synoptic patterns associated with the three different groups. The heavy composites showed a much stronger, larger-scale, and slower-moving negative geopotential height anomaly off the Pacific coast of Oregon and Washington than was revealed in either of the other two composites. The heavy rainfall events were also typically associated with an atmospheric river with anomalously high precipitable water (PW) and 850-hPa moisture flux (MF) within it. The standardized PW and MF anomalies associated with the heavy grouping were higher and were slower moving than in either of the lighter bins.

Three multiday heavy rainfall events were closely examined in order to ascertain whether anomaly patterns could provide forecast utility. Each of the multiday extreme rainfall events investigated was associated with atmospheric rivers that contained highly anomalous 850-hPa MF and PW within it. Each case was also associated with an unusually intense negative geopotential height anomaly that was similarly located off of the west coast of the United States. The similarities in the anomaly pattern among the three multiday extreme events suggest that standardized anomalies might be useful in predicting extreme multiday rainfall events in the northern Sierra range.